Students discuss ‘districts’ they fit into. Flip the page to read on.
In Suzanne Collins’ worldwide phenomenon “The Hunger Games,” the people of Panem are separated into districts based on their region’s most prolific export or industry. Similarly, the students of Blue Valley can be identified as belonging to many different groups, divided by interests, hobbies and jobs. Read on to learn more about a student who would fit into each of Panem’s 12 districts.
isaac hudson | editor-in-chief
In “The Hunger Games,” luxury goods such as fine jewelry and fur coats are highly sought after and are often hard to obtain without lots of money. Luckily, classes such as Jewelry and Metalsmithing are much more accessible and less high-stakes as the Hunger Games.
Junior Katie Mueller is one such student who has taken a particular interest in the craft of metalsmithing and fabricating pieces people can wear.
“I have been making jewelry since I started the class in freshman year,” Mueller said. “I decided to take the class because it sounded really cool — I mean, it’s called metalsmithing.”
The class allows her to have a degree of artistic license unique to art classes.
“You have a pretty high level of creative
freedom, and there’s sort of an endless amount of techniques to explore,” she said. “You can come up with an idea and be able to make it.”
Although Mueller started out with the same project as every student who takes Jewelry and Metalsmithing I, a copper bookmark, now she is working on making different forms from metal.
“I have been trying to get out of making flat planes because a lot of jewelry making is cutting things out of sheets [of metal],” she said. “I’ve made a lot of things out of sheets that are just not flat or not cut out flat.”
One of Mueller’s favorite things about making jewelry is the longevity of the product itself.
“When I first started, it was about exploring new mediums of art and how you can uniquely express yourself in that medium,” she said. “A lot of jewelry is very durable and that makes it wearable, which is really cool.”
amira dvorak | staff writer
Unlike Katniss Everdeen, very few of us have a need to — or indeed, the means to — learn the art of archery.
However, junior Rylie Tschirhart regularly takes up the bow for sport, if not to fight for her life in an arena.
“My family’s really big on hunting,” she said. “My dad got into hunting and [while] he did use guns, he was more interested in the bow aspect — we all got really into compound bow hunting.”
According to Tschirhart, archery is much more complicated and difficult than people give it credit for.
“Most people, when they think of archery, just think of a simple bow — literally wood that’s curved [with] string,” she said. “But we use compound bows, which look really simple, but they’re more complicated because
they have a peep and also these things called cams, which help you determine the weight you can pull back. There’s also crossbows, which is basically a gun mixed with a bow because there’s a scope on it, and you have to use all these devices to pull it back.”
Tschirhart said she and her family used to participate in competitive shooting but gave it up in favor of hunting.
“I prefer the thrill of [hunting],” she said. “Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and make sure you’re not shaking even the tiniest bit because it’ll mess up your shot.”
Tschirhart wholeheartedly recommends archery to anyone who wants to try it.
“If you like being outdoors or want to try something new, it’s definitely something people should look into doing,” she said. “It’s really fun.”
During “The Hunger Games,” robotics are used for great effects. From advanced medicine to weapons of war, the Districts have it covered. During the Games, however, senior Liam Stewart thinks they might not be so helpful.
“If you’re in a situation where you have resources, I think it’d be pretty valuable for survival,” Stewart said. “But in general I don’t think it’d be super valuable.”
Robotics can be helpful, but without proper training and resources, they will have a negligible impact on a tribute’s chances of survival. Stewart also has some ideas on how robotics could be helpful to a survivor.
“You could have a robot that cooks food
or heats you up,” he said.
A robot that can produce heat would help in many survival situations as it could keep you safe from cold arenas and reduce chances of consuming bad or raw foods.
Stewart is in robotics because he wants to be an engineer.
“It’s a cool way to tackle problems and solve them with innovative ideas,” Stewart said. “I get a chance to work a lot with my friends.”
In the real world, he thinks robots can be used to help people.
“Humans can do other jobs and have robots do those tasks for us and save us trouble,” Stewart said. “People can use robots to take over dangerous jobs and keep us safe.”
For many people, fishing is something they only do on occasion, if ever, but for senior Luke Nolkemper, it is a beloved pastime.
“I’ve been fishing regularly for nine years,” Nolkemper said.
Nolkemper’s hobby came from a more general interest in the outdoors.
“I’ve always been drawn to water and love aquatic life,” he said. “I love being outside and exploring nature.”
However, fishing is not always fun and games. Though the actual act of fishing can be strenuous or time-consuming, Nolkemper’s struggle within it comes from something else.
“To me the most difficult part of fishing is avoiding purchasing new gear,” Nolkemper said.
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Though fishing has its ups and downs, Nolkemper has always felt like the hard work he puts in has paid off.
“I’ve caught multiple blue catfish over 30 pounds at the Lake of the Ozarks,” he said.
Although the end goal of going fishing is obviously to catch fish, that is not what Nolkemper enjoys most about it.
“I love fishing because it takes me to different areas and locations,” he said. “Fishing is a great way to learn your nearby geography.”
ava mcniel | photo editor
In the charged District of Electricity, PC building has grown to be a worldwide hobby for active gaming enthusiasts.
With the thousands of options of components, builders are given loads of customizations and combinations when constructing their own computers. The tech-heavy hobby has been predicted to only grow throughout the years.
Sophomore Brock Richardson has experience in building computers. Richardson first stepped into computer building with his friends.
“When I was introduced to PC building, I thought it would be very hard and intimidating,” he said.
For people looking to start the process of building a computer, Richardson advises builders to shop for all the computer parts separately and build it rather than buying the computer already assembled.
“Build it from scratch [so] when you’re upgrading it later it’s easier to take the [parts] out,” Richardson said.
Although hardware prices can be a shock to first-time buyers, it’s important to understand the reason behind the extreme costs.
“Don’t cheap out on the graphics card because that’s the component you want to be the best,” Richardson said.
He suggested investing in reliable, high quality parts rather than cheaper ones to make your computer last a lifetime.
“Go to Micro Center for in-person [and] Amazon for online [shopping],” Richardson said.
He utilized both marketplaces when building his own computer, and he encourages builders to do the same as he found them to be great resources.
Richardson said being careful to not break any parts is the most important thing when building a computer.
The installation of the Central Processing Unit is typically known to be nerve-racking since it contains from 1,200 to 1,500 tiny pins that must be aligned to the motherboard.
“Putting the CPU in [is scary] because you have to be careful [aligning] the pins — it’s very fragile,” Richardson said.
Although computer building consists of many anxiety-inducing steps, other parts encompass a more gratifying task, making the build feel rewarding and complete.
“My favorite component to put together was the RAM,” Richardson said. “It’s satisfying to put everything together, and when you’re finished it’s a cool thing to see what you built. It’s an accomplishment.”
With Panem being covered in its distinct districts, traveling by train is how citizens and district competitors move. But, for sophomore Emma Crosier, she has traveled much more than others might have.
“I went skiing last year for my first time in Arizona,” Crosier said.
Despite Arizona being known for its extreme heat, Crosier enjoys the opportunity to see new and unique places.
“I like trying all the new food in all the different states,” Crosier said. “It’s always a new experience at each place.”
While many only travel within the United States, Crosier has gone elsewhere also. Ideally though, she’d like to go to Bora Bora.
“I like the little tiki huts that float on the water there, and they are so cute,” Crosier said. “It’d be a great place for photos.”
But, there are still downsides to being able to see such beautiful places.
“I hate airports,” she said. “It’s just so gross and disgusting.”
Despite that though, Crosier still continues to travel and loves the places she goes, especially one particular experience.
“I went on a Norwegian Cruise — we got to see a lot of glaciers and see the huskies race,” Crosier said. “It was really beautiful and scenic.”
Ideally, Crosier said traveling is meant to give people “experiences in scenery that you don’t see every day.”
District 7 from “The Hunger Games” provides lumber and wood for the entire city of Panem as they construct new projects and buildings.
In a similar manner, senior Preston Baker is someone who wants not only to get a degree in architecture, but one of the few wanting to double major in architecture and architectural engineering, setting himself up for success for life after college.
Originally though, his interest in wanting to become an architect started at a young age.
“At first it was just me and my dad running around neighborhoods looking at houses and seeing stuff — but more recently, it’s actually been the math and actual sciences behind it,” Baker said. “It’s become so interesting to me that I don’t think there’s anything else or any major that really interests me at all.”
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Of course, being successful in both majors is something that requires a lot of hard work and patience.
“The hardest thing about becoming an architect is the labs,” Baker said. “It’s like three days a week, and you’re stuck in a room for three hours working on whatever project you’re handed.”
On top of that, Baker has to learn how architects write on blueprints for projects and their designed plans.
“You have to learn the calligraphy of architecture,” Baker said. “It’s so different from my handwriting — it’s going to be a major learning curve.”
Despite the challenges he might face in college, becoming an architect is something he looks forward to.
“I’m excited for it,” Baker said. “It’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”
colton fieger | staff writer
When one thinks of forms of art, they might imagine drawing, painting or sculpting, but often overlooked is the art of sewing. And although the people of District 8 likely don’t specialize in creating costumes, senior Evelyn Burgess does.
“I picked up sewing when I was in sixth grade because I had an interest in cosplay and making costumes,” Burgess said.
Since her passion for sewing is so strong, Burgess is almost entirely self-taught.
“I ended up teaching myself with my mom’s old machine she got as a gift from her grandmother in 1990-something,” Burgess said. “I was able to teach myself a lot of very basic skills for a long time.”
Though she could spend her time making regular shirts or pants, Burgess harnesses her skills for a more creative output: costumes.
“I’m a competitive cosplayer,” Burgess said, “What I do is I enter costumes I make in competitions. I really like putting together a lot of detailed and ornate work on my costumes and making it very clean.”
Spening time stitching, heming and creating costumes, Burgess has gained views toward sewing that most people don’t typically consider.
“The coolest thing is how deeply connected [sewing] is to math,” Burgess said, “I really want to study how things like math have to do with garment construction, drafting and patterning. There’s many times where I’ve gotten myself confused about attaching a lining to the garment. There’s holes in the garment, and you have to attach the lining with the holes, but you also can’t accidentally make a bag, which happens really often. I like to observe why that happens.”
Whether others want to be a competitive costume creator or not, sewing is still a useful skill to have in the eyes of Burgess.
“I definitely recommend the hobby,” she said. “It doesn’t even need to be anything serious like getting into competition. It’s a skill that’s very useful and can save you a lot of money if you can understand how to use a sewing machine, how to hand stitch things, how to fix buttons, how to darn, how to tailor or even maybe change the length of a hem.”
Though it’s doubtful that anyone in the capital would declare, “let the tributes eat cake!,” senior Ava Nguyen has different ideas.
“I do most of my work on commission — I’ll bake upward of 300 to 600 things at a time; sometimes I do cupcakes but I prefer cookies,” she said. “I usually volunteer to do it, but I’ve had several customers pay me for my work — though, I usually charge very, very cheap because I like to bake.”
Nguyen claims that while she enjoys baking, she would never consider it as a occupation.
“I like baking as a hobby,” she said. “Turning it into a career would take all of the joy out of it.”
While she certainly enjoys baking, Nguyen does not feel her hobby holds an integral role in society.
“I think family-owned bakeries are good, but at the same time, you can get a loaf of sourdough at Walmart for like $7,” she said. “I’d say [corporations] are really dominating the bread market, and I think that’s what [the problem] is. Anybody could bake or do their own baking. If you don’t have time for that, [bakeries] could be useful.”
When she’s not working on commission or volunteer projects, Nguyen enjoys baking a variety of treats, both sweet and otherwise.
“I make bread a lot,” Nguyen said. “My favorite to make is probably pita bread — it’s very versatile. You can use it in so many different ways. I love having it alongside hummus. My mom makes her own hummus, and I’ll make pita bread and then gobble it.”
amira dvorak | staff writerKansas is stereotyped as a rural environment with farms and stables. Although Overland Park breaks this stereotype with an urban area, many people still enjoy simple activities such as horseback riding.
Junior Anna Kate Schweers has participated in English horseback riding since she was 5 years old. The love of horses grew from her mother who built a stables eight years ago.
“The land has been my mom’s since she moved here, and I remember it being a blank field originally,” Schweers said. “I remember a bunch of tall grass and now there’s a barn, it’s hard to imagine the grass being there now.”
Like many families in the rural part of Stilwell, Schweers had land. Instead of keeping the property undeveloped, they decided to
build a stable for English riding. Many stalls were added in addition to tracks, inside and out.
“Right now we have 24 stalls and two horses in the pasture,” she said.
Although Schweers said horses are pretty and fun to ride, extra work plays into owning this animal. It not only takes acres of land and supplies, it takes time.
Schweers spends a lot of time at the stables riding or helping out. Due to her work, she has an early release. Her family spends their time and money keeping these animals and helping their owners.
“If someone was looking to keep a horse at the stables, it is $750 a month,” she said. ”That covers hay, shavings, riding, and cleaning. We have someone that [cleans] stalls for us.”
To a lot of people in Overland Park, agriculture may seem like an abstract idea, but that’s not always the case. Senior Audrey Vore’s family has owned a winery for seven years.
She works at Isinglass Estate Winery and knows the process it takes to make wine. Not only does wine making take a long time, it takes a lot of land.
“We have 40 acres of grapes and grow blackberries to put into our blackberry wine,” Vore said.
There are also different types of wine, and depending on how they are created, it will play into what type of drink is made.
“If you’re making a white wine, it takes three to six months,” she said. “If you’re making a red wine, it can vary between a year
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or two, depending on how [long] you want it to be in the tank.”
Not only does the type of wine depend on the processing time, it has a multitude of factors.
“How long you ferment them, how sweet you make them — the longer you ferment a wine the dryer it gets,” she said. “Dry wines have more alcohol, and then you can sweeten it back up.”
Although Vore is knowledgable about wine, she does not personally make it — she has a different task at the winery: helping customers when they visit the property. Vore has many other duties, but mainly she is on the front line working with people.
“I help bottle the wines whenever we’re done making them, and then I serve them to people,” she said.
ashley brixey-thatcher | staff writer
isaac burton | staff writer
Although District Twelve’s residents were only allowed to do laborious work in mines at 18, this group of boys think otherwise, working on vehicles to ensure they can solve problems independently.
Juniors Ben Soykan, Alex Whitehair, Owen Young and Liam Gaddie had their interests sparked to work on their trucks as a means to be more capable than the ordinary.
For Soykan, this inspiration was sparked by his older brother.
“Changing my starter and alternator was the first somewhat large project I did with zero knowledge, and I had to just figure it out the hard way [as I lit my truck on fire],” he said. “Working on cars has completely changed my career aspirations and opened up my opportunities a lot because I can apply my skills to other places in life.”
When it comes to specific challenges, Gaddie said “getting deep” into a car or truck gives him something to do and also helps him learn new skills.
“I like to work on the suspension parts of cars and trucks,” Gaddie said. “It’s what I started out with and have a lot of knowledge in.”
Researching the latest developments in automotive technology helps Young come up with new ideas.
“Modifications [are] more fulfilling because you can make your vehicle however you want, and being different stands out more than a normal vehicle,” he said. “I like knowing I’m doing [what] not everyone is able to do and have knowledge of.”
In addition to working on vehicles, Whitehair also runs his own gig mowing lawns, raking leaves and shoveling snow. One of his specialties and favorite aspects of vehicle repair is repairing mowers.
“I find doing normal maintenance fulfilling because it keeps it running great and is very easy,” Whitehair said. “I was inspired from my friends and family. It’s a fun hobby, and you can save a little money as well.”
For these juniors, working on vehicles isn’t just trivial — it is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives.
“My dad showed me how to do my first oil change and since then it grew into bigger projects,” Gaddie said. “Working on vehicles has influenced me to start a job that I professionally work on vehicles and also attend classes for certifications.”
District 1: Luxury - 17%
District 2: Weaponry - 2%
District 3: Technology - 23%
District 4: Fishing - 5%
District 5: Electricity - 4%
District 6: Transport - 7%
District 7: Lumber - 5%
District 8: Textiles - 12%
District 9: Grain - 3%
District 10: Animals - 9%
District 11: Agriculture - 9%
District 12: Fuel - 4%
117 students surveyed
You are not immune to propaganda.
“Where do I belong?” It’s a question so many have asked, but why put yourself into a box at all?
There is a sharp disconnect between people nowadays and a refusal to truly get to know one another.
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Senior shares about his love for performing Tigers share how to thrive in high school
Staff member discusses the damages of violence in media
editors-in-chief
Isaac Hudson
Ava McGuire
Rhylan Stern
assistant editor
Harris Jones
web editors
Jackie Chang
Ella Lim
photo editor
Ava McNiel
design editor
Katie Kennedy adviser
Michelle Huss
“The Hunger Games” presents a world where people have been split up into districts based on their terrain and what they are believed to be capable of as a group. We don’t live in “The Hunger Games,” and we don’t need to put ourselves into districts of our own.
It’s very normalized in society now to introduce yourself by your job title or what you’ll be majoring in, rather than revealing anything further about yourself.
It’s extremely common to remember regulars in restaurant business by orders rather than name. We have been trained to put emphasis on what we are, rather than who we are.
All relationships are seen as casual, so what’s the point in letting anyone get to know you on a deeper level?
There is an epidemic of loneliness stemming from this huge lack of connection.
Be more than your future occupation, be more than the place you live, be more than a fun fact printed on a notecard. There should be so much less of an emphasis on where one belongs and more on rather who they find themselves belonging with. A place is simply a place — it is the people who make it more.
| THIS STAFF EDITORIAL IS THE REPRESENTATION OF THE OPINION OF THE TIGER PRINT STAFF.
staff members
Gaby Ayres
Ashling Bahadursingh
Dayna Bemiss
Ashley Brixey-Thatcher
Isaac Burton
Amira Dvorak
Callie Dyches
Audrey Erickson
Colton Fieger
Aspen Gallentine
Miranda Henry
Emily Kozlowski
Michael Leach
Emma McAtee
Cady Reynolds
Sami Sandler
Andrew Sharber
Nikoo Tahmasebi
Jonas Tills
Jessica Toomay
“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy. Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.
Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content. Letters should be submitted to Room 518, emailed to thetigerprint@ gmail.com or mailed to:
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aspen gallentine | staff writer
Queen Margrethe of Denmark abdicated the throne Jan. 14, giving the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederick X.
This was announced at the Queen’s annual New Year’s Eve address on Dec. 31, 2023. Her abdication came exactly 52 years after she took the throne from her late father, King Frederick IX, on Jan. 14, 1953.
Queen Margrethe served as the world’s only Queen Regnant, a female ruler equal in title and status to a King, after the death of the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II in September of 2022. She also served as the first female ruler of Denmark, being labeled as her father’s successor with a constitutional amendment allowing women to inherit the throne when she was 13.
This shift in equality reflects a global governmental trend that Denmark has displayed for many years: the Constitutional Monarchy.
Monarchies are often thought of as one ruler — typically a king or queen — who holds all the power over their country.
as a unifying force nationally. Monarchs such as her open exhibitions, inaugurate bridges, receive foreign ambassadors and award medals.
In the recent age of development, this style of government has become more and more common in traditionally monarchial states, especially those in Europe. There are a total of 10 countries that officially call themselves a Constitutional Monarchy today.
On the other hand, many countries in the world have resisted these advances, taking more authoritarian approaches to government, most notably the handful of totalitarian regimes still existing today.
In constitutional monarchies, however, monarchs act as figureheads, while an elected parliament runs the political functions of the state.
As Denmark’s figurehead, Queen Margrethe’s job was to represent the kingdom internationally and stand
Constitutional Monarchy: a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.
-Britain (1649)
-Belgium (1831)
-Cambodia (1947)
-Denmark (1849)
-Jordan (1952)
-Netherlands (1814)
-Norway (1814)
-Spain (1978)
-Sweden (1809, revised 1975)
-Thailand (1932)
While the official number of Constitutional Monarchies on Earth has grown to 10, there are only 6 states recognized as totalitarian still in existence, shrinking from the 23 present throughout the 1900s.
The willing and graceful abdication of Queen Margrethe appears in stark contrast to the iron fist with which other rulers hold their throne.
The queen concluded her announcement to the country and its territories not with sorrows, but with gratitude, telling the people, “Thank you to the many, many people, who on special occasions and in everyday life, have embraced me and my family with kind words and thoughts, turning the years into a string of pearls.”
Totalitarianism: a form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition and exercises an extremely high, if not complete, control and regulation over public and private life.
-Afghanistan (1996)
-Eritrea (2001)
-North Korea (1948)
-Russia (2022)
-Syria (1963)
-Turkmenistan (1991)
february 2024 news design by aspen gallentine
48.9% of people at Blue Valley believe they are susceptible to propaganda, while the remaining 51.1% of people are either unsure or do not believe they’re immune to propaganda.
One may look back at old publicity and wonder how people fell for it, but future generations may look back on us and wonder the exact same thing. Propaganda did not disappear after World War II, or once the Soviet Union fell, or after any historical event, it simply grew and evolved with the times. Propaganda still exists in the digital age — it’s just structured around the society of our time so we may fall into it.
Professor and Director of the Media Education Lab at the University of Rhode Island, Renee Hobbs, claims the average person encounters propaganda at least once an hour in news, entertainment, social media and more.
“We’ve known for a long time that you can bypass people’s critical thinking by activating strong emotions and responding to audience’s deepest hopes, fears and dreams by simplifying information,” Hobbs said in an interview with Harvard.
One of the most prominent modern day examples being the military-entertainment complex, which is a term used to describe the relationship between the United States Department of Defense and the entertainment industry. This set up allows costs of productions to be cut through taxpayer funding, military consultation and set location; the only catch is that the U.S. military must be portrayed in a positive light.
This leads to games like Call of Duty, that focus on showing the heroism of being in the military and less on the horrors of what war does. Similarly, all pre-Avengers Marvel movies and many following were partially funded by the U.S. military.
Both of these are important because of the subtle messaging given to viewers. When people admire
someone, even fictional, they also idealize the actions and beliefs of said person and are less likely to question those exact things.
So when the military portrays war and the actions of military personnel, or turns them into superheroes in only a positive light in the media, it makes discussion around the subject much more difficult.
“When you start to learn about propaganda, you inevitably realize the value and the importance of multiperspectival thinking,” Hobbs said.
Much like most ad placements nowadays, propaganda makes a conscious effort to be less in-your-face about what it is trying to do, which is why it’s important to look into and develop multiple perspectives on issues.
The way to truly protect yourself from it is to make sure you look at the media you’re consuming with a critical eye, and to be cognitive of how you perceive the messages in said media.
Society not immune to propaganda — one shoot root themself in reflection.
First coming into common use in Europe in 1622 as a result of the missionary activities of the Catholic church, propaganda was originally a word discussing religious activities and honorablity.
When the printing press was invented it was very quickly used by leaders to influence large groups of people. Notably by Philip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth I of England, using the press to tell their individual nations that the other was the aggressor, not them.
During the Mexican-American War, reporters took it upon themselves to create and influence articles calling for the full annexation of Mexico. Furthermore, taking it upon themselves, U.S. writers would often write or edit previous articles circulating in self-governed areas of Mexico that the United States’ terms for peace were clearly the most reasonable and should be accepted.
The Committee on Public Information, or the CPI, was established by Executive Order 2594 as an independent agency in April 1917. Though temporary, the committee had a huge hand in the censorship of media, communication and speech during the war, but it was mainly functional as a machine to produce pro-war imagery and messages. The committee had 14 departments with many creative types including artists, filmmakers, journalists and novelists. They even went as far as to train a national network of volunteers, dubbed “Four Minute Men,” to speak at churches, fraternal organizations, women’s clubs and colleges. It was only after the war that the term “propaganda” went from neutral to being viewed as fully negative. The CPI unintentionally brought about grave distrust in the government and changed the definition of propaganda as we knew it, all by co-opting patriotism and fear to push political goals.
Trying to achieve the “star athlete” title is something many will spend their entire athletic careers on — going above and beyond to come out a victor is not unusual in the realm of sports.
In the case of junior Hadley Neese, not only is she that shining star on the golf course, but she has excelled in almost every other aspect as well, which led to her being named the 2023 Kenneth Smith Award winner.
The Kenneth Smith Award is given to the most accomplished female golfer in the KC area, but the criteria do not stop there. Not only was Neese’s incredible talent with a golf club recognized but her dedication to her community and academic excellence was as well.
“Winning an award like this means a great deal to me,” Neese said. “We have a lot of very talented golfers in the area. To have been chosen for this award among such great competition is both humbling and gratifying.”
Based on the requirements for the award, it typically falls to a senior player; however, Neese showed remarkable feats as just a junior. During the 2023 season, Neese won six out of eight of the tournaments she competed in, including the EKL and Regional competitions, and she placed second at the State tournament. Additionally, she was presented as a Hyvee Athlete of the Week and gave BV a new school record of 66 strokes — six under par.
“To win this award as a junior means a lot,” Neese said. “It shows me that if I can be successful at a young age, I can do more in life when I get older and better at the sport.”
While one would expect a stellar athlete like Neese to have started golfing at a very young age, her story is quite the opposite.
After playing softball for nine years, Neese decided to switch her bat out for a club just three years ago.
“I found [softball] very time-consuming and not fun anymore — when I chose to play a different sport, the first thing that came to mind was golf,” she said. “It has opened my eyes to what loving a sport is like.”
Needless to say, Neese’s love for golf has brought her mountains of success at a young age, but burnout can quickly fizzle any young athlete’s dream. Neese’s way of avoiding burnout: roll with the punches.
“It’s such a humbling sport — there are great days, but
there are also a lot of bad days — these are the ones where [I] learn and get better,” Neese said. “There are times when golf can be very difficult emotionally, mentally and physically, but this doesn’t stop me from wanting to strive for success.”
Another way that Neese stays motivated is by remembering her loved one’s passion for the sport she has grown to love. While Neese remarked that her grandmother’s golf skills weren’t outstanding, the amount of fun Neese had with her during their golfing adventures surely made up for it. When Neese decided to quit softball for golf, her grandmother was a large influence on her decision.
“Unfortunately [my grandma] passed away due to cancer, [but] I carry stuff in my golf bag from her that she had before she passed, like a pink ribbon, her ball markers and her golf course card that I consider to be my lucky charm,” Neese said. “[My] success is a way for her to tell me she is proud of me, and will always be there for me on my journey.”
Girls golf coach Todd McCarthy has seen Neese grow as both a player and person throughout her golf career.
“Hadley is someone who is so intently focused on doing everything the best she can,” McCarthy said. “She’s the epitome of a positive person.”
McCarthy remarked that Neese is unlike any other golfer as, in just three years, she has achieved more than what most people will in 10 to 15 years. McCarthy believes that much of Neese’s talent is due to how she acts off the course.
“She is a professional person,” he said. “There’s a phrase ‘you exhibit a maturity far beyond your years,’ [and] Hadley at 16 years old comes across very differently. In today’s day and age, I find that rarer and rarer.”
While many remark that MVP awards like the Kenneth Smith and Thomas A. Simone awards are the crowning achievements for athletes on their journeys to greatness, Neese has no plans of slowing down after winning her title.
“When it comes to athletic excellence, I don’t think there is such a thing,” she said. “There is always room for improvement in any sport, and when you love the sport you play, all the time, practice and work it takes to get better doesn’t really feel like work at all.”
14| feature feburary 2024 design by ava mcguire
Blue Valley is home to many talented musicians ranging from band to orchestra to choir. Junior Charlie Lynn is a part of the musical theater and choir departments and has been performing for the past nine years.
“Growing up, I did a lot of sports, but I didn’t really learn that much from them,” Lynn said. “My mom was like, ‘I don’t know what to do with him — let’s put him in theater.’”
Lynn started with performing musicals and ended up gaining more confidence and better abilities.
“I’ve learned a lot of etiquette and skills,” Lynn said. “I feel like I can apply that to my public speaking and my daily life.”
Throughout the years, Lynn has had a growing love for performing in musicals and cabarets with his peers. However, he said no show could top the atmosphere that “Newises” had.
“I was close with a lot of cast mates during ‘Newsies’ — it had a really interesting plot to it,” Lynn said. “I had at least a feature role, so I had some kind of character to work with and applying that to the show and connecting my real
CHARLIE LYNN
life person to it made the show interesting.”
While constant rehearsals take up much of Lynn’s time, nothing prepares him more than what he does before going on stage.
“I like to have a moment to breathe,” he said. “[I] turn my phone off and escape reality for a second to get into the plot and my character.”
As Lynn has been involved with performing arts all his life, he sees a future in pursuing the field in college.
“I went to a pre-college audition process, and the whole audition process is very complicated and scary,” Lynn said. “I’m preparing in many ways, and I think I’m going to get a coach that’s going to help me. I’m going to have a few schools I audition at and get accepted to.”
With the close connection he has to theater, Lynn feels like the stage is a place where he can let go and explore his creativity.
“When I’m on stage, I like just forgetting about who I am and becoming someone completely different,” he said. “[I have] the opportunity to change someone’s life in the audience and have them become immersed into this different reality.”
Sara Lynn Rodriguez, 12
How often do you volunteer?
“I volunteer every holiday break or whenever I have free time.”
Blue Valley High has its own club dedicated to volunteering. The Kansas Association of Youth, or KAY club, is an organization that helps students with leadership and communication skills by offering volunteering opportunities.
What is your favorite memory? “One of my favorite memories volunteering was when I was giving tours to first graders. I try to acquaint myself with the little kids by making jokes with them, asking them questions or listening to whatever drama they have. One day while I was volunteering, a boy I was talking to was having a bad day, so I spent my time with him. I made him laugh and was just poking fun at him. At the end of the trip, he asked if I would be at the museum forever so he could always visit me. I thought his gesture was very sweet. I never know what’s going on with these little kids’ home life, so I always try to be the joy at the end of their day so they will have a good memory.”
Where do you volunteer?
“I volunteer at the Museum of Prairiefire. I found it through my sister
This website is a great resource for finding volunteer opportunities. It lists every charity and event in Kansas and helps you find ones in your area.
who was interviewing the VP of the building.”
Why do you volunteer? “At first, I did it for college volunteering hours, but now I do it for the kids. Not every child that visits has an enjoyable childhood so I try to help by building some awesome memories at the Museum of Prairiefire. I like working with children — it’s my highlight at the end of the day. Children are so honest and speak everything on their minds, which is refreshing and hilarious. They make my time volunteering there very enjoyable.”
than 8 or 9, and then the other little boy was probably like 2, and the 10-year-old was taking care of him and was so supportive of the other little kids. It was just uplifting him so much — it was so sweet to see.”
How often do you volunteer? “I get about 50 hours a year.”
What one of your favorite memories?
“These little kids got to come in and pick out from tables a bunch of little gifts for their mom, and then they got to wrap them. One of the last families [that] came in had two little boys and a little girl. The little boy, their oldest kid, was probably no older
Where do you volunteer? “I volunteer with NCL, National Charity League, so we have a list of certain philanthropies that we do.”
Why do you volunteer? “It makes me feel good. I like doing it with my friends and family and getting to see the joy on people’s faces is so much fun.”
Volunteer Kansas Kaitlyn Mize, 10 Photo submitted by Kaitlyn Mize
How often do you volunteer?
“About twice a month.”
Megan Marshall, 10
How often do you volunteer? “About twice a month.”
What is your favorite memory? “One time I volunteered at my church, and this kid gave me a letter [about] how much of an impact I’ve made — it was really nice.”
Where do you volunteer? “I volunteer at Harvesters and Awana, which is a program at my church. Sometimes [I find opportunities] through social media.”
Why do you volunteer? “I love the feeling you get after volunteering. I love the fact that I can help people and give back to the world around me. I want to make a difference and give back to the community.”
What one of your favorite memories? “One of my favorite memories when volunteering was playing for the children’s program this Christmas. The little kids are so cute, especially when they are singing. The kids get to know someone who cares about them, and I like to inspire them to pursue music in their future, too.”
Where do you volunteer? “I volunteer at my church, and I have been attending there every Sunday since I was a baby, so I found that through going with my parents every week.”
Why do you volunteer?
“Volunteering gives other people the opportunity to benefit from attending the service on Sunday mornings. I always try my very best to worship and play all the right notes because I know someone in the congregation might never attend a service again, and I hope to be the person to show them that they should come more often because worshiping together for our God is amazing. I also like to volunteer because I get to do it with my mom. My mom volunteers as the worship deacon of our church. She also sings with me on the team. It has always been really inspiring getting to see my mom up on the stage since I was little, and I think it’s really cool how I get to do it with her now.”
How often do you volunteer?
“I try to volunteer at least three times a month, but usually end up doing more.”
What is your favorite memory? “I was a defense attorney at the JoCo Courthouse and was partnered with another guy from Olathe West. We had a lot of fun writing our cases and representing our respondent. I learned a lot about speaking [and] court rules. We ended up doing pretty well and ended up becoming good friends, too. It’s always cool to meet people when you try new volunteering opportunities.”
Where do you volunteer? “I volunteer at my Mosque, at food kitchens, the Courthouse for Youth Court and blood centers.”
Why do you volunteer? “It’s something productive that makes you actually feel accomplished right away. It’s better than sitting around and playing video games, and it’s a nice break from all of the work and the hassle from school. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s a good way to give back and help people. It’s productive and helps you address problems that are actually visible locally, and I think everyone should try it out at least once.”
Some people are dealing with their own hunger games where food isn’t always a guarantee. Harvesters is a food bank that collects, packages, stores, and distributes donated food to food pantries, community kitchens and shelters who provide groceries or meals to people in need.
The American Red Cross not only hosts blood drives but responds to house fires in local neighborhoods, helps service members, veterans and families, and teaches first aid and CPR to communities.
dayna bemiss | staff writer
Although movies are more popular than books among teenagers, fantasy series like “Shatter Me,” “Throne of Glass” and “The Hunger Games” get checked out regularly at the school library.
The fanfare of “The Hunger Games” died down slightly in the late 2010s until the “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” movie came out last fall.
Now, according to BV librarians Caitlin Neneman and Mary Ellen Gojcevic, the series cannot stay on the shelves.
Despite hearing good things from students, Gojcevic hasn’t read the series, and Neneman is hesitant to watch the new “Hunger Games” prequel movie. Neneman has a lot of book-to-screen movies on her list to watch, as she is a big believer in reading books before the movie adaptations.
“I haven’t been watching a lot of movies,” Neneman said. “A lot of times, they don’t live up to the hype
and then I just get disappointed.”
However, she did watch the first three movies in the series.
“I enjoyed [the movies], but I felt like the first one stuck the truest to the book compared to the other two,” she said. “There are so many little details in the books they had to cut out for the movies.”
Gojcevic said it’s always good to read the book first.
“A lot of times in the movies, they have to take pieces out to make it exciting,” she said. “Sometimes they change the plot a little bit.”
Gojcevic said movies based on books are best when the author is included a great deal.
“The [movies] that have been worth it to see are the ones where they’ve included the authors in the screenwriting,” Gojcevic said.
Neneman agrees with Gojcevic in that some movie adaptations are not worth seeing.
“I’m afraid the heart would almost be lost [for some books],” Neneman said.
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see two staff writers’ takes on books vs. movies on pages 30-31
sami sandler | staff writer
Whether they teach algebra, history or life lessons, teachers at BV guide students toward success, going above and beyond each day to support high schoolers.
“A teacher I look up to is for sure Mr. Dolezal,” sophomore Jonas Schultz said.
Schultz said some traits of a good mentor include someone with sympathy, empathy, and patience. Honesty and openness were also key qualities to Schultz.
“I personally look for someone who’s more dependable and reliable,” Schultz said. “I need some sort of stability when it comes to someone I look up to because I aspire to be someone who can be dependable for someone else.”
During Schultz’s time at BV, Dolezal has adopted the mentor role, as Schultz describes him as that “dependable and reliable” person he looks for.
“Whenever I was first getting into high school, I had questions and [Dolezal] was there for me to ask those questions, not only about school, but also some key life questions,” Schultz said. “I believe there would have been a missing piece to school [without him]. I would have lost more my freshman year if it weren’t for him.”
Schultz said Dolezal helped him discover interests beyond the school day.
“I really stressed about grades all throughout middle school and wanted to be that perfect straight-A student,” Schultz said. “I learned that I have other outside things that are important to me too. I realized [with his advice] that having a perfect 4.0 GPA is not everything to me.”
Teachers like Dolezal don’t just focus on curriculumbased education but try to get to know students and teach them life lessons.
“Outside of school, he opened my mind up to different aspects of [my life],” Schultz said. “There’s one thing that he always says: ‘Never be a stranger.’ That’s [something] I’d like to continue to do. Whenever I see people I know, I always try to say hi or whenever I see him, of course, I always say hi and have a little conversation.”
Dolezal has left his mark on many students, and Schultz is just one example.
“He has definitely inspired me to be someone better than I previously was,” Schultz said.
| PHOTO BY SAMI SANDLER
Lexis Hampton, 12
“Me and Jacey are very close. I think she’s just the mini version of me — I see a lot of myself in her. I would voluneeter myself for her. I don’t think I could live with myself if something happened to her if I knew I could have done something to prevent it, and honestly I’d rather be in ‘The Hunger Games’ and something happen to me then be an only child and not have Jacey to keep me entertained.”
Jacey Hampton, 10
“We’re very close and we share the same interests, the same style, and we’re very compatible with our personalities. I would 100% voluneeter for my sister just because she’s my sister.”
Emmy Byrd, 11
“Me and my brother are close, and I think it’s because we live together and are close in age. I probably would volunteer myself for my brother because that’d be really cool to live in the capital for a little bit and because of course I love my brother.”
Hudson, Byrd, 12
“Me and my sister are pretty close — I think I would sacrifice myself for Emmy in ‘The Hunger Games.’”
Claire Younger, 12
“My sister and I are very close — she is my best friend. We are like the same person with different hair colors. I probably would volunteer myself to be in it because she wouldn’t last a day in ‘The Hunger Games,’ and I think I would.”
Lauren Younger, 10
“My sister and I are best friends and are really close, she knows everything about me. I would volunteer myself for her, but I know she would survive a lot longer in ‘The Hunger Games’ than I ever would.”
feature february 2024
design by miranda henry
With the rise of home surveillance, video doorbells such as Rings can be seen almost everywhere. Originally created to put an end to porch piracy and make home life more convenient, they have become a staple to most households.
While they can be very helpful, these doorbells have a motion sensor and often record anything and everything going on around them, which can end up in some pretty strange photos and videos.
REC
67% of students have video doorbells
based on a survey of 177 students
“My family was testing the doorbell for the first time. My dad went up to the camera and made one of the funniest faces I’ve seen to date. We still use the picture from the footage today and send it to each other.”
- Everett Davis, 11“One of my neighbors play[ed] the Reveille trumpet wake up call at our door with a kid’s toy trumpet.”- KJ Murphy, 11
“There was a little kid who came up on Halloween [who] yelled [at] the screen and then broke our porch railing.”
- Isabelle Liekhus, 9 callie dyches | staff writerName Name Name
Daniel Cheon, 10 AJ Vasa, 11
One item needed to survive at BV | Energy drink
“I get tired, and all my friends get tired — energy drinks are the best thing ever. Energy drinks allow you to power through the long classes. They also allow you to perform better in sports, too. If you are a busy person who cannot get enough sleep, it’s the only solution.
One Tip to Survive at BV | “You need to stay alert just like in the wild. Find priorities, whether they are focusing on lectures, finishing homework, or studying for a test.”
One item needed to survive at BV | Pencil pouch -
“Definitely a pencil pouch full of pencils because there are so many people who ask you for pencils, and it’s so annoying, especially when you don’t have any.
One Tip to Survive at BV | “Maybe just stay awake. Stay, alert, jot down any notes that you can. Try to make it through the day — maybe get an energy drink or something because it’s really long, but it’s pretty easy.”
a&e february 2024
Name
One item needed to survive at BV | Toilet paper
“I was in the bathroom and I noticed there was no toilet paper. I waited for somebody to come and I [asked for] some toilet paper, and the other stall does not have toilet paper. So go get a janitor, and it’s been half an hour without toilet paper.”
One Tip to Survive at BV | “Plan your bathroom breaks. I have a schedule on Google calendars. If you’re really in a rush, you don’t want to walk halfway across the school to use a bathroom. That could be a pretty stinky situation.”
One item needed to survive at BV |Headphones
“My headphones help me focus in class, and [I] watch a lot of YouTube videos to understand new concepts.”
One Tip to Survive at BV | “Get to know your teachers. They’ll help you out a lot. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, too. That’s a big one, especially in math. I’d say teachers can help if you’re struggling with a new concept, and teachers are happy to take the time to walk you through that problem.”
Would you last in the Hunger Games?
“I’m really clumsy and then I’d step on a branch and then someone would find me.”
What is one thing you would need to survive?
“Chapstick because when [my lips are] really dry, I just can’t do it. I don’t care if I die — they just can’t be dry.”
Would you last in the Hunger Games?
“I’d definitely use the hiding tactic because I can’t fight, so I try to avoid everyone. When it comes down to the final battle, I’d probably give up because I don’t really care. I don’t care about my district — I would just lose. If I’m dead, my district can’t be disapointed in me because I’m dead.”
What is one thing you would need to survive?
“My phone because I’m not trying to survive, but I’ll [be] entertained out of my phone.”
Would you last in the Hunger Games?
“I would last because I am resourceful and can find sources of food and water. I will also be able to make alliances with others in the game.”
What is one thing you would need to survive?
“An axe because it can be resourceful and you can use it in multiple ways.”
Would you last in the Hunger Games?
“I don’t think I’d last because I have bad nerves, so I’d probably be one of the people that got blown up in the first couple of seconds because I stepped off the platform way too early. I false start in track and I feel like that would carry over to the Hunger Games.”
What is one thing you would need to survive?
“There’s nothing that I could bring in to help me survive. I genuinely think I have no chance at survival in ‘The Hunger Games.’”
Would you last in the games?
“I would last through the first couple of days; then I would probably do something dumb and eat poison berries on accident or fall off a cliff.”
What is one thing you would need to survive?
“I’d take my phone and vlog the whole thing to get more sponsors.”
Phaelin Jones, 11 Justin Robertson, 11
Jahnavi Parasker, 12
Why are you on his team?
“I’m team Peeta for life — being team Gale is a red flag. Gale killed [Katniss’ sister] Primrose, has zero regard for human life, expects Katniss to love him as [if] she owes it to him when she’s trying to make sure her family doesn’t die and would never understand her because he’s never been in ‘The [Hunger Games’] arena. Peeta, on the other hand, cares very much about human life, admits to his mistakes and fixes [them] and understands her on a level Gale never will because they are both survivors of the Hunger Games. Also, Katniss never loved Gale. She literally told him she didn’t want children and then went and had them with Peeta. [Essentially], the last scene of ‘Mockingjay’ is the best example of why Peeta is for Katniss and not Gale. It explains that Peeta is a dandelion in the spring, a symbol of renewal and a promise that life can go on after destruction. Gale is a bum.”
Favorite character? “Katniss. She is a girlboss and one of the best literary characters of all time.”
Favorite part of the franchise? “Catching Fire.”
Victoria Magee-Bryant, 9
Why are you on his team?
“I’m on team Peeta because to me, he makes the whole movies. He knew how to play [in the arena] and his romance with Katniss [was] really cute.”
Favorite character? “Finnick.”
Favorite part of the franchise? “Catching Fire.”
Andrew Monahan, 10
Why are you on his team? “I am a proud member of Team Gale because it’s simply the better option. Just starting at baseline, use usability. Gale is like a combine harvester, and Peeta is like a rake. Gale has the animal inside him, and Peeta has a little bunny not inside him. Gale’s like a big bear and Peeta’s like a post-it note. Furthermore, Gale’s hair is so much better than Peeta’s. I have nothing against blond people, but if you’re looking at base attractiveness, it’s just indisputable that Gale is the one you’re going to choose. He’s a nine at worst. Peeta doesn’t even look jacked in the movies. Gale is everything I want to be, and it’s clear to me that he’s better than Peeta. Who wants a short king instead of a big forest dweller?”
Favorite character? “Primrose. She’s a short king.”
Favorite part of the franchise? “The realism. It makes you think that you could be in that universe fighting for your life. Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine that I’m Gale out hunting in the forest.”
Elsie Lipari, 10
Why are you on his team?
“I’m on team Gale because he’s the stronger one. I feel like Peeta gives off such baby vibes — he covers himself up and hides in a cave. [On the other hand], Gale is strong and would take a whip for Katniss. He’s the more attractive one, too.”
Favorite character? “Rue because she’s really courageous. She was proof that anyone can do anything.”
Favorite part of the franchise? “The first ‘Hunger Games.’ It was good because it was the original and there wasn’t anything added on.”
Name? Harrison Grant, 10
What did you do? “[I] broke into an [abandoned] school, It was pretty dark in there, and there was music playing, so it was kind of scary at first.”
Name? Amaris Stephenson, 12
Why? “My brother knew where the school was and [my friends and I wanted to go, so we] found an entrance, and if something goes wrong we run.”
Would you do it again? “yes”
Name? Carson Hisle, 11
What did you do? “Back in middle school, [I would] walk around grabbing random stuff like traffic cones and hand sanitizer [and then] put it in random lockers”
Name? Carson Hisle, 11
Why? “I thought it was really funny with my friends just sneaking around Would you do it again? “Right now? No”
Name? Ranger Kesarapalli, 11
What did you do? “Last year, me and my brothers were outside in the snow. Our driveway is on a slope, but we didn't have sleds, so we used boxes. Our driveway is at the bottom of the hill, of course, and I absolutely crashed into the driveway — there is still a dent in the garage.”
What did you do? “I did the salt and ice challenge in middle school, [in the challenge] you put salt on your skin and then ice on top of it so it’d get really cold then give you a burn.”
Why? “We really, really wanted to go sledding, and we had never done anything like that before; we were looking up ways [to go sledding without sleds] and we had a bunch of boxes, so we flattened them — they worked.” Would you do it again? “Yes, I did it again.”
What did you do? “Back in middle school [I would] just walk around grabbing random stuff like traffic cones and hand sanitizer [and I would] put it in random lockers”
Name? Ranger Kesarapalli, 11
Why? “I think I saw it on tiktok, maybe musically at the time, and I was like ‘so many people are doing this’ – I thought it was a good idea because no one told me it actually burned. Would you do it again? “No. it peeled off my skin [so] I had to get [that] piece of my skin taken off and stitched up.”
Name? Harrison Grant, 10
Why? “I thought it was really funny with my friends just sneaking around Would you do it again? “Right now, no”
What did you do? “I did the salt and ice challenge in middle school [where] you put salt on your skin and then ice on top of it so it’d get really cold [and] give you a burn.”
Name? Amaris Stevenson, 12
Why? “I saw it on TikTok, and I was like ‘So many people are doing this’ — I thought it was a good idea because no one told me it actually burned.”
What did you do? “[I] broke into an [abandoned] school. It was pretty dark in there, and there was music playing, so it was kind of scary at first.”
What did you do? “Last year, me and my brothers were outside in the snow, and our driveway is on a slope, but we didn't have sleds, so we used boxes. Our driveway is at the bottom of the hill of course, and I absolutely crashed into the driveway — there is still a dent in the garage.”
Would you do it again? “No. It peeled off my skin [so] I had to get [that] piece of my skin taken off and stitched up.”
Why? “My brother knew where the school was and [my friends and I wanted to go, so we] found an entrance, and if something goes wrong, we run.”
Why? “We really really wanted to go sledding, and we had never done anything like that before; we were looking up ways [to go sledding without sleds] and we had a bunch of boxes, so we flattened them — they worked.”
Would you do it again? “Yes, but everyone had a cough after [we broke in] — probably asbestos [from the old insulation].”
Would you do it again? “Yes, I did it again this year.”
jessica toomay
| staff writer
From a very early age, I was exposed to TV — more specifically, reality TV. For years I watched several of these shows; however, as I have gotten older I have felt as though something was off when watching them.
One of the first shows that I ever watched was “Dance Moms,” a reality TV show that follows the competition team, starting at the ages of 6 to 9, of the Abby Lee Miller Dance Company.
While viewing the show as I grew up, I began to notice the conditions that the girls in the show were being placed in. The competition team members were being exposed to several amounts of suffering both mentally and physically.
The girls would be subjected to extremely harmful verbal and mental abuse from Miller as well as put their bodies through severe amounts of physical stress dancing every day for several hours.
Several members of the team have talked about their experience on the show and how it has affected them and continues to affect them. One member, Chloe Lukasiak, posted a TikTok with a caption that explained how she did not remember parts of the four years she spent on the show because the experience was “so traumatizing” for her.
As I began to find all of this information about these girls’ experiences, I wondered how individuals could be put through, as well as sign up for, extreme amounts of suffering for the entertainment of others.
I have also begun to wonder how people could watch others go through these events and not be concerned about their well-being but still use it as a form of entertainment. When mass media presents these shows as fun things to watch and laugh at, it causes society as a whole to become desensitized to the pain that humans may go through, both mentally and emotionally.
Another important example of this is the show “Love Island.” “Love Island” is a show where a group of single adults move into a villa together and must find love within the group in order to win a cash prize of 50,000£ or about $63,000.
“Love Island” has been viewed by the public as a fun and harmless show where people go to find love and possibly be able to win money as well. What people have not realized, with this as well as several other shows, is that these contestants are being placed in an environment that is extremely toxic to where it can cause severe mental health issues.
This was shown when it was reported that three different people, including the original host of the show, took their lives, which has since created a debate about the ethics of reality TV. From the drama that is sparked on these shows, whether it be between the participants or created by the producers, to the constant beauty standards that have to be upheld, these individuals are being subjected to situations that can cause mental health issues in order to give people a show to watch.
Reality TV has immense power over people, especially younger generations, so much so that it can blind them into not seeing the suffering that these participants are going through. These shows have the ability to make people become invested in these individuals to the point where they are more concerned with if they win than if they are in a safe situation.
While it is good that society is beginning to become aware of what they are watching, there still needs to be safety regulations, protocols and overall care given to these individuals so they do not have to endure pain for the pleasure of others.
Instead of watching more and more individuals become victims of being harmed for entertainment, people should start to stand up for these participants and demand the environment they are put in is one they will have protection and peace in while filming their respective shows.
cady reynolds | staff writer
Every decade’s trends come back, for better or worse. No matter how you felt about them, the early 2010s were iconic, and many have noticed fads and cultural elements returning.
First, let’s start with fashion; the Uggs. The Uggs were a statement of the early 2010s and — whether you thought they were ugly or cute — you saw them. Now what are you seeing all the time? You could say they never left, but I would disagree. Another classic of the early 2010s was tracksuits. Even though they are ugly, they are now chic in 2024.
But, the biggest way the early 2010s are coming back is through the media.
The iconic dystopian movie genre peaked in the early 2010s with “The Hunger Games” trilogy, the “Maze Runner” movies, and even “Divergent,” which are now resurgent. “The Hunger Games” in particular saw a renaissance early last year with the prequel “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doing so well at the box office and being such a hot topic, we are reliving that era.
The revival goes past just the media, however — even the actors in the originals had massive boosts in popularity due to the prequel. Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss in “The Hunger Games,” is at the center of pop culture again.
This renaissance of not only the movies coming back but also the culture and the actors proves how desperate people are for another early
2010s. I noticed this a lot at the end of last year, 2010s music came back into my life and it was for the better.
The early 2010s were — for a lot of us — our childhood. This is emphasized with COVID being right at the decade change, very clearly separating the two.
Pre-COVID — our childhoods — was another life compared to the current years. Being indoors for a year due to lockdown has such a stark contrast when compared to the years prior.
The early 2010s are remembered as fun, light-hearted and carefree, and while I know those are not necessarily accurate depictions, it is how many of us felt. The early 2010s are bound to come back and it might be sooner than you think.
So, with the knowledge that the era is back on the rise, what trends should come back?
Vine, fidget spinners and silly bands are some I think should make a return.
However, when talking about media coming back around, like “The Hunger Games” as much as love the books and movies glorify murder in a way that I don’t think should come back.
Some trends should firmly stay beyond the bands of COVID.
The early 2010s are often romanticized as are our childhoods, but the trends returning leave room for us to dissect them and question their influence.
High cheekbones, long legs, pale skin, extremely skinny women wearing glitzy, glamorous clothes that no sane person would wear. You feel sick. You’re entranced. The clothes and the models are as beautiful as they are unattainable. Are you really fit to be looking at this?
It’s no secret that runway fashion is nothing like what we wear in our day-to-day lives.
Last year, a Viktor & Rolf fashion show went viral because the models were wearing dresses sideways, upside down, diagonally — pretty much in every way but how you’re supposed to. It looked ridiculous and was obviously completely unwearable in any real-life situation, but I thought it was so captivating. Even if I couldn’t figure out exactly what, I knew it was saying something.
It’s difficult to analyze runway fashion without acknowledging its exclusionary aspect. Runway fashion has a history of being extremely narrowminded and often toxic. For decades, models were almost exclusively white, tall and skinny.
Even now, when we have started to see
opinion february 2024
design by ashling bahadursingh
more diversity, there is pushback and reminiscing on “the old days.” The culture around models is infamous for being detrimental to people’s physical and mental health.
It’s easy, and frankly not completely untrue, to say that runway fashion is absurd and pretentious. It isn’t functional for the average person to be wearing out. It’s trying to be cutting-edge, ahead of the curve and it is being advertised to the absurdly rich. The whole concept feels dystopian.
But still, I think there’s something more to it. The point of runway fashion isn’t for normal people to love it and go out to buy it. It’s trying to make a statement and leave a lasting impression on people’s minds. It’s impossible to judge runway fashion off just the idea of whether it’s nice to look at or if we could wear it in our everyday lives — because that isn’t what it’s set out to do. It is its own form of art. It’s impossible to assign an objective description to something as subjective and diverse as this, so I can’t really say if it’s good or bad. What I can say is that it’s interesting, and it makes you think, and isn’t that what all art is supposed to do?
nikoo tahmasebi | staff writer
In the dim lighting of the movie theater the only thing piercing 30 sets of eyes is the taunting countdown ringing through the speakers.
Fifteen, fourteen, now thirteen seconds appear in its bright neon glory to captivate the audience in its beauty. To replace the fleeting glow is the gut-wrenching sequence of animalistic violence between 24 children; one knifed to death, the other’s head smashed in, and another decapitated. This is “The Hunger Games.”
While “The Hunger Games” trilogy uses violence to convey sentiments towards anti-war movements, is that portrayal going against the original morals? Sylvie Mrug, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Alabama Birmingham, helps us understand this question with a study she conducted in 2014.
When analyzing college students’ blood pressure when watching violent media the study concluded that increased exposure leads to a lack of empathy. The findings were consistent with the diagnosis of desensitization — or a diminished emotional response to a type of stimuli.
What is more worrying from this study is the initial rapid increase in blood pressure that the participants experienced when first exposed, which went down after time.
This patterned reaction is the same as gambling addicts who repeat their self-destroying actions to rechase the same high. Mrug’s study can be a wakeup call to the violence current media is pushing because just like any other addiction, this can motivate individuals to seek more violence.
Now don’t push this away yet — I am in no way trying to dissuade anyone from another Fortnite victory royale; however, I am asking you to look at the world that these killings have created. It is no coincidence that video games and movies have become more gruesome over time from 20 years ago. Each new movie or game tries to top the graphics and details from the last one, hoping to gain more attention and traction.
This ideology specifically caters to those who have been desensitized from the highest levels of violence trying to reach that “high” again. The rush to “kill or be killed” can become so overbearing that we forget how to feel sorrow for the ones being killed.
I have been a fan of “The Hunger Games” since middle school, but if you asked me to name a single one of the tributes that was killed in the first minute, I would go blank. Could you? Could even the most dedicated of fans?
Violence has become so normalized that even one person dying isn’t large enough of an emotional impact to make the viewer think. The amount of sensitivity toward someone shouldn’t be based on their presence behind a screen nor how horrifying their death is in the scene.
It is imperative in times of technological advancements in anonymity and accessibility that we look at the world past the screen and at one another.
Empathy is nothing to think lightly of, and I hope that none of us ever lose the ability. In a world where violence is easier to access than kindness, I urge everyone to choose the latter in such a complex world.
Bgaby ayres | staff writer
Between the book and movie version, the book is the better choice.
ooks have been an inspiration for movies as long as film has existed, with film director George Miélès releasing two adaptations in 1899.
Despite the long-running history of book-to-movie adaptations, movies have never achieved the same magic that books carry. Staying true to the author’s intentions and allowing readers to become a part of the story, the book is simply the better choice.
There are many limitations due to the very nature of film. Budget, technology available and acting ability all are factors that contribute to the success of a movie, which are not inherent to the publishing world. Even animated remakes of books do not have the same level of freedom because of time constraints.
The elaborate details authors use to build their worlds cannot all be included in the movie, or it would go hours past the standard run-time. The story must change to fit the structure of the movie, which more times than not, creates a worse tale.
Character development is a part of books often hit hard. The small details which build a character may seem insignificant but show the audience that the character is dynamic and that they can change. The b-plots movies remove to build space often change the entire way a character is portrayed and limits the audiences’ understanding of their actions.
Ultimately the change in format from book to movie is a dangerous one. The changes, no matter how small or delicately decided, are going to stray from the author’s original intent. Books will always provide more detail, the very same details which immerse the readers into the story.
Rome was not built in a day — books are not read in a day. The story is a part of the reader’s life for much longer
and is more impactful because of it.
By slowing down the process of media consumption, readers can easily reach a higher level of thinking and understanding. The reader can think of what words mean in a certain context without missing the next scene.
The pace of the work is entirely in the control of the audience, something that is impossible with the movie counterpart. The lengthy duration that it takes to read has only improved my experience — I get truly enraptured by my favorite books and often dream about what I had read that day.
The visualization necessary to read a book causes the plot to sink into my brain unlike any other media. The lack of visual stimuli allows readers to interpret the story in a unique way, creating something that may better apply to their own struggles in the real world and something that becomes a source of inspiration years to come.
I find myself relating to the main characters of books more despite the fact that I cannot see the characters’ faces because the character is more malleable. The very reason many readers refuse to watch a series before reading the books is that watching the series ruins the magic of imagining the book’s plot and characters for themselves.
I would never advocate against ditching films. However, I hope this article can serve as a convincing argument to pick up the original book version of your favorite movie remake and see what you think. Maybe the book will turn into something you never expected.
audrey erickson | staff writer
From the magic of a theater to the comfort of your own home, watching a movie is a great way to pass time and escape from the real world into a magical story.
Watching a movie can easily become a way to bond with people around you, from a family movie night to a first date.
Watching a movie with your friends is a great way to hang out and learn about each other’s interests. Reading a book with somebody and talking about it after the fact just isn’t the same. Experiencing the story together allows for conversation about the content and closer relationships being built.
One of the best parts of a movie is the beautiful scenery and colors depicted on screen. The movie “Avatar” is a great example of someone putting their imagination on a screen and using special effects to create a scenic image throughout the movie. The magic of “Avatar” simply couldn’t be recreated through words on a page the same way it is in the animated film.
Another genre that a book can’t fully recreate is action. I love Marvel movies because of the action and movement being depicted throughout the film. Sure a comic book can use pictures to show some action, but it doesn’t fully depict each detail.
Every punch, dodge and kick can’t be fully recreated through a book and is difficult to imagine in your head. There is just something about the rhythm of two skilled opponents fighting each other that doesn’t hit the same without the image on screen.
I find movies a much more relaxing and accessible pastime in contrast to a book. When reading a book, you have to create the story in your own head, fill in the blanks, come up with your own depiction of what characters and the setting look like, and sometimes infer the tone or attitude of a character.
A lot of people say they see a movie in their head while reading, but if that’s true, why not just watch a movie? It has the same effect with way less brain power.
Movies are also so much quicker than books. A lot of people just don’t have time to read the four-book “Hunger Games” series but do have time to watch a couple movies throughout the week.
Another detail that makes a movie better than a book is the soundtrack. Many amazing songs have been written for the sole purpose of being used in a movie like “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift or “You Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo. Another iconic example is The Greatest Showman soundtrack full of amazing songs like “This is Me” or “The Greatest Show.”
I can’t tell you how many songs I have discovered or rediscovered from watching a movie, and that just isn’t a feature you get from reading. Even if you don’t care for the music, the background sounds of birds chirping, leaves crunching or waves crashing adds so much to a story — trying to imagine those sounds in your head just isn’t the same as actually listening to them.
The little details and beautiful scenery is why I would prefer to watch a movie instead of read a book.
Would you rather read “The Hunger Games” or watch the movie?
| 177 STUDENTS SURVEYED
Peeta & Clinton Hellwig
Katniss & Hannah Gold Gold, 11
I don’t really see the resemblance, but she’s my family’s favorite character, so I am glad that I got told I look like her.
Student voted ‘The Hunger Games’ lookalikes
People call me [Peeta] all the time. At first I didn’t see it, but over time I can kind of see how I look like him. Hellwig, 9
Lucy & Ava Luetje
I’m honestly surprised people think I look like her. I think we could maybe be cousins. Luetje, 12
Tigress & Ava McGuire
I’m so flattered to be in comparison with [her] because I think she’s absolutely beautiful. McGuire, 12
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words & design by jackie chang
Cinna & Manuel Onentia
I guess I can see it. [It’s] strange, but I’ll take it. Onentia, 10
Coriolanus & Brek Johnson
I mean, the hair’s kind of [similar] when I first got it [bleached] and it was shorter. Johnson, 9
Sejanus & Sagie Snir
I don’t fully disagree [but] it’s most probably the hair. I’m OK with that — there’s worse options for sure. Snir, 10