Feb 2016 edition by C.E. Sikkenga

blade

MADNESS Instability freak D e p r e s s i o n Bulimia Darkness BRAIN anorexia disturbed a l o n e hysteria Manifestations MANIA delusion THERAPIST c l i n i c a l disorder OCD s u i c i d a l

the

hysteria

Phobia neurosis Breakdown hysteria hopeless self harm Bipolar Disorder Instability Paranoia genetic PANIC Depression Bulimia MadnessmedicationREHAB psychosis AUTISM delusions P T S D disorder PSCHO f a i l u r e TRAUMA ego Obsessive WEIRDO

sad counselor BINGE support screw up

Managing

behavioral D IAGNOSIS hormones deterioration MANIA

rehab CRISIS self helphospital PURGING phase weird disorder D a r k n e s s Abuse social h o t l i n e outburst dyslexia emotional STRESS risky freak BINGE broken institute disorder Bulimia delusions P T S D MADNESS Obsessive anorexia Breakdown Manifestations BRAIN Students struggle with counselor Bulimia hopeless neurosis disturbed mental health issues but disorder

your mind

hysteria psychosis PSCHO Genetic OCD self harm have little knowledge p. 19 s u i c i d a l Paranoia a l o n e s.a.d

screw up

MANIA depression f a i l u r e ego support

Panic REHAB Bipolar Disorder hormones c l i n i c a lhysteria REHAB WEIRDO u n s t a b l e THERAPIST medication delusion FEBRUARY 19, 2016 V o l u m e 7 1 I s s ue 4

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Darkness BRAIN anorexia disturbed a l o n e hysteria Manifestations MANIA delusion

What’s Inside THeraPiST

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dIsorder oCD s u i c i d a l

Phobia neurosis Breakdown hysteria HoPeleSS self harM Bipolar DisorDer Instability Paranoia genetic PaniC February 2016 Depression Bulimia MaDnessmedicationREHAB psychosis AUTISM delusions PTSD disorder PSCHO f a i l u r e traUMa ego obsessive WEIRDO

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2 INDEX

Volume 71, Issue 4

sad counselor BINGE support screw up

Behavioral D IAGNOSIS hormones Deterioration MANIA

rehab CRISIS Self HelPhospital PurGinG PHaSE weird disorder Darkness Abuse soCial h o t l i n e ouTBurST dyslexia emotional STRESS risky freak BINGe broken institute dIsorder Bulimia delusions PTSD MADNESS Obsessive anorexia Breakdown BRAIN MANifEStAtioNS neurosis disturbed counselor Bulimia hopeless dIsoRdeR hysteria psychosis PSCHO Genetic oCD self harm s u i c i d a l Paranoia a l o n e s.a.d

screw up

MANIA depression f a i l u r e ego support Panic REHAB Bipolar DisorDer hormones c l i n i c a lhysteria REHAB WEIRDO u n s t a b l e THERAPIST medication delusion JANUARY 18, 2016 VolUme 71 IssUe 3

Star of the court

Freshman Alli Keyser transfers from Spring Lake and shocks her new classmates on the court.

w wTHE w . b u cBUCS’ s b l a d e . cBLADE om Jonas G r a n d H a v e n H i g h S c h o o l ’ s s t u d eGraphics n t p u b l i c a tby i o nElizabeth o f c o m m u Tibbe n i t y s i g nPhoto i f i c a n c eby sin c e 1 9 2Quirin 7

ON THE COVER: There is a large stigma surrounding mental health issues and many people are uneducated on them.

Featured Topic

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE TIME FOR A CHANGE: Principal Tracy Wilson has been working with a mental health team since 2012 to create a curriculum that gives tools to students and staff members that they can use for the rest of their lives. She encourages struggling students to ask for help and to reach out to others. She wants peers to be made aware of present mental health issues and warning signs of possible mental disorders.

WILSON’S PRESENTATION DATES SENIORS 7:40-10:51 a.m. March 15 JUNIORS 7:40-10:51 a.m. March 21 SOPHOMORES 7:40-10:51 a.m. March 22 FRESHMEN 7:40-10:51 a.m. March 23 8 NEWS

No more nightmares Principal Tracy Wilson implements mental health initiative to educate community and prevent student suicides

Emily Bruch / News Editor & Landon Hudson / Editor in Chief

rincipal Tracy Wilson remembers when the police officer appeared at the doors of the former Grand Haven Senior High School gym. The strong-willed coach was not about to leave her volleyball girls during an important practice. She remembers resisting his pleas to follow him outside. She remembers assistant principal Mike Roberson urging her to leave the building- no was not an option. She remembers reluctantly walking with the officer towards the back of the school, as she stood in the back stairwell, all

anxious thoughts in her head were suddenly silenced by her highpitched scream as she fell to her knees. She knew what he was going to say. Wilson’s father, who had been battling depression for multiple years, had passed away. A suicide the family was not prepared for took the life of her dad and in the process tore them apart. A nightmare they hoped would never become reality. From that day on, Wilson was determined to help others struggling with depression so that their family would never feel the

pain hers did. Nearly 15 years later, the topic of suicide reemerged when a GHHS student took their own life. The first ripple in what was to sadly become the wave. In the past year, the school has lost three students to suicide. This is a trend Wilson and her team are dedicated to fighting and destroying. Wilson began brainstorming ways to fulfill the emotional needs of her students, the first inkling of what would later turn into a district-wide campaign. “Mental health has been a really big part of who I am for a great number of years, for

personal influence and personal reasons,” Wilson said. “Here as a professional, I have seen and been witness to the enormous amount of emotional needs that our students have come to the table with each school year. In my 27 years as an employee, and as a teacher, a coach, an administrator, I have seen that emotional need grow and I’ve seen it grow at an astronomical rate in the last five to six years.” Through extensive trainings and the creation of a mental health initiative, Wilson is ready to take on what has been pushed under the rug for so long. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Featured Topic The gears for her campaign started turning in 2011, after a student died by suicide when Wilson was an assistant principal. The following school year, she became building principal and started investigating programs that could meet the needs of struggling students. In Spring 2012, Wilson brought in a team from the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan (MHFWM) to speak to student senate advisors, social workers, central office workers, and other members from around the district to discuss mental health and curriculum opportunities. Wilson and her team decided they did not want to start a new mental health program every year, but they wanted something longlasting. “We have all of those mandates (from the state) and then we have this mental health curriculum need,” Wilson said. “That’s not part of reading, writing, math, and arithmetic, and so you have to find a way to imbed that with what you do already, without impeding the instructional process that has to happen for the accountability system. In my mind, which is only my opinion, it’s totally backwards. Because if we don’t take care of our students minds and our students hearts, we’re never going to take care of the academic part.” One of Wilson’s immediate goals is to have all district staff members trained by a program called Question Persuade Refer (QPR). Wilson stated that it is the CPR training of mental health, and it teaches people how to look for warning signs and prevent suicides. Wilson thought this training program was too heavy, and a different model would be needed for the student body. Originally, plans were made to provide all freshmen with the Live Laugh Love curriculum starting next school year. But due to the immediate need for mental support, the school partnered up with the West Michigan Mental Health Foundation to give all students

Pay It Forward group plans mental health presentation Emma Sachteleben / Reporter

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE REMINISCING: In 1996 Principal Tracy Wilson’s father died by suicide. The death rattled the family and leads to implementation of mental health initiative.

grades 9 through 12 a condensed version of this curriculum in March. The catalyst to put this campaign in action by the end of this school year was the death of a freshman last October and the death of a student’s parent. “You don’t know what that feels like in your gut and in your heart when you have been working so hard to get in front of it,” Wilson said. “It’s very hard to step away from that and not take that personally. I understand that we as a school community cannot save everybody, but by God we’re going to do our best to try.” Though the initiative will eventually be district-wide, the mental health team thought the high school was the best place to start. “Adolescence is typically when mental health issues start to rear their heads,” social worker Emily Berry said. “That’s why we thought your population was in need first.” According to the program coordinator for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan Kandice Sloop, the goal of the Live Laugh Love curriculum is to educate students on the importance of having good mental health. “The program educates students on mental health and get students to start talking about their mental health, how they think, act and feel,” Sloop said. “Mental illnesses

“I understand that we as a school community cannot save everybody, but by God we’re going to do our best to try.” Principal Tracy Wilson

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

are just as important as physical illnesses, this program aims to decrease the stigma associated around mental illnesses.” There are four sections that come with the program. The first lesson deals with tearing down the stigma that is often associated with mental disorders. The second aims to educate students and staff on looking for warning signs of depression. The next step specifies how to prevent suicides and help students dealing with self-harm. Lastly, risk and protective factors cover where to receive support for mental conditions. “We have seen a significant increase in students dealing with mental health issues, we want to help our students and we feel you guys are asking for that education and asking for that help,” Berry said. “The administration is listening and realizing it’s important.” Students will take a test before and after they are given the curriculum to determine what they’ve learned. Moving forward, parts of the Live Laugh Love program will be used in school improvement lessons throughout the year. The hope is that the lessons will be sustainable, and students will have tools not just for high school but for life. “It’s not going to be a one-anddone,” Wilson said. “You can’t learn everything and fix everything by having one conversation or one lesson. This has to be more than just a general surface-scratching of awareness. We’re going to have to dig below the surface to make sure that kids know it’s okay to say ‘I need help.’”

According to the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan (MHFWM), one out of five teens has a problem with mental health in a given year. In response to the growing outbreak of mental health issues, a group of Pay It Forward seniors are organizing a student lead assembly to show their peers how to reach out a helping hand to those afflicted. The MHFWM is a local group dedicated to raising awareness about mental health problems. The foundation will be facilitating a presentation for high school students in March. Here they will discuss mental health issues and concerns that adolescents face today. After this presentation, the Pay It Forward group will conduct their own presentation. “Students will be more (accepting) of it, whereas if it was teacher led or led by other professionals we were afraid that students wouldn’t take it as seriously and they wouldn’t pay attention as much and it wouldn’t have a bigger impact,” senior Pay It Forward group member Mikaela Kroll said. The group’s presentation will feature four students who have individual stories to share about their personal experiences with mental illness. Each of the four presenters will represent a different social group so students will have a better chance of recognizing a peer on stage. “When students see the presentation, they can relate to someone,” senior Pay It Forward member Abigail Nesbitt said. “It’s to show that we’re all here to help and we all want to help.” The MHFWM’s presentation will be facilitated by Principal Tracy Wilson and it will go hand in hand with the student presentation. “(Wilson) is teaching more about what to do and we’re just trying to show that everyone is different,” Kroll said. Besides the presentation, the group will also soon begin selling “Love a Buc, Help a Buc” t-shirts at lunch for $10. Along the way, students received assistance on their presentation from faculty such as social worker and Mental Health Advisory Council member Emily Berry. “Students relate more to their peers and involving students to share their own personal stories in regards to their experience with mental health concerns will be something our students will not be able to forget,” Berry said. “These girls should be very proud of their work. My hope is that the student body will be able to learn and identify with the presentation and in turn utilize the information they gain to help a friend or family member in need.”

COURTESY PHOTO GROUP HUDDLE: The Pay It Forward seniors meet with social worker Emily Berry (center left) and Principal Tracy Wilson (center right). The group worked with Berry and Wilson to plan our their presentation.

NEWS 9

Step-by-step

scheduling Here is everything you need to know about signing up for classes starting March 4 Maddie Brockmyre / Reporter & Emily Bruch / News Editor 1. Make sure you are registered on StudentVue before you begin signing up for classes To begin registering for classes, you must have a StudentVue account. If you do not have an account set up, you can get your login from Student Services. For information on the classes being offered next school year, go to ghhs.ghaps.org and look at the Course Description Guide under the “Academics” tab. Once you sign in to your StudentVue account, go to the home page that has a navigation bar on the left side. In the middle of the bar, there is a “Course History” tab that will let you see the classes you have taken and what credits you have received so far.

2. Click on the “Course Request” tab located in the middle of the navigation bar

High school is the time of decisions. Students are expected to choose a career path and have a plan for post-graduation life. Counselor Steve Evink stresses the importance of choosing the classes that challenge kids the most, to take advantage of the opportunities given. Here, Evink answers student questions about schedules. When am I able to sign up for classes? March 4 there will be a school improvement where you will have the opportunity to ask teachers about signing up for classes. The portal will close March 11, but if any questions or scheduling issues occur, counselors will be available by appointment. How do I find out what credits I need to graduate? The student menu is the quickest way to find the credits you need. When you go into “Course History”, switch the view from summary to graduation status. There you can see the credits required, completed, in progress, and remaining. If you have trouble finding this information, or have further questions, set up an appointment with your counselor. Should I take an honors or AP class? First speak to your current teacher in that subject and ask them if they would recommend it. From there, converse with parents and counselors, and find out what the class would require from the teacher. Many AP classes have prerequisites and summer homework. What classes require an application to be accepted? Yearbook, Bucs’ Blade, and Pay It Forward are all classes that require you to submit an application in order to take the class. Speak to the teacher of the class to find the requirements of the application. Have any classes been taken out or added? While none have been permanently deleted, several classes have been changed so that they are available every other year. Whether or not a class is kept is based on student interest, so if there is a lack of sign ups, the class will be cancelled. No new classes have been added for the 2016-2017 school year, but Honors English 11, Steps in Composition, Public Speaking & Communication II, Sports Journalism and Visual Journalism have been removed.

This is where you will begin building your schedule for the 2016-2017 school year. For students grades 9-11 there might be some courses locked into the schedule, because there are required classes needed to meet graduation requirements. Select the button labelled “Click here to change course requests” to alter your schedule request. You can also remove courses in the left column under “Action.” Electives and alternative classes can be chosen by selecting the drop-down menu and picking the department your desired class is in.

3. To select the class you want, click the “Request” or “Alternate” buttons You must choose enough classes to equate six credits in total. Those taking zero-hour classes can choose seven credits. When it comes to alternate classes, you must select three. Alternate requests should be listed in order of your most desired alternate class first to the least desired alternate class last. Make sure all of your classes are requested. Then click the “Click here to move selected requests to Selected Course Requests” and you will return to the course request summary window.

10 NEWS

FAQs answered

Which classes have been changed to a rotating schedule? Sports Statistics, Philosophy, American Democracy in Film & Literature, World Issues & Model UN, Genres of Literature, A Passions for Poetry, Health Care Career Exploration, Honors Physics, Visual Math, Michigan History, Diversity in America, World Religions and American Pop Culture are now being offered every other year. How do I meet with my counselor? Since many students will be reaching out to their counselors, make an appointment. Email your counselor and give them a time frame that you are available during, then communicate with them to set a time. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Play season ends with a BANG

After two productions in the book this year, drama department finishes with a 20’s, radioactive flare Vlasia Niotis / Web Editor

What it is

Why this

Based on a true story set in the late 20’s in New York, a group of teenage girls work in an industrial factory that produces glow-in-the-dark clocks with radium based paint. Radium, at the time, is thought of as safe and a miracle cure for cancer and Lathargy. However, the female factory workers know this is not true. The play follows Grace Fryer as she pursues legal action against the U.S. Radium Corporation and its president Arthur Roeder.

Senior Maize Converse shares her thoughts on the play and the statement it makes.

Friday March 4 7 p.m.

“I love its historic values and its intensity. It is definitely not an easy show to perform but we are doing a stellar job. It’s a big change from the comedies we usually do.”

Saturday March 5 7 p.m.

Who’s staring Grace Fryer senior Maize Converse Arthur Roeder senior Josiah Masvero

“Everything in the show is based out of fact and it’s insane to think people could’ve been so blind to the harmful causes of drugs. It really makes you think all the things you accept as fact.” “The plot really tells this girl’s story and struggles after being poisoned and how all of America was unaware of the danger in radium.”

When is it

Grand Haven High School Performing Arts Center

How much Tickets are available at the door $8 for adults $5 for students and senior citizens

100 S Beacon Blvd. Grand Haven, MI 49417

10:30 AM - 8:30 PM MON - SAT

1 discount per coupon

Not valid with any other offer

Expires 4/13/16

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

ARTS 11

Featured Topic

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE PLASTIC LIFE: Society has set unrealistic standards for many, making them dislike their bodies. Barbie is now breaking their reputation.

body: reimagined America’s most iconic doll promotes acceptance of all body types and ethnicities with newly released “Fashionistas” line

Sarah Jane Chrysler / Arts Editor

n open letter to Society, I have never been a Barbie girl, this is not a Barbie world and quite honestly, life in plastic does not sound fantastic. People like drama. People like to play off of insecurities and blame the world for the issues they create. We as people, have created the body image stigma that we face today. We are the ones that have sexualized and objectified women. That is not the fault of corporate America or dolls like Barbie. That is the fault of the people. Growing up, I had one Barbie doll. As I brushed her hair or changed her clothes I picked up on the idea that to get anywhere in life I would have to have a nice ass and wear lots of makeup. I’m only realizing now, that this was not her fault. That was the fault of the people who decided that ‘sexy sells’ and plastered a tall blond on every news station, movie poster and magazine for my young eyes to see. It was the fault of the people who accepted this and bought into the unrealistic standards set by the media. Speaking from the heavier side of the scale, it is incredibly demeaning to have people shame all of your physical imperfections. If you are too heavy, or too skinny, or too short, or too tall you are made to feel as though you’re not good enough for society and that is the stigma that they have only encouraged. This is why people do not like Barbie. She became the standard of beauty for millions of young girls. The unrealistic body image that the doll embodies just goes to show the sad ideals we have failed to destroy and come to accept: being pretty makes your life better. Mattel, the company that owns the Barbie brand, has decided that this stigma has gone on long enough and that it is time to take action. Through the new “Fashionistas” line, the company is working to make all girls feel beautiful. Barbie now has three new body types along with seven skin tones and over 20 eye colors. While she is still one of the most sexualized dolls on the market, Barbie is miles

12 ARTS

ahead of her competitors when it comes to accepting other body types. The “Fashionistas” have their own marketing campaign, #TheDollEvolves, that is trying to promote the changes. Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel, commented in a recent press release as to why the new line is so necessary and timely. “Barbie reflects the world girls see around them,” Dickson said. “Her ability to evolve and grow with the times, while staying true to her spirit, is central to why Barbie is the number one fashion doll in the world.” They have good intentions but for several young girls, the damage is already done and it will take more than a curvy Barbie to resolve the stigma we have created. From a young age, girls are told what beauty entails, a perfect balance of weight, height and makeup. For decades Barbie has embodied that balance, setting a much too perfect standard for young girls. In a 2014 interview with FastCompany Design, Vice President of Design, Kim Culmone, caused quite an uproar when she denied this reality and said, “Barbie’s body was never designed to be realistic. She was designed for girls to easily dress and undress.” Children learn by example, and even though Barbie was not supposed to have a realistic body, the message they are receiving is that they have to have a small waist to be successful and we haven’t told them otherwise. It is wonderful that there are new shapes, sizes, and ethnicities coming out in the new line and I am not blaming a plastic doll for the fact that women everywhere are sexualized, objectified and fat shamed for not fitting into the pink Barbie box. This is 2016, it should not have taken this long to get a different shaped doll. So let’s stop teaching children which doll is pretty or that weight is everything, and they can start to form their own image of beauty by looking in the mirror. Let’s teach them that there is more to life than just looks.

— — —— e s a r e E s a Er he te th a m stig a m ig st

The Youth The Youth Advisory Council Advisory Council supports mental supports mental health awareness health awareness

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Featured Topic

Book breaks down high school mental health taboo Sarah Jane Chrysler / Arts Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

As high schoolers, we want to hear the truth about the world we are about to step into. We want to know that life is imperfect and that we’re not failing at it because of these imperfections. That it is okay that we are scatter brained and overwhelmed. That reassurance and peace of mind is just what New York Times #1 bestselling author Jenny Lawson gives us in her newest book “Furiously Happy”. This is not a sequel to her first book, “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened”, in which Lawson recounts growing up in a small town being a taxidermist’s daughter. In “Furiously Happy”, she tells the world what it is like to live life through her eyes and how her multiple mental disorders change her views and ideas about everything from sandwiches to politics. At first glance, the bright yellow book with a glitter crazed raccoon on the cover can be intimidating to even approach. If you are brave enough to take on the creature and open to the first pages you feel as though you’re talking to an old friend. Lawson’s colloquial language gives the impression that she couldn’t care less about what you think of her but that she also wants to be best friends. When reading this book be ready for a lot of choice language. The number of f-bombs dropped within the first chapter is shocking. For me at least, that makes her

seem like a real person, someone who swears and is still a great and genuine human being. It is also reassuring to hear from someone successful who deals with anxiety and panic attacks. It makes me feel like I might not turn out to be a failure, despite my anxiety issues. Dealing with attention deficit hypo/ hyper disorder (ADHD) and anxiety can have a huge impact on your life, it has on mine, I can’t even imagine dealing with depression along with personality disorder and anxiety on top of that, as Lawson describes in her book. She truly knows how to write to a high school audience and connect with them, there are lots of laughs but things do get deep. She describes her battles with depression and other disorders in detail. She is helping to break a huge stigma by talking about the mental health issues many of us face in such a blunt way. “Furiously Happy” is so many things rolled into one. It is a quick read that takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Going from everyday catty statements to make you literally laugh out loud to stories of panic attacks and deep-rooted irrational fears. This book is relatable, real and will make you feel furiously happy. Jenny Lawson has once again delivered a wonderful piece of literary art.

Do you remember a time when you picked up on the fact that you deal with anxiety? I always knew that it was something more than just stress or being shy because it made me physically ill just to be around people sometimes. I was afraid of everything. It wasn’t until I was a mother though that I realized anxiety was affecting my ability to do the basic things that I wanted out of life.

“Furiously Happy” author discusses her mental illnesses Sarah Jane Chrysler / Arts Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

These days it has become taboo to talk about mental health issues. Award winning author, Jenny Lawson, has thrown that taboo out the window. She struggles with multiple mental disorders and still successfully written two best-selling books. In one of these, “Furiously Happy”, she www.bucsblade.com, February 19

tells the world what it is like to live life through her eyes and how her multiple mental disorders change her views and ideas about everything from sandwiches to politics. Lawson sits down and discusses how she lives with and conquers her disorders.

How did you deal with this? Were your parents supportive or just tried to blow it off ? When I was a kid people didn’t really talk about anxiety disorders so neither my parents nor I were able to recognize it. My parents didn’t understand but they did understand that I wasn’t doing it on purpose and that it was just the way I was. I was lucky that they were so caring even when they didn’t understand. I hid a lot. I read constantly and mainly avoided people, trips, life. If you could go back to your high school self what would you say, and why? Do you have any advice? I’d tell myself not to worry. I’d say that everything I’m worried about right now is not going to be a concern but that worrying about it will

make me the person that I’ll become so it’s okay to worry because otherwise I’ll worry about worrying. That sounds like bad advice but it boils down to “Everything is happening for a reason and there will be a positive outcome if you look for it and keep going. Depression lies. Don’t listen to those lies. You are worthwhile and important. There is a reason for you.” When did you decide to really focus on your writing? Why? I’ve always written because when you’re afraid of people it’s the best way you can communicate. It’s like writing messages to a friend. But that friend is you. How do you cope with panic attacks and feeling overwhelmed? There are several things that I do but I think it depends on the person so try different things and see what works for you. For me, I do the 4-7-8 thing. Breathe in for four seconds, hold your breathe for 7 seconds, breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat. I also imagine that I’m surrounded by an invisible igloo that covers my body and keeps me separate from the world. It’s like an imaginary hide-out. I try to stay hydrated and walk and get enough sun. If none of that works then I use medication designed to treat anxiety.

ARTS 13

Featured Topic

PARANOI

ADHD SION S E PR

Brain Battle

O E Z T I D SCH ANXIETYOCD PTSDLAR O P I B

Graphics by Elizabeth Tibbe www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Mental health of students creates serious concern for administration Landon Hudson / Editor in Chief

t’s the middle of December. The teacher leans back in his chair, holding his Government class list. His finger scans the row of alphabetized students. The room goes quiet, heartbeats vibrate in ears, people hold their breath hoping to not be called on. His lips form a name, audible sighs are released. A shy girl from the back of the class meekly stands. From across the room, her hands are shaking and her face turns pale. She swallows and walks to the SmartBoard. Silence has never been so loud. The victim of random selection nervously speaks to her class mixed with upper and underclassmen alike. The class hears her stutter, they see her fidgeting, they can practically feel her clammy hands. But they don’t know about her doctor’s note for clinically diagnosed anxiety disorder. They don’t watch her take her prescribed medication. To many, daily activities such as these may be stress free. But for those battling anxiety, everyday routines can be a mental war that often can’t be conquered. An anxiety disorder is a common form of a mental illness, yet stands on a long list of mental conditions. Mental disorders, also known as mental illnesses, include a wide range of symptoms and conditions that affect how one thinks, feels and behaves. They typically make it difficult for someone to function properly at either home, school or work. GHHS has seen more students dealing with these issues recently, losing three students battling depression to suicide in the past 11 months. The school has developed a mental health initiative to educate students and staff on disorders but also on strategies to help those who are suffering, for more on this check out page eight. School social worker Emily Berry has been working closely with the program and personally with struggling individuals. “We have seen a significant increase in students dealing with mental health issues and so it’s a priority, we want to help our students and we feel you guys are asking for that education and asking for that help,” Berry said. “The administration is listening and realizing it’s important.” The campaign will begin this semester with an abbreviated version of the lessons all grade levels will receive next year. Mental health issues are not unique to Grand Haven. According to the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, one in five children, ages 13-18 have or will develop a mental health disorder. Mental illnesses can impact a student’s education, relationships, transition to adulthood and health habits. Dr. Garrett Weatherhead is a limited licensed psychologist who works with Integrative Health Consultants in Wyoming, Michigan and has been serving both teens and adults living with mental disorders. According to Weatherhead, mental illnesses can impact teens directly or indirectly. “Directly, if a teen experiences a mental illness their thinking, emotions or behavior may be impacted,” Weatherhead said. “This can look very different depending on the person experiencing the mental illness and the support that they have around them.” There are many ways teens can experience the effects of mental illnesses, including but not limited to low motivation with schoolwork, mentally blanking out before taking a test, extreme irritability, fear of going to school or social events and wanting to physically harm themselves. Continued on page 16

INDEPTH 15

R 16 IN DEPTH

ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ

Anxiety Disorders

Eating Disorders

Characterized by excessive and abnormal fear, worry and anxiety

Obsessive concern with weight and disruptive eating disorders

Mood Disorder

Personality Disorders

Disorders such as bipolar characterized by changes in mood

Maladaptive pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that cause detriments to relationships

Sleep wake Disorders

Substance Disorders

Impulse control

An interruption in sleep patterns with a negative impact on physical and mental health

Dependence and abuse of substances such as drugs or alcohol

Unable to resist urges, or impulses, to perform acts that could be harmful

Disorders

Graphics by Elizabeth Tibbe

Information gathered from American Psychological Association

Dried blood remains on the razor blade tucked high schoolers report feeling fatigued, anxious, stressed and ‘not good enough’. These between her mattress and spring box while the feelings, in conjunction with individual life experiences and family history increase student’s skin struggles to heal under the stress of bracelets susceptibility to developing self harming tendencies. piled on her wrist. His shorts hide intentional burn “It started over a boy, stupid I know but it happened” senior Kezie Pastor said “Then it marks and his folded up Swiss Army knife keeps just evolved into other reasons, body image, grades and friends” a secret in his pocket. She blames herself for the Rodriguez believes that schools are aware of and trying to address the problem with tension and distress in her home, punishing herself their limited ability but there are key points they should be doing that not all are. with the pain. He reroutes his emotional turmoil of “School systems are not designed to intervene extensively, and are under tremendous being bullied for a lack of athleticism with a searing pressure to build competitive academic and athletic programs,” Rodriguez said “School utility tool. They silently struggle with self harm along counseling centers report that they are increasingly overwhelmed with the mental health with the other 20 percent of high school students who needs of their students. Helpful actions schools can take include cultivating a supportive admit to it. school environment, addressing bullying, keeping academic pressure from becoming “It is not the same as being suicidal, nor is it excessive, and making prompt referrals to mental health professionals in the community.” manipulative or attention-getting behavior,” Psychologist While the school has started a campaign for overall mental health, students must do Cynthia Rodriguez their best to take their well being into their own PhD said. “Instead, it is Find someone you trust and talk to them. It hands and get help despite how hard it may be. a form of coping with “I didn’t know what I was doing till I was will help you through the hardest times. Not already addicted to it. It only takes one time and psychological distress in the same manner that people it is all over. It is an addiction and it is so hard talking about it and keeping it to yourself is use other unhealthy ways to to stop,” Pastor said. “Find someone you trust cope: overeating, drinking and talk to them. It will help you through the only hurting you more Self harm is a learned habit, alcohol, smoking cigarettes or hardest times. Not talking about it and keeping it can be broken with help marijuana, or developing an to yourself is only hurting you more.” eating disorder” Adolescent psychologist Gloria Taggett, Ph.D Elizabeth Tibbe / Editor in Chief Self harm is classified as a kind of mental health disorder warn that physical heath is also a factor in mental health. however some psychologists may refer to it as a habit, a learnable It is crucial to get adequate sleep, to eat well and become more physically active,” behavior. Those who commit self harm inflict immediate damage to Taggett said. “Having said that, stay away from mood altering chemicals -that’s a shortthemselves such as cutting, burning or scratching without intending to cut that will only make it harder to find more adaptive ways of managing your moods and die. In most cases it is done to cope with confusing or overwhelming habits.” emotions, numb oneself or the opposite, feel something in place of Many forms of self harm therapy include finding something to reroute the habit such emptiness or detachment. The problem can range from mild and as drawing, sewing, photography or performing arts. This allows adolescents to develop occasional to very severe, frequent and even chronic. new skills and channel their emotions into something that is no longer harmful to them. “Unfortunately, the sense of relief is only temporary, problems Along with the therapy comes developing a support system of those who care about you or are not solved, and the use of self-injury as a coping strategy can providing services to others that need help. be addictive” Rodriguez said. “ It is always helpful to find someone you can help, be of service, support a cause, Experts believe that most mental health problems, including volunteer,” Taggett said.”Everyone has pain & everyone suffers. You’re not alone.” self harm, have multiple causes possibly even including a That girl keeps her blade and it’s consequences hidden. He doesn’t wear shorts and will genetic predisposition. With school being such a major part in never lend out his pocket knife. They pass each other every day in the hall but still go home Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE adolescent life it is also a source of stress and pressure. Many feeling alone. Don’t let them be alone.

Doesn’t have to hurt

382 were ‘triggered’ by school and/or social

207

experienced a drop in functioning

Kenzie Pastor

only

30%

have personally dealt with mental health realized they had issues a problem by themselves

181

have a family history of mental illnesses

40%

“None of my have attended treatment teachers seem facilities to care”

“Why do people think it’s funny”

“It doesn’t make you weak. You can be strong”

“It can’t just be cured”

have a medically diagnosed illness

“Why did it take three deaths to start talking about this?”

“

”

47%

147

Students can also become indirectly impacted by mental disorders if a family member or close friend is dealing with one themselves. “Depending on one’s relationship with someone, the greater the impact that a mental illness might have,” Weatherhead said. According to Weatherhead, the Diathesis-Stress model is an accepted way of showing how mental health disorders are triggered. By combining a person’s biological predisposition for mental illnesses and their environment, psychologists can determine how likely a patient is to deal with a mental illness. Environmental influences can also trigger mental disorders. Someone facing stress caused by trauma, school pressure, divorce or abuse may be more likely to develop a condition. Using drugs such as alcohol or tobacco can cause a chemical imbalance in the brain, leading to mental disorders as well. Kandice Sloop, the Program Coordinator for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, believes that teenagers are under more stress today than previous generations. “From my experience in mental health, I have seen more stress, pressure and expectations put on adolescents,” Sloop said. “I also think the advancement of social media has played a factor. Nowadays you are able to stay connected with each other 24/7.” Berry also emphasizes how much social media may be impacting adolescents’ mental health. “Pressures of society are really hard,” Berry said. “Social media plays a big role. Social media websites can be a really good thing but it can also be a slippery slope, I see that it’s really hard for some students. I think it’s a risk factor.” Senior Kate Rutherford shared that it took her awhile to overcome the fatuation with social media attention. She now recognizes the pros and cons that come with the sites. “Ideally I think social media should be less emphasized,” Rutherford said. “It can be a super great thing and I’m thankful for some opportunities it has given me. But it provides an additional outlet for bullying and stress that can easily impact mental health. Girls compare themselves to other girls all the time which definitely has a negative impact on body image.” This can be the gateway to illnesses such as depression or eating disorders, common diagnoses for teens. Depression starts with a significant change in mood that lasts at least two weeks. Those who deal with the disorder often report feelings of lengthened sadness, loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy, low self-esteem and thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in people ages 10-24 according to the national alliance on mental illness (NAMI). Anxiety disorders, including generalized and social, are also common in teens, eight percent of youth face anxiety according to NAMI. Generalized anxiety consists of uncontrollable, excessive worriedness. Often, this can include having a hard time relaxing, difficulty concentrating and insomnia. The anxiety can be so severe it impacts academic success. Social anxiety is simply feeling anxious about social situations, possibly causing the person to avoid interactions. “A general indicator that someone might be struggling with a mental illness is that they are acting differently than they normally do,” Weatherhead said. Weatherhead stresses the importance of talking to trusted adults or professionals if anyone you know or you yourself are experiencing any of the mentioned conditions. Opening up to others often helps treat the problem. It is important to listen and show support to those who come to you with issues they might be facing. “Many teens and adults keep mental illness to themselves which can give it more power,” Weatherhead said. “Talk to anyone who will listen. Many mental illnesses can be treated relatively quickly with the help of others, especially professionals, but you can’t receive help if no one knows you’re hurting.” Mental health issues have developed a stigma, often implying that those who are battling a disorder may be ‘crazy’ or ‘looking for attention’. These phrases only make it worse for those suffering, and pose a barrier for them to receive help. “Essentially, mental health stigma is the idea that seeking treatment for mental health difficulties sets you apart from others and is a sign that you are weak or defective,” Weatherhead said. “The truth is mental illness and seeking help for mental illness is common and normal.” Berry strongly encourages people to ignore the stigma and hopes one day it disappears. “My goal would be that the stigma that often accompanies the discussion of issues related to mental health would be reduced through education and more understanding,” Berry said. “I think we are getting there, but we have a long ways to go.” To get rid of the reputation and make sure individuals get the help they need, Sloop recommends that people notice, invite, challenge and empower themselves and their peers. “Notice signs of depression and other changes in someone’s behavior,” Sloop said. “Invite yourself to initiate a conversation. Challenge the stigma, communicate important resources. Empower yourself with the knowledge that you can have an effect on how someone thinks, acts and feels.”

Most common mental health illnesses among high school and college students

continued from page 15

65%

had suicidal thoughts or actions

Only “It 17 would go doesn’t to the school define if they saw you” warning signs in someone

admit to acts of self harm or injury

Brain Battle

“I feel “It’s more not an anxious and act, it’s depressed not for at school than attention” anywhere else”

Information gathered from a voluntary survey of 685 students from all four grade levels at Grand Haven High School Graphics by Elizabeth Tibbe

IN DEPTH 17

Featured Topic

NEVER TRULY ALONE Despite times you may feel helpless, understand you are not the only one, someone next to you may be dealing with something you can connect to. Two students share personal struggles in hopes of helping anyone who needs to be assured there is hope

FIND YOUR STEPS Elizabeth Tibbe / Editor in Chief

When I scroll back to the dawn of my social media and stare into the bright, mascara-less eyes of eighth grade me, I wish for nothing more but to warn her. Warn her that the next few years won’t be easy and they won’t always be fun but she will get through them. If only I could have been warned. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so blind-sided, wouldn’t have fallen so hard or so deep. It’s a warning everybody should get, maybe they wouldn’t end up with a story like mine. To those who did, I’m here to say that you’re not alone. And to those who didn’t, I hope after this you understand what lies behind someone’s shields. The summer of freshman year brought make-up, new friends and a reality check. Of course I knew about mental health issues, but I didn’t know much. And I didn’t until after first hand experiences. High school is harsh and parents can’t help but worry when their little boy or girl jumps into the shark tank. The odds of that little one actually being attacked are slim, one in 11.5 million to be exact. But the odds of them

struggling with a mental health issue, are one in five. Not many of those ‘ones’ talk about it. They hide within themselves, wear long sleeve shirts to cover physical scars and shields to hide emotional ones. I know because I’ve been there. I spent a better part of high school with a self esteem that dug itself so deep it could probably speak Chinese, that is if self esteem could talk. I wish I knew or understood when my plummet happened and why, but I can’t explain how one day you’re happy and the next all you want to do is curl up in a ball. It doesn’t happen overnight. But after realizing I had a problem, I could start to uncover it bit by bit. I flirted with bulimia, but not anorexia, there is a difference and they can be independent of each other. A few times a week, I would look in the mirror and see every single flaw. My thighs were too big, my stomach too round, teeth too crooked the list grew constantly. I wanted to eat, but if you don’t keep it, you won’t gain the weight, right, that would fix my problems. After about a year of secret bathroom runs my body was so drained and tried so hard to fight back that I couldn’t deny the problem any longer. Although I was aware of it all, I told nobody. I knew I had to overcome this, and I did eventually, somehow. It was exhausting, dark and lonely. I could recuperate from the exhaustion

DROWNING IN

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE

SHALLOW WATER Brianna Moynihan / Sports Editor

A persistent feeling of sadness. To have a relentless ache in your chest when you wake up every morning wishing you hadn’t. It isn’t just a bad day, a bad week or even a bad month. Living with depression is living with a constant feeling of despair. Imagine drowning in shallow water. I can see the surface, but something is holding me down, leaving me choking on the water because for some reason I forgot how to swim while everyone else is paddling along just fine. I recognize that there is an endless list of things to be grateful for. It leaves me feeling guilty for being sad. But it isn’t a normal sadness, it is a deep seated unhappiness that shoves back all other emotions. Depression magnifies the bad things in life making it difficult to see the good. This leaves me exhausted and unmotivated because all day energy is given to trying to be happy, trying to smile, to laugh, to be bright when all I feel is dark. But many high schoolers, in my experience, believe depres-

18 LIFE

but I couldn’t shake off the loneliness and darkness. The pesky voice-over in my head had made himself comfortable, there was no departure in sight. I had a constant pain and was sick of feeling it emotionally. I wanted to reroute it, so I did. My hands shook when I had a blade, it hovered over my wrist and as it fell I did too. I was disconnected and let the voice control me. But this one I didn’t beat alone. Someone else joined me in the darkness. They were alone too but with her, I felt less lonely. She went through the same thing, and my desire to help her was more than mine to hurt myself. She became a step stool (figuratively of course) and I started to climb out of my hole. Others came along that did more for me than they realized and I walked up those figurative steps, leaving my little voice at the bottom, damn near close to China. We are a strong group, connected by something unexplainable, a shared self hatred and experiences others can’t understand. We understand the tightness in your chest when your sleeve rides up to reveal healing wounds, why your eyes are bloodshot and mouth pasty when coming out of the bathroom stall, why your desk is empty despite top notch physical health. I understand. And so do others. You don’t have to be lonely in your little hole, and you can find your way out. But sometimes it’s deeper than you know, and steeper than you can handle by yourself. So reach out, find your figurative steps, and get the hell out because it is a lot better up top, I promise.

sion can’t touch them. They think they are invincible. But it can be caused by a number of things; the death of a loved one, an abundance of stress, a chemical imbalance, or maybe some people are just born with it- a default setting of sadness. It can happen to anyone. With this in mind, be conscious. Do not ever tell someone that it is all in their head, or to just “choose” to be happy. If happiness were that easy I am sure everyone would have it by now. I don’t know the cure to depression, but there are things that I have done to make each day a little more bearable. To work towards getting better. First, admit it. Admit that you are unhappy, and know that nothing will get better unless you want to change. Second, find your people. As much as you don’t want to be a burden to your friends, as much as you believe they don’t

care or shouldn’t have to deal with your problems, you need them. This is not a battle that can be won on your own. You need to be surrounded by people who will make your fight easier not harder. People who will always remind you how much they care and will never let you second guess that. Those who will hear your thoughts, the scariest bits, without flinching, and continue to show up by your side anyway. Third, talk about it. I know talking about it is hard. It is so stressful and difficult to explain what is going on in your head when you don’t even understand it yourself. It takes a lot of courage to talk about what hurts. But God knows you’d be shocked over how good it feels. The feeling of tearing down a wall and letting yourself be vulnerable. Sometimes you need a second chance at healing. Sometimes you have to keep ripping open the wound until it can form together the right way. Finally, realize there is only one option- to fight. There is no other way out. Ignore the flight instinct, stay and fight. Go forward. Learn to be happy again. Fight until you’ve won; until the sun comes back and you’ve learned to love mornings again, when you no longer carry the weight of all this sadness. That is the only option. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Best of the Bucs

Students display extraordinary musical abilities and talents Recognized musician Jessica Ashburn / Reporter

Senior Dan Parrish is a dedicated trombonist with his goals set on a career of jazz. His hard work has shown in his performances and in class. “I started around 5th grade,” Parrish said. “I got into it because my dad was my band director and as well as a trombone player.” He had his mind focused on his position earned in the All State Jazz Band and performed at the 11th Annual Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids on Jan. 23. The Music Conference provides students and teachers the opportunity to become more experienced musicians. About 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers and guests attended the conference last year. The conference included school concert ensembles, performances from Honors Choirs, All-State Bands, and Orchestras; and handson technology workshops. “My band director told me about it from the beginning,” Parrish said. “It just took a lot of practicing for the audition.” Parrish earned his position at All State Jazz Band and continued on to the Michigan Music Confer-

ence. Band teacher, Ian Novoselich said that Parrish was working very hard leading up to the performance. After All States, Novoselich mentioned that Dan’s musical career was starting to take off. “We just found out that Dan was admitted into college of music for Michigan State in the jazz studies program,” Novoselich said. “I am super excited for him and he has got a great future ahead of him.” Not only are his teachers are proud of him but so are his friends. Senior Max Levandoski has been in concert and jazz band with Parrish for a few years and has seen his talent. “He is really talented, overall he is just really good on his instrument,”Levandoski said. Levandoski is proud of his friend for attending All State. Parrish has determination that many can see that leads to all his successions, he is a lead example that when you work hard you can real your goals. “I am proud of him,” Levandoski said. “I am proud that he could be able to have that experience.”

Ben Werkman THE BUCS’ BLADE MUSICAL FUTURE: Senior Dan Parrish practices during school with the Concert Band. He plans to attend the jazz studies program at Michigan State University. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE CHOIR LIFE: In one of her three school choirs, senior Jessica Draper rehearses her music. Her dedication and focus on her singing has paid off and she is now involved in the Michigan Schools Vocal Music Association All State Honors Choir.

Senior shares ever-growing passion Megan Kostner / Reporter

Senior Jessica Draper prepares herself before she takes a step on the stage. As she clears her throat, she walks out to perform. She stands up tall and takes a deep breath. Alluring sounds come out of the vocalist. “Before every performance I get very nervous but once I get on stage I take a deep breath and then que my accompanist,” Draper said. Draper has loved singing ever since she joined the middle school honors choir. Her passion has grown over the years. “I am good at singing because I practice a ton,” Draper said. “I use all of my free time to work on it and perfect it.” She takes a lot of time for preparation because of all the programs she is involved in. She is in Advanced Women’s Ensemble, Choral Ensemble, Chamber Choir, and is a teacher’s assistant in the Freshman Chorale. She is also a part of a presti-

gious program called Michigan Schools Vocal Music Association (MSVMA). It is a solo-auditioned program where about a thousand kids from all over the state audition for the Regional level and about 700 are accepted. Select songs are prepared and then performed in December. Then they try for State Honors Choir where about 300 are accepted. For the state level, Draper was involved in the preparation of more songs and then performed them in Grand Rapids in late Jan. After that, she was put on a list of 150 kids that make it into the AllState Honors Choir. “This is held at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, which is the biggest honor any kid from the arts could get,” Draper said. “Last year I went all the way to this level. It was by far the best weekend of my life.” Along with all of this, Draper is working on writing her own music.. “I have tried (writing my own

music), but it is not one of my strong suites,” Draper said. Throughout Draper’s life, she has had many supporters and teachers that have guided her through her singing career. “I have privately studied with many teachers, but right now I study with Joel VanderWeide,” Draper said. “Also Cheryl Gallas, Juli Dick, and Benjamin Rodgers have been a huge part in my singing career.” One of her many supporters, choir teacher Juli Dick, feels that Jessica is a big help in the choir classroom. Dick also admires Draper’s love for what she does and her individuality. “Jessica is inspiring because she is so passionate about her craft: singing and choir,” Dick said. “Her passion is contagious and makes others around her want to be more passionate also. She is unique because almost everything she does revolves around music.”

ARTS 19

Featured Topic

Another side of me

Freshman Faith Morey learns to live with bipolar disorder Abigail Reyenga / Reporter

Grace Glessner THE BUCS’ BLADE MOREY’S MOTTO: Freshman Faith Morey displays both sides of herself. Morey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a suicide attempt. Bipolar is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings, going between high and low emotions. About 2.6 percent of the American population has the disorder. Her struggles have helped her discover the power of positivity and her biggest motto has been to stay positive.

n the still hospital room, freshman Faith Morey’s heart monitor beeped in a steady rhythm while her mind raced with confusion. She had attempted suicide earlier that day. “That was the scariest point in my life,” Morey said looking down. “I was getting bullied at school and I was having a hard time just managing life I guess.” Morey has struggled with the effects of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings going between high and low emotions. These emotions go between manic, which is energetic and happy and depressive episodes in bipolar. “The daily effects of bipolar depend on what type of episode the person is currently experiencing,” psychologist Lori Wilder said. “So a person could have a ton of energy, no desire for sleep, very motivated and hyper-focused almost like a ‘superman’ or ‘I can do it all!’ attitude. On the flip side, a person could become depressed, have diminished ability to think or concentrate, excessive sleep, no interest in activities that would usually bring enjoyment, negative thoughts and suicidal thoughts.” Morey was about nine when her parents started to become worried about her behavior. “Faith’s rapid mood changes made me concerned and I just knew that it was something that needed to be checked,”

Morey’s mother, Jennifer Peters said. “Also her lack of interest in a social life also concerned me.” Morey tended to stay in the comfort of her room. “I was one minute balling my eyes out and the next the happiest person in the world,” Morey said. “At the time I wouldn’t talk to anyone. I never went anywhere. I just played princess games in my room.” This disorder that Morey experiences is shared by 2.6 percent of the American population. In our high school, that means that statistically, about 52 people should have bipolar disorder. Yet many of us don’t know all that comes with it. “Bipolar is not being someone who frequently changes their mind,” Wilder said. “It is so much more serious than that. When we choose to label a person in a careless way as ‘Bipolar,’ it can decrease the seriousness of the actual, real diagnosis of bipolar disorder and cause it to be seen as not serious, and lead people to not reach out for the help they need.” Morey finds that one of her biggest challenges is her anger. “If I get frustrated, I won’t be able to forget about it,” Morey said. “So I just dwell on it I until I break down.” Morey’s best friend, freshman Caitlin Hemmes, realizes Morey’s anger can get the best of her sometimes. “Faith and I have gotten into arguments, she misunderstood me and then it was heightened by bipolar,” Hemmes said. “But her personality is truly amazing, she is so thoughtful.” Hemmes’s older sister and Morey got into fights where both said and did things they regretted.

FOR MORE ON MENTAL HEALTH p. 32 What is your part? p. 8-9 School campaign p. 13 Mental health in the media p. 15-17 InDepth coverage

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

“Caitlin’s older sister didn’t like me, it was a whole bunch of drama,” Morey said. “During the summer I broke her nose- I slammed her head against the wall. She hit me first though. But I still feel bad about it to this day. Now we are really close, we started over. I believe in starting over.” Hemmes doesn’t hold anything against Morey. “People shouldn’t judge people for their mental disorders,” Hemmes said. Wilder advises against using bipolar as a label that defines a person. “I don’t ever want someone to define themselves at their core as ‘depressed, anxious, or bipolar,’” Wilder said. “I believe that people are not defined by their circumstances, but who they are on the inside that make each and every person unique.” Hemmes agrees that you shouldn’t put a person with bipolar in a box. “People judge people that are bipolar,” Hemmes said with frustration. “Faith gets judged a lot, I am a witness of people talking about her. They will talk about how she’s super happy and then pissed off and how she’s stupid for what she thinks. They’re just judging her for how she acts. If they actually got to know her and other bipolar people and understand what’s going on inside their brain, things will be better for everyone.” Morey’s biggest motto is to be positive. It’s not always easy. She knows what it’s like to lose a grip on life, but she believes that positivity is the only way to survive. “I give compliments everyday on little sticky notes because I know it’s awful to be feel bad about yourself and hide it,” Morey said. Morey knows that bipolar disorder can present her with everyday challenges, but she also knows it contributes to who she is. “If you ask me if I have bipolar, I’m gonna say yes,” Morey said. “I know I have it and I’m proud of it, you know? It’s part of me.”

LIFE 21

debunking

Music Previews Here are three anticipated upcoming albums Marisa McElrath / Reporter

Force Awakens, questions emerge Tyler VandenBrand / Reporter Warning, if you haven’t seen the movie. Spoilers await. I arrived at the theater to see, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, with many questions surging through my head. Disney had hidden so many things from the fans, leaving fans curious as to what was going to occur in this installment. Although most of my questions were answered, I left the theater with some unanswered as well. As a fan, this meant I had to make some predictions for the next movie. Here are some of my questions and possible answers: 1. Why does Han Solo die? My idea: For the first question, the answer seemed pretty obvious. Harrison Ford wanted the beloved smuggler to be killed off in Episode VI, “Return of The Jedi”, and now, just over 30 years later, his wish was granted. After more thought, that answer just didn’t seem to be the only possibility. I believe that J.J. Abrams decided to let Ford get his wish for two reasons. The first is that Ford, now 73, was truly tired of the franchise. Also by making fans angry, Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo), has established himself as the new villain. Not just any villain, but one that fans love to hate. 2. Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? My idea: There’s a lot of speculation about this. We now know, after being lead on to think that Snoke is a giant being of some sort in the beginning of the film, that his image is just a hologram. A lot of people think that he may in fact be Darth Plagueis, the master of the evil Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) years before the events

of the prequel trilogy. Palpatine goes on to say that the irony was that he could save other lives, but not his own, as he was killed by his apprentice in his sleep. So does that mean he’s actually dead? I don’t believe so. The song that plays in the background when Palpatine tells the tale of Darth Plagueis is the same as when we meet Supreme Leader Snoke. Snoke even has scars on his head to suggest trauma of some sort, which could mean that he survived Palpatine’s attack. Maybe the name of Supreme Leader Snoke is just a cover up to hide his real identity. 3: Where did Rey get her abilities to use the Force from? My idea: It is pretty obvious. As made known multiple times throughout the movies, if used correctly, the Force guides the individual. Maz Kanata tells Rey about the Force, and after her vision with the lightsaber, she uses a jedi mind trick on stormtrooper FN-007 to release her from Kylo Ren’s prison. Rey also is able to beat a trained Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel. Many people wondered how this was possible. Then I remembered all of the reiterations by George Lucas in the original trilogy. If used the way the jedi use it to defend and not attack, the Force guides the individual. Rey is able to feel the force, and let it guide her, rather than letting Kylo Ren, who feeds off of anger and rage, beat her. Hopefully we find out the answers to these questions in Episode VIII, but we will have to wait until December 15, 2017.

711 Washington Ave.

Band: Red Hot Chili Pepers Album name: TBD Release Date: TBD If you’re not a hip hop fan, perhaps rock and roll is more suited to you. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are releasing their first album since 2011, in addition to currently touring around Europe. Red Hot Chili Peppers is an band for multiple generations, considering they’ve been around since the late 90s and early 2000s. Band: Blink 182 Album name: TBD Release Date: TBD Blink is another classic for rock fans, with bands such as Five Seconds of Summer introducing them to a younger audience. The band offers a variety of songs, switching between uplifting to slow. In addition, their lyrics provide interesting insight and narrative. The plans for the new album was originally hinted at by the band’s drummer, Travis Barker. Band: The 1975 Album name: I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It Release Date: Feb. 26 The 1975 is a staple for any indie rock or indie pop fan. Their unique sound and catchy songs make them especially enjoyable to listen to. With their new album coming out in February, people receive a chance to be introduced to the band through publicity, and to jump onboard with several other fans.

Select winter prints on sale Mon. - Sun. 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. for $19.99 (616) 844 -1131

20 ARTS

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HOVERBOARD HYPE COURTESY PHOTO HAPPY HOVERING: A hoverboard glides smoothly along the sidewalk. Talk of them began to surface early November. A hoverboard is a balancing scooter that moves in response to weight shifts. “They are becoming more advanced, we’re even thinking of opening our own store just for hoverboards,” sales representative for Metro PCS Desire Johnson said. “They are gonna take off. It is 2016, after all.”

Despite fire hazards and injuries, the balancing scooter that moves in response to weight shifts continues to make it to the top of wish lists

ophomore Zach Tyler shifts his weight forward as the gadget he stands on lights up and accelerates toward his desired destination. More and more teenagers are either getting or at least wanting to take a ride on the hoverboard Tyler glides steadily on. A hoverboard is a balancing scooter that moves in response to weight shifts and is used for personal transportation. Talk of hoverboards surfaced in early November and quickly made it to the top of Christmas wish lists. Metro PCS quickly started to become busy with customers wanting hoverboards. “We started selling hoverboards in November around Black Friday time and then it was Christmas so they were super popular around that time,” sales representative for Metro PCS, Desire Johnson said. “Now they have different styles and installments to them and are becoming more and more popular.” According to the movie “Back to the Future 2”, in 2015 we were supposed to have hoverboards, and once a knockoff was invented, everyone wanted one. “They are very fun to ride around on,” Tyler said. “It’s like a better version of a skateboard but you don’t have to put work into it.” Hoverboards can also make for memorable moments. “My best memory with my hoverboard was when my friend and I were riding it on my street decided to see how fast we could get it to go,” Tyler said. “The recommended speed is six mph. We pushed it to 10 so it started beeping telling us to slow down. It definitely made for a fun

22 LIFE

Abigail Reyenga / Reporter afternoon.” The hoverboard makes going from the living room to the kitchen to grab a bag of potato chips more efficient. “It’s a just lot of fun,” Tyler said with a smirk. “If I’m lazing around in my house, I don’t have to walk if I need something, I just get on my hoverboard. Their biggest downside is how expensive they are.” Senior Caroline Harvitt disagrees. “I tried the hoverboard because I thought they would be fun,” Harvitt said. “At first I liked them but then I realized they were very unstable and bad on tile. I went to say hi to a friend and I fell off and broke my elbow. I had to have surgery where they put pins in my arms. I still have the pins. That was a really bad experience. I don’t ever want to go on one again.” Hoverboards have also blown up if left charging for too long. In fact, Amazon stopped selling hoverboards due to its fire hazard. In a couple of different places, a hoverboard left charging set fire and destroyed a home. “There has been some risks with the fire hazard but our hoverboards are UL certified and all have Samsung batteries in them so ours do not overheat,” Johnson said. “That can be hard to convince parents who don’t want their homes burned down.”

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certified means that UL has tested representative samples of the product and determined that it meets their requirements as well as the recognized Standards for Safety. Even if overheating wasn’t a problem, Harvitt would want additional safety measures. “There should be a button or a command register where you could say stop and then the hoverboard would stop,” Harvitt said. “The only way to stop now is just to jump off it, which is very sketchy.” The fun traits of a hoverboard are accompanied by the possibility of fires and falls. “There are so many videos of people falling and that for whatever reason makes people wanna try them,” Harvitt said with a look of confusion. “Also, lots of celebrity are trying them so it is seen as this risky new thing to try. Ads are popping up everywhere being like, ‘Get a hoverboard.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Uh, no thank you.’” Even with some negative opinions surrounding hoverboards, Johnson is convinced that their popularity will continue to increase. “They are becoming more advanced, we’re even thinking of opening our own store just for hoverboards,” Johnson said. “They are gonna take off. It is 2016, after all.”

“Lots of celebrities are trying them so it is seen as this risky new thing to try. Ads are popping up everywhere being like, ‘Get a hoverboard.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Uh, no thank you” Caroline Harvitt

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Get set for sunshine Maisy Hoffman THE BUCS’ BLADE BEACHY: There can be a lot of overseen necessities while preparing for the awaited spring break. Make sure you pack accordingly.

As winter nears an end, vacations are on our minds. Here are a few things to remember before spring break comes Savannah Vickers / Reporter Everyone could use a break, especially at your favorite destination skiing on snowy mountains, fishing up north or on a sunny beach somewhere. Luckily, spring break will be here in a mater of weeks, but are you prepared for everything that comes with it? Keep these tips in mind as the season begins to change.

Packing prep

Plan on working on your tan

A good way to prepare is to make a list. This may seem silly, but make a list of all of the things you need and know that you probably will forget while packing, like toothpaste, headache medication, sunglasses, chapstick, a swimsuit and a phone charger. Forgetting these things can turn your trip into a travel disaster. Add socks, sunglasses, or mittens to your list if you’re traveling somewhere cold. But whatever you do, don’t forget your earbuds. It’s always better to overpack than underpack. It’s always a given to check your handy-dandy weather app, but keep in mind that you should expect the unexpected when dealing with weather. So pack for hot, cold and wet so you can still be comfortable during snow, rain or heat.

We’ve all heard it before, but use sunscreen. Besides the fact that a burn can leave your skin red and irritated for a few days, the Skin Cancer Foundation proved that the damage done by UV radiation is long lasting and increases the chance of skin cancer, so don’t take the risk. Check the ingredients to see if it offers broad spectrum protection (protects from UVA and UVB rays). To avoid burns, you need the perfect amount of SPF in your sunscreen. Registered nurse Sarah Lattig at Lakeshore Dermatology Laser recommends at least 30 sunscreen at least SPF be applied every two to three hours. For those who use tanning oils, “Any tan you receive is considered damage,” Lattig said.

Staying in shape

Step out of your comfort zone

OK, the elephant in the room. If you feel out of shape or just unhealthy from winter habits, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Many students and teachers alike dedicate their breaks to staying in shape. Start with the obvious- fruits, dark and leafy veggies. Get out of the habit of skipping breakfast like some do on school days and get your body ready for the day. Breakfast is important, but try to cut down on sugar, fat and carbs like bread. If you’re not much of a breakfast person, grab some fruit or a protein bar and you’re ready to go. Don’t forget about exercise. Easier said than done, but simply working out once is not setting a goal or plan for yourself. A great way to plan your workout is creating a habit, starting with a written routine. A good way to start are excercises that affect the arms, torso and legs.

It will be spring soon- it’s time to embrace the new and allow opportunities to blossom in your life. If you’re traveling, remember that the best part of traveling is all of the interesting people you meet on the way, so talk to them. Just introduce yourself, ask where they are from and you can have a great experience. Some people are afraid of water, trying new foods and other people are afraid of heights, but that should not stop you from trying to push yourself into doing something new, whether it would be ziplining for the first time or trying strange foods. If you’re scared, you can always ask a friend or family member to do it with you so that you’re not alone. That will make the first step to stepping out of your comfort zone easier. Trying new things is half the fun, whether you’re traveling or staying home.

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Looking for ways to pay for college? We have local scholarships for Tri-Cities students. Apply at: ghacf.org/scholarships And you only need to fill out one application!

Deadline: Wednesday, March 2 For more information, contact Kim McLaughlin at 616-842-6378 or kmclaughlin@ghacf.org.

LIFE 23

EARLY GRADUATION Some students opt to jump into the real world ahead of schedule, all with their own plan of action Taylor Fase / Senior Staff Writer

Anika Pitcher Pitcher participated in choir for all four years of high school, but her true dedication was to her church and faith. Why did you decide to graduate early? I was super ready to be done with high school. I’m not that involved with any activities in school, but I do a ton of work with my church and playing music at restaurants and coffee houses, so I wanted to put more time towards all of that. Also work more, obviously, to get more money for college.

Jamie May COURTESY PHOTO

Where do you plan to attend college this upcoming fall?

I’m going to Cornerstone University. What do you plan on going into? I am going to do a double major in Worship Ministry and Nonprofit Administration. With your intended major, what would be your dream job? Hopefully I will end up working at a church as the worship pastor.

Was there a certain moment you knew this was what you wanted to pursue as a career? In the past few years, I have kinda grown into a leadership position at my church, so I guess after that I knew I wanted to continue growing and leading.

Lauren Klaassen

Janelle Darnell COURTESY PHOTO

James Harding

Klaassen participated in Catalina Cuties and was a member of the ski team for her entire high school career. Why did you decide to graduate early? I had the necessary requirements already met so I really didn’t want to take another semester of classes that I didn’t need.

Harding spent most of his high school career on the football field as a safety. He was regularly a stand out player under the Friday night lights. He was also a Bucs’ Blade photographer for two and a half years and a member of student senate.

Why did you decide to graduate early? To spend time with my mom who is in Florida, been a couple months since I have seen her. To be honest, I’ve had senioritis for the longest time too, so another semester of barely doing homework would have been rough. Do you miss high school or any aspects of high school? Oh of course. Seeing everyday friends and even teachers, is painful to not see them. You grow this friendship over seeing those people almost everyday for four years. I will make prom and walking, but it isn’t the same. Do you have any future plans? I might play football at Kalamazoo college or Adrian college, or just attend Grand Rapids Community College. Did you know you wanted to graduate early or was it sort of a last minute decision? I got the idea very late summer, set it up to graduate, went the first semester on the border but around December I really committed to it.

24 LIFE

What are your postgraduate plans? Take some college classes through Muskegon Community College and work for my dad. Now that you’re done with high school, do you have major goals in regards to college or life in general that you hope to achieve? I hope to graduate from college, get a good job that I enjoy, and buy a lot of cars. Lee Lundeen COURTESY PHOTO

What are your future college plans? Transfer credits to Central and attend there for my remaining years of college. What will your major be? I plan on going into accounting. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

BEHIND THE blackboard Social studies teacher Edward Thomas’ days as a Marine led him to teaching Emma Dale / Reporter A Navy sailor was accused of an unknown crime on the Coast of France and had to be escorted to a major naval base in Spain. Two Marine police volunteered to take him on this journey. Given 500 dollars and 10 days to complete the task, the three embarked on a series of planes, trains and automobiles. Years later, one of those Marine policemen recounts the story to an enthralled class. Experiences like these are what keeps social studies teacher’s Edward Thomas’ students from nodding off in class .

What convinced you to join the service?

Many variables...I had no interest in college at the time, I wanted out of a small town, every male member of my family had gone into one branch of service or another but none had been a Marine. I wanted a challenge and wanted to have four more years to think about what I really wanted to do for a career.

What eventually made you want to go to college? man THE

Ben Werk

BUCS’ BLA

I talked to a few officers, friends from home, and buddies that got out of the service before I did about college and their experiences there. I wanted that and felt that now I had the skills to be successful in that setting.

What made you want to become a teacher?

I thought back to my coaching experiences in high school (youth hockey) and the classes that I taught in the Marines. All Marines were teaching mini-lessons to better learn the concepts and to develop leadership skills.

Do you think being in the Marines shaped the way you teach? How you approach things?

My military experience did influence the way that I teach. All teachers bring their diverse background to their teaching. This diversity is strength. We wouldn’t want all of our teachers having the same background any more than we’d want all our students having the same background, how boring.

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Every issue of THE BUCS’ BLADE reaches over 2,000 students, staff and community members. Our website, www.bucsblade.com, provides thousands of opportunities to reach your target audience while supporting growing student journalists LIFE 25

Freshman Spring Lake transfer, Alli Keyser, leads girls basketball team

Eric Stolarski / Reporter

he field house was christened on Dec. 1, as the Lady Bucs basketball team took on Traverse City West in their season opener. A new face led the team, standing 5’6” with her long brown ponytail covering the number four on her blue and gold jersey. She stood on the shiny new Buccaneer court and awaited tip off. Once the ball was in bounds she was an orchestrator, leading the team on the court as if she were veteran player, her quick and exciting play style led her to an 18 point outing in her home opener. Here’s the kicker-she’s a freshman. Former Spring Lake native, Alli Keyser, came to Grand Haven seeking a better basketball career. Wanting to improve her chances of playing basketball beyond high school. “It’s definitely for basketball,” Keyser said. “Grand Haven has other opportunities over the summer getting ready for the season.” Playing hoops in the driveway with her older sister and dad is where it all started. Building the foundation of her game at a young age predisposed her to success. Having role models in her life shaped her game. “I started playing when I was young, and my older sister played,” Keyser said. “My dad always worked with us and he still works with us. He’s always been my coach on the sideline.” After leaving Spring Lake she knew in her heart that this was what she wanted all along; when head coach Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer told her she was on varsity she was beyond excited. “I was super pumped because I worked so hard to get to where I’m at and it finally pays off in the end and it feels so good and I’m excited to start the varsity season,” Keyser said. Kowalczyk-Fulmer believes that Keyser’s willingness to learn makes her an excellent addition to the squad. “She’s super coachable, she has a very high basketball IQ,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “She really wants to be coached, I think she makes everyone else around her better.” Keyser’s teammates agree with Kowalczyk-Fulmer. “On the court she is very competitive and is always looking to make a good play or set the team up to score,” sophomore Autumn Buikema said. “It has been really cool getting to know her and play with her from summer to now, she is so outgoing and positive and always knows how to get the team going.” Keyser knows what the stigma is when a freshman athlete starts on varsity, expectations are through the roof. However, she’s ready for the four year battle. “I work very hard, I work hard every day,” Keyser said. “I always wanna improve always become better, I think she (Kowalczyk-Fulmer) see’s a lot of improvement in me, I’m young I’m starting off my career as a freshman so I have four years to improve.”

HOCKEY:

26 SPORTS

Junior Trey Bledsoe is a team leader as assistant captain as well as a consistent playmaker for the team.

James Harding THE BUCS’ BLADE GOING UP: Freshman point guard, Alli Keyser, goes for a layup during the second game of the season against Traverse City Central. The Bucs defeated TCC 46-32 with Keyser leading the way. “She’s super coachable, she has a very high basketball IQ,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said.

Keyser’s teammates agree that her work ethic has attributed to her success. “Alli has worked really hard to be where she is at on the team,” Buikema said. “She will often times work before practice on her shooting and is also always very focused on the game in general.” Not only does Keyser think she works hard, her coach takes note of all the extra work as well. According to Kowalczyk-Fulmer, Keyser has earned her place on the team. “She came to all the summer workouts that aren’t mandatory, she really wants to be the best player she can be,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “She’s here (in the gym) every weekend with her dad on the shooting machine She’s putting in the extra time. I think she deserves the success.” Back in June, Keyser embarked on her Grand Haven basketball journey, she feels that she has improved in such a short period of time. Although her time being a part of the Grand Haven program is short, she feels that her game has already developed more soundly. “I’ve gotten stronger from the start until now.,” Keyser said. “I’ve Improved I think, my dad also has been seeing I’m stronger with the ball and so I feel that Grand Haven builds up their program.” The freshman athlete already has goals set for beyond high school. This illustrates her dedication and passion for the game. “I wanna play college basketball, hopefully my junior year I’ll start getting looks from people, I definitely want to play college,” Keyser said. “I’m a huge Notre Dame fan but that’s a big road.” But first, Kowalczyk-Fulmer is confident that Keyser can revive Grand Haven’s girls’ basketball program back to its former glory. “We’re a young varsity team so it’ll be fun to watch her get our program back to the winning ways,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said.

RECORD: 6-13-1

WRESTLING:

James Harding THE BUCS’ BLADE DRIBBLE: Freshman point guard Alli Keyser dribbles the ball down court during a game against Traverse City Central on Dec. 5.

Junior Drake Morely is a consistent wrestler at the 171-pound weight class and a captain on the team

RECORD: 4-2

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Incredible. I was super nervous going into the 12th frame.” Mitchell has always been around the game, he bowled his first game at the age of one with the help from his dad and now coach, Pat Mitchell. Jimmy basically grew up at the bowling alley, joining a league at the age of three. “When I joined the league I wasn’t very good at all,” Jimmy said. “To be honest, my first match I bowled a zero, but I loved the game.” Even at that young age, Jimmy and his dad would go and practice, focusing on one pin at a time. As Mitchell grew older everyone could see him improving rapidly. By the time he was in middle school he was one of the best bowlers on the team. He really got everyone’s attention when he shot a 300 in eighth grade, the coaches of the varsity team were very excited for him to get to the high school “Jimmy grew up surrounded by bowling and exposure to some of bowling’s top professionals,” mother and coach, Angela Mitchell said. “I work for Brunswick and have a lot of involvement with our professional staff players. Jimmy just enjoyed the game and we

never put any pressure on him to be the best. We actually didn’t start coaching him until he asked and was ready to learn.” As Jimmy got into high school he became a clear standout on the team. He’s a true leader and gives his teammates confidence. “He is the captain, he’s a great bowler,” senior AJ Perrier said. “He tells us what we need to work on, he is really good at getting us fired up.” Jimmy doesn’t take much time to rest in the offseason. Last summer, he was able to qualify and go to the national tournament for high school kids. “It was my first national tournament,” Mitchell said. “I was able to get all my nerves out and take it all in, It wasn’t my best tournament but I learned a lot and it was a good experience, I’m excited to go back.” According to his coaches, Jimmy is never satisfied, he wants to keep getting better. He wants to take the time to be consistent with the fundamentals. “I need to stay coachable and listen to everything my coaches say,” Mitchell said. “If I continue to focus on the little things and work on my ball movement, my game should keep improving.”

“I need to stay coachable” Jimmy Mitchell

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE STRIKE: Junior Jimmy Mitchell sends the ball down the lane at a home bowling match on Jan. 21. Mitchell has been bowling for his entire life and qualified for the national tournament last summer.

BORN TO BOWL

Junior Jimmy Mitchell leads boys bowling team thanks to extensive experience Zac Holman / Reporter Jimmy Mitchell approached the lane for his final frame, a perfect game on the line. He grabbed his black and blue striped ball and threw it down the lane with perfect precision that only a seasoned bowler could

accomplish. All the pins dropped. As an eighth grader, Mitchell was able to say he has bowled a perfect game “I often look back on that day in eighth grade,” junior Jimmy Mitchell said. “It was

TAPER TIME Boys swim team uses time trimming techniques to prepare for postseason play

Luke Blauvelt / Reporter A large group of swimmers gather ceremoniously. Together, they rub a chemical solution into their scalps- killing their hair to uphold a tradition. The boys bond as their hair is bleached a shade of blonde bright enough to blind eyes. They are the boys’ swim team. “I bleach it for the team,” senior captain Cole Kramer said. “It’s good to show off how far we have come in the season and if you actually care about the sport you’ll bleach.” They bleach their hair as a devotion to the team, but it also gives them an advantage in the pool. The Bucs bleach their hair two weeks before conferences, then they shave their hair off- creating less drag. “We shave the night before conference and go bald because it’s faster than a cap,”

BOYS SWIM AND DIVE:

Ben Werkman THE BUCS’ BLADE BLEACH BLOND: The boys swim team gets hyped up while sporting their freshly dyed hair during a meet on Feb. 11. The team bleaches their hair two weeks before they shave it off for conferences.

senior captain Brennen Latchaw said. “Getting rid of any drag can be the difference between first and eighth.” Swimmers don’t just devote their hair to the sport, but also their life since they have morning practice every other day from 5:307:00 a.m. and after school practice every day from 4:00-6:15 p.m. “Swimming is very time consuming

Sophomore Grant Ruster is one of the state’s best swimmers. Ruster is a self motivated, calm swimmer.

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

and when not swimming, you are too tired or hungry to do anything else but eat and sleep,” senior Nicholas Akselberg said. “I was told swimming would be hard, I didn’t expect it to be one of the hardest and intense sports I’d ever done.” During the first 16 weeks of the season, the team builds up to swimming 10,000 yards every day. Dieting is typically associ-

BOWLING:

ated with eating less to lose weight, however, the swim team changes their diet by increasing their caloric intake to makeup for energy lost during the training period. “During a hard week I usually go to bed around 8:30 p.m. and my diet changes tremendously,” senior Tristan Tongue said. “I always eat so much and just shovel down my food.” Along with shaving and dieting, other methods are used to cut time, such as tapering. “Tapering is the most glorious part of our season, you feel great and have tons of energy and just go faster,” Latchaw said. “During tapering, pasta and chocolate milk are our best friends.” After the intense 16 week long training period, the team tapers. Tapering is essentially resting the body for a couple of weeks after an intense period of working out. This means dramatically reducing the daily yardage swam and no more morning practices. With conferences coming up Feb. 19, the Bucs are preparing. “Swimming is the hardest sport on your body and mind than any other, you have to be crazy to do it,” Latchaw said. “We all hate it but we continue to sign up year after year even though it’s so taxing, the bond you make with your team is incredible as well.”

Senior Joel Collins has one of the team’s highest scoring averages. Collins has assumed a leadership position on the team this season as well.

RECORD: 6-2

SPORTS 27

Featured Topic

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

Athletes battle more than just physical injuries

Brianna Moynihan / Sports Editor

wo athletes missed practice last week. Upon return, one wore a cast. The other, wore no cast. From the outside, nothing appeared wrong, but on the inside, he is fighting a battle with himself just as debilitating as a physical injury. He is suffering from a mental illness. Senior football and rugby player, Nathan Vanzee, has battled depression since his sophomore year. “It’s difficult,” Vanzee said. “Having a mental illness is just as bad as having a physical illness, except it’s worse in a lot of ways because you’re the only one who sees it. So a lot of people don’t understand what you are going through. People might think you are just missing practice and school because you don’t want to go and that’s really not the case.” One in five high school students suffer from a mental illness. According to sport psychology coach, Dr. Jason Novetsky of the Champion Mindset group in Birmingham, Michigan, poor mental health can have a number of effects on an athlete. “There are many manifestations that mental illness can demonstrate on the playing field,” Dr. Novetsky said. “Often times athletes in this situation are irritable, moody, lack energy and focus. They may skip practices, arrive late, speak negatively to teammates, argue with coaches and officials and have demonstrative tantrums when things do not go their way.” Scott Przystas, who coaches cross-

country, basketball and track, has seen first hand the detrimental effects of mental illness in athletes. “When athletes who struggle come to practice, they can get down on themselves,” Przystas, who is in his eighth year teaching and graduated with a masters for P12 administration and sport coaching education, said. “One bad thing, one mistake, can set the tone for themselves the rest of the game. It’s hard for them to come back from that if they don’t have mental toughness.” Vanzee has experienced this. “It becomes a lot more difficult to get out of bed in the morning,” Vanzee said. “It seems that every little thing that doesn’t go your way just becomes a big thing. Those little things stack up and you get overwhelmed and it feels like the world is on your shoulder.” Suffering from a mental illness can damage the athlete’s ability to prepare, sustain their focus, and their ability to recover from adversity. “The successful athletes are the best prepared, focused during competition and able to quickly recover to bring themselves back to the moment,” Novetsky said. “When an athlete is plagued with poor mental health their ability to do those things are significantly compromised and thus their play suffers. Depression can also affect the physical health of the athlete as those suffering from depression often do not eat or sleep well which can impact performance as well.”

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE MIND MUSCLE: One and five high school students suffer from a mental illness, this includes athletes. Poor mental health in athletes often leads to a lack of focus, missing practice and other negative effects.

BOYS BASKETBALL:

28 SPORTS

Junior forward Ross Koella has been snatching up important rebounds and finding a way to make clutch And 1’s in times when everyone is counting on him.

RECORD: 10-4

GIRLS BASKETBALL:

Senior forward Hanna Rinkevicz is always crashing the boards for rebounds during games. This has allowed for Rinkevicz’ to enter a starter role and increased playing time.

RECORD: 7-9

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Featured Topic

FOR MORE ON MENTAL HEALTH p. 32 What is your part?

p. 21 Bipolar disorder

p. 3 Staff ed: it’s not only depression

p. 15- 17 Grace Glessner THE BUCS’ BLADE TEAMWORK: The football team in a huddle during their season this past fall. According to sports psychologist, Dr. Jason Novetsky, and cross-country coach. Scott Pryzstas, athletes battling mental illness find comfort in their team and the sense of belonging that develops when playing a sport.

A key component to moving forward will be to de-stigmatize mental health issues so that athletes will accept help, too. “This is a difficult situation,” Novetsky said. “Often times athletes are too proud and will not ask for help which is exactly what they must do. They should reach out to family, friends, coaches, teachers, clergy and professionals that understand their situation. It is very difficult for any person when suffering from a mental illness to solve the problems themselves.” According to Vanzee, communication is a major key for athletes who suffer. “Talk to your coaches and close teammates,” Vanzee said. “You don’t have to let everyone know that you are going through it, but find a close group of people and be honest and do not isolate yourself, isolating yourself only makes it worse.” Coaches strive to improve their athletes physically through conditioning, drills and education on injuries and nutrition. But with the increase in awareness of mental health issues, athletes need to understand that they are not immune to these. Przystas emphasizes the importance of mental toughness. “It’s big and I think it is getting bigger,” Przystas said. “Coaches need to be educated to prepare kid’s minds. There’s only so many running workouts you can do, only so many

COMPETITIVE CHEER:

Avoid mental traps by identifying...

Uncontrollables Your opponent The unexpected (game delays, weather, etc.) The officiating

Your teammates performances Coaching decisions Who’s watching the game TIPS PROVIDED BY CHAMPIOINMINDSET.COM

basketball workouts you can do. It’s time to start coaching athletes mental toughness too.” Everybody deals with pressure and mental health issues, but athletes have more experience and are better equipped to handle the stress thrown at them. “I believe the difference relates to the pressure athletes may be under or the perceived pressure they may be under,” Novetsky said. ”Often times it is the athlete themselves who creates the pressure. Sometimes the pressure comes from a coach or a parent.”

The leader all season has been senior Larisa Garza. Garza has been the motivator, pushing everyone else to work hard while serving as the team’s captain.

www.bucsblade.com, February 19

Other people’s expectations of you

Novetsky believes that sports can help some deal with poor mental health. “If surrounded by supportive teammates and coaches, being involved in a structured activity and being around others can often help someone that is suffering,” Novetsky said. “Being relied upon can help give a person a sense of purpose and sense of worth in their life. By doing things for others and being in a situation of cooperation often alleviates some negative feelings a person may be experiencing.” Vanzee agrees that sports have not been a hindrance or cause to his mental health.

SKIING:

InDepth coverage

“For the most part I felt that playing sports helped quite a bit, staying busy,” Vanzee said. “It can get overwhelming at some points, but overall it’s good. To have a group of people that you kind of belong to, that depend on you.” One way Przystas is working to build his athlete’s mental toughness is through positive self-talk. “It is having some word that is your go-to word or phrase that is your comfort zone,” Przystas said. “You go to it when things get uncomfortable, telling yourself that ‘it’s okay, I can do this’ and it is not letting negative thoughts intrude and focusing on the task at hand.” Novetsky believes that avoiding mental traps will lead to stronger mental health. “Athletes and non athletes also often fall into mental traps and focus on things they cannot control whether on the playing field or in life,” Novetsky said. “We all need to keep things in perspective and focus on the controllables in our lives.” Mental illness is not limited to athletes and the problem does not stop on the field. “It can affect anybody at any point in their lives,” Vanzee said. “People just don’t take it as seriously as they should. I wish people were more open minded and educate themselves on them. Sometimes it affect the people you least expect.”

Junior Ellery Luckey is a consistent skier for the team, earning key points as well as leading the young squad. Luckey has been on the team for three years now and brings in some of the quickest times for the girls.

SPORTS 29

CONTROL : (LEFT) Senior point guard, Drew Hewitt, makes an aggressive play for the ball while going to the basket during a game against Hudsonville on Feb. 5. This was Hewitt’s first game back after suffering from an injury to his foot. GUARD: (BELOW) Senior guard Tyler Wiedeman brings the ball down the court during the game in the Pirate’s Pit on Feb. 5. The boys basketball team defeated the Eagles 57-53.

Balling in the...

Jonas Quirin / Photographer Brianna Moynihan / Sports Editor The Grand Haven boys fell short to Hudsonville in and girls varsity basketball a close 32-26 contest. The team traveled back in time intensity in the small gym on Friday, Feb. 5, playing a increased as the boys teams game in the Pirates Pit at took the court. The Bucs and Lakeshore middle school. the Eagles traded leads into The first high school game the fourth quarter. The Bucs played in the Pit since 1997. were able to come out on top In front of a crammed gym, with a 57-53 victory over the the girls fought valiantly but Hudsonville Eagles. 30 SPORTS

USA: (ABOVE) Seniors Jordyn Ploeg, Matt Vanheest and James Harding stand front and center of the student section at the basketball game on Feb. 5. The student section painted the Pit in patriotic pride. The Pirate’s Pit was notorious for their loud and rowdy student section and this year’s students were determined to carry on the tradition, starting USA chants at random points during the game and even getting the crowd involved with a classic “Blue and Gold” cheer. After the boys team defeated the Eagles 57-53, the student section stormed the court. REACH: (LEFT) Sophomore Alexia Bouwhuis defends a pass from a Hudsonville Eagle opponent during a game in the Lakeshore Middle School gym on Feb. 5. The Lady Bucs fell to the Eagles in a close contest, 32-26. www.bucsblade.com, February 19

steps to... STICKING THE BACK WALKOVER

Competitive cheer has many complicated tricks that can take years to master. But one of the more basic moves that every cheerleader knows is the back walkover. This move is essential to any cheerleader’s catalogue and routine. The back walkover is one that you can try to master on your own. Sophomore Kylie Williams has the four steps to master this crucial move.

Mason Harloff / Reporter

1. Start position: Arms up and keep body and core tight. Kylie Williams: “Start with your hands by your ears and your foot pointed out.”

2. The push back: Control yourself and lean your hand backwards KW: “Shrug up with your shoulders and start kicking back leading with your toe.”

3. The Kick: Once your upside down don’t forget to kick KW: “Tighten your core and pull your leg over leading with your toe, until your foot that you have pointed touches the ground.”

4. Snap back up: This is where the power comes from to get back on your feet KW: “Tighten your core and snap your chest up.”

Grace Glessner / Photographer www.bucsblade.com, February 19

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DO YOUR PART

All mental illnesses are treatable but they need to be noticed, diagnosed and prescribed the correct help

Every case of mental illness is different even within the same illness, some may show multiple warning signs or symptoms or they may demonstrate them in their own unique way. In many cases of clinical mental illnesses, multiple symptoms are shown and the combinations can help with a diagnosis. There is a long list of warning signs that may indicate a possible illness, below are some common in adolescents and young adults. If you are concerned a friend, family member, or yourself may be struggling with an illness, be sure to read on to find out how to help them and where to go.

32 LIFE

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prolonged sadness and irritability

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extreme high and low emotions

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social withdrawal

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dramatic change in eating and sleeping habits

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suicidal thoughts

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substance abuse

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changes in ability to manage daily problems and activities

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drop in motivation

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confused thinking and/or hallucinations

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difficulty focusing

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE

The internet is a dangerous place especially when it comes to medical advice, WebMD will often misinterpret your stomach pains from bad sushi as a sign of upcoming death. On the topic of mental health, it takes much more than reading a few articles to diagnose yourself accurately. “My clinical diagnosis is based on my seven years of graduate training and my many hours of supervised experience working with people,” psychologist Dr. Garrett Weatherhead said. “ What I have found is that many people who self-diagnose can (and do!!) misinterpret what is being said in online resources or what they have heard from others.” A full evaluation from a psychologist involves a clinical interview ranging from one and a half to 10 hours, consultations with family doctors and parents , and potential psychological testing. this not only determines what you are dealing with but rules out what you are not, something you can not do from your home computer. What you think may be depression could just be a bad week or month but if it truly is depression and you get it diagnosed, professionals can help you with counseling and medication to combat it. “It seems that even the act of checking to see if you could have a diagnosis means that you think that something could be wrong and consultation with a professional (or a trusted adult!!) might be the first step.” Weatherhead said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP ANYONE

Jonas Quirin THE BUCS’ BLADE

SELF DIAGNOSIS VS. CLINICAL

WARNING SIGNS / SYMPTOMS

Elizabeth Tibbe / Editor in Chief

Ben Werkman THE BUCS’ BLADE

It’s difficult to accept mental illness and the realization that you have one may not come until a rude awakening or someone reaches out. Once you can accept what you’re living with, you must reach out to people around you and create a support system. This and counseling is crucial to your stability while you uncover your specific mental illness. If you believe a friend, classmate or family member may be struggling you need to be their rude awakening. They may not even be aware they display symptoms of any illness and if they are it may be hard to accept by themselves. Your biggest role is to be supportive and help get them help they need. Explore mentalhealthamerica.net for information on various illnesses and more on how to help others or understand yourself teen help line 1-800-400-0900 youth crisis hotline 800-HIT-HOME self injury info line 1-800-366-8288 suicide prevention 1-800-273-TALK Designated safe zones at school are for initial contact with a trusted adult. Look for the “safe zone” sign on a teacher’s door, at least one in each pod. www.bucsblade.com, February 19