The Triangle, Issue 5, Vol. 103

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Alex Osburn

Ajay Singireddy

Jasmine Yang

IN-DEPTH TEAM

Izzy Munn

Sylvia Sasse

Deshna Venkatachalam

Lydia Weed

PHOTO EDITORS

Novah Ulm

Grace Wheatley

ART DIRECTOR

Sylvia Sasse

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Chloe LaVelle

Brynn Stewart

Deshna Venkatachalam

STAFF

Jocelyn Aguilar

Sarynel Barbosa

Nicolas Bowers

Aidan Brown

Liz Carrigan

Gabe Carrillo

Claire Davis

Stella Gaylord

Annie Green

Jaedyn Greenlee

Lois Guest

Cecilia Gutierrez

Maia Jamieson

Emma Warnock ADVISERS

Roth Lovins

Rachel McCarver

IN-DEPTH 16 PREVIEW ONLINE

CRUSHED

A high school perspective on modern-day relationships

Scan with your iPhone camera (Snapchat, too) to be linked to all of CNHS Media's socials.

Editorial Policy

The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content.

Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North.

The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources.

The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@ cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that

publication’s distribution.

In the event of death, The Triangle will run a standard obituary. Pertaining to work submitted via social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), The Triangle will only accept written submissions from the original poster and owner and will only publish entries with the permission of the original poster and owner. The Triangle will not edit submissions for content and reserves the right not to publish them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple submissions of the same topic, vulgar or incendiary content. The Triangle will not publish photographs from Facebook. Posts on The Triangle’s social media pages by readers are owned by the readers and do not necessarily express the views or opinions of the staff. The Triangle is not responsible for their content and reserves the right to delete and report any inappropriate and unnecessary posts. By posting on The Triangle’s social media pages, the poster grants The Triangle permission to publish the contents of that post.

In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.

In

December

of the Triangle. The column “Business Is Not Good” mistakenly identified Sophea’s restaurant as closing. It has no plans to close. For more information about Sophea’s restaurant visit them at 2508

St Suite B, Columbus, IN 47201.

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON SELF-IMAGE

Analyzing how social media’s influence has caused a change in people’s self-image and resulted in potentially harmful consequences

by Jasmine Yang design by Maia Jamieson

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Drugs

Social media platforms such as TikTok have promoted drugs that have weight loss benefits. The increase in public demand has lead to there being a shortage for diabetic patients that need the drug.

LillyDirect

LillyDirect, similar to Weight Watchers, will offer weight loss drugs via telehealth, where providers will determine whether or not a weight loss drug is appropriate.

Sources NBC, center4research.org

SIDE EFFECTS

Of popular weight loss drugs

Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic

• Possible thyroid tumors, leading to cancer

• Pancreatitis

• Gallbladder problems

• Hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Kidney failure

• Serious allergic reactions

• Change in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Depression

ZepBound, Mounjaro and Ozempic

• Can cause tumors in thyroid, leads to cancer

• Severe stomach problems

• Kidney failure

• Gallbladder problems

• Pancreatitis

• Serious allergic reaction

• Hypoglycemia

• Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Depression

Sources wegovy.com, mounjaro.com, ozempic.com, zepbound.lilly.com

CYCLING THROUGH THE STAGES

Social media can cause users to fall into a self-perpetuating cycle

Source helpguide.org

Worsening symptoms causes one to use social media more, causing the spiral to continue.

These feelings can negatively affect mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

CONSEQUENCE COMPARISON

A list of advantages and disadvantages that can result from social media use

PROS CONS

Spending too much time on social media can make people feel more isolated and lonely

Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around world

Find an outlet for creativity and self-expression

Find new friends and communities

Source helpguide.org

Promote negative experiences: inadequacy about life and appearance, FOMO and social media addiction, isolation, depression and anxiety, cyberbullying and selfabsorption

Excess use of social media can lead to increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, suicide

When you feel lonely or depressed, you are more likely to use social media to relieve boredom and feel connected to others.

Using social media more increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction and isolation.

NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

Seniors describe how the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing by

Nicolas Bowers

design by

Emma Warnock

COLLEGE COST BREAKDOWN

How far money can go at an average four-year college

Source educationdata.org

“I’m not opposed to taking out student

loans, but I would like to avoid it.”

senior Henry Thomas

“Take it one step at a time. If you look at all the steps, it gets very overwhelming really easily. So one step at a time and if you know anyone who knows about it or has done it before, definitely ask them for help.”

senior Lison Cloteaux

“Be honest, but also try to over-praise yourself

and your activities. Try to not make it sound

basic and make it sound unique.”

senior Charith Dasari

Q&A WITH EMILY TUCKER

12.8%

44.8% Additional annual expenses

Room and board

4.7%

Books and supplies

37.6%

Cost of attendance

Q: What are the best ways to find scholarships? There is a scholarship list that is included in each month’s CNHS newsletter on Parent/StudentSquare. There are also a couple of websites that can be helpful in searching for scholarships: fastweb.com and scholarships.com.

Q: What is FAFSA for someone who doesn’t know about it?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It needs to be completed by a student and a parent for the student to be eligible for financial aid. The deadline for Indiana is April 15th, but check with your college or university to make sure they do not have an earlier deadline.

Q: How can students learn more about financial aid?

College and university financial aid offices (and their websites) are an excellent resource for more information about financial aid information for that school. For more general information about financial aid, the Learn More Indiana website can be a helpful resource.

photo by Grace Wheatley

SECOND SEMESTER BRINGS DIGITAL PASSES

Starting on Jan. 8, teachers and students schoolwide said goodbye to written passes and hello to online ones. The new pass system, Securly Pass, eliminates the need for paper passes and allows administrators to monitor where students are going once they leave the classroom. Cohort ‘27 assistant principal Corie Williams highlights how the digital system can contribute to a better learning environment.

“We have an idea of the number of passes that are out every day and the length of time, so we can then look at ways that we can decrease that time [students spend] out of class,” Williams said. “We can also see the number of students going to each location to see if there are certain spots that are being used more frequently and certain times of day, so that we can provide more supervision in those areas to hopefully make all kids feel safe.”

The presence of online passes as opposed to written ones has already started to reduce the amount of instructional time students are missing.

“In the first couple days we had teachers who were using it, emailing to say that students were returning from the bathroom at a much quicker rate,” Williams said. “They knew that it was being monitored, that the teacher was going to know how long they were gone, so they were returning much more quickly.”

Business teacher Laura Daily offers insight into how the tracking component of digital passes can increase safety schoolwide, another goal of the new system.

Students and staff discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the new online pass system

by Alex Osburn

“From being a businessperson and working in human resources, that documentation piece of things happening for me, I can know where a person is or where they’re supposed to be, how long they spent there, all of those pieces can be valuable in just having a safer, more secure environment,” Daily said.

While online passes do present multiple opportunities to improve the school environment, they have also brought a period of adjustment as teachers learn to balance approving passes with classroom management.

“I’m not always at my desk, moving around and helping students. So sometimes they may be like, can you approve my pass, and I’m like, I’m working, my job’s not to approve passes,” Daily said. “But then I also have to remember, maybe they’re just letting me know, I put in a pass request, because I’m also not at my computer and wouldn’t know that. So that’s been kind of a challenge for all of us.”

From a student perspective, having passes already present on personal devices eliminates what can become the challenge of keeping track of paper passes. Junior Angie Frangella de la Vega highlights this advantage.

“We just have to press three clicks on our phones and we’re done,” Frangella de la Vega said. “Also, we take our phones anyway, all the time. So we don’t have to worry about having a paper that if we lose it, it’s going to be worse for us.”

by Jocelyn Aguilar

JUST PASSING BY

design

photo illustration by Grace Wheatley

A student creates a pass using Securly, the new digital pass system.

SINGING SEASON

Vocal Pointe and North Stars perform during their preview show on Jan. 11. Both choirs won second place in their first competition of the season on Jan. 20

design by Claire Davis photos by Stella Gaylord

Sophomore Elizabeth Alderfer dances to “Fire Under My Feet.”

Senior Maggie Conley performs “I Can Sing Clearly Now.”

Senior Blake Cooper sings “Thunderstruck.”

Members of Vocal Pointe perform “Thunderstruck.”

Junior Natalie Cantu sings “Light Clear of a Blue Morning.”

Senior Amelia Maddox sings “Girl on Fire.”

Freshman Gabe Manning sings “I Can Sing Clearly Now.”

SLEEP SHORTAGE SITUATION

Students explain how a lack of sleep affects their school academic performance and what they do to cope

by Liz Carrigan design by Sarynel Barbosa

The bright light of the screen illuminates a teenager’s face. The comfort of the pillow and blankets neglected as eyes can’t break from the temptation of a screen. Students are facing a sleep epidemic which

its impact on her.

“I oscillate between two hours and 10 hours quite frequently. Interestingly, how tired I am during the school day has very little correlation to how much sleep I get,” Huang said.

photo by Grace Wheatley

A lack of sleep has various effects on multiple parts of people’s lives. Sleep technician Sherry Johnson goes in depth

“It makes you sleepy if you don’t get enough [rest]. Sleep deprivation can cause problems like car accidents, accidents at work, and brain fog,” Johnson said. “It’s very important to get the right amount of sleep. Teens have a sleep detriment because they want to stay up as late as possible and sleep through the day. This causes Sleep Phase Syndrome. The blue light from devices such as phones, computers, and video games, tells the brain to get up, not sleep.”

Sleep technician Carrie Warbe shares the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers. “For kids 13-18 they should get between eight and a half hours to nine and a half hours per night,”

A bad night’s rest can lead people to find various ways to cope. Huang

describes how she deals with not feeling well rested.

“During the day, I get up and walk around. I sometimes drink coffee in the morning,” Huang said.

The sleep problem, though not one that can be easily solved, does have steps that can be taken to a better night’s sleep. Mahato lays out what he thinks would help students get an adequate amount of sleep.

“I think that time management could really help students to get their work done and get to bed on time earlier, but I also think that if school started a little later than it would be easier for students to wake up because it’s a little brighter outside,” Mahato said. “Also morning practice for athletes is brutal sometimes, so less morning practice would be great.”

Johnson shares her perspective on sleep solutions.

“Teens need to get their phones out of their bedrooms at night. When you get a text or hear your phone vibrating you get aroused out of the sleep you were supposed to be getting,” Johnson said. “The disruption is detrimental. So phones need to be out of their bedrooms and making sure your room is dark and cool. Keep your phones and devices out of the bedroom. Don’t drive if you’re drowsy, and stay on the same schedule. A regular schedule will help with sleep.”

WHAT THEY GET VS WHAT THEY NEED

STUDENT-LED SHOWCASE

The lights go down and the curtain is pulled back. Silence is broke as the actors say their first lines. As the play comes to an end, they will take their bows and move off the stage, allowing the next performance to begin. Throughout this process, the audience’s only job is to sit back and enjoy the show. However, for the directors, actors and stage managers, this is the culmination of weeks’ worth of preparation, rehearsal and endless revision. Liliana Martinez, a freshman who played Mitch in “Death Takes the Train,” describes Showcase for her.

“It’s a big time commitment,” Martinez said. “We [had] only about two or three weeks until showcase.”

Showcase offers opportunities for students interested in acting, directing, managing and even set design. The directors selected the students they want to perform and from there the plays are born. Freshman Lou Grafelman

From the brains of students here, the Theater Showcase is an entirely student-led series of plays

by Stella Gaylord design by Maia Jamieson

played Chuck Number Three in “The Art of Fugue,” and describes what the beginning of the Showcase process was like.

“It starts out with auditions where you get to audition for a couple 10-minute student directed plays,” Grafelman said.

The directors are then left with what can be a tough decision to determine who they want to act in their play.

“[The directors] cast the students themselves after a practice,” Martinez said. “Then they create a group chat or a meeting with whatever students they cast in their play, and then they just set times themselves for practice until Showcase.”

Once the directors cast their actors, it is their job to communicate with their group and set up practice times and rehearsal sessions. However, Martinez describes how the job is less straightforward for actors.

“You have to start memorizing your lines,” Martinez said. “You have to make a bond with the other actors so that you work well on

stage.”

Martinez describes how the actors not only have to be on good terms with their costars, but they also have to be able to embody their character and manifest their personalities.

“You have to figure out who your character is and how you portray them,” Martinez said. “And it’s just a lot of timing and just getting to know the actual play.”

Martinez describes the hardest part of acting for her.

“My biggest challenge is communicating with everyone about times and getting to know the people I’m acting with,” Martinez said.

Martinez describes how Showcase not only amounts to a great show, but it is also a great learning experience with real-world applications.

“Showcase is, I think, a really great way to get students to start thinking about whether or not they want to be a director outside of high school,” Martinez said. 1 2

4

3

(from

Freshmen

4. (from left to right) Freshman Liliana Martinez, senior Caroline Andrus and junior Olive Mantooth

1. Sophomore Bella Zigler performs monologue “The Hand.”

2. Freshman Izzy McGill plays Young Woman in “Cindy and Julie.”

3.

left to right)

Adalyn Summers and Dane Gregory in “Sides.”

in “Death Takes the Train.”

photos by Alex Osburn

5. Senior Jasmine Yang performs monologue “The Guest.”

6. Junior Ben Stevens and freshman Alyssa Maddox in “The Art of the Fugue.”

7. Senior Austin Clark performs soliloquy “To Be or Not To Be.”

8. Junior Lindsi Aguilar in “Cindy and Julie.”

9. Sophomore Danni Riley in “Drugs Are Bad.”

10. (from left to right) Directors senior Claire Davis, senior Gabby Graham, senior Amelia Maddox, junior Caroline Brucken and senior Hannah Michel bow after Showcase.

OPINION

AND THE AWARD GOES TO

An overview of some key moments from the 2024 Grammy Awards

by Stella Gaylord

Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, SZA, Billie Eilish … the list goes on. So many talented artists, so many styles, so many opinions.

My 2024 Grammy predictions were “Anti Hero” by Taylor Swift for song of the year. There was a surprising amount of controversy about the music video and the song itself. However, I really enjoyed both. The song shares Taylor Swift’s insecurities and anxieties both about her personal and public life. The song was a huge hit on social media, sparking the anti-hero challenge where fans shared their insecurities and quirks.

For record of the year “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish. As soon as the “Barbie” movie came out over the summer, the song skyrocketed to Number 14 on Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and was the top song of Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. “What Was I Made For” was written for the “Barbie” movie and is featured in a pivotal scene where Barbie (Margot Robbie) decides to move into the real world and leave Barbie Land behind.

“Midnights” by Taylor Swift for Album of the year. “Midnights” was the anthem of 2023 for me (and many others); “You’re on Your Own Kid”, “Midnight Rain” and “Sweet Nothing” were the top songs on my Spotify Wrapped. “Midnights” was one of the more somber albums Taylor Swift has released. It is generally considered a breakup album, but it is also about moving on from the past and not letting things continue to haunt you.

Lastly for Best New Artist, Ice Spice. The signature orange curly hair, the dance moves, her fans dubbed the “munchkins.” Who couldn’t love her? Ice Spice’s fame really started in late 2022 and since then she has become one of the more popular female rappers.

SOPHOMORE INVASION

As sophomores begin to drive on their own, we will be able to see the product of it

by Emma Warnock

Long ago, the juniors and seniors drove together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the sophomores started getting their driver’s licenses. Now, chaos ensues with every new vehicle that frequents the student parking lots. Will we ever be safe again from dings in our doors and horrid slanted parkers? The answer may be no, but weren’t we already dealing with the driving chaos?

We upperclassmen may have more driving experience than those who have recently gotten their licenses, but we are still new drivers. We still make mistakes, just like drivers who are younger. We back into cars while pulling out to get to lunch, we drive too fast through the lot on our way home and can sometimes be distracted by our phones.

People aged 16-19 are under 4% of the driving population, but they make up almost 10% of crashes reported, according to the National Safety Council. In 1 out of 10 car accidents, a new driver is involved. There are many factors to this, including cell phone distractions, bad road conditions and general lack of experience in practical driving. We can all be at fault for poor driving habits. There will be an uptick in accidents in the student parking lot due to more drivers, not just specifically new drivers.

Very soon, the cycle will continue. Seniors will graduate and the parking lots will once again be frequented by only two grades. There will be more available parking spots and less accidents. Then, just like this year, there will be a slow trickle and then a rush of new drivers invading the student lot. No one can stop it, and eventually, the grade that is the problem will be the grade annoyed by the problem.

NEW YEAR, SAME STORY GROUNDHOG DAY

Claire Davis investigates Punxsatawney Phil

by Claire Davis

I’ve decided to dig a little deeper into one of the most delightful and one of my personal favorite holidays: Groundhog Day.

We all know that on Feb. 2 each year, dozens of ceremonies take place across the country where crowds gather around groundhogs as they watch and wait in anticipation to see if the groundhogs see their shadow. If they do see their shadow, there will be another six weeks of winter. But if not, that means there will be an early spring that year, which is what happened this year. These groundhog celebrations happen from as close to home as Grubby the Groundhog in Hope, Indiana, all the way to Staten Island in New York, where Chuck the groundhog lives. However, the arguably most iconic groundhog is none other than Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania.

Residing in Gobblers Knob, Phil enjoys his life well lookedafter in the town’s local library, where locals and tourists can go visit him during the off season. Once a year, he gets a day all to himself as people come from across the country, and sometimes even the globe, to see him make his famous prediction. But why? The origins of Groundhog Day date back all the way to the 16th century. Back in Europe, the tradition started with farmers waiting for bears and badgers to come out of hibernation, and watching if they saw their shadows. This was an important holiday previous to modern-day technologies because it gave farmers an indication of how to plan for planting their crops. Those involved with the holiday would celebrate by later hunting and eating these animals. Originally it had religious ties to Christianity, as Feb. 2 is the date when Candlemas takes place.

German immigrants wanted to continue this tradition in the U.S. So, in 1877, Punxsutawney Phil, named after king Philip, celebrated his first ever Groundhog Day. According to my research, Phil drinks the elixir of life at a picnic every year, which explains why he has lived so long and why he has the power to make these weather predictions. Phil is more than just a groundhog; he represents an enjoyable tradition that many look forward to every year and enjoy.

A comparison of the expectation of New Year’s resolutions against their reality

by Cecilia Gutierrez

Three...two…one… Happy New Year! Fireworks, kisses, sparklers, champagne and of course, resolutions.

I, like many people, have dabbled in the art of crafting the perfect New Year’s resolutions. In the attempt to better myself, I have tried to come up with a list of things I would like to achieve before the end of the year. After years of creating the perfect resolutions, I have only one conclusion: I hate New Year’s Resolutions.

I understand that hate is a strong word, but I utterly despise New Year’s resolutions. In theory, a New Year’s resolution is a great thing. Who wouldn’t want to better themselves and become a greater version of themselves? Everyone should want to get closer to their goals, right? But, in practice, not so much. A New Year’s resolution is like a larger scale of the 3 a.m. motivation that most people, like myself, often feel: the jolt of energy to all of a sudden change my look, the layout of my room, paint something great and write a novel all at once. It’s good to want to do all those things, but you can’t do all that in one night, let alone in one year. And then you face the disappointment of not finishing your resolutions. But it’s okay to not finish all your resolutions; in fact it is normal, as only 9% of Americans actually complete their resolutions according to Ohio State University.

The pressure of creating a New Year’s resolution is also no joke. It seems that everywhere you go, there is someone just dying to share their resolutions. People inherently want to share their dreams and aspirations, even if they’re close to impossible to achieve. There is, of course, nothing wrong with wanting to share things you would like to get done. It’s good to share. But, in my opinion, resolutions are not the way to go. This pressure from others often leads us to create our own unrealistic resolutions to “fit in”. But you don’t need to create unrealistic expectations to fit in, just do you and vibe.

The new year is supposed to be a clean slate, but more often than not it gets clouded by the nonsense of a resolution. Just do what you want throughout the year: be productive, be inspiring, be lazy and be relaxed. Do it on your own time. You shouldn’t feel the need to start your year off with a to-do list. Who you are at the beginning of the year is going to be very different from who you are by the end of it. Putting pressure on yourself the moment the clock strikes twelve is not a great way to start off the year. Instead, opt for something realistically achievable. Of course you should shoot for the moon, but don’t get upset if you land amongst the stars.

THE CONNECTION CONUNDRUM

The Triangle staff unpacks the impacts technology has had on modern relationships

Nine thirty-eight a.m. Tyler sends a text to Rachel. Three hours later, Tyler checks his phone. No messages show. The next day, Tyler decides to send another text. Two days pass. Still nothing. Eventually, Tyler realizes that Rachel is never going to respond. However, the issue at hand is the fact that Tyler will never know why he got ghosted and will forever be in self-doubt about that situation. He knows that they will never see each other again because they met online. No personal connections unite them, and the digital connection will never cross over into the real world.

With the rise of social media and dating apps, face-to-face human connection has grown to include technology more and more. Before online messaging existed, people had to meet in person and work up the courage to start a conversation if they wanted to get to know somebody new. There were no Instagram or

Facebook profiles to search for information, no communities of friends who met online and have never interacted in real life. For today’s generation, friendships can develop whether it’s through GamePigeon and Snapchat or game nights and conversations.

While technological advances have caused a societal shift in the way any relationship is formed, romantic relationships arguably see greater effects from these changes than other kinds of relationships. One hundred percent of the Triangle staff believes that romantic relationships have changed over the years as a result of technological advances. One major development is dating apps, which have created an environment where users can make snap judgment about other people based on their profiles alone. This process paves the way for situations where someone may miss out on a valuable relationship because they only see surfacelevel information about a potential partner, along with situations where a relationship

may begin with only the shaky foundation of manipulated or misleading information. Additionally, expectations to curate the image of the “perfect couple” on social media can lead to an unhealthy fixation on appearances over actual connection. Romantic relationships today have more obstacles than ever before.

Psychologist George Levinger outlined five stages that all relationships might experience

However, not all technological advancements have led to harmful consequences in modern relationships. For example, one persistent challenge long distance relationships once faced was having no efficient way to communicate across distances, whether that be two blocks or 2,000 miles. As technology has developed, couples are now able to text or call each other at any given time, allowing otherwise improbable connections to be sustained. Furthermore, the algorithms used in today’s dating apps are often backed by psychologists and can lead to strong, longlasting friendships, even if two people who are paired together don’t decide to pursue a romantic relationship. As knowledge of the psychological factors behind a strong relationship has grown, so has society’s ability to mimic and apply these principles to real-world interactions through technology.

1

CLASSROOM TO CLINIC

Throughout the school year, seniors across the school plan, execute and reflect on their senior projects. For a lot of students, this can be stressful and time consuming, but for others it can be an opportunity to make a big difference in the community.

Senior Joe Del Genio coordinated with healthcare professionals to host a vaccination event for students.

“For my senior project I am hosting a vaccination clinic with the health department,” Del Genio said. “Obviously I’m not allowed to give vaccines to people, so I am just kind of spreading the word and making sure that people are aware that they need vaccines and that there are options available for them.”

Del Genio’s biomed teacher, Stacey Horn, elaborated on the requirements for senior projects completed by biomed students.

“In this senior level capstone biomed course, students complete an independent project that also meets the requirements of their senior project,” Horn said. “I help students learn the process of completing the project, guide them to find a community mentor and prepare them for the final presentation.”

Joe Del Genio hosted a vaccination clinic for his senior project

by Lois Guest design by Emma Warnock

also knew how important it was because of COVID.”

Del Genio’s interest in vaccines was solidified when he wrote his senior project research paper.

assistance,” Horn said. “At the end of the year, our student’s capstone projects are presented along with their scientific poster at the Commons to numerous community judges in the field.”

For Del Genio, this process was relatively smooth.

“I met with [the healthcare professionals] and told them about the idea and they agreed that it would be good for the students at North,” Del Genio said. “We agreed on the date and they said that they would take care of the vaccines and everything, so it was just my job to make posters and spread the word to people.”

When picking the topic of his project, Del Genio wanted to do something that was interesting to him.

“When we learned about vaccines it was the most interesting topic in that class, and I wanted to do something about it,” Del Genio said. “I

“I did my senior project research paper in AP Lang about vaccination and why it was important, and I also learned a lot about the anti-vax trend right now,” Del Genio said. “Since I want to go into vaccines in the future, I learned a lot about the risks associated with it and why people may not trust them as medicine because of certain influences.”

Since medicine is something that students may have little access to without professionals, connections have to be made in order to complete these projects.

“Each student has a community mentor which is specific to their project topic. Students meet with them on a regular basis and on their own time for guidance and

As a student, Del Genio is not allowed to distribute vaccines, so he did other things to contribute to the event.

“I am just kind of a liaison between the health department and the students. They would tell me stuff and I would just spread the word,” Del Genio said. “At the actual event I helped set up and helped tear down.”

The biomed senior projects can be a major stepping stone for students because the majority of them plan to go into a healthcarerelated field. For Del Genio, this is a career involving vaccinations.

“I am just trying to promote public health because it’s very important. I’m trying to improve people’s trust in the medical community because many people think that doctors don’t have their best interest at heart,” Del Genio said. “I’m just hoping that people know what their options are and are more educated in this side of their health.”

POWER OF PREVENTION

50 Statistics on vaccination

Million deaths can be prevented through vaccination from 2021-2030

21.1%

Of adults 60+ have received an RSV vaccine

4

Million deaths worldwide are prevented by childhood vaccination every year

11%

Of children under 18 have the updated COVID-19 vaccination

Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

photo for the Triangle Del Genio’s mentor fills a syringe with a vaccine

CRUSHED

a high school perspective on modern-day dating

by

Izzy Munn, Deshna Venkatachalam and Lydia Weed design by Sylvia Sasse

Think back to the various Valentine’s Days experienced as kids. Decorated boxes, handwritten notes and candy hearts. As a kid, Valentine’s Day was a holiday to look forward to, but as the years go by, some envy the publicly expressed relationships. In modern-day dating, conversations turn into “situationships,” and if lucky, turn into relationships. Senior Joe Del Genio defines his idea of what a “situationship” is.

“I’d say it’s kind of like a relationship but not really,” Del Genio said. “There’s not a label on it and it’s just not progressing into anything, but all the signs are there.”

According to Tinder’s 2022 “Year in Swipe” report, the top dating trend among singles aged 18-25 claimed “situationships” as valid relationship status, and the platform saw a 49% increase of the term in users’ profiles. Similar to “situationships,” high schoolers also use the term “talking stage” to describe a situation in which two people have been getting to know each other. Still, there’s no mention of any sort of commitment to each other.

“I think a talking stage is more like testing the waters to see if anything happens and a situationship is when something is definitely there but it’s not progressing into an actual relationship,” Del Genio said.

However, freshman Gabe Manning feels differently about what it means to be in a “situationship” versus the talking stage.

“A situationship is where there’s no label on it at all. I feel like the talking stage is more like a label,” Manning said. “My situationship kind of went from maybe, to probably. It’s still all up in the air at this point.”

Manning’s experience with “situationships” has led him to understand both the positives and negatives of being in this sort of dynamic.

“A positive is that you feel wanted and it feels like you’re fulfilling in some way to someone,” Manning said. “It’s negative because it’s just continuously dragging and you feel like you’re getting nowhere.”

Similarly, Del Genio’s negative feelings about a “situationship. revolves around exhausting feelings.

“I guess it can be fun to be in a situationship, but it’s very emotionally draining,” Del Genio said. “That’s a big negative.”

The fun part, according to Manning, consists of flirty banter and hanging out. However, dates are another sore subject when it comes to “situationships.” For Del Genio, they are reserved only for those who are officially dating.

Dates can be the start of a relationship or the end of one. Senior Mady Baker recalls the first time she and her current boyfriend, Jesse, went on a date.

“Our first date was cute,” Baker said. “We went on a picnic after school, however, it was

a bit awkward because I am an extrovert and he is an introvert.”

Despite the awkwardness, their first date turned into many dates. Mady and Jesse have learned what it means to be in a relationship.

“The most important part of a relationship is being able to give what the other can’t,” Baker said. “For example, you must be able to together give one hundred percent. Whether that’s 50-50 or 99-1 on a bad day, your ability to help each other through life is what will keep you together.”

Being in a relationship creates a new perspective on the feelings of others. Junior Britney Lopez, who is in a relationship herself, agrees on the effort portion of a relationship.

“Trust and communication are the main things that form a healthy relationship,” Lopez said.

Social media is a form of communication that affects a relationship. According to the Pew Research Center, 59% of teenagers feel more connected to their significant other’s life due to social media. This statistic is deemed true for Baker’s relationship.

“It is part of the reason we are still together. It allowed us to communicate better throughout COVID and I definitely think our relationship would have struggled,” Baker said.

On the other hand, Lopez believes social media can bring unnecessary feelings into a relationship.

“It can cause lots of drama sometimes due to the negative things that people say about the relationship,” Lopez said.

In contrast, senior Ella Engelau and her boyfriend don’t have very much experience with social media.

“I keep everything off of social media,” Engelau said.

For older generations, social media played a nonexistent role in forming relationships. Business teacher Scott Seavers discusses the differences between his high school experience compared to modern-day dating.

“I would say relationships are relationships and they’re similar to when I was in school, but the circumstances have changed with cell phones, social media and the way kids communicate today,” Seavers said.

Seavers reflects on the period from meeting his wife to adding a label on the relationship.

“We dated a few times, and I don’t know if anything was ever said that made it official, but I think it was just understood that we weren’t going to see other people,” Seavers said.

Seavers met his wife in high school, but they didn’t reconnect until after college. As he got to know her, Seavers quickly realized this connection would last longer than the other relationships he had previously had

“I knew my wife was ‘the one’ because she

WHAT IS A SITUATIONSHIP?

“Cheating”

senior Zach McClean

“You act like a couple and do the things like a couple without labeling it

as a relationship”

sophomore Zurisaday Gardea

“Horrible”

sophomore Abilene Rust

“A friendship that is turning into a relationship at a really slow pace”

sophomore Serenity Ozbun

“Someone who acts like they like you, but doesn’t want to be with you, but says you’re chill”

sophomore Gracie Burton

“A relationship that isn’t really a relationship and doesn’t make sense”

junior Olive Mantooth

was the only person that I liked more and more the longer we dated,” Seavers said. “All of the other people I dated were fun, but then after time, you could tell we didn’t have the same values or interests. [My wife] is the only one that never happened with.”

Although social media never played a role in his relationship, Seavers believes it can have a large impact on modern dating.

“One of the things I don’t like about social media is the way you can wreck someone’s reputation or hurt someone in a way that may or may not be true,” Seavers said. “I don’t think social media is all bad, but not all helpful when it comes to relationships.

Additionally, the term “situationship” is fairly new. Seavers discusses his definition of a situationship.

“We didn’t use terms like ‘talking’ and ‘situationship,’ and we didn’t check each other or text back and forth beforehand,” Seavers said. “I would assume that two people are together based on a certain situation, not really a long-term relationship.”

For Gen-Z, “situationship,” became a common term to define an unofficial relationship. Nonetheless, Baker believes the gray area between dating and a “situationship,” is still something to be figured out.

“[It] is a learning experience in which someone can discover things about themselves, relationships, and other emotions,” Baker said.

There is no specific length of time a “situationship” lasts, and Engelau agrees that the learning experience can be good for both parties; however, it can be harmful if things are taken too far.

“I think it is good that people are getting to know each other better before they start official relationships, but I think it can become harmful when people use it as an excuse to avoid an exclusive relationship with a label,” Engelau said. “I think people created the term situationship because they wanted to prolong the talking stage.”

While the “situationship” itself can turn harmful, the people within the relationship play a factor in the safety of this dynamic.

“Just because situationships aren’t harmful does not mean the person you get involved with is not,” Baker said. “You have to always make sure the situation is with someone who will not harm you.”

To avoid it turning into something harmful, others may choose to avoid this kind of relationship altogether.

“I think they need to end. It’s just stupid,” Del Genio said.

68% of students have been in a situationship

32% have not been in a situationship

MOVING WITH THE SEASONS

by Alex Osburn design by Cecilia Gutierrez

The winter guard explains what their sport looks like during the colder months ROUTINE MOVEMENTS

TSlam: quickly bring the flag or prop toward ground

Spin: spin the flag or prop around

Toss: throw the flag or prop in the air

Along with choreography, these are some moves that guard members may use Source

he sound of sabres cutting through the air in unison fills the room. Brightly dressed participants glide across the floor, twirling flags and creating a landscape of fabric and color. As the weather gets colder and sports begin to move inside, color guard members have the option to join winter guard. Junior Kate London describes how winter guard focuses on perfecting one routine to compete with.

“We have one show that we do the whole season, that we work toward for competitions, and our end goal is the state competition at the end of the season,” London said.

In practices, senior Farrah Fox explains how the guard hopes to lay a strong foundation at the beginning of the season and pave the way for future competitions.

“Right now we’re really just focusing on technique and the basics so that we have a good place to start for all of the choreography we’re doing,” Fox said.

For younger members, such as freshman Grace Shelton, this period of learning fundamental skills can be an introduction to different aspects of color guard.

“I’ve never done weapon line before, or my best friend, and so we’re learning how to do rifle, technique and different tosses, which is honestly really fun because we’ve never done it before,” Shelton said. “And you kind of just work with your directors and better learn how to do the tosses.”

Apart from the technical skills involved with learning choreography, winter guard has provided a space for some members to form long-lasting relationships.

“I have met people that I am going to talk to for the rest of my life through the winter guard program and through the marching band program,” London said. “It’s a community of people that I can always rely on.”

The color guard community has also taught London broader life skills from being on the team.

“I’ve learned a lot of responsibility, personal responsibility and also responsibility for my team,” London said. “And I’ve just learned how to work as a team and work together.”

Similarly, Fox has developed a better

reaction to criticism as a result of participating in guard.

“I think besides all of the tricks and technique and the actual skills we learn, I’ve really gotten better at discipline, whether that be disciplining myself or learning how to deal with discipline, just because there’s high standards,” Fox said.

For other guard members, being a part of this sport is an opportunity to develop their mindset alongside their technical skills.

“I learned that you can pretty much do anything. I did dance when I was younger, but I was not a very good dancer,” Shelton said. “I’ve become a lot better of a dancer and if you put your mind to it, you can really do anything. People who joined like me, we didn’t even know how to touch a flag, and we couldn’t even do drop spins, and now we’ve come a long way.”

photo by Alex Osburn

Senior Farrah Fox performs “From the Rooftops” during this year’s color guard marching season.

SEASON SUCCESS

An update on how the wrestling season has gone so far

One. Sweat drips off the wrestler’s forehead as he struggles to keep his opponent pinned to the mat. Two. His muscles start to fatigue as the wrestler faces the results of all the work he has exerted from the rest of the match. Three. A sigh of relief escapes from the wrestler as he knows what this means for the match. Gaining these points allows the wrestling team to become victorious. Cheers erupt in the gym as the referee raises the hand of the wrestler. This year’s wrestling season here began in November and Coach Taylor Decker describes how the season has gone so far.

“Our season’s been pretty good. We have a lot of really talented athletes,” Decker said. “We’ve had some pretty major setbacks with injuries this year in some pretty key spots, but moving into the state series and sectionals and conference being this weekend, we have kind of all those pieces back, so we should have a pretty good run into the state series.”

by Jasmine Yang design by Aidan Brown

Senior Josiah Green agrees with Decker’s sentiment and reflects upon what this season means to him as a senior.

“I would say it’s gone pretty good. I think everyone on the team is on a roll right now,” Green said. “[My favorite part] is just being able to go out there and wrestle with the guys one last time. I mean it’s my senior year so, it’s just being able to hang out with them for one more year.”

Although Green has been able to develop a love for wrestling, his experience shows that passion for one sport can grow as a result of another.

“I honestly did it just to stay in shape for football,” Green said. “Early on, I realized I liked it more than football so I quit football to just do wrestling.”

Over the years, Green has found one part of wrestling he struggles with.

“Being there every day is hard,” Green said. “Especially in wrestling, you’re sore a lot, you don’t really want to go to practice, but you just need to get there and do it.”

Freshman Cohen Long, on the other hand,

COMMON INJURIES

Other: 20.98%

faced a setback from an injury.

“I tore my ACL last year, so it’s been a battle back from that, just recovering from an injury and getting back into things,” Long said.

As players recover from the injuries and mental blocks, the team is able to develop as a whole and continue working hard for the future.

“This year we have a lot of eager athletes who have kind of competed before so this is a year where there’s still a lot of learning taking place, but we’re on a different type of learning,” Decker said. “In some years past, we’ve had to start from scratch, and so this year we’re able to build on a lot of previous experience, so we have a lot of athletes that are very well seasoned. It’s really good because a lot of those are freshmen and sophomores so it gives us a lot to look forward to, and a lot of those individuals will be really good teachers up in the wrestling room as we move forward.”

diagram showing what percent of wrestling injuries occur to each part of the body

Shoulder: 12.71%

Arm/Elbow: 4.1%

Hip/Groin: 2.32%

Thigh: 2.71%

Lower Leg: 1.87%

Knee: 19.64%

Neck: 3.24%

Head/Face: 12.8%

Ankle: 6.41%

Foot. 1.37%

Hand/Wrist: 4. 25%

Data from a study by the National Library of Medicine conducted from 2014 to 2019

photo by Lois Guest Sophomore Asher Ratliff pins opponent in match against Columbus East on Dec. 13.

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SKATING TO THE GOAL

Students here maintain their grades while they stay busy with their athletic career

by Annie Green design by Jaedyn Greenlee

While scoring a goal in hockey can be relatively easy at times, it’s not always a breeze maintaining good grades as well. Sophomore Cole Finney describes how participating in hockey has affected him personally.

“Hockey has had a big impact on my life. Playing hockey allowed me to meet some of my closest friends today, and I made memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life,” Finney said. “It is also always challenging me to become a better player and person. Every season I try to refine my skills and abilities so I can contribute to my team more.”

Finney shares his approach to maintaining both hockey and his grades.

“I’m able to manage sports with school work by using my resources to get work done and working on homework right after school so I’m done before hockey practice,”

said Finney.

Along with Finney, sophomore Kaitlyn Netser participates in hockey while maintaining an academic career.

“I manage school and sports by keeping them separate,” Netser said. “I try to do all my schoolwork at school and right after school. Then, at night, I focus on hockey and try not to stress about school.”

Netser would like to carry her hockey career in the future alongside her academic career.

“I plan on continuing hockey in the future by playing in college,” Netser said. “I really want to play for Trine University or the University of Michigan. They both have great hockey programs and they both offer the major I want to study.”

For students new to high school, playing a sport while managing assignments has the potential to be overwhelming. Freshman Mia Taylor explains how she manages her time with her new schedule in high school.

“On the way to hockey, I will do my homework and on tournament weekends, I make sure to get the work that I will miss,” Taylor said.

For Taylor, the motivation to be a hockey player was passed down from generation to generation.

“My dad inspired me to play hockey,” Taylor said.

Similarly, junior Noah Marsh shares his inspiration for playing hockey.

“My brother started playing and I wanted to try something over winter,” Marsh said.

For Marsh, balancing sports and his education involves using every moment wisely.

“I try to get my work done during the day when I can, and I have time before practice and we used to do study tables.”

GAME SCHEDULE

Upcoming matches for the 2023-24 Icemen Prep Team

Feb. 9: Away at Carmel 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 10: Home for Varsity Senior Night 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 16: Away at Kube Sports Complex Time TBD as of Feb. 5

photo by Gabe Marsh

Sophomore Cole Finney skates past opponents during a match on Jan. 14.

DON’T WORRY, SKATE HAPPY

Sophomore Vincia Li discusses what it’s like to be an ice skater

by Lois Guest design by Gabriel Carrillo

In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double, don’t worry, be happy.” These lyrics from Bobby Marley’s hit cover “Don’t Worry Be Happy” sound through sophomore Vincia Li’s ears before every figure skating competition.

“Right before I get on the ice I listen to “Don’t Worry Be Happy “ by Bob Marley because it keeps me going,” Li said.

These lyrics help to motivate Li when struggling with nerves and confidence.

“One of my main challenges is confidence in competitions because normally I get really nervous and then I start shaking and then everything is just off,” Li said. “Honestly, it’s still a work in progress, but my coach and I have a plan to join as many competitions as possible to keep training it. I just try to give myself positive affirmations before getting on.”

Li’s coach is a positive figure that motivates and encourages her to do well.

“She always tells me that I got this. She is kind of like my everything, and my second mom,” Li said. “She’s also like my therapist on days that I am just not feeling mentally stable, and obviously she’s really good at picking out my errors and telling me how to fix them.”

Overcoming challenges can be one of the most exciting parts about figure skating for Li.

“I recently won Indiana State Champion

for my level, so I think that was pretty cool because I’ve been struggling with my nerves during competitions,” Li said. “It was really rewarding to see something good come out of it.”

Throughout this season, Li has been making improvements on her technique.

“Mainly, my skating skills have gotten a lot stronger,” Li said. “In the past, everything looked really jerky and even though I had the same jumps as I do now, I always lost a lot of points in skating skills, which is why I didn’t place too well.”

One of Li’s traditions is making sure to have a consistent morning routine the day of a competition.

“For competitions there is always a very set routine. I always have the same breakfast. It used to be peanut butter and banana toast, but now it’s just straight oatmeal with a bunch of toppings in it,” Li said. “I always show up an hour early before my first event or practice. I do a warm up with my friends if they are also on that practice. Then, we do the practice and get off. I also always drink like two bottles of gatorade to keep the electrolytes going.”

Similarly, having a practice routine can set the mood for a positive skate.

“I’ll get there and probably warm up for like 15 minutes and then get my skates on. Then, I’ll do my on-ice warm up and then I’ll probably goof off with some friends to some music,” Li said. “Then, I’ll get into the zone

and start doing some spins and I normally leave jumping for last because I don’t like jumping anymore.”

The time spent in practices and competitions can add up for ice skaters, sometimes causing stress.

“Not going to lie, it’s a struggle, it’s really bad,” Li said. “My coach is always telling me to drop my extracurriculars because my mental health is getting affected and my quality of skating is not that good because I’m not getting enough sleep.”

Although skating can come with struggles, it can also inspire success. Li has goals to accomplish even more during this season.

“Last year I made it to Excel Nationals and this year I’m hoping for a better placement,” Li said. “Also, a side goal would be to get my double axle because it’s something we’ve been working on for a while.”

photo by Novah Ulm Vincia Li practices her routine on the ice.

SUPER STATS

Students share their opinions on the Super Bowl

by Ajay Singireddy

53% of students are excited for the half-time show

40% of students attend a watch party for the Super Bowl

“The Super Bowl is always something I’ve done with people close to me. When I was younger my family always had a big party, and as I got older I get to watch it with my close friends.”

Usher is performing respondents purchase chips

Football Coach

Haden Mettert

65% of students plan to watch the Super Bowl this year

SNACK FACTS

53% of students purchase snacks for the Super Bowl

respondents purchase wings 60 12

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