The Hilight: Valentine Edition 2023

Happy Valentines from TheHilight! Stop and smell the roses, because love is in the air (for some of us, that is). Whether you’re deeply committed to a lifelong relationship or you’re still trying to decipher every single thing your crush has ever done to figure out if they like you back or not, or you’re just in it for the candy, we at The Hilight are here to help make your Valentine’s Day all you’ve ever dreamed of and more (disclaimer: chocolate not included).

Anna Beth Mauldin, Editor-in-Chief

While this paper contains lighthearted and fun articles, it also holds some more significant bodies of work, giving the Valentine’s Edition an even balance. I love what this paper contains, and I am proud of the staff for working continuously hard to complete it. I hope you all enjoy this edition as much as we do. TheHiligh t staff wishes you a very Happy Valentine’s Day.

Elley Atchison, Junior Editor

Editor in Chief

Anna Beth Mauldin

Junior Editor Elley Atchison

Staff Writers

Olivia Britton

Anna Beth Burleson

Kaleigh Green

Juan Fuentes

Ruby Hudson

Jonah Jarett

John Mark Johnson

Reilly Johnson

Mimi Lunsford

Mack Rudder

Alecia Scott

Destiny White

Drew Williamson Advisor Jennifer Calahan Contact Phone 256-734-2923 Address 510 13th Street NE Cullman, AL 35055

50 Years of Young Love How has love changed?

Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

Lots of things have changed since 1973, but is young love one of them?

In 1973, you were most likely to meet a potential partner through your friends or family. For your first date, you might go to a local hang-out spot like the pizzeria or maybe out roller skating or bowling. In 2023, you are most likely to meet a potential partner through an online dating site, even teenagers,

was risky or even illegal. Interracial marriage was not legalized until 1967 with Loving V. Virginia, and even with the legalization of interracial couples, still faced danger and extreme criticism in the 70s. LGBT relationships became more prevalent in the public in the 70s after the Stonewall Riots but were not legalized until 2003. In 2023, both LGBT and interracial relationships may still face some criticism but are now widely accepted and have both made huge strides in terms of equal rights.

only 5.1 per every 1000 people were reported to be married.

with a wide variety of dating sites and apps available to all ages online. First dates have also changed, with the term “infla-dating” being coined by many online dating sites and dating coaches. “Infla-dating” refers to going on less expensive, more budget-friendly dates because of rising costs due to inflation. For some couples, dating in the 70s

Throughout the 1970s, the American divorce rate skyrocketed because of no-fault divorce laws being passed and what many consider the death of the institutional model of marriage and the beginning of the soulmate model. In the 1970s census for every 1000 people, there were 4.9 divorces compared to in 2020, where for every 1000 people, there were only 2.3 divorces reported. Divorce has dramatically decreased in America since the 70s, but that might not be due to people staying married but because they never got married, to begin with. In 1973, for every 1000 people, 10.50 were married, while in 2020

Overall love and the way it is expressed has statistically changed since 1973,. Both divorce rates and marriage rates are down, and the internet now widely controls the way dating works, At its core though, dating has stayed fundametally the same since the 70s with the introduction of the soulmate model of marriage, which is the reason for such low divorce and marriage rates now. In the 1970s, people became able to explore love more openly and freely and that has only expanded since then with less societal pressure to marry early and equal rights for almost all relationships in the United States.

Accoridng to the 1973 Hilight Valentines Day edition that came out on February 13, 1973, Valentine’s Day got started by, “... a dude named Adam who lived in a place called Eden, with this chick called Eve. Well one day Adam, came upon this tree grwoing heart-shaped fruit and so Eve picked a little of the fruit and said ‘hey Adam, why don’t ‘cha take a little bite?’ He did so, then popped a snake claiming to be the Devill himself. ‘Oh my!’ said

Happy Valentine’s Day to the Support Staff

Olivia Britton, Staff Writer

This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to show our appreciation for the CHS Support Staff by giving them cards. Your continuous dedication and efforts to improve the school environment for students are greatly appreciated. Thank you for all you do and we hope you love your cards!

Eve, ‘That’s a snake claiming to be the Devil, that’s stupid!’ Adam being hard of hearing said ‘Cupid?’ and we know the rest...” The 1973 Valentine’s Day edition also included an article about the beard-growing competition held that spring. Before spring of 1973 facial hair was prohibited on Cullman High School campus.

The Hilight Staff spreads a little extra love this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day joke included in the 1973 Hilight Valentine’s Edition.

An image from the Hilight’s 1973 Valentine’s Day Edition

Valentine’s Traditions Around the World

Different ways other countries celebrate V-Day!

Destiny-Faith White, Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered how other countries celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Across the United States, February 14th marks a day of candy, flowers, gifts, and romantic dates but other countries have their own unique ways to celebrate the love-filled holiday.

- In Slovenia there is a popular belief that birds ‘propose’ to each other on Valentine’s Day, It’s said that in order to witness this occasion, one must walk barefoot through fields that are usually frozen.

- Bulgarian couples celebrate their love with a glass of wine while they exchange special handcrafted wooden spoons.

How Retailers Push Valentine’s Day On Consumers

Why is Valentine’s everywhere? Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

- In England, women used to place 5 bay leaves on their pillows in order to bring dreams of their future husbands.

- Japan does it quite differently and the women actually buy gifts and chocolates for their male partners, Men aren’t allowed to return any of the gifts until the “White Day ‘’ on March 15th.

Damar Hamlin

- On March 15th, in Miao, southwest China, the “Sisters’ Meal ‘’ festival is celebrated. Women wear silver accessories and over the top dresses and they cook various dishes of colored rice that is then offered to young men that are walking on the road. Inside the rice, the women hide either two chopsticks which mean love or a clove of garlic which unfortunately means the love is over before it even started. The destiny of the love lies in whatever dish the young men decide to choose.

Damar Hamlin and the dangers of football

Mimi Lunsford, Staff Writer

Damar Hamlin is a 24-year-old safety for the New York Buffalo Bills. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the Bill’s Monday night game against the Bengals. He received a hard hit to the chest and tried to hop up and continue playing but he collapsed almost immediately. He received CPR on the field for eight minutes before his heartbeat was restored. Hamlin was then taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin remained in critical condition for a couple of days and was discharged after 9 days in the hospital. There is currently no information on if or when Hamlin will be able to return to playing but this horrible accident brings to light many controversial safety concerns. The dangers of football are widely known yet the game is astronomically more dangerous when basic medical and safety con-

cerns start to get overlooked.

The most prominent health concern in the NFL today is head injuries and brain trauma. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback, has been battling spine and brain trauma after he received a concussion during a game earlier in the season and then after getting cleared, having another traumatic blow just four days after. A full investigation has been launched into the NFL’s concussion protocols because of this life-threatening “hiccup.”

Research has shown that those who suffer from one or more concussions are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other brain-related illnesses. In football, 65% to 95% of all injuries are made up of concussions. The chances of getting a head injury in the NFL occur at a rate of one every 5 games. It has also been proven that at least 40% of former NFL

Valentine’s Day is a global phenomenon. Everywhere you go there is some sort of “love” holiday paraphernalia for sale, you simply can not escape it. While this seems coincidental it is all very planned and ultimately targeted for the vulnerable consumer.

Around the month of February, the in-person shopper could expect targeted sales, love filled greeting cards, and massive teddy bears right at a store’s entrance.

According to Hallmark, they sell an estimated 145 million Valentines Day cards each year. Most people also give their loved ones a gift–most commonly candy or flowers. Also, jewelry is consistently the “big ticket” purchase year after year.

Unfortunately, due to the recent inflation increases, candy, flowers, gold and silver have increased in price by around 12% when compared to last year. Even with the increased prices, consumers surveyed by The Balance estimates that 30% of people will continue to spend $100 or more on their partner this year.

Consumers in America spent $23.9 billion on Valentine’s Day last year–during which we saw an increased inflation rate as well. However, the holiday has seen a $10.5 billion spending increase in the 13 years between 2007-2020. It is likely that Valentine’s Day spending will continue to rise with or without increased inflation.

Despite consumers tailing back

players have traumatic brain damage. Along with the danger of head injuries, the NFL also has alarmingly high rates of the knee, foot, and shoulder injuries.

When the statistics are seen, many people being to think, is the entertainment of Monday Night football worth the risk? Football has always been known as a dangerous sport but maybe we should start to think of it as too dangerous. The risk is extremely high but many passionate players argue that the reward is worth their risk. Everyone has their own opinions and chances they are willing to take and many will support their decision.

spending in other parts of their lives, it is apparent that Americans love to celebrate love and will make sure that there is more than enough room in their budgets for Valentine’s Day spending.

ICKS w/ BRITT

What CHS students are NOT looking for this Valentine’s Day

Mimi Lunsford, Staff Writer

Britton and I went around school asking people what their “icks” are in honor of Valentine’s day. “The ick,” much discussed on TikTok and Instagram lately, is where attraction to a current or potential partner is suddenly flipped to a feeling of disgust. Generally, catching the ick tends to leave you feeling as though you’ll never look at the other person quite the same way again...that is, without a sense of overwhelming disgust. And though the ick tends to show up in newly forming relationships, it can happen in long-term relationships too. Britton and I have definitely gotten the ick before, and we’re not the only ones! Here are some CHS students that have caught the ick:

“When they wear flip flops, drink straight milk, or when they sing a song and mess up the lyrics or they are singing over the volume of the music so you can’t hear it” and “When they are telling a joke but no one laughs the first time so they repeat it”

“When they are know-it-alls”

Brody

“When their husband comes home”

“When they are texting and say ‘yuh’ instead of ‘you’”

“When someone is playing ping pong and they go chase the ball” and “When they try to show off or show out”

“When you ask them a simple question and its either a 10 minute conversation or they don’t answer the question”

“When they have crumbs on their mouth or food in their teeth or something in their nose”

THAT’S ICKY!

“When they are not a cowboy, they don’t drive a truck, or when they are shorter than me [Rowe is 4’11]”

“Fresh Haircuts, black shoes, and when guys try and sing along with songs with you”

Jessie

“When guys act too good for you or they are rude to people”

“Having random NPC girls on your snap when you have a girlfriend”

“Dry texting”

Britt’s Icks

- When he runs to lunch

- Wears white jeans

- MANSPLAINING !!!

- Talks in a baby voice

- Doesn’t brush his teeth

- When their Instagram ONLY consist of pictures of their car/truck in the Warehouse District at night.

“When they talk without permission” and “When they can’t decide where to eat”

John

“Guy bestfriends! And when you buy them food and then they say they aren’t hungry”

Peyton

“When they are on their phone all the time”

LK Granger

Hayden Wynn “Bad breath”

Mrs. Kinney

Pierce Bartle

Foxx

Ms. Gambril

Rowe Tapscott

Natalie Freeman

Cassie Dace

Godbee

Alyssa Lindsey

Harper Sparks

Colton Echols

Ryan Skinner

Weston Ray

Black

Teachers’ Daily Routines Students aren’t the only ones who are busy

Ruby Hudson, Staff Writer

Mr. Cory Goble:

- 5:30 AM: wake-up (try to resist more than one snoozes)

- 5:50: prepare coffee, tentatively fix hair, gather needed daily items with gym bag, and take dogs for a short walk before heading to CHS

- 6:10: listen to the radio on the way to work (either Love Worth Finding with Adrian Rogers, Dixon and Vining on Talk 99.5, or Rick and Bubba)

- 6:35: arrive at school, check email, clock in, print needed copies/prep lab activities for the day

- 6:50: weights workout and/or short jog - 7:15 - 7:35: shower, change, and meet students to begin 1st period

- 7:50 - 3:11 PM: attempt to foster scientific literacy in tomorrow’s decision-makers

- 3:11 - 4:00: lesson planning, grading student work, and organizing upcoming tasks

- 4:15: workout and cardio at the CWAC

- 5:30 - 5:45: sometimes grab Taco Bell or Chick-Fil-A before heading home

- 6:15: arrive home and take the dogs for a walk

- 6:30: work on graduate assignments, eat more snacks/dinner, hang out with Jenny, and/or watch some sort of TV

- 9:00: prepare for the next day (pack

clothes, brush teeth, etc.)

- 10:00 - 10:30: get in bed, read daily passages in my yearly Bible plan, pray, and attempt to sleep

Mrs. Carin Rains:

- 5:50 AM: shower

- 6:00 - 6:10: make breakfast, and watch my husband walk the dog and cat. It cracks me up because the cat thinks he is supposed to walk with them.

- 6:10 - 6:30: eat breakfast while I put on my makeup and watch Good Morning Alabama and make sure to see James Spann’s weather segment at 6:15.

- 6:30 - 7:00 : dry and fix my hair and iron my outfit for the day. I iron every day- it makes me happy.

- 7:00 - 7:25 : pick out jewelry, pack my lunch, run upstairs several times to make sure I unplugged the flat iron and the iron.

- 7:25- 7:30 -drive to school with my music way too loud

- 7:30 - 7:50 arrive at school, check emails, check lesson plans, make copies or prep food for labs for the day

- 1st - 7th periods I get to teach food labs and sewing labs and see how creative my students can be. Never a dull moment.

- 3:30- arrive home and pick out what is for dinner. Sit down and be still for a

Custodians on Campus

The real heroes at CHS

Juan Fuentes, Staff Writer

The statement that not all heroes wear capes could not be any truer than here at CHS. There are many jobs that do not get the acknowledgement, recognition, and respect that they deserve. Workers like the custodians on campus are a prime example of one of these jobs. The custodians at CHS work to ensure that the school is clean and presentable and they simply go unrecognized day to day. Many students most likely are not aware how few custodians the school has and how long they are on campus.

One thing that students are not aware of is that we only have a handful of custodians on campus that are responsible for cleaning up the school. The custodians also dedicate a lot of their time to their job. They can be found on campus as late as 10:00 P.M. and that fact is often ignored. They also are the ones who clean up the messes arpund campus and work to keep the restrooms clean and stocked. They are the unsung heroes on campus and a little recognition would go a long way for people who do so much for so little.

few minutes.

- 4:00- start cooking dinner

- 5:00- eat dinner and clean up

- 5:30- let the dog (Gracie), and the cat (Hodgins) in to visit, hang out with my husband and watch tv or a movie.

- 8:30- go to bed

Mrs. Sarah Jane Skinner:

- 5:30 am - Get up and get ready

- 7:00 am - Get to school

- 7:50-12:32 - CHS Classes

- 1:10 - CMS Classes

- 3:00 - Grab Dinner

- 4:00 - Theatre Rehearsal

- 6:00 - Planet Fitness

- 7:00-10:00 - Hang out with my husband and puppy, get some cleaning in, and a Bible study before bed :)

Ms. Molly Gambrill:

- 6:00 AM- I wake up and get ready for school.

- 6:40 AM- I have coffee with my mom at our breakfast table.

- 7:00-7:10 AM- I leave for school.

- 7:15- 7:30 AM- I put DGP on the board, turn on the Spotify playlist my students have created, and write the lesson on the board.

- 7:35AM - Teach!

- 12:05 PM- I either bring lunch and eat with the other ELA teachers, or I forget my lunch and work in my classroom.

- 12:32- Teach again!

- 2:20 PM- I change for tennis and drive to the tennis courts.

- 2:35 PM- Tennis!

- 5:15 PM- Usually, I am at home and catch up with my parents on their day. My mom and I talk about home design and renovations because she is always looking for a new project.

- 6:00 PM- Dinner is around this time. If my mom is traveling for work, my sister and I go out to eat with my dad.

- 7:00 PM- Sometimes I read a book, watch a movie, or I am planning details for my upcoming wedding in August.

- 7:30 PM- I really have to take care of my skin, so every night I do the same skin care routine.

- 7:35- 8:00 PM- My fiance and I are long distance right now, so every night we facetime and talk on the phone.

- 8:15- 8:30 PM- As boring as it sounds, I usually go to sleep around this time. I am more of a morning person, and at night it is a struggle for me to stay up any later than this. Going to sleep early is great when I am on a routine schedule, but my family makes fun of me when I get sleepy early on the weekends!

Cullman’s New Career Coach A conversation with Paula Graham

Drew Williamson, Staff Writer

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about your future after high school. 52% of high school students have reported feeling pressured into making career decisions too soon, and only 53% of students feel optimistic about life after high school. Thankfully, Cullman has a new career coach to help students find their path. Cullman High School has many new staff members this year, one of them being Paula Graham, our school’s new career coach.

So what exactly is a career coach?

Mrs. Graham helps students find a career path for themselves through career interest assessments and career exploration activities, as well as create an education plan for that career path. Ultimately, she wants students to have a plan for life after graduation by helping them identify their talents, strengths, and interests, then matching those to a career field. Graham says that it is important to have an idea of the career you want to pursue as you are planning your education and training after graduation.

Before she came to Cullman High

School, Mrs. Graham worked at a community college and assisted high school students with college planning. She feels like her new job here at Cullman is the “perfect opportunity for [her] to use [her] knowledge and experience to assist students in the school system where [she lives].”

In order to help students understand their options and reduce stress from choosing their future career, Mrs. Graham is teaching students how to research the job market and explore career interests. As a high school student, it is important to explore career options in order to identify which you feel passionate about, and which you don’t, as the last thing you want to do is end up working in a field you hate. It is also important to explore extracurriculars and try new things, as you never know what you might end up enjoying and it’s a great way to learn about possible careers. Mrs. Graham has already helped introduce students to different careers through guest speakers and presentations, and it is certain that the CHS student body will continue to benefit greatly from her help!

Spring Sport Startup

A spring sport intro with schedules

Anna Beth Mauldin, Editor-in-Chief

Spring is just around the corner, and with that comes the start up of spring sports. Below is each sport’s schedules, so make sure to mark your calendars and go support!

The Chaos Continues An update on Cullman’s boys’ basketball team

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

It has been another successful year for Cullman High’s boys’ basketball team, with a current record of 21-5. The playoffs are also a hope for the team, starting with the Area Tournament the second week of February. The location of the tournament and who plays will be determined by the outcomes of the Decatur and Hartselle games. There is also a possibility of another state cham-

pionship win for the team. When asked about this Coach Studeman stated, “I am excited to watch this ball club compete over the next few weeks and into the playoffs. Our main focus is getting better as a team with every opportunity we have and becoming the best version of ourselves, and if that means winning the State Championship again that is a bonus.” In addition he also stated,

“Our standard within our program is not judged on whether or not we win a championship. Our goal is to become the best version of ourselves we can possibly be.” Championship or not, it has still been another great year for our basketball team.

Schedule of remaining games:

Regionals: February 15-23

Final 4: February 27- March 4

The Death of the First Amendment?

No, it’s just that actions have consequences

Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

America. Land of the free. America is one of the only places where the government does not regulate what people say. Society, however, is a different story. Society is the majority of people that decide what is, and what is not acceptable to do or say. These people decide what words to use, and what acts are not appropriate. These people are not always right, and they often evolve over time. What was once socially acceptable back in 1970 is unspeakable today.

Many people get the wrong notion of what freedom of speech is. It is being allowed to say whatever the user wishes without government interference. It is not, however, saying whatever the user pleases and gets prosecuted by the public. It is unfair and childish to assume that action (your words) do not have consequences. Have you ever heard of the saying “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”

A very close to home example of this is the response of a Wallace Professor over the first pride festival in Cullman. The professor claimed that the Ku Klux Klan should come to Cullman as an opponent of the festival. The result of this reaction was that the professor’s job was suspended. An email was then

A Snarky Society

Reilly Johnson, Staff Writer

Society has become less kind. People rarely give money to the homeless, leave a note when they ding a car, and we rarely even say thank you. Everyone has slowly become less considerate. Certain decency has been forgotten, like putting down our phones at dinner and showing compassion to people in need. A lot of this is due to the internet and electronics. Most bullies hide behind a screen to say cruel things which will eventually lead them to say these things to people’s faces. Guys no longer hold open car doors for girls, and girls don’t support other girls the way they used to.

As teenagers, we know drama is a huge part of our life. Judgment is all around us. You can wear the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, or even do your hair the wrong way, and people will judge you. A lot of the world’s hospitality has dissipated. People hardly ever get help when they break down or are offered something to drink when visiting a friend’s house. If we all took to heart the things others go through and how hard their life may be, we would all be kinder to each other.

Some people argue that humans are inherently bad, but society has made us this way. We have learned that there aren’t many consequences to saying or doing mean things. We all believe we have had a harder life than everyone else when that’s not really true. So many people have terrible home lives and then they come to school or go to work and are treated like

sent to the students of Wallace that this kind of behavior was not acceptable. People on both sides responded accordingly. The people who supported this free speech were furious that a professor lost their job for saying something against the standard quo. The others said that she rightfully got what she deserved. Here’s the truth. Alabama is a “no reason fire state.” This means if an employer decides that they do not like the message that the employee is displaying they can rightfully fire that person. It was the speech that got the professor fired, but it was not the free speech that was impaired. All actions have consequences. This was never a fight against or for free speech. It is about restricting the responses to the supposed free speech. It is ironic because those who say they support free speech are actually the ones that don’t want it either. Society is the majority. Majority rules. That is our system. If someone goes against this system then there will be consequences, good or bad. People can go too far about things that seem to be miniscule, but at the end of the day they are trying to make the world a more accepting place.

less-than-human beings. If someone doesn’t have enough money or they aren’t pretty enough, people don’t socialize with them. You would be surprised at how much one nice thing can affect someone. Everyone wants to fit in and are scared of missing out so they judge others in hopes it will make people like them, sadly, it usually does. You’ve probably heard the saying, “Being nice is free”, and it’s true. It costs nothing to be nice to others. We as a society have become so selfish that we don’t really care how our words can affect others. I mean, think about it: If you were driving down the road and you saw someone standing next to a broken down car who was visibly stressed and waving their arms for help, would you stop? Probably not. If we can all change our thinking, the world would be a much better place all around.

Can you imagine how it would be if everyone got the help they needed? If everyone was kind and compassionate? If we thought more about how others feel rather than ourselves, we could make a real change in the world. The drama that goes on at school and the gossip that’s exchanged can extremely affect people. Next time you think or say something negative about someone else, ask yourself how you would feel if someone said that to you. Or if you would even be willing to say it to the person’s face. For this new year, be kind.

You have the right to say whatever you please, but don’t get mad when your college scholarship is on the line because you posted something on TikTok that people found offensive. Just like you have the right to say it, others have the right to respond accordingly. Remember the internet is forever and anything you or someone else puts on it, lasts forever.

Political Instability

What’s happening in the government right now

Reilly

Johnson and Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writers

Recently, there has been a lot of unrest in politics. The democratic speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, stepped down on January 3, 2023. She was in the role for two nonconsecutive terms(four years). Many told her to step down to let the next generation step up. People also claimed she was “too old” for such an important job. Now, at 82, she is passing the torch to Kevin McCarthy.

McCarthy is a republican California senator who is 57 years old. He will hold the gavel for two years before the next election. The road to a new speaker was long and rough, but it finally came to an end. After 15 rounds of voting across four days, McCarthy secured 216 votes, his opponent with 212, and six republicans voting “present”. This means they were present for the vote but did not choose a named candidate. During the four days, new representatives could not be sworn in and bills could not be voted on. It caused a public uproar, people were posting rude tweets and videos showing their feelings about the indecisive votes.

The house will not have another election until 2024. However, the Sen-

ate will have an election on November 7, 2023. Next year we have the 2024 presidential election as well. So far, Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have announced that they will be campaigning.

Trump, who is the leader of the “Make America Great Again” movement, announced his third presidential bid on Tuesday during a speech at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home after having teased a bid since leaving office in 2021. “In order to make America great and glorious again. I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said Tuesday evening.

Biden claims to be running for reelection despite a recent controversy involving classified documents. The president was found to have more than 10 sensitive documents in his personal offices as well as his home. The premises were searched by the FBI and the documents were confiscated as well as handwritten letters from Biden’s vice-presidential years. The unrest in the government and the people is widespread but slowly calming down.

How our society has become less kind

I Won’t Be Able to Buy a Home How will inflation affect us?

Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

Inflation is the highest it has been in forty years, and Gen Z and millennials are facing the full force of this catastrophe. It hits very hard in three places: gas, food, and rent. Rent of a two bedroom apartment has gone up by three percent since 2018. That may not seem like alot, but with all of the other rises in prices it is astronomical. Houses are also very expensive, even more expensive than what our parents had paid. A new home in 1990 cost $122,900; in 2022 the average price of a new home was $348,079. That price hike is insane. This seems like an ongoing scheme from earlier generations to keep us from ever buying a home. There are many reasons people cannot afford to buy a home. One of the biggest is the housing market as a whole. The housing market is on its way to crashing. This is a big deal for millennials. It is a little less of a big deal for earlier gen z people, but for us seniors, or possibly even juniors, and college students it can really affect us in the long run. It is said that this crash will solve itself in the next 15 years. That means I will be in my 30s before I can afford to buy a home. I know my dad had a home by the time he was 18. It is unfair.

Another big reason is just the overall cost of living. This includes food, rent/ mortgage, utilities, and others have all gone up due to inflation. People cannot afford to spend the down payment on a house, let alone the mortgage of said home. I know many adults in my generation who are forced to eat at work once a day because they cannott afford to buy groceries. It is implausible to have to pay for insurance, a $1200 month mortgage, running water, and other necessities. So instead we opt to pay $400-$500 a month on a small apartment or rental home.

The biggest reason of all that we can’t buy a home is because there are no houses to buy. Wealthy people in older generations, gen x and boomers, will bulk buy cheaper homes and will turn them into rental lots. We couldn’t even buy a home if we wanted to. Houses that are in our price range, $80,000-$100,000, are all bought up and are put up as rentals that charge as much as $2,800 a month. If you do the math, that house will be profitable in less than 3 years. If that house were for sale and we paid that much on a mortgage we would be home owners already.

This kind of payment isn’t exactly plausible either. Another reason we can’t afford a home is student debt. Many good jobs now-a-days are jobs that require a degree. Some jobs require a degree and then get paid less than what the degree costs. A lot of these jobs didn’t even require a degree, but now they do. That seems like a ploy, but that is a whole other article.

I will not be able to afford a house by myself until I am 30 years old. The average age of women having children is 27. This means that there is no way that I can live in a single-income household until I am well into my 40s. I couldn’t live a traditional lifestyle even if I wanted to. All because of this. I do not want to blame it on past generations, but it is a little bit of their fault. I don’t know what we are going to do, but we better do it soon if we want any chance of living a life of our choosing.

How Students Are Less Motivated Let’s face it, students have a lot on their plate Destiny-Faith White, Staff Writer

Motivation is a term used to describe intention, drive, or achievement, but do you really know what it means?

Motivation is brain chemistry. Whenever something good happens to us, we reach a goal, or believe we are on the right track to reach our goals, dopa-

mine is released. The pleasure we get from dopamine is not from accomplishing our goals but through the process of achieving them. Essentially, in our minds, the path is more important than the destination. When released, dopamine causes our brain to want to continue in the same direction in hopes more dopamine will be released. Unfortunately, this feeling can be gone just as fast as it was gained, so what suddenly kills this feeling?

Many students struggle with depression or anxiety, which studies have shown are one of the biggest reasons students lose motivation. School can become so overwhelming to kids.

Personally, if I miss just a single day of school, I fall so far behind and it is really hard to get out of a slump when it feels like the work is continuing to pile on you. It can cause you immense anxiety and exhaustion which only adds on to the lack of motivation even more. Here’s some tips that help me get motivated that will hopefully help you as well:

1. Be gentle with yourself. Dont be too hard, it’ll be okay!

2. Ask. For. Help. I can’t stress this enough. Dont be afraid to talk to your teachers and ask for help. They will be more than happy to help you.

3. Reward yourself. Give yourself

something to look forward to after you complete a task.

Will Virtual Reality Take Over the World?

Mark Zuckerberg’s latest grab at world domination

Jonah Jarrett, Staff Writer

If you’ve ever read or watched

Ready Player One, I’m sure this idea is not unfamiliar to you: A dystopian future where the public ignores their mundane and poverty-stricken lives by escaping into a digital world ruled by corporations that profit off of the technology that society is dependent upon. This dystopian future that once seemed like nothing more than a sci-fi story seems likely now more than ever, with Facebook purchasing the VR company Oculus and changing their company’s name from “Facebook” to Meta. Meta is using this technology to build what they call the “Metaverse,” a digital social network where you can work, game, and connect. You can access the Metaverse on your smartphone, computer, or a (Meta brand) VR headset. Meta says that their “hope is that in the next decade it will reach a billion people.”

Keen readers may notice that this

project seems incredibly ambitious, and possibly too much so, being advertised as “the next evolution in social connection and the successor to the mobile internet.” In spite of this, there are many reasons that this idea is out of reach for the public. First and foremost, Metaverse doesn’t have many features. On its initial announcement, the platform seemed barebones, but promises were made to update it. Over a year later, the platform still lacks features present in most VR games and chatrooms. The games are poorly reviewed and often include NFTs, which are digital assets available for purchase that can be resold and are a controversial topic in themselves, which may alienate Meta’s audience. Besides all of this, most families could not afford to purchase an expensive Meta VR headset to participate in the Metaverse. Additionally, people are hesitant to trust a company with so much

The Unavailability of Books

Why are books going out of style?

Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

It is no secret that the number of people who read books has decreased dramatically. Most people blame it on the increase in technology, with computers becoming more common in schools and almost everyone having a phone in their pocket. While technology may be one reason for the decrease in book reading, it is not all to blame for why books are going out of style. Books are simply becoming unavailable, especially for minorities and people from lower-income communities. While people might think this has not affected our own Cullman County Library System, it has affected communities surrounding us that have not

2010. In response to these budget cuts, four Birmingham public libraries are at risk of being shut down. These budget cuts aren’t isolated to only Birmingham, though, and the futures of public libraries across the nation are at risk because of this.

Budget cuts aren’t the only thing endangering the future of books, though. Many libraries, some within our own system, only stay open until 4:00 PM

power like Facebook to control their social media. Facebook’s rate of quarterly increase in users has been decreasing sharply recently, and the public’s interest in products provided by Facebook has no doubt decreased in turn. In addition to the lack of interest in Facebook, Meta’s stock price has been tanking recently, which has decreased by nearly 200 dollars since last January.

This translates into a loss of around $700 billion in market value. Meta has invested 37 billion dollars in the Metaverse since 2019 and has almost nothing to show for it. Meta posted losses of $3.7 billion in just the third quarter of 2022. All things considered, I doubt that our reality is going to become the Matrix any time soon.

teen. That means around one-third of Cullman County’s population cannot have their own library card. Libraries used to be the best place to access books to read, but as they are becoming more and more unavailable, what are the other options? The most obvious answer is to simply buy the books from a store. This is not attainable for everyone, though. Some may not realize it, but our current economy

during the past few years, with PEN America finding 2,532 reported cases of books being banned across 189 school districts during the 2021-2022 school year. This number only includes

been as fortunate. The Birmingham Public Library System has faced budget cuts of nearly 4 million dollars since

on weekdays. This means these libraries cannot fully serve all of their community, with students only getting out of school at 3:00 PM, meaning they only have an hour to use these public libraries. Most libraries also have age requirements you have to meet to sign up for a library card to check out books. The age requirement for the Cullman County Library System is six-

and inflation have a big impact on, as it does on most everything, the manufacturing and sale prices of books. In 2022 alone, the cost of paper rose 14% and is predicted to rise even higher this year. Paperback books that used to be five to ten dollars are now fifteen to seventeen dollars each. These rising costs make books harder and harder to purchase. Book bans have increased dramatically

the book bans PEN America could track and reported cases of book bans and does not include books that were simply “removed” from school libraries. During the 2021-2022 school year, 96 percent of these reported books were banned without following the American Library Association’s guidelines for book challenges. The increasing book bans have a huge impact and significantly reduce the number of books that students have access to nationwide.

The Music Industry

Ranking Tayor Swift’s albums Elley Atchison, Staff Writer

Taylor Swift has broken numerous musical records with her songs and is nothing short of astonishing. Right now, Swift has ten studio albums released, each filled with jaw-dropping, heart-aching, and beautiful pieces. It has come time to rank those albums from least favorable to most favorable. Before I begin, please let me preface by saying that I adore all of these albums; however, like everyone, I do have favorites.

8- Reputation

egg hidden within each song and the messages she produced in her lyrics. Sometimes I do feel like everyone else is a “sexy baby,” and I am the monster on the hill; Taylor truly spoke to that for me. This album was a “Mastermind”- wink.

Notable Lyric: “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror.”

3-Red

This album is stunning, and it was cheated when it lost at The Grammys in 2014. Taylor Swift outdid herself on this album. I have no skips when I listen to this body of work. Thank you, Taylor Swift, for this heavenly thing that is Red

Notable Lyric: “So casually cruel in the name of being honest.”

While, yes, I enjoy screaming “Picture To Burn” and “A Place in this World,” in the end, I believe this album has some songs that are lacking vocally, and I do end up hitting the skip button when they come on. For example, “A Perfectly Good Heart” makes me want to cringe a little when I hear it. Overall, this album is just not high on my list. Notable Lyric: “State the obvious, I didn’t get my perfect fantasy, I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me.”

Please do not come for me about this decision; I promise I have thought long and hard about each ranking. I know that this album contains “Getaway Car” and “Don’t Blame Me;” however, this album also has the song “Endgame,” where Ed Sheran tries to become rapper-barf- and Taylor has a literal blaccent. For those reasons, I had to put this album lower on my list. I am not saying that I do not love this album because I adore it; I am just saying that some of the songs, especially “Endgame,” make it lose points for me. Notable Lyric: “The ties were black, the lies were white, in shades of gray and candlelight. I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason.”

5-Speak Now

First, take a minute to appreciate that Taylor Swift wrote this entire album herself when she was only twenty years old; that is incredible. This album speaks to youth naivety and that “coming of age” sensation we all feel sometimes. Miss. Swift created a noskip album when she released this. Notable Lyric: “And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules every day.”

2- 1989

This album will own key to my heart forever, and I will always love it. My ears are genuinely blessed each time this plays. 1989 is the greatest pop album of all time, and I do not believe anyone could change my mind about that. I mean, Miss. Swift begins with an upbeat masterpiece like “Welcome to New York” and then shatters my world with “Blank Space” and “Style.” I owe so much to Taylor Swift for giving me this album.

Notable Lyric: “The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing.”

9-

7-Evermore

I love Fearless so much! This album is ranked lower because I think songs on other albums are more elevated; nevertheless, this album is pretty incredible. Fearless holds such a special place in my heart because I am nostalgic for many of the songs I listened to when I was younger. Even today, this album has a chokehold on my Spotify account (let’s be honest, all of her albums have a chokehold on it), and it is on constant rotation.

Notable Lyric: “I don’t know who I’m gonna talk to now at school, I know I’m laughing on the car ride home with you, don’t know how long it’s gonna take to feel okay, but I know I had the best day with you today.”

This album is nothing short of magnificent. Something happens to Taylor when she goes off to the woods with Aaron Dessner. She excels lyrically in this album, and her songwriting abilities burst through. It was outstanding. My only critique is that some of the middle tracks jumble together, meaning many of them to sound very similar. For that reason, this album is placed a bit lower on my list.

Notable Lyric: “I rewind the tape but all it does is pause, on the very moment, all was lost.”

4-Lover

I love this album because it makes me feel exceedingly happy. My mood improves, without fail, if I listen to a few songs from this album. I will also add that “Cruel Summer” has caused me to increase my speed on the interstate to 100- do not listen to that song while driving. This album is fun, happy, and just a good time (I am not talking about “Soon You’ll Get Better when I say that.)

Notable Lyric: “And I cut off my nose just to spite my face, then I hate my reflection, for years and years.”

1-Folklore

I cannot articulate the amount of adoration I hold for this album. I genuinely believed that an angel visited Taylor Swift when she wrote this. Her voice is beautiful, but what impacts me the most is the dreamy and wondrous lyrics. I could cry each time I listen to “This is Me Trying.” I, and all the other perfection-driven students, wonder if Miss Swift curated that song just for us. I am not sure how she did it, but this album holds everything an album needs. Folklore is the best album Taylor Swift has ever made, and, I would argue, one of the top-ten albums of all time.

This album exceeded all of my expectations. I loved each little easter

Notable Lyric: “They told me all of my cages were mental, so I got wasted like all my potential.”

10- Taylor Swift (Also known as her debut album)

Fearless

6- Midnights

Valentine’s Tunes

Songs to pour your heart out to

The Love Doctors

Misdiagnose Part 2: A Satire

Relationship advice from Anna Beth and Elley Elley Atchison and Anna Beth Mauldin,

Editor-in-Chief & Junior Editor

*This is a satire and not meant to be taken seriously.*

In the spirit of the most loving holiday of all, Elley Atchison and I (Anna Beth Mauldin) are seeking to erase all of your love woes to ensure a fabulous Valentine’s. We have carefully selected several questions that were placed in our love advice boxes, and hope our advice can fulfill your expectations.

Why don’t I have a love life?

Our moms always tell us that we don’t have love lives because we are too pretty. That must be the case for you as well.

Why won’t my significant other take me out to a nice restaurant? Well, you most likely do not deserve to go to a nice restaurant. You need to be more content with what’s given to you. We hope this helps!

Why does my boyfriend want me to start wearing makeup? Listen, dark circles are something everyone struggles with. Just be honest with yourself and recognize that you have them. Dark circles under your eyes are something that you must cover up because you are just not pretty when you have them. Honestly, your boyfriend is just helping you.

Why has my girlfriend sent me the number of her therapist? Your girlfriend wants to engage in couple therapy with you. As a good boyfriend, you need to be open to this idea. We have both been to couple therapy and it helps! P.S.- it is okay to cry.

Why does my girlfriend keep calling me Steve? That’s my best friend’s name! This is something we cannot help you with.

Why does my boyfriend compare me to his ex?

You’re obviously doing something wrong if he is comparing you to someone else. This is not his problem; it is yours. Change your appearance and whole personality immediately. We would recommend dyeing your hair a different color or completely shaving your head. You’re welcome in advance.

Why is my boyfriend incompetent? It is in their biology. They cannot help it.

Why does my boyfriend keep telling me our relationship is open; what does that even mean? We looked it up on relationship.com, and it told us that it just means being emotionally vulnerable. You have nothing to worry about. Good luck!

“Still Into You” Paramore

“Enchanted” Taylor Swift

“Sun To Me”

Zach Bryan

“TheyDon’tKnow About Us” One Direction

“Stupid”

Tate McRae

“Lady May” Tyler Childers

“Cruel Summer” TaylorSwift

“Feels Like”

Gracie Abrams

Reilly Kate Johnson, Staff Writer

Valentine’s Chocolate Ranking

A careful analysis of the iconic candies

Drew Williamson and Destiny White, Staff Writers

One of the most important aspects of Valentine’s Day is the chocolate. After all, it wouldn’t be be Valentine’s Day without overpriced heart-shaped candy. The Hilight staff decided to take on the arduous task of reviewing all of the chocolates in a Russel-Stover Valentine’s chocolate box, and we have compiled our thoughts on each chocolate below.

Milk Chocolate Truffle

A true classic in the chocolate community. Comments from our board of reviewers included “this one is good” and “my teeth hurt.” Although it might hurt those with sensitive teeth, it’s still a solid choice that you can’t go wrong with. 8/10.

Strawberry Milk Chocolate Cream

This one easily had the most positive reaction, with comments such as “it tastes like a strawberry cloud in chocolate form” and “the texture is marvelously exquisite.” It’s safe to say that this one earns a 10/10.

Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cream

Comments from our reviews included “it was pretty good” and “it could have been more splendiferous.” While none

of us know what the word splendiferous means, this one is a solid 8/10.

Milk Chocolate Caramel

This one definitely comes with pros and cons. Although the combined caramel and chocolate taste are remarkable, is it worth the twenty minutes of chewing? Truly a delectable dilemma, although we would absolutely not recommend this to anyone with braces. Our board of reviewers also agreed that it could benefit from a higher chocolate-to-caramel ratio. 5/10.

Dark Chocolate Truffle

Imagine the milk chocolate truffle but better in every possible way. That’s what you get in this wonderful little piece of joy. Comments from our reviewers included “the texture is splendid” and “I’m thoroughly enjoying it.” This is another easy 10/10, and possibly the best one in the pack.

Pecan Delight

The pecan delight is old reliable, a tried and true formula. You can’t go wrong with it. We would advise against eating it if you are allergic to pecans however. 8/10.

Milk Chocolate Toffee

Single Survival Guide

This was definitely one of the least favorite ones out of the bunch. Comments from our reviewers included “why is this salty?” “this is bad,” and “it’s actually like eating rocks and chalk.”

2/10.

Dark Chocolate Caramel

Almost the exact same issues as the milk chocolate caramel. The dark chocolate pairs better with the caramel, but it is still a pain to chew. 6/10.

Milk Chocolate Butter Cream

This was one of the more divisive chocolates. Some reviewers said that they “loved this one”, whereas others said it “tasted like a lead covered eraser.” 6/10.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Caramel

This was definitely one of the more bland chocolates. Our reviewer said “it was good, but a little too tough.” 5/10.

Peanut Cluster

One of the most infamous chocolates in the entire pack. There were many opinions on this one including “it feels like a bunch of daycare kids drawing on your teeth with chalk and rocks,” “this is literally just chalk,” and “this one is my absolute favorite.” 4/10.

5 Things a Girl and Guy Really Want For Valen-

Staff Writer

For the girls...

Flowers

Rare beauty blush

Are you finding yourself lonely? Without a high school sweetheart? Well here are a couple of tips to help get you through this season of love:

Olivia Britton and Mimi

Lunsford, Staff Writers

1) First tip, don’t spend Valentine’s Day alone. Go have a day with your friends to keep your mind occupied, and you can still spend time with the people who are special to you.

2) Or if you feel like you need time alone. Grab a bowl of popcorn and a sweet treat and watch one of your favorite movies. Ideas could be “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, “The Notebook”, or “La La Land”.

3) Put your phone away. Make sure you don’t allow yourself to text your ex or someone you shouldn’t just because you are sad.

4) Make it a self-care day. Spend the day celebrating and taking care of yourself. Do a face mask, take a warm bath, and get yourself your own flowers.

5) Shop the pain away. Either online or in person, spend some money and invest in new clothes, food, and cosmetics.

6) If you wanna take a day-trip out of town, Birmingham has multiple candle bars that are a super fun way to spend Valentine’s day. You are able to create and make your own candle concoction.

Weighted Stuffed Animal

This is like a big hug! You can also heat it up.

For the boys...

Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand

This is a fool proof gift. You can never go wrong with a beautiful bouquet.

Tiktok blew this item up. If you can find this hot commodity, grab it!

Stanley Cup

Perfect for your favorite makeup lover!

This is the best cup ever. It keeps your drink cold or hot for what feels like forever and comes in pretty colors.

7) Another fun way to spend the day is having a fancy, nice dinner with a group of friends. You can get dressed up and go eat at 412 Public House or somewhere out of town.

Maybe you’re choosing to be single this Valentine’s day, or maybe you’re not… Either way we hope the list above can help you not feel singled-out just because you’re single.

Food

This simple gift could bring the biggest smile. A teenage boy always appreciates a meal of some sort.

Anything to do with their favorite sports

team

Clothes

Getting your guy good clothes is such a good way to show your love. They will look amazing also!

The way to a boy’s heart is understanding the sports they love. You could do this by getting them merch from their favorite team. Gift cards This is such an easy way to make your man happy. Free food, what could be better?

Hat

Whether you hunt or golf a hat is such an easy gift that all guys will love. There is such a variety.

From Bean to Bar

A look at the history of chocolate

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

Chocolate is a staple of Valentine’s Day, as well as a year-round favorite internationally, with the world’s population consuming an average of 2 pounds per person. Companies such as Hershey’s, Godiva, and Cadburry make millions by producing the confection.

While it may be rich in taste, chocolate is also rich in history. Chocolate takes its roots in Mesoamerica, where the cacao tree is native. Its seeds, when pollinated, form a sheath which hangs from the trunk of the tree. Inside these sheaths are about 30 to 40 brownish-red almond shaped beans submerged in a sweet and viscous pulp. While the beans have a bitter taste, the sweet pulp may have been the first element consumed by humans.

Evidence suggests that the beans may have been fermented and served as a type of beverage. The culture that first domesticated the cacao tree is debated but, the use of the fermented beans in a drink can be traced to North America. This has been confirmed by scientists through studies of “chemical footprints” in residues. Ceramic vessels that contain such residues have been found at archaeological sites of the Olmec, dating preparation as early as

1750 BC. Studies have shown that the Olmecs used it for religious rituals and as medicinal drinks, with no recipies for personal use. Little evidence remains on how it was processed. There were also many uses for cacao among the Mayans. It was used in official ceremonies, religious rituals, funerals, and for medicinal purposes. The Mayans also used cacao beans as a form of currency. By 1400, a large portion of Mesoamerica was taken over by the Aztecs. The Aztecs had not cultivated cacao themselves and were forced to import it. The areas conquered by the Aztecs that did grow chocolate were ordered to pay them as a tax or “tribute.” The Aztecs associated chocolate with their god Quetzalcoatl, who they believed was condemned by the other gods for sharing chocolate with humans. Unlike the Maya, the Aztecs drank chocolate cold, and used as a treat for men after banquets.

The cacao tree was unknown to Europeans until the 16th century. Christopher Columbus first encountered cacao beans on his fourth expedition to the Americas in August of 1502, when he as well as his crew took over a large

Shows Coming Out In 2023 2023’s tracklist of show releases

Juan Fuentes, Staff Writer

Loki: Season 2

The first season of Loki came to Disney+ in June of 2021 and was one of the best shows of the year. With a 92% score on the Tomatometer and reviews like “The centrality of the romance in Loki makes it stand out within the MCU-and signals how much potential there is in this kind of storytelling, should Marvel choose to mine it” and “Tom Hiddleston once again proves why Loki remains the MCU’s standout villain, while also holding together a truly masterful multiverse story that hits upon themes of identity and agency that have always felt core to the character,” it was only a matter of time before Disney came out with a new season.

The Mandalorian: Season 3 StarWarsfans have plenty to look forward to in 2023. Ahsoka , StarWars: TheSkeletonCrew , and, of course, another season of TheMandalorian. With both of its first two seasons both receiving a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, anticipation for the next season is high. Pedro Pascal, who also stars in TheLastofUs,returns as the Mandalorianon March 1 and fans could not be any happier.

canoe belonging to the natives that contained cocoa beans as well as other goods. When Columbus took cacao beans back to Spain, it made no impact until Spanish friars introduced chocolate to Spanish court. In addition, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés may have been the first European to encounter chocolate, when he observed it in the court of Aztec emperor Montezuma in 1519.

Chocolate was imported to Europe after the Sapnish conquest of the Aztecs. The Spanish originally used cacao as medicine to treat illnesses due to its bitter taste. Within the next hundred years, chocolate spread across Europe, creating a growing slave market, due to the manual processing of the cacao bean. With more and more Mesoamerican laborers dying mostly to disease, the production of the beans was often the work of poor wage laborers and African slaves.

New processes and inventions largely aided the production of chocolate, such as the first mechanical cocoa grinder invented in 1729. In addition, mills powered by horses or wind were used to speed up production. Dutch chemist Coenraad van Houten intro-

duced alkaline salts to chocolate in 1815, which reduced its bitterness. A few years later, in 1828, van Houten also created a press that removed about half the natural fat from chcocolate.

The innovations of many others also aided in the methods of producing chocolate as we know today. For example, in 1847, the J.S. Fry and Sons company learned to make a moldable chocolate by adding back melted cacao butter. In addition, Daniel Peter mixed chocolate liquor with powdered milk to create milk chocolate, as well as Rodolphe Lindt improving on chocolate’s taste and texture with his invention of the conching machine.

These new innovations led to new companies producing chocolate in their own way. Companies such as Cadbury began to manufacturer boxed chocolates in England by 1868.These companies with their new takes on chocolate paved the way to chocolate as we know it today. Today, roughly two-thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced in Wesern Africa. In addition, the companies whose inventions pioneered chocolate production are still widely successful today.

TheLastofUs

TheLastofUsis a 2023 show based on the video game bearing the same title. The show focuses on Joel and Ellie, portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, as they try to survive in the post-apocalyptic world they live

in. So far on the episodes released, The LastofUshas received a 99% on the Tomatometer but there are more episodes to be released and fans are shaking with anticipation.

Velma

The only outlier of the list comes in the form of Velma . The anticipation and excitement for a new ScoobyDoo show did not live up to fan’s expectations. Fans online had plenty to say about the new show: “This show is nothing like the cartoons we all grew up with. If they wanted something this different they should have made a new show not ruin an old one”, “Made it to the part where the body falls out of the locker in the opening 2 minutes and the “jokes” were already old by then. Who got paid to write this?” and “True Scooby fans deserve better. The concept of an adult Scooby was exciting. Only to find out it’s based on teenagers who have 0 of the OG characters traits. It’s laughable how bad this show is.” Needless to say, the show was overall a disappointment for audiences.

New Episodes of PhineasandFerb

Disney recently announced that they’re revivivng Phineas and Ferb with 40 brand new episodes to be released. The news comes as Disney and Dan Povenmire came together and made a deal. That deal also included another season of Hamster&Gretel , another one of Pvenmire’s more recent works. Speculation had surrounded Phineas andFerbwhen Disney announced that the show would be airing its last episode back in 2015. Nevertheless, fans will be excited and looking forward to the drop of the new episodes

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V-Day Catwalking

Cullman’s most romantic students

Destiny-Faith White & Jonah Jarrett, Staff Writer

Cade Reid

1. Someone who asks you to pay for the full price on the first date.

2. The movies.

3. SweeTarts.

4. Any Adam Sandler movie.

5. “Shut Up and Dance”

Jaxon Keel

1. Not being fully open and honest with your partner and not revealing your emotions.

2. The park.

3. Those little candy hearts

4. The Spectacular Now.

5. “Purple Rain”

Elijah putman

1. If they can’t make me laugh or can’t get along with me, or B.O.

2. Las Cebollitas.

3. Those hearts with the words, I call them “heart tarts.”

4. 17 Again

5. “Heat Waves”

Jazmin harper

1. If they drive a truck

2. A restaurant.

3. SweeTarts

4. I don’t watch romcoms.

5. “Toxic” by Britney Spears

madison carrol

1. “If no one else likes them, like if they had friends but no one likes them for valid reasons.

2. Someplace you’re both comfortable/familiar with.

3. Twix.

4. Bedtime Stories.

5. I hate them all.

Lauren Cherry

1. If they smell bad.

2. The park or hiking.

3. Kit-Kats.

4. The Notebook.

5. A Taylor Swift song, maybe “Cardigan.”

Cole harrison

1. When they think they’re never wrong.

2. Going to Huntsville to eat.

3. SweeTarts.

4. Hitch or The Proposal.

5. “Unchained Melody”

CATEGORIES:

1. biggest red flag in a potential partner

2. best date location

3. favorite valentines candy

4. best rom-com

5. favorite love song

Ilana shadrick

1. If they can’t hold an intellectual conversation.

2. Dinner and shopping.

3. Chocolate.

4. I don’t watch romcoms, sorry.

5. I don’t really have one, love songs aren’t my biggest thing.