Decmeber full edition by FHC Publications

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FOCUS VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3, DECEMBER 2017 FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

THE LAST ECKHOFF

The last of five brothers to play with the Spartan band program, Sam Eckhoff discusses his passion on pages 10-11

DECEMBER 2017

ABOUT

DEAR READERS,

Sleep. The thing we associate with comfort, with well-being, with satisfaction, with life. This issue does not serve as an answer to what is sleep, nor is it a doctor telling you exactly what to do and how to do it. But it does serve as a user-friendly sleep improvement course, for lack of better words. Why is it that you can’t get to sleep? What would improve your sleep quality, and leave you awaking the next morning refreshed? What really happens internally when we sleep? Pages 14-21 have broken down, step-bystep, every bit of information we have gathered through research, doctors, teachers, and experiments amongst our staff to give you the most simplified answer to the question ‘How do I sleep’?

STAFF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Skylar Laird & Emily Mann & Belen Herrera DISCOVER EDITOR: Garrett Allen FEATURE EDITOR: Liz Baker MOVE EDITOR: Juliet Fuhrmann VOICE EDITOR: Whitney Klein ENTERTAIN EDITOR: Millennia Simmons PHOTO EDITOR: Sydney Robbins VIDEO EDITOR: Connor Crites LIVESTREAM EDITOR: Zach Jones SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR: Tyler Summers STAFF REPORTERS: Catherine Analla, Craig Eddy, Carlin Bippen, Chloe Bockhorst, Kana Chung, Marcus Falcomata, Jennifer Ferry, Jessica Fults, Justin Hedrick, Bryce Lee, Reese McLaughlin, Gillian Pendel, Megan Percy, Lanie Sanders, Caroline Schroeder, PJ Sheehan, Talia Thambyrajah, Kira Zerbolio.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Alura Berry, Mackenzie Craven, Jordan Dusenberg, Kierston Fisher, Olivia Fong, Emily Hall, Brynlee Hendricks, Liv Hritzkowin, Grace James, Gracie Kruep, Gillian Lee, Zoe Lentz, Josie Prince, Ethan Wagman, Doug West.

THOUGHTS?

Have a letter for the editor or a question for us?

If something we wrote demands your voice, please e-mail us at fhcpub@gmail.com or drop your handwritten letter off with Mr. Schott in Room 139. The Central Focus staff will print the entirety of your letter, providing it meets the standards of publication laid out in the FHC Publications editorial policy, which is available in Room 139 or at www.fhctoday.com for your perusal.

CONNECT

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STRESSED: As finals week approaches, students get increasingly stressed. This year, find out how to decrease this stress with helpful tips. PHOTO BY MILLENNIA SIMMONS

DECEMBER 2017

content

DISCOVER

Teens vote ... 4

Following local elections, students share their views on the importance of voting

AWOL ... 5

Student absences can have an impact on learning along with involvement in groups

Trump visits ... 6-9

The President gave a speech in St. Charles while protesters amassed outside FEATURE

Best artists ... 11

3 artists share their road to attending college to studying art

The last Eckhoff... 12-13

The last of 5 to graduate, Sam Eckhoff plans on pursuing his passion: jazz

Lauren’s lens ... 14-15

While traveling the world, Lauren Dubuque finds a love of photography FOCUS

How-to sleep ... 16-17 PRESIDENTIAL: A young girl holds a sign in protest to President Trump’s speech in St. Charles. The president visited St. Charles on Nov. 29 to talk about tax cuts for small businesses, like those on main street. PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

Sleep is an important issue, and is made easier with the correct environment

Dreaming and learning ... 18-19 Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to learning and retaining facts

Snoozing for success ... 20-21

Why we need sleep and how it affects teenagers’ health

MOVE

Not enough time ... 22-23

Winter sports practice times have an impact on students’ free time

Fit for the holidays ... 24

Staying fit can be tough during the winter but off-season athletes find a way

ILLUSIONS: Miriam Skebo demonstrates the detrimental effect of beauty standards. Looking in the mirror, she exemplifies the impact of society’s high expectations for appearances. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WHITNEY KLEIN AND EMILY MANN

Flying through the air ... 25

JJ Grgurich finds a passion in gymnastics, making it more than a hobby VOICE

Everyone’s beautiful ... 27

Society’s standards of beauty cause major insecurity when we should love ourselves

More than a statistic ... 28

Mental illness is a real problem in our school and it’s time someone addressed it

Kindness makes kindness ... 29

Although society believes kindness means vulnerability, Emily Mann disagrees RINGLEADER: Gymnast JJ Grgurich uses chalk on his hand to create a grip when he uses rings. He’s been a gymnast for 7 years. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA BECOMING A BASSIST: Sam Eckhoff plays his bass during a wind ensemble rehearsal. This is the only concert band of the four bands Eckhoff participates in. PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

ENTERTAIN

Destress for the tests ... 30

With finals approaching, use these tips to keep from being stressed

DECEMBER 2017

DISCOVER

The next generation What the next wave of voters think of the democratic system Voting is an essential part to running our democracy, but many citizens of age don’t take advantage of the democracy by voting for the candidates or policies they support. 74 Students at FHC were polled to find out what they thought about the election process in a climate where both the integrity of the process and the voters themselves have been called into question. Older generations are the most voter-active, but with the rise of technology and activism, the newest generation has had an increasing ability to affect our nation’s politicians, and through them, the policies of the nation. Only 58.1 percent of eligible voters participated in the national election leading to the inauguration of President Donald Trump according to the U.S. Elections Project

Percent of people who believe their vote counts:

Percent of people who believe a general election matters more:

People who felt their vote matters:

49%

58%

Percent of students who are still deciding to vote: Percent of people who don’t plan to vote:

28%

83% 9%

24%

12%

Plan to vote when elegible;

30% Percent who felt their vote only mattered sometimes:

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8% Think local elections matter more:

Think that specific policy votes matter most: *Based on a randomly sampled poll of 74 students

The youth vote is extremely important — I feel like it is one of the easiest ways to become involved in political decisions on a local and national level. If people do not voice their opinions their concerns may be lost in the shuffle.” - Government teacher, Kimberly Schellert

Page by Liz Baker Web Editor-in-Chief

DECEMBER 2017

DISCOVER

Away WithOut Learning THE VOID : Mr. Patrick Reed, zobot and biology teacher, instructs to an absent classroom. Missing students are put at an immediate disadvantage when they are absent, losing the opportunity to be taught by trained educators. PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

Missed school hinders education for absent students

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By Carlin Bippen

Staff reporter As stressful as going to school can be, missing it is even worse. Heavy workloads, Advanced Placement classes, the A-plus program, and simply teacher’s opinions are all factors students must consider before deciding whether a sick day is truly worth it. When involved in extracurriculars, missed days carry even more weight. Senior Aleuria Alderson holds a lot of responsibility regarding her attendance. As a student athlete with a rigorous schedule, not only does she have to worry about the personal assignments she will miss, but a team that counts on her. “Since basketball season is in full swing, if you miss you have to make up practices. It’s really hard to stay on top of it because you have to make them up on top of homework that you missed,” Alderson said. Being involved in many school activities, Alderson finds it difficult to find time to make up all the things she’s missed. She avoids missing school

due to the stress it brings. “[Being absent] makes my stress levels go up and it’s really, really hard to feel motivated to stay on top of things when you miss a day, because then you have to make up for yesterday’s work and it keeps piling up,” she said. Although missing school is a struggle, it isn’t unavoidable. Junior Abby Budde finds herself commonly absent due to sickness as well as school events. Budde finds being absent difficult, not only because of the work load, but because of the individual responsibilities. “It’s hard because teachers don’t really help you out when you miss; you have to figure it out on your own,” She said. Catching up on missed work is especially hard for Budde when she feels a lack of teacher support. Often times it’s hard to simply find time to make up for what has been missed. “It’s kind of hard, especially when you miss a test, having to stay after because you can’t take it during the class period, and then you only have one seminar a week,” Budde said. As difficult as absences can be for a

student, it is also difficult for teachers who have to work their plans around who does and doesn’t decide to show up. Mrs. Patti Shockley, teacher of AP Literature, ACT Prep, and English III, believes students should be the ones to take care of what they’ve missed. “In regards to absences though, I notice students don’t take a whole lot of responsibility in getting what they missed, and since I teach juniors and seniors I’m not tracking them down,” Mrs. Shockley said. She does help to lead her students to success with an open work schedule to accommodate them, but does think the way a student handles the situation personally impacts their ability to effectively adjust their grades. “Being absent can have strong effects on grades; some students are more responsible than others with that,” Mrs. Shockley said. The impact absences have often depend on the personal outlook of a student or teacher, but regardless of the way one handles the situation, missing school is still a struggle many people find themselves having to overcome.

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1 in 7 US students miss nearly one month of school Research shows that missing 10 percent (approximately 18 days) of school will severely impact a student’s academic performance. A student who often misses school in the beginning of the year will likely continue with a below average attendence rate. Poor attendence can begin as early as kindergarten. 1 in 10 kindergarten students are considered “chronically absent”. By the sixth grade, chronic absence becomes the leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Sources: The National Center for Education Statistics, AttendanceWorks

DECEMBER 2017

DISCOVER

FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY: Protestors wield carfully crafted signs outside President Trump’s St. Charles speech. People from all ends on the political spectrum showed up to voice opinions by protesting, often coming into close contact with one another. PHOTO BY GRACE ROBERTS

Outside, protests

President Trump’s arrival met with strong emotions from both sides

By Skylar Laird

Co-Editor-in-chief “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!” As the audience inside the St. Charles Convention Center began to find their seats, outside, masses of protesters continued their chanting, waving flags and signs reading anything from “Impeach Trump,” to “Make America Great Again” as members from both sides of the party lines showed up in protest and in counter-protest for President Trump’s speech on tax cuts on Nov. 29. People of all backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities mingled on the sidewalk in the chilly weather, all driven by passion, whether for or against the president and the policies he was flying in to discuss. A man in a red sweatshirt, his tan face covered in wrinkle lines, walked his dog through the protest. “Us country folk always vote Republican,” he announced in a heavy accent. Beyond him, on the opposite end of the sidewalk, stood a man on the opposite end of the political spectrum, his hat and coat adorned with pins reading “Black Lives Matter” and other related slogans, one of his hands wrapped around

a PVC pipe flagpole on which waved the flag of the Whiskey Rebellion, his other hand ringing a cowbell tied around his neck. His name was Ivan Martin, a man of 65 from St. Louis. “What brings me here,” he said, “is why my friends aren’t here. At this time I think people really need to engage and be out in the streets. Our country has shown some poor leadership now, and now more than ever we need people engaged and participating in the process, not sitting around and complaining about things.” The people surrounding Martin were definitely engaged and out in the streets, filling them until pushed back onto the sidewalks by riot police in anticipation of the arrival of the presidential motorcade. Unphased by this change, a man in a yellow coat passed nearby, roaming the emptier grass area adjoining the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, a kindly smile on his face. He paused to offer a kind word to protestors of either side a kind word, mentioning how he was not participating for either side, but simply wanted to hear what everyone had to say, wanted everyone to be fair to one another regardless of their beliefs or opinions.

Martin, although less impartial in his involvement, shared a similar sentiment. “I want to be even-handed with folks,” he said. “I think folks can have conversations, can take a little time to speak, those who are so much afraid of each other. I come from small town Missouri, a very small town of 300 people, all white, and it would be hard to have conversations sometimes.” For Martin, these conversations meant those unhappy with the president were out and expressing their opinions while those who had gotten what they desired from the election fought to maintain what they had received so far under President Trump’s administration. “There are hundreds of thousands of people around here not satisfied with the way the current administration has been handling things, and that’s why we’re out here, to show that there is another side, and we’re not satisfied,” Martin said. President Trump, as he approached the Convention Center that Wednesday afternoon, was greeted by people from both sides, chanting outside the building as he entered to give his speech on tax cuts to a room of his supporters.

DECEMBER 2017

DISCOVER

Inside, politics President’s tax reform bill causes frenzy in Washington, could drastically affect American economy VOICE OF THE LEADER: President Trump speaks to the handpicked crowd above the presidential seal. He directed his rhetoric at American “Main Street” small businesses. PHOTO BY GRACE ROBERTS

By Garrett Allen

Discover Editor In an afternoon rally held Wednesday, Nov. 29 advocating for his administration’s major proposed tax reform legislation, as well as future plans, President Donald Trump stumped to a handpicked crowd of working-class Missourians, referencing large cuts to both their and corporate-level taxes. The speech, held at the St. Charles Convention Center, focused mainly on the proposed tax cuts to middle and working-class citizens, the recent quarterly U.S. economic growth exceeding three percent (a relatively high value), and the economic benefits of more competitive corporate tax rates. The bill itself, in its current state, lowers the federal corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent (in an effort to increase competitivity with Asian economic powers that have lower rates), doubles the standard deductible for individual income (amount of income one can not be taxed on), doubles the child tax credit, reduces the estate tax (tax extremely wealthy estate-holders pay upon their deaths), and repeals the individual healthcare mandate established by the Affordable Care Act. It has a value of $1.47 trillion, and is predicted by the independent scorekeeper, the Joint Committee on Taxation, to increase the national debt by $1 trillion within a decade, leading to heavy contention from Republicans and Democrats alike on the Senate floor. President Trump also spent time

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pandering to his audience with well-known slogans, “America First,” “Buy American, Sell American,” and “Make America Great Again,” with considerable time also spent promising evangelical voters “Merry Christmas” would be used instead of “Happy Holidays.” He promised the eventual creation of his proposed border wall reinforcement, as well as the eventual success of numerous-failed attempts at “repeal and replace” health care reform in Congress. The “fake news media” was referenced during his speech, at which time the crowd turned and booed. According to Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt (R), however, what the bill promises will have tangible benefits to the nation’s (and Missouri’s) economy. “I think there’s a lot still to be worked out [with the bill],” Mr. Schmitt said. “What we know is that anytime you’ve had broad-based tax relief, whether it was Ronald Reagan or John F. Kennedy before that, you’ve seen an expansion in the economy. If you’ve been seeing over three percent growth, that’s really the way forward; that’s where you see more jobs, more taxpayers, and quite frankly more revenue.” Flanking Mr. Schmitt during the speech were multiple members of Missouri’s Congressional representation in Washington - Billy Long (R-MO 7th District), Kathie Conway (R-MO 14th District) Ann Wagner (R-MO 2nd District), and Jason Smith (R-MO 8th District) - as well as Secretary of the Treasury Steven

Mnuchin, and various members of state and local government. “These opportunities don’t come around all that often, and we hope that Congress hears the people, the energy in this room,” Mr. Schmitt said. “That’s the secret sauce, and if they can get it right, it can be a big opportunity and more opportunity for working Missourians.” Missouri Republican Representatives to Congress praised the bill, including Representative Kathie Conway (R-MO 14th District). “I am always in favor of preventing the government from taking money from those people who have earned it,” Mrs. Conway said. “I closely follow the direction [the President] wants to take with our country — his policy on taxes, yes, I do agree with him.” The president was confident in his party’s ability to pass the massive tax legislation through both houses of Congress. “With Trump as your president,” he said, “we are going to be celebrating Merry Christmas again, and it’s going to be done with a big, beautiful tax cut. We are winning. We’re winning again. We’re winning a lot bigger than anyone ever thought possible for such a short period of time.” The night preceding the bill’s vote on the Senate floor was wrought with frenzy, as revisions and amendments were being added just hours before the vote was to be taken. Senator Claire McCaskill (DMO) voiced significant concerns with her colleagues’ inability to read the over 430-page bill, having gotten it mere hours before the vote as well.

“One example of crazy-town tonight. [Revisions] handwritten in the margins buried in the bill. Which we just got. Drawing is my editorial comment,” she tweeted at 11 p.m. “We politely asked to adjourn till Monday morning. So we could read and study the bill we were just given. Answer was no. So we are here blindly rearranging the American economy in the middle of the night.” Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was more confident, saying the bill went through “thorough makeup in Senate Finance Committee,” but declining to further comment. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed by the Senate in a 51-49 vote at approximately 2 a.m. on Dec. 2. It now stands to go to conference committee, where key differences in the House and Senate-passed versions of the bill will be ironed out, after which a final vote will be taken again through both chambers of Congress. The differences are major, with the Senate version having seven individual tax brackets instead of the House’s four, and the Senate’s having a repeal of the individual health insurance mandate previously passed with the Affordable Care Act. House Majority Leader Paul Ryan (R-WI 1st District) is rushing to assign a team of representatives for the committee, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 12th District) is immediately responding by sending hers. Republican Congressional leadership, as well as President Trump, hope to shuttle the bill through both houses before the Senate takes its holiday recess on Dec. 15.

“We politely asked to adjourn [until] Monday morning. So we could read and study the bill we were just given. Answer was no. So we are here blindly rearranging the American economy in the middle of the night.” -- Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

DECEMBER 2017

discover

SCREAM IT OUT: A protester exclaims with fury along the streets outside the Convention Center prior to the Trump Rally. She retained passion against Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message despite the cold weather. PHOTO BY GRACE ROBERTS

Loud and clear

Protesters, supporters make their voices heard, thoughts known at Trump rally

STAND TALL: Riot police were called to clear the streets for the presidential motorade. Law enforcement stands their ground, riot gear in hand observing protests. PHOTO BY GRACE ROBERTS

FLYING HIGH: Rally attendees wave Trump flags with eachother. Reporters interviewed protestors from both sides while awaiting the speech PHOTO BY GRACE ROBERTS

discover

EDUCATE: Protester with emphasis on education exemplifies courage perserverance amongst the crowd. Many protestors spoke on education issues impacted by tax cuts. PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

DECEMBER 2017

PROJECTION: Calm and collected, a protester states his beliefs with strength. He lead chants such as “Kill the bill.” PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

‘YUGE’ MESSAGE: Rows of protesters forcefully raise their signs in the air, relaying their message to all who could see. Soon after, the president flew in above the crowds. PHOTO BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

DECEMBER 2017

DISCOVER

SAY WHAT?!?!?! You havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bought your yearbook yet?

Well, this is what the cover looks like. Buy your copy (using the order form on the back page) before the first semester ends. The price goes up to $65 (from $50) in second semester.

feature

DECEMBER 2017

Artists of tomorrow Young creators choosing to pursue their passion and go to art school By Gillian Pendel pursuing graphic design and feels Staff reporter he has gotten more optimistic It’s that time of the year: college reactions towards his plans for application season. While most college. Since traditional art has students are furiously scribbling started falling out, more people out essays or begging for letters of feel graphic design is a much more recommendation, Sarah Swaters, practical major. senior, is preparing her portfolio “I do feel like I’m at an advantage to send to the Institute of Art in doing graphic design,” Collins said. Chicago. Instead of filling out “Just due to the fact that it’s what’s application after application, she in right now. Everyone is involved meticulously digs through her in the internet, and it’s just the way work, choosing an array of pieces that art has transformed.” that best showcase her abilities. While Collins has not faced the Art is a passion for many students, scrutinization from peers who look but the possibility of a career in art down on art students, he is still is only available to a few. To give an very familiar with harsh criticism. idea of the dedication required to Rather than being discouraged, he get into art school and to pursue says he is instead motivated by it. art, most future art students have “I take what [critics] have to say... been creating art and considering and think ‘Well they’re saying it themselves an artist their entire for a reason,’” Collins said. “I try to lives. Swaters incorporate says she has it into my considered work because herself an they’re just artist since trying to help.” elementary Ove ra l l , school. p a s s i o n “In fifth overcomes grade, my fear. Young teacher would artists must read books, face harsh and I’d be criticisms for like ‘Wow, I their work as just have so - senior Alex Collins well as their many ideas.’ future plans; I couldn’t h o w e v e r , contain them. I had to write them that has not stopped them from down,” Swaters said. “Then writing continuing to pursue what they them down didn’t seem right, and love. Nina Siefert, senior, feels so I started drawing them and it the opportunities available to just progressively went on as the her throughout high school are years went by.” what influenced her to make the Going to art school can get mixed decision to go to art school, despite reactions. Some are interested and her initial apprehensions. supportive; others, however, fear “I was really inspired by all of the “starving artist.” This can cause the art teachers that I’ve had apprehension for both students throughout school,” Siefert said, and parents. Swaters has learned “They really made me decide that to take the criticism with a grain becoming an art teacher was the of salt. way to go.” “This what I’ve been doing for Picking a college is a rigorous most of my life, of course I’m going and stressful time, but it hasn’t to go into it. Of course my stuff deterred many artists from doing isn’t the greatest now, but who what they’re passionate about. knows? Maybe it might be selling Even though many people think art for billions of dollars in the future!” school is a waste of time or are taken Swaters said. aback by the decision to go to art While traditional art is still school, it is still very possible to go favored, the world of art is to art school, and it is not enough changing. Alex Collins, senior, is to force passionate artists to settle.

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“You get to be creative. There’s not really any rules [with art], and you get to choose what you want to do.”

CLOUD 9: Swaters plans on attending the Institute of Art in Chicago, and draws her inspiration from nature. “I look at the sky and think, ‘Those are some nice looking clouds,’ and I take pictures of them like, ‘I’m going to do that. That’s going to be on something.’ It’s great,” Swaters said. PHOTO BY RUTH DOLL

NEW AGE: Collins hopes to study graphic design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Since his work is mainly digital, Collins finds himself drawing inspiration from the internet. “The internet, online, my friends, and my peer group [influence my work],” Collins said. PHOTO BY GILLIAN PENDEL

ART SCHOOLED: Siefert plans on attending FloValley for two years before attending Webster and majoring in art education. When faced with art block, she has to distance herself from her work. “I have to go out and do things to get inspired, to go have fun,” said Siefert. PHOTO BY GILLIAN PENDEL

DECEMBER 2017

feature

Behind the bass

Five years of bass playing lead to blooming jazz career

ON BASS: Sam Eckhoff rehearses with wind ensemble on concert day. He is the fifth Eckhoff sibling to perform with this band, and this is one of four bands he is a part of, the other three being jazz groups. PHOTOS BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

By Skylar Laird

Co-Editor-in-chief Perched on a tall jazz stool, senior Sam Eckhoff plucks out a simple melody on the white electric bass in his lap, his eyes roaming the band room, playing as though completely unaware that he is doing so. As the others around him begin to play, however, he becomes more focused. The band room is in chaos, as it is every Wednesday during seminar, when multitudes of band kids come in to practice. From his spot at the back of the room, Eckhoff tunes out everything happening around him, focusing solely on the music he and those with him — namely fellow senior Jake Luebbert — are playing. Playing for Eckhoff, now, is a daily occurrence — he has been playing bass for five years, but has been around music much longer as the youngest of five brothers, all of whom played an instrument — four of whom, including him, still play on a regular basis. “I started playing bass, I believe, in seventh grade, but I didn’t get into it really until eighth grade,” he said. “I played drums during that time, and my brothers showed me playing bass, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is so much cooler,’ even though, at the time, it was a lot more work. But I just got to mess around with it and it just spoke to me.” The bass was obviously not Eckhoff’s first choice of instrument; besides the drums, he also spent a while playing trumpet and piano, but when he finally picked up a bass, it just clicked.

“For a while, I jumped around from instrument bands. to instrument just to try and fit in … but then I “I love concert music, don’t get me wrong,” he started playing bass and it was like, ‘Oh, okay, this said. “I like the chord structure, I like the way it makes more sense,’ because it was the way I am sounds, I’m a sucker for marches and stuff like as a person; I like to lay low and be a foundation.” that, but jazz, as a bass player, is the most free I In fact, Eckhoff’s personality was one of the main can be, to where I have no rules. I can do whatever proponents in his attitude towards the bass as an I want. I can take a pop song that everybody likes instrument; his passion stemmed from how he felt and change the chords, put a swing beat behind it complemented his personality, allowing him to it, and it’s already a new arrangement. And the be himself while he freedom and the history played it. behind it ... it sounds “As a person, I like crazy, but it’s an outlet to be needed; it’s for me to play faster. just the way I am. I Because, like, I don’t get like to feel like my to play fast that much. I part matters, and so can, but I don’t.” laying the foundation, Jazz is more than just being able to dictate, a preference for Eckhoff; ‘This part sounds like it’s a lifestyle. With hopes this, this part sounds of studying jazz in college like this,’ or being at UMKC with his brother able to completely Mac, Eckhoff already change everything ... participates in both jazz just doing whatever I ensembles offered at - senior Sam Eckhoff want with what I hear the school, along with is the kind of feeling I another group outside of get,” he said. the school’s band room called Jazz U. This ability to essentially be free to play “I’ve been in the jazz groups here for four years, whatever he feels right was an important part so I know Mr. Griffin really well and I know the of music for Eckhoff, leading him more towards people I’m playing with really well, but Jazz U is the improvisational tendencies of jazz music, a different animal,” he said. “It’s everyone wanting as opposed to the stricter guidelines of concert to be there 24/7, like, this is what we’re gonna do

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I’ve never played music without a smile on my face, and I was like, ‘What if I’m like that all the time?’ So music was the go-to thing.”

DECEMBER 2017

feature for the rest of our lives kind of thing. I’m more able to say, ‘Here’s what I hear, here’s what we should do,’ rather than, ‘Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do, we have to read what’s on the page,’ to where [at Jazz U] I don’t even have music with me anymore, and I’m just doing what I feel like.” Eckhoff happened upon Jazz U almost by coincidence; freshman year, he was performing at a jazz festival when approached by someone who told him he should consider trying out due to his obvious skill level. Freshman Eckhoff knew nothing about the group, but, after consulting with his brother Mac and jazz director Nathan Griffin, he decided to audition. “I auditioned going into sophomore year on electric and I wasn’t what they were looking for at the time, but I was like, ‘That’s okay, that doesn’t mean I’m bad, just not what they’re looking for right now,’” he said. “So I dedicated the next year to making it, and that’s when I picked up the upright bass and got into the old school style of jazz a lot more and I finally made it.” Participating in this group has given Eckhoff valuable experience he would not have otherwise obtained, especially since he is considering a career in jazz. He anticipates this group will give him an edge when he gets to college, as it pushes his limits and is already improving him as a musician. “We play a lot of old standards; we have to listen to an album every week, like a jazz album our director throws out, and then we talk about it; we usually have to learn a tune every single week. We don’t get music for [the tune we’re learning], we have to learn it by ear, and so it’s usually stressful because my ear is not the best at learning things all the time like that. It’s stressful, but it’s good for me because I’m getting a head start on what I’m going to have to do for the rest of my life,” he said. This is an important advantage to have in what is known as a risky career field: music. This risk never deterred Eckhoff, however, especially when combined with his brothers’ successes as professional musicians. Although there is an added pressure to succeed because his siblings did, it also makes this success more of an attainable reality. “It’s a little scary because I see what [my brothers] can do and I wanna do that, but it makes it reassuring that I know that my brothers are such losers but they can do it, so why can’t I?,” he joked. “And like, they told me that [out of all of them] I’m the most evolved for a high school player, but the idea of them being able to make it … why can’t I do it?” All the Eckhoffs, though most are now successful musicians, began in the Spartan band program, each playing their own respective instruments. Now, Sam is the last of them, which means he’s following in all four of his brothers’ footsteps - some of which are relatively large shoes to fill. “Originally, when I first started [playing at school], it was very hard because I was playing and they were like, well, why don’t you sound like him? Why don’t you play like Mac? Why aren’t you as good as Luc? And it’s

because that’s not who I am, they’re not me and I’m not them,” he said, “but it’s cool because then you’re held to a certain standard, like, they have all been good, one of them made State twice, so what am I gonna do? It’s a little tug and pull between motivation and fear.” Although he grew up with music, Eckhoff wasn’t always quite as dedicated to it as he is now, and for a while, he even considered pursuing football instead of joining marching band, possibly even making it his profession. However, as his injuries grew worse and his love of music grew stronger, he realized jazz was the route he wanted to follow. “I would always show up early to [football] practice and all that, like 45 minutes before everyone else would get there and before practice would start, but then I started showing up later and later and later because I kept playing music, and I was like, ‘Why am I here if [music] is what is speaking to me?’” he said. “And plus, with football, I was not going to be okay physically after a while - like I could tell I was breaking down, and not that my injuries made me want to play music, but I picked something that I knew I could do for the rest of my life if I did it right.”

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Songs

A playlist for early mornings to create good vibes for the rest of the day. Scan the QR code for the Spotify playlist. By Liz Baker

1. “Having a Good Day”-Benj Heard

You know that one song that plays in almost every commercial where a lady laughs over her yogurt? This is that song. It has a boppin’ beat with lyrics about being happy even when things aren’t going your way.

2. “Good Vibrations”-Beach Boys

A true bop, this classic song will make any day seem better with its

catchy chorus and beat.

3. “Dancing Queen”-ABBA

Perfect for any 17th birthday party, wedding reception, or just cheering yourself up, this is the jam to keep jamming to.

4. “Best Day of My Life”-American Authors When this song isn’t being played on the radio, it’s being played over every road trip montage to ever exist. It brings a nice summer day vibe to what could otherwise be a cold, dreary, winter day.

5. “Don’t Stop Believin”-Journey

A song every English-speaking person on the planet recognises, it tells a tale of people from two different spheres of the world finding their place and not giving up. Even in this suburb, you can find your place and make the best of a situation as long as you “don’t stop believing”

6. “Never Gonna Give You Up”Rick Astley

Throughout the early 2000s this was used as a trick to play on your friends, but now it has returned to it’s original purpose of being a catchy love song that’s perfect to cheer you up.

7. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”Bobby McFerrin

One of the most easily recognizable choruses in the music world comes from this; it reminds listeners that it’s a new day and you can have a good day if you’d like.

8. “Take On Me”-A-HA

The song stuck in your head has purpose; it’ll cheer you up when you hear it. Waking up to this song will put you in the perfect mindset to face the world.

9. “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)”-The Proclaimers

Dropped in the late 80s, this song has been all over. It makes doing impossible tasks like finishing essays and hard tests seem possible by comparison.

10. “Kung-Fu Fighting”-Carl Douglas

Now the credits of the “Kung Fu Panda” movies, this song stands for not giving up when people don’t believe in you. You’re a part of something bigger than yourself and you can fight your way through the morning with this tune.

DECEMBER 2017

feature NATURAL ELEMENT: Lauren Dubuque smiles in a cornfield while spending time with her friends. PHOTO BY OLIVIA FONG

Focal point

Lauren Dubuque reveals thoughts and methods behind her images.

By Lanie Sanders

people, if I see someone who looks native Feature Editor to wherever I am. But mostly I shoot my Images reflect memories. Photography surroundings. Some of my favorite places is a way to capture exact moments in time. I’ve shot have been Vancouver definitely, it’s Oftentimes, people rave about how great amazing. I love how it’s so moody there, you the image is, but forget to give credit to the have the city, and then the ocean which is one behind the lens, which is unfair to artists right next to it. Everything has a layer of fog like Lauren Dubuque. Photographers get over it and it’s beautiful. Colorado and Oregon less than a second to capture raw emotion. are both beautiful.” Dubuque said. “But I don’t The diligence that is required to do this is really stick to one type of photo too much, unfortunately overlooked, and Dubuque has I really like to switch it up, but I really enjoy felt this first hand. photographing people and places mostly.” “I do sometimes [feel photographers are But Dubuque’s photography not only overlooked], but I’m not too bothered by it,” impacts her. Her images Dubuque said. “Sometimes inspire many students, one people don’t notice the fact that being sophomore Maddie I think it’s more my to get a good photograph, it’s Dumas. more than just having a beautiful dad and I having a very “Lauren Dubuque is subject.” similar way of seeing genuinely one of the most Dubuque agrees photography talented people I know,” is a form of self-expression, and things. With him being in Dumas said. “Her work is just that experience correlates with the business, he’s always absolutely breathtaking, and excellence. No matter how rough I am constantly impressed encouraging me.” someone starts off, they can only by what she creates. I believe student photographer Lauren get better. that someone who is truly Dubuque “I’ve been doing talented will make others [photography] since sixth feel something with what grade, although I wasn’t very they create, and Lauren does just that.” good at it, I was very interested in it at the For some, photography and art are just a time,” Dubuque said. “There is always going to side project, something they do for fun. But be room to improve, it comes with time.” in regards to her future, Dubuque hopes to All artists have signatures, something that pursue photography, and other related arts in is a constant in their work. For Dubuque, this the long run. constant is travelling. She travels three to “I want to pursue not only photography, but four times a year, and explains travelling is cinematography and videography.” Dubuque a great way to delve into different cultures, said. “I want to be a director I think, I want gain inspiration, and try something new. that so much. It’s not only camera angles, it’s She explains that her travels used to be working with when someone says something. simple family vacations, but when she got Directing would be awesome.” her camera, everything changed, and is why Her father, Bill Dubuque, is a screenwriter Dubuque makes sure to document it all. known for projects such as “The Accountant”, “[Typically I shoot] my surrounding, where “The Judge”, and “The Headhunter’s Calling”, I’m at, like the building and the mountains.” and the television series, “Ozark”. Dubuque said. “Sometimes I [photograph] As a father and a mentor, Mr. Dubuque has

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helped Lauren become the artist she is today. “With movie making, he has exposed me to so much,” Dubuque said. “Like how to express how I feel in a thought out way to people, and how dialog should flow.” As for Mr. Dubuque himself, he encourages the natural talent Dubuque has. “I didn’t [have to push her], Lauren is naturally creative.” Mr. Dubuque said. “I didn’t push, I encouraged her ability. I recognize the importance of figuring out why people do what they do, and recognizing that [Lauren] can do anything she wants.” Growing up around that industry has shaped her views about her future, but her father has still had a personal impact on her. “I think it’s more my dad and I having a very similar way of seeing things,” Dubuque said. “With him being in the business, he’s always encouraging me. I want to make movies that make people feel something strong when they’re done seeing it. I also want to film documentaries that bring forward really important issues that people don’t like to talk about.” According to Dubuque, getting the right image creates a feeling of contentment. She feels particularly proud of herself and her life when she finally produces content she loves. Dubuque described that she feels so in love with people, and so in love with places when she photographs them. “It makes me feel fantastic.” Dubuque said. “It makes me feel very one with my surroundings. It makes me feel like I am part of the world in a way, and I’m just here observing it. It makes me feel big, and it makes me feel small in a setting.”

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Lauren Dubuque has documented her travels across the United States and other parts of the world. Here’s a bit on some of her favorite photos. TOP LEFT: Taken in Vancouver, Canada, the fog hung in the sky which added to the moody feeling. TOP RIGHT: “After me and my family took a ferry from Canada to Washington, we hiked to the peak of a mountain in Port Angeles.” MIDDLE LEFT: “As we walked across the suspension bridge in Vancouver, I stopped to take a photo of the view.” MIDDLE RIGHT: The suspension bridge in Vancouver. BOTTOM LEFT: “I used the street lights from the highway to cast a glow on my friend Emma’s face.” BOTTOM RIGHT: “I caught a mother running across Cannon Beach in Oregon.” PHOTOS BY LAUREN DUBUQUE

DECEMBER 2017

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focus focus

Why sleep? Proper sleep allows for a proper life By Justin Hedrick

Staff reporter You’re a senior in high school. You’re a senior. Your shoulders are being crushed by the weight of stress from juggling work and grades and sports and a social life while your mind is constantly filled with thoughts and worries of school and your future.You’re exhausted and know you need sleep to perform your best, but you also know you have a ZoBot test tomorrow, a paper due in AP Lit, and you still have to do your math assignment and then finish that study guide for AP Gov. It’s already a little past eight and you just got home from work, a little earlier than usual. You think to yourself, “one more sleepless night couldn’t possibly hurt, right?” Well, that’s sadly wrong; chronic sleep deprivation is a huge problem plaguing American teens. Most teenagers in the US, a whopping 66 percent, are regularly sleep deprived, according to Science Alert. Sleep deprivation is a serious concern for long term health of many Americans. It can lead to weight gain, excessive daytime sleepiness, frustration, problems with attention, concentration, or memory; extreme mood

changes or irritability may also occur; lack of energy or motivation plague sports and school causing poor performance; and tension headaches or stomach aches may also begin to develop. Elongated sleep deprivation can even lead to a 450 percent increase in likelihood of having a stroke later on in life. Nobody wants to deal with such a multitude of symptoms that are so numerous and severe in their nature. Sleep can seem like an obstacle to busy people like highschool students; It’s time consuming and is many times sacrificed for homework or work or even just for fun, but this is not healthy. Over time, growth will become affected, as 75 percent of the HGH (Human Growth Hormone) released by the body, and initiates recovery and re-energizes your body, which is extremely important in work performance, studying for school, and succeeding in sports. So, next time you are swamped with work, try to plan out a schedule in order to regiment sleep and studying so you can do your best at school and work and still have time for sleep: life shouldn’t come at the cost of health.

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Making time

Sleep schedule, night routines essential for good sleep By Reese McLaughlin

Staff reporter It’s so tempting to just throw yourself on your bed and pass out, especially for high schoolers, who often have little time to complete everything they need to get done. After soccer practice and 3 hours of homework, your bed seems to be calling to you. But instead of just laying down and calling it a night, you should start thinking about creating a nightly routine for yourself. A nightly routine is incredibly beneficial; according to the Harvard Medical Journal, ”a regular schedule not only tends to increase the amount of sleep people get each night, it can also improve the quality of that sleep.” What it does is help signal your body that it is now time to start getting ready for bed, to slowly subconsciously put your body into “do not disturb” mode. This prepares your body to get the most of of that night’s sleep. It also makes waking up a lot easier as well. It is important for your sleep routine to be relaxing and calming, involving nothing that will overstimulate and disrupt your internal clock. Harvard Medical journal suggests activities like, ”Knitting, reading, and listening to relaxing music and nature recordings.” Your routine could be anything from a nightly skincare regimen where you pamper yourself, a little right reading, or anything that interests you and won’t be difficult to incorporate into your life. The key is for it to be something that you genuinely enjoy doing.

DECEMBER 2017

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Sleeping with sense(s) How our senses influence our sleep By Megan Percy

Staff reporter Recharging at night is a sensitive, essential process that is open to all kinds of disruptions. Researchers such as Dr. Rachel Darken, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurology at Washington University, have studied the sleep cycle and found the effects of these disruptions on sleep can be disastrous. While sleeping, the human body is still hyper-responsive to temperature, light and sounds. Even before laying down to rest, variables such as food type and intake or the fragrance of a bedroom can make or break the quality of sleep. However, there are ways to control these factors and make resting more relaxing.

Taste Protein is the power food group of sleep. Many high-protein foods such as turkey, eggs, chicken, fish, or nuts contain tryptophan, where serotonin is derived from. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that controls wakefulness and sleepiness. Caffeine and fatty foods break down serotonin, potentially interfering with sleep cycles. According to Darken, any form of energy-booster is unhealthy for trying to make up for lost sleep.

Sight

Light is a natural sleep-arouser for the brain, a development in human beings so the body can live on a 24-hour-day pattern. Therefore, too much light at night keeps the brain awake and messes with the circadian rhythm. Artificial light is especially detrimental, due to the brain’s higher sensitivity to the shorter wavelengths of light electronics put off.

Smell

Scent can powerfully affect mood. When going to sleep, research shows smelling scents such as lavender can decrease heart rate and blood pressure, putting the body in a relaxed state. Keeping sheets clean can also improve sleep, because it keeps the bed smelling fresh. Normally, sheets should be washed once a week to keep them crisp.

Touch

Keeping the bedroom a cool 65 degrees allows for thermoregulation the body conducts while resting without causing uncomfortable sweating or shivering at night. Breathable cotton pajamas and sheets are optimal as well, being both comfortable and light as body temperature dips and increases while resting.

Hear

Depending on where someone lives, cars, sirens, or even dogs can create “sound pollution,” disrupting their sleep patterns. Creating white noise helps block these obstructive commotions. White noise can be created by a sound conditioner, a fan, etc. Effectively producing a quiet drone that will reduce abrupt peaks of noise.

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DECEMBER 2017

Sleepless? Sleep deprivation affects multiple major parts of the body By Garrett Allen

Discover Editor The most recent 2012 data from the Centers for Disease Control reported that 30 percent of all adults in the nation are sleep deprived, getting less than six hours of sleep per night. Yet, 2014 nationwide polls by the American Sleep Foundation found 90 percent of American teenagers are chronically sleep deprived, and that 20 percent of those kids get less than five hours per night - three hours lower than the recommended average. That same year, the American Academy of Pediatrics raised outrage over what they called a “public health epidemic.” Sleep deprivation is an incredibly dangerous state of the human body. All bodily functions are inhibited and/ or repressed; all systems suffer in one or multiple ways. As William Dement, founder of Stanford University’s Sleep Disorders Clinic has said, “nobody performs at the level they could perform, whether it’s in school, on the roadways, on the sports field or in terms of physical and emotional health.” With the vast majority of our nation’s students suffering, it serves to ask:

In the brain

Dozens of published studies indicate the same trend: cognitive ability rapidly declines with a lack of sleep. Problems with memory retention (learning), concentration, critical thinking, and reaction times all occur under chronic sleep deprivation. The heavy rise in reaction time makes it clinically unrecommended to drive, and more difficult to play sports that require them. Succeeding in school is harder as well. Recent published research has also shown that while those who are acutely sleep deprived recognize that a problem exists, those who are chronically sleep deprived become unaware that they have any at all.

Heart stresses

The lack of sleep can cause the release of catecholamines, fight-or-flight hormones, into the body. This especially causes undue stress on the heart, which gains risk for a myriad of problems later in life.

Musculoskeletal fatigue

Sleep deprivation, especially in athletes, can lead to profound muscle fatigue. Many professional sports teams in the nation have hired sleep specialists to help reinforce healthy sleep schedules for their athletes.

DECEMBER 2017

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Time spent elsewhere Daily resposibilites take priority over sleep for most students By Chloe Bockhurst

Staff Reporter Multitudes of students know what it feels like to try to get an education without an adequate amount of sleep. They get up earlier than most people do to try to understand new lessons taught to them for hours. It’s more common than not to hear someone say how tired they are throughout the day. Even in the last minutes of the day you can catch someone yawning, though they have most likely not slept since they’ve woken up early that morning. One student may have stayed up to study for a test the next day, another could be busy catching up after an after school curriculum that runs hectic, and yet another could just want to catch up on social media after their stressful schedule. Students then go home and work on hours of homework, adding

work or school activities onto their daily load. Most, if not all, students can relate to the exhaustion their schedule causes. Despite the differences in all of us, one thing that unites teenagers is how much more sleep we need. Why we don’t get enough hours varies from person to person. Junior Gabby Bucholz balances a job, busy after school curriculum, and difficult coursework. Like her, many students are driven to achieve academically and spend hours studying instead of getting the sleep that is vital for a brain to function. They stress their mind further in hopes of higher academic achievements. For ones who feel the need to study more, they also feel as if they must stay up late, and often. “What prevents me from getting a normal amount of sleep is the amount of homework I have, and whether or not I have a test the next day so I need to study for it,”

focus Buccholz said. Though students’ best efforts are put in to improve grades, the results can be disappointingly ineffectual. Their time and sacrifice is dashed without sleep. The next morning, students find that they can’t remember or concentrate during vital tests and lessons. Throughout a student’s years, the time spent staying up has been the same; but frustration has taken a backseat due to how often students go without enough sleep. Senior Mahria PruittMartin can relate to the sentiment. “I can’t concentrate because I’m tired, but I’m used to it so I get through it.” Pruitt-Martin said. Students drift from class to class, trying their best to stay awake as they see the amount of homework they will have to manage late into another sleepless night. They may become more awake in later hours, but by the end of the day, the exhaustion returns. Afternoon classes don’t get any easier, and neither does the efforts to keep awake. A vicious cycle of staying up late and getting up early leads to many taking naps; leaving people with no choice but to use valuable time to take a much needed break. Junior Lara Hock recognizes that sleeping during the day ruins her chance of having a normal sleep schedule further, but staying awake the whole day is hard. “When I get home I want to sleep again, so I guess it’s making my day worse.” she said. It looks to them as if there is no

solution. So while learning to live with the lack of sleep is difficult, some find ways to make it a little more bearable. Truthfully, they admit that taking more time to relax doesn’t help them sleep more, but it makes it easier. “You want to look on social media and see what’s going on, or catch up on TV shows.” Hock said. Students feel as if they deserve the time of in midst of hectic schedules, pushing back hours of sleep that would help to recover physically. However, many see a break as a chance to rest mentally. An everyday lack of sleep is tough for anyone, especially ones who face it as often as high school students do. Among other things the future holds, many of them wonder if they’ll always live with an irregular sleep schedule. Bucholz believes that even in a harder academic environment, having enough sleep is not in her near future. “I don’t think as I get older I’ll [sleep less], as I get into college where the class isn’t as intense and long.” she said. Not everyone sees it the same way, like everyone’s future will differ. Hock believes the opposite. “In college or when you go into work you’re going to be busy.” she said. No matter what the future holds, all can agree that for the time being, spending more time awake is worth it. Time spent awake now is seen well used in order to be successful and well slept in the future.

DECEMBER 2017

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The sports

Athletes from swim and wrestling give insight to their daily By Whitney Klein

Voice Editor Teenagers already have busy schedules with school and homework, jobs, and ever changing social lives. There’s high school drama and finals and saving up for college. Senior wrestler Weston Klein and Junior swim team member Michael Yu have jammed school athletics into their already hectic schedules. Klein gave an example of a regular Tuesday, starting at five in the morning at not getting to sleep until 11 at night. His day was filled by 5:45 a.m. practice, school, practice again after school, and working. These athletes move nonstop from dusk til dawn, practicing, working, studying.

Michael Yu, boys swimming

Boy’s swim practice meets at an even crazier times. Swim team member Michael Yu gives insight as to when from practice is and how it affects him. “Swimming is Monday through Friday, every day from eight to ten p.m,” Yu said. “The earliest I can go to sleep is usually around 11 on nights that I have practice.” Swim meets are also occurring at late times on weekdays normally once or twice a week according to Yu. “Meets are usually on Mondays or Wednesdays, usually one or two a week. They start around 8:30 and they go til 10 or so,” Yu said. Howell Central does not have a pool or a place on campus for swim to practice, so the team has to travel to the rec plex for all practices and a few of their meets. Yu explains how this makes swim different than other sports. “It’s different from other sports because it’s much later, and we’re pretty far off campus. It’s a different experience.” Granted having practice later does allow for free time beforehand for school work and hanging out with friends. Most members of the team, like Yu, attempt to use as much of this time to finish their work as they can. “I try to get most of my homework done before practice then I try and finish the rest up after.” Practices and meets might not always interfere with homework but, due to the fact that most teenagers prefer hanging out later in the day, this schedule can interfere with social lives. “They kind of get in the way cause people usually want to hang out and stuff around evening hours, but I’m usually swimming around that time,” Yu said

MAKING A SPLASH: Michael Yu competes at the Rec-Plex. A good majority of the swim team’s competitions and all of their practices take place here.

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DECEMBER 2017

schedule struggle

schedules of sports, school, and social lives. According to research from the NCAA, nearly eight million students participate in high school athletics currenty. Results of a 2016 study showed that student athletes get seven hours of sleep or less.

Weston Klein, wrestling

Varsity wrestler Weston Klein’s schedule starts out with him waking up at five or six and the morning, and then not coming home until eleven o’clock at night. It weighs on him physically as this hectic schedule leaves him sleep deprived. “Wrestling meets for practice Monday through Friday at two forty-five to five, Tuesday and Thursdays at five forty-five in the morning, and then Saturdays we wrestle nine to eleven,” Klein said. “It can become a little tiring. I get about 4 hours of sleep, but all of the practices are necessary. Sleep is just gone. That and work takes up time.” The practice schedule takes up time during the weekdays while meets and tournaments take up any free time he has throughout the week especially the weekend which normally would be a time of relaxation for most teens. “Regular meets, like dual meets, are mostly on Wednesdays. They last like two to three hours, maybe, and tournaments are usually like Friday or Saturday, maybe sometimes Sunday, and those can last multiple days,” Klein said. Tournaments like the Fox tournament in Arnold last multiple days. This tournament which occurred Dec. 1-2 was held at Fox high school, a good 40 minutes away. Travel time is also factor affecting their schedules. Some meets or tournaments can take place as far away as Illinois. Meaning the wrestlers, coaches, and supporters of the team would have to drive over an hour or two , to and from, just to attend the tournament. Each part of Klein’s schedule is important to him, work, school, sports, and sacrifices have to be made in order to keep up with his daily routine. Atheletes know there is a time commitment when they sign up for the sport, but they are willing to go to every meet, match, tournament, practice, etc. because they’re doing the sport that they love. “It takes up a lot of time, but, I mean, it’s worth it,” Klein said. “Wrestling is fun. I’ve done it since I was a kid.” Swim and Wrestling could not be more different, but their schedules are both so hectic that, in some way, they’re similar. The early morning and late night practices, the multiple- days- long tournaments, and the weekday meets all interfere with the amount of free time the boys have for things like homework, studying, hanging out with friends, or just having time to themselves to relax.

DECEMBER 2017

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Wintertime workout HEALTHY HOLIDAYS: The holiday season is a busy time for many. Staying fit is still possible, even in the comfort of your own home. PHOTO BY TALIA THAMBYRAJAH

There are many benefits to staying physically fit during the winter Alternatives to exercising: Hydrate: Drink 8-12 glasses of water per day. Eat well, not less: Maintain a healthy diet by eating plant-based foods and ingesting enough protein. Run outside: Running in the cold burns more calories than would running inside on a treadmill. Layer up! Stress is dense: Excessive stress is unhealthy. Try to manage your stress by getting enough sleep.

By Talia Thambyrajah

Staff reporter It is no secret the winter months and holiday season bring about eating one too many Christmas cookies and frequent naps on the couch as the snow falls outside your bedroom window. Cozy, yes, but once spring comes around we are suddenly scrambling to get that “summer bod” we all want. Although it is comfortable to lay in bed and watch Netflix to avoid the blizzard that is the outside, a better alternative is to get a head start on your “summer bod” and stay fit. Even if it is very difficult to get up from your cozy heated blanket and get working, the results are worth it. Senior baseball player Tucker Maupin exhibits great dedication to staying physically fit during the winter months before the spring baseball season begins. He agrees that, although it is difficult to find the time and motivation to maintain physical fitness, the outcome is very rewarding. “Even though I am required to work out for baseball, I still choose to work out on my own time to get better for the coming season,” Maupin said, “Working out makes me feel better and builds my self confidence by a lot.” Staying fit is easier than many

people think, though. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder or a marathon runner to stay in shape. It can be as easy as working out for 20 minutes per day. According to baseball coach and gym teacher Coach Raymond Howard, working out can be as simple or as difficult as you make it out to be. “During the winter months, I work out during my weightlifting classes and run on the treadmill a few times a week,” Coach Howard said. “I believe that weightlifting is one of the best classes a student can take. It gives you time to get in a small workout in your busy schedule. Working out doesn’t have to be for hours or be extremely hard; simply working out for 45 minutes in class can show results.” Evidently, working out and staying physically fit is a constructive use of time for people of all ages. It makes confidence levels skyrocket and will have you feeling like a brand new person, not to mention having your body looking fresh and ready for summer. “Working out definitely makes me feel better about myself,” Coach Howard said. “Physical fitness is important for everyone, because it supports overall health and wellbeing, in addition to you looking like a rock star.”

Along with Coach Howard, another hard-working athlete you may see putting in work in the gym or on the track is thrower Abigail Green. Green spends a considerable amount of time during the winter preparing for the upcoming track and field season. “I work out during the winter by lifting weights, of course, for throwing, and cardio a few times a week,” Green said. “I also try to eat well by eating healthy foods, but also making sure to get enough protein in. Working out and staying fit makes me feel great. My selfesteem goes up and I feel a lot better about myself.” With physical fitness comes feelings of self-appreciation. It is especially important to stay fit during the winter; not just to have a head start on that “summer bod,” but also for feelings of competence and adequacy, which are lacking for many when the depression of the cold, winter months hits. Without doubt, staying physically fit is easier than it may seem. You can reap many benefits from spending a few minutes each day bettering yourself by exercising, eating well, and managing your stress correctly.

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DECEMBER 2017

CHALKED UP: JJ Grgurich coats his hands in chalk to prepare for practicing on the rings. Grgurich’s gymnastics career consists of him competing in six events including rings and vault. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

Dedicated dismount 25 hours of practice per week fueled by Grgurich’s love for gymnastics By Millennia Simmons

Entertain editor Sophomore JJ Grgurich has found a passion for flying through the air seven years ago after watching his sister during her gymnastics class. What started as a small curiosity turned into a 25hour per week practice, six-event career. “My sister was actually in a gymnastics class a long time ago and I would have to go and sit and watch her practice, and I saw some boys tumbling there so I was like, ‘Hey I want to do that,” so I finally convinced my parents to let me try it out as a class and eventually I was put on a team and I went from there,” Grgurich said. Grgurich states he finds his passion from not only flipping through the air, but accomplishing a new skill. “I like the feeling of flipping through the air and the accomplishment of [learning] a new skill, Grgurich said, “It’s like you know you can do it but It’s kind of nerve racking at the same time because it’s like; am I gonna fall on my face or am I gonna land it perfectly.” One of his most recent accomplishments and memorable moment was learning to stick a double back trick during practice. “I think one of my favorite memories was getting my double back on floor because I’ve been working on that for a long time and I got it recently, so I’m happy with that,” Grgurich said. However with great accomplishment come great challenges. Grgurich said he sometimes

ON THE RINGS: JJ Grgurich competes in an event on the rings. He began gymnastics after watching his sister practice seven years ago. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

struggles when learning new skills. “Some challenges I face is finding time to do other things and if I get a mental block and I don’t want to do a skill,” Grgurich said, “It’s like you’re scared of a skill, basically, so you don’t want to do it or you try and avoid it as much as possible, and you just gotta do the skill and get over it and that’s one of the harder things, especially if you’re a person that gets really nervous about a ton of skills,” Grgurich said. Grgurich also struggles with finding time

between school and practice, but since he has been a gymnast for so long, he knows he must develop a system to get the job done. “If you’ve been in the sport since you were younger, you kinda know time management, so you know whenever I get I have this amount time until I have to leave for practice so I set this much time for homework, then I eat get ready and then I leave for practice and then if I have any left over homework I’ll work on it whenever I get home from practice or in the morning before school,” Grgurich said. Grgurich occasionally experiences prejudice when first telling people about his sport, but with his his love of gymnastics and support system behind him, nothing can stop him and his career. “A lot of my friends are really supportive because they’ve known me for a long time, but whenever I first tell people they have like an ‘Ohhh’ reaction, like isn’t that kind of like a girls sport and I always [start] with the fact that no, it’s a guys sport because guys started it and girls took it over,” Grgurich said. He doesn’t know whether or not gymnastics will be a college path, but he hopes to become a coach in the future. “That I‘m kind of still deciding, I‘m not sure if i would want to go to college for it, I’m deciding on either gymnastics or cheer. I would like to coach in the future at a gym just for either like a class or for a team,” Grgurich said.

DECEMBER 2017

move

APPLY NOW! Pick up an application in Room 139 from Mr. Schott to become a member of the Newspaper, Yearbook, Photography or Broadcast staffs for the 2018-19 school year!

APPLY NOW!

voice

DECEMBER 2017

Painfully beautiful

Society’s beauty standards are poisoning the minds of young women FLAWLESS: Young girls look into the mirror and instantly pick out what they see as their flaws, just as Miriam Skebo (pictured above) is. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMILLY MANN AND WHITNEY KLEIN

Suffocation. You cannot breathe, something is holding you down, pressing on your chest. The feeling of thick bones compresses your lungs and you break out in a cold sweat. The impending feeling that you’re going to faint takes over you, suddenly, everything goes black. As you wake up, you look down and adjust the item that is taking your breath away: a corset. Women’s fashion in the early 18th century was defined by using corsets to slim one’s waist to achieve an hourglass figure. Corsets were extremely popular regardless of the negative health risks. Oftentimes women had trouble breathing, or fainted due to the extreme level the Lanie Sanders corsets were tightened to. Corsets also had long term impacts, causing organ damage from the tight and constant compression of the abdomen. However, when worn, corsets helped women achieve the most desirable silhouette for the 18th century, no matter the damages to their health. History has been defined by women being pressured to obtain a certain level of beauty, and this is not only infuriating, but unjust. To be considered beautiful, women should have curves while also being skinny, they have to be tall but also shorter than men, and they have to wear pounds and pounds of makeup in order to look what men and others consider “natural.” In America, a hierarchy of hair color has been established to a point where the phrase, “blondes have more fun” is heard by most, but realistically, this is not true. Stereotypically, blondes are portrayed to be less intelligent, and possibly easier to take advantage of, scarily enough, making them “more fun”. One of the biggest sex symbols of all time is Marilyn Monroe; although she was a blonde, Monroe had a higher IQ than Einstein, the man responsible for the theory of relativity, abolishing this stereotype. In her era, a time where women were still seen as

a man’s possession, and the term “trophy wife” was at it’s peak, for a woman to be considered pretty, she had to have an hourglass figure. Because of this, Monroe’s body was considered to be “ideal” and, therefore, she was beautiful. The issue with this is that women who were naturally thinner were considered to be less attractive which is most certainly unfair. It is their natural frame, something they were born with, something that is not subject to change because society wants it to. Even though, at one time, curvy was beautiful, in recent times, this has not been the case. The ever-so-fickle beauty standards set by society have actually switched. Skinny is pretty, and curvy is not preferred by most. For example, in the early 2000’s, having a big butt was thought to fat, and girls with eating disorders were praised for having their ribs show. From corsets to heels, from makeup to photoshop, the fashion industry has been pushing for one standard of beauty. Some women go as far as using plastic surgery as a way to put an end to their insecurities and fit into the mold that is “beauty”. The typical model wears a size zero or two, and ranges from 5’ 8” to 5’ 11”. Any girl who does not fit these requirements is recommended to be a plus-sized model, even though they may be a size six. But what kind of picture is this painting for women who are actually plus sized? To add onto the stigma that women should be skinny, magazines and other media outlets photoshop their pictures in order to make models appear “perfect”. Teenage girls are constantly being exposed to one standard of beauty, feeling they should look like the models they see on magazine covers, even though that is not how the models really look. However, celebrities like Zendaya are starting to speak out against the use of photoshop, and some even demand it not be used on their photos. These celebrities’ images are being edited without their knowledge or consent, and they aren’t having it. Celebrities like Zendaya, Lorde, and Kate Winslet even released the original, untouched images and embraced their flaws.

Flaws are beautiful and unique. Hiding them away because they aren’t your definition of perfect is just wrong. This toxicity starts young, little girls who play with Barbies are unknowingly being molded to consider her body type to be beautiful. However, as the years pass, we can observe a shift in what the media produces. Mattel, who produces Barbies, somewhat recently came out with different body types, including: curvy, tall, and petite. Although this seems like a minor step in abolishing one standard of beauty, the impact is vast. Because of this, girls are being conditioned to accept and value women no matter their body type. Now, there is more than one standard of beauty; because now, kids do not have to grow up thinking they are not beautiful because they have curves, despite the negative connotation placed on the phrase ‘curvy’. I, myself have experienced the pressure to comply. Ever since I was little, I struggled with not fitting the ideal body type. It definitely hurt, I was constantly told to lose weight, constantly told that if I wanted men to like me, I needed to count my calories. But I can happily say that I no longer feel negatively about my body, because now I see women who resemble me on all sorts of media. And although I may not be a size zero, I love my body. Beauty standards are detrimental because they tell women that if you do not look exactly the way society wants you to, you are not worthy. There needs to be a change with these standards. Women and girls alike need to know that no matter what society says, your size does not define you, it’s just a number on those jeans that make you look great, and not looking exactly like a Victoria’s Secret Angel does not make you any lesser. We, as a society, are starting to value all types of women, whether they are thin or not, and whether or not they choose to wear makeup. Runways and magazines alike are becoming much more diverse, and prove to women that: no matter what size you are, you are beautiful.

DECEMBER 2017

F O C A L

POINTS Each issue, the editorial staff picks three issues focused on the school and gives you insight and impact in a couple quick sentences.

Skylar Laird: MoDot signs

Driving down the highway, it’s easy to get distracted by the billboards lining the side of the road - until one of these is a MoDOT sign reminding you to stay focused on the road. With their cute but helpful reminders, like “leave the tailgating at the game” or “don’t drive distrac- SQUIRREL,” MoDOT teaches road safety in a funny, memorable way that is much more effective than any tragedies that can be shoved down drivers’ throats.

Whitney Klein:

Their, there, they’re

I don’t understand how people can make it all the way to their senior or junior year in highschool and still not know the difference between “there”, “their”, and “they’re”. Is it that hard to remember? There can be a place like “over there” or “there it is” or it can be “there is this thing”. “They’re” is literally they are. And “their” is something someone owns, like their hair or their phone. IT’S NOT THAT HARD. The same thing goes for “your” and “you’re”.

Garrett Allen: Teaching dilemma

Amazing teachers inspire amazing things. But in bad cases, one or both of two things are always, always lacking — empathy and ethic. Educators of the new generation need, first and foremost, the work ethic to give kids the chance to succeed, but also the ability to put themselves in the shoes of others. Bad teachers serve to annihilate the beautiful dreams of those who could go on to change the world. Don’t be a bad teacher. Work hard. Feel with your heart. Change lives for the better.

voice

Not average

n average, one person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes. On average, each suicide intimately affects six people. On average, there are over 3,470 suicide attempts a day amongst young people in grades 9-12 in the United States. Often, suicide is talked about as a statistic, a number, something that doesn’t typically happen, and it is easy to believe this. To think of suicide as something that does not happen, at least not here. Until it does. And there is nothing average about it. And often, all that is left are questions. What is there to do? How did we not see it coming? How did no one know? Why did no one say anything? Why did no one say anything? Why didn’t they ask for help? Why? Sadly, this winds up being the case because someone didn’t think they were worthy of help, they didn’t think their situation was serious enough to tell someone. “It isn’t all the time ... Other people have it worse ... It won’t matter if I say something ...” It always matters. Always. No matter the person, no matter the situation, no matter the duration of time. Regardless of whether if it was obvious or not, whether it was something you thought was dismissable, whether or not you thought you could do anything to help. It is always something serious. It always matters. They matter, you matter, Everyone matters. Depression, anxiety, self harm, abuse, eating disorders and suicide ... these are not statistics. They are more than that. They are worthwhile, meaningful and more than a statistic. You are not a statistic. You are more than that.

Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Kids Under Twenty One: (314) 644-5886 & 1-888-644-5886 Life Crisis Services: (314) 647-4357 (HELP) & (314) 647-5959 TDD

voice

A nice guy and a jerk are in a race, the jerk wins every time- they shouldn’t.

ice guys finish last. Who wants to finish last? No one. Subsequently no one wants to be nice. This is where we, as a society, have veered in the wrong direction. We have made being nice and being treated nicely mutually exclusive. You can not have both. So you have to choose, and the fact of the matter? People will choose being treated nicely over treating others nicely every time. Why? If you are nice you are walked on. Taken advantage of. A pushover. “You have to stand up for yourself... There’s a difference between being nice and letting people take advantage of you...It’s good to Emily Mann think of others, but it is important to think of yourself too.” You can’t do this and be nice. This being standing up for yourself. This being weak. This being bad. But being nice is not bad, and this is what we should be conveying. What makes being nice seem so bad? There is no reward in being nice. I am not saying there must be an incentive, a prize for being a good person, but currently we have the opposite system in place; being nice gets you forgotten, looked over, seen as weak. You feel as if you never win, being the nice guy. So, why would you want to be the nice guy? It is similar to someone who goes into law enforcement or a medical field, in hopes of saving others and improving life for those in their community but telling them, “well at the end of the day you can’t save everyone. There is always one more person you could have saved, but you didn’t.” It becomes self defeating, as if their efforts weren’t enough. They were not enough. We as a society express the notion ‘you can’t be nice, and also stand up for yourself.’ It is time we then enforce the notion: ‘you won’t finish last just because you let others go first.’ We should stop making nice guys finish last.

DECEMBER 2017

entertain

Finals freak-out

Finals. The one word that can make teens everywhere to immediately become nervous. But, there are ways to become confident, and stay confident for any finals. Studying

W h i c h doesn’t sound the most fun, can actually be enjoyable. It all starts with the atmosphere. If you’re laying in your bed with three notecards while being distracted by your phone and not having any intentions of actually studying, chances are, not much will actually get done. However, if you have gone to your favorite coffee shop or to a library and planned on being productive, then you can probably get lots of studying done. If you have a bad mindset, then you’ll have a bad product.

Engage

This is the portion where all the studying you’ve done comes to good use. The day before finals, make sure to get a good amount of sleep. If you’re running on three hours of sleep and drifting off every other minute during a test, it’ll be difficult to focus and get a good grade and pass. Also, eat a good meal before coming to school When it comes time to the actual test, be sure to mentally review what you’ve been studying before taking the test, so that you can perform to your best abilities for those semester finals.

Relax

It’s very difficult to become confident on something you’ve spent every second of every day freaking out about, so relax a little bit. After you’ve spent so much time studying and preparing using study guides, a small break is deserved. Small being the key word. You don’t want to have a habit of studying for five minutes, and then relaxing for 30. A good studying session usually consists of 2, 30-minute to 1-hour sessions of studying and taking short 5- to 10-minute breaks in between. Also, reward yourself! Buy yourself a coffee,

Cram

Another option for a good studying place would be Cram Central, which occurs in the FHC library during finals (Dec. 18-19), would allow anyone who works better with other people or teachers to study efficiently. Also, a “relaxation room” is put into place so that you can keep a good study pattern during your finals studying.

DECEMBER 2017

entertain

Stocking horoscopes What you could be receiving this year based on your Zodiac sign Aries:

Libra:

Taurus:

Scorpio:

Gemini:

Sagittarius:

Cancer:

Capricorn:

Leo:

Aquarius:

As an Aries, you tend to seek adventure and will do whatever you can to fill your need for an adrenaline rush which also doubles as an energy-release tactic. Stocking stuffers: Earbuds, camera, sporting event tickets, water bottle

Taurus’ are so focused on others, you forget to treat yourselves sometimes. This Christmas should help to divert you from being so generous all of the time and give you some time for yourself. Stocking stuffers: Candles, bath bomb/soap, calligraphy kit, pocket warmers

Oh, the dreamers! Yes, you are probably overwhelmed with excitement for this holiday season. And you should be, as long is you are able to shield your restlessness for a little while longer. Stocking stuffers: Dream catcher, sketch-pad, book, pens

Your kind soul will finally get a chance to direct your attention towards yourself rather than others’ this Christmas, and your desire for warmth and comfort will be satisfied Stocking stuffers: Warm gloves, book, candle, body spray

Hands down, you Leos are the most confident, outgoing characters out of the signs. You love being noticed, so this holiday season, expect something that will help you to stand out Stocking stuffers: Fun sunglasses, bling ring/necklace, concert tickets

Virgo:

What would we do without Virgos? You guys keep us all on track with your reliable brains. To help you to keep your stuff in order (they way you like it), expect some gifts to help you stay organized. Stocking stuffers: Planner/organizer, calendar, coloring book

Don’t worry, we’ve all noticed how hospitable you guys are, and we love it. So this year, make room for some more meaningful, comforting gifts. Stocking stuffers: Candle, small picture frames, snowglobe

Scorpios love mystery, so that’s just what you’ll get. Your suspenseful, spooky nature will definitely be reflected by your stocking stuffers this year. Stocking stuffers: Dark sunglasses, scary movie, tarot cards, gift

Sagittarius’ love traveling and exploring. This Christmas will prepare you to have the most eventful 2018 possible. Stocking stuffers: Plane tickets, informative books, wallet

Capricorn are all about loyalty and conservation. After helping other and gifting your friends expect some gifts of relaxation of your own. Stocking stuffers: Cozy slippers, hot cocoa kit, body spray

Aquarius’ love to laugh, and they love things that have meaning. When looking into your stocking Christmas morning, you will most definitely find something that will make you smile. Stocking stuffers: Comedy club tickets, souvenirs, watch

Pisces:

Pisces are all about sentiment. Gifts made from the heart are sure to smile on your face this Christmas, Stocking stuffers: Gifts that give back, handmade natural creations

*NOTE: These are all assuming you are on the “Nice List” this year. Being placed on the “Naughty List” will result in coal, no matter what sign you are.*

DECEMBER 2017

focus

2017-18 YEARBOOK FORM

FHC, SAY WHAT?!?!

Reserve your copy of the 2017-18 yearbook at registration. Cost of the book is now $50. You can also order the book online: www.jostens.com (this goes live on July 25)

Order form for the 2017-18 yearbook

Grade: ____

Date:________

Cash: ____

Check#_____ All checks must be made payable to FHC Publications

RECEIPT

The price of the yearbook will be $50 until Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. After that date, the price will rise to $65 until the end of the school year. Staff signature:

GET YOUR YEARBOOK FOR FREE!! FHC Publications has partnered with Club’s Choice to give FHC students the chance to earn a free yearbook. Sell 15 tubs of cookie dough and you’ll get your 2017-18 copy of the Odyssey for free. Order forms are available at our table at summer registration DEADLINES Order forms to Rm. 139: August 28, 2017 Cookie pick-up: Sept. 28, 2017 in room 139 2:30-5p

Name: _________________________________________

RECEIPT

____________________ REMINDER: All high school yearbooks are delivered at summer registration for the following school year.

Collect all money/ checks (made out to FHC Publications) at the time of order. Money is due when order forms are turned in. Questions? matthew.schott@ fhsdschools.org 636.851.5636 Room 139 @FHC