March 2018 edition

central

FOCUS VOLUME 21, ISSUE 5, MARCH 2018 FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

LIFE

Is dating in high school worth it?

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MARCH 2018

ABOUT

DEAR READERS,

STAFF

We here at the Central Focus are not unfamiliar with relationships and all their ups and downs. Between classes, extracurriculars, jobs, and worrying about the future, though, a question arises: is it worth it? In this issue, we take a look at what causes high schoolers to date from biological, psychological, and emotional perspectives and how it impacts them, whether that be in a positive way, giving students the opportunity to express themselves, or in a negative way, causing extra stress on top of an already overwhelming workload. Despite the pros and cons, it’s ultimately up to the students to decide if having a relationship in high school is worthwhile.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Skylar Laird & Emily Mann & Belen Herrera WEB EDITOR: Liz Baker DISCOVER EDITOR: Garrett Allen FEATURE EDITOR: Lanie Sanders 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, Annalise Davis, Gillian Pendel, Megan Percy, Lanie Sanders, PJ Sheehan,

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

FHCtoday.com is the online home of FHC Publications and serves as a hub for all of our breaking news, photography and video work. For all you need to know about the FHC community, head to FHCtoday.com

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GREEN THUMB: Growing a garden can have a beneficial impact on mental and physical health, making gardening a worthwhile hobby. The necessary tools and benefits can be found on page 30.

MARCH 2018

content

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DISCOVER

Graduating early ... 4

A group of juniors have earned all the necessary credits to move on to college

Biliterate ... 5

Missouri is introducing the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy for foreign languages

Lunch heroes ... 6

A new program has been put in place to help students pay off lunch money debts

Eco-friendly ... 7

A how-to on what little things students can do to stay green FEATURE

Across the seas ... 9

The school sanctions trips to different countries, developing students’ skills

A coach and his player ... 10-11

Senior Sam Davis found a father figure in his football coach, Coach Malach Radigan

Stuck at home ... 12

What exactly homebound is and how it impacts students and teachers HEROIC: A lunch lady checks out students buying lunch in the cafeteria. The district is implementing a new program called Lunch Heroes, which helps students resolve lunch money debts. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

Weight of the world ... 13

Zach Miller excels in academics and running track despite hardships FOCUS

Learning of love ... 14-17

GROWTH: In a field of academics, extracurriculars, work, and other activities, it becomes easier to forget to take care of oneself.

Emily Mann emphasizes the significance of self-care on page 29. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY EMILY MANN

The science behind falling in love and what love really means

Better together ... 18-19

Those in relationships and those not weigh in on whether it’s worth it

Unconventional ... 20-21

High school relationships exist outside of typical boy-girl pairings MOVE

Lifting weights ... 23

Taking a weightlifting class can have multiple benefits for students

Ranch vs Yolked ... 24

A closer look at the teams that arose with the recreational soccer phenomenon

Is it a sport? ... 25

Athletes weigh in on what they believe constitutes a sport and what qualifies VOICE

Dangers of dieting ... 27

Diet culture has become harmful and damaging, especially for young girls

More than a statistic ... 28

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

Put yourself first ... 29

With the pressure to be perfect, the importance of self-care gets lost

FUTURE PHYSICIST: Zach Miller completes a problem in his AP Physics 2 class. Miller plans to become an astrophysicist despite hardships at home and in his social life. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

STRONGMAN: Advanced Weight Training student, Austin Thompson, practices strength training during class. This and the other weight training classes offer a multitude of benefits for those who take them. PHOTO

BY JULIET FUHRMANN

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MARCH 2018

DISCOVER

Early, or not too early

LEAPING INTO LIFE: For some students, graduation fits best in their lives when done a semester early.

The process, while not as difficult as it may seem, is a rare choice among students, the majority of whom decide to work through the last day of the year.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BELÈN HERRERA

Most students end their four-year careers in May; some take a detour

By Chloe Bockhorst

21

students graduated this December

17

plan or planned to go to college

2

have joined the military

Staff reporter The number of years left in school is down to single digits for high schoolers, and it’s difficult to be patient while wrapping up the last years of required education.

The option of early graduation is pondered by plenty of students but how many of us will actually go through with it? When the choice is presented, many students balk for a reason - they want to enjoy every experience presented to them in high school, like dances or clubs or sports.

However, there are a few students who choose to accelerate their education in hopes of leaving earlier than their peers. Junior Reese McLaughlin is one of the students who chose to go through with graduating early in the class of 2018.

For her, graduating early is a step to bringing adulthood closer.

“I’m really excited to get out of high school and grow up and be more independent, and when I heard I was able to [graduate early], it stuck in my mind.” McLaughlin said.

Those who do graduate early share a similar mindset. For them, the unanimous student anticipation of leaving school is stronger, and fueled by wanting to start their life as an adult sooner rather than later. Every exciting event to be experienced

in high school loses its appeal in light of the future. To McLaughlin, it’s a matter of whether or not the student is ready to trade high school experiences for adulthood.

“I think people have the misconception that I’m missing out on the high school experience, but high school isn’t as important to some people, and I feel like if you’ve outgrown it, then you’ve outgrown it.” McLaughlin said The experiences she will miss in high school are thought of as something that will never be experienced again, and only so many times while in high school.

When students who are graduating early are asked about what they miss, most people ask about school dances, especially prom.

For students graduating early, they would rather trade experiences as a teenager for more experience as an adult - but for other students, they choose not to graduate because of their love for what they’ve experienced in high school.

Junior Laurel Ammond is in multiple AP classes, including AP Calculus. In spite of the number of accelerated classes she is in, she has chosen to stay for all four years because of her love for marching band.

“I chose not to graduate early because I’m in the band program and I really enjoy being with the

band and playing an instrument, so I wanted to stay with that for another year. I also just really enjoy being at Francis Howell Central.” Ammond said.

Her reasoning is shared by those dedicated to their extracurriculars of choice. What classes could be done in college are instead taken in high school because of their love of what their involved in. Those not involved in a club or sport are more likely to graduate early; counselor Kris Miller notes that the focus of students wanting to graduate early is how much quicker they can get through their education.

“Most are anxious to get a head start on college or a career.” Miller said. As the number of students taking AP classes increase, so does the number of those graduating early. The process of graduating early is simple: one fills out a form for their 7th and 8th semester, gives it to their counselor, who in turn gives to the principal. Most, if not all, are accepted.

“There is not a set deadline but we ask students to complete the paperwork as soon as possible during the semester/year they would like to graduate. I encourage my students to get it done as soon as possible to make sure they give sufficient time to get the necessary approval signatures.” Mr. Miller said.

DISCOVER

MARCH 2018

International voices Foreign language students able to recieve Seal of Biliteracy at graduation

By Bella Davis

This test is not just for those who take another Staff reporter language at school. Getting the seal is a big deal, In a classroom, a student either interjects or according to Ms. Crain. interrupts a teacher’s lecture with their hand “This is a huge deal for language learners in raised asking, “When will I ever use this?” general, as well as those who already speak a There is a new answer to this question in the second language,” Ms. Crain said. “It just puts that foreign language department. It is the Seal of official stamp on it.”

Biliteracy. Now on top of knowing a language and Furthermore, it makes a student different from working so hard to get that work done, there are the status quo of English speakers. For many opportunities to put all of that knowledge into seniors in a level IV language class, the Seal of play. The Seal of Biliteracy is an honorable award Biliteracy is just one test and EOC score away. given to students who prove to be proficient or Students have unique reasons why they take a advanced in two or more languages. This has the language, but for those who want to be awarded ability to change the educative life of those who with the seal are taking their classes for different choose to put in the hard work in order to finally reasons. Some, like senior Dianni Guerra, have obtain an award that will ultimately set them been working hard just to receive this award. drastically apart.

“It helps for whenever I am finding a job,” Guerra A large number of students take a world said. “Since I am going to be a translator, I think language just to get the that it will look good and credit out of the way, often definitely help me in the doing it through Spanish future.” because it is a common There can be more language, or because opportunities for jobs everyone else is taking it. when there is an alternative What most people do language involved. This can not think about is that be true almost anywhere, there are many languages and doing something that are just as interesting now will insure that. As and can open just as many soon as students began doors. Mrs. Caitlin Crain, to find out about the Seal Spanish teacher, really of Biliteracy, they began stresses the importance of to rethink taking only two taking advantage of such a years of a language. Junior big opportunity like this.

Jada Tabb thinks that this “It is something that honorable award can be is incredible, because extremely effective. people can just show what “I think in the future, I they know and it is not -French teacher, Amy Roznos would have continued to dependent on one test take my language because or just one thing, which it would have made things I think is really cool,” Mrs. way easier,” Tabb said. “It Crain said. would look really good on my diploma and open Learning a language in one’s educational career more doors than I have now.” has the potential to open many doors for a future Knowing this could improve further education profession that one may have their sights set on. and create a great reputation with future Those who are interested in getting this award employers, students should be informed about might first ask how this can be achieved or awards like this that could have great impact. earned.

“We are working on getting it all said and done There is more than one way to acquire the seal, and rolling it out hopefully by the end of this week, according to French teacher Ms. Amy Roznos. if not next week,” Mrs. Crain said. “We are going to Before you can test in another language, one start testing in April and the Seal of Biliteracy will must prove that they are first proficient in English. be available to seniors, which is huge.”

“You can either use your EOC scores or your ACT Getting the Seal of Biliteracy is now a reality scores for the English section,” Ms. Roznos said. and is in full swing. It is available for anyone, even “This is because you will need to prove that you are seniors who are graduating in just a few months. just as good in English versus your other language.”

“Our world is becoming more connected on This can be different for different people, and the daily,” Ms. Roznos said. “You are literally a the board for the seal knows this; they know click of a button away from people all around that people express their knowledge differently. the world who speak different languages.”

“

Adoption date: Oct. 16, 2017 Top four Languages Spoken in Missouri Homes Spanish: 2.6 percent German: 0.4 percent Chinese: 0.3 percent

You are literally a

French: 0.3 percent

click of a button

Source: Missouri Economy.org

away from people

all around the world who speak different languages.”

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MARCH 2018

DISCOVER

Saving stomachs Lunch Heroes program contributes to indebted students

LUNCHTIME LANGUISH : A student buys lunch for their midday mealtime. The Lunch Hereos program has been created to help out these students in need using donations from community members.

Within the Francis Howell School District, there is a $19,000 debt spread across 2,100 students. PHOTO BY BELÈN HERRERA

Fast food facts - 13 million students go to school hungry everyday - One in five children live in food insecure households - 22 million students currently rely on the free or reduced price lunches, and half that number relies on free and reduced price breakfast - 5 out of 6 students who rely on fre and reduced price lunch do not recieve meals over the summer Sources: The Washington Post , 2017, No Kid Hungry, 2016

By Megan Percy

Staff reporter Every weekday at lunch, hundreds of students buy lunch from the school cafeteria. They squeeze into an assembly line of young adults to cure their hunger.

But within the rhythm of purchasing and consuming are those who struggle to do either, and end up with empty mouths when the bell rings, a problem that can affect them physically, emotionally, and mentally throughout the day. The Lunch Heroes program was created to tackle this problem, according to FHSD Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Supple.

“Our principals, counselors and PTOs have, for some time, worked quietly to support families who might be struggling financially, be it due to short or long-term circumstances,” Supple said. “The Lunch Heroes program affords the greater Francis Howell community the opportunity to help in this effort by making donations to support students when they no longer have sufficient funds in their accounts to pay for meals.”

Lunch Heroes operates as a way for community members to donate to the students with outstanding debts.

According to Principal Sonny Arnel, it’s a collective effort among the staff, to not only divert the funds where they need to go, but help find the best solution for each student.

“I work with principals and counselors, we work with students and make sure their needs are being met,” Dr. Arnel said.

“We try to support families so we can decide to take money that was donated for that purpose and pay student lunch

accounts down, to insure our kiddos can eat.”

Other possible solutions for kids in need of meals lie in other programs the school utilizes, such as the free and reduced price lunch program.

“Oftentimes, we have a free and reduced price process, a federally funded program. Students fill out paperwork, verify it through tax records and income records, and that is supplemented and supported through the federal government. Our cafeteria is a part of that program,” Dr. Arnel said. “So our students apply for and meet the need, and, as a result of that, they get reduced prices or free prices in the cafeteria.”

Another option many students use is the Backpack program, overseen by educational support counselor Shannon Harting.

“Operation Backpack is a program sponsored by Harvester Christian Church where the church brings food in every week that is distributed to students,” Mrs. Harting said. “Students who would benefit from having a bit of food provided each week can fill out a form and take food home each Friday.”

However, a recurring issue is the lack of a voice students have when it comes to their financial debt, making it hard to insure their ability to get food.

“Students get frustrated and embarrassed when they have lunch debt,” Mrs. Harting said. “Sometimes the family does not have money for lunch, and needs assistance paying for lunch.”

Some students, however, do not

qualify for the free or reduced price lunch meals, but also do not have the funds to give themselves a meal.

“So, sometimes kids… maybe don’t qualify for that program, but still have financial need, and that puts them [in] a crunch,” Dr. Arnel said. “Our cafeteria used to allow students to have multiple owed lunches until it reached a certain point and they had to pay. But then that brought up the problem of the young people not being able to eat lunch, which is never ever a good thing.”

This is where the Lunch Heroes program steps in. It doesn’t require paperwork to be filled out, and the school support is able to come to the kids in need instead of them having to reach out themselves first. Hopefully alleviating this problem will not only ease stress on students, but also on Sodexo, the cafeteria company FHSD employs, who the lunch debt affects more directly.

“It puts a strain on their ability to meet [the] bottom line. Those programs are non-for-profit organizations that help kids, so they can make salaries and pay workers, but they are not to have vast amounts of money,” Dr. Arnel said. “If there’s a large amount of debt, it can hurt the service we get, it can hurt the quality of the company we work with, it could lead to bigger problems.”

Though still a new program, only a month old, it has so far already managed to raise $355.00, as of Feb. 7, for the debt that is currently at $19,000 amongst 2,100 FHSD students, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

DISCOVER

MARCH 2018

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By Emily Mann CO-Editor In Chief

When possible, walk or ride your bike in order to avoid carbon emissions completely. Carpooling and public transportation drastically reduc CO2 emissions by spreading them out over many riders.

Reducing leakages in the oil and gas industries can cut emissions in half. This reduction amounts to 32-37 million metric tons of methane, which measures to more than 130 million metric tons of cardon dioxide.

Make energy efficient choices in order to elminate energy usage; products bearing the ENERGY STAR labelare recognized for having superior efficiency. It is important to turn off lights you are not using.

A lot of energy and aresources goes into raising and processing meat, along with a large amount of greenhouse gases. It has been estimated that 13% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions result from the production and transport of food

“

It is important to create an eco-friendly environment because this is our home, the only earth we have.�

- Mrs. Kellie Staback

Sources: https://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/#food, http://www.footprintcalculator.org/signup, https://www.nrdc.org/experts/vignesh-gowrishankar/reducing-natural-gas-leakage-protect-environmenteasy-do-saves-money

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MARCH 2018

DISCOVER

SAY WHAT?!?!?!

You haven’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 year ends. The price is $65 and books are on sale until the final day of school.

MARCH 2018

feature

Overseas odysseys International trips are vital to learning about other cultures

2018 trips Bulva, Shockley, LaRue, Young: Ireland and Scotland Eiswirth, LaMartina: Ireland Roznos: Northern France Crain: Peru Switzer: Beijing Maxwell, Reed: Costa Rica

2019 trips Crowell: Costa Rica Eiswirth, Schott, LaMartina: Greece Crain: Panama Roznos: Amsterdam, Belgium, France Shockley, LaRue, Bulva, Bear, Young: Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France Maxwell: Belize

Catherine Analla

Staff Reporter Waking up in the Amazon Jungle, hearing the sounds of birds and animals, getting the chance to see the way people live outside of the USa learning experience like no other.

Spanish teacher Mrs. Caitlin Crain, took students on a trip to Ecuador in the summer of 2017, and had an experience unlike any other learning experience that teachers could teach with their students inside of a classroom.

“I really wanted something that had service learning, which is a huge component of all the trips that I take, and that was a big motivator,” Mrs. Crain said.

English teacher Mrs. Patricia Shockley also chose to go on trips outside of the country because of the impact they had on her students in previous years. Her most recent trip with students was to Italy. In the past, she’s taken trips to places such as England and Paris.

“With teaching AP Lit, I had some students that were interested in going over to England, especially since we read a lot of British literature,” Mrs. Shockley said. With the first trip she and her students went on, it was the beginning of many more trips, due to the amount of positive feedback from them.

Teachers like Mrs. Shockley and Mrs. Crain who have travelled with students believe that it’s beneficial to the teen’s exploration abilities as well as independence for themselves as a life skill.

“I think that all of the students grew as individuals on the trip,” Mrs. Crain said.

“And then they also opened their eyes to a different way of living. It’s extremely important to go to new places and see new things. When we went [to Ecuador],

I just saw a lot of changes in them, and how just being in a different culture atmosphere actually just broadened their horizons, and it actually caused them to become more independent throughout the week we were there,” she said.

“It’s like your first semester of college,” Mrs. Shockley said, “to try and get out of their own comfort zone and have to travel with a group of other people.”

Students also have had positive experiences from trips outside of the country, from becoming independent to a realization of how people around the world live.

Junior Emma Larivee went on the trip to Ecuador with Mrs. Crain, which had quite an impact on her. Her reasoning to take Mrs. Crain’s offer on the trip was for a much bigger reason than just because she thought it would be fun.

“It’s my dream to be a teacher in another country, so I thought it was important to go and experience that first-hand- I learned so much. Meeting with the people was very humbling, because they didn’t really have much, so it kind of taught me my place in the world ,”Larivee said.

Senior Abigail Green, who went to Italy with Mrs. Shockley, feels that through Mrs. Shockley’s organization of the event and planning the year before, she allowed for students to be able to prep for the trip and be ready for when the time came.

“She made it super organized, and she talked about it the spring before,” Green said, “so it gave me the opportunity to plan it out and talk to my parents about it and save [for the trip]- she did it the whole school year before.”

The trips had been previously planned meticulously by the teachers so that when the time came, they

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LEAN IN: Students visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, while taking photos to capture the moment.

Over the past several years, the number of teachers who take students on international trips has grown quite a lot; over the next two summers, 12 different trips are planned to Europe or South and Central America.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA SHOCKLEY

had days packed with activities. “[The students were] busy. We get up at about 7 o’clock in the morning, have breakfast, and start touring, we’ll be in the city, and we will see just as many sights as possible, so it’s one place after another. It’s fast-paced, there is some free time built in the trip, but not a lot, which is a good thing,” Mrs. Shockley said.

“We got there midday so we took a bus to our first sight, and we had flown for ten or whatever hours,” Green said. “None of us had slept or showered or anything, so everyone was really cranky.”

Although the trips consist mostly of constant travelling with tours and sightseeing, students get time that allows for them to roam around and explore the country on their own, seeing what they’d like to see.

“Usually around lunchtime they’d give us a few hours to walk around on our own, which was really fun,” Green said. “They would even give us free time at night, they said you could go out and get ice cream or something, so me and my friends would go and do that.”

Mrs. Shockley agreed with the amount of free time the students had, and how it benefited them.

“Free time like that allows people to go do things that interest them more,” Mrs. Shockley said. “They’re out of the country and they have to be dependent upon themselves and not someone else to take care of them.”

“I feel like it was really fun, just because I feel like you could kind of split off and do your own thing, whereas with your family, I feel like you’d be with then twenty fourseven- so I feel like you kind of had more freedom, just being with your friends,” Green said.

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MARCH 2018

MAKING A DIFFERNCE: In addition to working out and working on their faith together, Sam also is a teacher’s aid for one of Coach Malach Radigan’s freshman gym classes. Together they help to educate younger students on the benefits of working out and of a proper diet. This has shown Sam a possible career path in sports nutrition. Being mentored in a way has revealed many different paths for his life to go down, and he welcomes them all.

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

feature

Building a bond

A new football coach forever changed one senior’s life

By Justin Hedrick

As Davis gave the bags to another coach, Coach Staff reporter Radigan overheard a conversation between the two One of the most important bonds a person can of them. What he heard brought up his own past: have in life is with their parent. They look to them the other coach asked if Davis still talked to his dad. for everything, guidance on how to live, act, talk, “Sam’s response was ‘no’. Immediately, that work, and lastly, how to believe. For some, like Sam broke my heart because my dad walked out on Davis, they don’t have both parents in their lives, us when I was little and already it brought back placing an extreme pressure on them to discover those emotions, that feeling,” Coach Radigan said. who they are from two sources: themselves and Knowing what it was like to go through such a those they surround themselves with. For many, struggle, Coach Radigan knew that he needed to the identity struggle in high school is excruciating do something to help his player. even with two parents.

“That day, I shot Sam an encouraging text just to For those with just say ‘Hey, that broke one, the struggle is my heart to hear you almost impossible say you don’t talk to to navigate. your dad. I’ve been Sam Davis, a senior, there before. I want had family problems to let you know you and had been are a special young completely cut off man. You are a game from his father, changer. You are the leaving him on his epitome of what we own in terms of a want our program to male role model. be based off of and if Going into his senior your dad was around, season of football and he’d be extremely - senior Sam Davis senior year of school, proud of you,’” Coach he had really no clue Radigan said. what to do about his Even though direction in life, but with the help of an adult who it was not in any way expected or required of knew the struggles which he was dealing with, he him, Coach Radigan did it anyway because has found a new sense of direction. he knew, coming from a similar situation, that One July day, workouts had just finished, and Davis really needed someone looking out for the seniors were bringing up the new equipment him. Coach Radigan’s father left his family bags that had been purchased for the team. Always at a young age, and growing up was difficult one to volunteer, Davis brought the last of the bags with one parent caring for multiple siblings. into the equipment shed. Coach Malach Radigan Davis was excited to start working with an was standing in the shed with the other coaches. extremely intense coach in workouts, and was

“I don’t think I would’ve gotten serious in my faith at all if it hadn’t been for him because he invited me to church one night, and I had never been to church before.”

even more excited to have him as a linebacker coach. Going into his senior year, he needed a lot of support, but wasn’t expecting what he got, nor was he expecting who he got it from.

“Because we both come from a similar situation, with an absent parent, he has gone through some of the issues I’ve been through this year. We are able to relate on that kind of level,” Davis said. “He has helped me by being a role model that I have never really had in life,” “He has [impacted my life] in a lot of ways: as an athlete, how to be a better athlete through work ethic and certain workouts.

He has taught me specific things, or more important things like how to be a better person, and helping me through my walk with my faith.”

One day, Coach Radigan, an FCA huddle coach, invited all members of the team to go to FCA with him, and Davis decided to try it. Davis, a believer who had never been to church before, decided to go. He attended the meeting and really felt a connection.

After that, he started to get serious in his faith.

“I don’t think I would’ve gotten serious in my faith at all if it hadn’t been for him because he invited me to church one night, and I had never been to church before, so I can attribute where I am in my faith right now to him,” Davis said.

Five or six days a week, they work out together in order to get ready for college, but they also go to church twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays “Exposing me to church and taking me to church was the most important thing he’s done for me,” Davis said.

However, Davis isn’t the only one who has benefitted from the friendship that the two have developed. Coach Radigan has learned a lot a lot himself and has really been able to do what he has always wanted: positively influence kids “Helping Sam has reminded me why I’m doing

MARCH 2018

feature

Top

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Cereals

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As everyone knows, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the way someone spend that breakfast sets the mood of their entire day.

1. Froot Loops

While the spelling may be off, the taste is on.

With delicious fruity flavor and equally fruity colors, each morning is sure to be great with this tasty wake-up call.

2. Trix

Like Cap’n Crunch without the corn flakes, the sugary berry taste is a great start to a day. The unfortunate thing is how along with milk, the cereal can get soggy very quickly.

3. Fruity Pebbles

If Rice Krispies had flavor, this would be that cereal. The multi flavored crisps are sure to make you say “Yaba Daba Doo!” THE EXTRA MILE At 5 a.m. every morning, Davis and Coach Malach Radigan opens the weight room to better themselves. Instead of just doing what everyone else does, Davis and Coach Radigan do extra, sixs days a week they work out together. They have developed a mutual trust that the other one will push them to be the best they can be. PHOTOS BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

4. Quisps

An old cereal, but it’s finally back for more. Tasty corn flakes that are sprinkled with just the right amount of sugar.

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch

The name explains it all. Cinnamon and sugar, along with a nice crunchy wheat flake toasted to perfection. what I’m doing,” Coach Radigan said “I became a coach because I wanted to influence lives, I became a teacher because I wanted a bigger audience to do so. It has taught me my purpose, shown me why I’m here and what my real purpose is, and yes, it is to be an educator, to be a coach, but ultimately I want to influence lives.”

Coach Radigan knows first hand what it is like or a teacher to influence lives, and it has affected him quite a bit in his mission for teaching. When he was in high school, he had never been exposed to Christianity. A teacher at Francis Howell High School, Mr. Cissell, lead him to God, and helped him in many of the ways that he is in turn helping Davis.

“Darren Cissell at Howell is the reason I’m teaching,” said Coach Radigan, who is in his first year teaching at Central. “God used him to lead me to Christ. I’m not saying I’m doing that for Sam, but because of what Darren did for me, that’s why I’m intentional in my relationships, that’s why I care for these kids; I pray for them outside of school, and so, in a sense, I’m trying. It’s not like I’m like, ‘how can I help someone like Cissell helped me?’ It’s that I’m going through my life saying ‘How can I help influence someone’s life?

How can I be a positive influence in someone’s life and encourage them and motivate them?’”

Davis has taken all of the things Coach Radigan has tried to help him with to heart. He is now more serious in his faith and tries to emulate everything he has learned with everything in his life. He is extremely excited and interested in God and wants to learn as

much as possible, something that may have never happened if he hadn’t met Coach Radigan.

“It’s all because of him, because he spurred it for me,” said Davis. “He’s the catalyst for what happened.

There are a lot [of lasting impacts]; the biggest thing is in my faith, trying to be a better person and trying to be a servant leader and to glorify God in everything I do.”

The excitement and desire Davis has to learn more about God and to try and serve him, that was initiated by Coach Radigan, has in turn inspired Coach Radigan to change how he views his own faith.

“The eagerness of him wanting to know more about who God is, that’s been so beneficial to me,” said Coach Radigan, “because it gives me that excitement for me to still continue to learn who God is.”

Over the course of the last eight months, Davis and Coach Radigan, have done so much more than simply interact during the football season. Because of Coach Radigan’s desire to help kids better their lives lives, he was able to create a lasting impression on a young man who was in need of direction.

However, because of Sams eagerness to learn about God and his good attitude and caring nature, he has been able to make a lasting impact on the lives of Coach Radigan and his family. Had Davis not possessed the work ethic and leadership traits that distinguished him on the field, he may have never had the interaction with Coach Radigan that hot July day in the equipment shed that marked the start of a journey that would benefit the lives of both of them.

“I became a coach because I wanted to influence lives, I became a teacher because I wanted a bigger audience to do so.”

- Coach Radigan

6. Cap’n Crunch

Along with most on the list, this corn and oat flake cereal with the occasional berry flavor is sure to get you ready for your day.

7. Frosted Flakes

While the sugary corn flakes are sure to give a great flavor, the same type of cereal can get old over time.

8. Lucky Charms

Although the marshmallows may be dry and contain mostly sugar, the differing taste of marshmallow and oats gives an even flavor that won’t get stale.

9. Honey Nut Cheerios

With a tasty honey flavor and healthy cholesterol reducing ingredients, this cereal is a good start to feeling good all throughout the day.

10. Cookie Crisp

While the idea of cookies for breakfast may be appetizing, the crisps are more dry than normal, even along with milk.

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feature

Shedding light on Homebound

Teacher Laurie Penuel provides an understanding of the Homebound program

Q . What is the official name of the program?

A. Homebound.

Q. What does this program do?

A. This program allows students to remain

in good standing (attendance) with school even though they cannot make it [to the school] for various reasons.

Q. What kind of student is this program

designed to help?

A. Students who are experiencing some sort of medical issue.

Q. How did you get involved in the program?

A. Mrs. Davis, the principal who oversees Homebound for FHC, brought the program to my attention.

Q. What does the program involve on the NO TRADITIONAL TEACHER; In the photo above Mrs. Laurie Penuel sits with junior Mason Thode in her classroom. Mrs. Penuel is a homebound program advisor who helps homebound students like Thode recieve a public education even though they may not physically attend classes everyday. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

N

ot to be confused with homeschooled kids, the difference between being a homebound student

and being homeschooled is that parents of homeschooled kids are completely responsible for their child’s education whereas homebound students are still members of the public school system. The Homebound program is special in that it allows parents to take advantage of the public school system while still allowing for their child’s unique medical needs.

behalf of the students? Teachers?

A. The program requires students to meet with their Homebound teacher each week in order to stay current on their studies. It requires teachers of the student’s schedule to ensure the Homebound teacher receives the work that goes on in their courses.

Q. What are the benefits and drawbacks of

the program?

A. [Some benefits are that] students are able to stay current on their courses.

Drawbacks for students are that] students are not in the classes which is where a large majority of the real learning takes place; [drawbacks for teachers are that] it’s cumbersome for teachers to set aside work, receive work at various intervals/late, etc.

Q. When are the students here at FHC? A. They’re not usually here. They must meet with their Homebound teacher, but that may be at a public library or school.

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feature

Trial by fire

FIXATED: Zach Miller, senior, works in the lab for his AP Physics II class. His course is the highest level of physics available in the FHSD, and he uses it to pursue a future in astrophysics, theoretical, and quantum physics research - the frontiers of the field.

PHOTO BY BELÈN HERRERA

By Garrett Allen

Discover editor Fall. The overcast Monday sky at the crack of dawn casts a shadow over his face as he closes the side door to his small house. Another one.

He lets out a breath. One half of an hour later, he walks briskly into his first classroom of the day; by the end, after four AP sessions, he is in the most challenging of them: AP Physics II. The lecture is novel and challenging, but he is unfazed. This is where his future is. I belong here.

A short time following, now in full sweats, earbuds in, he braces himself for what he has to do.

The lecture has vanished; he’s standing on the long starting line of a varsity 5000 meter cross country race. Heat. Another one. He lets out another breath. He stumbles back through his door, exhausted, long after sunset, drops his backpack, and immediately gets to work on over one and one half hours of housework. There is nobody at the house; his mom is finishing a twelve hour shift; he hasn’t seen his father for over a decade.

He wonders if this will be another month when his work savings will go toward supporting him and his mom, but the thoughts get pushed out of his head as the lecture returns - they all do - and the three hours, at least, of homework and study begin again. Sleep. Repeat.

There is no aspect of life in which Zach Miller, senior, is not challenging himself or being challenged otherwise. Hits come from all directions — academically, socially, athletically — at school and at home. For his entire life, adversity has been a constant presence. Few successes have come easily. Still, through all four years of his career, scholarship has been one of the biggest mountains.

Academia

One can easily see Miller’s tendency toward challenge in his field of focus, physics, taught for the fourteenth year by Mr. Ryan McCoy. According to Mr. McCoy, it requires a unique mind to succeed in his room.

“It’s a thinking class; there’s not a lot of facts that we learn, or even procedures like in math class,” Mr. McCoy said. “In here, it’s a lot of application — here’s the basic premise, here’s the problem, here’s what happens when you look at it in a different way. It’s just all critical thinking, all the time, every day.”

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Zach Miller overcomes challenges to secure a future in science

Under Mr. McCoy’s direction, physics has taken a centerpiece role in Miller’s rigorous academic life.

“I love learning about nuclear mechanics and astrophysics, and in AP Physics I solidified my direction toward [the field]. Physics is really interesting to me,” Miller said. “Mr. McCoy is a real baller of a teacher. He really got me to enjoy physics, taught me how to look at things and understand that reality doesn’t always work the way you think it does. That class really pushed on the path to a life in [the field].”

The struggle, though, comes largely in his course load, one demanding three hours or more of homework from him on a nightly basis. The demands and expectations of his high school career have been unrelenting.

“My course load has gotten increasingly difficult every year; my freshman year I took four honors courses and three regular courses, but every year I pushed myself to go farther,” he said. “My second year, I had four honors courses and an AP course; junior year I had two honors courses and four AP courses.”

The breadth of the AP courses has led to an enormous amount of sacrifice in his life. With his dreams in mind, all priorities fall to success in school, but the cost thereof, on the daily basis, is enormous.

“I would say that mentally it’s very tolling; it’s very taxing. There’s a lot of effort you have to put in... in ways that don’t just drain you, that don’t just make you feel like you want to give up, but in ways that actually cause pain sometimes. It’s difficult, but I just try to get through it,” he said. “It’s cost relationships with those around me…[strained] relationships with my family members. I don’t hang out with people nearly as much as I used to.”

Nevertheless, however, he tries to remain a powerhouse in the classroom, devoted more to gaining knowledge than earning numbers.

“He’s been academically involved as long as I’ve known him; he’s one of those special kids who wants to learn as much as he possibly can,”Mr. McCoy said. “He has a really good intuition about what’s going on. He always has some strategy to start off with, [and] he has the ability to just jump right in and try.”

A critical component of Miller’s daily gauntlet is far outside the realm of complicated information.

It’s racing. A four-year cross country and track runner, his experience as a student-athlete makes life both significantly easier and harder.

The trail

Of all the events in track, the least desirable on any occasion is the 3,200-meter two-mile run. The sheer length and arduousness of the race turns nearly all athletes away. Miller, however, embraces it as a test of all his abilities.

“It’s eight laps, which doesn’t sound incredibly significant until you run it; you’ll realize it’s not just a long physical task, it’s a mental task,” he said.

“You have to have the mental fortitude to be able to run it. I love it, and I do primarily because it’s so difficult.”

Perhaps none have watched Miller’s growth over the course of his academic-athletic career more than his friend Nate Limbaugh, sophomore at Missouri University of Science & Technology, prospective geology major, and past cross country and track captain. They met on the first day of Miller’s first year, fall ‘14, and have since co-authored a novel together.

“He was a rebel from the very moment I saw him; I could see his energy, a man willing to surpass any and all obstacles to get what he wanted,” Limbaugh said. “He was definitely an overachiever; he made that apparent no matter what he was doing; he was always talking about his goals, where he wanted to be.”

Miller, though, used track as his only break during the day, a time during which to see friends and let free academic pressure. It’s pushed him to grow as an athlete and a person.

“I would definitely say that my freshman year I was overly energetic and annoying, but cross country and track have [disciplined] me in a way that helps me to socialize. It’s kept me focused on why I’m pushing myself so hard in school,” Miller said. “When you have so many AP classes, and so much work to deal with, track and cross country are great ways to see my friends. It’s important that you have some way to relax, and track and cross country are exceptional ways to do that [whilst] staying productive.”

Keeping himself productive is a constant focus for Miller. He knows that when he gets home, his stressors only begin.

Continue reading Miller’s story of overcoming adversity at https://goo.gl/MjRTpP

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focus

By Kana Chung

Staff reporter When it comes to humans, one of the most whimsical and complex features is emotion. The reasoning behind why we act and feel the way we do can be a complete mystery, or so many of us believe. In all reality, researchers and psychologists have gotten a good majority of human emotions down to a science, quite literally, and human attraction is no exception. From the psychological preferences to the corresponding chemicals, the ordeal of love and relationships has been extensively studied and analyzed, especially in high school.

When analyzing human behavior, most people first turn to the brain for explanation. A thorough analysis of love in teens was published by psychologist and holder of a B.E. and M.Ed. from Harvard University as well as a Ph.D. form the University of Texas at Austin, Carl Pickhardt. In his blog “Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence” Pickhardt explained that what it comes down to is a teen’s first experience with love.

Emotionally, they’re experiencing “a depth of caring more complex and compelling than they have known before,”

Learning to love

Teachers, students, and research give insight into what love really is

as Pickhardt described it. That is, if love is what they are actually experiencing.

Statistically, no more than 15 percent of adolescents in high school actually experience this combination of sexual attraction, mutual enjoyment, emotional knowing, compatibility, commitment, consideration, physical affection, friendship, and romanticism that love totals up to.

One of the most common misconceptions teens have is confusing a crush with love.

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, love is strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties, but that definition doesn’t even begin to describe it. Its true definition varies from person to person.

Counselor Mrs. Wendy Ahearn has now been married ten years and believes love is best explained by American advice columnist Esther Pauline Lederer, better known by her pen name Ann Landers.

“I’m not a relationship expert, but Ann Landers is, so I’ll quote her: ‘Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.

It is loyalty through good and bad times,’” Mrs. Ahearn said.

But, as stated previously, there are many definitions of love. Social Studies and AP Psychology teacher Mrs. Stacey Dennigmann uses her 13 years of marriage to compile her definition.

“Everyone has their own interpretation or definition of love. There are many

TOGETHER: Like Legos, all relationships possess similar qualities of how and why they happen, though, like Legos, no two relationships are quite the same and can have similar parts mixed and matched to create unique pairings. PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS

BY EMILY MANN AND SKYLAR LAIRD

MARCH 2018

focus things that make up love. I think love is when you no longer put yourself first and are willing to make sacrifices for someone else. The other person is also willing to do this for you. You are accepting, trusting, loyal and understanding of the other person.

Lastly, a great sense of humor. You need someone who can make you laugh; this helps a lot. It is hard to be mad when you are laughing,” Mrs. Dennigmann said.

Although it may differ from those of adults, even high school students, at such a young age, have developed their own definitions of love. Sophomore Morgan Kromer already has an idea of what it is to her. “[Love is] something where people care for each other so much that they don’t really care if they’re in the wrong,” she said.

Taking into account the complexity of the word love, it makes sense that very few high school students find this magical mixture at such a young age.

This still leaves another intriguing topic a mystery: why students feel the need to date in the first place. Mrs. Dennigmann shared a psychological explanation which deals with accruing to a humanistic perspective.

“We are social creatures, we want to be part of a group, and two is a group. We want to be loved; this gives us a sense of belonging,” Mrs. Dennigmann said.

In addition, both Mrs. Dennigmann and Mrs. Ahearn agreed that they need

“IN LlOVE”: Although studies have found that only 15 percent of high schoolers have truly been in love, according to a survey by stageoflife.com, 61 percent have reported themselves as having been in love.

This can be attributed to the mistaking of lust and attraction for love.

the connection that only happens in a romantic relationship.

“We all have a need for human connection,” Mrs. Ahearn said.

Mrs. Dennigmann added additional explanation to this shared view.

“It is fun to be with someone, to hang out and share a part of ourselves,” she said.

Another one of the leading causes for teenagers’ lack of success regarding love is the fact that they might lead unhealthy relationships.

Not only do they get involved in toxic relationships, but they find themselves in the same situations they have experienced previously.

Although many promise themselves never to fall into relationships and hurtful as their last, Pickhardt says that these promises are rarely upheld. He explains that, even if subconsciously, high school students tend to revert to what is comfortable to them: what they’ve always known.

Whether it was constant arguing and verbal aggression, or actual physical abuse, many find it difficult to change the habits they’ve nurtured for so long in both romantic

“

I think love is when you no longer put yourself first and are willing to make sacrifices for someone else and the other person is also willing to do this for you. You are accepting, trusting, loyal and understanding of the other person.”

- Mrs. Stacey Dennigman

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and non-romantic relationships.

Although these sources suggest that there are many unsuccessful cases, don’t be discouraged. If you believe your significant other could be the one, don’t lose hope.

“My husband and I started dating at the end of our senior year of high school. I remember thinking it was silly because we were getting ready to go to different colleges in a few months. But now we have been married for ten years,” Mrs. Ahearn said.

Kromer provides further encouragement of this belief. She believes love can be found if the person is ready for it, even at the age of a high school student.

“I think [high school students can find love], because it doesn’t really matter if you’re older or not. I think that if you’re mature enough, you

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can. It’s not really age [that matters] it’s maturity.” Kromer said.

That’s just the mental side. On the flip side of psychological is physical and biological. There are a number of hormones involved in love, and several stages that your body experiences. Falling in love is commonly split into three stages: lust, attraction, and attachment.

Each plays a key part in finding someone who you develop strong feelings toward, and each involves a hormone or two to make it work.

In the end, however, love is more than a simple science. It’s a natural occurrence that should be taken as it comes. Extensive searching won’t always be effective. Another topic Dennigmann and Ahearn agree on: love will come when the time and pairing are right.

“Don’t change so that someone will

like you. Be yourself and you’ll find someone who likes you for you.” said Mrs. Ahearn Especially during high school, a time of discovery, relationships are not first priority.

“Advice for wanting to be in a relationship.: don’t rush having a relationship,” Mrs. Dennigman said.

“You need to enjoy high school and discover who you are and be truly happy with yourself first. You will find the right person when you are least expecting it. And when that happens, it will be amazing. Never compromise what you believe in or try to change yourself to make the relationship work; that will lead to disaster. A true and mature love will happen when you are ready for it. You don’t need to have a time table and think, ‘I need to be dating because everyone else is.’”

YOUNG LOVE: Only about two percent of all relationships are high school sweethearts, but this does not mean young relationships can not work out; high school couples who wait until they are out of high school to get married have a ten year marriage success rate of 78 percent.

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Stage Lust

MARCH 2018

Based solely on desire, there is likely no pre-developed bond with the other person in lust. Based on studies by several psychologists it takes between 90 seconds and one minute to tell if you’ve developed a romantic liking for someone.

Stage Attraction

Stage Attachment

Identified by a racing heart, fits of sweat, and terrible cottonmouth, attraction is caused by an increase in adrenaline, cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin, which make people nervous, happy, and constantly thinking about their crush.

Attachmentis what keeps couples together with oxytocin, the “love hormone” and vasopressin which create long-lasting bonds, as these are the same hormones that cause mother-child bonds.

Source: YourAmazingBrain.org

OBSESSED: In research done by Dr. Donatella Marazziti, it was discovered that serotonin levels of new lovers resembled low-level OCD patients. This causes new couples to be on each other’s minds nonstop.

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By Carlin Bippen Staff reporter

High school relationships are as common as they are questioned.

Differing views often argue the practicality of them. The added stress a relationship has the power to place on people is deemed not worth it by junior JD Salser, who believes simply putting a title on a relationship immediately creates an unnecessary tension.

“I prefer not to put labels on my relationships, especially in high school, because it becomes more complicated. It’s no more than just a label, yet it puts all of this pressure on the relationship,” Salser said.

Even with the added pressures of dating, teens often express the desire

Dating dilemma

Teenagers find time for dating among academics and activities

to have a relationship in high school.

Senior Issy Schwartz, having had experience with high school and a relationship, explains the difficulties when it comes to balancing both.

“High school is supposed to be about finding who you are and developing yourself as a person.

For me, it was harder to take part in clubs and do everything that I wanted to do in high school with a boyfriend because he becomes a part of you, and it was hard to have to pick between my relationship or the things I wanted to do in high school,” Schwartz said.

Despite the struggles of having both a relationship and a tight schedule, senior Evan Goodbody believes that both of these aspects in his life can coincide.

“Academics are very important to [my girlfriend and me]. We’re both top 25 in our class, she’s higher than me. It’s not like we’re undermining our academic performance or our athletic or extracurricular performance. A relationship is something you have to work in through there,” Goodbody

OVERWHELMED: Between heaping workloads, extracurriculars, and jobs, teenagers tend to be able to hardly find the time to relax, nonetheless maintain a relationship. Many still do, however, using high school as a time to experiment with relationships as well as discover themselves.

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said.

Senior Aleuria Alderson supports the same statement, believing that those involved in a relationship still have time to focus on themselves as well as each other. “[Extracurriculars] don’t really get in the way, because you both do your own thing and have your own high school experience. There’s still time, though, to be in a relationship,” Alderson said.

The way a relationship succeeds, or doesn’t succeed, regarding being able to care for yourself along with someone else, essentially comes down to the particular people involved.

Often times, it is easy to overestimate one’s ability to handle such situations, according to Schwartz.

“We as high schoolers are not as mature as we think we are, and not as ready for relationships as a lot of people think that we are,” Schwartz said.

Though maturity can be overestimated, it can also be met.

When the multiple responsibilities

MMARCH 2018

that go along with a relationship are acknowledged, people like Goodbody find themselves better of than they would have been alone.

“Of course growing as High school is supposed to be a person on your own is about finding who you are and important, developing yourself as a person. but I feel like Ashley, [my For me, it was harder to take part girlfriend], has in clubs and do everything that I helped me in ways that kind wanted to do in high school with a of sped up the process. boyfriend because he becomes a I’ve learned part of you, and it was hard to have things that I don’t think I to pick between the two.” would have if I hadn’t been in a relationship - senior Issy Schwartz with her,” Goodbody said. “I’ve grown a lot as a person, and that’s something I can really look back on and smile about.”

of teens say they have been in a relationship

“

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By Skylar Laird

Co-Editor in chief Walking the halls between classes, among the throngs of students, couples walk, fingers interlaced. Freshman year, now-senior Brie Ehmke was surrounded by these pairings of students, boy-girl couples, when she spotted someone across the cafeteria someone she wanted to walk hand-inhand with like the couples who walked around her in the hallway every day. The difference, though, was that Ehmke wasn’t ogling a cute boy from across the room; the girl who had caught her eye was a sophomore named Taylor Crites.

Ehmke and Crites deviate from about 96 percent of people in America, being part of the four percent who identify as not being heterosexual.

Though they’ve had their share of problems, including multiple breakups and makeups, Ehmke does not credit any of this to being a same sex couple.

“I feel like [being gay is] easier in some ways because there’s a lot of pressure in society for girls to be perfect, but in my

Atypical affection

Relationship questions extend to those in non-traditional relationships

relationship, I don’t have to be perfect, and [girls] just understand me better than high school boys would. [Boys] don’t really understand me, in a way; I don’t really feel comfortable with them, and I feel comfortable with Taylor,” she said.

Junior Emily West, though not currently in a relationship, agreed that being able to be in a relationship of her choice made her more comfortable with dating despite other challenges. “[Being gay] kind of makes [dating] harder because you have kind of a smaller pool, like less options, but it made [me] happier because I feel like I was a lot less afraid with a girl than I would have been with a guy,” she said.

For freshman Brandon Ketteman, the disadvantage of not having as many people to date was overshadowed not by a fear of being with someone of the opposite gender, but more so by the benefits of being able to fully be himself.

“The options are a lot more limited, but [since] I came out, it’s a lot easier to actually try to really do anything [datingwise] because you’re not so focused on trying to hide that part of you,” he said.

Despite the stigma associated with same-sex relationships, West used to walk through the halls every day holding hands with the girl she was dating and never encountered any kind of negativity, aside from the occasional second glances.

HIDDEN: According to the Human Rights Campaign,, only 64 percent of all non-straight youth are openly LGBT among their classmates. Hiding one’s sexuality is common among teenagers to avoid harrassment or bullying that may occur, but this does not stop LGBT students from dating.

MARCH 2018

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“I feel like [my relationship] was mostly normal [compared to] every other relationship,” she said. “I feel like we didn’t get a lot of weird looks or anything. Sometimes there were stares, but no one ever said anything nasty to us when we were holding hands in the hallway, so that was nice.”

These stares are familiar to Ketteman and Ehmke as well in their own relationships, but Ketteman, coming from the middle school, noticed a stark difference between how people used to react as opposed to how they do now.

“I feel like people think it’s a lot different than it actually is. I mean, you get weird eyes from people and stuff like that, but it’s really not that huge of a deal, no one really bats an eye at it anymore,” he said. “In middle school, it was a lot different, because in middle school, everyone is kinda focused on one thing, just trying to get to the top of the ranking, you know, so they’re gonna put other people down for stuff that they can’t really change about themselves, but in high school, it’s different because really people just stopped caring, so it’s a big stress reliever.”

West sees this contrast growing even larger once she graduates high school, believing the adult world is more accommodating to less

conventional relationships like her own, which will help erase even the minimal amount of weird looks she experiences now.

“I know there are adults who are pretty crappy about [gay relationships], but I think as you grow up and get more experience and more exposure to that kind of thing, then it becomes more normal for you,” she said. “But when you’re in high school and you’ve never kind of seen that thing before, I can kind of understand where it’s like, ‘Woah.’”

Though being in a relationship, especially a nonconventional one, has not always been easy for Ehmke, she believes it has been worth it to be able to be with her girlfriend.

“Of course it’s hard, but it’s worth it,” she said. “I know I said it’s easier, but it’s not easier… we’re used to how hard it is and we put in the effort, so it doesn’t really matter if it’s hard to us, because no matter what, we’re not going to go anywhere.”

of youth identify as LGBT

“

I feel like people think it’s a lot different than it actually is. I mean, you get weird eyes from people, but it’s really not that huge of a deal, no one really bats an eye at it anymore.”

-Freshman Brandon Ketteman

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move

Benching benefits Weight training workouts help students in myriad ways

PUSHING IT UP: Senior Jacob Grobb works his upper body by bench pressing 135 lbs. Grobb is in Intro to Weight training class and is able to get a good workout in while at school. PHOTO BY JULIET FUHRMANN

By Millennia Simmons

Entertain editor There are many elements to weight training that can be beneficial to students. For instance it reduces stress, improves health and increases muscle mass. Students wishing to venture out or try it for the first time may consider weight training as an option.

Intro to Weight Training and Advanced Weight Training are weight classes for beginners taught

by Coach Mark McAfee, Coach Raymond Howard, and Coach Malach Radigan. Students are taught the basics of weight training including how to use the machinery, properly lift weights and are given a workout to follow during the semester.

Junior Brendan Cooper enjoys this workout program because he can pick and choose which body parts to exercise each day, which also increases strength throughout the body.

“Coach Mac has a really good program; it’s a 60 70 80 90 percent so there are four phases [over a four week period], you come in and pick two body parts that are on opposite sides of your body, you do four to five workouts for each body parts, like three reps; as you go up in phases your reps go down and you go up in weight [as well],” Cooper said.

The class allows for students to also pick and choose what body parts they want to strengthen and even incorporate stretching and cardio as well. Senior Ashaad Blue starts his workout with stretching then on to lifting.

“I usually go in, stretch a little bit, get whatever muscles I’m going to work out warmed up, start off with the bench, then cycle through the rest of my workout,” Blue said.

Starting weight training or being introduced to larger weights may seem intimidating, but senior Talia Thambyrajah says not to worry! According to Thambyrajah, during weight training, you can work at your own pace and use weights and exercises that best fit you.

“Everyone is at their own level so there’s not really any judgement on how much you can lift...Not only

does it teach you how to use the equipment and use free weights and do weight training in general, but it gets you fit and gives you time in school to get fit [opposed] to taking time outside of school to do it,” Thambyrajah said.

Not only does this class get you in shape, but Coach Mark McAfee believes it also builds self esteem and positive energy to help with stress.

“With today’s society and everybody feeling bad about themselves, get in a weight room, workout, build some self esteem and feel good about yourself. I feel like that’s one of the important things you can get out of weight training: it’s going to build some self esteem, make [students] feel better about themselves so they can feel better in other aspects of their life,” he said.

Cooper agrees with Coach McAfee. He has found

weight training as a way to let off steam during the school day.

“It really helps if you’re having a bad day or something’s going wrong, you can come in here and break a sweat and get all your emotions out in a more civilized way than being upset about it, it’s good for getting stuff off your chest,” Cooper said.

Students who play sports find this class keeps them in shape between seasons and warmed up before practices. Blue has been in weight training during and outside school since his freshman year.

“I played football, so I did weights ever since I came into high school and no it wasn’t intimidating, just working out around your peers...

It’s beneficial for [students] though playing sports, gaining muscle, and just building up different muscles in the body to get ready for any sports you play,” he said.

Thambyrajah also believes that weight training has helped her during her cross country season.

Not only did she stay in shape, but found an improvement in her speed and her ability to run long distance.

“I took weight training while I was running cross country and I could definitely tell a difference in my speed and in my stability and i wouldn’t get fatigued as fast as i would running long distance but I was a lot stronger, I could tell it really helped,” she said.

Weight training may not be for everyone but no matter which route of fitness students choose, Coach McAfee encourages them to get active and try new techniques.

“The most important thing is [students] find something they like,for some kids that’s hard but try different things so they can find some activity that they have a good time participating in so they’re at least participating and being active in some way,“ Coach McAfee said.

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Build Your Own Workout

Step 1: Start by determining your MAX, or the maximum weight you can lift

“Start light and gradually increase in weight until you can no longer lift, make sure you have a spotter.”

- Coach Mark McAfee

Step 2: Determine the core lifts for each day (pick 2): • • • • • • • •

The Phases: For this 16 week period you will increase from 5-10

pounds unless you fail to complete your sets and reps for that particular session 1 Phase= 4 weeks, increasing 5-10 pounds each week. By the fourth week, you’ll reach the next phase.

Phase 1 60% of MAX sets of “10” repetitions Phase 2 70% of MAX sets of “8” repetitions Phase 3 80% of MAX sets of “5” repetitions Phase 4 90% of MAX sets of “3” repetitions Each week that you lift your “3” sets at that weeks workout, increase the next Heavy days work by 5-10 pounds.

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Squats Hang snatch Power clean Front squat Bench press Incline dumbbell (DB) press Push press Incline bench

The Warm Ups:

Week 1 do at least one light warm-up set followed by three sets of 10 at 60% of your MAX. Your warm up should be at least 25 pounds less than your first week’s workout weight. This first warmup set will be where you start every workout throughout the FourPhase Cycle.

Auxiliary Lifts: (Pick two per body region) Legs Leg curls Leg extensions Front/side lunges Bench/Box step-ups

Chest DB bench press DB incline bench press Close grip bench press Pec-Dec fly’s Cable fly’s

Shoulders DB/Barbell shrugs Upright rows DB/barbell front raises DB side/rear raises Plate change-up

Back Seated cable rows V-bar rows DB one-arm rows Shoulder shrugs Timed bar hang

Biceps E-Z bar curls DB curls: Screw Hammer Incline Concentration

Triceps Close grip bench press Lying triceps Extension Tricep pushdown V-pushdown Dips/Bench dips

Mondays/ Thursdays

aka: Heavy lifting days Areas of focus: Legs Back Biceps Abdominals *Each week that you lift your “3” sets at that weeks workout, increase the next Heavy days work by 5-10 pounds. *If you are not able to complete your heavy day workout, you must stay at that weight until you can complete the workout for the required number of sets and reps.

FOCUS: Conner McAfee pushes through while doing tricep extentions. Going up in weight takes a lot of focus to make sure that form is correct. PHOTO BY JULIET FUHRMANN

Wednesdays are rest days

Tuesdays/Fridays

aka: Light lifting days Areas of Focus: Chest Shoulders Triceps Abdominals *Your light day weight may or may not increase from week to week because you will decrease by 10 percent. *On your light lift days reduce your CORE lift workout from that week by 10%

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MARCH 2018

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Just for kicks

Recreational soccer bonds and creates rivalries

LEAD IN: Jackson Steiner kicks a soccer ball while looking intensely into the game. In this game, Ranch was playing Squad CFU. PHOTO BY ANINDHITHA SUDHAKARAN

Yolked Boiz Forward: Austin Massar James Bamberger Sam Kaplan Alec Johnson Defense: Austin McKinley Evan Armstrong Eric Wickenhauser Phillip Newland Will James Goalie: Evan Goodbody Spencer Ratterman Manager: Alex Juan

By Lanie Sanders

Feature editor Fluorescent lights. Metal bleachers. Astroturf.

The piercing sound of whistles echo off the white walls. Buzzers sound as students fill the stands to support their friends.

Teammates cheer for one another as the ball is saved from the goal. Senior Sam Kaplan dribbles the ball and passes it to someone on his team.

The crowd screams as they score. To Kaplan, his team is much more than people would assume.

“Yolked isn’t just a team.” Kaplan said. “It’s a family, it’s a movement, it’s a lifestyle.”

However, senior Ranch member Tucker Jones feels differently about his team, explaining that it is nothing more than a mediocre indoor soccer team.

“No, [we’re not good]. Our best player got cut from JV soccer his sophomore year,” Jones said.

“That’s about it. That’s our team right there.”

In regards to the name Yolked Boiz, senior James Bamberger explains that it was inspired by the freshman soccer coach.

“The freshman soccer coach’s name is Taylor Yocum,” Bamberger said. “He was supposed to come coach and watch some games, but the school told him he couldn’t come since he can’t interact with kids outside of school.”

Despite the formality of school-funded soccer games, the ones played at Vetta are known to get slightly rambunctious. “[Our games] are a little bit crude sometimes,” Jones said. “It honestly depends on the competition for us, usually we’re pretty laid back.

Sometimes you’ll get those kids on the other sides who are trying to do some risky things.

Last game we got mooned a couple times, a kid was throwing punches. It got out of hand.”

For most team members, it’s just recreation.

It’s more of something for them to do with their

friends, rather than a competition. “[I get entertainment out of the games],” Kaplan said. “It’s something to do with my Saturday night. I mean, we all knew each other before. Compared to the other teams, we’re good, so we can just mess around.”

A common thread with the Vetta teams is that they’re all composed of friends or people who knew each other beforehand. Even though they may not have been close before they were a team, many of the players agree that their teams have brought them closer together.

“I mean yeah [it brings us closer together],” Jones said. “When you have another kid who’s on the other team that’s trying to moon you guys, you all have to stand up for each other, say something like, ‘Hey, get that out of our face,’ and other stuff like that.”

“Yeah, I see [my team] every Saturday outside of school,” Bamberger said. “We hang out a lot more now.”

With every team, there is something that holds them together, something that makes it all work out for them as a team. For Bamberger, he feels that their team prospers because the boys on the team already had a bond.

“We’ve always been friends,” Bamberger said.

“We’ve been friends since middle school or freshman year. Since we started doing this, we’ve all been talking more. Different groups of people have come together to make one bigger group.”

For Jones, on the other hand, he feels that his team succeeds because there’s no real pressure in the games.

“We’re all there to have fun,” Jones said.

“There’s no getting cut like with high school sports, so there’s none of that fear there. You just show up and you have a good time.”

Ranch

Forwards: Jackson Steiner Alex Li Tony Parato Tucker Jones Kevin Flett JD Salser Marc Falcomata Defense: Quinn Barbee Garrett Allen Saddallah Safi Tyler Corley Hamad Khan Owen Flett Max Venker Ryan Keisker Gabe Delgado Goalie: Andrew (Wrangler) Glantowitz Manager: Ashley Burgess

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What’s a sport?

The fine line between sports and athleticism

By Patrick Sheehan

Staff reporter Everyone has different definitions of sports ranging from the obvious (baseball, basketball, etc.) to the more argumentative (marching band, dance, cheerleading, etc.); However there is much more argument to be had about these activities, even with the people involved in them.

Junior Laurel Ammond has been in the Spartan Regiment for three years and believes it isn’t a sport. Marching band rehearsal is done outside, in the blazing heat of the summer and early fall. They repeat the same show over and over again for three hours after school everyday until it becomes muscle memory. Despite this, marching band is not seen as a sport in every person’s mind.

“Dance [is a sport]; marching band, probably not,” Ammond said. “Dance

definitely requires more physical effort than marching band or other activities like that. I think marching band is more of a performing art.”

For some, marching band is more than a performance art because of the time put into it by the students. Junior Austin Crudup, member of both the basketball team and the Spartan Regiment, believes that this makes activities like marching band a sport.

“I do consider [marching band] and [dance] a sport because they practice so much,” Crudup said. “I’d say just having a family aspect [with] the people [who are in the same activity].”

The Varsity Sensations also have hours of practice before and after school. They work tirelessly on the same routine, moving to the beat of the music. Senior Cameryn Miller is a Varsity Sensation and considers both marching band and dance a sport

MARCHING ON: Members of the Spartan Regiment perform their COLORfall routine at halftime of the Aug. 25 football game. The Regiment begins practice in the summer in order to prepare its show for performances at school and for numerous competitions. PHOTO BY ETHAN WAGMAN

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PEAK PERFORMANCES: The Sensations dance with their male partners at the game against Francis Howell. In addition to performance at school events, the dance team competes at numerous competitions during the course of the school year, placing seventh at nationals.

PHOTO BY ETHAN WAGMAN

TO THE BASKET: Junior Terron Robinson drives past a Francis Howell defender during a game.

Robinson was one of four players to average in double figures in scoring. PHOTO BY TYLER SUMMERS

because of the physical workout it gives the participants.

“I would consider marching band a sport,” Miller said , “anything that exerts a lot of physical activity and takes a lot of practice.”

Physical exercise isn’t the only factor that qualifies a sport for Miller.

She also factors in the competition.

“I think something that defines a sport is anything that is physical activity, like you can get exercise out of it,” Miller restated, “but something that can be scored or judged [is what really makes a sport a sport for me].”

Sophomore Logan Scott plays basketball and baseball and has his own definition beyond just exercise and being judged for a score.

“Sports are something that requires a team,” Scott said, “[a team] to come together to defeat another team.

[For marching band and dance it’s] depending on if it’s competition or just a hobby.”

What makes a sport a sport doesn’t always require a definition for some.

Mr. Brian Cissell currently coaches baseball and basketball and also has

a different opinion on the matter.

“I don’t have a definition of what a sport is,” Mr. Cissel said. “This is something that people talked about years ago - does it involve a ball? Is there a defense? Does there have to be an offense? - so I don’t have a definition of a sport.”

Mr. Cissel still has his own opinions on what makes a sport a sport even without a specific definition.

“Well, I don’t think I consider [dance or marching band] sports, I consider those competitions, competitive athletes; I think they’re athletic, but I don’t consider it a sport. I would say there are competitive events and those would fall under those competitive events, that doesn’t mean they’re not an athlete - that would not be by my definition a sport.”

There is still a sense of something more that fits Ammond’s definition of a sport. Something beyond the physical activity.

“Something that requires dedication, physical effort, commitment and leadership,” said Ammond.

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DECEMBER 2017

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Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @FHCToday for upcoming streams

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!

MARCH 2018

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Body over mind

Ideals of diet culture are ruining people’s outlook on their bodies RESTRICTION: Senior Ashley Burgess sits at the lunch table as her friends around her enjoy their food. Many people who are on extremely restrictive diets skip meals becasue they are afraid they might gain weight. PHOTO BY BELEN HERRERA

“Fit tea helps burn unwanted fat in only fourteen days. It can’t get any better than that!” The words fly off the screen as I scroll through my Instagram feed. Above the promising words, there is the image of a perfectly posed girl who has obviously been heavily photoshopped. The comments are filled to the brink with hundreds of girls longing for their body to resemble the model’s body in the picture without realizing that she does not look like that in real life. While some of the girls are simply just admiring the picture, others will internalize their feelings of jealousy. They Jessica Fults might go to drastic measures, Staff reporter such as starving themselves, excessively exercising, or popping diet pills. The restriction is not solely because of a single image, but an abundance of touched up bodies all over social media, ads, and magazines.

The diet industry targets teens with ads boasting results such as “Lose weight fast!” or “Get a flat stomach in a week!” They are especially harmful because they neglect to teach that a healthy diet and moderate exercise are ultimately more important than a certain desired body. When I think of diet culture, I think of trying to achieve an unrealistic body in an unrealistic way. Particularly, I think of the ads prevalent in magazines that promote harmful ways to lose weight. The scrutinizing of bodies and the obsessing over food needs to stop, whether it is shaming someone by

telling them they need a smaller waist and thinner legs, or shaming someone by saying they are “skin and bones” and need more curves.

Extreme diets cause a vicious cycle of restricting and binging, restricting and binging, restricting and binging, until the person feels like they are a failure because they could not follow a drastic diet that is impractical and unfulfilling. The feeling of failure can be frustrating, but the effects on a person’s mental health can cause an uphill battle with their body and food that can last for years. The restrictive mindset can cause eating disorders that have a tremendous impact on a person’s life.

What starts out as a seemingly harmless diet can spiral out of control into a routine of continuously lowering food intake. It can turn into an obsession of weighing yourself several times in a day and if the number is not lower, then taking it out on yourself. The thing that really makes me angry is many impressionable kids and teens would not feel like there was a problem with their body if diet culture did not exist. Magazines with photoshopped photos of bodies and dangerous diets start to pile up until the question slips into their mind: “Is my body good enough?”

The truth is every single person has a different body and, as cheesy as it sounds, there is no wrong way to have one. In magazines, the stretch marks, love handles, and other various imperfections are smoothed out and covered. The “perfect body” someone might see and want to attain is not even real. No one ever talks about the models, people just like us, who might be dealing with insecurities after seeing their pictures retouched or after being told to eat less food to become a certain size. The

dieting and modeling industries do not care about the well-being of their customers and clients; they just care about bringing in as much money as they can.

Labeling foods as “good” or “bad” can cause guilt after eating something on the “bad list.” It can cause binging on those foods when you have the chance, instead of having them in moderation.

While some foods do have more nutritional value than others, it is important to eat food you like and stay away from deeming one better than the other.

Life should not revolve around food; while some planning is helpful, it is important to remember that we eat to live, not live to eat. Taking a moment to assess what your body needs and monitoring if you are getting enough nutrients or intaking enough water can greatly improve your health.

While I completely disagree with diet culture, it is important to have a healthy diet and exercise, whether that be walking your dog or playing your favorite sport. By no means am I against weight loss, either; I am just opposed to an idea of extreme restriction and strict guidelines that dictate a way a person lives their life. It is perfectly acceptable if you want to go out with a few of your friends for pizza here and there. No magic pill or 10-day workout plan is going to completely transform someone’s body, and that is okay. Having a balanced life is so much more realistic and sustainable than a quick fix diet. People want results immediately, but taking your time and making a lifestyle change can cause results that last a lifetime. We have so many other things in our life to focus on like school, jobs, hobbies, friends, and our future because we are so much more than our bodies.

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MARCH 2018

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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.

Juliet Fuhrmann: Small, but strong

Hearing people say that I am “too small to lift” or “you are a girl, you are not supposed to lift” is the most frustrating thing ever. One: who cares that I’m a girl? Many women weight train and are awesome at it. Two: why do you think I’m working out in the first place? And if you are just addressing the fact that I am a short person, it does not mean that I’m not strong.

Know who you are Knowing yourself is the key to healthy relationships You know those posts?

The selfies you send to your friends vs. the ones you send to your crush. One side shows a girl b e i n g

Whitney Klein: “That”

We do not need the word “that” as much as we do. I have found we can simply remove the word “that” and replace with something that doesn’t sound like it’s being written by a grade schooler. The way it is being used is incorrect and unnecessary, and I believe teachers should stop allowing their students to use it when it is not needed. There are many, more professional-sounding, substitutes. You see, I could’ve easily put the word “that” in between “believe” and “teachers” in the last sentence, but I just removed it completely.

Liz Baker: Gun rallies Gun rallies at times like this are extremely unnecessary. Children like us are dying because nobody in government wants to deny the NRA their assault rifles. Children like us are being ripped away from our families.

The 2nd Amendment is meant for protection, not mass murders.

silly with no makeup, looking comfortable, and in the next, she’s got full makeup, hair done, pouting so her lips look big, making sure there’s no double chin, and

so on. You sit there and you think “ha, that’s me”. No. That shouldn’t be you. That shouldn’t be anyone. People shouldn’t have to put on a facade and make themselves uncomfortable just to send a picture to their crush that disappears after 10 seconds.

It’s ridiculous.

It’s not even just hiding behind a camera, it’s people who feel they aren’t good enough and think they need to lie about who they are and what they like to get people to like them. When they’re asking about what you like to do, what music you listen to, movies, things you find fun, and you lie about it because you’re scared they won’t like what you do or they won’t like you after they get to know you better, you are just setting yourself up for failure. If you don’t tell them who you are, you’re creating another person; it’s not you they like, it’s the character you put forward they fall in love with and trust. You are a stranger.

Your lies only end up coming back on you and ruining the trust in your relationship because you lied. They’ll catch you hiding behind the other person;

the person you thought they would like. They probably would’ve liked the real you even more, had they gotten the chance.

You cannot go into a relationship without knowing who you are and what you want and expect it to be the perfect Cinderella, bippity boppity, happily ever after. If you go into a new relationship without knowing how to care for yourself and your needs, then you’re causing yourself pain. The relationship will more than likely end up being toxic or confusing.

What they want isn’t always what you’ll want.

Your needs will become a jumbled mess with theirs until everything crashes and burns; no one’s happy.

You cannot figure out what you want based off of the needs of your boyfriend/ girlfriend. You are you. You need to take care of yourself before you take care of them. You need to tell them the truth of how you’re feeling and what you need.

You have to stay you if you want to grow and be happy with your significant other.

You have to let go, show the real you to the person you want to find something with, and keep that you all the way throughout the relationship.

You are the best you, you are not the best them.

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Putting yourself first March 10, 2016. The room is filled with 99 other students who are “just like me.” A cold, blurry, dark auditorium to me was a lively, happy, celebratory gathering for everyone else. Shaking, dizzy, exhausted, and migraine ridden, I sat with as much attention I could muster on Dr. Arnel’s voice describing the other “high achieving,” “academically excellent,” “incredibly charismatic,” and “undeniably impactful” students.

I sat, I listened, but the whole time I was miserable, exhausted, sick, and near my wit’s end.

I sat, I wondered how can these people be “just like me” when I don’t even know who “me” is? I had spent so much time trying to be perfect I had forgotten who I was.

Mann who I was because “who I was” I Emily had forgotten Co-editor-in-chief was poured into every single pot on the stove: grades, responsibilities, clubs, family, sports, friends - and when I looked in the pot labeled “Self,” it was bone dry. And in that moment I had realized I was slowly ruining myself, throwing away my hard work with every sleepless night. I had neglected myself to the point of deterioration, which, ironically enough, was keeping me further and further from my goals.

I wondered to myself: how I had gotten to this point? I thought surely if I really was so “great” I would have known better. Other people seem to work so seamlessly from sunrise to sunset without taking time to breathe. Surely, I had to do just that if I ever wanted to be good enough; surely this breaking point was just a one-time thing. Except it is not a one-time thing.

Abandoning yourself and your needs and expecting a flourishing ideal future is like planting a seed, giving it no water, and hoping for it to bloom: it is impossible. However, while unrealistic, this idea is all too common among us. Whether this idea was instilled within you in childhood, whether it is something you’ve picked up as of late to keep up with your valedictorian best friend, or whether it is something you can’t remember living without — it is never too late to move past this idea.

It is never too late to grow into a better version of yourself. It is never too late to put yourself first.

In fact, putting self care at the end of the to-do list will only leave the preceding tasks in shambles. The key to bettering yourself and the things you produce is understanding you must spend time elsewhere — you must spend time on yourself. It is important to know you can still be great, you can still be achieving and simultaneously put yourself first without being selfish, without letting your grades slip, without being a failure. There is a balance, and without this balance your health and your achievements will remain on either scale, one always toppling over and sinking down, skyrocketing the other and vice versa.

Perfection is not real, so the notion that working relentlessly, stringing yourself out to attain perfection does not make sense. Putting yourself to such high, unattainable standards leaves you with no time for the things that matter: self-care. This is where we are failing ourselves.

Letting the fear of not being good enough and the desire to be the absolute best only leaves you at the end of the your rope if you continue down that route — going 100 mph in a race against everything and everyone to be the “best” and trying super hard all the time isn’t human really, and it is so impractical.

By devoting yourself to all of the wrong things you are working so hard to be great and you are forgetting you are a person who is worth more than that; worth more than grades and perfection and this only leaves you feeling miserable. It is imperative to recognize that you deserve time and care, and in the long run that will get you so much further in every aspect than trying to be perfect ever will.

Self-care is not exclusively green face masks and purple bubble baths or homemade granola and yogurt bowls watching your favorite netflix series.

It is not solely a passing trend on social media, or a silly joke .

And truthfully, it does not

matter which body or form the self-care takes on, what matters is it is there and it is executed correctly. It is one thing to say you are incorporating more self-love and self-care into your life, and it is another to actually put forth effort into getting the most out of the experience. It does not matter if your go-to break is an extra 10 minutes in the shower or a smoothie instead of water — self-care does not have to be elaborate hours of planning and devotion to yourself, it can be any small or big act that brings you happiness.

The important thing to remember, though, is you have to indulge completely into this and remind yourself to breathe and surrender entirely to whatever that act of love may be. If you read a book, wrapped in your favorite blanket, but allow your mind to wander elsewhere, dwelling on everything but the betterment, reward, and relaxation for yourself, then you are defeating the purpose and nothing will improve.

It is vital to one’s success, one’s well-being, one’s happiness to recognize, “I deserve a break every now and again.” That “I am more than a pawn to make all of the perfect moves.” It is detrimental for others to realize they can be both successful and treat themselves with love and respect. It is not weak, it is not selfish, it is not a setback from where you want to be; it is instead the sole thing that will fling you closer to greatness.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY MANN

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MARCH 2018

entertain

Tips and benefits for making your own garden

By Lanie Sanders Feature editor

Gardening tips from Mrs. Rowe Facts about aloe: Most types of aloe vera • Don’t overwater don’t have stems. Their leaves grow upright and form a rosette, sometimes • If you’re planting full sun, give it full sun these leaves are covered • Don’t plant invasive species in white spots. In ancient Egypt, aloe was reffered to as the ‘plant of immortality’. • Plant things that are native to your area In the wild, these plants • Don’t try so hard! can survive up to 100 years. Aloe can be used • Use less chemicals to treat sunburn, dry skin, frostbite, and psoriasis.

• If you’re a beginner, try growing herbs

Dahlia seeds $1.95

Benefits of gardening: Stress relief, anxiety reduction, reduces risks or heart disease and diabetes, helps you sleep better, keeps the mind sharp, promotes happiness, strengthens immune system, and improves overall mental health.

Flower pot $9.99 Succulent $6.99

MARCH 2018

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Shining lights

It’s a trying time of year, but there are plenty of successes to remain positive abou this year

“ READY TO WRESTLE: Senior Trevor Liggett prepares for a match.

Liggett was one of the eight wrestlers to qualify for state. PHOTO

BY SYDNEY ROBBINS

“

After eight wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, four placed in their weight classes and divisions.

By Skylar Laird

Co-Editor in chief It’s hard to stay optimistic when high school feels like a constant bombardment of homework and tests, and school news doesn’t tend to yield much of a break with its constant budget cuts and reminders of deadlines, but there is still hope; for students and faculty alike, there are great things happening at FHC that can give students a quick break from the stress and a reason to smile.

It feels pretty good [to make it to state], it’s definitely something I’ve wanted to accomplish since freshman year when I started wrestling.”

- senior Scott Arnold

At their annual trip to Disney World for their national competition, the Sensations finished seventh in their category for hip hop, continuing their streak of qualifying for finals in hip hop and maintaining their spot as one of the top teams in the nation.

With everything we’ve been through as a team this year, it was such a different feeling. No one cared about winning and placing this time, we were just happy because we knew we’d all worked so hard for that and everyone was working equally as hard.”

- senior Cameryn Miller

Diving at districts, freshman Abigail Wolf scored a 397, which is a new school record, breaking the one current sophomore Mariah Javier set last year.

MAKING A SPLASH: The girls’ swim team hypes each other up before a meet. This team includes freshman Abigail Wolf, diver, who now holds the school record for diving. PHOTO BY CONNOR CRITES

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CHAMPS: Senior Cameryn Miller performs at a varsity boy’s basketball game with her fellow Sensations. The team recently returned from Disney World, where they placed fourth in the nation in hip hop. PHOTO BY ETHAN WAGMAN

“

It felt really exciting. I wasn’t even sure of it at first but then my teammate Mariah who held the record last was like, ‘Yeah, you beat my record,’ and I was like, ‘wow, I didn’t even know that.’”

- Freshman Abigail Wolf

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MARCH 2018

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