Volume 15, Issue 5

Volume 15, Issue 5

Fishers High School

April 2021

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Sports Spring Back Athletes return after a COVID-19 canceled season last year www.fishersnthered.com

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April 2021

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Graphic by Katrell Readus

On to the next Some students feel more prepared than others when it comes to the 2021-21 school year Katrell Readus

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readukat000@hsestudents.org

s the 2021 school year begins to close, some students have mixed feelings on whether or not they are prepared to continue on into the upcoming school year. COVID-19 has kept some students out of the building, while others have gotten to walk the halls creating varying levels of comfortability and in the building.

Freshman Gabrielle Ross is currently virtual, but had been in person at one point. Ross found that there are positives and negatives to both forms of instruction, as it pertains to her preparedness for the 2022 school year.

Ross’ experience while being in person affected her comfortability in the school environment.

“Teachers were not wearing their mask right,” Ross said. “[My return to virtual learning also] had to do with mental health reasons, honestly, I think it’s a bit easier than inperson.”

The incorrect wearing of masks was part of Ross’ decision to go virtual. CDC guidelines recommend that middle school students, high school students and staff in school buildings be at least 6 feet apart if COVID cases in the area are high, and 3 feet if COVID cases in the area have remained low, moderate or even substantial.

Regardless it is recommended that masks be worn correctly, above the nose and below the chin.

Freshman in-person student Micah Derrer found that his extracurriculars and outgoing personality allowed him to create and maintain connections with staff and students.

“I find myself very comfortable in the building specifically around the people I place myself around,” Derrer said.

As for his preparedness for the next school year, he says that he has no concerns that exceed that of what he would feel at this time during any other year. He said that virtual instruction was “not the best when it comes to academics,” but when it comes to being in-person, he feels that he has created a supportive friend group and is reaching his

academic standards.

“Originally I think COVID definitely affected how I was doing academically, how ready I was for next year, because...I am terrible at learning with online school, and that’s pretty much half of my year, so being in-person I’m now getting more and more back on track with lessons, getting grades back up to the point I like them,” Derrer said. “Overall, I am not where I would like to be in an average year, but I’m happy with where I am at.”

As juniors, last year of high school and first year of college gets closer. Some students like junior Olivia Young have given thought to how they are feeling and what they have to do to be prepared. Young found that she is more than ready to wrap up her time in high school.

“I’m really excited to just finish at this point,” Young said.

“This has been a hectic two to three years so the idea of being a senior is really exciting.”

To ensure her preparedness for the upcoming year, Young said she has taken a couple of steps.

“I made sure I was ahead of things like college applications and looking into scholarships, so I am not too stressed in the fall.” Young said.

Graphic by Katrell Readus

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April 2021 Graphic by Lily Thomas.

Sources

Raising the ceiling Women in male-dominated industries find ways to face stigmas Lily Thomas thomalil000@hsestudents.org

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During the Women & Hi Tech Leading Light Awards and Scholarship Gala, which recognized nominees for their equity and inclusion, members of the Board of Directors pose for a photo on Oct. 1, 2020 while others attended the event virtually.

Photo used with permission of Rebecca Bormann.

s senior Tatiyana Lockridge looks around at her fellow classmates that do not look like her, she feels out of place in her AP Physics II class.

According to Lockridge, there are only two women in the class and a lack of people of color in higher AP classes, which makes her, a woman of color, sometimes feel less included.

Lockridge will be majoring in chemical engineering, an industry with women making up 19.4% of it in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Like Lockridge, women around the United States share a similar issue as an article on the Catalyst found that 7.2% of women were working full-time in maledominated occupations in 2018.

“Because I am a girl, I feel like my ideas aren’t as spoken or males try to mansplain things to me even though I’ve already known what that is,” Lockridge said. “I feel like some men in those dominated areas really think that they are superior and so it can be really frustrating at times because I feel like I’m not heard.”

Beyond the high school environment, gender inequality persists in the workplace. Organizations like Women & Hi Tech work to provide support, encouragement and connections to other women in the STEM (science,

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technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

“I think that we [as a society] really lack when we don’t have diverse ideas and thoughts,” Rebecca Bormann, President of Board of Directors of Women & Hi Tech, said. “Solutions are not the best solutions, products are not the best products unless we get input from everyone. We all bring different experiences and perspectives into solving a problem and if it’s all men, they’re going to leave the women’s perspective out of it.”

As reported by the Pew Research Center, the women that do voice their perspectives may be met with discrimination, as 42% of women in the United States report being discriminated against in the workplace because of their gender. For example, Bormann recounts dealing with men, including those in senior executive positions, that refused to negotiate with her despite her position as a sales representative.

“There are so many women that went before me that paved the way and kept raising the ceiling for us, but there’s still a ceiling,” Bormann said.

Being the only woman in the administration department, assistant principal Chrissie Sturgill says that women in the education field struggle to find a balance between the typical motherly role instilled in women and their actual job responsibilities. Bormann suggests that not everyone is aware of their bias against women, which males it hard to make much of Sources insider.com pewresearch center.org apa.org

27%

As of 2020, 3.5% of firefighters are women.

of the seats in the House and Senate are held by women.

World Economic Forum says the global gender gap will take tak

9.9% of construction workers are women.

19% of software developers are women in the US.

years ars to close around the world.

Until

2018

of leadership positions are filled by women.

no woman had been nominated for an Oscar in cinematography.

Women who succeed in maledominated careers are seen as unsociable by male and female co-workers.

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a difference.

“There’s just been too many processes and systems set up that were created to hold back diverse people, to hold back women, and we have to keep bringing those to light so they can be changed,” Bormann said.

Contrary to the societal expectations of gender roles, Sturgill believes that people can take on any role, regardless of their gender.

“When I think about education specifically, I think about what we’re doing with our elementary, our intermediate, our junior high students to get them in classes that challenge them and classes that interest them so that they are pursuing things they have a passion for and not just saying ‘girls should go after being teachers’ or ‘guys should go into the area of science,’” Sturgill said.

Sturgill also stresses the importance of all students getting equal opportunities so that everyone has the chance to pursue what they want to. There are organizations like Woman & Hi Tech work to do just that.

“There’s so many opportunities for girls in high school and college to explore the STEM field and to get involved with organizations like Women & Hi Tech and so many others,” Bormann said. “There’s a whole lot of us out here that are ready and willing to help you all.”

Women in the architecture field deal with discrimination from male coworkers.

5.2% of US aircraft pilots and flight engineers are female.

Graphic by Lily Thomas.

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April 2021

From the outside in Ecotherapy provides positive impact on mental health for some students Anna Mossing

mossiann000@hsestudents.org

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relationship to nature is dependent on the five senses-- feeling leaves crunch under feet, hearing wind whistle through the trees, seeing water trickle down a creek, smelling blooming flowers, tasting fresh air. Recently, ecotherapy, which is using these senses to intentionally form a bond with nature, has been gaining significance in improving mental health. Students have noticed that whether it be hiking, biking, gardening, exploring, journaling, or meditating, being outside has a positive effect on their mental health.

While the term ecotherapy was coined in 1996, the idea behind it has been around far before that, to the beginning of human history. Ecotherapy comes from the value that people have a deep connection with nature and the Earth itself. Since the environment is providing humans peace, it is expected that the benevolence is reciprocated.

Junior Michael Grudis notes that the relationship between nature and humans can be positive or negative, depending on how humans treat their environment. He believes that one of the most effective things people can do for nature is to try to rebuild the destruction to habitats and food sources and leave all the organisms to heal and try to thrive again.

“Although humanity has certainly distanced itself from nature, we are still animals and part of this global ecosystem,” Grudis said. “And this ‘undoing’ of our damage will directly benefit us humans by making the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the places we live so much more natural and soothing to our minds and bodies.”

Ecotherapy, as conveyed in the name, is a type of therapy. However, it is not necessary to hire a professional in order to practice it. The ability to practice without paying for a therapist makes this type of therapy appealing to some. On the other hand, while this flexibility and inexpensiveness is convenient, self-dependence instead of interdependence can also pose difficulty in motivation to work on exploring feelings since there is no professional to give the extra push. For some people ecotherapy might not be enough to improve their mental health and reaching out to a therapist or trying a different type of therapy could be more effective.

“When I feel like I need a refresher, I just go for a walk with no destination,” Grudis said. “It’s like a break from having to schedule everything.”

It’s not necessary to pick one or the other though. It is completely possible to go to conventional therapy and also exercise ecotherapy methods. If one feels like they don’t need a therapist, but simply someone to

Sophomore Ana Foutty jogs on a trail in Fishers on April 18. Foutty takes this time in nature to take care of herself by excercising and taking time to refelct.

Photo by Anna Mossing. depend on and to push them, many ecotherapy routines are doable with another person. In fact, a key benefit of practicing ecotherapy with a friend is that it will decrease the feeling of loneliness. Senior Elaine Murphy experienced this benefit first hand last March and April.

“Due to COVID I wasn’t really able to hang out with friends, but one way that we were able to still see each other was by going to parks and being socially distanced outside,” Murphy said. “I really appreciated being outside with a friend because I was able to get social interaction while still being safe.”

Along with the opportunity to spend time with friends, Murphy appreciates the tranquility nature provides for her. Specifically she notices that after spending time hiking on trails surrounded by trees, Murphy feels grounded and more in-touch with her senses.

“Being in nature eases my mind and makes me feel more at peace as well as making me feel more energized and less sluggish throughout the day,” Murphy said. “I try to spend time outside whenever I get the

Features chance and bring myself closer to nature with all the things I do.”

Under the umbrella of ecotherapy, there are more specific routines that can be done. A specific technique that sophomore Cooper Kane has practiced is journaling in nature. While spending a week in Minnesota this summer, he journaled all week about what was happening around him outside and described what he saw in nature.

“I found it extremely beneficial to journal because it helped me see and highlight the beauty that I was experiencing,” Kane said.

There is no perfect formula to ecotherapy because it is unique to each person. The ultimate goal is to build a connection with nature and allow positive energy to flow.

“Ecotherapy is tied to every human sense,” Grudis said.

“So things like looking at photos of a forest, eating fresh food, and even listening to the rain also help to relieve stress and aggression. I would recommend to people who want to try it out to just find a way to expose each of your senses to nature by even the smallest means.”

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PRACTICING ECOTHERAPY GARDENING GARDENING OFFERS THE CHANCE TO GROW YOUR OWN PRODUCE, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND SPEND TIME OUTDOORS

WILDERNESS THERAPY CAMPING AND HKING IN THE WILDERNESS WITH PEERS WHILE WORKING ON COPING TECHNIQUES AND THERAPEUTIC SKILLS

ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY PETTING, PLAYING, OR WORKING WITH ANIMALS LIKE DOGS, HORSES, AND BIRDS OUTDOORS

OUTDOOR YOGA AND MEDITATION YOGA AND MEDITATION ALREADY OFFER WELLESTABLISHED BENEFITS, BUT OUTDOORS THEY MAY BE MORE REWARDING

FOREST BATHING SLIGHTLY MORE THAN A WALK

Sophomore Cooper Kane’s journal entry from July 28, 2020 on a canoe trip in the Minnesota wilderness for a week without cell service. Photo by Cooper Kane.

IN THE PARK, THIS PRACTICE ENCOURAGES THE MINDFUL USE OF THE 5 SENSES WHILE GOING THROUGH THE FOREST

Information from the Healthline website. Infographic by Anna Mossing.

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April 2021

Pushing the limit

Quarantine encourages reckless driving, police still managing speed problem Sydney Territo

terrisyd000@hsestudents.org

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eaths on the road are up an estimated 2% through the first three months of 2020 compared to the same time period last year, according to the National Safety Council, a nonprofit safety advocacy organization. This is mostly due to a dramatic increase in speeding because of a decrease in traffic on major roadways all across the United States.

The U.S. News & World Report reported Police in Colorado, Indiana, Nebraska and Utah have clocked drivers going more than 100 miles per hour on highways. This trend of reckless speeding on empty roads has impacted several states, according to Fox News. Affected states include Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Carolina and Oklahoma experiencing a spike in car crash death rates.

Despite this, the city of Fishers appears to be relatively unaffected in terms of car crashes. Junior Josh Villasol is a student who was driving fairly often during quarantine last year and did not notice much of a difference in reckless driving during lock down compared to beforehand.

Junior Derek May’s car after he got hit in a roundabout on Feb. 28. Photo used with permission of Derek May.

“I don’t think my opinion has really changed of people during the pandemic,” Villasol said. “There’s only a few crazy people who drive and I feel like it’s the same percentage of crazy people who drive than before, even if there are less people who drive in total.”

While it appears that there has not been much of a change in traffic to students like Villasol, the police department has dealt with many more cases of speeding this year. Sergeant Steve Pickett was working off and on for five weeks during quarantine and then was out stopping cars for the rest of the year. Pickett said that while the number of crashes went down throughout the year, there was a significant increase in speeding violations last year, and it continues to rise.

“We all stayed pretty healthy at the onset,” Pickett said.

“We weren’t out stopping cars unless there was a dire emergency, like there was a drunk driver all over the road or something like that. During that time, and this is not just for Fishers, I’ve spoken to numerous officers around Central Indiana and around the state, the speeding problem just went out of control.”

Speeding can endanger the life of the speeder and everyone around them, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a facet of the Department of Transportation. It has been involved in about one-third of every car crash for the last two decades.

“Last year was really hard,” Pickett said. “The ticket numbers were down because the amount of traffic was down, but we wrote more high-speed [tickets] last year than I can ever remember, and I’ve been on the department for 20 years.”

While speeding does not always correlate with car crashes, reckless driving has the potential to put drivers in dangerous situations. Junior Derek May has experienced this, as he got into a car crash at the end of February this year.

“I was driving in the middle lane, driving home from SAT practice, and this one red minivan drives out of nowhere and hits me in the back right wheel,” May said. “I was upset because it was going to make my insurance rates go higher when I knew it wasn’t my fault.”

The NHTSA recommends in a situation with a speeding driver, the best option is to give them space and get out of their way. It is also advised to call the police if the driver has started harassment or pursuit. “[To remedy the speed problem we need] more time on the road. More time on the road, more officers, more citations.

My two traffic officers are pretty much on the road all day,” Pickett said. “It’s what I call time on target. We just have to keep sustaining enforcement for sustained periods of time and I think speeds will come down.”

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Spring break slump stifles students Students face lack of motivation as end of the school year approaches Emilia Citoler

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citolemi000@hsestudents.org

nly a few weeks stand between students and summer break, and this time between spring break and the end of the year seems to be the hardest stretch for students.

With increasing course loads and Advanced Placement (AP) exams among other larger projects and assignments, the final couple of weeks of school prove to be a busy time.

Many students experience a dip in motivation coming back from spring break, called the “spring break slump.” This describes a period of time where students have just arrived back to school after a week of relaxation and some find it hard to be motivated to finish out the school year strong.

The last month and a half makes up a substantial portion of a student’s grade for the second semester, which means this time period can make or break one’s grade.

“My best advice would be not to dwell or focus on the grade of an assignment that you haven’t even begun,” senior Joie Simpson said. “The most important thing is to at least start. To make it easier, split your assignments into sections and take small breaks after you complete each section. By doing this, I also think you retain more information, which will also help you in the long term.”

Effective studying is also another way to ease the stress of the spring break slump. As AP exams are quickly approaching, along with assessments in classes, finding the most conducive studying method is a great way to help.

CollegeCovered, a blog dedicated to helping students with college admissions, advises that learning what studying method is best for each individual is integral for effective studying. Some students may find that visual studying is best for them, whereas another student may find auditory studying is most effective for them.

As for AP exams, CollegeCovered reports that taking multiple practice tests and familiarizing oneself with the format of AP exams is great for preparing. Some students use materials from the class, prep books like Princeton Review or Barron’s, or study groups with friends.

“Personally, I go through the given text book and any given source materials given by my teacher. I also think studying with a group of people tends to motivate me as well,” sophomore Jason

Yang said. “This year, I’ve set up a series of Zoom meetings with my friends and we’re studying through the units one by one as the exam approaches.”

Setting goals is another way to manage the spring break slump. A big part of this is setting up an attainable goal, which means the goal is completely within one’s capabilities.

This allows for the student to have something to work towards and creates a sense of accomplishment when a goal is completed.

“I try to make little goals within a big assignment, like finishing a paragraph or two. This really helps, as it makes the really big, labor intensive assignments more manageable,” said junior Cora Thompson. “It also helps because it makes me feel more accomplished, which actually makes me more productive.”

Rewarding oneself after accomplishing goals is also a method of promoting motivation and productivity, according to Southern News. For example, breaking up an entire essay into paragraph chunks and then taking a break after each paragraph would be a way of rewarding oneself.

“I watch TikToks or do something artistic when I’ve finished something, it’s like giving myself a pat on the back,” Thompson said.

Students have found that partaking in practices like self-care can greatly help with motivation as well as overall mental health. Self-care looks different for everybody, as it is an act that one does to help their physical, mental and emotional health. Self-care can include activities such as skincare, reading, cleaning, fitness and other activities that allow for relaxation. According to Florida State University, self-care can help reduce the chances of academic burnout, which is something one experiences when they have pushed themselves too hard.

“Self-care is extremely important. Without it, stress can build up and lead to overwhelming you even more. My favorite self-care activities would be watching my favorite comfort movies, hanging out with my friends, and doing some fancy skincare. It’s good to take small breaks everyday so you can avoid stress,” Simpson said.

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April 2021

The side of the building of Daniel’s Vineyard on April 19. Photo by Rebekah Shultz.

Behind the ‘mask’erade Prom will be hosted at a combined indoor and outdoor venue Rebekah Shultz

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shultreb000@hsestudents.org

senior-only prom is taking place this year, on May 2nd from 7-10 p.m. at Daniel’s Vineyard. Not only are underclassmen not allowed, no outside guests are permitted as well. This was decided due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the prom limit only allowing 650 people.

“I’m upset at the fact juniors cannot go to prom,” senior Isabel Luckie said. “Since the class of 2021 didn’t get a prom last year, I think we should all be able to get a prom this year, including the junior class. I know there will be cautions in play but having everyone there would be great because many seniors have junior friends.”

Although seniors like Jacey Vore and Aidan Merante are upset about juniors not being allowed to attend prom this year, they choose to look on the bright side.

“I’m generally just excited to do something as a senior class,” Merante said. “The opportunities we’ve had this year have been limited, and as seniors I think it’s important that we spend some measure of time together before we all go our separate ways.”

Vore also said she is looking forward to the senior-only prom because the senior class is close and she would see more recognizable faces.

“I am sad about not being able to go to prom,” junior Anna Millar said. “I was supposed to go last year too, so it’s disappointing that I have to miss it for the second year in a row.

But I know it’s necessary to skip this one in order to get back to normal and have one next year, so I’m looking forward to that.”

The prom is going to have slushies provided at Daniel’s Vineyard, as well Kelly Applegate, who will have a special photography station with a backdrop.

Two DJs will be there, one inside and one outside. The DJs are going to be Mr. Williams, the assistant

principal at FCJH, also known as DJ Kinetic. He has also dj’ed for Riley Dance Marathon. The second DJ will be the Fishers production team, which is the first time students have ever hosted for a school event.

The teachers that are planning this event are Sarah Riordan, Stephanie Gutting and Phillip Albonetti. Riordan thinks the process has been exciting. She hopes to give the seniors a breath of fresh air of normal and tradition.

Until six weeks ago, the three teachers were unsure there was even going to be a prom. Since then, they have been figuring it out and finding the process very exciting. The three teachers agree “we love to do this and it is a big event for us to be able to plan for the student body.”

Daniel’s Vineyard was the chosen setting for prom because of the indoor and outdoor event space that could accommodate for COVID-19 regulations.

Typically, prom is held in downtown Indianapolis, but it could not be done this year because of Marion County’s restrictions.

Although, the flyer for the prom event specifically says, “This event may be canceled or postponed if local COVID restrictions will not allow for an event of this size or type.” If the event does get canceled, all tickets would be refunded.

“I’ve been to Daniels Vineyard multiple times and it’s beautiful and has lots of room,” Luckie said. “So I think it’s a great idea.”

The theme of the prom is Sunset “Mask”erade which was chosen because it is the “year of the mask,” according to Riordan.

“We wanted to put a fun positive spin on wearing a mask,” Gutting said. “We’re hoping the teachers have fun with that, we’re hoping that is something that catches on. We are embracing it with positivity.”

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The upstairs ballroom which is one out of the two ballroms that prom will be taken place at. Photo taken by Rebekah Shultz.

The Vineyard’s logo engraved from recycled wine barrels placed on the wall by the stairs. Photo by Rebekah Shultz

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April 2021

Time to listen Podcasts grow in popularity for users, creators alike Grace Mossing

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mossigra000@hsestudents.org

ver the past 10 years, the number of American podcast listeners has jumped by 30%, according to Oberlo. The top 10 podcasts on Spotify range from themes of comedy, education, news, society & culture and true crime, showing the vast interests of the world population. In a survey of over 100 FHS students, 60% of them listen to podcasts.

“I mainly listen to entertainment podcasts, not necessarily educational,” sophomore April Brownell said. “It’s like a YouTube video, but a podcast version.”

Brownell started listening to podcasts because her parents listened to comedic ones and news broadcasts such as NPR in the car. Once her favorite YouTubers started making them, she got into listening. Brownell subscribes to podcasts such as “Anything Goes”

by Emma Chamberlain and “Pretty Basic” by Alisha Marie and suggests them for others who enjoy topics of lifestyle and mental health.

When looking for a new podcast to listen to, Brownell has a few constrictions. If they are educational, it must be something that interests her, such as a podcast she listens to about songwriting theory. The rest mostly have to do with the style of the podcast.

“There can’t be coughing,” Brownell said. “It needs to feel like a normal conversation and natural, not like structured.”

While listening to podcasts is popular, creating them has also grown. Freshmen Luke Delong and Casey Alexander started their own podcast over the summer called Orion Films.

Their goal was to do some filmmaking, but being in the height of a pandemic, they had to switch their platform to podcasting.

They rotate who writes the episodes and who speaks on them to give their listeners a bit of variety, releasing episodes biweekly. Topics of episodes range from interviews they conduct with experts, analysis on popular movies, and discussions on how filmmaking influences messages.

In the next couple of weeks, they will be interviewing voice actor Michaela Jill Murphy, known for playing Toph Beifong in the animated Nickelodeon television series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

“We use this app called Anchor which is really nice because it allows you to record in the app, although you don’t have to, but that’s how we upload the podcast to Spotify and most platforms where you can listen,” Delong said.

“Plus, it does it all for free.”

Both Delong and Casey do not necessarily like listening to podcasts. Delong listens to one about filmmaking as well as The Michelle Obama Podcast.

“It’s got to be very specific episodes that I listen to,” Alexander said. “I don’t listen to entire shows. I also appreciate good editing The phone depicts podcasts referenced by freshman Luke Delong because sound mixing and editing has always and sophomore April Brownell. Graphic by Grace Mossing.

Arts & Culture been an interest of mine.”

By taking what they like and dislike from podcasts they have been exposed to, they are able to create a podcast they believe to be more entertaining and captivating for their own audience. Neither student likes to sit down and listen to a long podcast and they both appreciate conversationally-fueled ones.

“I think the one main thing that keeps me from listening to podcasts a lot is length,” Delong said. “That’s why we always

Scan the QR code for a link to The Orion Podcast by Orion Films on Spotify.

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try to keep ours around 20 minutes. We’ve noticed with our analytics that people don’t listen to the longer episodes. You can only hold their wattention span for about 20 minutes.”

If looking for a podcast to start with, Delong suggests “Interview with a Teacher” and Casey suggests “Not Talking About James Cameron.”

Orion Films expressed interest in finding other students who enjoy learning about filmmaking and would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to join.

The cover art of Orion Films’ Podcast can be found on their instagram @orionfilmsstudios. Used with permission of Orion Fillms.

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April 2021 1

Breeze into spring cleaning Tips, tricks to make spring cleaning more enjoyable, thorough Malak Samara

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samarmal000@hsestudents.org

ust piles up throughout the winter season due to the house being closed off and heavily insulated.

When the warm weather comes around in spring, the perfect opportunity arises to clean out the house of any unwanted clutter, stuffiness and allergies from the cold weather.

“We always end up cleaning around this time,” sophomore Kayla King said. “I feel like it’s just because it’s fresh, we’re out of winter and able to go outside. So in spring, and when weather gets nice, I feel the urge to have a more organized house.”

According to the Washington Post, spring cleaning has been around since at least the 1800’s. According to the article, the biggest house cleaning event took place in the spring because the winter left homes covered in “a layer of soot and grime in every room.”

“During the winter time, when you’re stuck inside, you can accumulate a lot of things and forget to keep things organized,” freshman Meredith Ober said. “Taking some time while the seasons are changing to clean everything out just makes everything so much better when you’re organized for the summer.”

In Knox County, Tennessee, a motion was approved to acknowledge April as ‘Spring Clean Up Month’ on March 24. This proclamation allows for citizens within the county to be motivated to take care of their environment.

Spring cleaning can be completed in many different ways, however, there are a couple of tips to make it a bit easier for those who are wanting to get into it. For one, piling the clutter is a popular and well-known method.

Three known piles used for decluttering include ‘keep,’ ‘donate,’ and ‘trash’ piles.

“You have to be careful if it has emotional value,” English teacher Kelli Jacobs said. “If it really does, keep it. I have a smile file with notes that students have given me. If it’s something someone in the building can use, take it to a department office. Otherwise, donate it or trash it.”

Another commonly used tip to use during spring

cleaning is to spread it out over the course of a couple of days. This way, a whole day is not being used to clean and energy is not being overused, either.

“I guess just taking it [spring cleaning] piece by piece or room by room,” King said. “It can get pretty overwhelming with doing the whole house after we’ve been inside a bit for a year.”

There are also ways to make spring cleaning more enjoyable. A commonly used method to do so is listening to music. Even cleaning with others can make the activity seem less like a chore and more like something that is fun. Jacobs said she usually has a good time spring cleaning with English teacher Jennifer Gabbard.

Spring cleaning is also being used to declutter school files, especially electronic assignments during the pandemic and virtual instruction. Since a lot of the schoolwork this year is being done through a screen, files and assignments can tend to take up a lot of space. King said especially with online school she needs to clean out her devices since almost all of her schoolwork is stored in her laptop.

“It’s really important to me to declutter my classroom and have my classroom reflect my students,” Jacobs said.

“I feel like that’s something that you have to keep up with, or else your classroom is just kind of stale and outdated.”

Spring cleaning has been around for quite a while for a number of different reasons. However, it’s always had the same goal and outcome, which is to declutter the winter feeling and get ready for the warmer weather.

“I feel like if your space is cluttered, you feel cluttered,” King said. “ I feel like it’s such a horrible thing to do, because it’s so boring and it just seems really tedious, but at the same time I feel like it’s a nice block to get your mindset out from school work to more summer and excitement for the next school year.”

1. A woman cleans a bedroom during spring to get rid of the dirt accumulated throughout winter. Photo used with permission of Johnathon Maloney and Igna Backmann.

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Concentrating on creativity

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AP art students work to finish portfolios Abigail Garrison

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garriabi000@hsestudents.org

s many students have been cramming to take AP tests in May, the AP art students have been working to assemble a cohesive portfolio to submit to the College Board.

AP Photography The first step for all fine arts classes is to decide what to investigate. An investigation can answer a question or be a common theme that travels throughout the works.

“The question I asked myself throughout each investigation was ‘how could I create fantasy from reality?’” junior Kori Newman said. “I wanted to explore this topic because 2020 was a difficult year and I wanted to create something that not only myself, but the audience could escape into while viewing my art.”

The next step is to take the photos, or in some student’s cases, create them.

“At the end of last year, Mrs. Brown told me that if I were to take AP Photography, I would be able to take a graphic design approach to the class, which is what made me want to take the class,” senior Ben Wood said. “I don’t think I would’ve taken the class if I would have been limited to exclusively photography. I do still enjoy taking photos on occasion though.”

After spending their whole year working on a collective project, students have learned many new skills that they have been able to apply to their everyday lives.

“Taking AP Photography showed me the true side of hard work and perseverance. It’s so easy to lose motivation, but as the class progressed, so did my work ethic,” Newman said. “I was constantly teaching myself new ways to edit my photos and with the support of Mrs. Brown and my classmates behind me I was able to achieve skills I didn’t know I was capable of.”

AP 3D While the process of deciding on an investigation and then creation of the work is universal throughout all the classes, students in AP 3D art have been able to find inspiration through stories and nature.

“For my portfolio I chose a Japanese styled theme,” senior Maxine Shaikhadeh said. “I looked up the old Japanese folklore of each animal that is highlighted throughout tradition and sculpted an environment to match the animals and their tales.”

Future of AP Art Students Taking AP art classes have taught students lessons of consistent work, trial and error and time management which allowed students to find their passions. Students have even taken their work to social media platforms where their classmates can see all of their hard work. Wood displays his work on his Instagram page @benwstudios and classmate senior Reegan Hargreaves displays her work on her page @reegan.photos.

1 1. Fallen Angel: “This image represents the struggle that reality can have on someone who has the desire for enlightenment and inspiration within their life but can’t attain it. I think a lot of people deal with struggles in their life and I wanted to create something that was relatable rather than my usual fantasy,” Kori Newman said. Model is junior Oli Shailes. Photo used with permission of Kori Newman.

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2. Light. 3. Waves. Both posters illustrate the perception of one word. Photo used with permission of Ben Wood.

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4. Red dragon based on Japanese traditional folklore. Photo used with permission of Maxine Shaikhadeh. 5. 2D artwork based on theme art through words on unusual surfaces. Photo used with permission of Emma Giger.

GIRLS Heritage Christian: Loss 15-4 Warren Central: Win 16-4 Carmel: Loss 16-0 Cathedral: Loss 9-4 Bishop Chatard: Loss 9-4 Brebeuf: Loss 16-2

BOYS Center Grove: Loss 8-6 Heritage Christian: Win 17-6 Cathedral: Loss

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Finding the sweet spot

Coaches help hitters find more consistent success at plate Nate Albin albinnat000@hsestudents.org very softball play starts with a duel between the pitcher and the batter.

Because pitchers are able to control the speed, placement and type of pitch thrown, the batter needs to be ready for anything. In order to simplify this process, hitters strive for consistency with their swing.

A good swing can be key in getting quality plate appearances. When developing a strong swing, the coaches start with a few core ideas they like to instill in their hitter.

“We talk a lot about getting the bottom hand out in front, taking it to the ball,” head coach Daren James said. “Then everything is about backside push, throwing that back arm and pushing with your back leg as hard as you can.

We try and keep it simple.”

James knows that it is not his job to create a strong swing because the players already come into the program with an already-developed swing.

“At this level, most of these kids have been going to hitting coaches, playing a long time, especially if they reach the varsity level,” James said. “And they’re there for a reason. We don’t tear anybody’s swing apart. We just try to tweak it here and there. It’s just making those minor adjustments and trying to get them in as good of a position as we can get them to make consistent contact.”

Junior Kaylee Kardash has spent years perfecting her swing. For her, one aspect of her at-bats that can lead to confidence is the bat that she is using.

“I actually name my bats,” Kardash said. “So whenever I am feeling really good with a certain one, I’m like ‘hand me whatever-the-bat’s-name-Iwant-to-hit-with.’ The bat is something I have to feel confident with.”

The opposite of a confident batter is a batter in a slump. A slump is when a batter cannot seem to

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get consistent hits, but sophomore Sophie Schoch has a plan to get out of them.

“Practice, practice, practice is the way me and some of my teammates deal with it,” Schoch said. “Mine is mostly reflecting and seeing what is getting me into that slump. Some of that is counts. If you’re getting yourself into a 1-2 count, you’re not going to get a good pitch to hit. It’s just reflecting and practicing, and once you get one hit out of that slump, you’re going to get better.”

Even though the softball season is just get beginning, this team already feels connected.

This, Schoch believes, can help when events are not going as planned.

“The trust that we instill in each other after just one game is amazing,” Schoch said. “We want to win and everyone has their goals, but it really is more of having each other’s backs and knowing the next person will make the next play if you mess up.”

Along with the team connectivity, Kardash also feels that the offseason was a great period of growth for the team and that they are ready for a big season.

“Whether it’s the hitting or the fielding, we grew a lot this offseason,” Kardash said. ”I feel like we’re going to be better than people think we will. We did lose a lot this past season, but we all worked really hard this offseason to grow.”

James likes what he has seen from his team early, but he still holds the same goals that he has for his team every year.

“We want to win sectionals, we want to win conference and we want to have a team GPA of 3.4,” James said. “We’re technically defending sectional champs and we’ve never won a conference title. And in our conference, that’s a pretty tough task. Those are always my goals going into it. I don’t set run goals or batting average goals or anything like that. Those are the things that are important to me.”

The three stages of senior Emily Walsh’s swing are shown in a game against Delta on April 17.

In the 17-4 home win, Walsh went three for four with three RBIs and one run scored. Photo

by Andrew Haughey.

Sports

Seeking balance

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Baseball players compare travel, school ball Andrew Haughey

haughand000@hsestudents.org

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y the time game day arrived on March 29, each player on the baseball team had played hundreds of games. America’s pastime often requires athletes to devote a large amount of time during the year to honing their pitching, hitting and fielding skills. Because of this, many of the players on the baseball team are participants on at least one other team. These teams are typically of travel baseball leagues and usually start young, with the youngest age bracket being for players ages eight and under (8u).

For junior Jack Backofen, the biggest difference between school and travel teams is the bond he has with his school teammates.

“For school baseball, you feel much more like a family,” Backofen said. “In travel you’re still friends with everybody, but it’s more like you meet up for the summer and play. For high school baseball, you’re with your family year-round.”

Expanding on the fact that high school baseball is where his strongest bonds lie, Backofen described multiple relationship-building experiences that he has had on the team.

“We have leadership councils, so a lot of us will go out and either hang out together or go out to breakfast together,” Backofen said. “We don’t really do that a whole lot for summer [baseball] just because we aren’t together as much.”

Coach Matthew Cherry said he tries to bring his coaching experiences from other teams and incorporate them into the school team in order to build team morale.

“We spend a lot of time together,” Cherry said. “We do these things called victory challenges and different workouts and tough activities where the guys have to work together and bond together. It’s been a little tough this year to do some of that stuff, but we just keep trying to do our best to create team unity-type situations where the guys get connected and want to play together.”

Junior Cody Jones believes travel baseball has always been more about getting a fun experience and developing his skills over the summer.

“There are some organizations out there that play really competitively, but every organization I’ve played for is more about having fun,” Jones said. “School ball is more about competing to win and you want to win every game, whereas travel ball is just kind of having fun with the boys.”

Backofen differs from Jones, saying he views the school season as a sort of prep for the summer season. Despite this, Backofen still views the school season as more important overall than the travel season.

“Playing so many games gets you ready for travel ball,” Backofen said. “Because of that, you don’t really practice a whole lot for travel during the high school season just because the high school season is that preparatory time.”

Playing so many games year-round can tire players out, but Jones said he is not worried about getting burned out.

“I don’t personally care what team I’m playing for,” said Jones. “I just like playing the game. Eventually, it’s going to get a little tiring, especially being a pitcher because our arms get pretty sore sometimes, but really it’s just about having fun. It is a change of pace for sure, which I think does help it, but I don’t think I would get too burned out if I played 80 games with my school team.”

Cherry acknowledged the threat burnout poses to his players, citing specific ways he hopes to help them avoid it.

“We just try to create an atmosphere where it’s fun and it’s kind of like a family and they enjoy being with their friends,” Cherry said. “Some days it’s just keeping things fun and loose and having a good time. We want them to enjoy being out there regardless of whether they’re competing or not and enjoy it because of the people they’re playing with.”

Freshman Jack Brown prepares to pitch to a Noblesville batter on April 16. The Tigers won the game 11-0. Photo by Andrew Haughey.

TEAM STATS

RBI = Runs Batted In, RBI refers to the number of runs the team has earned after a player has hit the ball.

BA = Batting Average, multiply this number by 100 to get the percent of the time the team hits the ball when at-bat.

OBP = On Base Percentage, multiply this number by 100 to get the percent of the time the team gets on base when at-bat.

All stats as of April 20, graphics by Andrew Haughey

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Lucas Oil Stadium played host to 15 games throughout the NCAA Tournament, including the entire Elite Eight, Final Four and National Championship Game. Photo by Nicholas Rasmusson.

Aftermath of the madness Indianapolis sees major success after hosting entire NCAA Tournament Nicholas Rasmusson

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rasmunic000@hsestudents.org

n April 5, the Baylor Bears were crowned as the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champions, effectively ending the college basketball season and the tournament’s stay in Indianapolis. Capped off by the Final Four in Lucas Oil Stadium, this tournament was certainly among the most memorable, not only because of the play but also the environment.

The tournament, located entirely in the state of Indiana, definitely had its ups and downs but was undoubtedly a huge success on many different levels. There were obstacles to overcome but none were able to derail the success and excitement of the tournament.

COVID-19 was a theme that surrounded this year’s tournament, and it did not allow the NCAA to get away without making an appearance. By March 16, 67 of the 68 teams had arrived in Indianapolis for the tournament, with the only exception being the Virginia Cavaliers, who had been struggling with COVID-19 cases within the team. The Cavaliers arrived in Indianapolis on March 19, leaving them enough time to receive their two COVID tests before their March 20 showdown against the Ohio Bobcats.

COVID-19 also ended one team’s tournament run before it even started: the Virginia Commonwealth Rams (VCU). VCU began seeing positive COVID tests around 48 hours before their scheduled tipoff time against the Oregon Ducks. Before the tournament, the NCAA indicated that teams would only be required to have five players to be eligible to compete in games.

Unfortunately, VCU was unable to reach that quota, sending Oregon into the Round of 32. This was a sour ending to VCU’s season, which finished with a 19-7 record.

The NCAA held true to its promise to promote social distancing for both spectators and team members. Throughout each of the venues, certain seats were restrained in order to

prevent people from sitting too close to each other. The benches for the teams were larger than normal, spanning multiple rows, large enough to maintain distance between team members. Teams were provided walking escorts to prevent contact between others outside of games. This was a great move by the NCAA, because not only did it protect teams from infecting each other but it protected teams from outside people, reinforcing the bubble environment.

The limited attendance did not prevent fans from coming out and supporting their schools. Fans from all over the country flocked to the Hoosier state to watch their team in the adjusted environment. The limited attendance also drove up ticket prices for certain games. Stubhub reported that their average price for a first or second round ticket was approximately $143. This made tickets for certain teams difficult to come by. While this was unfortunate for certain fans, the NCAA made the correct decision by putting safety first.

Attending a game was truly a memorable experience.

Despite the limited attendance, the NCAA Tournament atmosphere was still present. Tensions were high amongst both players and fans, and the crowds were still making lots of noise despite the low number of fans. The biggest and most noticeable difference was the spacing between fans. The isolation from other fans was eerie, yet the crowd noise made everyone feel together.

This year’s NCAA Tournament absolutely lived up to the hype it was given. The NCAA and the city of Indianapolis hosted a great tournament. They prioritized safety for all, even if it meant lower attendance numbers. There has never been an NCAA Tournament like this in history, and one city hosting 67 games over three weeks is an incredible feat. This tournament has certainly been one to remember.

Opinion

Rap needs to be revitalized

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Industry has taken turn for the worst, lost creativity Ava Hunt huntava000@hsestudents.org

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isclaimer: Let me begin by saying that I’m fully aware that the rap music genre talks about topics that are somewhat unbecoming of society and contain a lot of profanity. That being said, while reading this, be under the impression that I do not condone any of the activities that the rappers sing about. I am simply arguing that the rap music produced nowadays lacks in comparison to its predecessors.

Rap, which is another name for hip-hop, began around the late 1970s in the Bronx as an underground urban movement that allowed expression for people who had no other means to do so. It was introduced at house parties and neighborhood block events, and it quickly picked up traction from there. The expansion of the genre incited many different types of rap. Some rappers experimented thoroughly with digital sampling, while others used rap to push forward political ideology. Throughout the 90s, rap evolved as a commentary on police brutality, riots and the ghetto life. According to Neilsen Music, hip-hop is now the most popular genre of music in the United States.

Today, rap has strayed so far from its original disposition.

The genre once correlated with deejaying, graffiti painting and break dancing is now associated with diamonds, champagne and insane volumes of cash. Although popular rappers of the 90s such as Tupac, Notorious B.I.G and Snoop Dogg occasionally rapped lyrics that glorified partying and misogyny, they at least had original rapping voices and styles that accredited their fame. Their ability to tell stories and come up with clever rhymes should put today’s rappers, more specifically rappers who surfaced in the past three years, out of business. Instead, Soundcloud rappers are able to produce entire songs where not a word they say is recognizable, put a stereotypical, catchy beat behind it and still end up on the top charts.

Within the span of just a few years, today’s rap has lost the creativity and substance that previous artists had. Now,

a rapper’s focus is to create a song that has hard-hitting beat drops and lyrics that flex their possessions rather than a song that contains thoughtful lyrics and has a poetic rhythm. If you compare NBA Youngboy’s album, “Until Death Call my Name” (2018) to J. Cole’s album, “Cole World: the Sideline Story” (2011), the latter is far more impressive and conveys a much deeper message.

Also, the change in music streaming has contributed to the industry’s downfall. Since album sales are counted by individual song streams, artists are increasing the length of their albums for financial gain. This could mean that rappers are incentivized to write carelessly and release songs that have no other purpose than to rake in a few extra dollars. Both of these factors contribute to repetitiveness and a lack of originality among recent artists and the industry.

One aspect of today’s rap industry that I think is positive is the increase of diversity within it. For example, more and more mainstream rappers are women, homosexual or from varying backgrounds when compared to the mainstream rappers of the 90s. The “gangster” persona is not a requirement anymore in order for rappers to become successful. However, that doesn’t mean that the quality of their songs is any better than their predecessors.

One example of a “full package” rapper is Kendrick Lamar. He has a distinct tone, intricate lyrics and beats that slap. Lamar puts forth a great amount of effort and delicate care into each song he produces. The messages and meanings throughout his work are so profound that it takes a word-by-word analysis to understand the bigger picture. Lamar narrates his African American experience very mindfully and writes about his frustrations towards American politics. In my opinion, more rappers need to follow in his footsteps.

The rap industry has evolved into a stale, lackluster music genre. Many new releases are disappointing and showcase just how unimaginative the genre has become. One can only hope that the trajectory of the industry does a complete 180.

A collection of albums that exemplify the golden age of rap. Graphic by Ava Hunt.

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Talking filibuster should return Important Senate tool should stay, but with one impactful change Ben Rosen

Cloture Votes 60 40 20 0

Yes Votes

No Votes

Votes needed for a cloture motion to succeed or fail

2020 Filibusters 400 300 200 100 0

By Party (Blue) Democrats-327 filibusters (Red) Republicans-1 filibuster

Nuclear Option Votes Needed 60 40 20 0

Without

With Graphic by Ben Rosen.

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rosenben000@hsestudents.org

n the United States Senate, the filibuster is an important tool that requires both parties to work together to pass legislation. According to Senate Rule 22, cloture must be invoked for a filibuster to end. The rule states that threefifths of the Senate, currently 60 senators, must vote to invoke cloture for a filibuster to end. Per Brookings, more cloture motions have been made since 2001 than in the 80 years prior to 2001. As reported by Reuters, in the 2019-20 legislative session, there were 298 cloture votes.

Fox News reporter John Roberts reported on March 26 that, in 2020 alone, Democrats used the filibuster 327 times.

For comparison, in that same time period, Republicans only used the filibuster once, that is right only one single time did the Republicans use the filibuster last year while the Democrats used it 326 more times than Republicans did. Democrats have repeatedly petitioned for the removal of the filibuster despite their extensive use of it, which is a major obstruction of legislation. Removal of the filibuster will change the rules to benefit the majority party when the filibuster was put there in the first place to protect the minority party.

Previously, Senate rules required senators to speak during a filibuster. According to PBS, the practice of requiring senators to speak during a filibuster ended in the 1970s.

This is a part of the filibuster that needs to be brought back.

Senators can talk about whatever they would like to as long as they keep talking and there are not enough votes for cloture.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has stated multiple times that he would support bringing back the talking filibuster and keeping the 60 vote threshold. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) has also indicated support for the 60 vote threshold to stay.

This would likely prevent Senate Democrats from being able to change Senate rules and get rid of the filibuster entirely.

In 2013, former Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) created the “nuclear option” which can be used to lower the threshold for votes on executive and judicial branch nominees from 60 votes to a simple majority of 51 votes. In 2017 Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) added Supreme Court nominees to the list of things that the “nuclear option” can be used to lower the threshold on, meaning nominations are basically impossible to filibuster. This practice can become deeply problematic.

The Senate filibuster needs to stay. By requiring 60 votes for a cloture motion to succeed, both parties need to work together to get legislation passed. Bringing back the talking filibuster will help fulfill its purpose by requiring senators to speak on the floor and tell their constituents why they are objecting to that piece of legislation. Checks and balances are a vital part of the U.S. government, and the filibuster demonstrates this by ensuring that one party with a majority of control cannot pass whatever they like.

Opinion

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Talking about unspoken rules Unwritten regulations affect everyday lives and deserve recognition Fletcher Haltom

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haltofle000@hsestudents.org

t school, in the workplace, at restaurants and even within homes, invisible guidelines dictate our actions and our words. These unspoken rules are often subconscious in nature - people may not even be aware of the rules that they so faithfully abide by on an everyday basis. Despite their unspoken makeup, these rules are incredibly significant factors in the lives of many, and being conscious of their influence can prove to be invaluable.

Unspoken rules are present in nearly every aspect of life. In the workplace, employees generally agree upon guidelines such as responding quickly to emails, refraining from excessive discussion of personal topics and being on time to meetings. In school, students understand that they should not boast about grades, avoid certain parking spots and abstain from gossiping.

In social settings, giving up your seat to someone in need, not sharing movie spoilers and using headphones in public are all implicit regulations. These guidelines are present and applicable for almost any situation, which demonstrates the enormity of their impact and the importance of understanding the functions and principles behind them.

One prominent example of an unspoken rule is displayed via closure principles, forms of unspoken rules that allow a person to extrapolate a conclusion from an incomplete set of information.

This principle was the subject of a 2018 Cognitive Science Journal study wherein uninstructed subjects were told they either could or could not enter only two of a series of five colored doors. They were then able to determine whether they would be allowed to enter the remaining doors based on the incomplete instructions.

Overwhelmingly, the subjects demonstrated the ability to determine whether certain actions would be permissible under these incomplete instructions. Researchers speculate that this form of adherence to unwritten rules is largely due to conformity to rational learning principles that are a result of innate human processes.

Similarly, a 2014 Trends in Cognitive Science research study attributed the creation of these rules to another inherent cognitive process, “virtual bargaining.” In this principle, social participants anticipate agreements that would result if they were to discuss an inferred rule but do not engage in any actual interactions. Instead, they modify their behavior in accordance with their presumed conversation about the unspoken rule. Because subjects demonstrated the ability to follow these unwritten rules with no instruction, this contributes to the ample evidence that demonstrates how these rules are merely human nature.

Another perspective suggests the idea that conforming to unwritten rules and formulaic guidelines is detrimental to overall creativity and expression. As Cedarville University professor Eric Mishne emphasized in a 2019 report, strict unspoken rules can sacrifice authenticity and innovation in favor of tradition and respect of established normalities.

Therefore, it is beneficial to balance adherence to societal and cultural norms with a healthy amount of individuality and creativity. Unspoken rules are, by nature, not laws that are set in stone, so recognizing when to break from the standard is important.

The benefits of understanding unwritten rules are evident. Similar to learning how to make small talk, being a good listener or establishing eye contact while speaking, recognizing and adapting to different sets of unspoken rules is a beneficial social tool. Furthermore, it is a tool that can be refined through practice and application. When in a social setting, it is important to recognize the existence of these rules and behave accordingly. These rules can be found virtually everywhere, so learning to notice them is a beneficial skill. Utilizing deductive reasoning, closure principles and virtual bargaining are all helpful ways to react to unwritten rules and improve overall social competence while doing so.

Graphic by Fletcher Haltom.

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Communication is key Observing, playing sports sharpens connections

Being brave I enough to state your mind and convey your emotions when needed requires application.

magine a sports game where no one talked. Think of baseball or lacrosse where players are constantly passing the ball, running and making plays. A game of beauty and precision and grace would crash into a fumbling chaos.

Team sports such as these rely on communication. It is vital for their success as a team and it is vital to all of us as humans.

Communication carries a stigma of being cliché. Parents tell their kids to communicate more to them about their problems, couples say that the ‘key’ to their relationship is talking to another and teachers push students to let them know when they need help. Over time, it has become something we hear, but not something we work on.

When someone tells a person “you have to be better about communicating,” the natural reaction is to respond with an eye roll and an internal remark or “I am”. Reexamining oneself after the fact however, sometimes we see that not acting like ourselves and expecting other people to catch on to the fact may not have been the best way to convey emotions or words.

Sports do not have this privilege. A player cannot stop talking to his teammates during a game and expect the game to run as smoothly as it always does. The coach will take him out. If a leg in a relay does not yell “go” to the next runner, the baton will not be passed and their times will not improve.

Being in a team sport teaches athletes to collaborate. Day in and day out, teammates have to work together for the best result, not for themselves but for everyone. Every day they have to communicate with each other whether they like it or not. It teaches student-athletes to work through emotions with those closest to them even if it is uncomfortable.

It teaches them how to be heard in a room where no one is listening. It teaches them to stand up for themselves in difficult situations. Sports teams are the classrooms for efficient communication.

Communication seems easy until you are thrown into it, until you have to say what you want. It turns out calling possession at a volleyball game does not translate over as easily when you have to tell someone that they are sitting in your seat or have taken your pen.

Communicating can be unnecessarily scary and flanked with anxiety, but watching sports, you can learn the power of being assertive, being persistent and being concise in your speech.

Just like sports, communication takes practice. Being brave enough to state your mind and convey your emotions when needed requires application. If you can do it once, you can do it again and again and again.

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Opinion

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EDITORIAL QUESTION Have sports improved your communication skills?

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YES - 6 NO - 3

At Noblesville High School’s baseball field, seniors Matt Bryant and Jack Braun talk on the fence as their team plays. Photo by Andrew Haughey.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Tiger Topics N the Red is the official monthly newsmagazine of Fishers High School. It is distributed free to 3,500 students and over 300 student personnel. It is designed, written and edited by students.

Opinions expressed in the newsmagazine do not necessarily represent those of the adviser, administration or staff.

Letters to the editor may be submitted to A218, and must contain the writer’s phone number for verification.

Letters to the editor will not be published anonymously.

If there is any incorrect information, corrections will be made in the next issue.

MISSION STATEMENT

As the student-run newsmagazine of FHS, N the Red is dedicated to providing the staff, students, and community of FHS with a timely, entertaining and factual publication once a month by means of public forum. In publishing articles that students enjoy reading, we are furthering both the educational experience and the expansion of FHS culture. The staff works to create a sense of unity and awareness and to allow the students of FHS to have a better insight to the world around them.

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Issue Review

Down: 1. Which baseball season does Cody Jones view as the most important?

2. Ecotherapy is based on the idea that humans and nature have a strong __________.

4. What has junior Olivia Young been looking into this year to relieve stress for next school year?

5. Who did the girls lacrosse team lose to 16-2?

10. What month was announced as “Spring Clean Up Month” in Knox County, Tennessee?

11. The track meet at which high school was cancelled?

Across: 3. What type of principles allow people to form conclusions on incomplete information?

6. What male-dominated engineering industry has women making up 19.4%?

7. Who was the 2021 Men’s College Basketball Champion?

8. What city did rap originate in?

9. How many RBIs did Emily Walsh have in their 17-4 win over Delta?

11. What is the formal name for the 60-vote threshold needed to end a filibuster?

12. What is the podcast run by freshmen Casey Alexander and Luke Delong called?