Turn off or unplug appliances when not

IT’S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD

It’s getting to the time of year when getting out of bed can feel like an impossible task.

The ‘winter blues’: a slow and steady loss of energy and motivation as the days get darker and colder. Officially diagnosed in more severe cases as Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD), the winter months can be a psychologically draining time. Researchers still don’t know the full cause or treatment, but many theorize SAD has something to do with the production and regulation of serotonin (the ‘happy’ brain chemical) and melatonin (the sleep hormone). Vitamin D, hormone replacement therapies, and small lifestyle changes are all recommendations from doctors to treat the issue that affects 6.8 percent of the US population.

For teenagers, seasonal mood changes can be more noticeable than in adults due to the impact it has on academic and social performance.

“Midwinter always starts to get really hard for me,” senior Elena Martinez said. “When it gets really cloudy and everything is always grey, that’s really tough. Last year when it was snowing, I literally stayed in my bed for like 2 weeks. I took so many ‘sick’ days because it got really bad.”

Timothy Zimmermann, a ninth grade humanities teacher, reflected on the patterns he’s noticed as an educator.

“[After the fall] high school becomes school again,” Zimmermann said. “It’s not exciting, your teachers want you to do stuff, your classes get hard, and at the exact same time it gets dark all the time, so for sure the energy drops off.”

In academic spheres, not completing assignments or falling behind is often attributed to laziness or bad work ethic. However, mental health can be a significant factor at play preventing kids from succeeding, which can be difficult for teachers to pick up on.

“Sometimes kids may give off the appearance that they really don’t care or they’re not that engaged, but [school] is a huge stressor for kids,” Rosie Moore, a mental health specialist at Garfield’s Teen Health Center, said. “They want to be successful and they don’t want to let people down or seem like a failure.” This forces teachers to ask a tough question. “How do you know when a student isn’t motivated because there’s stuff in their life that’s causing them to

By Grace Chinowsky and Tova Gaster Art by Caroline Ashby

do that, versus when they’re just being lazy?” Zimmerman said. “I always assume that there’s some mental health thing...because there almost always is. If someone’s not turning in their homework,

Adolescent anxiety, academic or otherwise, has been sharply increasing over the past decades.

“I think mental health issues in general have shown a significant increase in the time I’ve been here,” Moore said, who has worked at the Teen Health Center for the entire 20 years it has been open. “Depression used to be the number one problem, but as of late it’s been anxiety and panic issues. I think students have a lot of stress and pressure, both in school and out of school. And just the general climate of uncertainty and worry.”

Studies corroborate Moore’s experiences—in recent generations, there has been a significant uptick in adolescent mental health issues. Between 2007 and 2012, rates of teenage anxiety disorders went up 20 percent and rates of suicide and self-harm nearly doubled.

Many people connect this trend to the rise of smartphones and their effect on teenagers.

“ R E G A R D L E S S O F Y O U R R A C E , M E N T A L H E A L T H C A N B E A N I F F Y S U B J E C T F O R A L O T O F P E O P L E A N D T H A T C O N V E R S A T I O N I S A L W AY S G O I N G T O B E U N C O M F O R T A B L E , B U T I H A V E N O T I C E D A L O T O F T R E N D S W H E R E W H E N W H I T E P E O P L E T A L K A B O U T I T , I T ’ S M O R E A C C E P T A B L E T O B E G O I N G THROUGH THINGS.” AMARRA ANDRESON T H E R E ’ S A L A C K O F K N O W L E D G E A B O U T H O W T O G O A B O U T A C T U A L L Y H E L P I N G A K I D . W H E N T E A C H E R S W O U L D A S K , H O W C A N I B E S T S U P P O R T Y O U , I D I D N ’ T EVEN KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.” ELENA MARTINEZ

Amarra Andreson, a junior on CORE staff (Congress of Racial Equity), finds that phones act as both a light-hearted distraction and social outlet, but can negatively impact how people talk about mental health.

“You know, like, going on my finsta [a ‘fake’ Instagram usually exclusively for friends] and ranting or posting on my private story and just like not doing anything about it so when people actually check up on me, I’m like, ‘oh, it’s okay, I’m good now.’ But, really, I need that physical support,” Andreson said.

The internet also spreads information about current events. As Moore said, mental health difficulties can be traced to hereditary factors (for example, familial history of mental illness) or to individual traumas, but it’s also deeply impacted by broader societal issues.

“The climate crisis...we’re all worrying about that because it’s what we have to plan our future around,” Andreson said. “Knowing about disasters going around the world, increase[s] in poverty, stuff like that... things that don’t directly impact some of us...they’re all being piled onto us to think about how we’re going to move forward.” All-encompassing issues like climate change and academic stress illustrate how mental health is relevant for everyone — no matter their race, socioeconomic status, or culture. But especially at Garfield, one of the most diverse high schools in the district, it’s important to note how structural racism adds layers to the dialogue.

Discussion of mental health can be especially taboo in non-white cultures, which makes it more difficult to begin conversations about it.

“My dad is Mexican and my mom is Filipina. My dad definitely struggles with his own mental health but just doesn’t acknowledge it. He sees it like, ‘you kids are privileged, you have nothing to be sad about,’” Martinez said. “So anytime anyone is depressed and there’s nothing conceivably wrong in their life, he just sees it like, ‘that’s some white people sh*t.’”

But it doesn’t stop there: data suggests that when people of color do seek help, it is far more difficult for them to actually receive care. According to the US Office of Minority Health, suicide was the second leading cause of death for black adolescents in 2017, yet in that year, white people were twice more likely to receive mental health support and/or medication than black or Latinx people.

So within our own school, how can Garfield shift its culture to be more supportive and prioritize mental health — especially within stressful academic environments? A good place to start is our Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP classes have a reputation for placing students under a great deal of pressure — not only from parents and teachers, but also from peers..

Elena Martinez noticed that AP classes can exacerbate anxiety.

“I felt like I was failing all the time in school even though I was doing well,” she said. “It wasn’t until I started legitimately failing school that I learned to get over that anxiety. I’ve gotten better at not beating myself up over every mistake I make.”

How should Garfield address this problem?

“The first step is for everyone to generally be more empathetic to each other,” Martinez said. “Before judging, [try] to understand and [help] each other out when you can. Just [check] up on each other, not being condescending.”

When it comes to the classroom, teachers often find it challenging to identify and help kids that are struggling while staying on top of their curriculum and keeping control of the class.

“There’s a lack of knowledge about how to go about actually helping a kid,” Martinez said. “When teachers would ask, how can I best support you, a lot of the time I didn’t even know the answer to that. I’ve had lots of teachers tell me I could come in and talk. I didn’t take most of them up on it, but just knowing that someone cared and was there.”

Zimmermann had a similar perspective: it is often hard for teachers to know how to support struggling students.

“The job in my life is to help people learn, but people learn best when they are mentally healthy, so I think of [trying to support

RESOURCES

TEEN HEALTH CENTER

Garfield’s Teen Health Center can be found around the corner from the main office, including the nurse’s office, free mental health counseling, psychiatric services, and free menstrual products and birth control.

“Definitely come in and check it out, just to find out what kind of services we have! There are two types of consent-- we have a minor consent, so if you’re 13 and older you can sign your own consent form for mental health services, drug and alcohol, pregnancy prevention. You can get your sports physical here, which is a full consent that your parent or guardian wouldn’t need to fill out. All those confidential services are easily accessible and in walking distance from the classroom.”

THERAPY AND HOTLINES Nami Seattle hosts free drop-in support groups, including a support group for black, indigenous and people of color living with mental health conditions, bipolar support groups, and eating disorder support recovery.

Look here for a full monthly schedule: http:// namiseattle.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ Support-Group-Schedule-December.pdf Crisis Connections offers support for issues including mental health, housing instability, and substance abuse. Phone: 1-866-4CRISIS (24-hour crisis line)* Website: https://www.crisisconnections.org/ Teen Link is a confidential and anonymous help line for teens. Trained teen volunteers are available to talk with you about any issue of concern. Phone: 1-866-TEENLINK* Website: www.teenlink.org

Center for Human Services offers mental health counseling with sliding scale payment based on income and household size.

students mentally] as part of my job,” Zimmermann said. “I’m in no position to diagnose, no position to treat, but I do want to take the kind of care of people I can.”

More well-known outlets for mental health support at Garfield come with their own complications.

“There’s always that stigma around seeking mental health at school because one, people can see you,” Andreson said. “I personally feel like, I don’t want people to think there’s something wrong with me!”

But according to Ms. Rosie, research shows that kids who have a trusted adult in their life do better in school and have better emotional wellbeing.

“Counseling is important, [but] it doesn’t necessarily have to be a therapist,” Moore said. “It’s just finding an adult in the building that you can connect with.”

There are a lot of things we can do better as a school.

“[We need to have] conversations about mental health in a classroom setting in a way that doesn’t trigger people but also is more information and expands on resources,” Andreson said.

Moore’s take was more specific. “The first thing is to get plenty of sleep,” Moore said. “Really, self-care. Hygiene, eat well, do some deep breathing. Just realize it’s not the end of the world even if it seems that way.”

Phone: 206-362-7282 Website: https://www.chs-nw.org/programsservices/family-counseling/

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800- 273-TALK

WA Warm Line is peer-to-peer over the phone counseling for people living with emotional and mental health challenges. Phone: 1-877-500-WARM

* do not provide ongoing counseling

A&E

student submissions

By Riley Perteet-Cantu ‘21 UTOPIA

She held onto the railing of the subway, her yellow-spotted dress swept up by the locomotion. Beside her stood a portly man, seemingly unaffected by the state of the crumbling vehicle. His skin was fetid and jaundiced, his eyes seemed to be those of a lunatic, but his demeanor was one of a priest. He silently stood there, as if in the middle of a hymn to a perpetually silent god. She watched out the cracked window, the omnipotent sand wafted to and from her field of vision, taunting her, waiting for her.

She thought about the hilarity of this subway. Why in the world would they name it that way? If they were trying to evoke nostalgia, a bus would have been a fine alternative… She watched the ever-flowing sand, the ebb and flow of the exsanguine land. Yet as she watched the warbling wastes, a flash of brown caught her eye. The sand immediately obscured the image, as if to conceal its long-held secret, a desperate attempt at consigning the notion to oblivion. The flash appeared once more, except larger, and seemingly more present, slowly escaping the sand’s wrathful grip. She blinked, and the image grew larger. What was once a speck in the hordes of dust, became a mountain, a beast, lurking closer to the non-sensical subway. The conductor, a large yet skeletal figure, reached out to press what was once a red button. History had long faded the object into a dull maroon, with tiny flecks of paint breaking off at each jolt that the subway took. He finally seemed to reach the button, after what felt like seconds, but could have possibly been minutes, perhaps hours…and quietly, she thought to herself, “Perhaps…days...” Everything on the journey to utopia took seemingly forever, so in reality, you had no idea which things took longer than others. The subway lurched to a stop with a hollow wail as the corpse-like conductor managed to press the button to its fullest extent. A folding door on the side opposite of her opened with a rusty bellow. Sand invaded the subway like a flood of water, except it choked faster, swifter than whatever fluid could possibly attempt. A beastly hand gripped the door, cracked fingernails scraping the side of the subway with a desperate longing, “A longing”, she thought, “That I know all too well…” A walking cadaver stumbled closer to the doorway, his once beast-like appearance replaced with a shambling shell of a person. His likeness once bolstered by the sand’s mirage now stripped to its fragile core. For however biologically whole he was, his mind has surely since rotten away. In his other hand, he held an oblong bottle, it was most likely used to hold water in some far-off time, as evident by the smattering of sand encrusted inside of it.

The conductor studied the frail being, his eyes immediately attracted to the bottle in his left hand. Finally, his voice creaked, “Get on.” The man would have cried if he had any moisture left in that withering sack of flesh, but he hardly had any energy left to take the step into the subway. He made a pitiful attempt toward a seat, yet immediately faltered to the steel grating. No one helped him up, to her surprise, no one even seemed to notice he was there. The conductor shambled over to the door, grasped the handle and slammed it shut. He trudged back over to wheel, pulled an arthritic iron lever, and the with an anguished roar, the subway was resurrected.

By Lily Tran ‘20

By Lampton Enochs ‘20

If you are a writer, artist, or photographer and want to see your work featured in the Student Submissions page, email garfieldmessenger@gmail.com!

By Devon L.E, Corinna Singer, and Simone Cielos

Chinese Lunar New Year is an important holiday primarily celebrated in mainland China and communities across the United States. The actual date of the new year is usually between January 21st and February 20th. Decorations, advertisements, and general observance begins in early January while Chinese students finish finals and start their month long winter break a few weeks later. While family reunions, firecrackers, red envelopes, and lion dances are some of the more important festivities of the lunar new year, nothing tops the custom of having traditional cuisine to celebrate the holiday. Starting with the annual reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, food plays a major role in almost every aspect of the Chinese Lunar New Year. One dish in particular stands out: dumplings (jiaozi). Dumplings are said to symbolize money and bring prosperity to those who eat them, as they have a shape similar to gold ingots. Symbolism aside, they are a delectable and highly customizable dish that can be eaten at any time of the day. Here is one take on this famous dish that you can try yourself:

New Years is a time of celebration: food, dancing, and parades have all brought joy and excitement to thousands of people globally. Chinese Lunar New Year has dominated the American perspective of “Asian New Year’s.”

The Messenger hopes to go beyond this perception and bring to light the traditions that have originated in and are celebrated across Asia, many of which are observed by students at Garfield.

A&E Ingredients: Ground Pork- 1lb Egg- 1 Chopped green onions- 5 Minced ginger- a good amount Minced napa cabbage- ½-1 head depending on tofu amount Tofu- ½-1 block depending on cabbage amount Sesame oil- at least 1tbsp Soy sauce- at least 2 tbsp Cooking wine- to taste Salt- to taste; depends on soy sauce amount Black pepper- to taste Sugar- to taste Dumpling wraps- two packets Procedure: 1. Mince the napa cabbage (placing it in a blender is fine too), then place in a large enough bowl to soak. Add salt to the water. Let sit for about 15 minutes. 2. While the cabbage sits, prepare the meat in a large bowl. Beat the egg separately and then mix it in to the meat. Slice the onions and mince the ginger. Mushrooms, if wanted, can be prepared now too. 3. Remove the cabbage from the water. Then, squeeze the cabbage with your hands until most of the additional water is removed. Mix the “juiced” cabbage, tofu, ginger, onions, and optional mushrooms into the meat. 4. As you continue to mix, gradually add in the condiments in their desired amounts. Once mixture is complete you can begin wrapping (look up a video on how to wrap dumplings). 5. To cook, boil a pot of water and then add the dumplings. 6. Cook on medium to low heat for ten minutes. Enjoy your delicious creations with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha, and the company of others. 7. Any extra dumplings can be frozen and saved for later. 8. Cook these the same way you would cook fresh ones. HOW TO JIAOZI

13 I wish it was more represented especially at school. I’ll be ready for it the whole year It’s translated from Sanskrit, means change/transform something like that. They go to temple and pour water on Buddha Statue to get luck to invite the new year to come. The moment when they release the scroll and light the fire crackers. It’s so very sacred and you can tell with the energy around the people how very important it is for every Vietnamese individual. I think it’s also about intergenerational connection To celebrate with the family. Good time with the family I’m also really happy to feel close to my family who I don’t actually get to see much It’s something very unique about The word for it is reunion One thing I can rely on to hap pen every year is make this dish Bābǎofàn every year which means eight treasure rice pudding This collage seeks to share their stories.

Garfield’s super supportive K-pop community. By Audrey Abrahams A t the Garfield K-pop Dance club, members channel their enthusiasm for the K-pop genre through dance. The wildly popular K-pop genre emerged in the 1990s and began gaining a mainstream following in the United States in the 2010s. One of the most recognizable and important characteristics of K-pop is Kpop dancing. K-pop dances are often made up of complicated repetitive movements that correlate to the lyrics of the song.

That aspect of K-pop is what Garfield’s Kpop Dance club is all about. It was started last year by Garfield student Maddy Oak and has grown to include students at the Seattle World School, a high school for immigrant and refugee students in the Central District.

Oak and her friends were all interested in K-pop dancing, and thought if they formed a club it could be a way to get a PE waiver, however, that didn’t quite work out.

“We found out it wasn’t used as a PE waiver, but then throughout the year we also found out that it was really fun to dance together and learn and then perform and so we kept it going,” said Tasia Tran, a club officer.

Tran went on to describe the K-pop fanbase as a unique and supportive community, and her experience in Garfield’s Kpop Dance club is no different. “I myself get really anxious about being in front of people but [with] performing I think I’ve changed as a person, and being in a leadership role I feel more confident and I’m able to help others get over their stage fright,” Tran said.

K-pop Dance club has recently been looking for more ways to showcase what they’ve learned.

“We’ve been having performances at [the World School], and some schools have been reaching out and having us go to their school assemblies,” Tran said.

Despite their efforts to show Seattle what K-pop is all about, Oak feels there are a lot of misconceptions about K-pop and K-pop fans because it’s not in English. She also says people who do K-pop are judged for wearing make-up, so it’s especially important for Kpop Dance club to be an accepting and non-judgemental space.

There are other misconceptions about what K-pop is. Someone may think K-pop only consists of BTS (a popular K-pop act), but the K-pop Dance club is actively working t o shed light on lesser-known artists and groups.

“We don’t only do BTS dances. I feel like everyone thinks K-pop is all about BTS” Tran said. “We don’t just follow BTS, we K-POP, DROP & ROLL

actually like to go and try out different girl group dances and mixed group dances and other ones that aren’t BTS.”

On top of learning about more K-pop groups, the K-pop Dance club makes an effort to learn about how to thoughtfully represent Korean culture.

Oak acknowledges that cultural appropriation is sometimes a problem in K-pop. “We don’t want to change who we are or our culture to be Korean or anything like that. That’s the main thing of K-pop. There’s a difference between respecting it and wanting to be it,” Oak said.

If you are a K-pop fan or simply want to learn more about the genre, Tran said Kpop club is open to “anybody who finds it interesting or wants to try something new even if it’s not something you listen to.”

K-pop Dance club meets Mondays and Wednesdays after school at the Seattle World School.

14 G arfield’s Race and Equity team plans to honor Black Lives Matter week with a new mural which will be painted live by students and professional artists on the walls adjacent to the second floor balcony. Mr. Wray and Mr. Hagopian lead the project, in hopes to make this year’s Black Lives Matter week one to remember.

“We wanted to tell a story connected to the topic of the month and week,” Wray explained, “the mural is going to be painted live Black Lives Matter week, with the intention of it being finished Friday.” This aggressive timeline presents students with a unique opportunity to watch the mural as it expands and progresses.

Previous Black Lives Matter weeks haven’t left a legacy for future students, but a new mural presents an opportunity to create a long-lasting memorial to what Garfield stands for. Wray hopes that rather than be a time capsule, this mural will be something that, even in a decade, people can take something away from. “I wanted to focus on doing something,” Wray said. In order to make this mural timeless, the artists plan to lean away from depictions of specific people or events and instead depict concepts that will always be contemporary. “It’s going to be a continuous mural, and the gap plays a role too,” Wray explained. “The wall on the western side will tell the story of the Black past and where the community has come from. The gap is the balcony, where everyone, especially a lot of Black students and students of color hang out. This represents the Black present. The wall on the eastern side represents the Black future,” Wray said.

One of the most important questions is how to represent the “Black future.” What do Garfield’s Black students want Garfield’s future to look like? “It’s not Afrofuturism per se,” Wray said about the Black future wing of the mural, alluding to the Black futures depicted in art like Janelle Monáe’s “Q.U.E.E.N.” or Black Panther. Rather, the mural will depict “visions of Black excellence and Black success.” “We live in a society where we’re very reactionary. We go from reacting to one tragedy to the next, and we rarely have time to create visions for ourselves and where we want to go. The Black future is an opportunity for people to engage in a conversation about what tomorrow looks like in an ideal world,” Wray said.

That conversation is why it’s important to involve Garfield’s Black students in the project. Around ten students will be assisting in painting the mural, whose work will A new mural for Garfield. CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE By Benjamin Thomas

“WE’RE VERY REACTIONARY. WE GO FROM REACTING TO ONE TRAGEDY TO THE NEXT, AND WE RARELY HAVE TIME TO CREATE VISIONS FOR OURSELVES AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO.”

be supervised by four professional artists and experienced muralists: Afro, Perry Porter, Talia, and Max. Wray described them as the “creative directors” of the project; they designed a working draft of the mural (which is not yet finalized), and they will help students implement the mural’s vision onto Garfield’s walls.

To select the quartet of artists, Wray got together with students and brainstormed local artists whose styles the students liked, and reached out to see if they’d be interested in joining the project. Both Afro and Porter’s past murals have celebrated their communities, and they will celebrate the Central District in Garfield’s new mural. The current draft features the Red Apple, a local grocery store and Central District landmark that was demolished to make room for condos.

The new mural will serve to create new visions of Black futures and Black excellence within the walls of Garfield. What will these visions look like? Check them out for yourself during Black Lives Matter week!

OSCAR PREVIEW 2020 By Liam Hyde

A&E WANDERING THROUGH THE WINTER WALTZ

Mess Pick: 1917 is the clear best film of the year. The film follows two young soldiers (DeanCharles Chapman and George Mckay) on a mission to deliver a message to stop an attack on the Germans who are much more prepared than originally anticipated. The film is edited with amazing technique to look like it was shot in one take, with a grand total of one noticable cut for the audience. 1917 shows the true heartbreaking effect of war on the regular people grabbed from their lives and thrust into action. Dark Horse: Jojo Rabbit, directed by Taika Waititi, has gone relatively unnoticed in the huge crowd of movies released this fall like 1917, Parasite, The Irishman, and even Joker. However, it’s easily one of the best films of the year, following the young Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) as he navigates the world of Nazi Germany with his imaginary friend Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). While the film has caught some flack for the zany nature of how the source material of Nazi Germany is handled, it never gets to the point of trivialization. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect but Jojo Rabbit thoroughly impressed me with its heart. Best Actor Nominees Adam Driver, Antonia Banderas, Leonardo Dicaprio, Jonathon Pryce, Joaquin Phoenix Best Picture Nominees Little Women, 1917, Ford v. Ferrari, Joker, The Irishman, Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Snub: The Lighthouse, a psychological horror film featuring two standout performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, is noticeably absent from the Best Picture lineup. The film follows Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) as he is sent out to work on the maintenance of the titular lighthouse under the supervision of the elderly Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe). As the story goes on, Winslow has horrific dreams and visions and starts to lose his sanity.

Mess Pick: While it is confusing that Joker is leading the pack with 11 total nominations, Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was easily the best of the year. His performance as a mentally ill man thrown to the wayside by a crumbling city and abused by people from all walks of life manages to make you feel sympathy for the character. Then he makes you feel sick for the sympathy you gave him as he commits the horrific acts of violence later in the film. Overall, Phoenix gives a fantastic performance to rival Ledger’s in The Dark Knight. Dark Horse: Adam Driver in Marriage Story heartbreakingly shows the effect of divorce on a person and family. His character Charlie faces the challenge of maintaining a relationship with his son, as well as with his former wife, Nicole (Scarlett Johannsen), through his divorce. Driver’s performance is undeniably fantastic and deserves much praise. Best Actress Nominees Cynthia Erivo, Scarlett Johansson, Saoirse Ronan, Charlize Theron and Renée Zellweger.

Mess Pick: Due to the film being based off of the experience of the director’s own divorce, Charlie (Adam Driver) is portrayed as the main character. However, without Scarlett Johansson’s excellent performance as Nicole, Marriage Story would not have earned a Best Picture nomination. Nicole’s experience with the consequences of divorce, such as having to tell her mother that she can’t see Charlie anymore, makes the film even more heart-wrenching than thought possible.

Dark Horse: The biographical film Judy tells the life story of the singer Judy Garland (Renne Zellweger). Zellweger’s ability to depict the struggle of stardom that include substance addiction, family life, and pressure from millions of adoring fans, climaxes in a heartbreaking final performance to those fans.

Snub: Back to The Lighthouse, Willem Dafoe’s performance as the old isolated man was one of the best of his career, which makes it all the more confusing that he didn’t get nominated. His brilliant portrayal of the solitary old man and his quirks and mannerisms, like refusing to allow the other wickie (Robert Pattinson) to operate the light, adds yet another layer to this fantastic film.

Snub: Potentially due to her primary claim to fame as a performing artist and reality TV show judge, Jennifer Lopez surprisingly did not receive a nomination for her role as Ramona in Hustlers. Typically, whenever a performer who rarely takes serious roles excels in one, the Academy tends to give them a nomination for their efforts, however, Lopez received no such bone. Her performance as a stripper who steals from her Wall Street clients to create her own criminal empire was still as good as any this year.

15 By Wynsome Burke O n Sunday, January 19th, the Garfield Orchestra held its annual Winter Waltz at Benaroya Hall, a spectacle unlike any other school event. A longtime tradition kept alive by the passion of orchestra students, the Winter Waltz attracts a new audience for the orchestra and gathers support for the arts. This year’s waltz sported a “Moon River” theme, dazzling silver decor and waltz music for three consecutive hours.

“We reconfigure [the three orchestras] and they all learn classical waltzes,” explained Jagger Aldrich, Garfield junior and violinist.

Without a doubt, this is one of the orchestra’s biggest events of the year, attracting Garfield students, their families, and even outsiders to join in on the fun. No matter their experience level, everyone in attendance waltz.

“There are people that have been dancing for decades [who] help people learn to waltz, but also clumsy high school students that don’t know how to dance,” Aldrich said.

Chaotic and energetic, the Winter Waltz has a unique feeling of confidence and excitement. “It feels like a school dance, but where everyone is actually dancing and having fun,” said Natasha Wasniak, a Garfield senior and violinist.

“There are people colliding on the dance floor, and orchestra students running around trying to find their instruments, so it’s kind of crazy, but so rewarding and enjoyable,” Aldrich said. ‘’There are so many different levels of dancing abilities, but people are confident and just go out and have fun, which I think attracts a lot of people to it.”

Free waltz lessons are also held in the weeks leading up to the Winter Waltz. “[The waltz lessons] make people feel more comfortable on the night of the waltz… It helps people be more involved in the dancing,” Aldrich said.

Besides being a social event where students and their families can dance and mingle, the Winter Waltz also serves as a fundraiser. All proceeds go to FOGO (Friends of Garfield Orchestra), allowing the orchestras to repair instruments and buy music. With the gracious support from the community, the Winter Waltz continues to be a memorable event for attendees, and especially for the student musicians.

“It’s a whole Orchestra program bonding experience,” Wasniak said. “Orchestra students look forward to the waltz all year, and everyone really gets to learn what the orchestra program is about: supporting other musicians,’’ she added. Graphics by Sophia Chrysanthakopoulos

SPORTS LETTER FROM THE MESSENGER This is a potentially triggering topic. Mental health resources are listed on pages 10 and 11.

The Messenger was planning on publishing an article on locker room culture at Garfield. As reporting continued, we became increasingly doubtful that we could cover this story in a responsible way within the time frame of this issue. While we have an obligation to inform our community, we also have an obligation to minimize harm. Due to this concern and the inability to fact-check several accounts, we believe that publishing this story right now would be irresponsible.

If and when we can publish this story in a way that carries less risk of harm, we will. The intention of this article was to shed light on a situation in order to better our community rather than to sensationalize or provoke malicious rumors.

Corinna Singer with the Messenger

WAIVE P.E. GOODBYE? By Nat Beaumon With another semester over, the time has come once again to fill out PE waivers. For many of us, this won’t be our first time doing it, but this year the waiver may look a bit different since it is now a unified form for all Seattle Public Schools. So, if you don’t want to fight through seas of people to ask a counselor about it, the Messenger has you covered. Part 1: Are you a TA? Do you have a free period? If you said yes to either of those, sorry, but you’re not eligible for a PE waiver for this semester. The Messenger Guide to the new PE Waiver

Exceptions to Part 1 Part 2: There are 5 “reasons” to waive PE on the new PE waiver:

1

Employment: If you work during school hours to support yourself/your family, get a note from your boss verifying that you work during school hours, and get a note on a letterhead* from a court/your parents confirming that you live independently or that you work to support your parents.

2

Religious Beliefs: Get a note from your religious leader saying that you can’t do PE because of your religious beliefs.

3

Physical Disability: If you have a physical disability, just get a note from an IEP or Doctor saying that you can’t do PE.

Graphics by Sam Boyar

4

Directed Athletics

SPS Sports: Get a note from your coach saying you did it.

Other Sports: Provide a log showing you did it for 80 hours during the semester, and get a note from your parents and a note from your coach on a letterhead*.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Here at GHS we are far from shy when it comes to showing school spirit. From sports assemblies to sports games we make our bulldog pride known. The stands are flooded with students and adults alike dressed in both purple and white cheering on our Bulldogs. If there is one sport that students show up and show out for, it is definitely basketball. With both the boys and girls h a v i n g a re

markable history, each year the standards are set higher than the year before.

With two college commits, the girls have a current winning streak of 9-0 and they have no plans of stopping. “I think the end goal for everyone is to win a state championship. But my own personal goals are just to do everything in my power to win every game.” Meghan Fiso said, one of three team captains.

Working around the clock, the Lady Bulldogs have frequent practices to ensure success on the court.

“Practices are pretty intense. We do a lot of conditioning to keep us in shape.” Fiso said . However, physical strength isn’t all the players work on. “Along with of

SPORTS 17 T he Garfield boys basketball team is a large part of the Garfield legacy. There are few games where the stands aren’t packed with fans of all ages. With the lineup they have now, including mtwo college committed players, the boys are on the road to sucess.

With a strong start to the season, similarly, the boys seem to have their eyes on the prize. Tari Eason, team captain, feels confident about his team’s future. “I think the team’s season is going really well and I think we have really good potential to win state,” Eason said.

As one of two captains, Eason encourages fellow team members to stay m o t i v a t e d both on and off the court. “As a captain, I tell them we have to be locked in every day. Work hard every day and bring it. At practice and in the classroom.” Eason said.

Though their main focus lies in performance, the boys do enjoy having fun and joking around with one another. This is largely attributed to their previous playing history.

“I think we’re a pretty close group of guys. A lot of the guys have known each other before high school. Just growing up with each other and playing together in middle school.” Eason said.

When it comes to mental preparation the players are big on music. Without hesitation, Eason gives a look into what’s on his gameday playlist. “I listen to a lot of Youngboy… a lot of Young Thug. It really gets me pumped up and ready to go.” Eason said.

With an impressive legacy to live up to, one can only imagine the pressure the players would feel. However, contrary to what some may believe, the boys seem to be doing well under pressure.

“The only pressure a man feels is the pressure he puts upon himself, in my opinion,” Eason said. All in all, we’ve got two incredibly driven basketball teams here at Garfield High School whose hearts belong to the game. With great leaders guiding them in the right direction, their determination is sure to take them far this basketball season. course working out every day and shooting, I’d say mental preparation has been huge for me.”

When it comes to mentality and motivation Meghan looks to her teammates. “I have amazing teammates and coaches that are encouraging me to do my best.”

The girls are all in this together. With many long hours spent playing and practicing, including some out of state, it’s clear that they’ve formed a strong bond with each other.

“At first we were all a little distant with each other, but during our trip to Arizona, we really bonded with one another,” Fiso said.“What makes our team so close is that we all like to have fun but can come together in serious times and win games.” Team captains are there to encourage fellow team members and keep them motivated. This year, the team’s members have worked extremely hard to emphasize the importance of energy.

“I always try to bring the most energy on the court so that if things aren’t going well, my teammates can feed off of my energy. I also like to acknowledge all the good things my teammates do like saying, ‘That’s a good shot!’ or ‘Great pass!’” Fiso said.

While the players perform to the best of their abili - ties on the court, the team spirit is alive in the bleachers and in the halls. “It feels amazing [to have so much support]. I know some schools don’t have the support that we do and it’s just a blessing to be able to play for a school that has so much pride in its athletes.” Fiso said.

With good performance, good mentality, and good sportsmanship the girls rightly deserve the success they all work so hard for. By Irya Bland Photos by Sam Boyar BOYS BASKETBALL “AS A CAPTAIN, I TELL THEM WE HAVE TO BE LOCKED IN EVERY DAY. WORK HARD EVERY DAY AND BRING IT. AT PRACTICE AND IN THE CLASSROOM.” Next Quad Night February 7 @ Franklin Girls: 7:00 pm Boys: 8:30 pm

SPORTS 18 I t’s easy to join the school sports community here at Garfield, but some students find it valuable to branch out and participate in more unconventional sports. One such sport is bouldering and climbing, which has recently taken off in the Seattle area.

Bouldering is a subset of rock climbing which involves climbing with specific shoes and sometimes chalk for improving grip, and is done mainly indoors. On the other hand, climbing involves ropes, and more often takes place in the great outdoors.

As climbing has grown in popularity as a sport, more and more climbing gyms have popped up across the city, including Stone Gardens and Seattle Bouldering Project (SBP). For many, climbing might appear inaccessible, but as climbing gyms are becoming more convenient and the sport rises in popularity, it is no longer out of reach. “Bouldering in particular is so easy, all you need is shoes and maybe a chalk bag. Especially if you’re indoors, it’s cheaper, more accessible, and you don’t need all the knowledge of ropes and safety that you do for climbing,” Forest Tschirhart said, a junior at Garfield who has been climbing for as long as he can remember.

Bouldering at places like Stone Gardens or SBP is a perfect way to train for bouldering or climbing outdoors, and living in the Pacific Northwest near top climbing locations like Leavenworth or Gold Bar opens a world of vast opportunities to climbers. “Having that just a two- or three-hour drive away is really great, you can just go on the weekends. To be a climber, you don’t have to move your whole life somewhere, it’s just right there,” Tschirhart said.

As such an accessible sport, the bouldering community draws in people from all across the city, and continues to diversify. Junior Rylee Bundesmann started her climbing career nearly four years ago, and is now a member of the Seattle Climbing Team through SBP. “They’re very different people than I usually hang out with, which I think is cool that we have this common thing, and it’s such a strong community that that’s really all we need,” Bundesmann said.

Another junior at Garfield, Sam Halmrast began climbing just three years ago and is now the climbing team captain at Stone Gardens. For Halmrast, the climbing community provides out of school connections with a dependable and laid back group of peers.

“My specific team is a couple people from each school around Seattle, mostly around Ballard because that’s where I climb...It lets me connect to my teammates from different schools, and so I have some points of contact to other parts of the city,” Halmrast said.

One of the pulls for new climbers is the versatility of climbing as a sport. While there is a lot of technique and strategy involved in figuring out each move to make, rock climbers also get creative license while climbing.

“Different problems will have different solutions. Depending on your body type, like how tall you are, how heavy you are, how flexible you are, people can solve them in a lot of different ways,” Tschirhart said. “One thing I really like about it is that no two routes you ever climb are the same. There’s not one specific motion that you do repeatedly, like swimming for example. You’re building up a collection of possible moves you could apply to each route, and then you have to use them as you see fit,” Halmrast said.

At its core, climbing is based around adaptability, which, according to Bundesmann, allows for a much more even playing field than other in sports.

“Climbs are all different and they all demand different things. You have to be really strong, and have really strong shoulders and back muscles and fingers, but if you have all of that but no balance or footwork you can’t do a climb,” Bundesmann said. “There are twelve year old girls on my team that can climb something that my coaches can’t, because they can fit into a smaller box or they can use the smallest holds.”

Like any sport, bouldering comes with its own set of unique challenges. For both Bundesmann and Halmrast, who boulder competitively, there are a whole different set of things to keep in mind while climbing.

“The trick to competing is figuring out exactly how to do every single move of a climb in 20 to 30 seconds so you still have enough time to actually try it two or three times,” Halmrast said. “Probably [the most important thing to keep in mind is] breath. It took me like two years to learn how to breathe while on the wall, because as you get to harder grades, with every single movement your entire body is tensed.”

“Don’t start to doubt yourself, and focus. I think that’s what climbing has taught me the most, is that you have to focus on one thing at a time,” Bundesmann added.

All in all, the rise of bouldering and climbing comes as no surprise. It has a thriving community, is accessible in the city, and allows for a lot of creative wiggle room.

“It’s really fun if you’re looking for adventure, because that’s not really a thing anymore. All the places to explore have been explored,” Tschirhart added. “So, if you’re looking to do something that very few people have done, like summit a mountain that no one has summited, or get into an adventure, then bouldering and climbing is definitely one of the top options.” Taking a closer look at rock climbing. REACHING THE SUMMIT Article and art Molly Chapin “DON’T START TO DOUBT YOURSELF, AND FOCUS. I THINK THAT’S WHAT CLIMBING HAS TAUGHT ME THE MOST, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME.”

TOP DAWG By Kai Craig

Despite only transferring to Garfield this year, Senior Meghan Fiso has proven herself to be a valuable asset to the Women’s Basketball team. For her first three years of high school, Fiso attended West Seattle High, but was drawn to the community surrounding Garfield’s athletic rigor and spirit.

“What drew me in whats the competitiveness and drive to be great [from all around]” Fiso said.

Fiso believes that Garfield’s fanbase and publicity is truly something amazing, especially in the face of other Seattle Public School Women’s teams.

“We have a lot of support from [both the school and around Washington] and it’s something I really admire,” Fiso said.

Fiso has been playing basketball since third grade, and has loved it ever since.

Prospects Nation, a program that ranks young female basketball players and connects them with recruiters, ranks Meghan in the top forty players of class of 2020. She also appears in similarly high esteem on other rankings. Additionally, via her participaiton in the 2018 Nike National, she recieved evaluation from ESPN scouter Dan Olson. Olson described her playing style as “agile” and “versatile...with a scorer’s mentality”.

With a consistent winning streak this month, Garfield’s basketball players certainly have a lot to show for their hard work, and many have already committed to prestigious universities, including Fiso. In her junior year Fiso received and accepted a recruitment offer to attend University of Michigan and play on their team. University of Michigan is a Division 1 college that is also a member of the Big Ten Confrence. Their women’s basketball team is highly reputable, and Fiso is looking foward to attending in the fall, but until then she is ready to give it her all here at Garfield.

For most Garfield students, when we think of winter sports we might think of basketball, wrestling, or swimming. However, for some Garfield students, the winter sports they participate in are more unconventional. For Julia Wartman, a junior at Garfield, competitive ice skating has been a major part of her life since she was 9. Although she started later than some of her peers, Wartman realized quickly it was something she wanted to pursue competitively.

“I realized I liked it a lot and wanted to move onto a more intense track,” Wartman said.

Wartman went from taking group lessons with a single coach to taking individual lessons with a variety of coaches and practicing the sport year- round.

During competitions, figure skating is scored on a variety of elements such as footwork, performance, and choreography. Although competition can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the sport, it’s also the most challenging.

“I’ve never known a skater that enjoys competing,” Wartman said.

Wartman said that figure skating is unique from other sports in the range of skills that the skater has to master in order to be successful. “You have to have good technique and endurance, but you also have to have artistry and that can be just as hard as being able to land a hard jump,” Wartman said.

For junior Bella McQuade, who plays hockey competitively, competition is one of the best parts of the sport.

“It’s fun to be challenged,” McQuade said.

Hockey games are very fast paced compared to other sports, as the players on the court are changed out every minute.

“You’re skating really hard out there so you need the changes,” McQuade said.

Working in a team as opposed to competing individually poses its own challenges, especially when a game isn’t going well. Garfield students excelling on the rink. ON THIN ICE Article and graphics By Caroline Ashby

“It’s hard to keep everyone calm and make sure everyone is being nice to each other,” McQuade said.

The tensions on the court McQuade says are relieved in the locker room, where most of the team’s bonding occurs. Each practice, 30 minutes are dedicated to spending time talking about life and getting to know the teammates.

“It’s usually the craziest part of the day,” McQuade said.

Although hockey is a huge part of McQuade’s life now, it wasn’t always something she was passionate about. Coming from a family of skaters, with a sister who played hockey, she was encouraged from a young age to pursue the sport as well.

“My dad can skate and my mom can skate, so they were like, ‘You should know how to skate as well’,” McQuade said.

Before playing hockey, McQuade was a figure skater. She attributes her proficiency as a defender to her background in skating, as many of the skills learned in figure skating are needed in hockey.

“Skating backwards is an integral part of being defense,” McQuade said.

When her sister began to play hockey, she reluctantly gave it a try as well.

“At first I was like, absolutely not, but then I tried it and thought this is actually kind of fun,” McQuade said.

McQuade claimed that many hockey players with a background in figure skating become strong hockey players because skating involves a lot of edgework and technique.

McQuade wishes more people played the sport, but also said she enjoys that many people are surprised she plays an unconventional sport.

“It’s always a cool feeling when you impress people,” McQuade said.

SWOLE Art by Sophia Chrysanthakopoulos By Sam Treat

This article is meant to be a resource for anyone-- whether they are a weight room novice, or a bulked-up giant (like me). The workout below is compiled of exercises obtained from a variety of sources. Many of these exercises come from Men’s or Women’s Health, GQ, or FitnessAI, which are all great resources for anyone interested in fitness or weightlifting. However, getting big isn’t just about lifting weights. A proper diet is essential to being healthy. Protein builds muscles, so a protein shake recipe is included, as well.

UPPER BODY: Hammer Curls (3x8) Hold a midweight dumbbell in each hand. Stand with the dumbbells parallel to your side. Bring the dumbbell up towards your chest by bending your arm at the elbow. Lower slowly and repeat. Your palms should face toward you the entire time. One set is 8 with each arm.

Incline Bench Press (3x8) With heavier dumbbells in each hand, adjust a bench to be at about a 45-degree angle. Sit on bench, back firmly against it. Hold the dumbbells with your palms facing away from your chest. The starting position should be at about the nipple line. Push straight out, extend fully, then lower slowly and repeat. For one set, do 8.

Bent Over Rows (3x8) Lower the bench to a flat position (180 degrees). Place your left knee and left palm on the bench, so that you are bent over, with your right foot on the ground for support. Hold a midweight dumbbell in your right hand, starting with it hanging away from your body. Slowly raise the dumbbell up to your chest. Your palm should face in towards your body, and when raising the dumbbell, keep your elbows in to avoid flaring out. Hold for one second, lower the dumbbell slowly and repeat. For one set, do 8 with each arm. 5x5 Deadlift Use a barbell with heavier weights, place the barbell on the ground. Line your toes up with the bar and position your feet about shoulderwidth apart. Grip the bar with one hand overhand and the other underhand, hands about shoulder-width. Squat your bottom down, bending at the knees. Don’t lift with your arms. Press up with your legs, and allow your arms to hang free while holding on to the bar. Press up with your legs, push your hips forward, and once you’re fully standing up, hold the position for a second, before dropping the bar. Repeat five times for one set. your core, keep back straight. Once finished, walk the barbell back onto the rack, and duck under the bar to disengage.

Run or Bike (15 to 30 minutes)

CORE: Power Plank (4 x 20sec) Do plank and engage every muscle. Squeeze fists, flex arms, squeeze glutes, and most of all, engage the core.

Russian Twists (2 x 60 sec) Use a medium-weight medicine ball.

LEGS: Weighted Lunges (4x15) Holding a heavy dumbbell in each hand, lunge in place, alternating legs. Do 15 to complete one set.

Squats (5x5) Rack a barbell so that it is even with your chest. Place desired weights on both ends. Position the bar behind your head and on the tops of your shoulders. Grip bar with hands, evenly spaced. Step back from the rack with the bar on your shoulders. Position feet a little wider than shoulder-width. Lower bottom straight down, as if sitting in a chair. Stop when your legs make a 90-degree angle at your knee. Push up using your legs and engaging Leg Raises (4 x 12) Lie on the ground, legs straight. Lift both legs until they are at a 90-degree angle, perpendicular to the floor. Don’t touch the ground with your legs, but lower them back to about two inches above the floor.

19 SMOOTHIE RECIPE: One scoop non-whey chocolate-flavored protein powder (plant or bone-based) One scoop peanut butter One full banana (peeled) 2/3 cup of plain greek yogurt 1/4 cup of cold water Handful of ice cubes Blend until smooth

b a c k p a g e By: Sam Treat and Oscar Fleet

bi ngo

Ayo what’s up Bulldogs its ya boyz back with another issue. What we have here is Bingo. Many of you may be familiar with Bingo from the popular song “Bingo was his Name-o.” The way it works is you cross off boxes that apply to you and if you get 5 in a row (any direction) then Bingo is your Name-o. Share your completed Bingo boards with @TheGarfieldMessenger on Instagram to be featured!

Repeated a basketball cheer more than 3 times Shot a paper ball into a wastebasket #RIPKobe #RIPGigi Found or left ramen in a water fountain Made awkward eye contact in the hallway with a teacher you used to have Stole a yellow vest

Attended every class for an entire week without skipping Skipped school for no reason but called it a “mental health day” Got caught in a hall sweep Skipped 4th period so you wouldn’t get Saturday School Went out the side doors without getting caught

Stole a fish from a science classroom #justicefortropicalballs Bought a Messenger sweatshirt :)

Free Space! Wore a POST shirt more than twice in one week Found the hidden Bulldog in this Messenger

Drew a penis on the field during a snow day

Solved world issues with Instagram “Activism” Blocked the hallway and got yelled at by a senior Put a video of snow falling outside a classroom window on your story Hydrated throughout the day Mooched off of someone else’s Ezells in class

Thought you were cute for using a purse instead of a backpack Spent two hours scrolling through TikTok instead of studying for finals Used the word “Gurb”unironically Paid $20 to go to Winter Formal for 15 minutes