Volume 49, Issue 1, Fall 2018

Winnetonka High School 5815 NE 48th St. Kansas City, MO 64119

Griffin Rites

Volume 49, Issue 1, Fall 2018, WHS Student Newsmagazine

02 | Contents Photo Previews

Contents Opinions

page 07

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Coping skills to make depression more manageable

05

Students share their experiences with depression

The Brain Blues

07

Newsflash!

A photo summary of featured events

Arts

09

Raising Up the Stars

Broadway actress Amra-Faye Wright, New York theatre star William Bailey return to Kansas City

Kansas City’s Chalk and Walk Winnetonka art students use Chalk and Walk festival to gain experience while having fun

Features

10

Sex trafficking stereotypes transform with social media’s growing proximity

12

Are there consequences for increased technology use in the classroom?

Sports

Distorted

To Plug or Unplug...

14

The football team works on building foundations with new coaches

15

Viles’ Legacy Program helps athletes, special education students fund their future

Brick by Brick

Whatever the Cost

Entertainment

16

page page 07 08

Student Opinions

News

08

page 07

The Law of Attraction Advice on how to attract positivity into your life

page 09

Our Staff: Elizabeth Payton, Editor-in-Chief Matt Payton, Layout Editor Nia Scaggs, Copy Editor Autumn Dewalt, Editorial Editor Shannon Le Grand, Adviser Chelsea Engstrom, Guest Editor Raymond Leone, Guest Writer Makenzie Jackson, Guest Writer Erica Burnett, Guest Writer

Our Purpose: Griffin Rites strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundemental values in a democratic society. The mission of an institution that is committed to preparing productive citizens must include teaching these values, both by example and lesson.

We welcome letters to the editor and reserve the right to edit them for length and clarity, but not to change ideas. Letters may be opinonated and argumentative, but not hostile. They must be signed and submitted to F6 or mailed to Shannon Le Grand at 5815 NE 48th St. Kansas City, MO 64119.

Our organization is a member of the Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City (JEMKC), the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).

On the Cover:

Our fall cover is a collaborative design created by all members of our staff, illustrating the overall proximity and potential unpredictability among victims in the sex trafficking industry.

The theme of distortion is representative of the transformation social media has undergone in the realm of sex trafficking, a distortion of its purpose.

Winnetonka High School 5815 NE 48th St. Kansas City, MO 64119.

Griffin Rites

Volume 49, Issue 1. October 2018. WHS Student Newsmagazine.

Feature:

ted Distor

pages & 11

10

Sex traffic king stereotype social medi s alter with a’s growing proximity

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04 | Opinions

The Brain Blues

Coping skills to make depression more manageable

By Autumn Dewalt

P

eople with depression often feel like there is nothing in the world that can make the pain go away. It’s a normal occurrence for individuals to get a whiff of depression during their teenage years, especially when they hit puberty. Around this time teens start stressing about grades, graduation, identity roles and social pressure. However, if these feelings do not resolve themselves, seeking medical attention may help.

According to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, “Depression is a serious medical condition that is associated with symptoms such as melancholy, loss of pleasure, loss of energy, difficulty in concentrating and suicidal thoughts.”

Thoughts of anxiety, apathy, discontentment, guilt, hopelessness, instability, restlessness and sadness may cloud the psyche of people with depression. In addition to the mental symptoms, there are many physical signs of depression such as excessive hunger, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Behavioral symptoms may include agitation and frequent crying.

Scientific research on the brain shows that “neurons never function

in isolation. They are organized into ensembles or circuits that process specific kinds of information,” stated Khan Academy.

Although many factors can contribute to clinical depression, a diagnosis is not contingent upon the way someone acts or lives. Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Having a diagnosis of clinical depression may feel like a losing battle, but a diagnosis can be managed with a few different interventions, including coping skills. Coping skills are useful because they can be implemented in the daily lives of people with depression and can make a big difference.

Establishing a routine provides stability. When dealing with depression, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Establishing a routine can help those dealing with depression function more effectively and have a more productive day.

Goal-setting is another helpful coping skill. By setting goals, individuals with depression have something to work for and look forward to. By starting with small, managable goals, individuals with depression feel accom-

“Depression affects about 20% of adolescents by the time they become adults.”

plished and are able to build their confidence. All together, these small coping skills can add up to make a big impact on people dealing with this scary diagnosis.

Hotlines that can help

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 “About onehalf of teens who take antidepressants improve.”

The National Alliance on Mental Health Helpline: 1-800-950-6264 National Hopeline Network: 1-800-442-4673

Source: MedicineNet.com, “Teen Depression”

Opinions | 05

“Whenever I was depressed, it was because of an injury that I got during soccer, and soccer is my life, so not being able to play really put me down. I coped with it through my friends.

They always made sure I was having a good day.

There’s always help, especially when you have people around you that care. That’s one thing, for sure, to always make sure you have someone who cares for you, even if you don’t want to talk about it.”

-Senior, Hani Yousif

“I’ve had it [depression] since I turned 11. In 7th grade, I wasn’t able to cope with it, and I tried to overdose and kill myself. I was cutting, and then I got put into a hospital and they put me on meds for it, so I’ve been taking medicine since then to try to make it better.

I try not to think about it, but the medicine does help a lot. And just doing things that I enjoy doing helps me.

I know that it’s hard to reach out there; you don’t want anyone to judge you, or laugh at you or say that you’re just doing it for attention. But there’s always that one person in your life that you can tell anything to.”

-Sophomore, Anonymous

“When I was younger [8th grade], I had ovarian cancer. I went through five to six surgeries in six months to get rid of it. I missed most of my school.

I try to find people that won’t cause more depression, or cause more stress. And I try to talk about it more with my mom, and with friends and I have a counselor for it. I try to help people with depression even though I have it myself.”

-Sophomore, Brittany McClure

Student Opinions Students share their experiences with depression

06 | Ads

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! h s a fl s New mary of m u s o t A pho events d e r u t a fe

News | 07

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05 1. Titan, junior Jolie Meyer’s service dog, lies down in his bed during class. Although

many students would enjoy having an animal friend follow them around the school, Titan is a certified service dog on a mission to assist his owner in times of need. Students are not allowed to pet him. Photo by Derek Walsh.

2. The new main entrance on the student side of the building is under construction and isset to unveil during second semester. The construction is the result of a grant given to the NKC highschools for major rennovations. The new entrance is expected to be finished before the end of the school year, but in the meantime, principal Eric Johnson will have to get used to his tiny new “office.” Photo by Makenzie Jackson.

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3. Football coach Marcus Brinkley talks to junior Jon Jackson in between plays. Photo by Derek Walsh.

4. Principal Eric Johnson, Activities Director Jared Barge and former Chiefs player Will Shields discuss the ‘Will to Succeed Foundation,’ a program that provides resources to those in need. Photo by Kelsey Cowden.

5. Homecoming king, JaShawn Walker, and queen, Rosie Rodriguez, pose after being crowned on Oct. 12. Photo

by Derek Walsh.

6. After a winning game against the Smithville Warriors, volleyball coach Mike Espinosa accomplished his 500th win after coaching for 30 years. Submitted photo.

7. The Winnetonka softball team celebrated their 40-year anniversary with a pancake breakfast and a game against North Kansas City on Aug. 25. Photo by Kelsey Cowden.

07

08 | Arts

Raising Up the Stars

Broadway actress Amra-Faye Wright, New York theatre star William Bailey return to Kansas City

By Elizabeth Payton Two Winnetonka graduates returned to Kansas City to help the school’s cast of the musical, Chicago, after making a name for themselves in the world of theatre.

Broadway actress and Winnetonka alumna Amra-Faye Wright, who graduated in the 1970s, performed the Broadway version of Chicago at the Starlight Theatre on Sept. 15, where she gave tips to the school’s cast.

The cast watched the musical performed on Broadway to learn more about the characters and how the show should be performed. Afterwards, Wright emphasized understanding the deeper meaning behind each character.

“The characters may appear to be one-dimensional but they are not; they are very rich and rich in irony, and that’s super important in this show,” Wright said. “Everything is tongue-and-cheek; everything has another meaning or could have another meaning, and it’s those things that make the play deeper and richer.”

Wright is known for portraying Velma Kelly, a vaudevillian who is accused of murder, and has been performing Chicago for over 17 years.

“The reason we are able to keep coming back to this show is because you keep find-

ing new things in this script,” Wright said.

“There is so much to explore and to find.

What happens to me every year is evident in what I do on stage, so I keep reading and try to find new things that are interesting to the character.”

After the cast got a feel for the musical, New York City theatre star William Bailey visited Winnetonka to choreograph the upcoming performance. He worked with the cast to teach them proper techniques and hoped to become a role model for them.

“When I was in school I never had that specific person to look up to,” Bailey said. “[I teach them] how to pay attention, how to take notes and how to not doubt themselves.

I am inspiring them to be better than they were the day before.”

Bailey graduated from Winnetonka in 2007 and had been part of the theatre department during his high school years. He described theatre as something that kept him “alive” when he was struggling during his teenage years, which is why some of the cast felt as though they could connect with him so well.

“Bailey had an incredibly positive impact on the cast; he really created a connection with everyone,” student director Parker Robbins said. “He commanded such respect from everyone while motivating them to be their very best. By the time he left I don’t

think there was a single person who wasn’t touched by his passion.”

Among the dance routines and memorization, Bailey wanted to give the cast lifelong advice. He advocated that everyone, not just theatre students, should dabble in some form of art.

“Try your best to be a well-rounded human being and culture yourself through the arts,” Bailey said. “Life is not just all about sports and politics. You’d be surprised what you might find out. You just have to keep pushing and don’t doubt yourself.”

By witnessing Wright perform and working with Bailey to perfect their routines, the cast is hopeful they will give their most professional performance yet.

“I think it [these experiences] had a wonderful impact on their morale, self-esteem and discipline,” student director Ashley Smith said. “[On the day he left], everyone was more confident in their dance ability and in themselves as a whole.”

Chicago will be performed on Nov. 1517 at Winnetonka.

1. Senior Lana Moeror takes a stand next to Broadway actress Amra-Faye Wright at Starlight Theatre on Sept 15. Photo by Derek Walsh.

2. New York City theatre star models a dance routine for the cast of Chicago. Photo by Erica Burnett.

K

y ’s t i C s ansa

Chalk and Walk

Arts | 09

Art students use festival to gain experience while having fun

By Matt Payton

A

dding color to Crown Center Square, Winnetonka’s Art Department attended Kansas City’s Chalk and Walk festival. Students who attended this event spent Sept.

8 and 9 painting the sidewalk at Crown Center.

Among the students was sophomore Sadie Waggerman, who had also attended the festival last year as a part of Art Club. Students were to use various supplies to recreate the image onto a sidewalk that acts as a square grid.

“We [Art Club students] pick out different ideas from the internet to decide what we were going to draw, then we kind of combined most of them together,” Waggerman said. “Everyone was picking things from the fantasy and adventure genre, so we decided together to do an ocean creature.”

However, the emphasis of the Chalk and Walk festival wasn’t on the final product. Art teacher Heather Sulzen, the director of the art department, explained the purpose of the event was to teach students “not just about being involved in an art piece,” but being involved in the entire process.

“It [the festival] is not about the final piece,” Sulzen said. “The final piece is not permanent; it’s going to get washed away. It’s about putting all this work and time into

Photo to the right: Winnetonka art students paint in an orca on the sidewalk at Crown Center. Last school year, art students chose this image to recreate at the September festival. Photo by Elizabeth Payton

something that is not going to be a permanent fixture. It’s about working together as a team.”

The event was opened to the entire school this year, meaning that more students were able to attend this event. Many students did sign up, but not as many attended. Although the turnout wasn’t as large as projected, Sulzen wasn’t worried.

“Last year we were struggling the second day because only two people showed up for the whole day of the festival,” Sulzen said.

“This year a lot of people signed up, and some of them didn’t show up, but there’s definitely enough people here to stay busy.”

Even though this festival was a chance for art students to gain points to letter in art, many attended just because they wanted to. In senior Jessica Glaszczak’s case, she said she attended simply because she loves art.

“I feel like it’s one of the best ways that someone can express themselves in many different ma-

terials.” Glaszczak said. “If you love expression, if you love anything around the arts, you should definitely get into something involving the arts.”

Winnetonka was the only school in the North Kansas City District to attend this event.

“People are always really impressed that we are a group of students working on the weekend to do this event,” Sulzen said. “They think it’s really cool that we are out here, not being from around here, and that we are from North Kansas City.”

The enjoyment was mutual among some students as well. Waggerman said she wishes to work with art in the future and the Chalk and Walk festival was a great way to get practice.

“I want to be an illustrator when I grow up and this was experience with working with bigger scales.”

Waggerman said. “I was just trying to have fun and support my school.”

Sex trafficking stereotypes transform with s

By Elizabeth Payton

I

t was a typical spring Friday in 2013: birds were chirping, flowers were blooming and sex was selling right here in Kansas City. Unknown to the buyers in the area, Arizona State University was conducting a study to determine the potential percentage of adult males who would respond to online commercial sex ads. The study reported that 14.5% of the Kansas City adult male population responded to the fake sex ad for anonymous services within 24 hours after it was posted, the second-most respondents in the 15 cities that were studied.

Although sex work is becoming more mainstream, exemplified in part by the Arizona State University study, there are still workers who are in the industry against their will. These individuals are victims of the sex trafficking epidemic.

U.S. Federal Law defines sex trafficking as “a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud or coercion.” All minors who are induced into sexual services automatically fall under the umbrella of the crime. A 2012 global estimate by the International Labor Organization estimated 22% of human trafficking victims were being sexually exploited.

Across the nation, Kansas City is known as a hub for sex trafficking. Shared Hope International, an organization aimed toward ending sex trafficking, listed Kansas City is

one of the top cities in the country for the sex trafficking of minors. The vast network of interstate highways that run though the city allows for quick access in and out of the area.

A victim may be trafficked specifically here in Kansas City, or be transported all over the country using the interstate highway system.

Regardless of where, when or how they are trafficked, victims could be anyone.

“The stereotypical victim in sex trafficking is a woman, probably in her 20s, early 30s, out of poverty, may or may not be a person of color,” said Jeanne Christensen, a justice advocate for victims of human trafficking.

But this is not always the case: a large portion of sex trafficking cases apply to children and teens.

“Child sex trafficking victims include girls, boys and LGBTQ youth,” explained the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Christensen further explained that in Kansas City, vulnerable groups, or people that are especially targeted for sex trafficking, may include immigrants, the LGTBQ community and runaways.

The key to manipulating a victim is exploiting vulnerabilities. Predators will often

,

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promise to fulfill specific needs to manipulate their potential victim. Russ Tuttle, president and founder of the Stop Trafficking Project of Kansas City, explained that while poverty is a risk factor, it is not the underlying determinant for who can be a victim.

“I’m thinking of a case of a young girl in a very affluent part of our city whose initial lure into trafficking after months of grooming online was a Gucci purse,” Tuttle said.

“Then we have the other extreme: some of our students were forced to provide sexual service so that they had something to eat on the weekends. Two completely different scenarios, but they were both about the exploitation of vulnerabilities.”

More so now than ever, traffickers are using social media platforms to groom, manipulate and lure potential victims, a problem that grows with every comment posted, photo shared and status updated.

“We are in a situation now with students where they are telling literally anybody everything on social media,” Tuttle said.

“Predators are looking to prey on the naivety of

,

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Features | 10 & 11

social media’s growing proximity

,

students.”

In the past decade, social media use has skyrocketed, especially among teenagers.

Tuttle explained that social media continues to grow as a major area of recruitment for domestic minor sex trafficking, especially in Kansas City.

“The students are there, their vulnerabilities are there and it’s incredibly easy for people to come into the social media realm of their lives and begin exploiting,” Tuttle said.

Social media has allowed people to remain completely anonymous, making former stereotypes of traffickers all but obsolete. A predator is no longer just a strange man who spends his days stalking young women and skulking in dark alleys.

“They may or may not look like you think they would,” Christensen said. “They aren’t necessarily the big guy with the gold jewelry. Chances are they could

be 20-year-old white guys.”

According to Christensen, traffickers aren’t just men, even though they make up the majority of buyers. There is no specific physical or socioeconomic profile of a predator, meaning caution should be exercised everywhere, especially in and around schools, a place full of vulnerable teens that can be exploited.

“I think the correlation between human trafficking and schools is that this is the perfect playground for those predators to get kids who are trying to understand themselves,” Winnetonka Deputy Shepard Owens said.

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teenager is unlikely to get caught up in the industry, the world of sex trafficking still exists. With social media quickly becoming a recruitment platform, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team recommends that all people limit the amount of personal information posted online and try to remember that the internet is public and anonymous.

To

plug or

unplug...

Are there consequences for increased technology use in the classroom?

Features | 12 & 13

By Erica Burnett and Nia Scaggs

J

ust last year North Kansas City Schools introduced the one-toone initiative, allowing every one of their high school students access to a laptop.

“We spend $2.1 million a year on 20,814 students. So, it works out to $100 a year [per student] is spent on technology in the classroom,” said Eric Sipes, executive director of instructional technology of North Kansas City School District.

That money goes towards many things, including iPads, MacBook Airs, software programs, and technology specialists. Teachers use this technology to help teach lessons, enter grades, assign homework and more. Similarly, students use the technology to complete their assignments, conduct research and access materials outside of school.

While this might sound purely beneficial in theory, sometimes

school-provided technology isn’t being used appropriately, according to teachers.

“Today with computers and cellphones, kids are more distracted than they’ve ever been,” said history teacher Robert Burdick. “It’s really hard to control it. Kids are really sneaky with it because they can easily switch the screen.”

According to an international study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 15-year-old students across 31 nations who had an increase in computer use in class had a direct decrease on their reading and math scores.

“Students who spend more than 6 hours per day online outside of school are more likely to report that they feel lonely at school, arrive late or skip days of school,” stated the same study.

“Technology is a good form of communication to make sure that

A 2013 national survey from PBS LearningMedia highlights how teachers are using technology in their classrooms.

everyone is informed in the class,” sophomore Elizabeth O’Dell said.

The switch to uploading assignments online has given students more freedom to work at home, and at their own pace. Further, with schoolwork moving to online forums, less paper is being wasted on textbooks, notebook paper and hardcopy submissions of assignments.

Writing papers and essays online can teach students valuable skills that they could use later on in the workforce. According to an infographic done by Secure Edge Networks, 86% of students say that tablets help them to study more efficiently.

With technology use becoming more ubiquitous, districts will need to evaluate how much of a presence technology should have in their classroom.

“It’s kind of scary when you think about the future; you don’t know what the future holds,” senior Maxwell Ray said.

of teachers said technology enables them to “reinforce and expand on content.”

of teachers said they have access to at least one computer or laptop for their classroom. of teachers said technology enables them to “motivate students to learn.”

Source: PBS LearningMedia, “PBS Survey Finds Teachers are Embracing Digital Resources to Propel Student Learning.”

of teachers said technology enables them to “respond to a variety of learning styles.”

14 | Sports

Brick

by Brick

By Autumn Dewalt

T

his year on the 2018 Winnetonka football team, positivity rains upon each player, promoting teamwork and a new mindset. A quote, introduced by the new football coaches, has motivated the teams to change. Among the few additions this year, such as new coaches and new players, their motto “Brick by Brick” stands out as their primary focus. “‘Brick by Brick’ is about building our program from the ground up,” inside linebacker Cozmo Crum said. “Our seniors are laying the foundation and are making a path for us to have success.”

Although the last few years have not been the best for the team, they are focusing on the future.

“As almost everyone knows, we have not been the best in the last three years,” Crum said. “We’re changing that this year and building our program to a winning pro-

The football team works on building foundations with new coaches gram.”

Part of the new ‘Brick by Brick’ mentality includes dedicating time for football to improve the best they can.

“Our attitude is to win; that’s our number one goal every week,” Crum said. “Our breakdowns, warmups, and drills revolve around winning.

We’re always reminded that we are building a new program.”

Photo above: Junior Cozmo Crum playing The players show how Winnetonka’s first home game of the 2018-19 school year on August 25. The new coaches the motto has changed implemented the ‘Brick by Brick’ program as their attitudes through early as summer practice. their practices.

“To me ‘Brick by they hope to have on not only Brick’ means coming in their athletes, but the Winevery single day and working netonka community as well. to make yourself and the team “It’s a staple in our program better,” cornerback Tyler Wil- as far as how we are going to son said. build and change our culture For the coaching staff, among our kids,” assistant “Brick by Brick” has become coach Marcus Brinkley. a road map for the influence

Sports | 15

Whatever the C st!

Viles’ Legacy Program helps athletes, special education students fund their futures

By Elizabeth Payton

H

aving transferred from a small school with only 30 in her graduating class, senior Eden Viles was welcomed onto the softball team her junior year and learned the value of fellowship. Viles felt at home with her new team, but routinely seeing her teammates without proper gear motivated her and her sister, junior Jordan Viles, to start the Viles’ Legacy Program.

The Viles’ Legacy Program gives two scholarships of $1,000 each to a qualified softball athlete and special education student each year. A total of $20,000 has been pledged to help students further their athletic career or education

over the next 10 years.

“Seeing other people in need and that they didn’t have as great tools and opportunity as everyone else is what inspired this program,” Viles said. “It’s just a way to give back to people that have come and dedicated their time to softball.”

Although the program has just been established this year, Viles still tried to help out her teammates last year the best she could.

“Last year, my first year at Winnetonka, one of our girls showed up with a plastic bag, rubber cleats and a glove, and that was it,” Viles said. “She didn’t have anything else. I’ve been very fortunate, so I had some stuff that I didn’t use anymore, so I was able to donate that to Tonka and find fundraisers.”

This year the scholarship was awarded to senior Brittani Schneiter who plans on using the money to help pay for a car.

“I plan to donate all my softball stuff I have because it took me all four years to get all the equipment I needed to play,” Schnieter said. “[At the banquet] I was just freaking out like ‘Oh my gosh, what if it’s me?’ and whenever they said my name I almost started crying.”

Photo to the left: Senior Eden Viles with senior Brittani Schneiter, the inaugural recipient of the Viles’ Legacy Scholarship.

Photo to the right: Senior Eden Viles tosses a softball in the air.

Photo submitted.

16 | Entertainment

The Law of Attraction

Nia Scaggs, Copy Editor

Advice on how to attract positivity into your life Affirm

By Nia Scaggs

W

ouldn’t you like to have anything you’ve ever wanted in life? Well, then the Law of Attraction [LOA] may be the right thing for you.

It is super simple, and all you need is your brain and a good attitude.

The LOA is a belief that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, people can bring positive or negative experiences into their lives. See? I told you it was simple! Every day we manifest things into our lives without even knowing it. Have you ever thought you were sick, but it turns out you were fine all along? That was your mind tricking you into feeling like you were really sick. Since our brains are a lot more powerful than we think, everyone has the ability to control their own life with just their thoughts. Once you realize this ability, your life will never be the same. So, here are some ways to practice this ability and start manifesting your biggest dreams and desires into your current reality.

Positive words are the key to getting what you want. Why talk negatively while trying to accomplish something for yourself? It just doesn’t work that way. Telling yourself positive things will increase your probability of getting what you want.

For instance, write a list of some affirmations that refer to your life and try to say them out loud to yourself every day. Saying them out loud will benefit you more than saying them in your head because it will be as if you’re asking the universe to grant your wishes. If you repeat it a lot, the thought will get stuck in your subconscious, you’ll start to believe and your wishes will come before you know it!

Visualize Visualization is very important.

If you can see it happening, it WILL happen, but you have to believe and see it happening in order for it to manifest. Make sure that when you use this method you add some passion and emotion into it. For example, how

would passing that test make you feel? Adding feeling will help you to believe it more than you did before, as if it is more likely to happen.

Act As If Acting as though something is already happening is a major method on its own. “Fake it till you make it” is more than just a catchphrase; it actually works!

You want that boy? Act like you already have him! You want a greater salary? Act like you already have that money chillin’ in the bank!

Most importantly, you should not worry so much about what you do not have. When you worry about things, you cause blockage from your desire. Just ask the universe to grant you your wishes, then let it go. Trust that you will receive with time. Believe that you will attract your wishes and if it is meant to come, it will.

5 Reasons You Should Watch Star Trek 1. The message.

The Star Trek saga is a glimpse into humanity’s future. In the show, we don’t end up destroying ourselves and our world, despite the third World War that occurs. Star Trek shows humanity at its best: exploring and helping people for the sake of charity. On Earth, disease, greed, hunger, money, poverty and war do not exist anymore. Star Trek gives people hope that maybe, just maybe, the better part of humanity will prevail.

2. The sheer amount of content.

Star Trek blows Star Wars out of the water in terms of content. There is more than 22 days’ worth (and counting) of content from seven TV shows (with another two on the way), and that’s not even counting the 13 films: 10 original and three reboots. As for the nerds who prefer “reading,” there are more than 600 comic books and novels about Star Trek.

3. Star Trek is appropriate for most ages.

Star Trek is a very family-friendly franchise. Most of the shows and movies are rated PG, though there are a few exceptions. The show features big words like “structural integrity,” that younger audiences might not understand, but as for cursing, there is nothing more than the D-word or H-E-Double hockey sticks.

4. Star Trek pioneered in Civil Rights.

Star Trek had the first actress of color, Nichelle Nicols, in a recurring role on primetime television.

Not only that, but her character, Lieutenant Uhura, was in a position of command and power among the crew. Star Trek pushed past boundaries with not only the first black actress, but also with the first televised interracial kiss between Lieutenant Uhura and Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner).

5. Star Trek started it all.

Without Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and even Halo might never have existed. When Star Trek premiered in 1966, it kickstarted the science fiction genre. Because of Star Trek, we now have cell phones, computers and tablets. The communicators in the show became our flip phones. Their talking computers became Siri.

The video communication devices became Snapchat and Facetime. The whole idea of VR tech came from the show’s Holodeck.

Guest Writer: Raymond Leone