Florida’s|First High School Newspaper Hillsborough High School | | hhstoday.com | 5000 N. Central Avenue | Tampa, Florida 33603 April 2019 | Volume 120, Issue 7
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HEALTH This issue encompasses both physical and mental health. From sleep deprived students to debunked technological conspiracies, this issue has the HHS health breakdown. | GRAPHIC BY JOHN DOAN
Check out the results of our health survey | p. 5
The consequences of sleepless nights | p. 8 & 9
JROTC is marching through Europe | p. 16
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briefs
April 2019
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As you look through the pages of the April issue, you’ll notice it is unified by a common theme. We decided to focus on student health, from topics ranging from sleep to social media. The purpose of this focus is to provide the student body an in depth understanding of what affects their health and the ramifications of their behaviors. This issue is meant to be a resource. As you read, you will find coverage of mental health, explanations of healthcare and diet and lifestyle recommendations. This was a well-researched issue. For several stories, we contacted specialists to help us provide you with content that is accurate as possible. During the story planning process, the staff brainstormed what they thought were the most significant things that impacted their health and determined how to generalize those topics to
the population of the school. We entered the month of March knowing that we would strive to create a themed issue for April. This was done to build on the staff ’s momentum created with our special edition magazine, Us, which two months previously provided a unifying idea that sparked student interest. There are many aspects of our daily life that can influence our health, and many of them originate from school. As this high school’s newspaper, it is our responsibility to provide students with easy access to the information that is pertinent to our campus, and that is what this issue sought to achieve. Happy reading.
Marin Fehl Editor-in-Chief
STATE LEGALIZES MEDICAL MARIJUANA In 2016, over 70 percent of voters chose for the legalization of medical marijuana. Recently it was made legal for doctors to recommend to their patients smokable medical forms of cannabis.
The Florida House and Senate (by a 34-4 vote) approved the bill giving patients a wider range of forms to choose from besides the original oils, concentrates and baked goods.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation which overturned the illegalization of smoking medical marijuana. Now, patients over the age of 18 have access to cannabis while patients under the age of 18 can gain access through the diagnosis of terminal illness, pediatric advice or a consent form. The consent form is provided so that patients understand the health risks that come along with smoking cannabis. STORY BY RIA DEY
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST VACANCY For the last month, the school psychologist position has been vacant. The previous psychologist, Dr. Evelyn Hernandez, left in March for a new district-based position, so the school is borrowing one from Seminole Elementary. School psychologists are not licensed clinical psychologists, which means they are not legally allowed to give therapy, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. However, they are trained to identify and assist students in need of help. If there’s a problem they can’t help with,
they will refer you to someone who can. A replacement psychologist will be here for the 2019-20 school year, and Principal Gary Brady said the district has provided the school with a 60 percent allocation, meaning someone will be on campus three days per week. In the absence of a dedicated presence this year, social worker Essie Girard said students’ needs have still been met. “If a person need to see someone with mental health concerns, we have five school counselors and a fulltime social worker.” Girard said. STORY BY JOSH MORRISON
Red & Black
STAYING PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES No matter how safe you may be, there’s always a risk for an emergency. Whether it’s a paper cut at school or a broken down car in the middle of nowhere, it’s always necessary to be prepared for any situation
How to create a first aid kit A basic first aid kit for your backpack or locker should include: Bandages of various sizes, Ibuprofen or aspirin, antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment. For your car, where the risk of emergency is greater, the first aid kit will be more extensive. Along with the contents of the basic first aid kit, include pain relief medication, medical tape, rolled bandages, blister treatment, insect sting treatment and tweezers.
What to keep in your backpack or locker For your backpack or locker, your first aid kit should be smaller than for the car first aid kit, containing just the necessary items. This basic first aid kit should include: Bandages of various sizes, Ibuprofen or aspirin, antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment. You should also have cash around $20, phone charger, deodorant, chapstick, lotion, hand sanitizer and feminine hygiene products.
What to keep in your car Along with a first aid kit, you should have a flashlight, small blanket, charger, water, nonperishable food, duct tape, a towel, sunscreen and insect repellent. You can also keep an emergency seat belt cutter window breaker tool in the pocket of your car door where it can be reached from the seat. STORY AND GRAPHICS BY ASHER MONTGOMERY
JUULING: HEALTH CONCERNS AND MYTHS With the rise of vapes and electronic cigarettes hitting the market in replacement of cigarettes, the juul came too. While it was branded as a device made for people to be able to get off their cigarette addiction, many teens and young adults are hopping on the trend. The devices have flavored nicotine pods that include some like mint, mango, crème brulee and tobacco. However, the Food and Drug Administration has removed the “fruity” or sweeter flavors from being sold in gas stations and smoke shops because they are said to be more appealing to teens. Since the growth of vapes, the amount of teens smoking cigarettes has rapidly declined. Many studies have shown the effect of tobacco in the lungs and
how it’s causing cancer, which has led some to believe that using vaping devices is a safer option. However, the studies on vaping devices are very new, so the lasting long-term health effects have yet to be determined. Without the use of vapes, more teens might be smoking cigarettes currently than how many actually do now, but it is not certain that vapes are necessarily safer than smoking tobacco cigarettes. Currently, organizations like the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids have proposed to change the overall smoking age to 21 to prevent teens from using any smoking products, however the age right now remains at 18. STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR
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SOME STUDENTS AFRAID TO GET HELP
As the rate of mental illness in young adults continues to rise and mental health becomes a growing concern nationwide, students struggling with mental illnesses are finding it difficult to seek help. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 62.5% of young adults ages 18-25 who are affected by mental illness have not received mental health services, yet the prevalence of mental illness in young adults is 25.8%, the highest of any age group. Though mental illness is a growing cause for concern among young adults, some students find it difficult or even frightening to get help. For some, it can be even more difficult to admit to a parent/ guardian that they are struggling with mental illness or need help. Freshman Isha Modha found it difficult to express to her parents that she always felt very anxious. “It was really scary to tell my parents because you don’t want to be an added stress to their lives, and at first it led to her worrying excessively about me,” Modha said. “But the more I explained the situation the more she calmed down about and realized a lot of teenagers struggle with these same issues and it’s completely normal.” Another common concern for students struggling with their mental health is being taken seriously. Freshman Krishna Kothiya said admitting to needing help would lead to judgment from her fellow students. “It was scary seeing that people would judge you once they hear
your problems,” Kothiya said. “They tend to see you differently based on the things you went through.” Others are afraid that an adult whom they ask for help won’t be willing to listen. “It was hard to find an adult that I felt would take it seriously,” junior Amber Lo said. Students like David Ma, 11, who struggle with mental health may not find it daunting to seek help but rather can’t find the time or the resources to find help. “I’m fine now, but when I was at my weakest moments, it was because there was too much on my plate” Ma said on why he did not seek help for his mental health. For junior Isabella Roman, seeking help for her mental health is difficult because she feels afraid of being vulnerable with the people close to her. “For both parties, talking about mental health is incredibly hard in a global culture that promotes personal happiness,” Roman said. “It’s hard to tell people who are happy why you can’t seem to stop being sad, and it’s hard to hear somebody tell you they wish they could just die if you’ve never felt it yourself. It’s just so scary.” Roman said admitting to needing help for mental illness can be alienating from other people who may see her differently. STORY BY REEMA PATEL
WHERE CAN YOU GET HELP? 1. Talk to a teacher or faculty member. Asking a teacher or faculty member whom you know and trust for help can be easier. They can help you find the resources you need or point you to someone who can.
Students can visit the guidance office to find resources for getting help, including the school social worker and school counselor. PHOTO BY REEMA PATEL
Here’s three ways to ask for help with mental health issues at school
2. Talk to a school counselor.
School counselors know where to get the help you need and find answers. They can address issues such as grief, divorce, self-esteem and coping strategies and have information on further resources.
3. Talk to a school social worker.
Social workers can provide crisis intervention and counseling, strengthening family involvement, and determining the need for special services. COMPILED BY REEMA PATEL
SO YOU NEED TO GO TO THE CLINIC? As one of the student resource offices in Hillsborough, the clinic is the first place to call during a medical emergency. With such a large role in medical support, it is valuable for students to be aware of what the office can do for them. Here’s everything you need to know: 1. Before a student can get any more than basic first aid from the nurses, they would need to fill out the Healthy Student Form. This form, available all year, can only be signed with a parent present, even if the student is 18+ years old. Once signed, they would be able to ask for over the counter medication like Ibuprofen and cough drops. 2. Without the form, the clinic is only allowed to perform first aid. If the situation calls for more serious care, they will refer the student in need to somewhere that can provide better care. 3. If any student is thinking of participating in a sport next year, the clinic conducts sports physicals all year round. Even if they aren’t going for an extracurricular, the office provides regular medical check-ups to students interested. 4. The clinic office staff includes nurse Janice Vogt and nurse Melanie Fizzy, who started last December. COMPILED BY JOSHUA MORRISON
DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN HHS HISTORY
YEARBOOKS ONLY A FEW REMAIN
AND WHEN THEY’RE GONE, THEY’RE GONE Nurse Melanie Fizzy demonstrates how to check blood pressure on nurse Janice Vogt. PHOTO BY JOSHUA MORRISON
$80 CASH IN ROOM 506 OR ORDER AT HHSTODAY.COM
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April 2019
who said Should sex ed be mandatory? it?
“Definitely. I feel like our generation isn’t that careful and need to learn the consequences and lessons being learned from unsafe sex.” - JAZMINE
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Red & Black
THE TALK: SEX ED
Sex ed currently only covers the consequences of teen pregnancy and abstinence, but doesn’t teach about contraceptives or safety during sex.
FEIGUEROA, 10
“No it should not be mandatory. Not everybody has sex and not everybody is going to have kids.” - ALEX CASTRO, 11
“Yes, Kids need to learn how to have safe sex.” - CALEB PIERCE, 9
“Sex ed should not be mandatory because not everyone should do it and everyone doesn’t want to take it.” - JAMARI WOODS, 10
“I believe it should be mandatory for seniors as a semester 1 class and maybe juniors who are mature enough.” - EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, 11
When watching a movie about a teenager’s life in high school, a majority of the time there will be a scene of an older PE coach teaching sex education in a gym or occasionally a classroom, and no one is paying attention until a titillating word comes up making the class erupt in laughter. This might not be too far from the truth, however the content that is allowed to be taught is getting more restricted. In 2017, 15 Florida school districts adopted a new curriculum for sex education, and Hillsborough was one of them. The board in charge of making the cur-
riculum says that the information taught must be in their guidelines. “The board requires evidence based, medically accurate, age appropriate and comprehensive content,” the Florida Department of Education said. The content that is allowed to be taught is the consequences of a teen pregnancy, the health issues and benefits regarding contraceptives (condoms, birth control, etc.), the importance of family to a child, responsible decision making and promoting that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid pregnancy or STDs.
The curriculum is said to focus more on the idea of promoting abstinence, and less detailed education on contraception and safety. Currently, at Hillsborough High there is no sex ed class. There is a health class called HOPE, in which sexual education is a topic covered. However, the main idea of having safe sex is just remaining abstinent, which means not having sex at all. STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR
HIDDEN SUGAR The FDA reccomends eating only 50 grams of sugar per day It’s 7:58. The pantry and fridge doors are thrown open. There on the shelf, is yogurt and granola bars. Although it may seem like the perfect, quick breakfast, the snacks are actually not too healthy. Many granola bars add sweeteners like corn syrup, brown sugar, honey, brown sugar syrup, dextrose and fructose. Also, even low-fat yogurts can have 17 to 33 grams of sugar per eight-ounce serving. That’s equivalent to about two scoops of chocolate ice cream. Natural sugars in fruits and vegetables are not harmful but artificial sweeteners and added sugar found in processed foods and dairy products should be avoided. The Food and Drug Administration suggest eating no more than 50 grams of sugar per day. However, companies
mask the amount of sugar in food items and make it difficult to maintain a healthy amount. Here are some examples: As a favorite, a large flavored coffee can contain up to 100 grams of sugar. In a Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino, there are 64 grams of sugar which is equivalent to six doughnuts. Just a Pepsi (20 fl oz) bottle has around 68 grams of sugar Even salads have added sugars in dressing and toppings. The Burger King Chicken, Apple and Cranberry Garden Fresh Salad with Chicken has 38 grams of sugar. About 40% of the weight of BBQ sauce is sugar and just two tablespoons of it can contain around 14 grams of sugar STORY BY KATIE DELK GRAPHICS BY JOHN DOAN
11g per doughnut
68 g per 20 oz
100 g Caramel Frappuccino
Some salads have 38 g sugar 14 g serving of BBQ sauce
17-33 g per serving
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April 2019
CONSIDER YOUR HEALTH
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We anonymously surveyed 130 students about their physical and mental health. Here’s what they had to say: MENTAL HEALTH
14%
25%
students said they have experienced a diagnosed mental health issue
34%
students said they have no one to talk to about their mental health
wouldn’t know who to contact at school if they had a mental health concern
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & DIETS
14%
students are vegan or vegetarian
25%
spend 2-3 hours on social media per day
48%
have never taken a sex ed course
STRESS
25%
feel stressed every day
31% would be afraid to get help if they needed it
TECHNOLOGY
27%
students exercise every day
58%
do not feel like social media lowers self esteem
62%
think sex ed should be mandatory
72% practice selfcare
42% students play a sport
22%
could not go a day without their phone
GENERAL HEALTH
58%
are insured
SCHOOL LUNCHES
66%
eat a school lunch
32%
students use a phone/ computer 4-5 hours per day
SEX & DRUGS
18%
have juuled or smoked marijuana
75%
think health class should be mandatory
ADMINISTRATION
45%
don’t think the school is equipped to handle students’ health needs
COMPILED BY MARIN FEHL GRAPHICS BY JOHN DOAN AND MARIN FEHL
6 Who said it?
life
April 2019 What are the terrors of technology? “You get a lot of hate and stuff like that. If you say something stupid or racist, they’ll look at you like ‘oh you stupid idiot, you shouldn’t have did that.” -FREDDY HALL, 12
“Kids get addicted to their cellphones and can’t get off of them.” -TAMARA KELLY, 10
“It changes the shifts of social interactions away from the actual meaningful interaction between individuals and what they see on the outside.” -DANIEL SANDERS, 12
“People can get tracked off their phones and the Uber guy can just take you away, you don’t know where you’re going.” -LEXIE TORREZ, 9 COMPILED BY MERCY TSAY
Red & Black
TECHNOLOGICAL TERRORS With technology being an integral part of our lives, here are some of the major effects it has. Technology is prominent in nearly every aspect of our daily lives, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. There are few short-term effects that will make life better, and even less long-term benefits. One of the major uses of technology is social media and that is where many issues originate.
Negatives of technology and social media:
Health issues – Excessive use of technology can cause health issues ranging from overexposure of blue light to maintaining the same hand position for too long. According to The Vision Council, our eyes are strained when reading on our phones, due to the tiny text on a bright screen. People can even develop arthritis quicker due to repetitive motions when texting. Distraction – People have become so reliant on their phones that they behave as if they can’t live without them. This proves detrimental especially when people begin to use cellphones while they are driving. Distracted drivers are one of the top contributors to car accidents. Addiction and laziness – Nowadays, most people spend their idle time on their phone. Whether it’s to distract from socialization or to keep up with friends it is no doubt that cell phones have become a constant in our daily lives. However, these small uses become constant and increasingly disruptive of normal lifestyles and classes. Cyberbullying – Cyberbullying is the act of harassing another individual through the use of the internet. This can be in the form of mean comments or posting defamatory pictures. Rather than whispers that ripple through the crowd, rumors become a large scale event that can be conducted anonymously. Cheating – Although the abundance of resources is great for ex-
panding knowledge it also makes cheating so much easier. With the introduction of smart watches, there are many ways for students to get the answers without actually learning the material. Distorted views of beauty – With new programs that allow people to alter their images, social ideals often become harmful to the self esteem of those who view them. It doesn’t help that people only share the best parts of their lives online. Catfishing and other anonymous dangers – The internet is extremely easy to access and there are fairly few limitations in public places. Catfishing is when someone assumes a fake identity and creates social media accounts in order to deceive people.
Positives of technology and social media:
Plentiful Resources – Since the internet is so vast, it allows us access to databases across the world and works by different historians that may have been previously unavailable or only accessible in a public library. News and globalization – News is shared as quickly as it happens, both locally and globally. Connections all over the world – New forms of communication have expanded beyond just texting and calling. People can now meet new friends through social media and connect with family internationally free of charge. New Careers – Advancing technology has helped to expand the workforce. It has created an area of study for those interested in dedicating their lives to working with and learning about developing technology. COMPILED BY MERCY TSAY
ARE MY AIRPODS KILLING ME? Airpods are quickly growing in popularity, but could they be harming us? With all this new technology coming into our lives, it can be difficult to keep up with the associated health risks. By using devices in our everyday lives, we are exposed to low level radiation. The Radio-Frequency (RF) is the range of radiation that we experience as a result of our use of technology. Radiation is emmited from everyday items like cell phones, radar, wi-fi, Bluetooth and microwaves. The Federal Communications Commission provides radiation guidelines depending on the device in use. These range from around 100 kHz to 100 GHz. So far there are no conclusive findings on the relationship between Airpods and cancer. However, research conducted by the University of California Berkeley suggests that “low-intensity microwave radiation similar to Bluetooth can open up the bloodbrain barrier.” The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from dangerous
substances in the blood. Since Airpods use Bluetooth technology, this has alarmed many users.Nonetheless, this study does not prove that using technology will lead to health issues. Despite a lack of definitive evidence, ru-
mors have been circulating the internet that Airpods will harm their users. Some students at our school questioned the relevance of the study’s findings. “I could get cancer from going outside for some sun, so it could be possible that electronics could cause cancer,” Kobe Warren said. “There’s no way you can get cancer from that,” Adrian Miller said. “It wouldn’t even make sense since parents put a phone to a baby’s head and, say, talk on the phone, and they didn’t get cancer, did they?” Although recent research has shown a correlation between the use of technology and health issues, these studies have only been correlational. There may not be reason to throw out the Airpods yet, but it is important to stay aware of research on health risks. STORY BY EMILY TAMARGO AND SHAWN GIST
life
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WAYS TO DESTRESS
Aromatherapy- Believe it or not, the use of essential oils is more than an internet trend. Studies have found that frequent use of aromatherapy can lead to reduced levels of anxiety and depression, a boost of energy levels, balanced sleeping patterns and a stronger immune system, to name a few. Track it down- Keeping a journal where you write down your thoughts and feelings can help to understand them more clearly. This can give a sense of organization that helps a group of individuals feel in-control of their emotions and understand them more clearly. Friends- Surrounding yourself with a group of caring and supportive people can be beneficiary when you’re uplifting one another and spending time together. This can help you expand your ability to share your feelings with other people and learn new ways to deal with stress through them. Apps- In this new age of technology, multiple apps have been created as a quick and direct form of “treatment” for those stressful times. You can find apps like “Relax Melodies” and “Headspace,” where you can pick a set of melodies and meditation series, and even others like “Talkspace” where you can talk to a therapist right from your phone. Crocheting- Crocheting reduces stress and anxiety by allowing individuals to let their imagination flow and be creative. The continuous process allows your mind to focus on your current actions and gives room for the cause of stress to hide away. COMPILED BY DIADELYS MENA
Who said it?
How do you destress? “I like to play video games because it’s like a fantasy world and it gives me a chance to be stress free for some time.”
“[I] go to the backyard and start a fire to just sit back and think about stress.”
-CHARLES CAVALIERE, 11
-GABRIEL JAIMES, 12
April 2019
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SAVING YOUR SKIN Skin care is so important because it allows you to take all the dirt and bad oils from your skin leaving it fresh and clean. Taking care of your skin can be doing anything from just wearing sunscreen to doing a ten-step routine. Skin routines are personal and specific to each person because everyone is different. The main skin types are dry, oily, combination, or normal skin. Combination skin is when in some areas you’re dry (for example your forehead and chin) and some places you’re oily (for example your cheeks and nose). For normal skin, it requires a less intensive regimen. Always remember to wear sunscreen to prevent sun damage. For dry skin, moisturizing is key, and water based creams and serums are important. Remember to wear sunscreen! For oily skin, wash your face every day but do not over wash. Always moisturize but use thin creams, as anything too thick will clog your pores, making matters worse. For combination skin, you have two different skin types that you need to treat. Use alcohol free toners for dryness and light moisturizers to target dry areas while avoiding clogged pores.
Daily: 1.Wash your face twice a day with a facial cleanser. 2.Use a toner, like one with witch hazel, on a cotton pad to wipe your face and remove any leftover dirt that may remain after washing your face. 3.Optional - Use a serum to bring hydration back to your skin. 4.Use an acne spot treatment on specific breakouts at night to dry them out. 5.Moistutrize, even if you have oily skin.
Tips: -Use facemasks once or twice a week. Different face masks have different benefits. Some can be used to hydrate skin, others target black heads. Find facemasks specific to your skin needs. -Hydration is needed even if you have oily skin. Use an oil- free and non- comedogenic moisturizers so they don’t clog pores. Oil and hydration are two different things. -Exfoliate your skin with scrubs or face brushes two to three times a week to clear out dead skin. Do not exfoliate too often since that can lead to dry skin. COMPILED BY KYLIE SMITH
EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET
TOP LEFT Chipotle’s Sofritas Soft Tacos TOP RIGHT Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Salad BOTTOM LEFT Taco Bell’s Bean Burrito BOTTOM RIGHT Burger King’s Burger with No Bun
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, you could find healthy foods in unlikely places. Healthy food doesn’t have to just be a bed of lettuce with some tomatoes, it could be a lean meat burger with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and a healthy serving of sweet potato fries. Healthy foods aren’t just low in calories, they need to be good providers of your daily nutrients. They shouldn’t have a lot of added sugar, saturated fats, sodium or artificial sweeteners. McDonald’s – Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich With only 380 calories, this sandwich is made of two artisan buns, grilled chicken, tomato and lettuce. All healthy ingredients for the low price of $4.69. Wendy’s – Jr. Hamburger with lettuce, tomatoes and onions This is one of the smallest burgers that Wendy’s offers, but with the side of lettuce and other fillings, it’s a very filling meal for only $1.39.
Chipotle – Anything, really Chipotle has a unique menu that allows you to create your own dish. A healthy favorite of mine is a salad bowl. It’s loaded with your choice of grilled peppers, romaine lettuce, corn, various salsas, sour cream and it comes with free guacamole. As one of the cheapest meals on the chipotle menu, salad bowls run for only $6.95. Depending on what you get on your food, the calorie range is anywhere from 400-800 calories on a salad bowl. Burger King – Veggie burger Burger King’s Morningstar Veggie Burger. Described by the Burger King website as, “Meat-less. Flavor-Ful.” The Morningstar Veggie Burger is made with real vegetables and a Morningstar veggie patty, topped with fresh lettuce and tomato, in between two slices of a toasted sesame bun. The whole sandwich has a total of 390 calories and costs only $3.29. STORY BY JOHN DOANW
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focus
April 2019
Red & Black
STUDENTS AROUND THE CLOCK: SLEEP HABITS WE SURVEYED 130 STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR SLEEPING HABITS - HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:
72%
said they got 8 or less hours of sleep each night
50%
said they struggle in school when they don’t get enough sleep
48%
said they got more sleep because of the new start times
64%
said that school influenced the amount of sleep they got
42%
said they only sometimes felt like they had enough sleep
32%
said they found it harder to drive when tired
64%
said the amount of sleep they got impacted their mood
30%
said that extracurriculars influenced the amount of sleep they got
Here are some other things that influenced your sleeping habits:
STUDENTS AREN’T SLEEPING ON THIS CONCERN The scream of an alarm clock. Shuffling around, stalling until feet finally hit the floor. Exhausted, but out of bed. Students crowd the hallway on the way to class. The normally rambunctious halls are instead mostly quiet, save for the intermittent yawning and quiet discussions between friends. It’s 8:30 a.m. and school has started. Less than 15 percent of teenagers sleep the recommended 8-10 hours each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The average night of sleep for a high school student is less than eight hours, which can cause irregular sleep patterns to form to accomodate both the weekends and the school week. A lack of sleep has been linked to various issues in teenagers, like driving drowsy and a weakened immune system. It can also be linked to an inability to focus or concentrate, which has become a trend in many high schools.
Difficulty in school “If I get a lower amount of sleep than I normally do, I cannot function the next day and have no energy to even try in any of my classes or outside activities,” sophomore Ashlyn Davidson said. “If I’m super tired, all I think about is sleeping so I don’t do homework or hangout with my friends or family, all I do is sleep.” And this is a common trend.. In the United States alone, 40 percent of Americans sleep less than six hours per night, with the average being 6.8 hours per night, according to a 2013
poll done by Gallup. This is a stark difference from trends that were measured from sleep culture in the 1910s, where most Americans slept an average of nine hours per night. This shift in sleep patterns can be attributed to the changing work and school demands, which have become more extensive in recent years, along with an increased availability of technology like laptops and smartphones. “It’s not fair to expect students to act their full potential when students receive less sleep than necessary, as [school] is continuously demanding more from their body than it will allow, hindering their potential,” junior Alekhya Peddu said.
New start times Despite the change in start times at the start of this year, students still face the same sleepless challenges. “This year’s time has actually made me much more tired and late to school due to so much traffic compared to last year,” junior Iris Vargas Rodriguez said. “The new time change with school starting and ending later has messed up my sleep so much,” Davidson added. “The change made it harder to get my homework done at a reasonable hour. However, some students are satisfied with the sleep they get now in comparison to last school year. “I feel like the one hour difference makes me feel much more well rested,” Peddu said. Although high schools across the district have opted for a later start time, sleeplessness
in teens remains a prevalent problem. As a result, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) has undertaken several health initiatives, like the Healthy School Award, to help address these problems, along with encouraging a healthier lifestyle through physical activity.
Addressing concerns However, some students still believe that these efforts should be more extensive. “I think that teachers should give out less homework or else extend the due dates,” Davidson said. “I also think expectations of student performance should be lowered, and every student shouldn’t be treated as if we’re all the same.” According the the National Sleep Foundation, there are some things that students can control so that they get a better night’s sleep, even if they can’t control every aspect of their work load, like creating a sleeping routine. And some students have other strategies in mind. “At the end of the day, the student is responsible for how long they stay up, not the school,” Rodriguez said. Added, “I don’t know one high school student who doesn’t say they lack energy to be honest,” Peddu said. “I’ve realized that in order to have a better sleep schedule, I need to focus more on time management and at this point it’s a matter of following through with that.”
COMPILED BY MARIN FEHL GRAPHICS BY JOHN DOAN
The average high schooler sleeps less than specialists recommend for a teenager - and it can impact their ability to drive “Take nine steps, touching heel-totoe, in a straight line,” the officer firmly said. “But sir, I am just tired, I am not drunk.” In the state of Florida, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. However, sleep deprivation can have the same effects as driving under the influence. According to nationwidechildrens. org, without the proper amount of sleep, adolescents cannot regulate their moods, are more likely to participate in dangerous activities, face issues with attention, memory, decision making, reaction time and creativity and are shown to perform worse in school.
On average, teenagers sleep between seven and seven and one-fourth hours. However, they need 9 to 9 1//2 hours of sleep. Due to puberty, an adolescent’s internal clock shifts about two hours, which causes teens to go to bed and wake up later. In addition, social and school obligations lead to lack of sleep. Tired driving most commonly occurs between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. To prevent accidents and falling asleep at the wheel, students can avoid technology use before bed, maintain a consistent sleeping schedule and take brief naps of about 15-20 minutes in the afternoon. STORY BY KATIE DELK
WHEN IS SAFE FOR ME TO HIT THE ROAD? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, at least 7-8 hours of sleep are required to drive safely. This is because sleeping improves reaction time, concentration and spatial memory. In 2016 alone, over 100,000 car crashes were reported to the U.S police that involved a sleep-deprived driver.
What keeps you up at night?
“The show on Netflix ‘The queen flow.’” -ARLENE BEJAR, 11
“I stay on my phone all night and I do my homework.” - OZAEY CHAVARRIA, 11
“Trying to become a rapper by making beats.” - MATTHEW AUSTIN LANDA, 10
“Having too much caffeine.” -DANIEL SANDERS
TIPS TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP 1. Be mindful of what you eat and drink before bed - It is important to avoid eating within 2-3 hours of when you go to sleep, but it is also important to avoid overeating before bed or going to sleep hungry. Some foods and drinks that contain stimulating ingredients, like caffeine, can prevent you from going to sleep. 2. Stick to a schedule - Create a routine for before you go to sleep and when you wake up. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time on both school days and weekends so that your body can properly adjust to the demands of your schedule.
1) Family 4) Mental health 2) Jobs 5) Video games 3) Stress 6) Smartphones
STORY BY MARIN FEHL
DRIVING UNDER THE SLEEPLESS INFLUENCE
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3. Create a good sleeping environment - Cool temperatures are ideal for sleeping. Try to create a cool, dark, and calming environment that you use only for sleeping. 4. Find a way to manage your stress - Whether it be yoga, exercise, reading a book or writing your stressors down, you get the best sleep when your mind isn’t cluttered with worries right before bedtime. 5. Engage in physical activity during the day - Establishing an exercise routine is a good way to get more sleep. Avoid physical actvity right before you go to sleep. COMPILED BY MARIN FEHL
“Dealing with the fact that my mother was right regarding fake friends.” -SAMANTHA UNDERWOOD, 12
COMPILED BY CEEJAY LIBERATORE AND DIADELYS MENA
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opinion
April 2019
RED&BLACK VOLUME 120, ISSUE 7
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marin Fehl WEB EDITOR Mercy Tsay DEPUTY WEB EDITOR Jaden Shemesh COPY EDITOR Katie Delk PAGE EDITORS Makayla Brown, Johnathan Doan-Truong, Lauren Komar, Reema Patel, Kylie Smith STAFF WRITERS Alex Croft, Ria Dey, Shawn Gist, Ceejay Liberatore, Diadelys Mena, Asher Montgomery, Joshua Morrison, Racine Seide ADVISER Joe Humphrey, MJE PRINCIPAL Gary Brady ABOUT Content decisions are made by student editors MEMBERSHIP Red & Black proudly belongs to the Florida, National and Columbia Scholastic press associations AWARDS 2018-2019 FSPA All-Florida 2016-2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2016-2017 NSPA All-American 2016-2017 CSPA Hybrid Silver Crown The EDITORIAL reflects the view of student editors and can be found on this page Bylined COLUMNS represent the viewpoints of their authors We welcome your LETTERS, which may be edited for brevity and clarity. Submit via email, deliver to Room 506 or mail to Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave, Tampa, Florida 33603.
Red & Black
HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT Sitting in a waiting room shocked. A woman was just diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer, and she’s begging with her doctor. The desperation in her voice is enough to silence the whole room. The lifesaving treatment she needs far exceeds her means. The cost of the treatment is a price she’s unable to pay, but it’s one that’s necessary. She pleads with her doctor. She has a family to support, she can’t go without treatment. The doctor stands firm, the cost of chemotherapy will not change because the patient cannot afford it. This is not an unfamiliar scene. Each day, patients across the United States are faced with medical bills they can’t afford, prescription prices that they cannot justify and diagnoses they cannot treat.
Partisanship In the U.S. alone, 44 million have no health insurance, according to PBS News, while nearly one-third of Americans have inadequate coverage. In recent years, attempts at changing the health care system in the country have faced difficulty. Due to the partisan nature of politics, health care legislation is seldom passed, with the most recent exception being ObamaCare, which faces an unknown future. However, despite political differences, the fact remains that the average citizen can’t afford to go to the emergency room, or even pay for an EpiPen. The cost of prescription medication has skyrocketed in the last few years, leaving people with even less medical access than before. The value of health care should not be a debatable issue. Health care is a human right, and the fact that access to life-saving medicine is a political argument is not only severely unethical, but downright inhumane. Your ability to receive treatment should not depend on your socioeconomic status.
Universal health care Calls for health care for all, or a single-payer system, have risen to political popularity in recent years, but have been condemned as socialist, or an attack on the democracy of our country. However, universal health care is not the breaking point for our society. Ensuring that a child who needs an EpiPen can afford one will not cause the destruction of democracy as we know it.
The argument is ridiculous. Universal access to health care is not a radical idea. There’s a long list of countries that offer free or universal health care to their inhabitants, and it works. The idea that the United States, one of the richest countries in the world, simply cannot afford universal health care is ironic, especially considering that countries with greater wealth than the U.S., like Sweden and Finland, provide universal health care. They seem to be doing pretty well.
Funding The predicted cost of universal health care in this country would be $2.8 trillion a year, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which seems like a significant amount of money. However, on average, the U.S. allocates about 54 percent of the discretionary federal budget towards defense spending. If we can afford to spend that on the military, it’s probably safe to say that we can afford to provide our citizens with a basic human right. That alone would increase taxes, but that’s without changing the federal budget. There’s no reason to dedicate so much of the budget towards things like war, which are drains on the global economy, when people at home can’t even afford an ambulance when they need one. It’s about morality. Do we as a society really think that it’s okay for people to die because they can’t afford a trip to the hospital? Or treatments for serious diseases? Or even basic prescriptions? People in poverty deserve access to health care just as much as a billionaire. Your economic value does not, and should not be allowed to, determine the worth of your life. But the reality is that it does, and that’s an unacceptable way for any country to operate.
whod sai it?
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“Health care should be offered to a wide array of people for free, especially homeless people.” - ROCHEA LOFTIN, 12
“I feel like our health care system should be like [Britain’s], where everybody can have healthcare.” - CARLOS MORALES, 12
“I think that the state should provide universal health care because not everyone can afford it.” - DALIA SANCHEZ, 11
opinion
hhstoday.com
April 2019
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POINT/COUNTERPOINT: SHOULD PHYSICAL EDUCATION BE MANDATORY? Physical education should be a mandatory course for every high school student. There are many benefits to forcing students to be active. For example, as high school students we tend to have high levels of stress, and exercise is a good way to release some of that stress. The vast majority of students don’t play a sport, go to the gym daily or even get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise daily, so a class would be the perfect way to force some sort of exercise. Students can get caught up in school or other activities and forget to move our bodies as much as previous generations used to, and a mandatory exercise period can reduce our laziness to help our bodies. For a lot of students, student interactions are limited to the traditional classroom. However, with PE classes, students are able to form different types of bonds with others and can build friendships in another setting that most friends don’t experience together: exercise. In addition to serving as a stress reliever, a PE class is also just a fun break for students during a day filled with sitting. Playing short games or stretching provides a necessary change to the mundane days school offers. There are many different forms PE can take, so it doesn’t have to just be stereotypical dodgeball matches and rope climbing classes. However, it is good to have a diverse range of activities each day to cater to more people. Students who are not naturally excited about PE might face more challenges in class and may not enjoy the class at all. However, by facing challenges in an unusual area in school (exercise), as oppose to the typical challenge of learning facts, students can learn to grow and accomplish more than they thought they could. COLUMN BY JADEN SHEMESH
Physical education should not be a graduation requirement for students because it’s a waste of time that could be spent doing more productive things in their life. If students don’t care about the class then they won’t participate which is only going to hurt their GPA. The main goal of physical education in schools is to teach students proper form and exercise techniques. That is useful for students who appreciate a good exercise but for those who are better at other things it’s just a waste of an elective. PE being mandatory is like having a mandatory art or computer class. Each of these classes is only useful to a certain handful of students. HOPE also isn’t required if a student participates on a school sports team or in ROTC. Students have the opportunity to take high school health class online this alone defeats the purpose of the in-school class any way. When taking hope online students can just make up random numbers and find plenty of ways around doing most of the assignment. With all of the available wats to avoid being in HOPE class it just shouldn’t be mandatory at all. The 2.0 grade point average that a student must have to graduate is a combination of all the grades a student receives in each of their classes. Since it’s an average, a low grade can really affect it. If the average student gets all Cs and then a D in hope that drops their GPA from the minimum 2.0 graduation requirement to a 1.8. If that average student were to have had a class that they really wanted to be in and got an A they would have had a 2.28 GPA meeting the requirement they needed. Since every person has different combinations of grades one grade can really make or break your GPA. COLUMN BY KYLIE SMITH
MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A JOKE Mental illness is an all-too-familiar punchline to a slew of jokes heard on a daily basis using words like “depressing,” “anxiety” and “retarded.” Our generation’s sense of humor may be heavily nihilistic (nothing really matters and we’ve all accepted it) but many of us take it too far, using mental illness and suicide jokes to get the message across. These jokes are never funny. Mental health is not, and should not be, a joke. People who suffer from mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism suffer as a result of their disorder, sometimes over the course of their entire lives. Even more importantly, they’re real people with real struggles. If you’ve never experienced any form of mental illness, it might be difficult to imagine why it’s such a big deal to make a few jokes.
Those who suffer from serious mental disorders often find it difficult to get jobs, stay healthy, or even make it through the day. Is your edgy joke really worth it? According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. Once you know who your jokes could be affecting, it’s hard to find the humor. Seemingly harmless jokes about mental illness can have a hurtful and deeply harmful effect on the very people suffering from those illnesses. For example, the word “retarded” is considered a slur toward people with intellectual disabilities because it was used to put them down for many years and is still deeply hurtful to hear. Mental illnesses aren’t just serious -- they’re real medical conditions that can’t be wished away by good vibes or positive thinking. Those who suffer from mental illness didn’t ask to be the punchline of your joke. Leave their struggles out of your vocabulary.
Real medical conditions
Mental health is serious
Mental disorders like anxiety and depression can make every day exponentially more difficult to get through. People with intellectual disabilities like autism, Asperger’s and Down syndrome often are bullied and given few opportunities. For example, it can be difficult for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to find work opportunities or complete their education with the resources they need. Teenagers facing mental illnesses are often bullied or isolated, finding it difficult to fit in and make friends.
Jokes that make light of mental illness aren’t just insensitive but also harmful to actual sufferers of mental illness who are trying to seek help. Saying “I want to kill myself ” may seem like an innocent joke until someone truly struggling with depression or another disorder says it as a cry for help and is simply laughed off. Making jokes about mental illness makes it seem like something that can be taken lightly, but this is a major problem for mentally ill people who are trying to be taken seriously. If someone
around you was considering asking for help, they may no longer feel safe seeking help knowing that their illness is being mocked by those who supposedly care about their well-being. Getting help for mental illness can be hard enough without being made into a joke. If jokes involving mental illness are the foundation for your sense of humor, you may want to reconsider your life choices. There are so many ways to be funny without being harmful and no one is going to think less of you if you refuse to joke about mental illness (if they do, they’re the wrong type of people). As a generation and a society, we must stop accepting jokes about mental illness as the norm and actively make an effort to respect those struggling with mental illness in order to improve the way we approach mental health as a whole. COLUMN BY REEMA PATEL
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us
April 2019
Red & Black
DIETS ON CAMPUS “I’ll eat anything like vegetables, cheeseburgers and smoothies [because] playing [football] I have to meet my weight goal.“ - EZEKIEL LOCKETT, 11
LEFT Cafeteria manager Victoria Johnson prepares food for breakfast before distributing it to the waiting line of students. TOP RIGHT A keto bagel sandwich prepared by Victoria Johnson. She follows this diet because of its health benefits. BOTTOM RIGHT Victoria Johnson prepares food for the day’s cafeteria meals. PHOTOS BY ASHER MONTGOMERY
THE KETO SUCCESS On the ketogenic diet for only four months, Victoria Johnson has lost almost 40 pounds and is still keeping up with the diet. She makes her own meals, along with managing the preparation of the breakfast, lunch and even dinner meals every day for 1,850 students as cafeteria manager. The keto diet is a low carb, high-fat diet where those on it avoid foods high in carbohydrates, sugar or are processed, such as bread, pasta, cakes and even some fruits. If done correctly, this requires your body to rely on fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, in turn, burning unwanted fat. The majority of people on the diet simply take these foods out of their diet completely and substitute what they’re missing with foods from other groups. Johnson takes a different approach. “I make anything you eat in a normal diet, I just do a keto version,” Johnson said.
Finding alternatives To substitute for sugar in her homemade meals, Johnson uses a sugar alternative called erythritol, which comes from the plant stevia. To replace wheat flour, which contains a lot of carbs, she typically uses almond flour. She makes everything from keto sausage cheese biscuits, bagels, tacos and bread to keto cheesecake, cream cheese pancakes and cheese buns. All of this she posts on her Instagram page that documents her keto lifestyle. “At first, [keto] was difficult because I used to drink alcohol and it’s hard to get out of that lifestyle,” Johnson said. “[Other people on the keto diet] make it difficult for themselves but if you want something, just make it yourself.” She also notes that she grew up with a strong Hispanic background and that foods like rice and beans, which she also must avoid, were hard to get away from.
Millie Romero, another member of the cafeteria staff, does keto too. “It’s not really that difficult, it’s just eating healthier, less bread and carbs,” she said. Johnson noted that her family, her husband and child, are not on the keto diet with her and she makes their meals normal. “I will make them something with a meat, vegetables and a grain for example and just leave out the grain for myself,” Johnson said. She adds that her family is supportive of her diet, especially when she started to see improvements in her overall mood. “My energy went up, my happiness went up, I had less stress in balancing home and work,” she said.
Making the best of it Johnson, a Hillsborough alumna, now works as the student nutrition manager. She oversees and helps with ordering, inventory, making sure the food is made properly and the other responsibilities of the cafeteria. She oversees 12 employees. Johnson acknowledges that at times there may be little variety in the food options the cafeteria serves, however, the options that they do have are healthy. “I can’t guarantee that everything is perfect everyday but we try our best to make sure everything follows the nutritional guidelines,” she said. She urges students to make healthier choices when they get the option. Johnson notes that she wishes kids would eat more vegetables and that wish just may come true with the salad bar that should be reappearing sometime soon. Although she understands that certain things are more appealing to kids than others, she believes that her low carb cooking proves that healthy foods can taste just as good as other options. STORY BY ASHER MONTGOMERY
“I’ll eat protein bars and drink basics like water and Gatorade. I’ll eat anything with the right nutrition [because] I’m [on] the track and football teams, but I don’t restrict myself because I have a fast metabolism.“ - DEMARION HOPKINS, 10
“I try to avoid sugars because once I start [eating] them, I can’t really stop. I also try to eat more protein, but I don’t really care about carbs. I’m trying to gain about 20 more pounds of muscle.” - GUNEET UBEROI, 11
“I’ve been a vegetarian my whole life, but now I’m reducing dairy consumption because cows and milk in general really hurt the environment and animals are abused in the farms they live in, so I don’t want to support an industry that hurts sentient animals.“ - ISHA MODHA, 9
“I don’t really do diets. I really just eat whatever I want because I’m a basketball athlete so either way I’ll work [the calories] off. “ - SHAWNEE MARTIN, 11
“I love food. I frequently [drink] protein shakes and do diets of cutting out sugar and fried foods because I box and I’m on raiders for ROTC so I have to keep up with my fitness, but then I just fall back [because] food is good.“ - HEAVENLEE PADILLA, 10 COMPILED BY JADEN SHEMESH
hhstoday.com
snapshot
STUDENTS STAND UP TO CANCER
ABOVE Paint brush and purple paint in hand, sophomore Ella Dang carefully paints ribbons on junior Anthony Allen’s face. The ribbon represents cancer awareness nationwide. RIGHT Amoung students, survivors and people from the community, faculty members Lindsay Fugate and Elizabeth Ferris, decided to join the event. For every lap a participant walks, sponsors donate a set amount of money toward cancer research. BELOW Marking the start and end of each lap the inflatable arch is used in Relay for Life events all around the country. During the first lap of the event only cancer surviors walk while or participants cheer them on.
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WHAT IS RELAY FOR LIFE?
The Relay For Life movement is the American Cancer Society’s main fundraiser made to help communities attack cancer. Team members, volunteers and students around the country, help raise money to stand up to cancer. Relay for Life In The Heights was organized by teachers Stefanie Zimmerman and Jessica Raia-Long.
ABOVE Sophomore Erin Partlow gifts her fellow Relay for Life attendee with a matching Spiderman mask. Masks and other items were available as prizes at the different booths at the event. Along with the sponsored laps, games and concessions were also methods for raising funds for cancer research. PHOTOS BY JOHN DOAN AND MARIN FEHL
RIGHT Covered in whipped cream, junior Luca Lobouton stares in awe at the plate of cream junior Cassandra Truong decided to put on his face as a light-hearted joke.
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entertainment
April 2019
HEALTH IN POP CULTURE
Red & Black
COMMERCIAL CROSSFIT Your favorite show just went to its commercial break, you have your snacks and you don’t need to run to the restroom. If you’re looking for something healthy to do for the 2-3 minutes of the commercial break, we made a full-body workout program that you could knock out while you’re watching some commercials.
1. Planks for an ad
KEEPING UP THE ACT
STAYING FIVE FEET APART
The Act is a series on Hulu based on a true story about a mother and a daughter. The daughter Gypsy Blanchard is a victim of Munchausen by proxy, which is where a parent or guardian fakes or exaggerates an illness for attention. Her Mother Dee Dee Blanchard allegedly claims her daughter has medical conditions such as Leukemia, Muscular Dystrophy, Epilepsy, respiratory issues, vision and hearing impairment. Gypsy also has to be in a wheelchair, eat through a feeding tube, take several medications and even get extractions. Gypsy believes something is wrong with her and in the first episode ‘pandoras box’ she discovers her mother is keeping secrets from her and slowly thinks of a plan to break free. Gypsy creates an account on Christian dating website to meet boys. She meets a boy name Nicholas Godejohn who was also desperate for connection. REVIEW BY RACINE SEIDE
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes frequent lung infections and prevents patients from being able to breathe. Some patients will require intense care and even lung transplants. Life expectancy for other cystic fibrosis patients can be up to 47 years but that’s if they follow their regimens and treatments diligently. However, this isn’t how Five Feet Apart character Will Newman chooses to live his life. Until he meets Stella Grant, a fellow CF patient who spends free-time organizing her medicine and decorating her treatment plans. Stella convinces will into following his treatments as intensely as she does by doing them together. Will and Stella have an instant connection even though they can only come within six feet of each other. Bring plenty of tissues for the inevitable crying that will happen from this story about what it’s like for these teenagers to have deal with cystic fibrosis and their attempts to take their life’s back. REVIEW BY KYLIE SMITH
who said it?
Planks work out your core, and all you have to do is hold yourself up off of the ground using your forearms and your toes.
2. Push ups for an ad
Doing push-ups works out your shoulders and your triceps. Doing push-ups on your knees also lets you get a good workout in if you can’t do push-ups on your toes.
3. Bicep curls/pull ups for an ad
Both workouts are supposed to work out your biceps. Execute each exercise slowly for the most activation in your muscles.
4. Wall-sits for an ad
How well do you think mental health is represented in media? “On certain [TV] channels it’s represented, but not much, so in the middle.” – DEMARION HOPKINS, 10
“I think the media makes it seem like it’s a bad thing, like oh these people need help.” – RONDE JACKSON, 11
“I don’t think they are represented well enough or enough. People make fun of it when it should be seen as a serious issue.” – TOREY FITTS, 12
Put your back to a wall and bend your legs to a 90 degree angle and then hold yourself up using your toe. This workout is supposed to work out your quads and your calves. STORY BY JOHN DOAN
sports
hhstoday.com
FUN BUT ‘FITNESSY’ PLACES TO GO
April 2019
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THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER
TOP GOLF
LEFT Pacing his breathing, junior Sebastian Saltares completes his last lap around the track after school. Saltares runs at least once a day to maintain his times. BELOW Early morning, hearts pounding, feet ready to stop, bodies moving in sync members of the boys cross country work out on the track. Junior Sebastian Saltares runs early for cross country training.
Top Golf is a great way to mix up eating out, having fun and putting some work in. Believe it or not, golfing has been found to provide a full body workout and decreases the chances of heart disease lowers the risks of issues regarding blood-glucose levels, cholesterol and body composition.
UPPER TAMPA BAY TRAIL
Going on a hike in areas like the Upper Tampa Bay Trail is a great way to free your mind, enjoy nature and can get you fit as it works as a low-impact cardio activity and burns 500 calories an hour. It also serves as a way to distress and get away during this time.
TREEHOPPERS
If you’re a fan of heights, tree climbing might be the perfect spot for you. TreeHoppers is an aerial park that allows you to safely zip line and climb through trees whether it is alone or with a group of friends. This is a way to challenge yourself and build confidence. STORY BY DIADELYS MENA PHOTOS FROM OFFICIAL SITES
ABOVE Working on an art assignment, junior Sebastian Saltares ocuses on finishing one of his last assignments of the year. Outside of long distance running Saltarez also has a passion for art, he mainly draws realistic style portraits of classmates and close friends.
LEFT Boys cross country takes practice to a local park after school to train for competitions. Junior Sebastian Saltares has been on the team since he was freshman. PHOTOS BY ALEX CROFT AND WILLOW MORTON
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sports
April 2019
Red & Black
JROTC MARCHES THROUGH THE NETHERLANDS While leaning against a tree, short of breath and fatigued, an elderly woman between 90 and 91 whispered in Colonel Demetrius Green’s ear “you want me to carry your pack for a little bit?” outside of her retirement home. With a wide grin, Green responded “no ma’am I’m good, I can make it” and gave her all of his American flags he carried in his rucksack. Ever since his first 100 mile walk in 1998, Green looks for the woman. “To this day, I can remember that vividly. Acts of kindness along the route are constant,” he said. “If you are struggling you will always hear ‘Come on Yank,’ and they sing ‘when the yanks come marching in.’”
Making the trip This year, Green will travel to the Netherlands for his tenth march with seven students, a mom and administrators Henry Burns and Daryl Givens who both retired from the military. As the first JROTC program from the US to march in the Walk of the World, the team will make history. The team will leave on July 12 and will land in Frankfurt, Germany on July 13. From there, they will drive to the Netherlands and tour the areas. The march is from July 16 to 19 and all of the participants will walk an average of 25 miles each day. During the walk, the participants will stay on an encampment similar to the forward operating bases in Iran and Afghanistan. To prepare, Green along with the other walkers have arrived at the teacher lot at promptly 6 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in Oct. At these trainings, they walk three miles. By the Nijmegen Four Day Marches, Green aims to have walked 1000 miles but on April 11 they reached 600 miles. On May 4, the team will walk their first 25 mile walk to Clearwater. At the start, 26 JROTC members volunteered to participate in the 100-mile walk. However, most students stopped coming to practice. “This march is not for everybody, I mean who’s to say that I’m going to make it this year,” Green said. “Nothing is guaranteed but I want us to be as prepared as possible.”
The march During the walk, participants will travel across the Dutch countryside through unimproved roads. Although Green could
TOP The female Raider team participates in the rope bridge event at a Raider competition. This excercise is used to build strength and endurance for the duration of the march over the summer. MIDDLE The Raider team participates in an obstacle course at a Raider competition. BOTTOM After a 15 mile run at Courtney Campbell Park, JROTC members rest their legs to prevent their muscles from tensing up. PHOTOS COURTESY COLONEL DEMETRIUS GREEN
not replicate this terrain, the participants practiced waking up early to walk and arriving on time. In the Netherlands, the participants will wake up at 2:30 a.m. to pack food and water in their rucksack. In addition, everyone will bring a change of socks, boots and shirts. Although there are three rest stops during the walk, Green plans to stop only once or twice. At the eighteen-mile mark, they will eat for 25 minutes. The team also must walk the same pace. According to Green, a slow pace is the best to keep their bodies well-nourished and hydrated. If any member needs to stop, Green said that they must all stop. If need be, a trail vehicle will return the participants back to the camp. The students recognize that the walk will be exhausting but they are most excited to travel. In fact, all of the students have not left Tampa or been on a plane.
An opportunity “I’m excited to leave the country because this is my first time for an opportunity to go see and visit Holland,” sophomore Austin Gillette said. “I’m most excited for site seeing and walking.” On the walk, the students will be immersed in cultures from all over the world. According to Green, the Europeans want to practice their English and they will talk to the students. “It’s a great opportunity to get out of the country that I haven’t really gone to besides to my own home country which is the Dominican Republic and to meet so many other people,” senior David Rodriguez said. “I’m a linguist by chance so I just pick up languages really quick and I enjoyed meeting new other people who are also fluent in other languages.” For Green this is the most rewarding part of the trip. “We’re going to be going through some places where the US liberated during World War II so every time they see the stars or stripes go by, they lose their mind because they are so happy to see US soldiers because they lived through the Nazi occupation,” he said. “I consider myself to be an ambassador for the country because I am very proud to be a soldier, I love the fact that I’m the military and that I’m American because some of the countries that I’ve gone to makes me thank God every day that I was born in the United States.” STORY BY KATIE DELK GRAPHIC BY JOHN DOAN