Inklings May Issue 2023

May 29

Memorial Day Parade

Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. on Joliet St. and at Maplewood Cemetery with a ceremony.

Graduation

June 5

Summer School Begins May 31

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. for ticket holders, 5:30 p.m. for general admission. Rain date is June 1.

1500 S. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-663-4885 ex. 11237 inklings@cps.k12.in.us

online: crowntownmedia.com/ inklings/ socials: @inklingscphs

Crown Point High School, IN

Vol. 87 Issue 3- May 2023

Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced journalism students and electronically distributed to students, faculty and staff of Crown Point High School. Opinions do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS faculty, staff or administration.

Letters-to-the-editor are welcomed provided they are signed and submitted one week prior to publication and do not contain personal attacks. Inklings reserves the right to edit for space, clarity and legal and ethical concerns.

Advertising is subject to applicable rates available by contacting Inklings.

Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Association Hoosier Star, National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup publication.

advisor

Jennifer Bianchi

editor-in-chief

Joshua Hedges

lead writers

Grace Cappas

Katie Mahle

Ariel Moore

sports editor

Emmy Wake artist

Hayden Coles support staff

Avery Moore

July 4

Fourth of July

Both online and in-person classes will start this day. All classes end on July 7.

The annual parade will start on Main St. from the high school at 11 a.m. There will also be a fire works display at the fairgrounds around 9 p.m.

July 21-22

Taste of Crown Point

Will take place at Bulldog Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 21 and noon to 10 p.m. on the July 22.

New NHS Inductees say their oath of commitment in the auditorium.

PHOTO BY EMILEE LUCHT

COVER GRAPHIC BY EMMY WAKE

See more from the induction through the QR code!

Local News

VEX Underdogs Win State; Go to Worlds

BY JOSHUA HEDGES [editor-in-chief]

After winning at regional state qualifying tournaments, three Crown Point VEX Robotics teams obtained their entry to the Indiana VEX Robotics State Championship hosted by the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 12. Nine of Crown Point High School’s VEX robotics teams competed at the State Tournament, but only A team, G team and W team continued into the World Tournament. The State Tournament bracket differed from the Regional Tournament with the addition of a second division, which split the entire roster of teams in half. The finalists from these divisions would then compete to be State Champion.

Member of A team senior Myles Querimit thinks this year was a “huge improvement” from how Crown Point teams did last year.

“Last year, we had eight teams in our organization and only three made it to State, so now with more teams we get into State. We did really, really good as an organization, and I’m really happy for all of us,” said Querimit.

Member of G team senior Hannah Flewelling briefs us on her team’s performance at the tournament.

“We went 3-3 in qualification matches. We won three, we lost three, but then we got picked up by a higher ranked team for eliminations, making

it to the quarterfinals before losing to 1233W, when they were done. We won the Interview Award, which qualifies us for the World Championship,” Flewelling said.

Querimit felt that his team did not match the performance they had at their previous tournament.

“Up until the tournament actually right before, we won every single match, qualifications including elimination, and we went undefeated for the entirety of the day. Then we came home with a win,” Querimit said. “We weren’t able to win State, sadly, but we were able to place top eleven in the entirety of Indiana, in terms of

skills.”

Skill matches test the abilities of the driver and autonomous programming of the robot and are separate from the competitive VEX matches.

While many teams qualified for the Worlds Tournament through their performance at the State tournament, Flewelling said in an email that W team was able to qualify for the Worlds Tournament first through their high skills score at the Northeast Wisconsin BRC Showdown, a signature event. W team was also a finalist at the State tournament.

Prior to the State tournament, some teams made modifications to their robot. A team in particular made redesigns to their robot before and after the State tournament after being inspired by teams at a signature tournament in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and at the State tournament.

“Just made it completely faster, lighter. We shaved, I think, two or three pounds from our old bot,” Querimit said.” We made it significantly faster in terms of linear speed. Additionally, we made the body a lot more smooth in general.”

Autonomous programming and driving practice were common focuses the three teams had in mind when preparing for the Worlds Tournament that occurred on April 25. The season ended with A team winning the Build Award, W team as Division Finalists, and G team getting up to the round of 16 in their division.

VEX Underdogs prepare for the tournament at their booths. Teams from elementary to high school level came to compete in various competitions.

(From left to right) senior Hannah Flewelling, junior Macy Achtzehn, sophomores Brianna Johnson and Alex Frahm at their booth.

PHOTO BY LYNN FLEWELLING

PHOTO BY LYNN FLEWELLING

News Tri-State Art Show

BY GRACE CAPPAS [lead writer]

From April 14th – May 14th, South Shore Arts is hosting their 49th annual Tri-State Art Show. It offered the Berwanger Scholarship Award for a graduating high school senior to attend classes at any accredited college or university to pursue the study of fine art.

Students from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in Indiana and South Suburban Cook County in Illinois are invited to participate in this annual

juried exhibition, which features original artwork created by students in grades six through twelve.

“I was inspired to join when my art teacher Ms. Cox gave us the opportunity to submit one of our best art works,” senior Kristen Slade said.

While as many people from each school can apply, each school’s art department can only choose 30 pieces to submit to the show. Then, they will be reviewed by judges, where one

senior’s piece will be chosen for the Berwanger Scholarship.

“I really enjoy art and wanted to take myself to the next level by entering my work into a show,” sophomore Joanna Clausing said.

Not only is the show giving young artists opportunities to explore their budding careers, but it also helps them express their emotions and release internal blocks.

“Art helps me express myself without having to speak. I struggle with social anxiety, and I am an introvert, so I express myself this way. It also helps with my mental health, and I can connect with people through it,” sophomore Adrianna Bibbs said.

While the art is on display, the showcase is open to everyone to walk around and observe the art, free of charge.

“The piece I submitted, the whole meaning behind it was just trauma, the bigger the cracks on the TVs, the worse the mental state that’s projected on the character. It’s showing that it feels nearly impossible to fix,” senior Gerry Gaoat said.

Every piece is separated into different categories based on the medium used to create it, whether it be oil paints or charcoal pencils.

“I used charcoal pencils to create my piece, and it is a scene from an opera house. I wanted to show the

extravagance of the architectural beauty,” Clausing said.

For anyone who wants to be in the show, the only requirement is to be enrolled in any kind of advanced level art class. It is open to all public, private and parochial schools.

“Everybody just submits what they think is their best work. And then we as a department kind of figure out what strongly presents us with the best pieces,” art teacher Carrie Quinn said.

South Shore Art Center’s TriState Art Show is offering students all around Indiana and Illinois a chance to create their own future, chase their dreams, and provide an emotional outlet for those who need it.

“This is important to me because I like to put my emotions in my pieces and show visually how somebody may experience them. Art is an important way to relieve stress and experience what you love,” Slade said.

New Financial Literacy Course Mandation

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

The state of Indiana is focusing on a new bill which will bring a mandatory financial literacy course to high school for students as early as 2027.

The Indiana State Board of Education would be responsible for implementing these courses for high school students. Although there are optional courses that teach students about their finances, this bill would make it mandatory to complete a basic course on financial literacy before graduation. Without it being mandatory many students go through their high school careers without taking one.

With this new bill, students will be entering the workforce with a better

understanding of their finances than ever before.

“A basic understanding of finances, such as spending, saving, managing bank accounts, debt management, and loan applications would be taught,” Indiana State Representative David Hall told Indiana Daily Student. These life long skills would take students far in life.

“This sounds like such a good idea because this year, I’m taking Personal Finance and honestly, it’s helped me so much. I learned so many new things that I didn’t know before,” junior Savannah Mellon said. “I would definitely recommend it. I think it’s

really good just to learn how to save money and it can really help you in the long run.”

These new changes won’t be much of a problem for the school system to adapt to because there are already a few finance classes available to students. The most difficult aspect would be accommodating the large number of students taking the course.

“I do feel that we need to really prepare our students to manage their money in the real world. On the first day of class, I typically create a list of all the different things you’re going to spend money on in your 20s,” Personal Finance teacher Alison Duncan said.

“Students realize very quickly that they are going to be spending a lot of money, on their education, on housing, on transportation, on basic life needs, and they really need to be prepared on how to make these decisions.”

Having a course that relates to students and provide the necessary information is very important.

“It’s a great class because kids liked the course because they’re learning things that relate to the real world,” Duncan said. “Students want to know how to use the goods and services at a bank, they want to know how to balance a budget. So it is a course that is very relevant.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LINDSAY COX

PHOTO BY EMMY WAKE

Student artists pose for a group photo in front of their artwork.

Senior Resilience

BY JOSHUA HEDGES [editor-in-chief]

Four years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior class of 2023 will be leaving Crown Point High School, having been the last class to experience its major impacts on the high school. Since the initial transition to distanced learning on March 13, 2020, the pandemic has been a defining moment in many of our lives, and the effects of it still last to this day.

With the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, most students did not know what to make of the novel disease. So much so that it almost seemed unreal to senior Andrew Evanich.

“I remember when I first heard of [COVID-19], it was almost like a joke,” said Evanich. “I thought it was going to maybe finish out the school year and then [COVID-19] would be done, the summer would knock it out.”

In a poll by Inklings sent to senior resources, out of 228 students, about half thought distanced learning would only last 2-4 weeks, with nearly a quarter expecting less than two weeks. To better communicate with students during this time, some teachers started using the popular virtual meeting app Zoom to provide live instruction. Evanich feels Zooms took away the personal connection he had in class.

“You can watch a video of somebody, but you don’t actually get to know the person by that video. You can’t figure out who they are. You just see a video of them doing something. I didn’t really feel connected to any of the teachers [in Zoom] as I usually do,” Evanich said.

With distance learning being new for teachers and students, senior Elena Minan suggests this is why her and other students did not have, or had more, Zooms until next semester.

“In the beginning, a lot of teachers were stressed out trying to figure out what to do, how to put it on Buzz, so not everybody was doing Zooms at the time,” said Minan. “I felt like Zooms came about more my sophomore year, and even then it was a little rocky. Not everybody could get on or teacher schedules were different. My freshman year was the hardest because no teachers did Zoom at the time.”

Although teachers tried to stay in touch, it was up to the students to maintain the motivation to do class work, which was a challenge for Evanich.

“I just struggled getting motivated to do stuff. I’m a big procrastinator,” Evanich said. “Also balancing

so many classes at once by yourself. Putting history, math, English and all the other five classes all at the same time was difficult.”

“I was really nervous because I haven’t been in school for like, two years,” Evanich said, “But it was probably my favorite year of high school. Honestly. I felt just so good to be back with people.”

Minan saw a similar problem in her tennis team which could not practice together at the time.

“We were all kind of lazy because we all had to do it individually. It was harder because tennis is kind of a two player sport with the ball,” said Minan. “It altered the whole team because we weren’t there together, we couldn’t practice together, so when we all came back together it was a hot mess because everybody was doing their own workouts. We weren’t collaborating on our skills together and how to work together as a team, or partners or anything.”

Although some sports teams continued, others disbanded soon after distance learning began. Having gone through his preseason for track, DeVany was disappointed to have missed what would have been his first year on the team.

“I’d miss my first year of track, which was a bummer because I did the entire preseason,” said DeVany. “We were, maybe a week, days away from our first meet. I still remember that Friday, March 16 or 13th. We all went down there and they’re like ‘Hey, guys, two weeks off.’ I was a little happy because I was nervous for it to start.”

The following summer would be a closing period for the usual activities. Friendships would take a toll as we were staying home during this time. Senior Nathan Corman mentioned how socially different this summer was.

“That summer felt really lonely because I was stuck inside most of the time. I did little expeditions here and there out and about, but all of it was going walking in the woods and things on my own,” Corman said.

As the fall of 2020 approached, students and parents were sent an email from Crown Point High School over the new changes and procedures implemented “in order to keep everyone safe and our building open.” The assignment of hybrid schedule was one change that Minan found hard to work around while on the tennis team.

“Other players were dealing with the same things as we were, but without that practice of being there all the time. I think it was ten times harder because you didn’t know how you and your partner worked,” Minan said.

For others like DeVany, the time away from school provided a period of rest from both track and school.

“Having that Wednesday off, not only did it benefit my track performance, but also it benefited my academic performance. It was so nice to have a rest day because it’s only two days that you’re really going at it. Then you get a day to just take your time and catch up. Another two days and then you got the weekend,” DeVany said.

- Senior Andrew Evanich

PHOTO BY ROSALIE DEGENHART

Students exit buses on the morning commute during fall of 2021

PHOTO BY EMILY HELMUTH

Due to COVID-19, lunches were held in the gymnasium during the 20-21 school year.

Over time, the high school would switch between green, yellow, and red schedules. It was not long for hybrid students to experience all three. After a month of yellow, the school would go into green, and then red two weeks later. Despite these shifts in schedules, clubs and sports still continued, even for virtual students like Evanich who was in Theatre Club at the time.

“The first show I ever did there was no audience. There’s only five people,” Evanich said, “and doing a show in front of five people is a weird thing. You can’t build up anything. People don’t laugh when there’s only five people in a huge empty room.”

While the school was beginning to open up, some high school events were still canceled; most notably the homecoming, turnabout, and prom dances; or became virtual, like the pep rally. The cancellation of prom launched the creation of Friday Night Lights, which has continued up until this year.

August 2021 opened back up with the student population back on to one schedule, lunches back in the cafeteria and masks being optional. Being the first year to try and come back to “normal”, it took some getting used to, especially for Evanich coming out of his virtual sophomore year.

“I was really nervous because I haven’t been in

What Impact Have Events Since Fall 2019 had on Students?

school for like, two years,” Evanich said, “But it was probably my favorite year of high school. Honestly. I felt just so good to be back with people.”

While still having health concerns, Minan was excited to be back to what felt “like the first day of school again.”

“ I think that being able to see everybody, partially, and just have those connections back was really beneficial for me my junior year,” Minan said, “I think my mental health increased and was just overall better with the human interactions and classwork.”

In the article Staying Flexible from the first Inklings issue of 2021, chemistry teacher Chloe Hoffman noticed gaps in the returning students’ learning.

“It’s no surprise that students may not have emerged from the 2020-2021 school year with all of the knowledge they would have going into the next year,” Hoffman said

Despite these difficulties, Hoffman saw a similar gratitude to being back in school with her students that Evanich and Minan have described.

“I genuinely get the vibe that my students want to be here. They know how hard it can be to learn alone or at home virtually, and I feel like there is a new appreciation for learning in the classroom again.”

Masks would be mandated again on Aug. 30 in accordance with the two percent positive rule, which was used in determining mask requirement until Feb. 18 after updated guidance from the Indiana Department of Health. That day also marked the end of contact tracing, case reporting and the school’s COVID-19 dashboard.

August 2022 began with many of the COVID-19 era policies having left us, yet their remnants can still be seen in the dried out wipe buckets, reused video lessons and even the current daily schedule. Nearing the end of first semester, the hacking of Crown Point High School disrupted the flow of most classes using Buzz and at-school computers. Going back to paper, Minan felt there was a mental shift from using the computer.

“You had to learn how to take tests with the stress of a Scantron and for the teachers to individually grade them instead of getting your grade back right away was difficult,” Minan said.

While many classes were able to adapt to the situation, others relying on technology at the school were put to a halt.

What was COVID-19’s Impact on the K-8 Generations?

“For my radio and television class, we had to stop a lot of the things we had [planned]. We lost some projects that we had going on. We had to stop our weekly CPTV news, which was tough,” DeVany said.

Evanich mentioned that problems from the hack continued into their competition season, which led them to using the free digital audio editor, Audacity, in place of Adobe Audition at the time.

The timing of the hack also caught some seniors like Minan during their college application process, making them unable to send transcripts for some time, but for Evanich, his experience through the COVID-19 pandemic made him consider other options.

“My grades dropped, so I started looking at things other than college. I decided that I’m not going to go to college. I’m actually going to barber school,” Evanich, “This is probably something that I would have never thought of doing before COVID, but I was really starting to look at other options, and decided this looks like something I’d enjoy more than going to college.”

While we all have varying opinions on how the pandemic will affect us going forward, Evanich feels we can be too harsh when looking back.

“We can’t judge ourselves too harshly on what we did in the past and feel like it ruined our whole entire lives,” Evanich said, “We should really let time go on before we decide if things are good or if things are bad.”

*Based off of a poll of 228 students

PHOTO BY PEYTON GAMBRIL

Theatre crew prepares actresses for performance.

PHOTO BY MASON WATERS

Crown Town Media students producing Quick Cuts

Terrific Travel Tips

BY KATIE MAHLE [lead writer]

As a kid, you anticipate becoming an adult your whole life. What is the first thing you do when you finally become that adult with all that freedom? Travel, that’s what you should do.

After graduating high school, you probably don’t have loads of money and having a job may not be a top priority because this is the summer for change. Here is some things to fill your free time that cost little and benefit both your mind and body.

Getting outside can improve not only your physical health but also has a big impact on your mental health as well. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, “People with low vitamin D are more likely to be diagnosed with depression.” Now that you are moving on after high school, it is important to

get outside, get some sunshine, and experience parts of this area you have not yet.

It’s definitely important to take time for yourself and let go of the anxieties of everyday life, including your soon to be adulthood. So as you move onto the next chapter think about taking a little break at these few places that surround the Great Lakes and offer a ton of fun for not a lot of money.

Munising, Michigan: If the bright blue water and rock arches did not pull you in already, the activities you are able to do here is something you can not get sleeping in bed. You and your pet can enjoy a sandy beach, and if you do not have a pet, kayaking under the famous arches is pretty cool too! For food they have cute little cafes that you can sit in and have a quick coffee before going on a hike in the beautiful mountains to watch the sun rise. Munising, Michigan is about 424 miles away, which is around seven hours if you go by car. Hop in the car with some friends and you will save money on gas. Camp out and you’ll save money on lodging. Bring friends and the budget is worth it.

Mackinac Island, Michigan: If you want a weekend getaway from cars and all motorized vehicles, then Mackinac Island is for you. Years of

history is displayed around the town with different historic buildings and war forts you can go see as you bike around the town. You will have to pay for a ferry boat or speedboat ticket, but once you get there you can travel around the island by bikes, carriages or horseback. Restaurants are sporadically placed everywhere, and the Grand Hotel has an awesome scenic background for the perfect photo op. The ice cream and fudge shops are incredible. It is 399 miles away and takes around six hours and 30 minutes to get there.

Niagara Falls, New York: If you want a mellow trip, Niagara Falls could be for you. It is 508 miles away and around seven hours and 30 minutes away. When you’re in the Niagara Falls area, the scenery is awesome. There is a little island in the middle of the falls that you can walk around and overlook the massive waterfalls. It is absolutely breathtaking. If you have some extra money, you can go on a misty boat ride into the falls and become drenched with experience, and water, of course. Niagara is open to all. If your hotel is walking distance, you could walk down the pathway while listening to the water rushing which is so satisfying and relaxing. The Canadian side of the falls is also amazing, but you will need a passport to experience the sky top

restaurants and light shows every night. Bayfield, Wisconsin: The farthest away would be Bayfield, Wisconsin. It’s 510 miles away, which is around eight hours, but it is worth the drive. With a multitude of different outdoor activities including hiking all the way to Red Cliff Reservation to jump from the rocks that hang just over the water. If you are too nervous to do that, then you can go sea paddling over by the beach. Even though it is similar to the other locations, Bayfield brings a wide variety of things to do right in the vicinity of where you would be staying.

Chicago Illinois: You may have already been here, but being the third largest city in the US. We are pretty lucky to have it so close by. Being only 49.2 miles away, it takes around an hour to get there. Once you do, there are many parks, restaurants, and “hole in the walls” for you to explore. With Navy Pier, Cubs or White Sox Games, the Slime Museum and the River Walk, there is always something to do. Feeling a bit sweaty this summer, hit North Avenue Beach! You can spot the boats that go across the water as you tan in the sun, or pick out a good book. The museums and boardwalk are visible and in walking distance from the sand, a nice way to cool off while learning some cool new facts.

The Stress of Stepping Forward

BY GRACE CAPPAS [lead writer]

Throughout the world, people from all walks of life suffer from anxiety at some point in their lives, whether the cause is something as small as an upcoming test, or as big as a lifelong obstacle. Although, there may be something to say for the recent influx of anxiety in teenagers today, especially with the pressure of college coming onto graduating seniors.

Symptoms of anxiety vary widely, from avoidance to irritability, recurring fears and worries about routine parts of everyday life, trouble concentrating, extreme self-consciousness or sensitivity to criticism, and withdrawal from social activity.

“I used to feel anxious last year more so than this year. That was mainly because I wasn’t sure what route I wanted to take for college,” senior Mary Marcinek said.

According to the Nuffield Foundation, the proportion of 17 to 18 year olds reporting that they frequently feel anxious or depressed has doubled in the last 30 years, from 1 in 30 to 2 in 30 for boys and 1 in 10 to 2 in 10 for girls.

“There are so many more factors that exist today than even five years ago. Everything is a competition,” English teacher Brooke Manhattan said.

With the world evolving in new ways every year, there are more and more factors influencing teenagers

The Importance of “Me Time”

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

It is important to be able to take time away from the daily grind in order to relax and give your mind a break. The human mind and body cannot handle non stop work without a break. Each and every person has some kind of work they need to get done, which can

and the anxiety they feel than there were back then: social media, more mainstream access to illegal substances, and more. Not to mention the uncertainty of a looming future that follows with ending a high school career.

“The idea of leaving for college definitely makes me anxious. Within the next few months, everything I’ve known for the last 17 years will be different, and that has caused me some anxiety recently,” senior Helena Maunes said.

With anxiety on the brain, teachers also take time to reflect on their own stress levels in high school.

“I think anxiety is definitely worse today than it was then. Social media, more pressures, more things outside of school going on that all play into anxiety for teenagers that we didn’t have when I was a student,” physics teacher Jerome Flewelling said.

There has been an increase in self-reported stress among parents of teenagers between the 1980s and 2000s, affecting single parents and parents on low incomes to a greater extent than other families.

“Anxiety is definitely worse now, because they are more open about it. When I was in school no one talked about it,” art teacher Diane St. Martin said.

Although anxiety may be reaching new levels, so are the ways to cope with it. Besides the fact that scientists

lead to stress and anxiety which will ultimately leave you feeling exhausted and incapable of accomplishing your goals. Being able to take a step back and enjoy your free time is important if you want to continue to be able to strive for your goals and find balance in your life.

In this day and age, with the constant influx of information everywhere, constantly bombarding the minds of the youth, it can seem hard to escape and relax. There is a constant expectation of always being connected due to the rise in technology. However there are still ways to escape it. Shut off your phone, turn off your TV, and disconnect from the internet. Being able to enjoy life and relax, enjoying “me time,” is valuable. Taking a step back from the world can drastically change a person’s point of view on life for the better.

are finding new ways to treat anxiety everyday, whether that is medication or therapy, there are little things one can do to calm themselves down in the moment when need be.

“When I feel anxious, I try to do things I enjoy to relieve the stressful feelings. By doing this, it distracts my mind from whatever I’m anxious about, and instead fills it with things I like. For example, I will re-watch one of my favorite movies, take a nap, or scroll through social media,” Maunes said.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, when dealing with anxiety, it’s important to take care of oneself, whether that’s maintaining a healthy diet or getting a good night’s sleep. It’s also important to identify what triggers one’s anxiety to know how to avoid those things better.

“When I feel anxious, I can cope

There is a number of ways to destress and have fun, be it reading a book, taking a nap, or going out for a walk. Anything that keeps the mind away from stressors and ailments is a great way to boost morale and encourage productivity later down the road. Recently, I sat outside on my friend’s porch, as we wrapped ourselves in blankets and just sat in silence. Staring out at the sky, just enjoying the peaceful tranquility of nature. It was one of the most relaxing experiences I have had in this past school year. The disconnection from my phone, school, and responsibility, in that moment truly made me understand the importance of “me time.” Everyone should experience that peace and disconnect from the world and the responsibilities that come with it.

Kids in recent years have

by writing down everything that I have to do and then budget my time accordingly,” senior Tyler Hudak said.

A new and effective way of coping with anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is a method that focuses on changing the way you think and behave. It can be applied with a therapist or even done on your own.

Whether anxiety is worse now or not, it’s important to anyone suffering these symptoms to get help or talk to someone comfortable as soon as possible, and cope properly.

“It always helps me to talk to friends or family members about worries that I have. It helps to physically hear myself talk through issues and to hear the perspectives of people I trust,” Marcinek said.

experienced greater amounts of stress compared to other generations. This expectation of always being able to work because that work is always at your fingertips can destroy kids’ youthfulness and minds. Take a few minutes to forget about that homework assignment, forget about the F in the grade book, forget about the woes of life and relax. For just that moment enjoy your youth and experience your teen years. These few years will simultaneously be the least and most amount of freedom we will ever have. Don’t let these moments pass you by while you sit in your bedroom at 3 a.m. working on your late assignments. One day the weight of being an adult will hit, and no longer will you be able to have carefree days.

Column

What does make-up really cover up?

BY GRACE CAPPAS [lead writer]

In a world where commercialization controls almost everything, the way makeup is represented may not be as beautiful as it seems. Everywhere we look, when we see makeup ads, they all have the same base– girls with big lips, small noses, long eyelashes and slim faces. They sell us products like contour palettes and lengthening mascaras, as if to say, “Don’t worry! If you don’t fit our standard, you can try and fix it– that is, until you go home and take it off.” What kind of message is this sending to young girls and boys who don’t have those lips, that skin tone or those eyes?

On one hand, I do see how the use of makeup could help insecurity fade and increase confidence. But those feelings are only temporary because with one wipe, that confidence is erased.

When I used to take off my mascara, I’d be so upset that I wasn’t beautiful the way I wanted to be– the way I saw on the billboards. I didn’t have that nose or that jawline. I became increasingly dependent on it to feel ‘pretty,’ and felt worse and worse every time I took it off. I only felt confident wearing makeup, and felt ugly without it.

Instead of having a strict beauty standard, we need to change the way makeup is perceived. Where is the representation for girls and boys with different features, like big noses, acne or missing eyelashes?

Instead of the perfect face on our screen reminding us of everything we are not, we need to see a real, imperfect person wearing makeup to show that even if you do not have those ‘perfect’ features, makeup is not meant to hide those things, rather to embrace them, for the sake of art and self.

Makeup is just a device– it can be used for good or bad. It’s important to use it in a way that promotes self confidence instead of demoting it.

IN THEIR VIEW

Would you rather have music in the hallways or not?

Music In the Hallways: Relaxing or Bothersome?

Pro:

Music in the Halls Boosts Positivity and Eases Stress

BY GRACE CAPPAS [lead writer]

Music playing throughout the hallways all day would be such a good idea because everyone likes to hear music that they like. According to NorthShore University, music increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood– it elevates mood.

While it can arguably be distracting, or possibly a song playing that you do not like, it is not like the music would distract you so heavily that you could not walk to class. And even if one does not like the song playing, for every person who does not, another does. The music also would not be playing super loud, just enough so that you could hear it.

At Crown Point High School, we already have music playing in certain hallways, and nobody seems to have a problem with it. Weighing the pros and cons, music playing in all the hallways during passing hours would help relax and elevate the moods of students.

Con:

Music in the Halls is Annoying and Creates an Overstimulating Environment

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

Having music play throughout the halls can be beneficial to some, however it can be bothersome. Over 3,000 students and staff members have varying taste in music. It is unfair to encroach on their personal time with music that is unfitting to their taste.

It is easy to say “listen to your own music” but that becomes harder to do when there is other music playing in the background. The halls are already obscenely loud and adding extra noise would be too much.

Imagine heading to class to relax for six minutes and instead of sitting in peace, you have been subjected to the music that the school is playing. It is unfair.

Everyone should have the option to tune into music of their choice via earbuds. Being able to listen or not listen to whatever you please is one of the rare few freedoms students have during the school day. That luxury should not be taken away from students.

“Music just makes the hallways boppin’.”

- freshman Aiden Couwenhoven

“Me personally, I listen to my own music, and I know a lot of other people do too. Plus, if you’re talking with people it’s just too much noise.”

- junior Sofia Oliva

PHOTO BY EMMY WAKE

CARTOON BY HAYDEN COLES

Editorial Students Experienced Many Changes Over Four Years; Shows Resiliency of Teachers, Students

Looking back on the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, we often overlook the efforts students have made to bounce back from our time spent virtually. Coming back to school, it was not just our education, but also our clubs, school events, and social lives that had to be rebuilt since everyone left on March 13, 2020. Despite being limited by COVID-19 era policies at first, we were able to recover, and then some, over the last three years.

Whenever it seemed that our high school would be vacant of the events and activities that make this time special, we had students and staff pulling through to recapture a sense of connectivity at the high school. While we may not have had homecoming or prom during the 2020-2021 school year, the festivities surrounding homecoming were kept alive and Friday Night Lights has continued to be a special send off for seniors. This would not have been possible without the student clubs who, after experiencing drops in membership, saw a renewed surge in membership of over a hundred new members for some in the fall of 2021.

Seeing the stepping back of these restrictions, we thought that 2022-2023 would be the start to a new normal, and for the most part it was. While the hacking of Crown Point High School was a brief stall to most classes, many relying on student drives and various programs remained behind. Although some did not come out unscathed, they have since come through prepared for future instances.

These years have shown just how much our lives, our school, and the world can change in just a matter of months, and even now there are places just starting to come back the way we have. In the assumed constant that is life, we can forget the challenges the universe is capable of throwing at us. While we may deny the inevitable, change is something we will all have to face, and whether we make the best of it is only up to us.

Information on Crown Point High School from 2019-2023 is from Vol. 85 to Vol. 87 of Inklings.

“Just have a clear path

you’re

Chasing Perfection Leads to Burnout

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

High school can seem overwhelming and tedious, however it’s imperative to not let these years cause more stress than it is worth.

Varying factors can lead a person to believe that school related subjects need to be perfect, when in reality, perfection does not even exist.

Getting good marks on tests and homework does feel great; however, there comes a time when all of the energy spent getting to that place may be too overwhelming for your mental health. Finding a balance between the two can seem tricky, but it is possible. Regularly socializing and doing other relaxing activities such as reading, walking and playing games can provide a much needed brain break in order to prepare the mind to continue diligently studying for classes.

Taking breaks are also important as you move through the year. Sometimes a break from the monotony of school can be rewarding. Health, in all aspects, leads to more progress.

Realizing when burnout is approaching is crucial for your success. Throughout these stressful years, days off of school to recuperate can be much needed and go under appreciated. The five day, seven hour school week can be difficult; however, it is manageable. If you are not feeling the best, then give yourself time to get better. Burnout is not worth it, these last four years of being a student are vital in character growth.

Your life, your free time, and your mental health is more important than ever. Take advantage of this time and enjoy your youth. Don’t let the world break your spirit. Rise to the challenge and live a fulfilling life.

SPEAK UP

How do you bounce back from stressful situations?

- Freshman Claire Hart

“Distract myself. Read a book, watch a show, listen to music.”

- Junior Tyler

Foster

“I like to hang out with my friends and have a bunch of laughs.”

- Sophomore Luis Martinez

on what

focused on right now at the moment, and pretty much just focus on what you got to do and what’s more important.”

Team

Traditions

Crown Point High School Sports Participate in Many Different Traditions... Why?

BY EMMY WAKE [sports editor]

Team traditions are an integral part of high school sports. From certain songs before games to a “prayer circle” on the field before a game, every team has some kind of tradition, a ritual to get them ready for games and matches.

For the boys soccer team, they kneel in a circle on the field before every game. Why?

“Before every game, we have a traditional ‘prayer’ that we’ve used for all three years that I’ve played,” senior Jake Borner said.

The girls volleyball team has the typical traditions; however, there is one tradition that sticks out.

“Every year, when postseason starts, we do dance parties in the locker room. Coach Duncan is always the center of the circle, dancing,” former captain Vanessa Del Real said.

The girls basketball team also has a tradition that many people see, as long as they pay close enough attention at the games.

“When we huddle up in the middle of the court before basketball games, we step on the gas. We’re all in a circle and we stomp our foot,” senior Emily Phillips said.

Another very popular tradition at Crown Point belongs to the boys swim team. Every year, before

sectionals, the boys on the team bleach their hair and then shave their heads. Many swim teams across the country bleach their hair during the swim season, however, the head shaving tradition seems to be a Crown Point original.

According to junior Connor Opyt, the head shaving tradition started because they shave their entire bodies for sectionals, and a few years ago, some swimmers decided to shave their heads as well.

Another tradition that is very popular at Crown Point High School are the pasta parties that many teams have the night before a big game or match. Many teams participate in this tradition, including the soccer teams and basketball teams.

According to star senior AJ Lux, the boys basketball team has another tradition centered around food: about once a month, the team goes out to eat together. It’s simple, but it brings the team closer together.

Many wonder what the point of having “traditions” on a team is. The answer? It brings the team closer together. These traditions form unbreakable bonds between teammates and forge lifelong friendships.

The Boys Varsity Soccer Team participates in their traditional pre-game prayer.

PHOTO BY EMMY WAKE

The Girls Volleyball Team has their traditional post season dance party in the locker room.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY VANESSA DEL REAL

The Boys Varsity Swim Team shaves their teammate’s head.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AYDEN KELSEY

BY EMMY WAKE [sports editor]

Rianne Murphy, a junior at Crown Point High School, will be competing for the USA in Turkey this coming August. For what, you may ask? Wrestling. Despite being a male-dominated sport, Murphy fought her way to the top.

“I started wrestling when I was eight, [but] I first started in Brazilian jiu-jitsu when I was five. I started wrestling to give me a little edge when I competed in jiu-jitsu, but it eventually became its own thing,” Murphy said.

Murphy got into wrestling because of her dad, who thought it was important that she knew self defense, so he signed her up for jiu-jitsu, and eventually, wrestling.

“My dad was very protective and didn’t like the idea of me not being able to defend myself. At the time, I just kind of went along with it because I got to meet other kids and roll around so it was fun, but I eventually discovered that I liked competing as I got more into jiu-jitsu,” Murphy said.

Murphy recognized her desire to compete early on. Unfortunately for her, there wasn’t a wide variety of opponents for her.

“There weren’t that many girls around in wrestling, especially when I started, [and] I know a lot of girls shy away from that, which is understandable, but I’m competitive and wanted to win,” Murphy said.

Not shying away from the competition and fighting to get better, Murphy continued to compete, and win.

“I’d been at that tournament before, and I got runner-up last time, so I was that close and I lost it,”

Beating the Odds A New Era

BY EMMY WAKE [sports editor]

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, Crown Point High School announced that they were to have two new sports teams: the girls wrestling team, which we saw in action this past winter, and the boys volleyball team, which is the newest spring sport.

Having both of these teams join our athletics means that this year will go down in history. As junior Gabe Vivo envisions the years to come, he imagines that future students of CPHS will look at the picture of the first CPHS boys volleyball team with adoration and think, “Wow, that was the first boys volleyball team.”

Boys volleyball may just be beginning, but we’d love to see how the rest of the season and coming years will pan out for this sport.

Murphy said, “The finals match was best two out of three, and I won the first match but lost the second match, so it came down to that [last] match. I was pretty nervous going into the third round because I let the second round slip away from me, so I was like, ‘I need to get this done.’”

The match ends when you get a lead by ten points, as a sort of “mercy rule”. Obtaining that many points without your opponent getting any is difficult, but

Murphy did it anyway. She obtained two points at the end, winning the match.

“I remember it being 8-0, and I had a turn locked up, so I knew it was happening. I was really happy and really excited. I’m really grateful for my parents and coaches and teammates that helped me get there,” Murphy said.

Junior Rianne Murphy wins the national tournament. Despite the small pool of opponents in women’s wrestling, Murphy defeated the odds and will represent the US in Turkey.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CROWN POINT HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TWITTER

Junior Landon Muller serves the ball. Muller is a setter and defensive specialist.

Freshman Jacob Velasquez serves the ball while his teammate, Freshman Cole Gibbs, prepares for it.

PHOTO BY: ISABELLA VALENZUELA

PHOTO BY: ISABELLA VALENZUELA

Freshman Mason Isom sets the ball. Isom is a right side hitter and a setter for the JV team.

PHOTO BY: ISABELLA VALENZUELA

Spring Sports Gallery

2 3 4 5 6

1

1: Junior Kendra Steinberg pitches the ball. Photo by: Emilee Lucht

2: Junior Seamus Malaski prepares to throw. Photo by: Isabella Robles

3: Junior Nathanial Kalk races to the finish line. Photo by: Isabella Robles

4: Sophomore Carter Draves serves the ball. Photo by: Izzy Valenzuela

5: Sophomre Billy Chidsey winds up to pitch. Photo by: Emmy Wake

6: Junior Luke Sargent looks toward the ball.

Photo by: Makenna Carmicheal

7: Junior Aslyn Ferinelli pitches the ball. Photo by: Madeline Thunberg

8: Junior Andi Murry, Sophomore Cadence Burnett, and Junior Jackie Otis jump over hurdles during a race. Photo by: Marianne Gerona

9: Senior Avery Van Senus and Senior Katie Mumaugh prepare for the ball. Photo by: Nora Sargent

10: Senior Nori Gubbins participates in shot put. Photo by: Makenna Carmichael

11: Junior Gabriel Vivo executes an overhand serve. Photo by: Izzy Valenzuela

12: Junior Samara Franson prepares to catch before a game. Photo by: Caitlyn Osika

MOB PSYCHO 100 resonates with the everyday students struggles of growing up

by ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

Mob Psycho 100 is a supernatural, slice of life, comedy, coming of age and action anime all at once. Not a single time throughout the season did it feel like the storytelling was lackluster and the main character, Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob grows throughout the story developing both his esper abilities and his social abilities.

At the start of the story Mob is friendless, emotionless and working at an exorcising business. Eventually, he joined a weight lifting club, made friends and learned to express his emotions all while facing off against a malicious esper agency aiming to take over the world. Despite this, he was able to overcome both physical and mental blockades in order to better himself and shape himself into the person he wants to become.

The animation is absolutely gorgeous, especially in fight scenes.

The way the scenes flow in the background and the characters move in such an intense yet beautiful way to depict their fights is indescribably amazing and unmatched. Even in emotional scenes, the way the faces look is so human and adds to the sadness and helps to provoke an

emotional reaction from viewers. The art style is simplistic yet remarkable and due to it setting a certain standard of weirdness and oddity the animators are able to go all out and create subtly disturbing images in certain scenes to give a sense of horror during the most intense moments.

Throughout the final season I found myself on the verge of tears seeing all my favorite characters live out their final stories. It brought so much sadness to my heart, yet a sense of finality. Every journey must come to an end, and this ending was satisfying. Especially in the final season each word was powerfully spoken. So much anguish was put into each phrase and I was deeply affected by the unmatched voice acting. Everything in this anime is so well done and each and every moment was enjoyable in a multitude of ways. 10/10

A Red Moon in Venus, a new R&B Album by Kali Uchis is Just Plain and Simple

BY GRACE CAPPAS [lead writer]

Singer/Songwriter Kali Uchis just released a new album on March 3, 2023, called Red Moon in Venus. It has fifteen songs and features song artists Don Toliver, Omar Apollo and Summer Walker.

This album has its ups and downs. The first thing I noticed was how much I loved the cover art: Kali’s face decorated with butterflies and flowers, against a red background. The song’s visual videos were also very pretty, which made me feel like the album was going to be very whimsical and light.

Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed. While some songs were distinct, it seemed like most of them just had the same background and overall sounded identical. There was no diversity, and also the lyrics to the songs were not that touching or relatable. As a songwriter, it is important to remember that while it is for yourself, it is also for the audience as well.

The rhythm of the songs did sound nice though, and I particularly liked the song Moonlight. I also liked that many of her songs were at least partially in Spanish, which brought some real cultural diversity into today’s mainstream music.

I also really liked I Wish You Roses, a song where Uchis talks about an old romance, and although it has ended, she still has love and respect for him. She looks back on this

Best of the B T E S

BY AVERY MOORE [guest writer]

Best Movie

My Best Friend’s Wedding is a hilarious and sweet movie that was released in 1997 starring Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney. This story follows a young woman who is in love with her best friend, and decides to break up him and his fiancee.

Best Podcast

This American Life follows anything and everything that has to do with the American lifestyle, from middle school and relationship advice to criminal justice and philosophy. This American Life is targeted towards the millions of citizens of America, and is definitely worth the listen.

Best Follow

relationship as a fond memory, rather than a mistake, which I think is a nice thing to present considering many relationships can end on bad terms. It is nice that she shows us that it does not always have to be that way.

Overall, I would give this album a 7/10. It was not bad at all, but it did not blow my hair back either.

The app Flora allows the user to grow their own beautiful garden on their phones, while also helping to plant real trees across the globe. The catch: you can only grow your garden by staying off your phone. The user places bets on how long they can stay off their phone, the app takes their bet and donates it to planting trees across the globe.

IN Review

Impala skates smooth, steady, and stylish.

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

Impala roller skates are a great beginner skate. they are cheap and work great on the rink. They have a vast selection of cute designs; however, in terms of longevity they do not hold up. After about a year of occasional use they have already begun to scuff up. The wheels still function, as does the stopper; however, if you are looking for something that lasts through lots of wear then Impala is not the brand for you. 7/10.

Witch

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

Witch Hat Atelier is a cute fantasy manga that follows a young girl by the name of Coco. Her aspirations in life are to become a witch, which is not so attainable for a girl like her who has not grown up in the magical society.

Magical societies are often present in the world of literature and television; however, Witch Hat Atelier adds it’s own charm to this classical story environment. In this world, anyone is capable of using magic; however, the methods are kept a secret from the everyday citizen. The unique world and foreboding story telling truly make this an interesting read for anyone.

Culinary Misfits Offers Cozy Dinning for Family, Date Nights

BY KATIE MAHLE [lead writer]

The newest restaurant to come to Crown Point’s square is Culinary Misfits. The interior has a cozy modern feel while adding in some industrial accents. The wait is not usually too long, as they have a multitude of seating options.

As for the food, their appetizers had a good selection. The cheese curds were the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy, having a stretchy cheese pull following along.

Every main dish on the menu sounded delicious, but the ruben was to die for. The bread was not soggy, while the meat was juicy and the cheese was just the right amount. The second you took a bite, the flavors burst into your mouth.

Our party of five got several different dishes. Our sides included the battered fries, which were some of the best fries I have ever tasted. Even eaten as leftovers, they are a great snack. It was

WE’RE SO OVER PLAYING FAVORITES

Summer Break

With summer just around the corner, people are looking forward to beach trips and late summer nights. The fireworks on the fourth of July and, of course, sleeping in.

Driving

Sophomores and older Freshman are getting their permits or license. With the freedom to drive until late at night anywhere you want during summer it sounds like a dream.

also refreshing to eat on a clean table. Cleanliness is a big deal, and the fact that everything looked not only visually appealing but also clean was a big plus.

For dessert, the berry tiramisu was phenomenal, even though it would have tasted great with a lemon cake rather than the pound cake. Regardless, it was moist and the berries added into it was just the right combination with the mascarpone frosting.

Having a family member who is hard of hearing was a bit stressful. It was a little difficult for him to hear because the music was a bit overpowering, but that is the only downside.

Overall this is not only a great place for a date, but a great place to go out with family and friends.

8.5/10

P.D.A.

The fact that people have the courage to go into the locker bays and kiss up on each other in public while hundreds of kids are passing them is so disgusting and off-putting.

Inconsistent Temperatures

From freezing cold to burning hot, it doesn’t matter what you wear your body heat will never be regulated correctly throughout the day.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CULINARY MISFITS’ FACEBOOK

Hat Atelier reveals political themes underneath a false magical pretense

Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Fl rek

BY KATIE MAHLE [lead writer]

Teachers are what determine futures, they build kids from the ground up. Some teachers make huge impacts on their students because they invest in their students from the start. They know how to make a seemingly boring subject more exciting than expected. In order to determine the best of the best, we as a corporation have a Teacher of the Year Award. This years award goes to our very own cherished teacher, Mrs. Ali Florek.

Her love for teaching began as a high school student here at Crown Point High School when she had a multitude of great English teachers, one being Rachele Raloff, who still teaches English and AP Seminar.

“I had really good English teachers in high school. One of them is Mrs. Raloff, who works here now. She was my English teacher during my freshman year, and I think she was one of the reasons I really started loving English,” Florek said, “I credit her and some of my other English teachers for my love for English and just reading and discussing,” Florek said.

She first started teaching 7th and 8th at Saint Mary’s in 2011 before coming to Crown Point High School in 2013 to teach English 9, Honors English 9 and Engage 9.

Being Teacher of the Year can mean many different things for different people. For Florek, the love and support she received after hearing that she would be Teacher of the Year was beyond what she could have imagined.

“We were in a staff meeting and it was announced. I was very surprised, and everyone in my

Over ten years of teaching brings Mrs. Ali Florek to win teacher of the year for Crown Point High School

Freshmen students show their love for teacher of the year, Ali Florek, by gathering around her poster to take a picture.

PHOTO BY AADIL KHAN

meeting group was obviously very supportive. It was surprising, and exciting,” Florek said.

Although she gained help from her colleagues, she in return helped so many kids from her time of being at CPHS.

“She takes a different approach, like taking it slow. She takes her time on everything. If you don’t understand, she’ll take some time for you,” freshman Nolan Cicero.

The impact that she has on others is special to most, which is why it is so important that she establishes a welcoming environment for all the new freshmen who walk into her room.

“I want my classroom to be a place where students feel seen and heard. They know what's expected of them. I want it to be somewhere where they can learn, have fun and get to know each other,” Florek said, “I want students to feel like they have a say in what we’re doing, and that they can share ideas and feel like they’re in a safe space for doing so. A lot of English is sharing thoughts, ideas, and discussions, so I think making students feel like they belong is important.”

Engaging kids is a big thing. Depending on the student, they may have different obstacles. Florek allows students to feel comfortable in their own skin while teaching them English skills that they can use throughout their lives.

“She’s really patient with students and she does a good job telling us how to do things correctly, and she took the time out of her resource to help me,” Freshman Sofia Wireman said.

“Florek will try to carve out as much time for her students,” said by one of her co-teachers, “Florek helps to enable them to be able to come to her with their problems and feel comfortable enough to talk to her about certain subjects,” English teacher Haley Krane said, “She’ll make you feel

valued, she'll ask for advice or input and she always makes you feel like whatever you’re contributing is valued. She’s just a great teammate.”

After the announcement, people started to flood her with interviews and pictures throughout the day. With this new found “fame” it was nice to always have a familiar face around.

“I got some emails from people and words of encouragement which was nice,” Florek said.

“One of the teachers encouraged her students to come take pictures with me and congratulate me, so I’ve met a lot of new people through that, which was kind of funny,” Florek said.

Krane, who works right across the hall with Florek, has known her since she started teaching. Florek helped Krane as a mentor while continuing to add more fun aspects to the role of teaching. For example, dance parties on Friday’s, where they play music during passing periods and dance along the rhythm with ribbons twirling in the air.

“On dance party Fridays, no one has a better rhythm than she does. As far as teaching goes she’s just great at teaching the students who love her. I love watching her teach,” Krane said.

Florek started her journey in 2011 at Saint Mary’s, officially starting at Crown Point in 2013, and has been teaching ever since.

“At both schools I felt very supported, at this school there's just a bigger department to work and collaborate with.” Florek said.

She started from the bottom just like everyone else and is now being honored in a way that some dream of. Her teaching journey goes to show that the relationship between the teacher and the student matters. Congratulations to Mrs. Florek for winning teacher of the year. You deserve it.

Teacher Ali Florek helps students translate Shakespeare into modern English.

PHOTO BY AADIL KHAN

STUDENT

SPOTLIGHT

Rachel Wallen Senior

Q: What got you started as a jewelry maker?

A: What really got me started was that I took Mrs. Cox’s jewelry class my sophomore year, and that was where I learned a lot of fundamentals. Then there was a brand that I found that I really enjoy called Carnage and Bloom, and the lady who runs the brand is also a social media influencer. She has really inspired me in a lot of my designs and inspired me to take that leap and actually start creating.

Q: What is your inspiration and motivation to continue making jewelry?

A: Buying chainmail is very expensive. It’s very nice to be able to buy just a pack of stainless steel rings and make it myself and also be able to sell it to other people. It’s a great side hustle. I sell it mostly to my co-workers. So it’s really a good feeling when I show up to work and multiple people are wearing my T-shirt. I’m like, “I did that.”

Q: What kind of jewelry do you make?

A: I like doing chainmail. So I start off with a bunch of tiny jump rings and then I leave them all together into different designs where I’ll do bracelets or necklaces. I have a belt chain but the belt chain took eight hours, so never again.

Q: How has jewelry making affected your life?

A: I would say it’s affected my life very positively because it is so small scale. It’s mostly a hobby. So if I’m ever feeling overworked or my hands really hurt, I don’t have to do it. I can always tell people, “Hey, it’s gonna take longer,” and everyone’s really understanding of that. It’s been really fun just doing it, learning how to make different things, and enriching my own style and the process.

Q: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your artistry?

A: I always saw myself as creative in the mind, but I couldn’t actually do anything creative. I can’t draw. I can’t sculpt. So just being able to put my creativity into a physical form is incredibly rewarding.

Q: Is this a hobby or do you see a future in this?

A: I could never see myself making it as a career. I intend on going into something liberal arts based, but I do eventually want to have a more family based lifestyle and if possible, stay at home.

Q: What is your favorite piece of jewelry and why?

A: I have one that’s more complex and broken up along the necklace, but it has spikes hanging from it. I really liked that one. I also just like my more basic chains because I can just layer a bunch of them on.