Kaneland Krier Volume 50 Issue 4

LETTER FROM THE EXECS

By promoting peace, we can encourage ourselves and others to explore without fear of failure or judgement. Exploration can further enhance our exposure to different perspectives, which can then promote more collaboration. The knowledge and experience we gain through peace and exploration can help us withstand life’s challenges and obstacles. As we become inspired and engaged in what we do, a transformative environment blooms while we discover, question and connect with the world around us.

Katie Pfotenhauer

Elliot Krippelz

Kisella Valignota

Lizzy Sidman

Jackson Kottmeyer

ADMINISTRATORS’ PLANNED RETIREMENT

BY AUDREY WALKER Editor and Co-Social Media Manager

Kaneland Community Unit District 302 Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Todd Leden and Associate Superintendent Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs are set to retire in the next two years, with Fuchs retiring after this school year and Leden retiring after the 2024-25 school year. Both administrators have devoted numerous years to the Kaneland district, and this was a planned decision

for them both.

The role of a superintendent is to convey and carry out the district’s mission and manage the effective operation of the school district, and an associate superintendent is in charge of the business functions and operations.

Leden confirmed his retirement at the Oct. 11, 2023, school board meeting, which started the search for the next superintendent. At the time of this publication, no new superintendent has been announced.

Fuchs’s last day is June 27, 2024. After she retires, her current position, associate superintendent, will be replaced with assistant superintendent for business. Jackie Bogan, the current assistant superintendent for business, has been training for these responsibilities this past school year.

“My role this year is to learn and be part of the transition plan and process for when Dr. Fuchs retires at the end of this school year,” Bogan said.

One of the main factors that led Bogan to apply for her current position was the opportunity to train under Fuchs, whom Bogan and Leden described as a highly regarded expert in the field of school business. Additionally, Fuchs was one of Bogan’s professors when she attended Northern Illinois University for her Master of Science in

Page design by Adrianna Wells

Education/Business Management degree and her Chief School Business Official (CSBO) endorsement.

“When I saw that the position was open and there was an opportunity to work with her for a full year, that was a no-brainer,” Bogan said. “That was the main reason why I applied here because having that time to have a mentor and someone to transition with for a year is basically unheard of.”

Out of Fuchs’s 33 years in education, 26 have been with Kaneland. She spent four years teaching the Fox Valley Career Center’s (FVCC) computer technology program in the morning and technology-based professional development in the afternoon, four years as the director of the Valley Education for Employment System (VALEES), three years as the assistant school business official, five years as the assistant superintendent for business and 10 years as the associate superintendent.

For the first part of Leden’s career, he taught physical education, health and math at Aurora Christian Schools, Jefferson Middle School in Aurora and Geneva High School, along with coaching many sports. He then worked at Fenton High School, first as the athletic director, then as the principal and associate superintendent. He transitioned to Kaneland in 2015 as the su-

perintendent, where he has been for the past nine years. His final day as superintendent will be in June of 2025. One of his favorite parts of his career at Kaneland was the ability to build ties across the nine communities that make up the district. One of the biggest challenges that he faces as superintendent is building consensus among multiple stakeholders.

“Not everybody loves every decision, but they’re made with research, a lot of input and with the goal to impact the greater good,” Leden said.

After nine years as coworkers, they reflected positively on their partnership.

“We make a good team because we both have different perspectives,” Fuchs said. “He brings the big picture, and I bring the operations and details.”

Photo by Audrey Walker

Photo by Audrey Walker

Photo by Audrey Walker

Associate Superintendent Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Todd Leden, both longtime Kaneland employees, work alongside each other in Leden’s office. After they retire, both Leden and Fuchs would like to travel and visit their kids in other states.

CHICAGO MIGRATION: SUBURBAN IMPACT

BY CARLI FILEK

Editor and Co-Social Media Manager

On Dec. 21, 2023, 38 migrants traveling on an intercity bus from Texas were dropped off at the Elburn Metra station.

According to a Facebook post by the Village of Elburn, it “was a peaceful transfer once the train arrived.”

All passengers on the bus had prepaid Metra tickets to Chicago, but four of the passengers opted to not get on the train. A mother and daughter were picked up by a relative waiting at the station, and two young adult males were also picked up by a relative.

The Village of Elburn said that all on-duty Elburn police officers were at the station to assist at the drop-off on Dec. 21.

On Dec. 27, the Elburn Village Board held a special meeting to discuss the drop-off and the potential ordinances needed for intercity bus drop-offs in the future. At the meeting, the board passed an ordinance regarding regulations that the bus drop-offs must comply with moving forward.

All unscheduled intercity buses “must apply for a permit at least five days before arrival” and “must drop off their passengers Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” Elburn Village Administrator John Nevenhoven said.

The operator of the bus also must carry a copy of an approved application. If a bus unloads before or after the approved window of time or the bus opera-

tor does not carry a copy of the approved application, it will result in a $750.00 fine per passenger for the bus operator.

The drop-off on Dec. 21 did not comply with all of the regulations under the ordinance, however it occurred before the ordinance was in effect, so no penalty was enforced.

The main purpose of the ordinance is to “ensure the health, safety and welfare of the passengers and residents of Elburn,” Nevenhoven said.

Chicago started banning unscheduled bus drop-offs in the city and fining drivers dropping off migrants. Now, some intercity buses have started to drop off migrants at Metra stations in suburban cities to be taken to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.

Back in the summer of 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that Texas would begin sending buses of migrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border to large, democratic sanctuary cities to protest the Biden administration’s policies on immigration.

In the last few months, the number of migrants, mostly Venezuelans, being dropped off in Chicago has increased significantly. According to the City of Chicago, 818 buses have arrived in the Chicagoland area as of Feb. 9, 2024.

Chicago has faced struggles with housing the tens of thousands of migrants, which has caused overcrowding in

shelters around the city.

One of the city’s largest temporary shelters in Pilsen was originally expecting 1,000 arrivals but now holds over 2,300, according to Block Club Chicago. This number could continue to grow. This has also made it difficult for individuals to quarantine when sick and seek necessary medical care.

Government officials in the city of Chicago say they are providing services to migrants to apply for Temporary Protective Status (TPS), health access and short-term rental assistance while legal cases are pending.

According to the Council of Foreign Relations, “TPS is a program that allows migrants whose home countries are considered unsafe the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary but extendable period of time.”

These migrants are often seeking protection in the U.S. due to persecution and human rights violations in their home countries.

Junior Abby Gonnella’s mom is an immigrant who fled to Thailand in the 1970s when the Khmer Rouge was attacking Cambodia. She and her family traveled on foot to Thailand, and when she was around nine, they immigrated to the U.S. legally.

“She waited in Thailand where she was pretty much starving to death, working to get the money for plane tickets for a year or so,” Gonnella said.

During this time, she was also waiting for the legal paperwork to process, which was necessary to arrive in the U.S.

According to Immigration Help, an immigration nonprofit organization, the whole naturalization process typically takes 18-24 months. Those who cross the border illegally often apply for asylum and legal services like TPS so they can then apply for work authorization and live in the U.S. temporarily.

According to the City of Chicago, “The City works in collaboration with the State of Illinois, Cook County, delegate agencies, community-based organizations, and mutual aid organizations to provide support for new arrivals.”

Although shelters are not accepting “walk-up” volunteers at this time, several mutual aid organizations are looking for volunteers, and some of the City’s partner organizations are accepting donations.

Photo by Elliot Krippelz

A train stops in Geneva before making a final stop at the Elburn Metra station. Towns including Aurora, Fox River Grove, Rosemont, Elmhurst and University Park also had migrants dropped off.

INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL WEATHER SYSTEMS

BY NATHAN LAPITAN & KATIE PFOTENHAUER

Lead Meteorologist & Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print and Co-Copy Editor

The weather can significantly impact lives in terms of people’s daily routines, health, economic activities and overall well-being. For example, extreme weather events like tornadoes and flooding can cause safety concerns. Farmers rely on precipitation for planting crops. Also, daily transportation by bus, car or train can be sensitive to road conditions from weather activity. El Niño and La Niña greatly influence global weather conditions and are opposite phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This climate phenomenon is located in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, and the climate cycle occurs every two to seven years.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an agency in the United States that provides general information and notices regarding protection and safety, “El Niño refers to the above-average sea-surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific. It represents the warm phase of the ENSO cycle. La Niña refers to the periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific.”

Currently, the world is experiencing El Niño, and according to the NWS Climate Prediction Center, the conditions will return to neutral between April and June 2024.

Each phase is monitored, and during the neutral phase, the world does not experience El Niño or La Niña. Unlike the other phases of ENSO, the sea surface temperatures are near average around the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean during the neutral phase. Also, weather patterns are more stable.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a science-based federal agency within the United States, “El Niño and La Niña can make extreme weather events more likely in certain regions. If we can predict El Niño and La Niña, we can predict a greater chance of the associated extreme events.”

ENSO can have different impacts across the United States. Around here, the crops depend on the soil not being too wet or dry.

“If anything, it may affect the groundwater around here. This may help or hurt us. We just have to watch for spring,” agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Blake Uchitjil said. “Is it going to bring lots of rain again? Will it be damp the whole time to the point where we can’t get our crops in? If so, yields will go down.”

While people here may see how it is directly impacting the United States, these events affect other parts of the world differently.

For example, according to the British Broadcasting System (BBC), “When less cold water comes to the surface off the west coast of South America during El Niño events, fewer nutrients rise from the bottom of the ocean. That means there is less food available for marine species like squid and salmon, in turn reducing stocks for South American fishing communities.”

As the species of fish migrate to different areas, the industry can be influenced as traditional fishing grounds can change, which can challenge parts of the population who depend on the fishing industry.

“When fisheries collapse, then there are economic cascading effects because populations may have nothing to eat because they depend on the seafood for their industry and food,” science teacher Joanna Edelman said. “Oppositely, you can have people losing their fisheries or dealing with flooding. Generally, these are populations

that don’t have much to begin with. Any type of offset or imbalance can have a big impact.”

Understanding the economic implications of El Niño and La Niña can be vital in developing strategies to better adapt to these climate variations when they arise. As ENSO data is monitored, the predictions can be used to anticipate the potential impacts, enhancing overall preparedness.

“[Specifically for the United States], when we do switch completely to La Niña, our precipitation patterns will change,” Edelman said. “We will have wetter conditions in the Midwest and Eastern parts of the country. The Southwest will be dry.”

Just as weather patterns can be predicted, the influence of ENSO on temperature is part of the climate variability that impacts global weather patterns. While the temperature may fluctuate day to day, according to Gavin Schmidt, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the global temperatures may exceed those of 2023 based on the intensity of El Niño conditions.

With widespread implications for ecosystems, economies and societies worldwide, ENSO is a powerful climate phenomenon that shifts between El Niño, La Niña and a neutral phase. As a natural climate cycle, these patterns will continue to be monitored to enhance our understanding of the global climate.

Photo by Nathan Lapitan

A large storm with heavy structure rolls overhead into North Aurora on July 5, 2023. During an El Niño year, precipitation in the form of small showers and thunderstorms increases significantly.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RIVALRIES IN SPORTS

BY LUCAS FIEDLER & SOFIA WILLIAMS Editor & Sports Coverage Manager

The psychology behind sports rivalries relates to the passionate and competitive relationships that players, coaches and fans have with their longtime opponents. Rivalry games bring out a range of behaviors that lead to intense and exciting moments.

Rivalries stir up a mix of emotions for players on both competing teams, but there is more to it than just the outcome of any individual game.

“The definition of a rivalry is a ‘competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field,’” CBS sports reporter Brian DeArdo wrote. “But beyond competing for the same prize, rivalries often include high intensity and bad blood on both sides of the field. They also typically include passionate fan bases that desperately

viewed correctly.

“You can use them in a healthy way for a healthy competition,” Drendel said.

Naturally, some sports are more physical than others, often leaving non-contact sports to be a more mental competition.

“Track rivalries are vastly different from football and basketball rivalries,” Drendel said. “I played basketball here, and with basketball, you have guys from different teams like Sycamore or Batavia trying to stop you. They’re physically trying to stop you, and you’re trying to physically stop them. However, with [sports like] track, you can’t stop anybody. There’s no defense.”

Senior volleyball player Danielle McCue has had years of experience playing against school rivals. She un-

even carried on the tradition of their longtime rivals throughout the years.

“Our biggest rivalries were Sycamore and Batavia in both football and basketball,” he said. “Sycamore was the big rival for track. My best memory was winning the conference in my senior year in basketball and track. We tied with Batavia and Sycamore in basketball and beat them in the mile relay to win the conference outright in track.”

Recently, Kaneland and Morris have developed a rivalry in a variety of sports. With Kaneland’s move from the Northern Illinois Big 12 to the Interstate 8 conference in 2019, new rivalries like this one have started to emerge.

On Friday, Feb. 2, the Kaneland and Morris boys varsity basketball teams played each other at Kaneland in a game that would have conference

want to hold bragging rights over the opposition.”

want to hold bragging rights over the opposition.”

Every sports fan seems to love a great rivalry, and almost every athlete has heard their coach say something to the effect of, “This game is bigger than us. There’s a long history here.” Our rivals may be our greatest enemy on the field or court, but they are also our best motivators. If we didn’t have rivalries, there would not be as much to play for.

Every sports fan seems to love a great rivalry, and almost every athlete has heard their coach say something to the effect of, “This game is bigger than us. There’s a long history here.” Our rivals may be our greatest enemy on the field or court, but they are also our best motivators. If we didn’t have rivalries, there would not be as much to play for.

derstands the adrenaline and emotions that come with these games.

title implications. This was a rematch of a Dec. 19 game that ended with Morris defeating Kaneland in overtime. This time, though, the Knights won by a score of 71-40.

“After Morris beat us on their home court, it felt really good to come back home and beat them. It was a big conference win for us,” junior guard Preston Popovich said.

Most high school rivalries exist across a variety of sports and regardless of the level. But they can also change throughout the years. What rivalries look like during meets and games can vary depending on the sport.

Most high school rivalries exist across a variety of sports and regardless of the level. But they can also change throughout the years. What rivalries look like during meets and games can vary depending on the sport.

“My [big] rivalry moment was my senior night against Sycamore,” McCue said. “They thought they could beat us easily because of the high-emotion night, but we wanted to have one last good game at home, and we did. We ended up beating them in two sets and having one of the best games in our season.”

Over the years and as conference dynamics change, so do the school rivalries. But the adrenaline rush and memories associated with rivalry games of the past can last a lifetime.

Former Kaneland athlete and current track and field coach and physical education teacher Andrew Drendel believes that rivalries can be beneficial if

Former Kaneland athlete and current track and field coach and physical education teacher Andrew Drendel believes that rivalries can be beneficial if

1968 Kaneland graduate Ralph Drendel vividly remembers playing sports at Kaneland and holds onto those memories. Some sports have

Whether a rivalry has existed for generations or is in its early stages, games between teams that have built some animosity towards one another add excitement for those involved. As the winter sports season comes to an end and Kaneland’s spring teams start competing, matchups between rivals will continue to create memories for players, coaches and supporters of each team.

Graphic by Carmella Rio and Sela Valignota

KANELAND’S ATHLETES BEHIND THE SCENES

BY ZOE GANNON Editor

Imagine sitting on the locker room bench at halftime, sweating from the pressure of the first half. The coach is giving your team advice and encouragement to get you ready for the rest of the game. Your teammates surround you and give you pats on the back. As you drink water and cool down, you are more determined than ever to win.

Many people do not see this part of a sport if they aren’t in it and don’t know or understand the critical nature of all that happens behind the scenes. Some athletes prepare for games in unique ways, and some coaches treat their players differently when mentoring. Throughout the course of the season, though, most players will receive a mix of encouragement, advice and motivation that ultimately shapes the direction of their team.

There are many steps that players take in preparation for games, and the most important is what happens at practice. High school players have practice every day of the school week and typically one to three games in a week once the season kicks off. This allows players on a team to get close to each other because of how much time they spend together. After school, players will change their clothes and their mentality as they shift from the classroom to their sport. Through practice and hard work, players will learn new skills and hone in on them. The preparation can motivate players in their sport as they start to notice improvements.

Then, there are the days before games when players will likely watch film and study their opponents, allowing them to feel more prepared to face anyone. At this stage, it is beneficial to eat healthy, sleep well and not stress about the game.

“When I go to sleep [before a meet], I make sure to look at the map of the course, and then I try to search up my opponents to see who I might stay with,” junior girls cross country and track athlete Jade Unzueta said. “Also eating healthy, taking time to myself at night and rewatching running videos [prepares me].”

After what may feel like countless practices, game day inevitably arrives. Oftentimes, players will dress up or

participate in theme days to show team spirit, which can help players get in the mindset to play a game. Players get changed and loaded onto the bus for away games, and for home games, they go out to their field, track or court to get ready before the opponent arrives. Before warming up, players with injuries may also put on braces or wraps, go to an athletic trainer and do any extra preparation for their safety.

During the game or meet, coaches and teammates stay on the sideline while others compete. Players often interact with each other on the bench and talk about the game, personal drama or their lives in general, even if they are supposed to be solely focused on the game. This is simply a reality of high school sports. Coaches will stand on the sidelines to give encouragement to players on the field and advice to players on the bench.

“During the game, we’re all talking on the field and off the field to the coaches, and we all talk about what we need to work on, and at halftime, we will do the same,” senior and varsity girls soccer player Casey O’Brien said.

Some sports have quarters, others have halves and some have limits that dictate the end of a game. For sports with breaks throughout the game, a buzzer will go off, and the teams head to their sidelines. Depending on each individual coach and how the game is going, players may find themselves getting yelled at or encouraged, and sometimes there is a mix of both. Regardless, halftime is an important part of the game where players can reconvene, take a short break from playing and talk about strategy and adjust-

ments. During halftime, players also talk about the first half, including what went well and what could have gone better to try to correct any issues.

After each game, players and coaches meet to discuss what happened. Coaches may give immediate feedback or talk about what the next practice will look like. Then, it is time to go home and rest before starting the cycle over again.

“[After a game], I think we always find a point to improve, and we always try to find a point that has gone really well that we want to talk about, no matter win or lose,” varsity softball and girls basketball coach Madison Mikos said.

Besides the actual physical activity of the sport, it is typical for teams to have bonding activities or ways for them to become closer as a team throughout a season. Being close with each other, as well as with coaches, is also an important piece of being on a team. Being able to support each other off the court or field can help teammates perform well together.

“Since we have meets on Saturdays, we have a Friday night dinner where we have a whole pasta dinner, and we all just sit together to watch movies or play a bunch of games. It is really fun,” Unzueta said.

In general, most people don’t see what teams do besides games or meets, but behind the scenes of these sports, there is important preparation, communication and bonding going on. Being in a sport takes a lot of time and work, but being a part of a team, learning new skills and going through a range of experiences can make it all pay off.

design

by Lucas Fiedler and River Mullins

Members of the girls cross country team gather to celebrate Christmas and exchange presents. The team’s pasta parties typically take place the night before meets and help the runners strengthen their relationships.

Photo by Audrey Walker

UNDERSTANDING ALL LOVE LANGUAGES

BY JAY PAULSON & KAYLI LOONAM Editors

Just about everyone experiences love, platonic or romantic, in their lives. Love, and how people express and receive it, is the basis of any healthy relationship. The ways people show their love are through love languages.

There are five known love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, gift-giving/receiving, quality time and acts of service. According to the psychology organization Love is Respect, discovering which language suits you best “provides a way for you to self-reflect on your [relationship].”

A person with the love language of words of affirmation wants encouraging and complimentary words said to them to know that you care. When they are distressed, saying, “I’m here for you,” or, “It’ll be okay,” is most effective for relieving stress. If they show love through words of affirmation, the individual could give compliments to show appreciation.

With physical touch, the person may want to be comforted by hugs or hand-holding. Even just a hand on their shoulder could help them relax. People who love physical touch often try to stay physically close to not feel alone.

For gift-giving or receiving, it depends on which side a person feels more comfortable with. Someone who prefers gift-giving could get gifts for you, even if it’s not a special occasion, to reassure you that they care. If their love language leans towards gift-receiving, when they get gifts, they feel appreciated.

Experiencing love through quality time involves spending time with a specific person and doing something they like. These people prioritize their time with others to make them feel included and cared for.

Someone who expresses love with acts of service might do household tasks like folding the laundry or washing dishes to show another person love. Doing something as simple as opening a door for someone else is a way to validate that.

The different ways people express and feel love can make the concept of love languages seem daunting, but it’s just a matter of understanding other

people. People can use love languages without realizing it. They learn how the people around them appreciate others and how they want to be appreciated. People want to form relationships, and it is helpful to understand whom you are spending time with.

“Getting to know them and [what] they like makes them feel secure in the relationship,” senior Mia Vasallo said.

Love languages differ from person to person. Even if you know someone else’s love language, that doesn’t mean you completely understand their love. People can have different ideas of what a love language means specifically to them compared to others’ interpretation.

CartoonbyJayP

According to George Mason University Psychology Professor Gerald Matthews, “People don’t always understand their partners as well as they think they do. You can’t just assume that your partner wants what you want.”

Assumptions in relationships are often due to a lack of communication. Communication can be difficult, but understanding love languages can make it easier.

“Even just knowing your love language can help you become more selfaware in a relationship,” school counselor Cynthia Violett said.

Self-awareness can ease tension in relationships. Knowing what you want is a great start to being able to commu-

nicate with the other person.

“My love language is words of affirmation, and I like encouraging words and reassurance. I want you to talk to me about anything,” Vassallo said.

The understanding of your love language doesn’t mean somebody else’s is the same. And having mismatched love languages doesn’t mean people are incompatible and destined to fail in their relationship.

According to Matthews, “People who report the highest levels of affection for their partners weren’t necessarily more likely to share the same love-language preferences than people in less close partnerships.”

Being in a relationship can bring lots of unknowns. That’s how love languages can help. You can use them as a guideline for boundaries.

“If you know the love language of a certain person, it can help you understand their boundaries,” Violett said. “It can help them feel safer [in the relationship].”

When a person expresses that they don’t like physical touch, you could break boundaries by hugging them. It’s beneficial to be mindful of their love language to know how to love them without crossing a line, even if your love language interferes with theirs.

According to Love is Respect, “If [someone] is demanding that you engage in behaviors that you are uncomfortable with to ‘prove’ your love for them, or if they’re making you feel guilty for how you are attempting to show your love to them, that could be a red flag of emotional abuse.”

your

People may use love languages to mislead someone, but when used correctly, love languages can bring benefits to relationships.

“[Love languages] can help make a relationship more stable and healthy,” Vassallo said.

Understanding love languages might be new and intimidating to some, but it can be worthwhile. They make knowing other people and forming bonds with them easier. Whether it’s a platonic or romantic relationship, love languages can play a huge role in creating healthy relationships with all kinds of people.

go-to person? Who is your

By Riley Merdzan & Casper

Sophomore Elliana Peck

My go-to person is Grace Remsen (sophomore) and Mikalah Seward (senior). They’re always there for me. Grace and I met in sixth grade, and Mikalah and I met this year. They don’t lie to me, and they know when something is wrong and are able to help me through hard times.

Sophomore Sean Luqueno-Rodriguez

My go-to person is Jackson Nesci (sophomore). He’s been my best friend since middle school, and I always tell him everything. I actually hated him at first, and then we became friends out of nowhere. I guess he was a real person. He told me things, and I told him things. He never told anyone. I think I’m his go-to person also.

Junior Ava Lange

My go-to person is my best friend, Hannah Boyer (junior). She knows how to make me happy when I’m in a bad mood. We met our freshman year when we sat next to each other in math, and we are in the same friend group. Trust between us came naturally.

Suehs

AvaLange

MikalahSeward

HannahBoyer

Sean Luqueno-Rodriguez

Jackson Nesci

GraceRemsen, Elliana Peck

BY BARBARA MARTINEZ

Editor and Co-Columnist Manager

Movie musicals are nothing new, but how successful can you be when adapting a stage production to the big screen? The release of the musical Mean Girls is reminiscent of other films of a similar nature, with an example being a Dear Evan Hansen rendition of the Broadway production released in 2021. Various adaptations of popular works can create both adverse and complimentary reactions from fans as they compare the new renditions to the former counterparts.

I came into the new Mean Girls movie with a perspective that many probably have. I have seen the original Mean Girls movie from 2004, but I never watched the Broadway musical. With that in mind, I have mixed feelings towards this movie, and I am not alone in this sentiment. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score was 63%, with more than 1,000 verified ratings.

It’s impossible to compare it to the original because of how popular that one was, but the changes made from the 20-year-old movie are mostly welcome ones. For one, the casting is much more diverse, featuring non-white actors such as Avantika as Karen, Auli’i Cravalho as Janis and Jaquel Spivey as Damian. The original cast consisted of nearly exclusively white actors, making the recent release much more diverse. In addition, the overall cast performance was very strong, making for an entertaining and engaging watching experience.

Another development was the modernization of the setting. With the original movie taking place two decades ago, there would have to be some changes so the movie could align

: FILM’S CAUTIONARY TALE

with contemporary teen culture. All of the outfits radiate the exact vibe each character is meant to have while also being in line with the more recent fashion trends.

The inclusion of major social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok and their impacts on the plot also feels natural, given the context of the movie. The overall usage of phones makes sense contextually, but the camera work is restricted. When viewing shots through a cell phone camera, the audience is stuck to one perspective and subject, limiting the overall feel of integration in the movie as it separates the viewer from the world of Mean Girls.

Also, the setting of this movie is too fun to not let the viewer have more access to it. The sets are very vibrant and appealing to look at. From Regina’s house to the high school, the setting is enjoyable. As with many other elements in this movie, the structure of the set is modernized. In the audience, you can see how everything appears clean and bright. It felt very natural and like we were actually in real places in real life.

The way crucial plot points are portrayed is yet another way the movie is enhanced. For instance, the part of the film where Damian uses dolls to tell Katie about Janis’s experience with Regina is very entertaining, much more so than the original 2004 film. Another example is when Regina reaches certain character lows, such as when she falls during the Christmas dance and is humiliated online. These shots are very dynamic and are some of the most visually interesting parts of the entire movie.

The choreography for each of the musical numbers is also lively and intriguing.

ing and choreography of the musical numbers. Giving a little more attention to the action-filled movements, especially the background ensemble, would have been more engaging.

As for the music itself, it all sounds generic. Without any of the acting or fun visuals, the overall musicality of each song feels slightly dull. Upon leaving the theater, I couldn’t exactly recall how any of the songs sounded. That could’ve been an issue of personal taste, but the problem lies in how these songs fail to advance the movie.

With there being 13 songs, the movie often feels dragged out with musical numbers that make what would be a 30-second plot point into, at times, a five-minute one (like the number Revenge Party). In some instances, this added a positive complexity to previous simple characters like Gretchen with songs like What’s Wrong With Me. In others, though, it makes the movie feel incredibly long. Cutting some of the songs would not have made a significant difference in the end in terms of the plot and would’ve made the pacing a bit quicker, which would have kept the audience more consistently engaged.

Another criticism regarding the songs is how they were executed. It’s not a surprise that movie adaptations of musicals will utilize autotune to ensure the integrity of a musical number translates properly to the screen, but it sometimes feels overused and can make for a slightly robotic sound. The music isn’t necessarily odd for the overall pop style of the songs, but since this is a movie adaptation of a musical, the overuse of autotune makes the songs feel more like a music video.

In particular, the animalistic movements during the musical number Apex Predator were hilarious, and the rigid movements in Someone Gets Hurt set the tension between Regina and Aaron. By simply watching, you can tell a lot of care was put into the block-

The 2024 Mean Girls was an interesting experience, but not one that I would enjoy rewatching. For fans of the original movie, this may be a fun experience. The brief cameo of Lindsay Lohan near the end of the movie was a fun surprise for me, and it differs from the 2004 version in a generally nice way. Unfortunately, the pacing makes the movie hard to get through, which is a common affliction for films of this nature.

POPULARITY DECLINE OF AWARD SHOWS

BY PRESLEE SUTHERLAND Editor

Award shows connect viewers with their favorite celebrities and media productions, and they honor the amazing work from movies to music to short films and everything in between. Like most televised productions, award shows lead to viewers expressing their opinions and level of satisfaction.

Award season stretches from around October to March and includes ceremonies such as The People’s Choice Awards, Country Music Association Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Academy Awards and Grammy Awards. Award shows like these get a lot of attention not only because of the importance of the awards, but also from the celebrities who attend the ceremonies.

At the beginning of this year, award show viewers were given some of the biggest and most well-known shows, such as the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, in the first few weeks of the year. The Emmys were supposed to air in September, but due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes, it was postponed.

According to the staff from USA Today, “The new January date put TV’s biggest awards in the thick of a crowded trophy season, and against stiff competition for viewers.”

Both the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globe Awards took place a few days earlier and featured many of the same productions and nominees.

Not only were the Emmys fighting for viewers with other award shows, they were also competing with two NFL playoff games and coverage of the Iowa caucuses. According to the official NFL website, this year’s playoffs were the most viewed in recorded history, with records dating back to 1988.

Award show viewership has declined for more reasons than stiff competition. The lack of attention span in today’s younger viewers has also contributed to the decline in viewership.

According to senior writer for CNN Media and Entertainment Brian Lowry, “These days, younger audiences don’t have the same award-viewing habits and seem content to catch clips of highlights as opposed to sitting through a three-hour-plus presentation.”

While the length of award shows may not be appealing to younger audiences, they also don’t always utilize advertisements showcasing the award shows on platforms dominated by the younger audience.

“I never know when they’re on, so I don’t ever know when to watch them,” junior Lauren Babka said.

If someone misses an awards ceremony, they still have a chance to catch the most interesting parts on social media. For example, at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, host Jo Koy went viral for questionable jokes he made while hosting. Clips of Koy making a joke about singer Taylor Swift’s attendance at NFL football games and him completely missing the point of the Barbie movie went viral on social media.

“I heard about [the host] on TikTok, and I saw people complaining about it. The host was terrible, and his jokes were just bad,” Babka said.

walking up during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during the 2009 Video Music Awards. Swift won Best Video by a Female Artist that year, and during her speech, West famously said, “I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.”

Although this happened 15 years ago when viewership was up, the moment never went away, which gives people the impression that they can miss an award show and still know everything that happened.

Incidents like these can shape people’s perceptions of all award shows and those involved.

“I think the hosts are getting a [bad reputation],” Babka said. “No one really wants to be [associated with hosting] because of all the bad things that have already happened.”

In contrast, however, Babka also thinks “awards shows themselves are still positive.” They can continue to honor the pieces of work that deserve it, and they can showcase the best talent in the industry.

An award show mo ment that is still talked about today is the clip of Kanye West

Since people know they will hear about anything important via social media the next day, it eliminates the fear of missing out on all the inside jokes from the people who watched it live. This wasn’t the only incident where an award show was negatively impacted by those involved. During the Academy Awards in 2019, Kevin Hart was suposed to host the Oscars when past homophobic tweets resurfaced. He decided not to host after the tweets came out, and the Oscars were hostless that year.

SACRIFICES THAT PEOPLE-PLEASERS MAKE

BY KATIE PFOTENHAUER & CARMELLA RIO Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print and Co-Copy Editor & Editor

It’s common to care about our well-being, but sometimes, it can be easy to overlook if we’re constantly worrying about the well-being of others. People-pleasers are known to overlook their health and happiness at the expense of others as they often may prioritize the needs, desires and expectations of others over their own.

According to Psychology Today, an American media organization focused on psychology and human behavior, “The people-pleaser needs to please others for reasons that may include fear of rejection, insecurities and the need to be well-liked. If he stops pleasing others, he thinks everyone will abandon him; he will be uncared for and unloved. Or he may fear failure; if he stops pleasing others, he will disappoint them, which he thinks will lead to punishment or negative consequences.”

While being a people-pleaser may not always be a good thing, it is still something that many can understand and empathize with. According to YouGov, a global public opinion and data company, 49% of American adults self-identify as people-pleasers, with more women than men sharing that belief.

Social worker Calista Sarabia is just one of the roughly half of Americans who identify as a people-pleaser. As some have experienced, she believes it can start at a young age through the constant need for children to please their parents.

“It starts there because sometimes you want to do an activity to make your parents happy. Then, as you get older, [the things you do for others] become

bigger and bigger,” she said.

However, when a people-pleaser cannot do what someone asks, that can cause them to feel sorry.

“I feel a big sense of guilt when I cannot help someone with something and do what they want me to do,” senior Nola Noring said.

By constantly seeking approval and the satisfaction of others, people-pleasers may suffer at the expense of their own well-being.

According to Medical News Today, a web-based outlet for medical information and news for both the general public and physicians, risks of people-pleasing include stress, tiredness, neglect, resentment, relationship problems, loss of identity, conflict and harm to others, impacting both the people-pleaser and those around them.

While it may be hard to see the risks behind the typical positive responses associated with the gratification of others, it is something people can still feel.

“You’ll see people giving 100% to others to feel fulfilled, but then you can tell that they’re drained,” Sarabia said.

In the realm of friendships, pleasing others can manifest in various ways. For example, we can suppress our opinions to avoid conflict, but it can eventually harm friendships if we keep distancing ourselves, even if the motives are genuine.

“I think the people-pleasers are the silent ones. If you think of it like three people walking on the sidewalk and one walking on the grass, that is the people-pleaser,” Sarabia said. “They are always pushed to the side or an afterthought, even if they do all they can to make them feel wanted. No mat-

“Usually, I’m like no, but sometimes it turns into okay.”

- senior Nola Noring

Typically, people-pleasers go along with what is asked of them to appease the other person. However, senior Nola Noring believes that this is not always a bad thing and can change your outlook on life.

ter what, they’re always going to be pushed aside or stay in a toxic friendship too long.”

Just as wanting to please people can impact friendships, it can also influence the workplace environment. People who struggle with this tendency may want to say yes to everything, which can increase exhaustion.

According to MyWellBeing, a website that connects therapy-seekers with quality therapists fit for their needs, “Perhaps the biggest cost of people-pleasing in the workplace is the decline of our personal well-being, meaning our ability to consistently operate in a state of clarity, energy and sufficiency. This is called burnout.”

While Sarabia may be a people-pleaser, she knows that too much work can lead to feeling like an overload.

“We are here from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Personally, that is all I am working. I am not working before that, and I am not working after that,” she said.

People-pleasing is a complex behavior that can impact everyone involved. While the desire to please others may come naturally to avoid conflict and maintain harmony, it can lead to people prioritizing others’ needs over their own health and happiness.

“Put yourself first. It is not worth it if it is causing physical or emotional pain,” Noring said. “If it’s something where you are going to be uncomfortable but you’re going to be able to overcome it, [don’t] do it if it is going to cause you stress.”

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON FEMINISM

BY SELA VALIGNOTA & ADRIANNA WELLS Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print & Editor

At the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, 300 men and women gathered to rally for gender equality. The Declaration of Sentiments was signed, calling for women’s equality and suffrage. Today, there are many different personal definitions of what feminism is, with some definitions contradicting one another. In more recent years, events have led to additional rallies for gender equality.

Merriam-Webster defines feminism as the “belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.” Once the Women’s Rights Movement began in the 1960s, it set the stage for feminism and its large-scale movement. However, due to the size of the movement, there are many different thoughts that people express in relation to feminism. People’s perception of the word feminism can be shaped by positive and negative experiences and ideas.

Today we have organizations that call for justice in the women’s rights movement, highlighting struggles from general gender inequality to fighting for the rights of bodily autonomy. The Madison Abortion and Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARRCH), established in Madison, WI, is an association that fights for abortion access and the right to choose.

“It’s obviously about equality, but I believe [feminism] is more than that,” Keys said. “The idea of educating yourself and also educating people around you and realizing that this has a real effect on all of us - whether you think it does or doesn’t - it affects you directly and indirectly.”

In a poll conducted by multinational market research company Ipsos regarding men’s beliefs on feminism, it was found that men are “more likely to be skeptical about the benefits of feminism” and “question the existence of gender inequality today.” Although feminism has been commonly stereotyped as man-hating and encouraging misandry, its views more often align with the opposite - encouraging men to challenge conforming with traditional masculine behavior that causes them harm, otherwise known as toxic masculinity. Senior Ben Vicker identifies as a feminist and recognizes how the movement benefits everyone by not only fighting for the rights of women, but the well-being of men.

the only way to involve men in progress towards gender equality is by fostering a ‘healthy’ or ‘positive’ masculinity.”

As feminism advocates for women’s rights, the overall movement highlights all genders having equal rights and opportunities. Modern-day feminism has made progressive changes since the beginning of the movement, especially in acknowledging the struggles of all genders, but there are still areas of neglect when it comes to women of color.

University of Wisconsin-Madison student and MARRCH member Siena Keys explained that although feminism is universally about equality, it’s also about empowering women to enact change, as it impacts us all.

“I think it is helpful to men because it dismantles harmful power structures that affect both women and men,” Vicker said. “A lot of men feel like they can’t support feminism because it makes them less masculine in society’s eyes, but it’s important because it deconstructs toxic masculinity and uplifts women which makes it beneficial to both genders.”

White feminism is a term meant to address how some feminists focus on white women but not forms of oppression towards ethnic-minority women or underprivileged people. Author Koa Beck wrote her book, White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind, to further elaborate on this idea and how the feminist movement has systematically disadvantaged women of color and other marginalized genders. In her interview with NBC News’ vertical publication NBCBLK, Beck explains the support of white feminism goes beyond systematic racism and into blatant negligence towards those who are disadvantaged.

Society’s established gender norms have caused restrictions, and men’s involvement with feminism starts with identifying how the movement supports gender equality for all. Sociology professor Michael Flood at the Queensland University of Technology wrote on the nonprofit media network The Conversation about the idea of toxic masculinity and how we can encourage men to fight for a change.

design

by Jay Paulson

“Narrow stereotypical norms constrain men’s physical and emotional health and their relations with women, other men, and children,” Flood wrote. “The term may cement the assumption that

“I define white feminism as an ideology and a very specific approach and strategy toward achieving gender equality that focuses more on individual accumulation, capital and individuality,” Beck said. “White feminism as a practice and ideology aspires to those things rather than interrogates them.”

Challenging these ideas is a part of the feminist movement, as is acknowledging the major setbacks it may cause other underprivileged individuals not typically recognized to be associated with the movement but still just as impacted. Co-chair of MARRCH Caitlin Benedetto also believes that feminism is more than just women’s rights. As someone who has been a part of many different rallies, all coming down to standing up for rights of any kind, she makes a point that all of our struggles

“It’s a fight for racial equality, economic equality and justice for immigrants. To me, feminism is making sure people have access to the resources they need, not just to survive but to

Graphics by Jay Paulson

This data is collected from a voluntary survey of 188 Kaneland students.

1 STEP FORWARD, 3 STEPS BACK

We all have a turtle-like shell that we hide in when we’re scared or uncertain. When we feel like inching outside of the shell and talking to new people or doing new things, something can scare us and make us immediately shrink. We then try to forget why we even wanted to get out in the first place.

For every step we take to get out of our comfort zone, it can feel like we take three steps back because of our fears and anxiety. Our brains can warp and twist information until we think living permanently in our comfort zones isn’t a bad idea.

According to Psychology Today, a website focused on therapy and mental health awareness, “When subconscious parts of your being ‘volunteer’ to safeguard you from anxious or despondent feelings you’re not mentally tough enough to bear, the immediate reduction of these adverse feelings is experienced as reinforcing. And that, regrettably, allows them to ‘take hold’ of you.”

We let parts of our brain take control of our actions and thoughts until we don’t allow ourselves to step into experimental territory. Because our brains take hold of what we do, we always live by “what if” moments. What if I had spoken to my crush? What if I had gone on that family trip? What if I had asked my teacher for extra help? You will never know because you were scared to step out of your comfort zone.

comfort zone because you lack coping mechanisms to help you get through your anxiety.

All of these are reasons why someone might not want to step out of a comfort zone, and all of them are valid. However, you don’t always have the privilege to stay in your comfort zone. Sometimes, you have to leave it.

“There have been many times where I have been forced out of my comfort zone, and every time I have been nervous,” senior Marissa Sorrentino said.

Sorrentino has been pushed out of her comfort zone in many social situations, which most teenagers can relate to. Social situations are something that many of us can say are our biggest enemies.

“[For example], I’ve experienced this when I am presenting in school or trying new things. I’m going to college soon and am going to need to meet new people, and that makes me nervous,” Sorrentino said.

front of crowds can be nerve-wracking, not everyone is affected by it.

Junior Abby Wallert has been performing in theater since she was in sixth grade, and she ended up enjoying it instead of fearing it.

“I think that was the first time where I found something that I connected with,” Wallert said. “I found this group of people that I was really comfortable around, and they helped me get out of my comfort zone and perform for a lot of people. Finding a group of people helped me, and it definitely helps that I’m acting as a character.”

When she first started theater, it was scary. The lights were blinding, the people were watching and there was a lot of script to memorize. But as the curtain went down, she knew she wanted to do it again.

Sometimes, it may not be our brain taking hold of us. It could be the fear of failing at something. You might not take a difficult class because you’re afraid you won’t get the grade you desire. Or you might avoid situations because of unrealistic expectations that you set for yourself or someone else. For example, a lot of people have this ideal standard of what they want in a partner. Yet, you might be missing the perfect person for you because you didn’t want to be in a relationship with someone who was outside of an unrealistic standard. You might also not want to get out of your

Going to college can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. If you live in a dorm, you are moving away from your family. You will not be able to do homework at the kitchen table as you smell the sweet aroma of your parents cooking. You won’t have that comfortable silence as you are scrolling through your phone in your bedroom while you know that right downstairs, your parents are reading or watching a TV show. Everything that makes living comfortable gets taken away from you. Your little bubble of comfort gets popped.

You’re going to have to talk to new people on your campus to feel comfortable. No one can hold your hand anymore, and that is something that can cause loads of anxiety. Going off to college is something that many of us are looking forward to, even if it scares us nearly breathless. Knowing that you can figure out who you want to be can be the main motivation for some of us.

When coming out of a comfort zone, it can be useful to have a group of people, a family member, a best friend or a therapist to help you through it. Support systems are oftentimes the deciding factor on if you are going to succeed or fail at something.

Even with a support system, what you are doing may seem daunting and scary. You may convince yourself to avoid or stop doing whatever it is that you’re scared of. But Wallert still decided to continue theater, and now she loves it.

“I think that I’ve performed in about 30 shows. Maybe more,” Wallert said.

Sometimes, coming out of your comfort zone and trying to get out of that shell of security might not sound as simple as knowing you’re going to college or speaking in front of crowds. For some, they are confronted with coming out of their comfort zones when they move homes.

Junior Isaiah Horn moved to Illinois from Minnesota, which is only one of the many times he has moved states. He has lived in five separate states and has moved seven times.

Sorrentino also mentioned that she feels nervous when she has to present in front of a class. Although speaking in

“The first time I remember moving was from New York to Missouri, and it was quite the shift,” Horn said. “It

Story by Sophie Ponce de Leon

doesn’t really bother me anymore since I’ve moved so many times.”

Moving homes, no less states, can force you to adjust to not only a new environment but to new people. You don’t get the benefit of staying in a comfort zone, especially if the movement is abrupt. However, if you are like Horn and have moved a handful of times, it might become your comfort zone, and you can become flexible with everything around you.

Design

by Sarah Slattery

mation for psychologists, “Most people have experienced leaving their comfort zone in at least one area of life, and there are usually plenty of insights to be uncovered from this experience.”

When you step out of your comfort zone, you can come away with life lessons, stories and memories. If you continue to live with the dance of one step forward and three steps back, then what are you truly learning?

Many teens are faced with moving away from familiarity, and they conquer the fear until they don’t even know what they were scared of. But some of us still haven’t been brave enough to face that fear.

While it may seem entirely impossible, it just takes bravery and perseverance. When you step out of your comfort zone, you can get scared and panic because this is something new.

But over time, you can start to learn from what is happening and grow.

According to PositivePsychology.com, a website that provides mental health infor-

It is still a dance between taking steps forward into a world of uncertainty and spontaneity or taking steps back into what you know is safe and secure. How do we take those steps forward like Wallert or Horn? How do we walk in front of a crowd and act out a scene? How do we move households and adjust to new things?

But breaking free from what is comfortable is probably easier said than done. To get out of your comfort zone, you may need to develop some strategies and different perspectives. You may also need to use a mindset that allows you to take small steps to help you reach your final goal.

“It’s okay to take small, methodical steps, as well as larger, bolder ones,” according to PositivePsychology.com. “Leaving behind the comfort zone doesn’t mean recklessly throwing caution to the wind. Every step forward is progress.”

chology.com. “Leaving behind comfort wind.

Progress isn’t going to be quick and easy. You aren’t going to have overnight results where you wake up in the morning and immediately think that you are a completely new person. You might not lose that hesitation. Small steps can be the way to get out of the infinite dance of wondering if you could step out of your comfort zone.

If you are in a dilemma of whether to step forward or move backwards, step forward. It can be the best decision you make.

FITTING

Graphic and photo by Sarah Slattery

TAKING RISKS FOR PERSONAL REWARDS

BY RAFIKA KHAN Editor-in-Chief of Web and Co-Copy Editor

Imagine working at your dream job, where you make a comfortable salary and have formed friendships with your co-workers but feel unfulfilled in your work. If you are faced with the choice between continuing as you are or leaving your job and taking a chance somewhere else, which would you choose?

As humans, most of what fills up our days relates to the choices we make. No matter how big or small, each choice we make leads us to where we end up in the future. That may seem obvious, especially when making important decisions, but it is why people tend to choose the safer route over a riskier one.

“When assessing risk, potential losses tend to loom larger than potential gains,” author Margie Warrell said in a Forbes article. “That is, we tend to focus more on what might go wrong –what we might lose or sacrifice – than what might go right.”

Risk invoking fear isn’t unexpected, especially when you don’t know what the outcome could be. A risk is often associated with failure, and you may even doubt your ability to succeed when taking one. Finding the courage to take a risk is something only you can do for yourself.

“Risk-taking is not a skill you learn, it’s a choice you make. And because all risks are different, it doesn’t necessarily get easier each time,” Rosette Pambakian, co-founder of social audio app Stereo, said in an interview with Forbes. “Taking the path that challenges you instead of the one that keeps you where you are is a conscious decision.”

Calculated risk-taking can help you become more comfortable with failure and gain more self-confidence. As time passes and you take more leaps of faith, your failure will mean nothing in the face of your successes.

“Risk, failure and moving on are parts of achievement and success and part of happiness in life. Hopefully stemming from that, [people] get a greater sense of self,” self-help author Claire Shipman said in an interview with the Washington Post.

Along with building confidence, taking calculated risks can open doors to opportunities you did not consider

before. By taking these risks, you may learn new skills, make connections and achieve things you thought you could only dream about. One of the biggest regrets people often have is the risks they did not take. By taking a risk to experience new opportunities, you can have fewer things to regret in the future, which is something sophomore Ava Wukitsch has learned while in high school.

“I auditioned for a music camp last year and I didn’t get in,” Wukitsch said. “However, it gave me good audition experience and increased my confidence in settings like that, which encouraged me to keep going. I have since gotten into other ensembles and music programs.”

These opportunities can also lead to school and career advancement, helping you feel fulfilled in what you do. Whether it is changing workplaces, developing a career path or building skills to get a promotion, you can spend the rest of your school and working life doing something you enjoy rather than something that offers nothing but a sense of familiarity.

sions and knowing what you can gain or lose from the choices you make. You should be prepared for both success and failure and take steps to minimize the impact of a negative outcome. This way, you can make a confident decision without being impulsive.

“You should take risks in situations where you feel safe to do that,” Wukitsch said. “If you’re already feeling stressed or agitated, you shouldn’t take a risk because it could end up making you feel worse. If you’re feeling calm and safe with where you are, then take a risk and try something new. It could help you even if you fail.”

The best way to get accustomed to taking risks is by starting small. Start your day off by eating something unexpected for breakfast or wearing clothes you would not usually wear. Later, you could watch a movie from a genre you don’t typically enjoy or learn a new hobby instead of scrolling on your phone. Though these may seem unimportant, doing something out of your comfort zone can help you get situated with risk-taking and learn what to consider when making decisions. Over time, you will be confident enough to take a calculated risk in a broader context.

Risk-taking does not have to be as daunting as it may seem. While you can take a risk and fail, there is also a chance of you succeeding. Both success and failure can contribute to your confidence and security, especially when you have considered all of the outcomes of your risk. In the end, it all comes down to whether or not you choose to take a chance and roll the dice.

risks and females taking less. These

However, you should avoid making life-changing decisions on a whim, especially in a highly emotional state. A study by Mara Mather, a psychology professor at the University of Southern California, found that stress can affect risky decisions. Acute stress can override the tendency to avoid negative outcomes and lead someone to choose an option that will not benefit them. The study also found that males and females approach risk differently when under stress, with males taking more risks and females taking less. These differences can be attributed to brain activity when computing risk, still making reckless risk-taking dangerous.

So, how do you know when to take a risk? Calculated risk-taking is all about making informed deci-

FINDING YOUR OWN WAY

When we first came into this world, almost all we could perceive, love or think about was our parents and others who raised us. The world felt as big as our cradles and as loving as our mothers. As we continued to develop, we started making choices for ourselves with the help of our guardians - crawling over here, crying to be held over there - but those choices were not entirely our own.

Albert Bandura’s famous 1961 Bobo Doll study tested how the behaviors of adults impact those of children observing them. The study evaluated the influence that observation of adult behavior had on children’s aggression. If an adult demonstrated a violent way to play with the toy before a child played with it, the experiment found that children would mirror that aggression.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities, conducted a study for the National Library of Medicine and observed some of the influences of parents’ political beliefs on their children.

In the study, there were “strong correlations between parent and offspring attitudes in both family types, indicating that parental socialization and gene–environment correlation persist well into adulthood even in the presence of substantial genetic contribution,” Willoughby and the other researchers concluded.

While there is no inherent problem with having similar moral, religious or political beliefs to our parents, there is an issue when we fail to critically examine what we were taught as children and determine where our values truly lie.

As young children, we had no other inclination than to model our primary guardians’ behavior. But as we grow into young adults, it is of the utmost importance for us to recognize the parts of ourselves chosen for us by our parents. In that recognition, we can decide what parts of ourselves we wish to keep the same and which we would like to develop differently.

A team of academics in psychology and political science fields, including Emily A. Willoughby, a researcher at the

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EDITORIAL POLICY

It is simpler to stick to what we have always known. However, it could be dangerous for this next generation of young adults to lack the ability to question what we are told and become complicit in things we would not support if we took a second to reflect. What we are taught and shown by our parents and guardians as we are growing up significantly impacts how we see the world, but we cannot let this hold us back from exploring ourselves. Only when we explore new paths of ideas can we find peace in our morals and beliefs, even if they lead us back to where we started.

Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalism students: Isa Alba, Taylor Anello, Delaney Calabrese, Dane Coyne, Sophie Ponce de Leon, Lucas Fiedler, Carli Filek, Zoe Gannon, Teaghan Hardy, Tiffany Johnson, Rafika Khan, Olivia King, Jackson Kottmeyer, Elliot Krippelz, Nathan Lapitan, Kayli Loonam, Natalie Lycan, Barbara Martinez, Riley Merdzan, River Mullins, Jasper Paulson, Katie Pfotenhauer, Carmella Rio, Nate Sand, Lizzy Sidman, Sarah Slattery, Casper Suehs, Preslee Sutherland, Sophie Thill, Andrew Valentini, Sela Valignota, Audrey Walker, Adrianna Wells, and Sofia Williams. Students make all publication decisions.

Letters can be sent to the address above or e-mailed to krier@ kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff) and must be under 300 words. The Editorial Board has the right to work with writers to edit for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All decisions to publish or not publish letters are made by executive editors. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

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THE STIGMA OF PERIODS AND PRODUCTS

BY SOPHIE THILL Editor

There are certain phrases that many women will say in their lifetime. “It’s that time of the month,” “Aunt Flo came to visit” and “The red tide is raging.” These are some of many ways to discreetly communicate to friends that you got your period, but why do people feel the need to be discreet about it? Periods are a natural part of life, but many people view them as dirty and embarrassing. The word “period” itself seems to have a taboo around it.

The problem is that periods in the media are rarely talked about, and as we’ve grown up, books, religious texts, films and sometimes even our parents refuse to acknowledge a period for what it is: a normal, natural part of life. Young people grow up thinking that talking about periods is some sort of stigma.

According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health in 2023, 58% of women are ashamed of having their period, and 51% of women believe that periods should not be discussed in the workplace.

How can the younger generation become comfortable talking about a normal bodily function when more than half of our mentors won’t even talk about it? No wonder new menstruators are embarrassed and ashamed because of their periods.

Many girls, though, are becoming more comfortable openly talking about their periods, thanks to social media. With period-positive influencers like Spencer Barbosa, Sharon Cancio and Lainey Molnar, girls can immediately see that talking about periods isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

“I first realized that periods weren’t something to be ashamed of around last year,” sophomore Lexi McCornack said.

“All women experience them, and it’s something that we can relate to. It’s our bodies preparing to

carry a child, and that isn’t something that people should be ashamed of.”

Regardless, it took McCornack until the end of her freshman year to become comfortable talking about periods. The first few months to years of menstruating can be accompanied by the shamed walk to the bathroom with a pad or tampon hidden up your sleeve. Young people are embarrassed to have a menstrual product out in the open, especially at school, where not everyone can understand or relate. This is one of the effects of not discussing periods openly at a young age.

“Younger girls might be uncomfortable discussing [periods] because some get theirs at a very young age, like around fifth [grade],” McCornack said. “Other girls don’t get it until later, around high school. If a girl in fifth grade tries to talk to her friends about her period and they have not experienced it yet, she may feel insecure and possibly even ashamed since none of her friends understand what she is going through.”

McCornack brings up a good point. If we are to change our views about periods, more people need to talk about them, and more need to be educated. And this doesn’t mean only those who will menstruate in their lives. It also means cis-males. People are more likely to be comfortable talking about something they know, and this would dissipate the taboo around periods.

If someone were to ask a teen boy about periods, the boy would most likely get uncomfortable and not want to talk about it. This isn’t because they have a deep-rooted complex about periods being disgusting. It’s

merely because they haven’t received any proper education other than a high school health class. Which, let’s be honest, most teenage boys won’t pay attention because a lesson about periods has nothing to do with them.

“I don’t know much about [periods],” junior Liam Lentz said. “I think most guys are uncomfortable talking about it because it has to do with the female body.”

Lentz was one of the few teen boys who agreed to talk about periods, admitting it felt weird. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Boys in the United States typically report incomplete and/or inaccurate knowledge about menstruation, and boys generally receive less education about menstruation than do girls.” Just as Lentz said, talking about an experience that not everyone goes through or is educated about could feel awkward.

It is important for everyone, whether they menstruate or not, to be knowledgeable about periods. While the cis-man does not menstruate, there will be someone in their life who does, whether it’s a mother, sister, girlfriend, wife or daughter. Making these women feel comfortable during their period is something that helps them through the pain and nausea. If women feel comfortable talking to their loved ones about periods, it can strengthen the relationship.

Period talk is not taboo. It is a normal thing. When someone is struggling with a personal problem, like anxiety, do we hush them in this day and age? No. So why should we quiet women who just want to feel seen for what they naturally go through? Sometimes, we just need to say what we’re feeling. A little complaining about monthly pain isn’t a bad thing. We are trying to communicate our problems, and we just want to be understood instead of being told that this normal bodily function is disgusting and taboo.

Cartoon by Zoe Gannon

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF CHILDHOOD

BY ELLIOT KRIPPELZ

Design and Photography Executive

As a senior in high school, I find myself constantly looking back at how I acted and dressed throughout middle school. In retrospect, I cringe at how I once behaved because I truly believe I have grown since that part of my life. Now, as I am old enough to be myself and have confidence in the person I am turning out to be, I realize all those embarrassing photos, videos and experiences were just a part of a natural development phase that I and many of my peers also went through.

This transitional period took place between ages 11-14, where all the emotions and hormones were changing, and the fear of not fitting in but also doing things I enjoyed was hard to balance. Looking back at these situations and understanding why I acted the way I did, I can now realize it was all part of growing up.

Being in that weird phase is nearly essential to becoming an adult later in life. However, with the increased use of social media, there has been more encouragement towards children to participate in trends that are meant for an older audience. It is not uncommon to see on social media children from late elementary school and early middle school acting and dressing the way young adults do instead of embracing their own stage of life.

English teacher Dr. Brendan McCormick is aware of this new genera-

tion trying to behave as though they are older. McCormick taught middle school until 2019, so his perspective on how middle schoolers act and develop is something worth considering.

“Having an [awkward phase] is important,” McCormick said. “Part of adolescence is experiencing times where you are not sure of yourself because you’re changing and learning. Being able to [experience] and figure yourself out during those years is very important.”

A teenager doesn’t necessarily intentionally eliminate important stages of development just to fit in with other students, as they might also simply be trying new things. Many children see older teenagers and young adults participating in trends on social media, making them want to act based on what they see. In mimicking contemporary trends, children might be trying to make themselves look older. A new TikTok trend, for example, involves indulging in skincare products. While many young adults have created these videos, some children see them and get the idea to try to hop on the trend in an effort to be seen as cool in front of their peers.

With the popularity that these skincare products have, many older teens and young adults on TikTok have become annoyed with younger children going into stores and buying products not meant for them. The term “Sephora kids” has gained popularity on TikTok, and it is used as a derogatory term to describe the maturity level (or lack thereof) and in-store behavior of younger kids in places that are perceived as being too old for them.

Freshman Ella Kerrins has witnessed the rise of these so-called Sephora kids. Kerrins understands and acknowledges the concerns that come with children buying and using products like retinol, which could damage their skin, reversing the goal of these products.

“I think that [these Sephora kids] are a little weird. The ingredients used in the skin products are not good for the skin. It isn’t even good for [a high schooler’s skin], and it is just crazy that kids are using those items at 10 years

Cartoon by Dane Coyne

old,” Kerrins said. “They don’t even need those products. Their skin is perfect. I just don’t think kids that young should even want to wear makeup or do skincare, and it is mainly social media influencing them.”

Despite widespread social commentary about today’s youth, many adults fail to realize that the desire to act older is also a normal part of maturing. As teens and adults witness a new generation of kids seemingly maturing faster, they can forget that they also probably went through something similar when they were younger.

“Teenagers have always experimented with adult things. It’s a classic thing that teenagers always experience, wanting to fit in but also wanting to do your own thing,” McCormick said.

Children appearing to grow up too fast has been happening long before our generation. Social media has created the illusion that children are growing up quicker than we might like, but it all depends on the child’s developmental stage and what they are exposed to each day. However, products like skincare that could damage the face should have a respected age limit to keep those who are using them safe. Any harmless trend that children partake in, though, isn’t necessarily bad.

Journalist Katie Bishop has written for popular publications like The New York Times and Vogue. While she understands why people may think children are growing up too fast, she also sees just how much times have changed and what is expected of children now.

According to Bishop, “Ultimately there are many factors that influence the rate at which children mature, and the circumstances are highly individual. Our understanding of where childhood ends and adulthood begins – and the line that separates them – is blurry and subjective.”

As we start to get older, it becomes harder for us to witness children now growing up at a faster pace then we might like. While I do think children should value their childhood as long as possible and not rush to grow up, maturing and experimenting are parts of life that happen at different times for everyone.

BASKETBALL STATE CHAMP IN OUR HALLS

BY NATE SAND Editor

When you see a student in a wheelchair, one of the last things you may expect is that they could play a sport. You also might not imagine them playing basketball, a physically demanding activity, or being a state champion. However, sophomore Jon Parris checks all of these boxes.

Parris started playing wheelchair basketball at seven years old, when a friend suggested it. Prior to this, he had never played basketball or any organized sport. After watching a practice, Parris decided to learn the game. To this day, he still plays and maintains a close relationship with those friends who introduced him to the sport of basketball.

Parris plays for the Lincolnway Hawks, a travel team supported by the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association. The association is based out of New Lenox, a southwest suburb of Chicago, and has about 10-12 players from the Chicagoland area. The season is nearly year-round, as it goes from the end of September through the beginning of August. They typically compete in tournaments once a month, and they practice for two hours twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.

Before joining the Lincolnway Hawks, Parris played for the Synergy Junior Bulls, where he won an IHSA state championship in wheelchair basketball in the 2021-22 season. The team had also won back-to-back championships the years before he joined, but this was his first time winning one himself.

When playing with his travel team, he competes in tournaments in the Chicagoland area and the Midwest. However, the team has traveled as far as Tennessee and might go to Virginia for a tournament this upcoming season.

Parris says wheelchair basketball is difficult to learn, especially for him. He says the most difficult part is learning how to control your chair and become agile enough to move around effectively to both score and play defense. “Learning how [to control the chair] took me about a month alone to learn,” Parris said.

Parris sees a future for himself in the sport. “I would hope to continue playing basketball through college,” Parris said.

Isa Alba

According to Houston Chronicle reporter Chris Elliott, more than 600 colleges and universities in the United States offer full basketball scholarships. But far fewer schools offer wheelchair basketball. “My dream schools are [the University of] Illinois or [the University of Wisconsin] Whitewater,” Parris said.

Parris says he gets along well with his teammates and his coaching staff by spending time with them off the court. “When we’re at tournaments, we spend a lot of time together in the hotels,” Parris said.

Amy Rocholl, a paraprofessional who has worked at Kaneland for six years, helps Parris throughout the school day. She helps him get from class to class and gives him all the physical help he needs.

“Jon always impresses me. How independent he can be, most of the time. He likes a little help, but he could go through this whole school and do it all by himself, quite honestly,” Rocholl said.

Parris did not attend Kaneland his entire life. He was born and raised in Oswego, which is where he started playing basketball. His family moved to the Kaneland district shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have lived here since then.

Along with basketball, Parris was previously a member of Kaneland’s chess team. He eventually had to leave the club because it interfered with his basketball practice and game schedule. Parris is yet to try any new sports, but he hopes to try playing sled hockey in the future.

“He falls into the category of the type of person who really motivates themselves,” Rocholl said. “He doesn’t feel sorry for himself, and he always keeps trying new things. He tried out a bunch of new clubs, which ended up being a bit too much to keep up with his other classes, but he never stops trying on anything.”

Donovan Smith, a former paraprofessional and freshman basketball coach at Kaneland who now teaches at Joliet Central High School, spent a lot of time working with Parris throughout the 2022-23 school year. “We instantly found a connection through sports. He mentioned that he was a basketball

player, so we instantly bonded over our love for the game,” Smith said. “Jon’s positivity is something that will always stay with me. Jon has faced different obstacles in his life, but despite that he is always positive and friendly with everyone he meets.”

Parris says his father is his biggest role model in his life, as he frequently helps him with his homework and helps improve his mood. His father was an athlete who also played basketball in high school. Parris has a younger brother and sister, which has helped him develop patience.

“Jon’s patience really stood out to me,” Smith said. “Sometimes people aren’t the most aware when Jon is walking or in his chair, and despite people maybe not holding a door or making room, Jon would always be calm, cool and collected.”

At Kaneland, Parris says math has always been his favorite subject, specifically geometry. Outside of school and basketball, he says he likes to play video games that involve sports and action. Some of his favorite games are NBA 2K, Madden and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

“Jon is just like any other high school guy,” Smith said. “He loves sports, has a great sense of humor, plays video games and is great to hang out with.”

Parris says some of his earliest memories of playing wheelchair basketball involve how difficult it was learning to play. “I used to get hit in the face all the time with the ball because my reaction time wasn’t the best back then,” Parris said.

People might have perceptions of Parris from seeing him in the hallway or at various Kaneland events, but there is more than meets the eye. His relationships with basketball, school and the people who have supported him have helped him become who he is today.

“I wish that people would be more responsive to him, because he is much more capable than most people think. I think some people can be intimidated by his wheelchair, but they shouldn’t be,” Rocholl said. “He’s just an allaround really good kid. I think everybody should take the opportunity to get to know him.”

Nature’s Tranquility:

By Isa Alba, Olivia

Photos courtesy of Ryan Markham

Photos courtesy of Eleanor Kuntz

Photos courtesy of Travis Berth

Where You Find Your Peace

King and Sarah Slattery

Junior Ryan Markham works at the Sycamore Speedway and finds peace and enjoyment there. He has previously raced at the Rockford Speedway, and since he has been working at Sycamore, he plans on racing there competitively this summer. “I’ve been going to the racetrack since I was born, and almost all of my family has raced there. So I’ve pretty much grown up there,” Markham said. “It’s neat to be able to see the backsides of the facility and be able to run parts of it by working [and racing] there… that brings me joy by working there and being there.”

Senior Eleanor Kuntz has been riding horses since she could sit up. Her grandmother would sit her up on a horse, and they would walk through her pasture. This was the start of her love for horseback riding.

“I think the barn and riding is arguably one of the plac- es I feel most at peace, especially with the right horse. It’s an experience like no other. When I’m riding, it feels like me and him against the world,” Kuntz said.

Math teacher Travis Berth surrounds himself with numbers. He is one of the Mathlete advisors in addition to his role of teaching various math classes. But he also enjoys and finds peace in other aspects of his life.

“It’s not so much a location to me. Home is who I’m with, not where I’m at,” Berth said. “I’m at peace and relaxed [with family]. [My wife and I enjoy] gardening, playing games and interacting with each other. We are always engaged with each other, and with that comes respect.”

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CONGRATULATES

Sidman Sidman Sidman

ON HER ACCEPTANCE INTO THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

WE CANNOT WAIT TO READ INCREDIBLE THINGS YOU WILL DO TO CHANGE THE WORLD! ABOUT THE

“I think the barn and riding is arguably one of the places I feel most at peace, especially with the right horse. It’s an experience like no other. When I’m riding, it feels like me and him against the world.”

Senior Eleanor Kuntz

Pages 22 & 23

“If you know the love language of a certain person, it can help you understand their boundaries. It can help them feel safer [in the relationship].”

School Counselor Cynthia Violett

Page 8

“I think [theater] was the first time where I found something that I connected with. I found this group of people that I was really comfortable around, and they helped me get out of my comfort zone and perform for a lot of people. Finding a group of people helped me, and it definitely helps that I’m acting as a character.”

Junior Abby Wallert

Pages 14 & 15