Kaneland Krier Volume 51 Issue 2 by Kaneland Krier

THE POWER OF PURPOSE

Having goals to reach for are vital for success but can also hinder progress

Volume 51 • Issue 2 • Kaneland High School • November 6, 2024 • Cover by Audrey Walker

LETTER FROM THE EXECS

As we go through life, we’re constantly focused on what’s in front of us. We’ve got our eyes on the target: success, happiness or whatever other goals we have. Like an archer, we sometimes aim too low or too high, or we miss the target completely. Even if we’ve got the perfect shot lined up, we don’t always hit the bullseye. Intentions, like an arrow soaring toward its target, can go astray and hurt other people or even ourselves in the process. A purpose itself doesn’t guarantee success, and it can even take us in the opposite direction. We believe that having a purpose as a guide requires careful revision of the reasons for which you are acting. Before you let the arrow go, ask yourself about the target you’re aiming for and why you’re seeking to accomplish that goal.

Jasper Paulson

Carli Filek Nate Sand Zoe Gannon

NEW ADVISERS LEAD FFA CHAPTER

Bradley Gorenz and Adrian Hernandez step in to advise FFA

BY OLIVIA COTTER Editor and Columnist

In the wake of Alex Turk and Blake Uchitjil leaving Kaneland, animal science and animal health and nutrition teacher Adrian Hernandez and horticulture teacher Bradley Gorenz have stepped up to advise FFA. FFA was already an established club at Kaneland High School, but the new advisers are working on expanding the club and becoming more involved with the na

tional FFA community.

FFA is a nationwide organization intended to prepare members for leadership and career success using agricultural education. “It really helps kids’ exposure to agriculture and builds confidence in their skills, like speaking and competition skills,” Hernandez said.

Following the departure of Turk and Uchitjil, the state of FFA at Kaneland was unclear. “It was very stressful for everyone,” junior and section six sentinel Laura Batts said. “At some points, we thought that we might not have a Kaneland FFA chapter.”

FFA students had to learn how to transition very quickly at the beginning of the year.

“The transition was definitely a little rocky, especially since Mr. Uchitjil’s resignation was quite a surprise,” junior Ava Wukitsch said. “Starting the year with two new advisers was a little rough, but the officer team and advisers from other schools helped the chapter stay afloat while some of the bumps were being worked out.”

The change in advisers was hard on FFA members. “When we found out that Mr. Turk was leaving and Mr. Uchitjil was resigning, it was very emotional for all of us because we had spent so much time with them on trips and competitions,” Batts said.

and set up practices for them.”

The transition to new advisers may have seemed chaotic, but Hernandez and Gorenz are working hard to run the program smoothly. “I have experience in FFA, so I understand what is needed,” Gorenz said. “But we figure it out together.”

Members of FFA agree that the two teachers have transitioned into their new jobs nicely. “They have jumped into the roles of advisers very well,” Wukitsch said. “It’s definitely been a large adjustment from last year, but they’ve assumed their new positions quickly and are trying their best to keep FFA running smoothly.”

In the new era of Kaneland FFA, the advisers want to connect more with the school community. “We want to have more community involvement, like holding study sessions for kids not in FFA to just come and hang out,” Hernandez said.

One of the biggest challenges Gorenz and Hernandez initially faced were the amount of events and activities they had to keep track of. “We have a bunch of field trips and competitions,” Gorenz said. “We have to find out which kids are going to each event

As first-year teachers at Kaneland, FFA is a great way for Gorenz and Hernandez to get to know kids, especially ones they wouldn’t normally interact with.

A benefit of FFA is the flexibility of the club. Students can choose to focus on a specific activity, like floral arrangements or horse judging, or they can go to multiple events and gain more experience. “I like that you aren’t expected to do everything with it, and you can tailor it to your own interests,” Gorenz said.

Students in FFA make friends and build connections with students from other schools while exploring agriculture. “So it’s very much kids coming together for the events, but they’re also not afraid to strike out on their own and do whichever one they want,” Gorenz said.

FFA is a great way to learn about agriculture and develop career-related skills while hanging out with friends. Although FFA is marketed toward students from an agricultural background, anyone with an interest in agriculture can join. There aren’t any requirements to join FFA, and Hernandez recommends that everyone should join. “Just try it out, and we’re happy to have you,” Hernandez said.

Krasuski

Photo by Zoe Gannon

Photo courtesy of Grace Flinchum FFA advisers Bradley Gorenz and Adrian Hernandez talk in the KHS greenhouse. This is both of the teachers’ first years advising Kaneland FFA.

FFA members take a photo at the FFA National Convention & Expo held in Indianapolis, IN. The convention featured student and teacher workshops, general sessions, delegate business, awards and other events.

THREATS TO SCHOOLS RISE

BY ISA ALBA , JASPER PAULSON, AUDREY WALKER AND NOAH WITZ Podcast Manager, Executives and Reporter

Threats to high schools in America have grown significantly in recent years, and Kane County school districts have not been immune. After a wave of threats hit nearby schools in early September, local administrators are continuing to deal with a variety of situations.

The increase in threats could relate to the amount of school shootings that have happened across the country, as copycat threats generally follow shootings that get a lot of recognition in national news. After the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA, there was an influx of threats against schools. The neighboring St. Charles School district was one to receive recent threats.

“School districts across the country, including ours, faced multiple safety threats, mostly from online activity, that caused fear and confusion among our students, families and staff,” wrote Paul Gordon, the Superintendent of St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, in a staff newsletter.

According to Kaneland High School Principal Melinda Cattell, KHS has been lucky to have not received these kinds of online threats.

“We have not had any of the social media stuff,” Cattell said.

Not all threats are acted on, but even a fake threat can cause problems within schools. With gun violence being an ongoing concern, schools have to take every threat seriously.

Administrators and local police need to prepare just in case any threats that schools are alerted to are real. An anonymous tip line is a tool used by many districts for students to report concerns without fear of retribution from the person issuing threats.

“If someone comes across a threat or something that they heard, they can email or use the tip line,” Kaneland’s Dean of Students Noe Escamilla said. “They can come directly to our office and tell me, a counselor or any other adult. They would act upon it and either connect to me or our own Deputy Officer Eric Perkins that’s in the building.”

After a report from a student, action is taken by the school to reassure

RETAKE POLICIES CHANGE AGAIN

BY SOPHIA SCHROLL Editor and Social Media Manager

In early November of 2023, the Kaneland District 302 Board of Education decided that the district would transition from standards-based grading (SBG) to traditional grading starting with the 2024-25 school year. Along with the shift in grading practices also came the question about reassessment policies for students.

The philosophy behind traditional grading does not always include reassessments, but students and teachers felt that they were a necessary part of students’ academic success. Therefore, the district decided to not take them away. Each department looked at their existing SBG reassessment plans and adjusted from there.

Math, English, social studies and science departments have different reassessment plans.

“Generally, in most classes you get two reassessments per semester, and algebra 1 is just one per semester,” math department chair Kristin Massey said.

The science and social studies departments did not make significant revisions to their existing plans.

the safety of the students. The Dean of Students, police officers and other relevant personnel are involved in determining the appropriate course of action after they receive a report from someone. Whether a threat is conveyed anonymously or directly, school officials must be prepared to act and follow their established procedures.

“We would do an assessment verifying the source to see if it’s credible or not,” Escamilla said. “That’s where law enforcement gets involved with those threats. Sometimes if threats come to us from a different agency outside of our county, we again take precautions to verify if it is credible or not. Then, there are all the signs we have in our classrooms of either lockdown or shelter in place for that moment until we figure out if it’s an imminent threat.”

Across the country, schools are dealing with these threats.

“I don’t think any school district is immune from social media,” said St. Charles North High School Principal Shanna Lewis.

“It is fairly similar to last year for students,” social studies department chair Jessica McNally said. “They still conference with a teacher, but now we do not let students reassess on project summatives.”

The English department has made bigger changes while still allowing for reassessments on each summative.

“The two scores are averaged together,” English department chair Kimberly Reese said. “Last year, when you reassessed it was the most current score that replaced [the original score].”

Each department has the goal of trying to improve students’ initial scores on summatives, but some students might still be stuck in the mindset of having unlimited reassessments like they did under the SBG policy.

“I am looking forward to kids not being stuck in the mindset of what we call the reassessment cycle,” Massey said. “[This is] where they are reassessing every single time, and then they are behind because they are working on the previous unit while we are working on the next unit.”

Page design by Olivia Cotter

Photo by Sarah Slattery Schools continue to deal with threats coming from multiple social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Online threats have been growing in the past few years.

GOALS OF CONSERVATIVE PROJECT 2025

BY JASPER PAULSON

Copy Editor, Broadcast and Ads & Business

Design Executive

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is described on its website to be the plan for the next conservative president of the U.S.

“The time is short, and Conservatives need a plan,” according to Project2025.org, the website dedicated to educating people about The Conservative Promise.

The Presidential Transition Project, more commonly known as Project 2025, was started by the The Heritage Foundation and is a collection of policies written by over 400 scholars dedicated to changing the U.S. government when the next conservative president gets elected. These policies relate to the security of the southern border, education, de-weaponizing the federal government, energy prices, LGBTQ+ issues and inflation rates. The authors intend for this project to be initiated in the first 180 days of the next Republican president’s administration.

Their 180-day plan is in place to provide “quick relief to Americans suffering from the Left’s devastating policies,” according to Project2025.org.

Details of their plans are depicted in the book “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.” The book is split into five sections: Section 1: Taking the Reins of the Government; Section 2: The Common Defense; Section 3: The General Welfare; Section 4: The Economy; and Section 5: Independent Regulatory Agencies. Each section has multiple subtopics that discuss specific agencies and departments that will be changed to fit the ideals of Project 2025.

If Project 2025 is instated by the government, there will be changes throughout the country. The project details multiple ideas that would possibly affect the Kaneland community.

Agriculture is prominent in the towns that make up the Kaneland school district. Project 2025 suggests changes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the Project’s guidance, the USDA would have less control over the production and distribution of farm products. The Heritage Foundation is suggesting this to allow more choices to farmers and people in agricultural jobs. They believe

that even with taking power from the USDA, agriculture will continue to be a stable part of America’s economy.

“The federal government does not need to transform the food system or develop a national plan to intervene across the supply chain,” Daren Bakst wrote in his subtopic of Section 3: The General Welfare titled Department of Agriculture. “Instead, it should respect American farmers, truckers and everyone who makes the food supply chain so resilient and successful.”

The Heritage Foundation’s plans with health services involve Congress inducting a conservative Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to apply these changes for them. This particular subtopic has multiple goals to accomplish in the next Republican administration. Two of these goals are to maintain bodily integrity and protect life.

“The Secretary must ensure that all HHS programs and activities are rooted in deep respect for innocent human life from day one until natural death: Abortion and euthanasia are not health care,” author of the Department of HHS subtopic Roger Severino wrote.

Another goal for the HHS is to be prepared for the next nationwide health emergency. They believe the 2020 pandemic was handled incor-

rectly under 46th President Joe Biden. The Heritage Foundation wants to create guidelines for a more effective plan in case another health crisis arrives.

“The federal government’s public health apparatus has lost the public’s trust,” Severino wrote. “Before the next national public health emergency, this apparatus must be fundamentally restructured.”

On Project2025.org, there’s an opportunity for young politicians and scholars to train to be able to implement Project 2025 if it ever takes effect. This schooling would be a way to introduce younger citizens to their idea of education under Project 2025.

If implemented, The Heritage Foundation would try to eliminate the federal Department of Education. They believe it is better for education to be put into the hands of parents and students. The mandate focuses mostly on private and charter schools, primarily putting their attention on those instead of public schools.

“Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated,” Lindsey M. Burke wrote in her subtopic of Section 3: The General Welfare titled Department of Education. “When power is exercised, it should empower students and families, not [the] government.”

by Olivia Cotter

The Town & Country Public Library, located in Elburn, serves as one of the Kaneland community’s polling places. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is designed to serve as a guide for the next conservative president, which the Nov. 5 election could decide.

Photo by Sarah Slattery

NET LOSS: NO BOYS TEAM WRESTLING GETS READY

Boys volleyball continues to not be offered at KHS

BY BOBBY LEAVEY Editor and Broadcaster

Boys volleyball is a sport foreign to the community since the opening of the high school in 1958. But nationally, interest in male volleyball in high schools has grown widely. Any creation of new clubs must start with student initiative. So, are students to blame for our lack of a team? Or is boys volleyball just a sport that wouldn’t practically fit i nto Kaneland’s schedule?

Although a formal team has never been established at Kaneland, there have been attempts in the past.

“We actually had students two or three years ago. They had an intramural group that did some volleyball in the spring over at the KMAC gym, but it didn’t really go that far,” Athletic & Activities Director David Rohlman said. Similarly, head girls varsity volleyball coach Cynthia Violett also has had conversations about the possibility of forming a boys team.

“I had a parent maybe a year ago that asked about it,” Violett said. “I can’t start the team. It has to come from initiative from the kids and the AD’s office. But we have had some interest here and there. We used to have - maybe three or four years ago - a club volleyball team. They would do it during the winter season. I think they only got a few guys here and there, so it didn’t really take off.”

But since these instances from years ago, no other attempts have been brought to the administration. That doesn’t mean that all hope is lost, however.

“I think there is enough interest,” senior Ryan Kuchar said. “I think there are a lot of people who are interested in [boys volleyball] that most people don’t know about. I won’t be able to [play] now that I’m a senior, but if there was [a team] I would. Anyone who plays in the powderbuff game I think would play boys volleyball.”

Kuchar isn’t alone. According to a study done by the National Federation of State High School Associations, the number of boys playing high school volleyball has jumped by 56% in the last 10 years. If student interest was

the only factor going into it, boys volleyball would probably be available at Kaneland by now.

“Our biggest challenge would be that we do not have the gym space for it right now,” Rohlman said. “In the spring without a fieldhouse, all of our teams are practicing using all the inside facilities. And typically they have to share facilities as is. We often rent facilities outside [the district], like in Yorkville and DeKalb. It’s all weather dependent. If we were in a different climate and we knew that soccer and baseball and softball are outside all the time, then we wouldn’t have this issue.”

Indoor facilities will stay limited for the time being, though a referendum might help. A new sports team would also lead to other expenses. Money for uniforms and equipment would need to come out of an already limited Kaneland athletic budget.

“We haven’t increased the athletic budget at all,” Rohlman added. “So that’s another concern. We have added in the last six years girls golf, boys tennis, boys bowling and now lacrosse is fully in. Where do we pay for it? It’s not horrendously expensive, but there is still quite a bit of cost to it.”

BY AUDREY WALKER Editor-in-Chief of Print and Ads & Business Executive

As the Kaneland boys and girls wrestling teams prepare for their upcoming season, they are focusing on staying healthy, building their strength and keeping a positive atmosphere.

Former assistant boys wrestling coach Brennan Keifer, a 2019 Kaneland alumni and former wrestler, will replace Kenneth Paoli as the new head boys wrestling coach. He emphasizes preseason preparations, like working out, eating healthy and maintaining a good sleep schedule, to ensure the athletes are ready for the 13-week winter season.

“A lot of kids did a lot of off-season stuff,” Keifer said. “We’re looking good. We’re looking healthy.”

After qualifying two girls to State last year, including State champion Angelina Gochis, the girls team hopes to qualify more athletes and place as a team.

“Our girls team should compete near the top of Illinois girls teams,” head girls wrestling coach Josh West said. “If everyone stays healthy and things come together the way I envision them, I see us bringing home some hardware.”

In addition to finding success at State, the coaches and athletes are placing an emphasis on maintaining a fun and supportive environment in the wrestling program.

“Last year, we were a really tightknit team, and I think [a goal] is to keep that and still have that playful energy,” senior Brooklyn Sheaffer said.

Keifer also hopes to keep the teams feeling like a family.

“We’re going to kind of keep the same dynamic of a team as last year,” Keifer said. “Just keep it one big happy family.”

As for losing Paoli, Keifer recognizes the loss, but he is optimistic about the opportunity to continue coaching the athletes.

“We’re definitely going to miss him this season,” Keifer said. “He brought smiles into the room, which I hope to do too.”

Photo by Sophia Schroll

Junior Jakub Chlebek serves a volleyball in physical education class. While boys can play volleyball in class, there is no official boys team offered.

FUTURE-FOCUSED CLUBS PREPARE TEENS

Clubs equip students with skills for future success

BY CHARLIZE LANDA Editor

Chasing opportunities, preparing for the next step after high school and getting a taste of careers may sound stressful for some, but it’s easy to participate in such activities when all it takes is getting involved in any of the future-focused clubs that Kaneland High School has to offer.

Although Kaneland takes pride in their clubs by posting or communicating competition results over the announcements, the students’ attention seems mostly focused on Kaneland’s sports. Kaneland’s home Friday night football games are always packed, making it hard to navigate to the concessions, not to mention the clamoring student section. Students roar as the football team runs on to the field, and then they keep the stands lively with their endless cheers proclaiming V-I-CT-O-R-Y. Kaneland offers more than just sports that create good habits, as it offers clubs that can shape students into confident and successful young adults.

Kaneland offers Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), which is a club that allows students to experience marketing, finance, hospitality, tourism, business management and administration. In 2023, the first year

DECA was offered at KHS after the COVID-19 pandemic, DECA had nine students. It has since grown to over 50 students who have officially joined. Members in DECA go to events where they practice networking and learn business skills. They also participate in competitions where they role-play problem-solving of a business scenario and take career cluster exams. DECA members get first-hand experience with a variety of fields within business. Dragoljub Gudovic, the club’s adviser, recommends DECA to any student because it gives members the opportunity to get experience solving problems and behaving and dressing professionally.

“DECA is the closest experience students will have to entrepreneurship and emerging leadership,” Gudovic said. “I have received feedback from students saying that DECA helped them in their jobs, college interviews and careers.”

DECA has no prerequisites and allows students to compete in regional, state and national competitions.

Another club that gives its members the opportunity to experience specific careers is Educators Rising. Educators Rising is a club for students interested in exploring the many different aspects of education, whether that is teaching, counseling, administration and more. Members of Educators Rising take field trips to visit colleges like Aurora University and Northern Illinois University. Members also have the opportunity to read to and prepare lessons and activities for the elementary school students in our district. Educators Rising adviser Kirstin Murphy believes her club implements social and leadership skills.

“Some members work with elementary students after school and volunteer in other organizations, so you learn a lot of life lessons,” Murphy said.

Besides clubs that specifically give you a taste of different careers, Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science (ACES) is an academic-based test-taking club. ACES members compete with students from other schools

through tests in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics and physics. 14 members can be on the competing team, while other members compete independently. ACES participants compete in regional, sectional and state competitions. The tests are challenging and include college-level content written by professors.

“ACES is run by the students,” senior ACES member Lindsey Stoddard said. “It’s up to them to take their own tests and come prepared, which can help in college.”

Some ACES competitions are hosted at colleges, so members are able to experience what a day in college looks like, and they are visiting campuses they might want to apply to. ACES adviser Amanda Dekker believes ACES provides helpful experiences for college-bound students.

“Members are high-achieving students,” Dekker said. “So ACES is a good look on applications.”

Any club will give you different experiences, so it could never hurt to try one. Clubs are extremely beneficial in developing social skills and experiences for after high school, and Kaneland offers a wide variety of clubs that can give you a taste of that next step of your life.

Members of Educators Rising gather for a club meeting. Students in this club can explore different careers in education and have opportunities to work with elementary students.

Junior DECA members Brynn Woods, Kayla Gonzales, Brooklyn Brown, Zoe Kraus and Taverly Gilbertson attend the 2024 Fall Leadership Conference. DECA helps students develop business and communication skills that they can use in their future jobs.

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Krage

Photo by Carli Filek

Ihow to use it for good.

“The one thing you’ve got that AI doesn’t have is that spark, that creativity, that intuition, that out of the box lash, that gestalt that we have as humans,” Austin said.

Murrow was designed with students in mind. Used as the groundwork for a story, Murrow assists writers in adhering to the grammatical and spelling guidelines of the Associated Press (AP) style guide, offers tips on writing different types of stories and gives angle suggestions.

As it continues to expand, the JLI now offers writing assistant Murrow as well as Pathfinder for solutions journalism, Jane for sports writing, Ida for opinion writing, Gordon for photojournalism and VJ for video journalism.

n the rapidly evolving world of journalism, a new tool is making waves among students and educators alike: Murrow AI. Named after the Edward R. Murrow, this innovative artificial intelligence platform aims to guide aspiring journalists through the complexities of story development and writing. Conceived by Ellen Austin, a Scholastic Journalism Consultant and adjunct instructor at Kent State University, and Ed Madison, an associate professor at the University of Oregon, Murrow represents a bold leap into the future of news education.

“Murrow, like any tech tool, is going to continue to be a work in progress,” Austin said. “It’s a tool that’s adaptable. The team behind Murrow has continued to make adjustments, enhancements and shifts throughout this past year.”

“Within a week, Murrow was built,” Austin recalls, highlighting the speed at which the project came to life. With its user-friendly interface, Murrow engages users with a simple question upon startup: “What would you like to accomplish in this session?” Whether it’s developing a topic, crafting interview questions, or analyzing writing, the AI positions itself as a supportive tutor for budding journalists.

STORY AND DESIGN BY ANNA GATZ

However, Austin emphasizes that Murrow is not a replacement for hu -

man creativity. “The one thing you’ve got that AI doesn’t have is that spark, that creativity, that intuition,” she notes. This sentiment underscores a critical aspect of journalism education: the necessity for students to cultivate their unique voices while harnessing technology.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE VS. JOURNALIST

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various fields, educators recognize the importance of teaching responsible usage. Matthew Smith, a math and CTE teacher, states, “For better or for worse, it’s here and we can’t get rid of it. For students, I think we have to start teaching them how to use it responsibly.” This perspective resonates within the journalism community, where ethical considerations and critical thinking are paramount.

Can you tell the difference between AI and a journalist? Using the same general pieces of information, ChatGPT and I wrote a 500-word story about Murrow AI, an artificial intelligence journalistic writing tool.

Murrow’s capabilities extend beyond mere text generation; it offers an interactive experience that enhances understanding of journalistic principles. “Having Murrow out there allows a lot more access to the principles of good journalism,” Austin explains. By democratizing access to quality jour-

Go to page 19 for the answer.

BY OLIVIA KRASUSKI AND FAITH MASCHMAN Editor & Columnist and Editor

Setting healthy goals is a critical aspect to our daily lifestyles. Goals can promote improvement, provide direction and help motivate people. However, it is important to understand the difference between a healthy goal and an unrealistic one and to create balanced goals to ensure success. To live happily and productively, one must understand the importance of healthy goals that are realistic and do not interfere with their self-worth.

Many student-athletes create goals for themselves to increase their chances of success. Freshman Allainna Siwy is a three-sport athlete who participates in softball, basketball and track. She has been playing sports since she was four years old. Her current primary goals are performing to her full ability and earning a spot on the roster for each of her high school teams. As a young athlete, Siwy understands the benefits of establishing personalized goals.

“If you set goals for yourself in the future, it helps you think of how you can improve and consider the big picture,” Siwy said. She believes that goals allow her to focus on her flaws and constantly refine her skills, which leads her to achieve her ideal performance levels.

Regardless of these positives, Siwy

ESTABLISHING GOAL S FOR SUCCESS

Setting healthy and realistic goals fuel personal growth

outcomes that may result from goals.

“When I make a mistake, I get mad at myself because I know that I can do better than what I have done,” Siwy said. “I worry that my coaches and teammates might think that I am not good enough and might be unhappy with me.” She admitted to having set unrealistic goals for herself in the past, even explaining how these not only affected her, but her team as well.

“We were at State [for softball] and I messed up really bad,” Siwy said. “I got really hard on myself, which made the entire team’s mood drop, and we ended up losing that State game.”

Guidance counselor Colleen Russell highlighted just how essential goal-setting is for academic success. She explained that it helps students approach their schoolwork with intention. She stressed the importance of developing executive functioning skills to manage both the material and the demands of student life.

Photo by Faith Maschman

“Where I see students struggle is where they don’t have those [skills] and they’re kind of passive participants in the classroom,” Russell said. By actively setting and following through on goals, students are better equipped to stay motivated and organized, both of which are key factors in academic achievement. The importance of understanding where that fine line falls in relation to how one sets their goals is determined by being realistic with what they are able to accomplish. “You have to set boundaries and be mindful and cognizant of what is actually realistic so you don’t burn yourself out,” Russell said.

The importance of students setting realistic goals is based on their individual motivations and circumstances. Russell explained that using SMART goals - ones that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound - can help create clarity and structure.

“Be specific, not just saying, ‘I want to do well,’ but understanding what doing well looks like for you,” Russell said. For one student, success might be earning a C in an advanced class, but for another student it could mean complet -

ing 90% of their assignments or consistently checking in with a teacher. Russell also highlighted the need to balance academic goals with personal well-being, suggesting that students should create boundaries to avoid burnout.

“You’re in control of your school work, and your school work is not in control of you,” Russell said.

From an athletic standpoint, goals can be viewed from two perspectives: that of the athlete and that of the coach.

“In order to be an effective goal, it has to have four important factors,” said Rosary High School and Academy Bullets swim club coach Glenn Brown, who has also worked with past Kaneland swimmers. “It has to be exact, incorporating a time and a deadline. You have to be willing to put in the work to achieve said goal. Do not make an empty goal with a hope to do it, without doing the work that is necessary to achieve it. Hold yourself accountable to it by putting it somewhere that you will see it every day.”

The support that coaches give is critical to the accomplishment of an athlete’s goals.

“I hold my athletes accountable to their goals,” Brown said. “If we want to achieve what our team thinks we can achieve, then we need to be better than what we are right now. That [notion] usually lights a fire.” The most important aspect to achieving goals is a positive mindset that promotes growth. If one has doubts about their goals, they will have already convinced themselves that they will not succeed, so that will be the only result to come. “You must try before you criticize, and criticizing has no place on my team,” Brown said.

Setting healthy and realistic goals is an important part of personal development to achieve both academic and athletic success. Once realistic goals are defined, it is vital to put in the effort and follow through to meet your expectations. Ultimately, goals should serve as a tool for growth, not a source of pressure, allowing individuals to thrive both personally and professionally.

Photo by Sarah Slattery

HOW HARD WORK HAS LED TO SUCCESS

Senior runner Evan Nosek has put in the effort to be where he is today

BY NATE SAND Co-Sports & Activities Executive

Some may view senior Evan Nosek as naturally gifted. It could be because he is in the top three in school history in both the 1600-meter and 3200-meter track races, or maybe because he has the second best threemile time for cross country in Kaneland history. However, to hear about these accomplishments and then label him as just naturally gifted is a false representation of who he is. You won’t hear people talking about how he woke up in elementary and middle school at 5:00 in the morning to swim laps and lift weights, or the stretching and strength training core work he constantly does during the offseason.

“I saw in Evan the thing you can’t teach,” said Scott Kurth, a coach Nosek works with during the offseason. “That thing inside that separates athletes. The willingness to sacrifice to do anything.”

Nosek has consistently run long distances since he was in third grade. He started by joining a running club called the Batavia Accelerators, which Kurth founded in 2001. Along with joining the club, Nosek started to run because he admired his older brothers, sister and mother for their dedication to the sport.

“When he arrived at the high school level, he didn’t let off of the accelerator,” head boys cross country and track assistant coach Chad Clarey said. “He quickly surged to the front of our pack, running to the top of the conference as the individual champion of the Interstate 8 conference cross country meet as a ninth grader.”

Along with the competitive nature of the sport, he was specifically attracted to the exciting aspects of competitive running.

“You get to run long distances, talk to your friends, share experiences and get to know them a lot better,” Nosek said. “Then there’s also the adventure aspect of it, like running through the woods and exploring new places.”

Along with being able to explore, Nosek says running works as a natural stress reliever.

“Running is like meditation. You get a lot of time by yourself,” Nosek

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Clara Saros

said. “It’s a stress reliever, so it’s good because you get to start off the day good or end the day good.”

Nosek explored many different sports, but nothing genuinely resonated with him before running. He was also drawn to long-distance running because it only requires the physical aspect of hard work and less coordination than other sports.

Nosek competes in both cross country and track. He is the youngest of four siblings, who are all runners. His mother was also a State-qualifying runner in both cross country and track.

Nosek explained that his brother Henry showed him that running does not always have to be so serious; you can make jokes and still have fun along the way.

“A lot of people think distance running is very hard and not fun at all,” Nosek said. “Some people think it’s always so serious. But we do have a lot of fun and goof around still.”

While he knows how to have fun, he is an incredibly focused and disciplined athlete. Kurth recalled that when Nosek was in middle school, they were training for a triathlon together.

“Evan would get up at 5:00 in the morning and swim laps and lift weights,” Kurth said. “He wanted to do anything to get better.”

Clarey explained that his attention to detail for things besides training, like his recovery and diet, is also highly disciplined.

“Nosek eats better than any high school student I know,” Clarey said. “He is meticulous about the fuels he puts in his body. He doesn’t cheat on junk food.”

Kurth has been one of Nosek’s biggest role models in his life, and he has looked up to him even outside of running.

“[Kurth] has been a huge motivator in my life,” Nosek said. “He’s brought me to my potential in every way possible.”

Kurth says that since he started working with Nosek, he has seen him grow as a person.

“He’s learned to be a leader,” Kurth said. “He’s learned to sacrifice himself

for others.”

While most of Nosek’s time consists of running and school, he spends his free time in various ways. He enjoys going out and thrifting for clothes with friends or playing other sports, such as spikeball and frisbee golf.

“I like to do anything that involves adventure, like vacation, hiking and camping,” Nosek said.

Some of Nosek’s best friends are those he has run with. He says the team always gets along great.

“It’s hard losing seniors each year because my running friends are some of my best friends,” Nosek said. “The bonding on the team is great. I couldn’t ask for a better team; it brings out the best in the sport.”

The cross country team has many unique ways of bonding with each other. One of those ways is their frequent pasta parties. These are essentially team dinners at a teammate’s house on the Friday before their meets on Saturday. They eat pasta, hang out together and sometimes play other sports like spikeball or basketball.

While Nosek’s future in running has yet to be determined, he and his coaches have set some goals. Some of these include competing at the Division 1 level, qualifying for cross country Nationals and finding a good coach in college.

“We haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Kurth said. “I think the next five years, as he becomes a young man, we could see him participate in the Olympic trials.”

Based on Nosek’s discipline and work ethic, Kurth believes Nosek is capable of competing with the best runners in the world.

“He has what it takes to make it to the next level. I think it’s because he’s the youngest of the family. He’s always trying to prove things,” Kurth said. “This is how Evan’s mind works. [He] can do anything.”

For now, though, Evan is focused on the Illinois State cross country meet, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Peoria. His goal is to help his team place in the top three 2A teams in the state.

RELIGION’S IMPACT ON THE HUMAN MIND RELIGION’S IMPACT ON THE HUMAN MIND

Sto ry by HadleySpringer

Design by SophiaSchroll

What is your current religious/spiritual belief?

swered with either comfort, guidance, community, a feeling of fulfillment or having a safe place or purpose. Respondents were provided with the option “other,” but all answers fell under these six categories.

Religions hold many shared benefits that can be gained from faith, yet they often clash.

“[Religions] have brought a lot of harm and war. Some people’s beliefs in it become too harsh, and it causes violence to other beliefs,” freshman Rowan Eubanks said. They are an Agnostic Atheist; they don’t believe in any specific god, but they believe there is a form of deity.

Info polled from 82 voluntary respondents from Kaneland High School

Agnosticism

AAlong-standing pillar and concrete base of our society is religion. From beliefs in powerful gods to the goodness of nature, there are a wide variety of religions and practices followed by people around the world. Spirituality is an important aspect in many people’s lives, often serving as a guide map for life. There are obvious benefits that can come from being religious, but good things do not always come without downsides.

When Kaneland students were asked about what they gain most from religion, the answers “guidance” and “community” tied at 23.5% of the 82 voluntary respondents. There are a variety of reasons to explain why people seek out religion. A majority of people end up being religious as a result of their upbringing. Religion is passed down through generational stories, artifacts, claims and events. Other times, people seek religion in search of something fulfilling.

Humans are the most intellectually advanced known species on Earth, but we do not agree on the most basic fact of how we came to be. Death is a very common fear to have, as we have multiple ideas of what may happen once our bodies succumb to the con -

sequence of possessing life. Finding answers to questions like these, however uncertain they may be, is something many seek.

According to the Institute for Public Relations, the vast majority of U.S. citizens identify with Christian denominations such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Jehovah’s Witnesses, which can have more denominations within. After Christian denominations follow those who do not affiliate with any religious groups. This national data is consistent with Kaneland responses, with 65.5% of respondents identifying with Christianity in some way.

Despite responses to the poll containing a small part of Kaneland’s student population, many spiritual beliefs were reported. Agnosticism, Atheism, Christianity, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Islam, Paganism, Polytheism, Satanism and other spiritual beliefs were all reported by at least one student.

While followers of different religions may look up to different powers or ideals, the agreed upon benefits of being a part of a group remain similar. All poll respondents who answered the question, “What is the most beneficial/ important thing about being a part of a religion/spiritual group to you?” an -

Throughout history, there have been many conflicts based on differences in religious beliefs. In the 16th century, Protestant Reformation took place in Europe. A Protestant-led religious revolution occurred against the Roman Catholic Church. As the U.S. was being founded, many Europeans sought religious freedom in America. Protestants, Puritans and Anglicans were just a few religions found in early colonies.

In modern day, the argument over abortion rights has largely involved Christian beliefs. Congresspeople and citizens will often refer to their faithbased beliefs to support the laws on keeping a fetus viable in pregnancy. Religion is often a template that people base their lives on, so decisions and opinions will often stem from that.

“In my family, being Christian and Catholic is very important, so me being a different religion messed up my family dynamics,” Eubanks said. Historically, acceptance across religions has not been very positive, and that remains true today. Despite being raised in a Christian family, Eubanks feels more freedom identifying with Agnosticism and Atheism.

Even though religion can bring hate towards others, it can also improve people.

“[Being religious] makes me a better person in general. It makes me more kind, makes me want to respect people more, talk to people more, spread positivity,” said junior Xander Figueroa, one of the presidents of Kaneland’s Student Impact group, which is a Christian club that aims to

spread the gospel.

Complementary to Figueroa’s statement, fellow Student Impact president and junior Madison Zehelein acknowledges some of her faults and how religion helps her grow.

“The amount of stuff that I know I’m doing that’s not great, I’m working on it, and God is helping me through it,” Zehelein said.

As with most things in life, there is nuance to religion. Expectations can lead to high standards held inwardly or shown externally.

“Subconsciously, when you don’t do a good job at being a Christian, you beat yourself up for it because there is this creator who gives you what you need. And [he] loves you, but you just screw him over sometimes,” Figueroa said.

There can be a lot of pressure surrounding religion; religions such as Christianity and Mormonism have detailed consequences, such as suffering after death, if practices are not followed. Pressure to be similar to others often contributes to how humans interact, so social status can alter beliefs.

“When I would go to church with my grandma, everyone else would raise their hands up and they would feel God in a way, his presence,” freshman Brooklyn Converse said. “I just never felt that, and I’m just standing there

like I’m not feeling the energy everyone else is.”

Previously, Converse has explored the beliefs associated with witchcraft.

“Once COVID hit, I kind of stopped. I went back to saying, ‘I believe in [the Christian] God,” Converse said.

Converse is back to exploring spiritual beliefs related to crystals and nature, but she points out that if you are not a part of a widely accepted religion, “Automatic hatred toward you and automatic bullying” can occur.

Even with the negative connotations that can come with less acknowledged beliefs, “[My spiritual beliefs] give me joy that something is out there. Even if there isn’t, the fact that I am in control of what I do and what I perform comforts me,” Converse said.

Similar to Converse, senior Ann Dado “was largely disconnected from the concept of ‘God,’” they said in an email interview. In a differing stance to Converse, they were raised non-religious but are “slowly introducing [themselves] to the practice of Hellenism…[and an] on-off interest in Wicca,” which relates to mythological

beliefs such as Greek gods and goddesses.

“I feel like spiritual and religious beliefs, such as divine intervention or connection, are comforting,” Dado said. “Setting up a practice, I feel, will be positive for my mind.”

Like Eubanks and Converse, Dado shares similar thoughts regarding the negative side of religion.

“Conformity, as a whole and in my opinion, can be largely negative,” Dado said

Comfort, stability, community and other positives can come from religious or spiritual beliefs, but there are potential drawbacks to the positives. Resentment towards others is a persistent issue within and between faiths. There are countless examples of conflicts incited over beliefs, but there are also plenty of examples of faith helping people.

Regardless of how a person is raised, everyone has their own thoughts about religion. It is important to realize, though, that religious beliefs can affect people in both positve and negative ways.

Photo by Sophia Schroll

PREP AND PROSPER: MEAL PLANNING FOR A HEALTHIER YOU

BY EVAN WHILDIN Editor and Broadcaster

You get home from a long, busy day, and the only thing you can think about is food. You walk to the kitchen to see how you are going to get rid of your appetite. However, you open the fridge and search for something to eat, finding nothing.

Many people find themselves with this problem, particularly young people in school who don’t have free time to cook. This is why people utilize meal prepping, which allows them to have quickly accessible meals that can also be healthy. Meal prepping is preparing a meal or recipe and portioning it out to create meals for later on. It is common for athletes or people who are particularly active, but all types of people can benefit from meal prepping.

Kaneland athletic trainer Maggie Walker is someone who advocates for athletes to meal prep.

“I think especially high school athletes can benefit from it because there’s a lot of structure in meal prepping and nutrients that you can get from it that are lacking for high school athletes,” Walker said. “One of the biggest problems I see athletes deal with commonly across sports is their lack of either hydration or nutrition.”

that, then I’m not eating, especially since I work [from] 11-7,” Walker said. “It’s not like a traditional 9-5 job, so I definitely utilize meal prepping. If I don’t, then I am lacking a lot of food myself, especially during my work hours.”

“Although it may seem time consuming, cooking for one or two hours on Sunday for the whole week is much faster than cooking 30 minutes seven times a week,” Casey said. “When you’ve meal prepped, you don’t have an excuse to eat out or buy food you don’t need.”

REDUCESMONEYSPENTONGROCERIES

LINKEDTOWEIGHTLOSS HELPS REDUCEFOODWASTE

Meal prepping each week can also be a lot cheaper than alternatives, like pre-made meals or fast food, along with helping you become quite a bit healthier. It allows you to personalize your meals to your needs, whether that’s high calorie, low calorie or any other specific requirements. Oftentimes, athletes will use meal prepping so that they have meals that are high in protein and calories since they burn a lot through exercise. Kaneland graduate David Valkanov is now a runner at Waubonsee Community College, and he has found meal prepping beneficial for his performance in cross country and track.

“Meal prepping has helped me keep my body healthy and made my performance in my sport better,” Valkanov said. “My typical meal prep consists of a lot of meats like chicken or steak, anything that has protein in it. Rice, pasta and tons of water.”

When it comes to high schoolers in particular, they tend to have very little free time, especially if they’re involved in extracurricular activities. This leads to people resorting to quick and easy meals, which often happen to be pretty unhealthy and lacking in nutritional value.

“A lot of times, I will take Sunday afternoons to meal prep just so I know I’m getting lunch because if I don’t do

People of all ages can see different benefits from meal prepping. It takes a lot of time, but you really only have to do it once a week. In turn, you can save yourself a lot of time during the week, and it can help you lay out meals specifically for your nutritional needs.

Junior Nick Casey utilizes meal prepping frequently and is very active between lifting, martial arts, running and more.

At the high school level of sports, nutrition is often overlooked by athletes. However, it is a key component to the quality of an athlete’s performance and is consistently valued more at the collegiate level and beyond.

“Whether you’re an athlete or not, you should always consistently meal prep because it allows your body to stay healthy and functional,” Valkanov said.

SOURCE: EVERYDAY HEALTH

Graphic by Emma Weintraub

HARM OF OVERACHIEVING MINDSETS

Throughout high school, students are constantly conditioned to be the best they can be. We are told to aim for A’s in school, perform well in our sports and activities and balance jobs and a social life. While shooting for success can have its benefits, the line between our best and perfection is often blurred.

Whether for personal gain, parental pressure or a strong college resume, many students develop an overachieving mindset. Overachieving is a vicious cycle that causes students to set higher and higher goals for themselves, until their goals border on impossible. The relentless pursuit of perfection is exhausting and often leads to burnout. Although this mindset can push students to accomplish a lot, it is often harmful for high schoolers despite the successes that may result.

“Overachievers unfortunately put a lot of stress on themselves, which then makes them overwhelmed,” guidance counselor Andrew Franklin said. “When they’re overwhelmed, they can’t function properly because their thoughts are racing too much.”

Students fall into a cycle of constantly wanting more, whether for their own satisfaction or the approval of others. They feel like nothing is satisfactory, not even the best they can do. This makes overachievers constantly feel like they’re not good enough, which pushes them to strive for more. They base their self-worth on how much they can accomplish, which is emotionally harmful if they fail to reach their goals.

According to the Harvard Business Review, “Over time, a relentless drive to excel can create substantial imbalance in your life, cause you to neglect the needs of you or your loved ones, and lead to physical and mental health problems.”

Sophomore David Tejada, who is involved in advanced classes and activities ranging from mathletes to marching band, acknowledges the negative effects of having an overachieving mindset.

“Overworking, sleeping less, anxiety and stress are all prevalent,” Tejada said.

While it may seem counterintuitive, sometimes the best thing you can do is cut yourself some slack. Is a C on a test going to cause you to fail a class? Probably not. Is missing a practice going to make you lose a sports scholarship? No. Does giving up a club mean you are lazy? Absolutely not.

For students who are already involved in a lot of activities and work hard in school, the adults who support them need to make sure that they are not the ones putting excessive amounts of pressure on them. Most of the high schoolers who are overachievers are already self-motivated to do well; they don’t need outside pressure to continue putting forth their best effort.

High school should be a fun time in someone’s life not constricted by too many commitments. Kids have their whole lives ahead of them to balance responsibilities. While being involved is a good thing, maintaining a social life and mental health should be the priority. Focusing on achieving is good, but focusing on overachieving can be harmful.

Franklin advises simply saying no to some opportunities. Some things, he says, are just not worth putting on your plate. For students struggling with an overachieving mindset, Tejada also has some advice.

“While it’s important to have slightly difficult classes and try to challenge yourself, don’t overdo it,” Tejada said. “Don’t let grades or your achievements define who you are as a person.”

Aleena Alrifaee, Areli Arredondo, Kayla Baumann, Lori Bowers, Grace Brunscheen, Alex Crocker, Ollie Fair, Greta Falk, Kate Homco, Annika Jones, Quintin

EDITORIAL POLICY

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, Olivia Cotter, Lucas Fiedler, Carli Filek, Zoe Gannon, Anna Gatz, Teaghan Hardy, Olivia Krasuski, Charlize Landa, Nathan Lapitan, Bobby Leavey, Faith Maschman, Jasper Paulson, Nate Sand, Clara Saros, Sophia Schroll, Sarah Slattery, Hadley Springer, Casper Suehs, Preslee Sutherland, Sophie Thill, Audrey Walker, Emma Weintraub, and Evan Whildin. 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.

King, Alondra Mendoza, Maxwell Montalvo, Audrey Noring, Zavier Nothnagel, Ellie Olp, Morgan Olson, Ally Reilley, Ansley Ruh, Christopher Ruiz, Savana Sanchez, Hannah Secrest, Yasmin Talabani, Gavin Vaughn, Diajah Ward, Prema Weichun, Michael Werth, Rayln Wilcox, Noah Witz, and Jeremy Ziller

Cartoon by Zoe Gannon

Stacy Layton

Cassie Cramer River Mullins Ky Burks

Opinion | November 6, 2024

VS. EGOCENTRIC: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO

The importance of having an ego and when it becomes too much

BY SOPHIE THILL Editor-in-Chief of Web

Having an ego is not explicitly negative. It only becomes negative when a healthy ego becomes egocentrism. There’s nothing wrong with knowing your own selfworth. However, harming people to establish your worth is where that line is drawn.

It is important to understand the difference between having an ego and being egocentric. According to relationship coach Caterina Smillie, ego is defined as “a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance,” while egocentric is defined as “excessively conceited or self-absorbed.” These words are often misused for one another, with people assuming they mean the same thing.

“Over time, people have slapped a negative label on the word ego, using it to say that the person is full of themselves and doesn’t care about anybody else, not knowing that having an ego brings many benefits,” senior Keiton Westfall said.

An important part of life is learning to connect with yourself and recognize your talents and strengths. In my case, it’s singing and acting.

As a performer, I have found that in order to get what I want, I need to be confident. Theater is a competitive industry, not only on Broadway, but even in high school. As a freshman, I was not aware of my self-worth. I was not confident, and therefore I struggled as a performer. As I have grown, I have come to see that I am good at singing and acting, but it took a long time to get to that point.

The most essential factor when it comes to building a healthy ego is a support system. When you have

people around you who are constantly tearing you down, you automatically assume that they are right and then underestimate your actual talent. But having a group of friends, family or mentors that hype you up and let you know that you are talented makes all the difference.

A healthy ego is not just born, but it is created. You hone your craft, spending hours working towards becoming the best version of yourself. You know you’ve worked hard to be here, and you know you can do it. On the other hand, egocentrism is created by just being told you are the best with no basis of why. Why are you the best player? Is it because that is what your parents told you? Are there statistics to prove it? This is nothing against parents being supportive, but overly supportive parents tend to nurture the start of egocentrism.

There is a very fine line between being egocentric and having a healthy ego. The line that is crossed is “when you start to have no empathy for others and only care about what happens to yourself,” Westfall said.

I tend to agree. The minute you stop caring about others and start degrading them in order to boost your self-esteem is when that line is crossed, although it can be much more than that. Egocentric people lack passion. Their purpose for doing everything is for personal gain and nothing more, and if someone is hurt through that process, they don’t care.

“It’s healthy to own your ego, however it’s not healthy when your ego owns you. I own that I have ego because what I am saying is that I am a person with a sense of self-esteem, self-importance and self-value,” Smillie said in a statement on LinkedIn.

It is crucial to recognize your ego. Similar to daily affirmations, recognizing an ego can be as simple as telling yourself, “I am worthy; I am talented; I deserve this.” This is something that I tell myself in my everyday life because I know it is true. It would do well for everyone to repeat this phrase because it truly applies to everyone in some way or another. The main source of confidence is recognizing self-worth.

“Having an ego can boost your self-confidence, and it helps people overcome their fears, which is crucial in becoming successful,” Westfall said.

A healthy ego is the key to success, but one must always be aware of the surrounding circumstances in order for the ego to remain healthy and not toxic.

HadleySpringer

Graphic by Hadley Springer

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WHEN YOU SHOULD EMBRACE BEING THE BIGGER PERSON

Choosing yourself over others isn’t always the wrong thing to do

BY CLARA SAROS Editor

The most common way of defining the bigger person in a social situation is when someone takes the blame or responsibility for something when, in reality, both parties share it. Stated like this, one might wonder why someone would ever choose to be the bigger person. Perhaps the topic is just not worth it, maybe the disagreement has gotten old or tedious or maybe what you have to do to win is just not worth what you will lose. It is not inherently good or bad to be the bigger person. You just have to do it responsibly and ensure that you are not the only one doing so.

Many people will often choose to be the bigger person when dealing with conflict and let the issue go. When you are the older or more mature person in a situation, you are often strongly encouraged to drop the argument. It is seen as socially acceptable to just give in to the other side’s opinions. This is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. Although it can be tiring on one’s spirit, there is no real point in arguing extensively with a narrow-minded person. They will never let go of their beliefs, no matter how misguided, and they will typically forget all about the argument the next day.

“Around the age of seven, give or take a year, children enter a developmental phase known as the age of reason,” Megan Zander wrote in an article on Scholastic.com. The age of reason is when a child’s brain first has the ability to discern another person’s point of view in a disagreement. They have an increased awareness of things like logic and patterns.

It can be easy to fall into a pattern of giving in to others, especially children, in small matters. However, as we get older, the topics of arguments grow to have a more serious nature. Instead of arguing over a toy, the color of an object or the top bunk, we disagree about religion, political candidates and abortion. Our views on these things tie to our beliefs and morals, and we should never give in to another opposing view without first giving it thought.

“You should realize what is best

for you and whatnot,” junior Xinlan Shangguan said. “Sometimes re venge is not a good thing. You know it has to be morally understandable and morally right.”

Beliefs, whether they tie to reli gion or not, are a part of our moral compass. They dictate all the de cisions we will make in our lives. While it is important to be cog nizant of other people’s beliefs and be open to new ideas, you should never give up on your own for someone else’s bene fit.

Due to each person’s difference in opinions and be liefs, other people often have critical ideas that you might not have thought of yourself. These in sights are important to listen to. You should never forgo listening to others in an attempt to stick to your morals. Your beliefs may change over time, and you should be open to that possibility.

In a disagreement or argu ment, however, this can be hard to remember. In a heated moment, we often form a you versus them point of view. People’s minds will commonly run away with the other’s words and shape the whole situation into something it is not. When you are overcome with rage, annoyance or any other negative emotion, you probably are not thinking very clearly. This is when you should take a step back and review the whole situation before you do something you will regret.

I CHOOSE ME!

“You don’t want to cheat on someone who cheated on you, because that is just adding fuel to the fire,” Shangguan said.

Using Shangguan’s example, if someone cheated on you, you are obviously not in the wrong; when an argument gets heated and stays that way, that is a perfect time to be the bigger person. In an article from Psychology Today, psychotherapist Reverend Sheri Heller said that being the bigger person means having a “willingness to find common ground and achieve resolution, even if each person’s reality differs.”

and admit your faults, but if the person you’re talking to is worth something to you, then it is important to do that. In the end, you might have to ask yourself, “Would I rather be right or be happy?” Sometimes the same decision will achieve equal outcomes, but mostly we will choose to back down and keep that person in our lives.

If no part of you is in the wrong, you should not have to be the one to take responsibility. If the person at fault is unable to do that themselves, that is a serious red flag. It is not one person’s job to be the bigger person; it is a social expectation.

However, when the topic really matters and is worth it to win despite the cost, then you should not feel pressured to be the bigger person. All social interactions have their complexities, so regardless of whether or not you choose to be the bigger person, it can be the right choice.

Graphic by Charlize Landa

Graphics by Sarah Slattery