December 2021

LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 42 | December 2021

5

$2 FEATURE: PAGE 20

ON THE COVER: PAGE 14

OPINION: PAGE 10

FRESHMAN BROOKE PETRO THE BRAILLE MASTER

THE CULTURE OF CONSUMERISM

RELATIONSHIPS IN HIGHSCHOOL

what’s inside opinions

features

10-11

08-09

The Boys of The

Pressure to have a

Sound of Music

12-13

20-21

Brooke Petro

Is Disney

Braille Master

24-25

Greta Martin

Significant Other

Jumping Ahead

Out of Ideas?

22-23

Can Music Be a

Coping Mechanism?

news and sports

04-05

Food For Thought

Why We Do It

06-07

Fall Sports

Recap & Highlights

a&e

18-19

Fresh Albums Review

Release Radar

cover story

14-17 Ethical Shopping

26-27

The Culture of Consumerism

How to Have a

LeJOURNAL. 2021 // 2022 LE JOURNAL IS THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION HIGH SCHOOL - 10631 WORNALL ROAD - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64114

MEMBER

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Le Journal accepts letters to the editors in response to published articles. Letters must be signed, verified, and no longer than 200 words. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling and content. Letters will not be printed if content is obscene, invasive, ecouraging disruption of school and/or is libelous.

PRINTER

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02 // LeJournal

PRINT CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

WEBSITE CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

EDITORIALS EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

Sofia Aguayo Kate McCarthy

Ella Rogge Elle Simon

A&E EDITOR

Megan Kelley

FEATURES EDITOR

Brianna Legette

Liv Zender Ava Albracht

Lauren Smith

Zahra Parsons Sophie Gromowsky

Bones Christmas

Photo of the issue HANDS IN THE AIR In a standing ovation, seniors Tess Tappan, Olivia Mancina, Clara Stribling, Cate Van Hoecke and Sabrina Ross wave their LED phond flashlights in the air in sync to the singing of “Sanctuary” at the end of the senior stuco skit Nov. 8. All four grades performed skits at the annual Food For Thought assembly to spread the word about the can drive. “I thought it was very representative of how the staff here is very connected,” Mancina said.

More information about the drive and skits can be found on pages 4-5.

editors’ink

A

hh! Can you believe it’s almost Christmas Break?

After all the time you spent working and studying this past semester, you will soon be rewarded with two and a half weeks of relaxation and time spent with family and friends. Be proud of yourself for how far you have come this semesteryou’re doing great.

This issue contains, to no one’s surprise, many holiday related articles. The cover story on pages.

14-17 explores holiday related consumerism and how this mass consumerism can negatively impact the earth and developing countries. Heard about that viral pug that predicts if the day will be a good one or not? Flip to pages 26 and 27 to read tips on how to have a Bones Christmas plus look over some Christmas gift suggestions either for yourself or loved ones.

In addition to these merry stories, this issue also features some talented and unique

students. Check out how freshman Brooke Petro reads braille instead of print and participates in a national braille reading competition (pgs.

20-21). Talking about super cool freshmen, read about freshman Greta Martin and her passion for equestrian horseback riding (pgs.

24-25). Although we are an allgirls school, the musical cast recruited several boys to perform in this year’s musical, “The Sound of Music.”

Read about these talented and dedicated boys on pgs. 8-9.

We hope you enjoy flipping through this last issue of the semester. Remember, if you have any suggestions, comments or other feedback to email us at sofia.aguayo@ndsion.edu and kate.mccarthy@ndsion.edu; we’d be happy to hear what you have to say!

Have a relaxing and enjoyable break, and make sure to express your gratitude for your loved ones.

See you in 2021!

Much Love,

student space Makaila Traylor

“My business is MCcosmeticare and I sell lip scrubs, body scrubs and body butters. The friend I do it with is Chondra Walters, and we officially started January of this year. We started because we both wanted to start our own business for the convenience of others.”

“We thought this was the perfect way to do this. We ship our orders by charging 7 dollars extra for shipping and we package the order and ship it off by the end of that week.”

keep up with us: @lejournalsion

Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!

December 2021 // 03

news.

CANNED TUNA

TOMATO SOUP PINEAPPLE

PEAS

WHY WE DO IT Redemptorist Social Services Center helps to feed Kansas City, partially with the donations collected during Food for Thought.

BY ELLA ROGGE MANAGING EDITOR

S

tudents and faculty collect nonperishable, canned food items to donate to the Redemptorist Social Services Center during Food for Thought.

Redemptorist Social Services Center, founded in 1986, is a nonprofit organization which provides a lifeline for those facing struggles with chronic poverty, the newly and long term unemployed, the “working” poor, the elderly, the homeless and the homebound within the Kansas City metropolitan area. Redemptorist helps impoverished communities and individuals with shelter, utility and medical expenses, food, clothing, public transportation, education and work assistance through their various programs such as legal assistance and senior services.

“We see so many walks of life. From those that have had a change in life where they just cannot make ends meet and life has changed their path,” Executive Director of Redemptorist Julie McCaw said. “Their stories are incredible and every single person that walks through our doors has one.”

Many of the people served are the “working” poor. These are individuals who are on the cusp of poverty to the extent that one minor monetary setback can lead them into a downward spiral that they cannot financially overcome. McCaw described deliveries as being the most impactful part of the process because of the people she meets. Some of which she describes as not having eaten in days and others who skip meals so that their children will have food to eat.

“I think for some, it (Food for Thought) is very eye opening. Food insecurity may not be part of their life,” Assistant Principal Jennifer Brown-

Howerton said. “And so, for them it can help with building empathy.”

Each week, Redemptorist serves approximately 800 people according to McCaw. This adds up to around 4.5-5 tons of canned food items per month, although they offer additional fresh foods, such as milk, eggs and crisp vegetables, as well. Prior to the social and economic impact of COVID-19, 37 million people were lacking access to sufficient or healthy food resources. In addition, due to the impact of COVID-19 and the current rise in food cost, tens of millions people will be left unable to afford sustenance this holiday season and well into next year, according to McCaw. “Especially in times of COVID-19, Food for Thought teaches us to engage and be a part of our community,” Student Body President senior Lauren Ellwanger said. “I think it helps us recognize that we can make a change if we work together and help anyway we can.”

The donations collected during Food for Thought, because they are nonperishable, are stored and distributed throughout the year.

According to Brown-Howerton, the donations collected in 2019, along with the contributions of other donors, lasted until the pick up of the next year’s donations.

“When you give someone who is hungry food, they immediately want to hug you. They are so thankful. Sometimes they don’t say anything at all, but you can see it in their face,” McCaw said. “The smiles and the thank yous that we hear each day remind us that we need to continue our mission.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT TOTALS

TOMATO

47,044.08 OZ. CANNED TUNA

4TH

FRESHMEN

PINEAPPLE

SOPHOMORES

PEAS

JUNIORS

TUNA

1ST 139,766.92 OZ. 2ND 52,539.45 OZ. 3RD SENIORS

CANNED

41,501.25 OZ. TOMATO SOUP

TOTAL: 280,851.7 OZ. OR 8.78 TONS

news CAN CONTESTANTS top left

FOOD FOR FOUGHT right

Juniors Emily DIerks, Claire Coates, Anna Golian, Annie Stevens, Kaitlyn Miller and Sophie Gromowsky compete in a can themed talent show. They performed for Food for Thought skits.

Seniors Anna Sheedy and Olivia Angles pretend to fight in ‘Can Training’ part of the senior skit, which annually depicts seniors acting as their teachers. Sheedy is dressed as Mr. Schreiber and Angles is Mr. Shrock.

DONATION DUET middle left Juniors Anna Golian and Annie Stevens perform their rendition of “Love is an Open Door” from 2013 Disney movie “Frozen”.

Golian is dressed up as Anna of Arendelle and Stevens is Charles Lee Ray or “Chucky” from the famous horror serious “Chucky”.

PEAS

TOMATO SOUP DODGING DONATIONS left

Sophomores Sophia Grantham, Ellie Henson and Imani Cutler compete in mock Wipeout tournament.

Dodging balls and twisting through obstacles, they entertain and encourage the crowd to bring in cans.

A STAND FOR CANS below Senior Tess Tappan encourages students to collect cans during Food for Thought by playing the beloved Mrs. Engel. Tappen claims that Engel was her favorite teacher and that she may not have taken AP Language and Composition without her.

PEAS

PINEAPPLE

CANNED TUNA

DISCUSSIN’ DONATIONS above

CAN CAPTIVE above

Sophomore Noelle Bertrand interviews sophomore class president Imani Cutler over her passion for canned goods and excitement regarding the mock Wipeouttournament.

Freshman Caroline Weber whispers case results to freshman Addie Doyle, sharing the verdict with freshmen Izzy Zschoche, Lauren Haggerty and Addi Bowes.

CANNED

TOMATO

TUNA

SOUP December 2021 // 05

06 // LeJournal

-27 goals -4-3-3 won, tied and lost -15 goals in one weekend -MVP: Junior Anna Golian -Rookie of the year: freshman Lily Krumm -Player’s Player: Marie Messerli

SWEEPING THE FIELD

Field Hockey competed against Visitation HIgh School Sept. 18. Junior Varsity won 1-0 and Varsity won 4-1.

Photo submitted | Anja Ismert

FIELD HOCKEY

BY AVA ALBRACHT WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Take a look back at the accomplishments of Sion’s 2021 fall sports teams’ accomplishments.

FLASHBACK TO FALL

sports.

SOFTBALL GOLF -3rd place as a team at districts -Won match against St. Teresa’s Oct. 7 -Senior Sophia McClure placed 2nd at districts and 22nd at state -Most Improved: sophomore Trista Tidrow -Champion of Character for the fall season: Sophia McClure

ONE LAST HUG Sophia McClure shares a hug with Freshman Addi Doyle at Golf senior night surrounded by her parents and teammates.

Photo | Sophie Saxton

-Placed first in the Raytown South Tournament -All-District Players: Senior Lauren Ellwanger and Hannah Lange -MVP: Hannah Lange -Champion of Character for the fall season: Senior Samantha Phillips

HITTING IT OUT OF THE PARK

Phillips, Ellwanger, and Senior Angelina Ferrara finished their finalseason off in October.

Photo submitted | Lauren Ellwanger

sports -Second at Districts -12th at State -Evelyn Overlease was the strongest at state -Fastest Freshman: Mary Schumm

-Second in team districts sophomore -Lauryn Murphy and freshman Elizabeth Vance placed third in doubles at districts -Freshman Caroline Weber and Freshman Abbie Duethman placed fourth in doubles at districts -Number one on varsity: Caroline Weber

LOVE-TENNIS RUN IT BACK

The Cross Country team huddles up before the Rim Rock Farm meet. This meet was just one of the steps that allowed them to compete in state in November.

Photo submitted | Ryan Kelley

Hugging it out for a photo, freshmen players pose with their teammates after a meet. With a small tennis team this year, the freshmen were very important in the team’s accomplishments.

Photo submitted | Paige Castillo

TENNIS

CROSS COUNTRY

VOLLEYBALL -Won back to back districts for the first time in nearly 20 years -Placed 4th in state for the first time in 19 years -Most games won since 2015 -Senior Anna Sheedy named HyVee Athlete of the Week

QUEENS OF THE COURT

Volleyball competed against St. Michael’s the Archangel for the gold out game on Oct. 7.

Volleyball senior night also took place the same night.

Photo | Sophie Growsky

December 2021 // 07

feature.

BACKSTAGE BOYS In order to fill necessary roles, boys from different schools are participating in this year’s musical, “The Sound of Music.”

BY ZAHRA PARSONS COPY EDITOR

A

s the bell rings on Friday at 3:30 p.m., groups of Rockhurst students hurry out the doors, eager to go home. Junior Matthew Schneeberger, however, does not share this luxury, as he rushes to his car to drive to Sion, anxious to join the rest of the cast at the weekly musical rehearsal. Due to the various roles needed in iconic musicals, as well as traditionally maledominated character lists, Schneeburger, along with a few other male high school students all participate in the Sion musical.

This year’s production, “The Sound of Music,” will take place from Friday, Jan. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 23 at Rockhurst High School.

The cast includes 33 people, including six boys from a variety of schools.

“I usually go to Rockhurst, Bishop Miege and St. Thomas Aquinas to find boys to participate in the show,” Music and Performing Arts Director Elizabeth Mulkey said. “But, you know, the students help me recruit just as much as I do, when they are friends with guys who do theater, the guys tend to be willing to come.”

This year’s show is Schneeberger’s second time participating in a Sion production.

“Freshman year, I did “Little Shop of Horrors” at Sion, and I really enjoyed it. It was better than the Rockhurst musical, in my

08 // LeJournal

opinion. I really liked getting to know all the girls, especially as a freshman at an all-boys school,” Schneeberger said. “I didn’t do “The Theory of Relativity” last year because of COVID and everything going on, but for this year Carolina [O’Byrne] and some other girls told me about the show, so I’ve been planning on doing it.”

Schneeberger began doing voice lessons and show camps at a young age. He performed in his first musical in seventh grade, and his love for theater has continued to grow ever since. He participates in Rockhurst shows as well as Stage Right, a Kansas City-based choir, acting and theater organization, which aims to educate youth in the performing arts.

Schneeberger plays the role of Max Detweiler, a wealthoriented man who helps the VonTrapp family escape from Austria to Switzerland. It is one of the more prominent roles in the show.

“I’m really hoping to gain more experience being a lead, so I can take what I’ve been learning here and use that with Rockhurst or Stage Right,” Schneeberger said. He is also grateful for the chance to expand his friendships.

“I know most of the girls, so the dynamic is not really weird at all,” Schneeberger said. “I like having friendly relationships with everybody, especially going to Rockhurst, it’s nice to meet

feature.

DEJA VU Rockhurst junior Matthew Schneeberger plays the role of Franz in the Stageright production of “The Sound of Music.”

Photo submitted | Matthew Schneeberger

people from other schools. I really enjoy doing [shows] with them, and getting to see people who I haven’t seen in awhile is really nice.”

Because of friendly relationships between the girls and guys, according to Mulkey, incorporating boys into the show uplifts the dynamic between cast members.

“When the girls get used to having guys around regularly, it’s really great,” Mulkey said. “I’ve seen so many great friendships come from this, and that’s really wonderful to see. We also learn from each other differently, so in that sense I feel like it’s very positive.”

Blue Valley North sophomore Wyatt Baehr, playing telegramboy-turned-Nazi character Rolf, has also been able to grow relationships through the show.

“I love the community and the people, they’re all so nice,” Baehr said. “I also went to middle school with a lot of these girls.

It’s really fun to be a part of, and I’m excited to get to know new people.”

Co-educational shows are a great opportunity for both the boys and girls to meet and form lasting, meaningful friendships and connections with each other. Senior Olivia Mancina took this opportunity right from the beginning when she met Rockhurst High

School alumni Jack Winters.

“Jack was the lead in “The Little Shop of Horrors” when I was a sophomore, and we got to know each other pretty quickly,” Mancina said. “He is my best friend to this day, and I am really grateful for that show.”

Despite gender differences, everyone is able to express themselves equally through performing arts and build a community with each other through the process.

“My favorite part is definitely the people,” Schneeberger said. “We all have the same passions, like we all love singing and dancing and things like that, so it’s a really nice way to meet people and overall just super enjoyable.”

Whether it’s friendships, expression, experience or simply enjoyment, all of the cast members, boys and girls alike, have something to gain from their participation in the musical with one another.

“I think [the boys] bring so much, because it’s really just like normal life. They help balance us out in that sense,” Mulkey said.

“Also, males and females learn and respond so differently to things, so in that sense, it’s really refreshing to have both in the equation. Diversity, in so many ways, is so important.”

SHARING THE LOVE above The Stageright cast of “Xanadu,” including Rockhurt junior Matthew Schneeberger, pose together after the final show.

Photo submitted | Matthew Schneeberger

HERE WE GO AGAIN! left Rockhurst junior Matthew Schneeberger takes a bow postshow with the Stageright cast of “Mamma Mia”.

Photo submitted | Matthew Schneeberger

December 2021 // 09

opinion.

SINGLE

ALL THE WAY

Unrealistic standards create pressure within high school to have a significant other.

BY KATE MCCARTHY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I

’m with my best friend on the couch. We are gorging ourselves with snacks and binge watching the latest holiday rom-com flick. A couple stands in the middle of the street as snow falls gracefully on their shoulders. Reunited, staring longingly into each other’s glistening eyeballs underneath the holiday lights and completely forgetting about the past 78 minutes in which they fought, schemed and cheated on one another, they are...madly in love?

And that’s the worst, most nonsensical thing about the holiday season - the Hallmark movies flaunting wintery romance. They are unrealistic, predictable and absolutely inaccurate. You want the truth? Most, if not all, high school relationships just simply do not work. Girls have idealistic expectations and fall (off a cliff, into an abyss) for the wrong person. And in my experience, the adolescent male mind is a tad behind in terms of relational development. I will readily admit that this was written from the perspective of someone who likes boys, I am not trying to leave out other types of relationships and the different personal challenges that come with those- I apologize if it seems biased. Even wise and independent Gryffindor Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series exclaimed that her boyfriend Ron Weasley had “the emotional range of a teaspoon”. That’s a high school couple that stayed together, and it must have taken true wizard magic because according to Couples Therapy Inc., less than 2% of all married couples consist of high school sweethearts.

I know for many high schoolers, especially girls, this can be hard to hear. Romance is flashed across our screens daily. We binge movies where the bad boy with the ‘I-hate-everyone’ mindset is captivated and then transformed by the unnoticed, nerdy girl across the street. Romantic, right? Wrong. These movies are drama and fiction, the stories are rare and fleeting and the “kids” in these films are 27-year-old actors who are paid to appear in love with the person standing next to them.

Teens fall hopelessly in love in a matter of days even in Shakespeare (“wherefore art thou Romeo?” I just met you but I’ll drink this poison to stay together with you in death - makes sense).

It’s no wonder that our generation not only has a flawed view of what love is, but also feels a pressure to be in a relationship during formative years. We are constantly faced with the idea of living our lives fabulously thanks to the addition of social media. Whether it pertains to the perfect clothes, perfect body, perfect friends or perfect relationship, we present ourselves on a platform each day to compete with those around us.

I’m not saying that all young relationships are doomed to inevitably fail. It is true, there are rare occurrences where two people meet in high school and end up falling in love, getting married, and living happily ever after. The key word here though, is rare. But why are high school relationships so notoriously catastrophic? I discussed the conundrum with my peers and we arrived at one conclusion: Our generation is lacking the social script for dating.

10 // LeJournal

You might ask, what is the social script for dating? Let me start here with some of the most common phrases I have heard about the love lives within Sion: “I need to wait five hours to snap them back”, “we just started talking, we don’t do labels”, “I don’t know if we’re exclusive yet”, “we lost the yellow heart - do they still like me?” These phrases are so common that I don’t think we register the ways that we’re behaving. Our generation is confused. We don’t know how to define a relationship, what is acceptable for phases of a relationship, how to have boundaries, how to have trust and so much more.

What defines a relationship? With the addition of, frankly, toxic platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, we have come up with “the talking stage.” This new grey stage is one of the worst things we’ve ever invented - aside from the situationship of course. A situationship is defined as a romantic relationship that is and remains undefined, yet holds more significance than a casual encounter. When we create these scenarios we put ourselves in confusing situations and allow romantic interests to be flighty, uncommitting and to lead us on. It’s a fact that boys love the chase.

Situationships are exactly that - a race with no finish line (except maybe a pit of lava and impending doom).

Perhaps this is why our generation is so prone to cheating.

According to a poll sent out to the student body, 72% of the students know someone who has been cheated on in a relationship during high school. When creating scenarios where the lines are fuzzy and the rules are not concrete, you create a recipe for disaster. Cheating is a big deal, but it appears to have been normalized within recent times. Social platforms provide an easy route to cheating, but perhaps the problem is rooted deeper than this. Instead, maybe it is the state of how we define relationships that has created a breeding ground for cheaters.

Ladies, I know that you may like someone very much, but do not let them treat you like an option. Teenage relationships are fatal but do hold significance. You learn lessons from each one: how to behave, what is acceptable and your personal expectations and standards. There is no need to put unrealistic expectations on a high school relationship. Teenagers have trouble communicating their feelings. Frankly, it appears to me that most boys are more equipped for a bromance than a romance at this age.

For those of you who are feeling pressure to be in a relationship, just know that you do not need to have a significant other. Yes, it can be nice at times, but the best part about life is finding yourself and being surrounded with people who love you. If that includes a boyfriend or girlfriend, that’s okay too, but don’t feel the need to fill that role just because society says you need to.

Girls, don’t be afraid to be independent. There is no shame in taking time to be who you are alone. I saw a quote on VSCO and it always stuck with me, “You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.” So, with that said, go be who you are, unapologetically, and if that special person comes into your life take them on with open arms. You deserve happiness in every way possible - remember that.

opinion How many teens are or have been in a romantic relationship?

1 in 4 teens are abused or harassed online or through texts by their partners

never been in a relationship 35%

How many of your friends are in real, commited relationships? none

two

have been in a relationship

one

64%

three+

declined to answer 1%

27 According to Pew Research Center

According to URBAN Insitute

17

12

8

According to 64 students polled

Photo | Daniel Frank/Pexels

December 2021 // 11

Disney opinion.

D lemma Disney continues to create numerous successful movies each year, but they seem to be running out of original content.

BY LAUREN SMITH SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

A

boy in green tights chasing after his shadow. A woman with a greenish hue to her skin and obsidian horns growing from her head. A flock of birds helping someone get dressed in the morning. A trusty animal sidekick. And now even a clone war, lightsaber, spaceship, comic book character or a galactic time battle. We’ve seen it all and know it all. When you google upcoming Disney movies, out of the eight movies that pop up only four of them are original ideas, not sequels or remakes which seem to be Disney’s pattern in recent years. These sequels include “Peter Pan and Wendy,” a live-action adaptation of the original “Peter Pan” film from 1953. There have been numerous random sequels, remakes and live-action movies of original Disney movies, many of which were released

Nov. 18, 1928 Steamboat Willie premieres at the Colony Theatre in New York the first Mickey Mouse cartoon released, also the first appearance of Minnie Mouse

decades ago. Which leads to the question: is Disney running out of ideas?

Walt Disney Studios currently produces, acquires and releases motion pictures under the following banners: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney+, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures and of course the acquired Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm Ltd. The company has averaged around seven film releases each year since its origin in 1937. Notable exceptions include the year 1995 when Disney released 38 movies, including fan favorites like “Toy Story” and “The Lion King.”

With 640 movies being released since the start of the company, it’s obvious that Disney Studios would produce remakes and numerous sequels to create more successful movies, and lately these numbers have increased. In recent

Dec. 21, 1937 Premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, first feature-length animated film, at the Carthay Circle Theatre

July 17, 1955 Opening of Disneyland

Oct. 3, 1955 First program of the Mickey Mouse Club television series

April 18, 1983 The Disney Channel begins broadcasting

Disney CHANNEL

12 // LeJournal

opinion years there has been the introduction of live-action Disney movies, which present twists on original animated movies from years ago. One of the first among these being the “Cinderella” live-action film from 2015, a non-animated version in which fan-favorite actresses like Lily James bring the 1950 animated original film to life in a modern version. Though the plot is the same, new perspectives present the traditional Disney princess plotline in a new light and contain more realistic elements. The newest CGI technology allows for the remakes of animated animal movies like the 2020 “Lion King” and 2016 “The Jungle Book”, but is it necessary to recreate these fan favorites in a more modern format? If Disney really wanted to use this new technology to create better movies wouldn’t they create new original movies as opposed to remaking the classics? With these new movies that Disney continues to remake or create sequels to, it leads to the question: is this just a rough patch or idea rut that Disney is in, or is this how the Disney franchise will continue to grow?

As of 2013, Disney no longer makes 2-D animated movies. This style of making hand-drawn movies is known for being a painstaking process, often requiring huge teams of animators and a lot of the time meaning that things cannot be as flexible and decisions have to be locked in a lot earlier. This technology thrived from the late 1980s to the 1990s during a time known as the Disney RenaissanceDisney’s most successful period when the use of 2-D animation led to the creation of some of Disney’s most successful hits, such as “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast”. This golden age was brought to an end due to an increase in computer animation from the then separate competing franchise Pixar. In the early 2000s, Disney shifted to computer animation to compete with Pixar’s success with the new technology. With ever-changing technology, Disney is always searching for ways to expand and to stay at the top.

The Disney franchise has always been immensely popular and the company’s modern state is much different from its origin, especially in recent years with the creation of Disney Plus, a subscription-based media platform on which you can watch all movies and shows of the Disney Studio Franchise. This has created a new era for Disney.

With the increase of people choosing to watch new movies

Mar. 14, 2006 High School Musical is the first full-length movie to be sold via digital download on Apple’s iTunes Music Store

from their homes as a result of the pandemic, Disney has shifted its focus to advertising Disney Plus instead of their new movies. Getting people to pay exclusively for Disney content draws in consumers to revisit childhood favorite shows and videos. This tactic attracts the audience of Disney by providing them with a single platform to watch all of their favorite Disney creations and Disney Plus exclusive content. For example, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” a Disney Plus exclusive, is a spin-off show from one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movies, “High School Musical”.

Though this show is renowned and well-loved with it being based on the popular movie, the plot has little to do with “High School Musical”. The title is meant to peak the interest of those who loved the original movies and to captivate a new generation of “High School Musical” fanatics, displaying that even Disney Plus originals are not original ideas.

When examining Disney’s ‘original ideas,’ let’s acknowledge that countless are based on previously existing content. Many classic Disney movies never arose from original ideas. For example, “Steamboat Willie” is a parody of the silent film “Steamboat Bill,” and even the first Disney Princess movie, “Snow White,” is based on the classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Though Disney doesn’t always have original ideas, they have mastered creatively presenting their stories. Disney has excelled at the branding of its stories even if the stories aren’t new creative ideas. When they present a sequel or the remake through an innovative lens, their rebranding intrigues viewers to watch. This tactic is successful in getting a similar response to new unoriginal ideas.

Disney is the ultimately successful movie franchise, creating numerous successful movies each year and constantly churning out new content. This content is not as original and innovative as in years past, with the significant increase of unnecessary remakes and sequels of Disney classics. This new era of Disney, though distinct in comparison to past Disney projects with its new technologies, is running out of ideas. With the same amount of movies being produced yearly but lacking original content, the Disney vision that shaped our childhoods may not continue.

Oct. 30, 2012 May 5, 2006 Disney purchases Pixar Animation Studios

The Walt Disney Company announces its agreement to purchase Lucasfilm Ltd

Nov. 12, 2019 DisneyPlus launches

Disney December 2021 // 13

cover story.

the cul consum Consumerism infatuated the United States for the first time during the industrial revolution. Since that era it has continued to be on the rise ever since, becoming a staple in our culture, especially during the holidays.

BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LIV ZENDER AND FEATURES EDITOR BRIANNA LEGETTE

The History of Consumerism Still prevalent in society today, the Industrial Revolution kickstarted the culture of consumerism in the late 1700’s.

By the end of the 19th century, the United States was in the process of transforming from an agrarian society to urbanization and industrialization with major cities and corporations. Production and manufacturing greatly increased through factories and assembly lines. For this mass production though, corporations utilize fossil fuels as sources of power. During this time, exponentially more products were manufactured and advertised to the public, which in turn caused the demand to skyrocket. The goal was to crank out products as quickly as possible while also producing the most

14 // LeJournal

revenue. Before this time, there were not enough products mass produced for the general public - especially those who did not reside in the upper class. Individual desire eventually fueled consumerism and led to the transformation of the country to the way it is today with products being mass produced for people around the world.

Consumerism continued to grow due to the increase in mass production after World War I and World War II. According to BBC, United States production was 12 times greater in 1920 than in 1860, and from 1921 to 1929 household electricity went from 35% to 68%. This is likely due to soldiers coming home from the war and being reintegrated into society.

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lture of merism The soldiers that were coming home and beginning to work again desired the comforts of middle class America, and contributed to the economy by both working and buying goods.

Advances in telecommunications like televisions and radio made it possible for companies to broadcast their products to the entire country almost every hour of the day. People could be reached faster and more consistently. They now had a wider range of products to buy, such as home essentials and clothes.

New media was a common tool used during this time to push propaganda. It was proven more effective to advertise products in television commercials than it was in print. TV shows such as “I Love Lucy,” “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” pushed for unrealistic standards for American living, including buying new products off the shelves. The content couples and families in these shows had the latest TV sets, cars, refrigerators and more. According to PBS, between 1945 and 1949, Americans purchased 20 million refrigerators, 21.4 million cars and 5.5 million stoves. This lifestyle continued into the 1950s. Being an American became synonymous with

buying unnecessary items. Other household appliances and motor vehicles followed suit. This trend contributed to the exponential growth of the economy.

Companies profited off the “American Dream” and took advantage of the desire families had to live it. It became socially acceptable and even expected for families to buy the latest products and invest in the stock market as a strategy to upgrade their social status. Corporations fueled the ideology of replacing the old with the new, and it hasn’t stopped since.

This was all seen as economical and life progress, but what was the real cost of it all?

Even Safety Has A Price As the population grows and the demand for newer products increases, many more developed countries depend on cheap labor provided by less developed countries to manufacture the goods being bought. It is no coincidence that everything bought at Target has “Made in China” stamped on it, although the majority of people do not comprehend the

December 2021 // 15

*out of 36 students polled*

Most Popular Online Stores

cover story.

amazon

36

Etsy

8

ZARA

8 89

Princess Polly Lulus

4

real meaning behind how these products were made or who made it.

The harsh reality is that while making these products, unskilled workers from less developed countries slave away in sweatshops under poor and dangerous working conditions that are exploitative in many ways. Due to increased demand for goods, there is a need for more cheap labor, according to TIME. In a hope to make any income for their families, these workers are put in a position that forces them to work under any circumstances including unsafe working environments, threats of punishment, and abusive employers. It does not help that automatic manufacturing replaces jobs, causing more people to seek work at a lower income than they should be receiving.

Workers in Bangladesh, China, India, and other developing countries work for such low wages because the goods the companies are selling have to be cheap. Rana Plaza, a garment factory which produced clothes for major brands in Bangladesh, collapsed killing 1,132 people and injuring more than 2,500 due to horrible conditions of the building. Also in Bangladesh, at another factory there were 35 incidents resulting in the death of 27 workers and 491 more becoming injured. One example of this work is in China where a migrant worker works $3 an hour to make a $750 iPhone.

It’s not just in these places, additionally in India there are children working on the fields of tea plantations. These plantations expose these children to hazardous chemicals. In addition to this, these workers are often paid so little that families have trouble affording necessities such as food and nourishment. Major corporations buy the tea for less than $5 a kg, but sell it to the consumer for over $250. People in developed countries do not realize when they buy something online or go into a store and support these corporations they are reinforcing these negative effects.

“Every once in a while I’ll buy some clothes. I have a habit of using fast fashion sites instead of using small businesses. I get a coffee every other day, and it’s the most consistent thing I buy.” freshman Greta Grosman said.

It is a natural inclination: people see that items are cheap, and so they buy them. Unfortunately, the fact is that this only forwards the global exploitation of cheap goods and cheap labor. It promotes consumerism because the cheaper something is, the more likely it is to sell. Corporations know this, and they use it to make the

16 // LeJournal

DO you shop in person or online?

44%

21

SHEIN

*out of 108 students polled*

30% 26%

In-Person ONLINE BOTH EQUALLY

most money they can. Consumerism demands cheaper goods, but unfortunately it is the poorest people in the poorest countries that end up suffering from our desire and paying the highest price.

Paying the Price in Consequences Consumerism is the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers, whose interests are often produced in mass quantities and sold at a low price. The question is how are all of these products being sold for so cheap? This is done through a combination of low quality and unsustainable production methods.

It may be a tough pill to swallow, but some of society’s favorite go-to brands for quick, easy, and affordable clothes are likely the brands causing the most damage to the environment.

Ever shopped from Shein? Romwe? What about H&M or Forever 21? It would be surprising if the answer is no, as these are some of America’s most well-known brands. These brands’ affordability has led to increased interest, which in turn increases production. Brands like these allow consumers, especially those with a lower budget, to own their ideal closet without breaking the bank. But at the rate that trends come in and out, the turnover rate of these clothes is extremely fast. The cheap quality combined with the cheap price compels consumers to throw out clothes and replenish their closet as often as every couple of months. This is seen as a standard practice these days and the consequences and effects of these actions are not common knowledge.

“I don’t have very much knowledge of the environmental effect of fast fashion brands,” Grossman said. “But I do research the beliefs of the company, like there are certain brands that I won’t shop from if they’re homophobic or racist.”

Materials such as cotton, plastic, microplastic and viscose are some of the largest contributors to water, atmospheric and land pollution. According to the Princeton Student Climate Initiative, 20% of wastewater worldwide is attributed to the process of making cotton, which requires 10,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton and 3,000 liters to produce a single T-shirt.

This manufacturing generally takes place overseas, usually in countries that lack strict environmental regulations. Loose or unregulated environmental laws often allow for untreated water to enter oceans, spreading extremely toxic chemicals. Most often, this type of pollution is irreparable. The higher the production, the increased amount of wastewater, the more water pollution. The

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cycle just keeps going.

Director of Community Engagement at Scraps KC, Courtney Christenson said, “I used to work for a local clothing company, so I was really aware of the kind of waste issues in the textile industry and clothing, in particular. I think the EPA estimates Americans alone generate 16 million tons of textile waste every year.”

Additionally, since these products are made overseas, large shipping barges or airplanes must carry them thousands of miles to their destination. This also contributes to pollution- water pollution from shipping barges and atmospheric pollution and the decrease of the ozone layer from airplanes.

The fact of the matter is, consumerism and the habit of buying unsustainable and cheap products has risen in recent decades. The consequences of buying and throwing out millions of products has increased the size of landfills dramatically. The only solution to clear away the trash fast enough to make room for incoming trash is to burn it. While this is a solution and necessary strategy, it does not come without its additional consequences. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, particle pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and hexachlorobenzene are a few of the many toxic substances that are released into the atmosphere during the act of burning trash. These toxins have various harmful effects, such as damage to developing fetuses, cancer, liver and kidney damage, fatigue, vomiting, respiratory and cardiac problems, asthma, and more, on a multitude of different organisms, from fish, to the elderly, to the unborn, to birds, other various animals and more.

With consumerism being such a widely practiced habit, the knowledge of its effects on the environment should also be widespread. So before buying another unnecessary clothing item, plastic toy or random stocking stuffer, stop to consider the consequences that the production of this item had on the environment.

‘Tis the Season The holidays: a time of religious celebration, family gatherings and delicious food. Wrong. In today’s world, holidays are a time of rushed shopping, and frantic gift wrapping. The rise of indulgent gift giving has changed the way Americans view the holiday season. Instead of focusing on family traditions, people are worried about buying the best, most thoughtful gifts. Instead of learning about the history behind the holiday, family members are staying up late in an attempt to finish off the gift wrapping and ordering on Amazon before Christmas Day. “Over quarantine I shopped all the time, everyday,online shopping. But now I’ve limited myself to once hopefully once a week and I just go to their store and buy clothes. If not, then I go on Amazon and just buy random stuff,” sophomore Lexi Teel said.

Because of this, rather than being relaxed during the holiday season, this consumerist mindset causes not only immense stress on parents and other family members, financially and logistically, it has detrimental effects on the environment and cheap labor workers all around the world. Fake Christmas trees, wrapping paper, Christmas lights. Recognize these well-known traditions?

These are all customary events that have unnecessary negative effects on the environment.

According to Commercial Waste, the production of one kilogram of wrapping paper emits 3.5 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere. Additionally, in 2016, Americans threw away roughly 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. Plastic-based wrapping paper can only be broken down through heat, or the act of burning trash.

This adds additional gas to the atmosphere, adding to the carbon emissions already contributed during the production of wrapping paper.

Another beloved holiday decoration is the Christmas tree.

However, one’s choice of tree causes two very opposite effects on the environment. As one might infer, buying natural Christmas trees has a significantly more positive effect on the environment than a plastic tree does. According to Commercial Waste, the production of artificial trees releases the equivalent of 40 kilograms of greenhouse gases. The main material is plastic, contributing to the plastic and microplastic pollution around the world. Additionally, artificial trees are not biodegradable and can only be disposed of through incineration, which decreases the ozone layer. The ozone layer is essential to protecting life on Earth, and with each Christmas tree manufactured, more ozone depletion takes place. Another factor to consider is that most artificial trees are produced in foreign countries, such as Korea, Taiwan and China, and must be shipped thousands of miles to finally reach their destination. Natural Christmas trees on the other hand are biodegradable, have a lower carbon footprint due to shorter distances of shipping, and stabilize and protect soil before they are chopped down.

All of this being said, there are many simple things that people can take part in to help reduce consumerism and the environmental footprint of the holiday season, without cancelling the holiday season altogether. Buying real Christmas trees, using rechargeable batteries, decorating sustainably and buying environmentally friendly Christmas cards and presents are all ways individuals can reduce consumerism during the holidays. What do all of these products have in common? They are all reusable or biodegradable. Therefore once they are bought once, they can be used for years to come. Or if they aren’t reusable, they are still biodegradable, thus they won’t sit in landfills for hundreds of years.

“One of the [pillars of our mission] is the environment. We’re trying to divert as much waste from the landfill as possible.

We capture supplies that would otherwise get thrown away,” Christensen said.

Another strategy would be to buy a few high quality gifts instead of many small, cheap gifts. Unfortunately, it is the little knick knacks and stocking stuffers that are mass produced, mass purchased and mass thrown away. Lastly, buying local and sustainable gifts will reduce shipping emissions and are more likely to be made with more natural materials that don’t release large amounts of fumes into the atmosphere during production. These gifts are also more likely to be built to last a long time.

“How can I take this thing that it seems no one wants and make it something that people want or show people how it’s still valuable.”Christensen said, “Sustainability is about living within your boundaries...we can think about it in terms of physical stuff and resources. Am I living a life that is within the boundaries of the actual resources? Or am I borrowing resources from the future that I don’t actually have to get right now?”

December 2021 // 17

A&E.

T

aylor Swift released her second re-recorded album “Red (Taylor’s Version)” on November 12, 2021. “Red (Taylor’s Version)” was highly anticipated, especially fan favorite song “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” and features artists Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers, Mark Foster and Ed Sheeran.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” is composed of the same songs we all know and love with a more mature sound. Old fan favorites are the most noticeable in the more mature sound; the squeaky high notes are gone and the rerecordings sound similar to the indie folk music Swift makes today.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” has a softer and slower feel to it and features nine new songs, most of which are highly emotional and are some of the best songs on the album.

Swift threw in extra surprises, including a self-directed short film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, which follows Sink and O’Brien as they fall in and out of love, mimicking Swift and ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhall’s relationship from a decade ago. The emotional film sent tears streaming down thousands of faces. “It really hurts to watch the All Too Well short film knowing that these are real events and real emotions that Taylor went through at 20 years old. I want to throw up everywhere.” @myheartredheart tweeted. She also teamed up with close friend Blake Lively to create a music video for “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version).” Directed by Lively, the video features Swift playing the jealous ex-girlfriend of the groom played

by Miles Teller, whose wedding she crashes. “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is an incredible new and updated version of the album we all fell in love with back in 2012.

H

ere they go again! Back with the glitz, the glam and the disco moves, ABBA released their first studio album in 40 years, “Voyage,” on Nov. 5. “Voyage” is the final studio album for ABBA and is on track to be the tenth number one album for the Swedish band. It sounds like the classic pop chorus of the band that we all love, and it feels very familiar. If you like ABBA’s past work then you will definitely enjoy this one.

Those who may not be big ABBA fans, but love the “Mamma Mia” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” soundtracks will like “Voyage” as well.

While the album has a slow start, it changes to the upbeat ABBA we all know and love about halfway through the album. One of the best touches of the album is a children’s chorus singing at the end of “Little Things,” a surprise Christmas song in the beginning of the album.

This little touch makes the song feel very soft and gives it a homey sense, something that perfectly sums up a Christmas song with the beautiful piano and the gentle and slow lyrics. “Voyage” has an unexplainable nostalgia that accompanies it throughout the album probably because it is the last ABBA album that will be released; the final song “Ode To Freedom” is the absolute best way to end the album with the innate construction of the orchestra.

release radar 18 // LeJournal

A&E

D

o you know who I am? I’m Ed Sheeran.”

Everyone’s favorite English ginger is back with his fifth studio album “=” released on Oct. 29. Sheeran’s hit single off the album “Bad Habits” was a hit in the UK, spending 11 weeks on the UK singles charts. “=” itself performed well and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Sheeran’s album is decent and it’s evident in the songs that the album revolves around his family.

He sings about his wife in “First Times,” his late grandmother in “Visiting Hours” and his daughter in “Sandman”. The tracklist is organized in a way that doesn’t make it enjoyable to listen to. The songs go from happy to sad to upbeat to somber. This organization kills the vibe of the album; as soon as you’re feeling good and happy, you start to feel sad and get in your feels.

Sheeran didn’t do a great job with creating a general sound for the album. “=” feels all over the place because there isn’t any consistency within the album. There are parts where you can barely hear him over the guitar and there are parts when his voice is clear as day. Overall, Sheeran’s “=” is not an album that is worth listening to in whole unless you are a big fan of Sheeran.

H

ello, it’s me. I was wondering if after all these years you’d like for me” to release an album. After a five year break Adele released “30” on November 19 written during her divorce from ex-husband Simon Konecki. Adele’s single “Easy On Me” dominated the charts and only raised excitement for the upcoming album. “30” has become the fastest selling album of 2021 in the US and the UK. Adele’s newest album is absolutely incredible; the songs are beautifully written and the album has so much soul. The recurring theme throughout “30” is Adele’s self-discovery and the life lessons she has learned mostly from her divorce this past year. In the third song of the album, “My Little Love” Adele is singing to her son, Angelo. She apologizes to him for the mistakes that she has made, expresses her infinite love for him and tells him “Mama’s got a lot to learn.” Adele’s angelic voice is interrupted in between verses in “My Little Love” and is replaced with brief conversations between Adele and Angelo where she opens up to her son about what she is feeling and what she has to learn in the future. Throughout the entire album, Adele’s extraordinary and unique voice is showcased demonstrating that there really isn’t anyone like Adele. Her voice is so moving and filled with such passion and emotion that you feel everything that she is feeling when listening to “30”. The best example of Adele’s marvelous talent is “To Be Loved,” the eleventh track on “30”. In “To Be Loved,” Adele’s voice is so captivating and impassioned that you cannot help but shed a tear or two and wish you could give her a hug. Adele’s “30” is arguably one of the best albums that has ever been written and it’s craftsmanship, pure emotion and soul perfectly demonstrate that Adele never misses the mark.

New albums from Taylor Swift, Adele, ABBA and Ed Sheeran are dominating the charts, but they’re not all worth the listen.

BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR

December 2021 // 19

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braille master Freshman Brooke Petro adjusts to life at Sion a little differently as she reads all her schoolwork in braille and experiences the school uniquely due to her visual impairment.

BY SOFIA AGUAYO PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

O

n the phone with her Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI), freshman Brooke Petro types her math answers into her braille writer in her own private study room adjoined to the music room, affectionately known as “the braille room.” Petro is a master braille reader and writer, as she is a blind student. She began learning at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired at a very young age, and started working with her TVI in first grade. Learning was not only a different experience for Petro, it was also a learning process for her mom, Lyn Petro, and the rest of her family.

“The biggest thing that I had to learn when Brooke started school was patience,” Lyn said. “Sometimes it’s patience in waiting to see how things might be adapted for Brooke, sometimes it’s waiting to see if books or tests are already available in Braille, sometimes it’s waiting for answers from teachers or administration and sometimes it’s hoping that Braille supplies and materials will arrive in time for Brooke to use them.

There are a lot of prayers for patience in our house.”

Petro learned how to read braille at the same age other children learn how to read print. Braille is not its own language; rather, it is a code made up of dot combinations punched into thick paper to create a texture for feeling words instead of seeing them. Braille takes up a lot more space than print- about three times more, so you can imagine how much more binder and notebook space is necessary.

“I’m usually in class most of the time and I do most of my work on my computer just because it’s easier and I can send that in to teachers,” Petro said. “I usually send my work in emails just because, unfortunately, Google Docs doesn’t work very well with my screen readers.”

Additionally, Petro learned a special type of braille that is used for math and science notations called Nemeth Code.

Although she is in math teacher Reynold Middleton’s Algebra I Honors class, she communicates on the phone with her TVI in the braille room, where the lesson is explained via audio and Nemeth Code.

Petro’s TVI has been with her since first grade and is named Jill Bamber. Bamber was a special education teacher and reading specialist in middle schools when one of her twins suffered a stroke that left him with a visual impairment. She then decided to become a braille teacher to help him and other visually impaired students succeed in school. Already having a minor in math from her undergraduate degree, Bamber was drawn to this area of braille instruction and helps Petro with her math every day.

“When I was working in special education, I spent half of my day in math and the other half in reading,” Bamber said. “Brooke presented a challenge to me as she was always exceptional at math and I have always been sure to stay a half-step in front of her.”

20 // LeJournal

Although being blind presents Petro with some challenges, it also opens up unique opportunities, such as the Braille Challenge, a competition designed to motivate visually impaired students to practice and master their braille literacy skills. There are five age group categories consisting of first through twelfth grade, and only the top ten students from each age group make it to the finals at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles, California.

Petro made it to the finals seven out of the eight times she participated, although this past summer it was held virtually.

“Brooke told me on the ride home from a practice test in Kindergarten that she was not only going to place first in Kansas the next year, but that she was going to go to Nationals also,” Lyn said. “She accomplished that goal and won second place in her age category and had the top score in the Reading Comprehension portion of the test for all participants 1st-12th grade.”

Since reading braille isn’t as common as reading print, Petro orders her textbooks from certain distributors. According to Lyn, there is a national database for Braille textbooks coordinated by the American Printing House for the Blind. She contacts the Kansas Instructional Resource Center to see if Petro can borrow a book that is already printed in braille. There are also libraries for the blind where Petro can borrow braille novels. If she needs something that these resources don’t have, Lyn asks a braille publishing company to transcribe the material for her. A prisonbased organization called the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund transcribes all of Petro’s math materials each year.

“If I would have been told that I would rely on a group of incarcerated individuals to make sure that my daughter could make it through school, I would not have believed it, but that is the case,” Lyn said. “We are forever thankful for the gentlemen that do that work.”

Petro and her parents were tasked with the decision of which high school would be the best fit for her earlier than other students and their parents, because of the different requirements that needed to be taken into consideration.

When beginning to look into what high school would be the best fit for her, Petro knew from the first time she visited in seventh grade that she wanted to attend Sion. This decision was based on many factors including the smaller buildings and campus which make it easier to get around, the small number of students and also the willingness of the teachers and administration to learn to work with her and meet her needs.

Petro came with Bamber over the summer to walk through her schedule and learn her way around the school.

“Everyone was really nice and willing to do what needed to be done and send all this stuff to my mom,” Petro said. “All the teachers were super nice and helpful, so I think that was a lot of my decision.”

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helpful things to do for brooke Introducing yourself to blind people is necessary for them to know who is speaking to them.

Even if you are just standing in a conversation with her, make sure to introduce yourself to Brooke when you arrive and say goodbye when you leave.

Even though Brooke has a cane that helps her navigate through any obstacles in her way, making sure to keep classrooms tidy and chairs tucked in is very helpful and important to ensure Brooke has a straight path to walk through.

Although it can be intimidating to ask to someone about a topic you do not know much about, Brooke encourages people to ask her any questions they might have about her visual impairment and daily life because of it.

JUST KEEP TYPING

Typing on her braille writer, Brooke Petro works on her homework at her house.

The braille writer has only a few keys that each make a different dot pattern, and Petro combines them to make words and sentences.

Photo submitted | Lyn Petro

THE BRAILLE WINNER left

Modeling her 2021 Braille Challenge shirt, Brooke Petro smiles after winning first place in her age group for the ninth year in a row. Although the finals are normally in Los Angeles, this year they were held online to maintain social distancing.

Photo submitted | Lyn Petro

BRAILLIANT BROOKE far left

Celebrating on stage, Brooke Petro holds up her first place sign at the finals of the National Braille Challenge. Petro has competed in the Braille Challenge since she was eligible to in first grade.

Photo submitted | Lyn Petro

December 2021 // 21

opinion.

mental Music is an effective and accessible coping mechanism as long as it is used to calm emotions rather than ignite them.

STORY BY AVA ALBRACHT WEB EDITOR-IN-CHEIF DESIGN BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR

W

indows rolled down, as the air warbles through the moving car, a group of teenage girls blast the quintessential breakup and general angerexpression song. As Carrie Underwood begins her first line of “Before He Cheats” everyone begins to sing, more like scream, and use every bit of their voice to release their anger during that three minute and nineteen second period of raw, emotional singing.

What do you turn to when you are stressed out? In the mood to cry? Overjoyed? Dancing around? One of the most portable sources of emotional support, no matter the situation, is music. Music can be used as a distraction from the outside world, to express anger or sadness, or to find comfort and solace. We are constantly surrounded by music; people walking around wearing AirPods, the return of concerts, and window-shaking car experiences. With the invention of Spotify Wrapped, we can also see the tens of thousands of minutes we spend listening to music annually.

Needless to say, it is easier than ever for our generation to access music at any time of the day. For many teenagers and adults alike, it has become a type of coping mechanism that helps them deal with or avoid an array of emotions.

Music is shown to improve mood, sleep, and well-being, according to Time. All of these benefits make music an extremely effective strategy for allowing ourselves to become more grounded and in the moment. However, music will not have the same relaxing benefits if you do not take a pause from other stressful or overwhelming activities such as looking at social media, according to Time.

Additionally, the type of music we choose to listen to is also crucial when using music as a coping mechanism.

According to a study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, listening to sad music while in a depressive state led to an intensified depression. So, next

22 // LeJournal

time you think to turn on “Before He Cheats” when a teenage boy acts as they do, think first and realize that it will likely only intensify your anger and you will likely end up in a worse emotional state than before. All this being said, music can still be positive; when calming music was played while participants were stressed out they were able to shift their moods, according to NCBI. As long as you remain cautious about the music you choose to listen to and try to find music that will either lift your mood or relax you, music is an easy, effective coping mechanism.

Music is being increasingly used in clinical therapy and has proven to decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and improve mood in patients with a variety of severe mental health disorders, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sion’s own music teacher, Elizabeth Mulkey, played and listened to music with elderly patients with Alzheimer’s and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Family members would visit when music therapists were there because they would have moments of clarity that they couldn’t have normally. So that was really special, especially if a spouse could be there to kind of see a glimpse of who they used to be” Mulkey said.

It is apparent that music can be used to help people who are struggling with chronic mental illnesses and is a perfectly healthy way for anyone to handle their feelings. However, just like any other coping mechanism it is crucial to make sure that it is not taken too far or done in a way that causes further harm. So, the next time you feel upset, don’t be afraid to open your music app of choice and pump up the positive jams, because everyone needs to belt a song for fun every once in a while.

opinion

melodies listen to this Photos | Pexels

Mood Booster

Confidence Boost

Chill Tracks

Totally Stress Free

December 2021 // 23

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JUMPING AHEAD Freshman Greta Martin grew up spending time with horses, and for the past four years has trained and competed as an equestrian.

BY SOPHIE GROMOWSKY COPY EDITOR

D

ressed in an aqua polo, long tan pants and tall black riding boots, freshman Greta Martin sits poised atop her horse moments before entering the jumper ring. She pays special attention to her breathing and heart rate as she runs through the course in her head, calculating all her jumps and positions one last time. Taking a final deep breath, she raises her head high and struts into the ring.

Martin has been spending time around horses since she was young. Her mother, Christine Bowmaster, developed a love for the animals as she grew up riding her grandfather’s horses, and she began sending Martin to Pony Camp when she was three years old as a way to introduce her to horses. Martin quickly fell in love with the sport and the animals, and when she was in fifth grade, began taking horseback riding lessons once a week from her trainer, Sarah Good. One year later, she bought her first horse, an Appendix Quarter Horse named Jake.

“When I began training Greta four years ago, I recognized that she had what it takes to be a very accomplished rider,” Good said.

Slowly she began to build up her skill set, first learning to ride in a western saddle, a style of saddle which is long and wide with a horn on the front. She mastered walking and trotting before later progressing to cantering and jumping. As she rode, Martin began to strengthen the muscles in her legs and core.

“You learn the basic steps and after it’s a lot harder too because you have to build up your leg strength,” Martin said. “It’s a whole different set of muscles that a lot of people just don’t use.

No other sport works these.”

Martin and her current horse, Frisco, compete throughout the year, most frequently in the summer when she travels to attend competitions every two or three weeks. Martin says that her favorite event is the jumper ring, a timed course where the objective is to complete a series of jumps as fast as possible without knocking any rails. She loves the thrill that comes from a good round in the ring and says that nothing feels better than

TAKING THE REINS Right

Freshman Greta Martin leads her horse Jake. Martin and her family purchased Jake three years ago as a beginner horse for her to train on.

Photo | Douglas Busby Photography

HORSING AROUND Middle

Freshman Greta Martin poses with a horse at Pony Camp. Martin began attending Pony Camp when she was three years old. Photo Submitted | Greta Martin

LEAPING FOR THE SKY Left

Freshman Greta Martin and her horse Frisco soar over the jumping rails as they compete in a timed course. Photo Submitted | Greta Martin

24 // LeJournal

knowing that she did well at the end of a great ride.

“It’s been amazing to watch Greta grow in her equestrian skills,” Bowmaster said. “I had no experience with the hunter and jumper discipline which Greta wanted to pursue. And her goal to ‘jump meter fences’ seemed very aggressive to me. Now she and Frisco compete over meter courses, and they continue to improve.”

As she has progressed in her riding, Martin’s training schedule has become more rigorous and more difficult to balance with her schoolwork and extracurriculars. She currently practices five times a week, fitting in short practices in the evenings after basketball practice and multiple longer sessions on the weekends.

Though scheduling can be somewhat challenging, Martin loves getting to spend time with her horses, each of whom she says has a strong personality once you get to know them. She describes her beginner horse Jake as being very smart and food-motivated and her current horse Frisco as a ‘total pleaser’.

“He loves to get treats, but if you rub his face, he’ll stick his head down and he’ll fall asleep,” Martin said. “It’s so fun. He’s a cuddly horse, as much as that happens.”

Martin says that caring for her horses has taught her important life skills like responsibility. At competitions she has to make sure that her horse is well taken care of throughout the day, bringing them their grain in the morning, giving them supplements, making sure that they always have hay and water, and ensuring that they are uninjured and sound to ride. She also says that the experience of riding is helping her to learn how to take control of her emotions and stay calm.

“You just have to pay a lot of attention and the responsibility is huge because it’s a living creature,” Martin said. “I also think it is teaching me as I go how to just kind of level out my emotions and keep calm in high stress situations. It’s still a work in progress.”

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December 2021 // 25

A&E.

Have A Bones Christmas Christmas is coming up, what will Noodles the Pug predict?

BY MEGAN KELLEY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

T

he new TikTok trend, Bones or No Bones, is helping people all over the world treat themselves to rest and relaxation and be productive when necessary.

Now, it is time for Sion students to treat themselves this holiday season. To have a “Bones Christmas,” you will need the following: a classic christmas movie, a good gift wishlist and a great place to buy gifts for friends.

Now, you may be asking yourself, what is a “bones day’’? Well, TikTok user Jon Graz uses his slightlydilapidated pug, Noodle, to see if it will be a productive day or a self-care day. If Noodle stands up without falling over, it is considered a “bones day.” These days, you focus on getting tasks done. When Noodle falls over, however, it is supposed to be a self care day. Graz has accumulated 4.6 million followers over the course of a few weeks. Through all of his videos, he has gained 57.4 million likes, most of which are on his bones days.

Many news outlets have also reached out to Graz. For example, NPR wrote a story on how a 13 year old pug could determine what kind of day you could have. Graz was also featured on the Today Show, where Noodle predicted a bones day.

26 // LeJournal

A&E

Christmas Classic

A

great Christmas classic is “The Santa Clause” movie. Scott Calvin has to learn how to be Santa Clause after the real one falls off his roof. In the beginning, he does not believe in Santa Clause, elves or the North Pole. After the first night of taking over for Santa, Scott has to learn how to keep the elves in line and give out gifts.

Throughout this movie, he continues to learn how to embody Santa and how to keep the Christmas magic alive. This is a great movie, made unique by the characters. The character that stands out the most is Scott Calvin with how sarcastic he is. His comments about how he doesn’t believe in Santa while giving out toys makes the movie hilarious.

This is a great way to start off the holiday season.

Shopping Spree

L

ooking for a boutique that is near and dear to Sion?

Well in the nook between Briar Street and Roe Avenue is Addie Rose. This boutique offers many gift ideas for friends and family, such as the Carlie Sweater and the Francie Sweater. Other items sold at the boutique are jewelry, dresses, pants and shoes. It was founded by Meagan Doyle, a Sion alumna, class of 2002.

Starting in a small house in 2007, the boutique now has a booth at the Mother-Daughter Luncheon. Offering a wide selection of clothes, this shop can be a great place to buy christmas clothes for friends and family.

MOVIE MAGIC

A

cool gift idea is the HOMPOW mini projector. Seniors are thinking about their gifts to help with their first year of college. This mini projector is available on Amazon at $79.99. It’s cheap and affordable compared to other projectors of the sort. This projector can connect to your phone with a cord. You can set up some white sheets or blankets against a wall and turn on the projector. This projector is not only affordable, but it has great reviews.

This is highly recommended if you want to watch movies in college.

New Kicks

A

n idea for Christmas are some Nike Air Force 1s.

They are starting to become trendy again with their color revealing pairs. The woman’s pair of the Reveals are $110. Once you get the pair, you will see a small print text saying tear here. That is where you can tear off the fabric to see the colors underneath. It is a variety of colors underneath the tearable fabric.

December 2021 // 27

HEY, DOLL What childhood doll are you? Start here:

Savory

Lunch

What’s your favorite meal?

What’s your flavor profile?

Breakfast

Dinner

Salty Spicy

Sweet

Where would you want to live?

Do you like roller coasters?

City Which music do you prefer?

Old Music

Yes

Suburbs

Country

No Which color pallet do you prefer?

New Music Do you think before you act?

Are you a morning person?

Yes

You’re a Barbie girl in a Barbie world. You are known as the ultimate go-getter.

You wake up in the morning ready to face the day, and you hope to be a careerdriven woman who can do it all. You value family and are the coolest caretaker on the block. You’re basically Wonder Woman with a high ponytail, and we salute you.

Yes No

You may identify with a Bratz doll but you’re anything but.

You let your inner diva shine and you are not apologetic about it. People naturally gravitate toward you and you’re the life of the party. We often see you strutting down the halls and owning your fashion on the weekends. You are destined for the spotlight in whatever you choose to do.

Cool tones

Warm tones

Like Polly Pocket, you are cute as a button and we’d like to pack you in our purse and keep you around all day. You don’t take life too seriously, you love your besties, and you’re out for a good time. For you, it’s not about winning - it’s about the journey and letting your friends run the show.

You are the definition of an all-American girl. People know you as a responsible and hardworking girl who is willing to achieve your dreams. You’re a strong leader and an even better friend due to your huge heart and dependability.

You are ready to take on the world with a positive attitude and some style.