volume 39
LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | December 2020
FEATURE: PAGE 8
ON THE COVER: PAGE 14
A&E: PAGE 26
FOLLOW SOPHOMORE KAITLYN MILLER THROUGH HER JOURNEY WITH DANCE
STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH BODY IMAGE AND POSITIVITY
TAKE A QUIZ TO SEE WHAT WACKY HOLIDAY GIFT FITS YOUR PERSONALITY
what’s inside news and sports
04-05
FFT Wrap Up: Stats & more
14-17
Food For Thought Skits
Body Image Through Years
06-07
08-09
Sophomore Kaitlyn Miller
Her Love of Dance
10-11
Dieting and Body Image
20-21
Golf in the Hall of Fame
Student Nail Endeavours
Photos and Bios of Nail Artists
24-25
Freshman Bailey Biggs
12-13
Gathering in a Pandemic
Peer’s Opinions & Stats
Her Love For Rock Climbing
18-19
Ice Cream Shop Reviews
LE JOURNAL IS THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION HIGH SCHOOL - 10631 WORNALL ROAD - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64114
MEMBER
Missouri Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropoliton Kansas City Missouri Journalism Education Association
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PRINTER
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PRINT CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Madeline Hammett Avery Brundige
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Morgan Herriott
NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR Lauren Shaw
WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maggie McKinney
video content editor Catherine Crayon
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Grace Hills
COPY EDITOR
EDITORIALS EDITOR
Kate McCarthy
A&E EDITOR
Brianna Legette Ava Albracht Liv Zender
Ella Rogge
Callie Cameron
FEATURES EDITOR
Sofia Aguayo
PHOTO EDITORS
Kate Conway & Keely Schieffer
REPORTERS
Holiday Family Recipes
26-27
Holiday Gift Quiz
What Wacky Gift Are You?
Photo of
LeJOURNAL. 2020 // 2021
02 // LeJournal
Effects of Repost Culture
a&e
22-23
Meet the Winter Sport Captains
Students’ Body Image Stories
features
Storm Stomp Supreme Court, Trivia Night Election Results
opinions
cover story
Whisked Away
Juniors Taylor Crouch and Anna Baklanov laugh and sing christmas songs as they stir their double chocolate chip cookie dough. “Baking cookies is such a great way to spend time with your friends and celebrate the season without having to do a lot of work,” Crouch said. “I just love baking during christmas time because it brings me closer to friends and family and gets me in the holiday spirit.” (Photo by Kate McCarthy)
editors’ink
H
ey everyone! How are you doing? With finals approaching, the reality is setting in: we are halfway through this mess of a year. As we depart from our Sion community and gather with our relatives, it is important to stay safe and healthy this holiday season. Take time for yourself, follow CDC guidelines and enjoy the break from academics. This issue is centered around body positivity. Pages 16 and 17 contain your body positivity journeys. Flip to page 10 to read about the dangers of diet culture on body image and how to combat them. Finally, turn to page 20 to find your classmates’ nail art talents and learn a little about their passion for keeping their nails cutesy. This issue highlights some amazing members of our community. Read about sophomore Kaitlyn Miller’s dance experience on page eight and freshman Bailey Biggs’s
passion for scaling to new heights on page 24. We are thrilled to give you the third and final issue of Le Journal for 2020. Don’t worry though, we will be back next semester with fresh designs, creative stories, and all the news your hearts desire. We hope you enjoy flipping through the pages of this issue of Le Journal as much as we enjoyed designing them. Remember to give us your feedback by emailing abrundige@ndsion.edu or madeline.hammett@ndsion.edu. We look forward to incorporating your feedback in our next issue! During this holiday season, remember to tell your loved ones how much they matter to you. Take some time to reflect on the things you are most thankful for as 2020 comes to a close. See you next year! :) Happy Holidays! Madeline & Avery
Student Space Our Staff Spotify Wrapped Our top artists
1. Vampire Weekend 2. Wallows 3. Khalid Our top tracks 1. Put Your Records On - Ritt Momney 2. Golden - Harry Styles 3. Campus - Vampire Weekend 4. Sofia - Clairo 5. Like Real People Do - Hozier 6. Wonder - Shawn Mendes 7. Space Girl - Frances Forever 8. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 9. august - Taylor Swift 10. Still Don’t Know My Name - Labrynth
keep up with us: @lejournalsion
The Issue
Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!
December 2020 // 03
news
FOOD FOR
thought
BY GRACE HILLS SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
BY THE NUMBERS
5.26 TONS
FRESHMEN: 1,240.73 LBS SOPHOMORES: 1,220.73 LBS JUNIORS: 1,603.48 LBS SENIORS: 6,456.36 LBS
COMMON CANS
VEGETABLES With almost every type of vegetable coming canned, vegetables are one of the most common cans brought in. They offer varying nutrients and promote healthy eating.
SOUPS Another very common can is any type of soup. With a large portion of the drive being brought in for Thanksgiving, soup is the perfect holiday food.
04 // LeJournal
news
PART T W O . . .
A few days into Food For Thought, an But since there is usually over 10 tons donated, an amount that lasts the center unexpected quarantine hit. With the entire school being moved to online school and a for almost a year, it’s important that that number is hit. The surge in COVID-19 This year people need these cases, hitting the second part will take stores wasn’t an resources more than ever, and place in spring. It will be option. So instead, we need to come together as a a canned food drive to girls raised money bring in the remaining community to meet that need. 4.74 tons. Though the on their own. There was a mighty That’s why we’re doing a second details are still up in the 5.26 tons raised, air, it will be more of just food for thought. a food drive rather than over half the Student Body President Mary Hudak a week of events. original goal.
“
”
THESKITS
To kick off Food for Thought, each grade creates a skit focused around the theme of cans. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, the skits were moved to a virtual format.
FRESHMEN
WATCH ‘EM:
Creating their own version of “Among Us,” the freshman centered around the theme that not donating cans makes one an ‘imposter.’ “My favorite part (of the skit) was where we sat down and stated to throw out ideas. I liked how everyone was saying things because everyone had great ideas and it was nice to know everyone was comfortable saying their ideas,” freshman class president Morgan Lewis said.
JUNIORS Rephrasing popular Kardashian quotes, the juniors made their own “Keeping up with the Kardashians” episode: can version. “I think the virtual option allowed us to do the skits in a really unique way, even if it was different from what we’re used to. I love having the chance to get creative and work with my friends,” Junior Tess Tappan said.
SENIORS Sticking to the tradition, the seniors pretended to be the faculty. Their skit was presented like an episode of “The Office” with face zooms, multiple scenes and lots of chaos. “I absolutely loved being apart of the skit not only because I got to play the role of Mrs. Koehler but because we all got to reenact our favorite teacher’s moments,” Senior Brynna Dow said.
December 2020 // 05
news
A TRIVIA NIGHT TO REMEMBER Storm stomp Committee invites alumna, students and faulty for a zoom trivia fundraiser. BY CALLIE CAMERON A&E EDITOR
I
nstead of the annual basketball game or a 5K, the Storm Stomp Committee hosted a game of trivia this year on Nov. 12 from 7-8:30pm on Zoom for their annual fundraiser. This two and a half hour game night hosted by TriviaHub’s Aaron Mayers, included students, alumnae and faculty. With over 113 participants, teams joined together to donate and play, paying $10 a person. The profits earned scholarship funding for Sion students who are academically eligible but finacially unable to attend. “We came to the conclusion that we maybe needed to plan something virtual,”Alumni & Constituent Relations Manager Erin Markowicz said, “and at the same time the alums were also planning to do a trivia night live and in person. I sat over both events and I was able to say, let’s take a step back and could we blend the two of these. So we ended up with virtual trivia night.” Trivia night consisted of four rounds: Disney, Sion History, 2000’s pop culture and the tie-breaker. Sion families and alumna, including “Saturday Night Live” cast member Heidi Gardner
and president Alicia Kotarba, joined to compete for the $250 cash prize. There were also breaks in between each round where a guest speaker would ask a random trivia question to compete for $12 Starbucks gift cards. “I liked how we were able to have time to meet with our group and talk about the questions,” freshman attendee Kosi Okuagu said. “It just felt very relaxed and not competitive at all which was nice.” This year, junior Abby Thornhill’s team won with a total score of 45. Overseen by Markowitz, senior and Storm Stomp committee chair Kate Conway helped raise over a thousand dollars for her senior service project. Donations from gold-level sponsers, including the Brundige family and Midwest Pharmacy, helped make the night an achievement. “I think the event was very successful,” Thornhill said. “It was a fun time for everyone and it was fun seeing all types of people in the Sion community play. I was very surprised on how it turned out. It was a lot better than expected and I think it went very smoothly.”
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Friends, family and alumnae gather to attend a Zoom trivia night in place of the annual Storm Stomp celebration Nov. 12.
GUEST STAR Guest aluma Heidi Gardner from Saturday Night Live reads the bonus question between rounds of trivia.
RANKINGS: 1st 3-way tie 2nd 1. Inflatable Chair 2. 80’s Rock 3. Ulowetz Girls and Their Boys
06 // LeJournal
Abby Thornhill 2-way tie 3rd 1. GS Ringers 2. Superhero Teachers
THE SCORE SHEET Pictured above is final tally concluding the game night.
RBG’s Replacement
news
FAST CHANGES Pictured above (top) is the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket lying in the U.S. Capitol. Pictured above (bottom) is President Donald Trump walking in the White House with Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Pictured on the left is Barrett’s swearing in photo. Photos borrowed with permission from Wikicommons.
A new Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett, replaces the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. BY CALLIE CAMERON A&E EDITOR
F
ollowing a unanimous vote by the Judiciary Committee Oct. 27, the Senate confirmed Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to become the 115th Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Barrett’s appointment to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was pushed through the Republican majority Senate in a short month. At the age of 48, Barrett could easily serve more than three decades. However, no matter how long she sits on the bench, no one is going to forget the conditions she got there anytime soon. After a rushed appointment and amid controversy from White House Ceremonies, she currently faces a sworm of voting-related appeals. Barret began her Supreme Court tenure one week before the Election Day, Nov. 3. She could not begin the usual bonding rituals with her coworkers due to COVID-19 restrictions. As President Donald Trump’s nomination, her senate vote 52-48 was one of the closest in history according to CNN sources. The American Bar Association gave Barrett its highest rating, and she has an impressive track record across the legal profession as a judge, professor and litigator. She is the first justice serving also as a mother of schoolaged children, as well as the fifth woman to ever serve. She and
2020 Presidential Election Results
her husband, Jesse Barrett, are currently raising a child with down syndrome and a second child from Haiti. She is the only current justice to have a law degree from a school other than Havard or Yale. She graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 1997 at the top of her class. As a woman of “sterling character” and “impeccable credentials” according to President Trump, Justice Barrett made clear she will issue rulings based upon a faithful reading of the law and the Constitution as written - not to legislate from the bench. Her sheer presence on a new 6-3, conservative-liberal bench could transform laws in America for generations, affecting abortion and religious rights, LGBTQ protections, and the scope of federal regulatory control over the environment, workplace safety and consumer protection. Barrett has made her philosophy clear: she will not legislate from the bench. Courts have a vital responsibility to the rule of law, which is critical to a free society, but courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life according to Barrett in her confirmation hearings. “The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches, elected by and accountable to the people,” Barrett said.
Did you vote in the 2020 election? 35 30 15 10 5
Biden: 306 votes
Trump: 232 votes
0 No
Yes
Not Old Enough
*survey out of 90 students
December 2020 // 07
feature
Leaping High
Through dance, sophomore Kaitlyn Miller has explored her talent and has grown and learned through her movements.(Photo sumbitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
KAITLYN MILLER T h e
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Q u e e n
o f
D a n c e
Sophomore Kaitlyn Miller builds her dance career. BY KEELY SCHIEFFER CO PHOTO EDITOR
W
alking out on the stage- fierce and alone. All the rigorous hours of practice for only a few minutes of movement. The intensity and music pick up and she lets go and embraces the beat as she dances her solo under the spotlight. “My favorite thing about dance is getting to express myself and I feel so free,” sophomore Kaitlyn Miller said. “I always look forward to being able to go to dance every night.” Miller became a dancer at the age of two and has worked at it ever since. According to Miller’s mother, Alison Miller, she has grown from a young girl and expressed herself through her movements. Throughout her dance career, she has cycled through various studios until finding the right fit for her. “I currently dance at Premier Dance in Olathe, Kansas,” Miller said. “When we moved over to Kansas this summer, we were looking for a studio that would provide excellent training and travel opportunities.” Along with Miller practicing at Premier Dance, Miller competes there as well. The studio provides a positive environment for Miller that encourages and helps her to
feature grow in all aspects of dance, while also allowing her to receive top-notch training that has helped her rise to her full potential, according to Alison. Miller has been pushed through constructive criticism, but it has helped her improve drastically in the long run and has prepared her for her school dance team, according to Miller.
“I am most proud of the effort, passion and determination Kaitlyn has put into her dancing. She is always striving to be better and to grow from every experience.” -Alison Miller “Kaitlyn really enjoys Sion dance team because it allows her to represent her school while doing something she loves,” Alison said. “She adores the coaches and her teammates.” Miller tried out for her school dance team her freshman year. Their rigorous practice schedule allowed her to compete in many competitions including State and Nationals. The daily practices also gave her recognition through many awards and earning certain dance parts in her team routines. Miller earned and won a solo dance at the Missouri State Competition. “Some of the major challenges I have
faced are foot injuries and perfectionism,” Miller said. “I have learned that I can only work to achieve excellence and that perfection is unattainable.” Through her dance career, Miller has hit bumps along the way, both physically and mentally. Although painful, she was able to work through her physical injuries, such as her foot injury. Mentally, she works through rough performances, nerves, anxiety and being judged by total strangers, but she has learned to deal with them and gain strength from her experiences according to Alison. “My biggest accomplishments are winning first overall at Starquest Nationals in Galveston, Texas 2019, winning state with Sion dance team in 2020, and winning scholarships at conventions and competitions,“ Miller said. As Miller defeats her challenges, she sets out to win various awards through competing, whether with her studio or school dance team. She has achieved awards for her skill, as well as lessons and growth from practicing, such as becoming stronger and more courageous and pursuing opportunities to compete, audition and perform that help her step outside her comfort zone and work toward her future according to Alison. “I think she is very passionate about dance and it is very evident in her commintment to the sport,” dance team member senior Maddie Malone said.
1. Go Fight Win
Sophomore Kaitlyn Miller competes in Nationals at ESPN Wide World Sports in Disney with her high school team Feb. 2019. (Photo sumbitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
2. 11 Year Legacy
Sophomore Kaitlyn Miller and senior Kaitlyn Quinn wear their medals to celebrate their team’s 11-year State champion streak. (Photo sumbitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
3.
3. Family Business
Sophomore Kaitlyn Miller and her sister Karleigh Miller practice their leg holds and arabesque in a field of flowers Sept. 13. (Photo submitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
1.
4. New Studio, No Problem
Sophomore Kaityln Miller competes with her teammates at her new studio, Premiere Dance. (Photo submitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
5. Eat, Sleep, Compete
2.
4.
5.
At 2019 Dance Nationals, sophomore Kaitlyn Miller competed alongside her team and celebrated their placing with their trophy afterwards. (Photo submitted by Kaitlyn Miller)
December 2020 // 09
opinion
W hy d i et c u l tu r e I s D A M A G I N G In an era of diet culture and body shaming, restrictive and unhealthy diets are becoming increasingly toxic in today’s society. During the age of social media standards and photoshop, toxic dieting and eating disorders are becoming more prevalent, especially in the current generation. Hourglass figures and other unrealistic beauty standards flood Instagram feeds. The culture of having to look a certain way to obtain self worth must stop. In order to expand on why dieting culture is toxic to the current generation, it’s best to define what dieting culture is and where it likely stems from. Diet culture is a belief that size and shape define one’s self worth. It also includes, but is not limited to, strict eating schedules, excessive weighing and eating disorders. An example of a toxic diet is the “Five Bite Diet” which was started by California internist Alwin Lewis. He composed the diet of skipping breakfast and only having five bites of food for lunch and dinner. He claims that the Five Bite Diet causes someone to lose 15 pounds a week. Not only does this restrict
10 // LeJournal
a human’s daily needed nutrients but his goal for those who participate in the diet is maintaining a body mass index of 18.5 which is extremely unhealthy. Dieting is supported by celebrities such as Bella Hadid and Kourtney Kardashian. Models and other influencers in society’s spotlight promote these diets to their expansive audience which heavily inspires their fans to participate in these unhealthy motivations. Body image and insecurity has plagued women for decades. An ever changing expectation of how to look and how to act affects how women view themselves and their bodies. Unrealistic body standards like an hourglass figure and a thigh gap are just a few recent “trends” in women’s beauty and body expectations. Among all of the unhealthy trends, a new wave of body positivity and inclusivity is emerging. Trends embracing one’s natural body have begun to take over the toxic dieting and self hatred world. A number on a scale or a size on a pair of jeans does not define someone’s worth or capacity to be loved. Realizing self worth and devoting oneself to staying healthy, mentally and physically, is the first step in destroying diet culture and its effects on future generations. This editorial reflects the views of the Le Journal staff. Fifteen out of sixteen voted in favor of this editorial.
opinion
Like, Comment and Share As the need for a strong sense of advocacy grows, society uses repost culture to share opinions, however this comes with certain drawbacks. STORY & DESIGN BY LIV ZENDER REPORTER In recent months, reposts filled with political and inspirational opinions flooded onto user’s Instagram stories. Such efforts at advocacy, while well intentioned, have consequences. The approach allows for the normalization of minimal effort, and it leads to education about worldly problems, political, humanitarian, etc. This subconsciously leads society to believe the problem at hand is on a smaller scale when it is actually a major issue. The growth of younger generations such as Gen Z is stunted by reposting, thereby limiting their ability to make social change. Many perceive constant reposting as a useful tool for change. This is true to a certain extent. However, the rapid development of this strategy caused overuse, which in turn led to complacency. For example, awareness about feminism movements quickly spread through people’s Instagram stories. However, the culture of constantly sharing inspirational or informational posts to one’s Instagram account makes less of a difference than one may think. An overload of information about feminism led to people subconsciously learning to ignore these posts, which defeats the purpose of reposting in the first place. The constant influx of new facts and opinions leads to the brain automatically not paying attention to subjects constantly reported on. Using social media and reposting as a form of advocacy makes it very easy for just about anybody to support something they are passionate about. However, this practice allows, or perhaps even encourages, people to give the minimum effort possible. According to a social media guide by SOVA, resources such as Instagram and Twitter have the possibility of being a very helpful support system. But on the other hand, it is just too easy. A person could repost inspirational posts about feminism everyday but the only people familiarized with the topic are the same couple hundred followers of that account. When people only view reposts on their feed, it appears to be enough, but this is simply not correct. This strategy for advocacy also has a minimizing effect on the problem or movement. Reposting being the main method of advocacy means that society bases even the most important international events around social media. Social media and the messages it spreads do not have the power to solve widespread complications due to its unreliability and often incorrect information. While reposts impact those who do not research on their own by exposing them to worthwhile facts, more than anything it allows for the enhancement and absorption of misinformation and subconsciously makes the
issue less important to those active on social media. An extremely relevant example is the multitude of misinformation about COVID-19 that social media spreads on the daily. According to a report by Nature Science, scientists use the term “infodemic” to represent society’s reaction to the deadly pandemic. Certain repost trends create a downplaying effect on the seriousness of the virus. Displaying this diminished reaction, people in Lombardy, of northern Italy, who heard news of a second lockdown showed a heightened concern over the idea of the lockdown rather than the imminent pandemic at hand. The Italian prime minister planned to deliver the news himself. However, social media leaked the plans for lockdown in the hours before, causing a frenzy that led to thousands of people boarding planes and trains to get out before the official lockdown began. Information spread by social media did not allow for the Lombardy citizens to properly prepare for lockdown, but instead it led to an increase and spread of cases. The detrimental aspects of repost culture continue to escalate and create long term effects especially on the younger generations that use social media the most, specifically Gen Z. This age group has the highest percentage of users (44% of Gen Z are on their accounts hourly according to america.edu), experienced the digital era as children, and witnessed extreme amounts of social and political conflict and change from a young age. Regardless, making a habit out of reposting as a primary form of advocacy only leads to long term effects on growth and a lack of attraction to push for progress. With more power and opportunities available to make change, Gen Z as adults need motivation for advocating. Without motivation to advocate the future lacks potential. If the habit of just reposting starts now and continues without correction, the ability to pull away from scrolling through Instagram, liking political posts, resharing them on personal accounts and signing fake petitions is a skill this generation does not possess. This generation is the face of the future, with arguably the most progressive ideas yet. As advocacy norms continue to be based in social media, growth is hard to come by. It is not too late to fix the problems that lay ahead. Simply put, repost culture is the easy way out. It is the perfect way to give minimal effort but convince oneself and their social media followers otherwise, but it cannot and must not last. If repost culture continues to be the new normal, the few people that do truly advocate for themselves will tire of doing it alone with little support from others. In a nutshell, if social media continues on its current path, it negatively affects the present day and the future. This culture as a whole creates a false reality. Posting on social media is never enough to make the change anybody wants to see. But people continue to convince themselves that this is the case. Digging deeper down into a hole of false reality. The fact still remains, progress needs to be made, and it needs to happen fast. Change is not possible until every single person remembers to advocate for what she or he believes in.
December 2020 // 11
opinion
the party’s over As seasonal flus and holiday gatherings grow near, it is important to take precautions in light of the growing COVID-19 infection rate. BY FEATURES EDITOR SOFIA AGUAYO & PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AVERY BRUNDIGE
S
tudents have been hearing these words since school began in August: “We’re taking these precautions so you will be able to continue coming in to school.” The first time the virus forced school to move to connected learning followed Halloween weekend. This is no coincidence. A large number of students went to non socially-distanced Halloween parties despite persistent instructions to consider the safety of their communities. According to Center for Disease Control guidelines, everyone must practice social distancing and wear masks when attending gatherings, especially if they are in an enclosed space such as a basement. With COVID-19 cases spiking up in the Midwest higher than ever before, students should keep in mind the broader community and take the proper precautions if they chose to socialize outside of school. Following the ever-changing CDC guidelines and limiting the people in a “social circle” are very challenging tasks and require enormous amounts of self restraint and responsibility; however, they are tasks citizens must complete if the country wants to see a change in the trajectory of future COVID-19 cases. If students still wish to be noncompliant with these guidelines, then they need to take other precautions to ensure that even their most vulnerable peers feel comfortable coming into school. An example of this could be to take up the offered option to learn from home through connected learning. This is a reasonable compromise, allowing the students freedom during their weekends while maintaining a healthy and safe environment at school. Although the likelihood of students developing harmful or life-threatening symptoms comes out to be very low compared to the statistics for adults and elderly, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 tracking, it is necessary to consider the wellbeing of the
teachers and faculty members that risk their own exposure to the virus coming into school everyday. In the week following Halloween, there were at least five adult members of the Sion Community that tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email sent out by Alicia Kotarba. While grateful that none of these adults became severely sick, it is truly alarming that there was large potential for a much more grave outcome. Students should take all their teachers and more vulnerable individuals they come in contact with into consideration next time they think about attending a party and remember that their decision can entirely alter the life of another. Following Halloween weekend, COVID-19 cases spiked 74% in the state of Missouri, according to the New York Times. Missouri is following a trend of about 5,000 cases per day. That is nearly five times more cases than the state’s previous spike which, in its peak, produced about 1,000 per day. Increasing leniency combined with seasonal festivities and travel are surefire superspreaders, according to the CDC’s Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings guidelines. Although the pandemic can be incredibly isolating, remaining distanced and following the appropriate CDC guidelines and suggestions will support normalcy in the near future. Other events that have recently sparked controversy and a climb in cases include political rallies and celebrations. The Black Lives Matter rallies in early summer were originally met with pushback, as major cities were experiencing incredible spikes in case numbers at the time. More recent examples of major crowds include Trump Rallies, The MAGA March and Presidential Elect Joe Biden’s party in the streets. Street celebrations and rallies do not hold the same weight as civil rights marches and therefore do not hold the same power to temporarily break COVID-19 restrictions. To gather in support or celebration does not even compare to the historical significance of the Black Lives Matter. While cases climb amvvong gatherings and holidays, the question lingers: when will the country return to normalcy? The answer: the nation may decide. Evaluate the extent to which the itch to gather exceeds the need to learn in a safe school environment. Evaluate whether a traditional Thanksgiving celebration outweighs the repercussions of settling for another year of ineffectual masks and social distancing. Evaluate what sacrifices must be made to secure this fleeting normality.
Missouri Daily COVID-19 Case Count 5,000 CASES
MARCH
12 // LeJournal
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
According to The COVID Tracking Project
opinion
Is it constitutional for masks to be mandated?
13%
maybe
7% no 80% yes
“I don’t know if it is constitutional for masks to be mandated, but I feel like masks should be mandated because it helps keep people safe. Wearing a mask is not that hard to do.” SOPHOMORE MAKAYLA HEBERT
Do you think online school is bad for your mental health? no- 18%
yes- 82%
“It can be extremely detrimental for anyone’s mental health to be trapped in your house all the time, and imagine what that’s like for someone who has or was having mental health issues before any of this started.” FRESHMAN GRACIE ORF
How has COVID-19 affected you? family member has had it
Friends have had it
i have had it
not at all
Have your personal COVID restrictions become more lenient since summer began?
33% no
62%
Do you think it is acceptable for people to break COVID guidelines in light of a protest or social movement?
yes
maybe
no
Do you think another nationwide lockdown would be beneficial?
no
38% yes
67% yes Did you attend a halloween party? “I think so many people are already financially struggling that this would cause us to go right back where we started. It’s easy to say ‘Oh, we can shut down the whole country,’ but a lot of us teenagers don’t deal with losing a job that we actually need to provide for a family.” SENIOR SOPHIA ALLEN
THE
stats
December 2020 // 13
cover story
EMPOWERED EMPOWERED Body image plays an important role in the lives of adolescents and is heavily impacted by society and parental figures. BY CO-PRINT-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MADELINE HAMMETT & COPY EDITOR KATE MCCARTHY Fat. Skinny. Chubby. Bony. Overweight. Underweight. These descriptive words have shifted in their connotation to become shameful words in our society rather than what their intended purpose was: scientific and informational. These words and phrases have taken on a life of their own as they are now used by society to criticize, attack, and break down the way different bodies are viewed. “The definition of body image is really important because if you are using positive body image as something to live up to, then that becomes just one more thing to do.” Nutrition Therapist and Eating Disorder Dietitian Corrine Dobbas, MS, RD said. For teens it feels like ‘if I don’t love my body then I am failing’.” Positive body image is not believing what society claims to be the ideal body and trying to become that. Positive body image is fluctuating and something that takes time, it is important to love who you are as a person too, according to Dobbas. “Having a positive body image doesn’t mean you wake up and start loving your body every moment of every single day,” Dobbas said. “It is being caring and compassionate and kind with yourself in those moments where you feel less connected to your body.” Hereditary body image is a very difficult thing that many families struggle with. It is often accidental when motherly and
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fatherly figures impose the way they view and feel about their body onto their children. Despite its accidental nature, it is something that happens much more often than not. Body image is a difficult topic to bring up and address in families despite its prevalence in many homes, especially homes where teens reside. “The way that family members talk about bodies has a really significant impact on the relationship that teenagers have with their own bodies and food,” Dobbas said. When key figures in the home view their bodies as lesser than, restrict food, choose to go on unhealthy diets or avidly work out without refueling with proper nutrients, children will naturally follow those same tendencies at an earlier age. This tendency to follow as they have seen is only natural. Though this may not be the intent, interactions in the homes such as those above can lead to eating disorders in children, parents or both. “If you have a parent who is constantly talking about how their body is bad or is making comments about other people in larger bodies that are negative then there is going to be great risks as a teen,” Dobbas said. Eating disorders come in many shapes and forms of internal and external scrutiny and are not a linear battle. More often than not, they are not easy to see from the outward appearance of a
cover story person, but rather involve a great deal of mental and emotional turmoil on top of the physical battle. “Eating disorders come in all different genders, sizes and ethnicities. You could be in a larger body and still be anorexic,” Dobbas said. “When somebody in a larger body starts losing weight and they get praise from society, that furthers the eating disorder.” When talking about body image, eating disorders are always something that will come up because of their prevalence especially within the adolescent age group. Often, eating disorders tend to chase people who already struggle with negative body image which is why it can be so prevalent. “Eating disorders and negative body image don’t happen in a vacuum, they happen for a reason,” Dobbas said. “That could be because internally, they aren’t sure how to cope with messages about food and body or how to cope with stressing emotions.” In a home where both parents and children struggle with seeing their bodies in a negative light, eating disorders are more likely to occur and harder to fight. They are more difficult to overcome because eating disorders are an intense emotional, mental and physical battle that require full dedication and commitment to be able to beat. “If a family system is constantly focusing on ‘these foods are good, these foods are bad’ that can create a lot of fear for kids and teenagers - and for adults as well,” Dobbas said. “It is really important to understand that eating disorders and negative body image don’t just happen for no reason.” A strong support system is required to be able to successfully battle an eating disorder. When both parents and children struggle with the way they see their bodies and potentially having mirrored struggles with eating disorders, that makes fighting off an eating disorder even more difficult. When neither the children nor the parents are strong enough to support the other, that leads to a dangerous spiral of eating disorder relapse. “The parents and how bodies and food are talked about have a significant impact on the kids and the whole family system as a whole,” Dobbas said. The impact that parents have on a child’s body image and the
role hereditary body image plays in that is critical to be aware of because of potential future consequences. “The reality is our bodies are always going to change,” Dobbas said. “Your 17-year-old body will look different then your 40-yearold body. If we put all this emphasis on liking how we look or liking how other people think we look then we will always be disappointed because we will change.” Body positivity can put focus on looks rather than loving selves as a whole being. People are so much more than their appearance, according to Counselor Erika Ellwanger. Using the term body positivity in conjunction with what the body does for us - our heart beating, breathing, moving, thinking and on and on might be the better way to reference body positivity. “I think redefining standards could help improve the mental health for not only adolescents but women and men of all ages,” Ellwanger said. “We base our self worth on numbers on the scale rather than being who we are. Think about what we can accomplish or how we could feel if we used that energy in other ways!” Society plays a huge role in body image as well. Instagram likes, TikTok saves, retweets, and Snapchat stories all play small parts in the huge game of comparison. Comparison is a dangerous game to play, and one that often ends in self depreciation. Junior Addi Diaz is all too familiar with this game of comparison. “‘Skinny equals successful’, I told myself daily,” Diaz said. ”I began starving myself and making myself throw up every day in between ballet classes. I didn’t care that starving myself wasn’t healthy, I just wanted to fit in.” Diaz has chosen to claim her body as her own rather than allow society to shame it with preconceived notions and stereotypes. Her story, along with others, are victories being claimed and stories waiting to be shared. “Is it worth it? I always told myself that ‘yes’, it’s worth it if I end up skinny, then everyone will want me and respect me,” Diaz said. “I’ve very recently learned that it truly is not worth it. Go live your life because at the end of the day when you are on your deathbed you are not going to remember how much you weighed at sixteen years old.”
posing for positivity Students volunteered to participate in a body positivity photo shoot on Nov. 23. “Body positivity means no judgement based on what body type you are,” senior Cirese Mendolia said. “It’s embracing your inner beauty instead of setting yourself on a scale of society’s beauty standards.” (photos by Madeline Hammett)
December 2020 // 15
Your Your Stories Stories
cover story
16 // LeJournal
aprille castaneda
mae trotter “In 6th grade I became active on social media which was the start of many insecurities. I feel like a lot of girls’ body insecurities stem from what they see on social media. Looking at instagram models and seeing girls with “the perfect” body makes you realize how different you look from them and it can be exhausting. I often felt like I wasn’t enough or needed to change the way I looked, but my mindset is improving as I get older. I’ve realized that just because those girls we see on social media look like they have the perfect bodies and lives, most of the time they aren’t actually happy. Many people photoshop their pictures to change the way their body looks, or they aren’t eating enough to achieve their appearance. Although I still am very insecure, like many other girls our age, I have started realizing what’s actually important, which is staying happy and healthy instead of comparing yourself to people on social media.”
“My journey with self-image and body image has been rough. Growing up, I felt as if I was too chubby and had “boyish” features. When I started high school, I was very insecure, and that’s something that’s only gotten worse with social media. Junior year I had an eating disorder and would go days without eating because I hated what I saw in the mirror. I am slowly recovering from it, but the weight gain I got from recovering has been rough for me. I am still learning to love myself for who I am what I look like, but I feel as if I’ll always continue to love my body more as time goes on because, in the end, I should feel beautiful in my own skin and not worry about what others have to say.”
The Gibson Girl
The Soft Siren
long neck sloped shoulders small waist inspired by Evelyn Nesbit
1910
The Hourglass
small curves small bust line petite inspired by Dolores de Rio
1920 1920 The Flapper flat-chested petite small hips small bust inspired by Mary Pickford
1930
tiny waist large-chested rounded shape inspired by Jessica Rabbit
1940
1950 1950
Star-Spangled Girl broad shoulders square silhouette long-limbed inspired by Rosie Riveter
bridget mcdaniel
megan propeck
“My struggle with my body began in 8th grade when I started medication to help with my period. I gained weight from it and my mom started to point it out. She had little comments that made me feel awful. She was trying to help but in the moment those comments just brought my confidence even more down. Posts on social media don’t help either. Everything on my feed or for you page was just girls with flat stomachs. That definitely didn’t make me feel better about my body. I still am not totally happy with the way my body looks but I’ve grown to be more confident which is definitely a step in the right direction.”
“I was never really someone who was into the ‘accept yourself’ stuff. I never had really been someone who had been confident in my body until last year. I started working out more and eating better. I wasn’t really confident. All my friends were smaller than me, I always felt like a bigger friend. After quarantine started, I started using fitness to keep a schedule. It was good for me because I made a lot of progress in my headspace and fitness. I was working out a lot and I wasn’t eating enough. As an athlete, I knew I shouldn’t be stick thin - that doesn’t work in my sport. I wasn’t fueling my body in the way I know to now. I started to learn to not view food as an enemy or to not work out to make up for eating. Instead, I learned to see food as fuel for my body.”
cover story
reece howard
shannon karlin
“As a kid I never really struggled with body image because it wasn’t a focus in my life. As I got older and started to use social media, though, that’s when insecurities started creeping into my life. I was affected by the way we are pushed to have certain body types. I’m a size 12-14 but knowing social media wants a size 0-4 really started to affect my mindset. I started struggling really deeply and felt really insecure about everything about myself. My relationship with food was truly messed up. I struggled a ton with calorie counting and I was eating 1400 calories a day and sometimes even less. I wasn’t getting the things my body needed, but I didn’t care because all I cared about was getting smaller. I realized I couldn’t do that to myself anymore and deleted the app I was using to calorie count. I still struggled a lot with insecurities even though my relationship with food was better. Recently, body positivity really started to take over the media and I began to see it alot. The more and more it grew I started personally following those body positive influencers. These body positive influencers have helped me a lot to personally love who I am and begin my journey to self love and a better relationship with food. I, Reece, love the way that I am even if social media doesn’t.”
“One of my trainers said I was going to get stronger arms. I wanted to get stronger. Once I actually got bigger arms, I thought I looked so maslcuine and not feminine and cute or skinny and small and short. It hurt my self esteem a little because I’m not as pretty and because I look more manly with all my muscles, but then I was listening to a podcast recently and it was like, ‘our bodies aren’t something to be looked at or used and it should be a good thing to have all those muscles because it shows how much strength you have.’ So then I could appreciate it more. I thought that was really cool. I think it’s a good way to look at it. At least I’m hella strong.”
The Disco Diva
The Waif
flat stomach slim hips lean torso inspired by Farrah Fawcett, Beverly Johnson & Darnella Thomas
1960
1970
The Twig narrow hips doll-faced smaller bust inspired by Twiggy & Jean Shrimpton
sophia grantham “Some days I feel like I’m not super premature - I feel like everybody has those days. Sometimes I accept that I am and I either work out or dress up and take pictures and I instantly feel better. I never really looked in the mirror and thought I was ugly, which I know a lot of girls my age struggle with, and I think it’s because of my amazing mother. She, from the beginning of time, put sticky notes on my mirror of positive things. I think that really helped stop those thoughts.”
The Booty Babe
slim-framed petite unathletic inspired by Kate Moss
1980 The Supermodel tall “legs for days” toned inspired by Naomi Campbell
1990
large butt curves flat stomach inspired by Kim Karsashian, Nikki Manaj & J Lo
2000 1950
2010
The Buff Beauty washboard abs spray tans toned inspired by Giselle Bundchen
addi diaz
“My journey with body image has been a long one. I started training as a pre-professional ballerina when I was 11 years old and that quickly altered my perception of my body image. I never had cared about what I looked like until one day when I was about 13 years old, a girl had commented on my looks saying to me, ‘Do you have an eating disorder or something?’ That comment completely changed the way I saw myself, and it began my journey with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. I began watching everything I put into my body, wanting to be like everyone else and stay as skinny as I possibly could. One day, I injured myself and I gained quite a bit of weight from the time off. When I could be physically active again I was told I needed to “lose my tummy” and “suck in my butt” from ballet teachers and that pressure made my ED flare up more so than ever. I began body checking every possible second that I could, hardcore dieting, working out and overexerting myself. Then, I was told that I needed to get surgery which ended in me gaining about 25 pounds in about a 3 month time period. That was a year ago, and my journey towards recovery is still continuing to this day. I see a nutritionist and an eating disorder therapist weekly to help me stay balanced and keep me feeling more motivated. Recovery is extremely challenging and I learn more and more about myself each day. It is remarkably hard to exist as a teenage girl in this generation, there is pressure not just from yourself, but from everyone around you.”
December 2020 // 17
A&E
ICED OUT SNOBUH 1599 Iron St, North Kansas City, MO 64116
$ Snobuh, located in the Iron District of Northern Kansas City, has a limited menu of two flavors, changing weekly, and an assortment of toppings. The cookie monster ice cream had an aesthetically pleasing appearance as it was a blue swirled vegan icecream decorated with crushed oreos and pocky sticks. Although it is pleasing to the eye, the first bite left me disappointed as it simply lacked flavor and was unenjoyable. Service was fast, but the server was standoffish and unhelpful. The parking lot was tiny, hard to access and completely filled. The atmosphere of the Iron District was cute and rustic, with buildings made out of recycled shipping containers. The area offered an alternative vibe complimented by the colorful ice cream. Overall, I would not recommend venturing to Snobuh as its location is simply out of the way and unnecessary, there is better ice cream within the radius of Kansas City.
I CECREAM BAE 5260 W 116th Pl, Leawood, KS 66211
$$ Ice Cream Bae, currently located in Leawood and planning to reopen a location at the Country Club Plaza, offers consumers an affordable menu of an assortment of flavors of ice cream, without exceeding 8 dollars. The fluffy vanilla swirl topped with fresh strawberries was as delicious as it looked. The service was moderately slow but the servers were helpful even as the place was crowded with families and young couples. Overall it was worth the wait. Having a simple, modern black and white theme, Ice Cream Bae attracts the eye through the window down the street with its neon blue light up sign. Located a block away from a parking garage while offering parallel parking in front of the enterprise, parking was efficient. I would definitely recommend this shop to anyone who enjoys an aesthetically pleasing sweet treat.
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Ice cream shops Snobuh and Ice Cream Bae offer customers unique experience. BY ELLA ROGGE EDITORIAL EDITOR
A&E
HOLIDAY FEAST-IVITIES
Six winter treats to enjoy with the people you love this holiday season MAGGIE MCKINNEY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NUTMEG LOGS
UPSIDE DOWN GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
PASTICHO
“This recipe is one of my family’s favorite traditions. These cookies are delicious and always a huge hit at family gatherings.”Cara Ostomel ‘00
“This cake has been in my family’s recipe book since my mother was little. The tradition of making it each year is something I constantly look forward to.”senior Violet Tumlin Photo by MCT Campus
“It is a tradition in our family to make pasticho for Christmas because something about all cooking together and enjoying all the yummy dishes just brings everyone together.”- freshman Gioia Serra Photo by Maggie McKinney
PUMPKIN NUT BREAD
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Photo by Maggie McKinney
HOMEMADE NOODLES
“My family piles the noodles with their gravy over everything like dressing, potatoes and turkey. Then they eat it like a soup too.”- freshman Lucy Shively Photo by MCT Campus
“I love this recipe. It’s easy to make, and it’s something I’ve enjoyed for the longest time. It always reminds me of the holidays.”- senior Megan Aldaco Photo by Maggie McKinney
“I like this macaroni and cheese recipe because it is so simple and yummy, and it can compliment any meat really well.” -freshman Toni Gooden Photo by Maggie McKinney
SCAN HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPES ON LEJOURNALLIVE.COM
December 2020 //19
feature
EAT SLEEP NAILS REPEAT Find out how five students use nail art as a form of self expression. BY MORGAN HERRIOTT PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
JULIANA VERGARA Junior Juliana Vergara expresses her own sense of creativity through both her own nails and the nails of anyone who asks. Vergara took up painting nails as a hobby a little less than a year ago. She not only does her own nails regularly, but also her mom’s and sister’s. In addition to this, she also did her mom’s, aunt’s and grandma’s nails for a wedding. Her inspiration often comes from Pinterest or YouTube. “I experiment more with my own nails, but I also look up different designs to do,” Vergara said. “Like a couple weeks ago, I did clear nails with colored designs on them because I had been seeing them all over Pinterest.”
MIA LEGATO Senior Mia Legato gets her nails done at Ardor Nails by Town Center Plaza. Legato enjoys expressing her creativity by getting both unique and trendy designs each time. She finds her inspiration through social media platforms including Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok. Bold designs with intricate detail are always her go-to. “I usually always go with designs and usually start trying to find inspiration a couple days before I get them done,” Legato said. “I always go for the bold designs with detail, because I feel like those are the kind that make people notice them.”
CIRESE MENDOLIA Senior Cirese Mendolia enjoys getting her nails done at the salon, as it’s a tradition she and her mom have had since Mendolia was little. She finds joy when the residents at her place of work, Mission Chateau, are excited to see her colored nails. She keeps an updated board on Pinterest for all of her inspiration. “I love a good bold color, and my nails are always done in bright colors,” Mendolia said. “My favorite nails I’ve had were for sure my matte green ones. Green is such an outcast color for no reason and I personally loved them.”
GIOIA SERRA Freshman Gioia Serra enjoys the luxury of getting her nails done at the salon, but typically does her own nails at home. Her inspiration usually is more from a go with the flow mentality. Her style is usually fairly simplistic, but she also goes for the added spice of jewels or unique designs from time to time. Serra says that she enjoys having her nails done because it overall makes her feel more put together. “I just go with what I’m feeling and what color will still look good after a couple weeks,” Serra said. “My favorite nails I’ve done on myself would have to be when I tried dip powder for the first time. They were dark grey with sparkle over top and they turned out really well.”
NATALIE STAPP Freshman Natalie Stapp does her own nails, and has been doing so for around 6 months. She also does nails for family and friends, and says those are some of her favorite sets. She pulls inspiration from Pinterest and also draws out her design plan so she has an idea of what she wants before going in. “I really don’t have a style, it’s just what I’m feeling in the moment,” Stapp said. “Some days I love doing intricate designs that are very precise, others I like to do a plain color in a bright, pastel or neutral.” (All photos submitted by students)
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feature PRETTY IN PINK
Junior Marie Messerli is another student who expresses her personality through her nails. “I do them myself and usually just paint them a solid color and then decide if I want to add a design or just leave them,” Messerli said. “I usually keep them pretty simple.” (Photo submitted by Marie Messerli)
December 2020 // 21
sports
Meet Your
Captains As the next season approaches, captains are introduced for this year’s winter sports.
Paxton Misesmer ~ Dive Best pump up song? Power- Kanye West Go-to pre meet snack? Either bananas and peanut butter or a protein bar Favorite dive memory? Taking a minnow shot at initiation last year What are you looking forward to most this season? Making the most out of my last season & cherishing every moment
BY LAUREN SHAW NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR
Kate Conway ~ Swim Best pump up song? Anything from Big Time Rush Go-to pre meet snack? Fruit or a protein bar Favorite swim memory? The Columbia meet last year What are you looking forward to most this season? Just having a season and getting to be apart of my favorite team again
Shannon Karlin ~ Basketball Best pump up song? Lose Yourself- Eminem Go-to pre game snack? Body Armor and a Hüma gel Favorite basketball memory? Winning the Irish Cup last year What are you looking forward to most this season? Working hard and having fun day in and day out with all of my amazing teammates
Emma Grojean ~ Swim Best pump up song? Thunder- ACDC Go-to pre meet snack? Granola bars and Jimmy Johns Favorite swim memory? Excitement of ILC’s & personal bests; competing against STA What are you looking forward to most this season? Swimming, cheering on my teamates & dual meets
Olivia Shively ~ Basketball Best pump up song? Determinate- Lemonade Mouth Go-to pre game snack? Elizabeth Granola bar or a banana Favorite basketball memory? Beating STA twice last year and traveling to St. Louis What are you looking forward to most this season? Playing with some of my favorite people and having fun
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SITTING IN THE HALL OF FAME
sports
The golf team’s journey of placing second at the state match to then being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. STORY AND DESIGN BY KATE CONWAY CO-PHOTO-EDITOR
T
he golf team was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, Nov. 15 acknowledged for being a team who has achieved stellar things in the sports world of Missouri. The induction was held at the HyVee Arena in downtown Kansas City and the varsity team and coaches were recognized for their achievements. “When I found out about the induction I was so proud to be a part of Sion and everything I have worked for with the team,” senior golfer Lia Johnson said. “It feels amazing to be recognized in that way after all these years and including the team’s past accomplishments” Competing at the state match this year under no ideal conditions proved that this group of girls is one of the most hard-working teams. “The environment was intimidating for me because it was my first year going to state but in the end it was a lot of fun,” junior golfer Sophia McClure said. The match was held on Oct. 19 to the 20. Although the match was not under ideal circumstances, the team managed to succeed regardless. “We played in horrible rain and 40, most of us couldn’t feel our hands on the first day,” senior Megan Propeck said. “It was super long
and then ended up being canceled because the course was completely unplayable.” The state team of seniors Megan Propeck, Lia Johnson, Averi Myrick, Caroline Giocondo, and junior Sophia McClure ended up placing second in the state match as a team. Propeck won the state match but when she was done “ I immediately went to find her teammates to see where they were as a team.” Being the first Sion team to be inducted into the hall of fame is very meaningful to the team. “I could have never imagined being a part of,” Johnson said. “This accomplishment has made me realize how special our team and Sion is and I will remember this forever.” The event had many speakers and other inductees, one of the being former Kansas City Royals player Alex Gordon. The team felt honored to be recognized along with all the other inductees according to McClure. “The induction will always have a special place in my heart. Being inducted makes me realize how all of the team’s hard work has paid off,” Giocondo said. “It makes me happy knowing that all the deserving Sion golfers are being recognized for their talent and contribution to the team.”
AN UN-FORE-GETABLE INDUCTION
The varsity golf team of Lia Johnson, Caroline Giocondo, Megan Propeck, Averi Myrick, Sophia McClure, and Taylor Crouch surrounded by alumni and coaches receive their induction awards at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 15. “Being inducted alongside Alex Gordon and many other incredible athletes and people was an incredible honor,” Propeck said. (Photos submitted by Caroline Giocondo)
TEAM STATS MEGAN PROPECK Propeck’s personal best is a 65. She will continue her golf career at the University of Virginia next year. (Photo submitted by Megan Propeck)
LIA JOHNSON Johnson’s personal best is a 69. She will continue her golf career at Rhodes College next year. (Photo submitted by Lia Johnson)
CAROLINE GIOCONDO Giocondo’s personal best is 71 - 1 under par. She will continue her golf career at Regis next year. (Photo submitted by Caroline Giocondo)
December 2020 // 23
feature
Rock Climbing Rockstar
ONE STEP AT A TIME Freshman Bailey Biggs looks down as she climbs on the side of a cliff. “Indoor climbing is a lot less scary because you’re not on the side of a mountain,“ Biggs said.
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feature
Freshman Bailey Biggs explores her love for rock climbing. BY BRIANNA LEGETTE REPORTER
H
er team is counting on her. Each movement of her hand and foot counts. Exhilaration and fear engross her as she climbs, gaining more and more points. The biweekly three hour practices after school are paying off with every difficult step. As she climbs higher and higher, she is creative with how she places her hand. Freshman Bailey Biggs loves to rock climb. “I just think it’s amazing,” Biggs said. “You’re holding on by your fingertips and I love it so much.” Biggs began rock climbing when she was seven years old after seeing a rock climbing wall at her gymnastics facility, and the rest is history. Biggs has been competitively rock climbing since the fifth grade and she loves it according to her. Competitive rock climbing is split up into indoor and outdoor climbing and the type of rock climbing bouldering and top rope. “With bouldering, you don’t use a rope and the moves are more based on strength than technical skill,” Biggs said, “On top rope, it is more technical and the pieces are smaller.” She usually does top rope climbing because of her petite frame and lack of strength that is required in bouldering, according to Biggs. Biggs prefers indoor rock climbing to outdoor climbing because of the ease and comfort of it. “Climbing indoors is like solving a puzzle,” Biggs said, “You get to explore and try things different ways and figure out what works best for you.” Along with the different types of climbing, her 15 person climbing team is also very important to her. The team practices at Monster Mountain Gym every Wednesday and Friday for three hours after school. After six weeks of practicing, they head out to a competition. “For a competition, it’ll maybe be an hour away,” Biggs said, “It is pretty early in the morning, maybe 6:00am and
drive to the meet.” They arrive at the competition, the team warms up with stretching, running laps and doing jumping jacks. For the actual competition, every member of each team climbs a wall as many times as he or she wants. There is a maximum of 25 points for each competitor. The scoring is based on how far up they make it. For example, if they make it halfway, they receive 15 points. If they make it a quarter of the way, they receive 5 points. “A competition lasts about three hours,” Biggs said, “There are other teams and other cities. My favorite has been in Omaha.” Biggs’s friend since sixth grade, freshman Kate Wren, recounted her experiences with Biggs. Biggs took her rock climbing and now she clearly understands why she loves rock climbing. “She told me that she used to be afraid of heights,” Wren said, “She saw people doing it and really wanted to be high up. I don’t doubt why she likes it.” Biggs said that friends like Wren support her in her rock climbing endeavours. Biggs loves rock climbing because of the fear and exhilaration, but someone who doesn’t love the fear as much is Bailey’s mother, Jana Biggs. “She’s really supportive of me,” Biggs said, “My mom is always a little freaked out when I rock climb because she’s scared.” When asked about Biggs’ rock climbing, Jana expressed that she is apprehensive about it. “She[Biggs] just started a new type of climbing called lead climbing,” Jana said, “And it scares me a lot.” Jana has done rock climbing before and while it terrifies her, she is happy that Biggs likes it. She thinks that it’s great when children find something they are interested in; something they like to do. It gets them involved mentally and physically, according to Jana. Biggs is overjoyed that she has support from her friends and family for what she loves to do. The people that she has met and her experiences she has through rock climbing make it especially important to her. “In my opinion, it’s the best sport ,” Biggs said, “There’s always a little bit of fear, but it’s exhilarating. I love it.”
KEEP REACHING Freshman Bailey Biggs focuses on climbing up the wall. While explaining about rock climbing Biggs said, “It’s tough to plan for things because you are not sure how each rock is going to feel under your hand or under your foot.”
BAILEY N’ FRIENDS Freshman Bailey Biggs and her classmate Kate Wren strike a silly a pose. Biggs said, “My friends are awesome and supportive of me.” (Photos submitted by Bailey Biggs).
December 2020 // 25
WHAT WHACKY XMAS START
A&E
1. What is your favorite Holiday treat?
a. Peppermint Ice Cream b. Hot Chocolate c. Frosted Sugar Cookies d. Gingerbread
2. What is your favorite outdoor winter activity? a. Ice Skating b. Sledding c. Skiing d. Making snowmen
6. What is your dream destination for Christmas vacation? a. A big city b. The mountains c. The beach d. My house
7. What is your favorite winter scent? a. Gingerbread b. Sugar Cookie c. Candy Cane d. Pine Forest
RESULTS: Mostly A’s: I Owe You book You are generally disorganized and often do things last minute. One might describe your energy as chaotic, but you are just a more interesting person because of it. Odds are you won’t have your gifts ready until Christmas Eve or later.
26 // LeJournal
Mostly B’s: Spiralizer -
I OWE YOU
You take pleasure in the little things in life such as a good cup of coffee or a beautiful snowy day. You are definitely considered the “mom” of your friend group and might have been called an old soul from time to time. You have a warm and caring personality.
A&E
GIFT ARE YOU? 3. What is your study style for finals? a. Cram the Night before b. Not studying at all c. The weekend before d. Starting studying over Thanksgiving
4. What is your go-to hot beverage?
a. Frappucinos b. Pumpkin Spice Latte c. Peppermint Mocha d. Hot Black Coffee
5. What is your favorite way to destress? a. Nap b. Bake c. Take a Bath d. Watch Netflix
Mostly C’s: Bug-A-Salt gun You are both eccentric and very practical. You may not consider yourself to be super organized or detail-oriented but you are actually thoughtful which shows through your desire to make others happy.
Mostly D’s: Blown glass Bird You are extremely organized. You plan your gifts months in advance and spend lots of time scouring for the perfect gift. Throughout, your life you may have been called Type A, but it is a compliment because it means you have your stuff together and are a boss! December 2020 // 27
IT’S A
d i v o cchristmas Students participate in safe activities over the Thanksgiving break.
2.
1.
3. 1. OREO DREAMING At a Girl Up holiday season event on Nov. 29, freshman Genesis Martinez-Porras works on her gingerbread house. She chose an Oreo brand house constructing it with mini Oreos and a piping bag full of original Oreo cream.
2. FROSTED FESTIVITIES Over the Thanksgiving break on Nov. 24, freshmen Alyssa Martinez, Caroline Hammett and Maylen Smith got together to build a gingerbread house and listen to Christmas music.
4. 3. ‘TIS THE SEASON During Thanksgiving break on Friday Nov. 27,, senior Audrey O’Brien shares laughs with her friends at their annual “friendsgiving” dinner.
4. IN FULL SWING During her socially distanced Top Golf outing, senior Sophia Allen wound up for a swing at the golf ball. Allen then celebrated as her shot sunk into the large green target 90 yards from her platform.
