LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 41 | October 2021
FEATURE: PAGE 8
ON THE COVER: PAGE 14
A&E: PAGE 26
JUNIOR AME BEETS AUTOCROSS RACING
SLEEP SCIENCE: HOW SLEEP AFFECTS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
FALL RECIPE AND PUMPKIN CARVING IDEAS
what’s inside features
08-09
Ame Beets
04-05
Deep Dive Week
Beeting the Rest
20-21
Morey Williams
Diving into Life Beyond
06-07
Philly Fighter
Night of One Acts
24-25
Uncommon Languages
news and sports
Speak From The Heart
Night Under The Stars
22-23
Takes Two to Tango
Same-sex Dance Couple
opinions
10-11
You Can’t Sit With Us
The Value of Homework
12-13
Attention Spans
Shortened due to Social Media
a&e
18-19
Concerts coming to KC
Concert Conundrum
cover story
14-17 Less Stress More Rest
26-27
Sleep Science In Teens
Fall Recipes and Pumpkins
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
Missouri Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropoliton Kansas City Missouri Journalism Education Association
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
Neal/Settle Printing, Grandview MO
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PRINT CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
ORs-IN-CHIEF
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Sofia Aguayo Kate McCarthy
Ella Rogge
EDITORIALS EDITOR
Elle Simon
A&E EDITOR
Megan Kelley
FEATURES EDITOR
Brianna Legette
Liv Zender Ava Albracht
Lauren Smith
COPY EDITORS
Zahra Parsons Sophie Gromowsky
Autumn Antics
Photo of the issue paparazzi, please Junior Annie Stevens strikes a pose with school mascot, Stormy, at the recruitment tailgate before volleyball senior night. The event was targetted for future Sion students and their relatives. “When I was shadowing in eighth grade, I actually wanted to be Stormy, that dream still lives on,” Stevens said. “I think the tailgate was just fun to see a bunch of young people get excited for Sion.”
editors’ink
H
appy fall y’all! We here on Le Journal hope all you readers enjoyed our first issue, and we are so excited to bring you our second issue of the year. This issue is the perfect read for your sweater weather season, so curl up, grab yourself some coffee, wrap up in a fuzzy blanket and get to reading! This issue is full of fun topics that relate to the teenage lifestyle. Whether reading about the different concerts coming to KC (pg. 18-19), or an opinion piece regarding the value of homework in schools (pg. 10) you can, hopefully, find something in this issue that relates to you. For some fun student features, check out the feature on Ame Beets (pg. 8-9), a race car driver who knows her car information well enough to have taught a deep dive! For another student feature, read about unique bilingual students within the
school who speak anywhere from Burmese, Arabic, French, and even Russian (pg. 24-25). In addition to these student features, read about Morey Williams’ passion for Muay Thai fighting and kickboxing (pg. 20-21) Talk about an empowering woman. If you are feeling artistic, turn to pages 26 and 27 which highlight some fascinating pumpkin carving designs as well as some fall recipes (if you’re feeling hungry). Speaking of the arts, read about the Night of One Acts performance this year which uniquely took place outside under the stars (pg. 6-7). We are so excited to give you this issue and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. Hopefully, as you turn the pages of the work we made, you are inspired to go out and make as large of an impact on the world as possible. We’ll see you in issue three! :)
student space gracie orf
My business is called CryBaby Customs and I design and produce handmade items ranging from paintings to crochet to sewn creations. Anything from Bags to earrings, and I hope to be moving into clothing this upcoming spring and summer. I also make custom items for anyone who has an idea for something that they can’t seem to be able to find anywhere else. I love helping people create things just the way they want them because I strongly believe that if you are paying a good price for something you should have it perfectly how you would like it to be.
Much Love, Kate and Sofia
keep up with us: @lejournalsion
Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!
March 2021 // 03
news .
diving into life beyond Students spent two days participating in the first annual Life Beyond Sion conference, where they heard from keynote speakers and learned important life skills that will be helpful in the future. BY LIV ZENDER WEB CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I
nstead of regular classes Oct. 11 and 12, students participated in the first annual ‘Deep Dive’ Life Beyond Sion conference. This meant that students had five informational sessions to attend in addition to hearing a kick-off speech from an invited keynote speaker each day. The week prior to the Deep Dive sessions, students took the time to fill out a Google Form listing their preferences or interest in each optional session. The list included presentations related to college advice and about self-discovery, such as aptitude testing or enneagram personality testing. Many sessions taught practical life skills like house or car maintenance and a chat on healthy relationships. There were college informational sessions and off-campus field trips to the KU School of Journalism or William Jewel College School of Political Science. Freshman Tessa Lind believed that the experience was a worthwhile and good use of her time for various reasons. “I learned a lot about all the different subjects that I chose,” Lind said. “And it was really interesting to hear all of the guest speakers.” Besides standard conference sessions, self-defense was offered as a block experience, using up three of 5 sessions to learn basic techniques. Lead by new Humanities Director Dr. Morey Williams and two instructors from her
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Muay Thai fighting gym, students spent those three hours learning how to properly defend themselves. Yoga was also offered as another movement-oriented activity, taught by newly-certified yoga instructor and publication advisor Valerie Crook. Crook spent the session leading students through flows, poses, and meditation. Biology teacher Alex Rodriguez and junior Ame Beets taught car maintenence and repair, showing students how to change a tire and jumpstart an engine using the actual cars of staff members Reynold and Elizabeth Middleton as a test subject. Sophomore Lucy Shively participated in the Deep Dive conference focusing on yoga and meditation and listened to the presentation about studying abroad. “I really like learning about studying abroad because it’s something that’s been in my head and I actually got to speak with someone who actually got to study abroad multiple times,” Shively said. “She talked about her experiences and it just made me want to do it even more.” The intended purpose of the Life Beyond Sion Conference was to spend a concentrated amount of time on contemplation and education about students’ future lives after high school. Oftentimes the focuses in high school are academically and
athletically driven, and the other important life skills, such as selfdefense, car repair, and introspective thought and understanding of oneself, fall through the cracks. Life Beyond Sion acknowledged and approached this fact head-on with the attempt to further each student’s understanding and planning for the future with the goal of enhancing each student’s plan and execution of life after high school. Junior Carolina O’Byrne thought that the purpose of the Deep Dives was well executed and accomplished. “I really enjoyed Deep Dives because it taught me a lot about real world skills that will be helpful in my future” O’Byrne said. However, this education doesn’t stop after this October conference. Teachers and administration have already started the process of planning the next Deep Dive experience, set to take place in February. The future Deep Dive week will focus more on off-campus experiences rather than the more conference style meetings that took place during Life Beyond Sion. Instead of sessions, keynote speakers, and presenters from outside of the school, February Deep Dive will incorporate special interest projects from our very own teachers, educating students on issues, hobbies and topics that are important in their own lives.
news POP UP SHOPPED
Sophomore Gracie Orf advertises her handmade bags during the Sion Marketplace lunch activity. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
STRUT YOUR STUFF
Juniors Adaline Huhmann and Carolina O’Byrne dance down the aisle during Naretha Hopson’s keynote presentation about developing your own brand. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
MENTALITY MATTERS above
Therapist and speaker Dr. Kelly Jameson discussed importance of prioritizing mental health. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
SKILLED WITH DRILLS left
Seniors Ashley Ulowetz and Lauren Ellwanger share a laugh while participating in Power Tool Basics. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
HI, HEY THERE, HELLO below
College counselor Erin Stein hands junior Louchrissa Wilburn her schedule for the first day of the Life Beyond Sion conference. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
TIRE TROUBLES above left
UPPER CUT
Junior Isabel Dumsky practices her form while attending the Muay Thai self defense class. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
Freshman Annie Johnson practices lifting a car onto a jack outside during the Car Repair and Maintenance session. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
MAKE A WISH left
Sophomores Genesis Martinez Porras and Caroline Vogt fold paper cranes in effort to reach the school-wide goal of making 1,000 paper cranes. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
October 2021 // 05
A Night Under The Stars
news.
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Student-directed Night of One Acts took place in the courtyard and added more group scenes than monologues after a loosening of COVID restrictions. BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR
T
he night sky turned dark allowing the stars to shine brightly above as the courtyard filled with people waiting in anticipation for the theatrical performances ahead. Student director Tess Tappan walked into the spotlight, all eyes on her as she introduced herself. Laughter and applause filled the air as actors from all classes performed under the starry night sky. This year’s Night of One Acts returned to its more conventional format: monologues and group scenes from iconic pieces of literature. However, in order to enjoy the performances mask-optional, the show took place outside in the main courtyard under the night sky. This setting gave the performance a more intimate sense of community between the members of the audience and the actors. “Community theater feels close-knit and kind of relaxed when it’s outside,” Tappan said. “It’s still just as big of a production and nerve-wracking, but you feel
kind of homier in a way.” A completely student-run production at every creative stage, from writing scripts to acting to directing, Night of One Acts is one of the few opportunities in which fine arts students have complete and total freedom to express themselves. Within the production, students can play many different characters and try their hand at multiple roles in the theatrical world. Having a student director is a large part of why Night of One Acts is a unique opportunity in Sion’s fine arts program. Each year a senior who has participated in fine arts takes on the challenge of directing the show. Tappan has participated in theater all four years at Sion and decided that Night of One Acts was the perfect lowpressure performance to make her directorial debut. “I always thought it would be a fun way to try something new, and that’s what Sion is all about,” Tappan said. “It’s really weird being so involved in a
news
JAW DROPPING
Junior Caroline Dold expressively exclaims her line with a shocked face.
ONE LAST HUG above
Senior Tess Tappan embraces in a tight hug with long-time friend junior Caroline Dold at the end of the show.
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE left Styled in a 40’s era baby blue shift dress, sophmore Suzanne Sade performs an excerpt from “The Diary of Anne Frank.”
way that’s not acting.” Junior Lauren Millard submitted her own student-written piece for the show titled, “Don’t You Hate?” Millard wrote about all of her pet peeves in a short piece on comedic irony. It was performed by junior Caroline Dold and sent the audience into multiple fits of laughter. Dold ate cookies, snapped a quick selfie, and tapped her feet, all as she exclaimed how much hatred she expressed for those vary behaviors. “When Tess announced it with ‘written by our very own Lauren Millard,’ I felt really proud,” Millard said. “I do wish there were more student written pieces, I think that would really add a lot to the show.” Dressed in a simple World War II era dress, sophomore Suzanne Sade gave a telling monologue from an entry in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The emotion Sade brought to the piece gave the crowd a realistic sense of what Anne Frank felt during this time in her life. A crowd favorite of the night was the closing act, an excerpt from William Shakespere’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It was set to be the 2020 Spring play but was cancelled
due to COVID-19. Adorned in a white trash bag gleaming under the spotlight, sophomore Gracie Orf delivered an entertaining performance as Snout. Orf’s character plays the part of the wall that separates the two lovers in “Pyramus and Thisbe,” a play that is put on within Shakespeare’s play - a sort of theatrical inception. The show tied perfectly into this year’s fine arts theme: Courage, chosen by fine arts director Elizabeth Mulkey. Mulkey picked this year’s theme after the word stuck in her head throughout the summer. Students showed courage as they stepped out into a new setting under the stars and performed roles they may have never envisioned themselves portraying before. “My hope is to show just how courageous our students are, along with showing the diverse ways we show our courage,” Mulkey said. “We are strong, we are mighty, but we have moments of weakness. It is during the moments of weakness that we rely on the strength of our community and our sisters to help us take one step at a time. If that isn’t courage, I don’t know what is!”
October 2021 // 07
feature. CHANGING ATTIRE
Junior Amé Beets zips up her racing suit to show the Car Mechanics and Repair class Tuesday Oct. 12. Photo | EPAGAFOTO
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feature
BEETING THE REST BY AVA ALBRACHT CO-WEB-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
For the past eleven years, junior Amé Beets has been participating in car racing and working on cars with her family.
C
limbing into her go-kart for her first-ever autocross race, 5-year-old Amé Beets felt her palms begin to sweat and her heart begin to pound. She nervously shifted into drive and began the event that would kick off her driving career. Although she almost crashed into a brick wall and flipped the accelerator and brake, she was nevertheless proud of herself for just completing the race. Beets, now 17, has upgraded from driving a go-kart to a 2000 Toyota Camry. In the past eleven years her nerves surrounding racing evolved into a passion and her favorite family activity. Beets’ main motivation to continue racing is her stepbrother Alexander Hesskamp, a junior at Shawnee Mission East. “My brother is my biggest supporter and motivation because we have a little sibling competition going on,” Beets said. Beets and Hesskamp participate in autocross racing, in which competitors are put on a course enclosed by cones to see who can achieve the fastest time without hitting the cones or going off course. The ultimate goal for autocross racers is to have a “clean” run, hitting no cones. This type of racing can be very frustrating and takes true skill to master, which is why it is so important for Beets to have her family support her even when a race does not go her way. “I admire our family’s ability to always shine through adversity like when things break or when we try to give each other setup tips,” Hesskamp said. For Beets, racing is a family affair. Her mom, Alayne Webb, hauled the family out to the track to watch a friend race when Hesskamp and Beets were little. They all became fascinated by the sport: cheering during
a clean run and unable to watch if one of the racers hit cones. Beets and Hesskamp became increasingly mesmerized by the sport and knowledgeable on racing techniques. “The two would watch and cheer everyone on,” Webb said. “For hours and hours they would be side-byside watching each car and running to the driver at the completion of the run to hear what they thought about the course or where they could have done better.” When Beets first put on her helmet and racing suit, she struggled with her dyslexia, which made it difficult for her to remember which pedal was brake and which one was gas. Webb hoped that racing would be an opportunity for Beets to overcome this challenge and learn to drive. In order to combat Beets’ dyslexia, Webb placed green tape on Beets’ right glove and red on her left glove to help her remember. “When she began, she’d take a very passive stance [to winning], wanting to not hurt anyone’s feelings,” Webb said. “Now, she’s out to get almost everyone.” Over the years, Beets has learned more about cars than the average young person and was able to teach the Car Maintenance and Repair session with biology teacher Alex Rodriguez. This class gave students the opportunity to learn everything from basic car safety to how to jump a car. For Beets, these skills are second nature, and she got to share her love for working on cars with others. “I couldn’t tell you how old I was [when I first worked on cars] since I practically grew up on the track, but what I do remember was the smell of gasoline and having dirt on my hands,” Beets said. “It was probably one of the first instances where I got to express myself by learning from people I looked up to the most. “
NOT SO LIGHT HEADED left
Junior Amé Beets shows off her racing helmet to her Car Mechanics and Repair class Tuesday Oct. 12. Photo | Sofia Aguayo
LEARNING THE ROPES far left Junior Amé Beets demonstrates how to jump a car engine while explaining cable purposes to fellow junior Ella Abiecunas. Photo | Sofia Aguayo
WHEELY FUN
During her Life Beyond Sion sesson, Beets demonstrated to students the literal nuts and bolts of changing a tire. Photo | Sofia Aguayo
October 2021 // 09
opinion.
YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US Due to the Met Gala 2021 controversy, many have questioned whether TikTok influencers should be invited to high profile events with A-list celebrities. BY BRIANNA LEGETTE FEATURES EDITOR
D
ixie D’Amelio. Addison Rae. Nikkie de Jager. All TikTok influencers, all attendees at the 2021 Met Gala - one of the most prominent and most exclusive social events in the world. Let’s be real. TikTok influencers, earning their fame from viral 30 second videos, do not hold the same status as A-list designers, musicians, actors, writers, comedians, athletes or politicians. Rihanna, Vera Wang, Billie Eilish, Serena Williams and Alexandria OcasioCortez attended the Met Gala alongside TikTok influencers, though the former and thier peers have more established careers. TikTok influencers shouldn’t be invited to high profile events. TikTok influencers make their money and their fame on an app that may not be relevant in 10 years. Not to say that TikTok influencers don’t work hard, or aren’t stressing about the content that they create, but they don’t deserve to go to one of the most selective events in the country. According to the Life and Style magazine website, every year the Met Gala invites only 700 celebrities, picked by Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The guest list includes A-list celebrities who are known for their fashion and philanthropy. Tables at the event cost $75,000 to $250,000 for major brands and companies and individual tickets cost $25,000. Major fashion and clothing brands will often invite celebrities to sit at their tables so the celebrity will go for free. Thus, guests consist of people that can afford the cost or people invited by a brand. At high-profile events like award shows, you’re expecting to see models like Gigi Hadid aor singers like Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Bieber, not someone who made their money off of a few viral dance videos and some brand sponsorships. That’s not even to mention that some TikTok influencers face controversy for stealing dances from black creators and then going viral on the app. Both Addison Rae and Charli D’Amelio have been accused of stealing some of the app’s iconic dances from black creators and then getting famous and making millions off of it. Stealing from others, specifically black people and creators, isn’t new in history, but should those who do continue to be awarded with money and lavish invites? It is time that people of color receive the credit and recognition for what they’ve done. According to NPR, because of the controversy, black TikTok creators went on
10 // LeJournal
“strike,” refusing to create until they are given the credit for their work. Actors spend months on a set working on a movie, singers spend years making an album, and designers spend just as long on a collection of stunning pieces. Editing short dance or comedy videos, maybe taken unoriginally from a different source, that become viral thanks to TikTok’s algorithm isn’t equivalent to the amount of work, money, effort and resources that go into the projects of people who have worked for years for larger projects. At the end of the day, many TikTok influencers are famous because they are slim, pretty, and caucasian - and TikTok’s algorithms, based on a user’s personal preferences, make it simpler to go viral. Supposedly anyone can be a TikTok influencer. Anyone who is white and meets up-to-date beauty standards, that is. Because of the the app’s design and how accessible and addictive it is, anyone can post anything on the app and receive influencer status. Actors and actresses, singers and designers put years of hard work into honing their craft, and then maybe if they’re lucky, they’ll become famous, but the chances of that happening are slim. TikTok influencers have the luxury of becoming famous fast and easily, then they must deal with the unprepared stress of it. They are unprepared to handle an immense amount of fame - including overbearing love and followship as well as crippling hatred - overnight. TikTok influencers must also continue staying relevant, because as trends fizzle away, so do the people that posted them. When all you have is your fame because of TikTok, what do you do with it? How does one stay relevant in the fast virality and limited longevity of TikTok? And in all that muck, should they walk the red carpet at a major philanthropic event? Do they have time to make a true impact on the world while struggling to stay relevant in the times? TikTok influencers should not be invited to the Met Gala when the only thing they have going for them is that they’re social media stars, unlike other celebrities who have the talent and the fashion to back up the social media presence and the opportunity to use the spotlight not simply for more likes, but as recognition for what they’ve put out into the world. 10 out of 11 staff members voted in favor of this editorial.
HOMEWORK:
opinion
OCTOBER 2021
necessary or not?
Thursday, October 28
Homework is a necessary part of the learning process, but not everything assigned to do at home benefits students’ ability to learn. STORY BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR DESIGN BY ELLA ROGGE MANAGING EDITOR
S
itting at a dimly lit desk while the rest of the world sleeps, high schoolers across the country continue their schoolwork at home. Homework seems to be the main culprit of stress, sleepless nights and long days among younger generations. But if students are being physically and mentally stretched, is homework really necessary? Homework allows students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts learned in class. One might discover what questions need to be asked the next day, which subjects need more attention and if the lesson
was actually comprehended. If homework’s purpose is to help students learn, is there a difference between meaningful homework and busywork? Is all the work assigned to do at home necessary? Math, Science, English, Foreign Language, History, Art, Writing, Reading: all subjects assign homework, but are multiple assignments for each class necessary? Math homework typically consists of practice problems from that day’s lesson. Doing
Friday, October 29 practice problems reinforces concepts and provides an opportunity to do the work without a teacher’s guidance English homework consists of essay writing and reading, occasionally a worksheet. Writing papers can be built into class time and might save students a lot of extra work at home. Foreign Language homework consists of worksheets, online exercises or vocabulary flashcards. Doing this at home reinforces knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and conjugations. Science homework could be finishing up a lab, worksheet, presentation or more. While labs are always done at school, sometimes there isn’t enough in-class time to write a summary about the lab and it has to be taken home. Is there enough time in the classroom each day for learning? Meaningful homework is work that will benefit the
Saturday, October 30
students’ learning. Math practice problems and foreign language exercises are examples of meaningful homework, as both help students apply the lesson later on. Busywork is something that could be built into class time and is not going to benefit the students in the long haul. Random worksheets are things that could be done in class and will not benefit student’s understanding of a concept. Not all assignments need to be done at home. Plenty of assignments are able to be done at school. There is no need for teachers to pile on more work for students to do at home than necessary. Understandably some things won’t get done in class, but if it doesn’t need to be done immediately, it can wait. The assignment can be done in class the next day to save students time and stress as it would not be just another assignment to check off the to-do list. The fine line between
Sunday, October 31
necessary homework and busywork gets fuzzy, and unfortunately that line is the difference between students getting sleep and being stressed. So is homework necessary? Should the old learning principle be thrown out of our educational system? Students are busy; they juggle school, sports and other extracurricular activities, so homework seems like a large inconvenience to many students because of the amount of time it takes. While homework might be a thorn in everyone’s side, it is an essential part to the learning process, especially in how students comprehend the lessons taught that day and apply them in the future.
October 2021 // 11
opinion.
How many hours per day do students spend on social media?
6.0%
18.7%
polled out of 171 students
0-1 Hours
28.0%
2-3 Hours 4-5 Hours
47.3%
6-8 Hours
ATTENTION M
PLEASE The quick instant gratification of social media impacts our attention spans. BY MEGAN KELLEY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
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indlessly scrolling through TikTok, liking Instagram posts without looking, binging shows without commercials, and playing background YouTube videos while doing other tasks are all examples of how adolescents are spending their time online. It is no longer uncommon to see someone with a phone, tablet, and laptop open in the couch in front of a TV, swapping devices for various needs and apps. Increased time spent in a digital world means decreasing attention spans. A Stanford University study states that behaviors such as mindlessly scrolling, “spam liking” or watching several consecutively queued videos may affect episodic memory.
Episodic memories are long-term. They capture individual experiences of particular times and places, which is the basis for cognitive functioning. Episodic memories allow for recall and also help with educated predictions of the future. They help your brain create patterns, connect to emotions, and keep a personal record of one’s life. A published 2021 study from the Memory & Cognition Academic Journal states that divided attention affects episodic memory. Due to the increasing amount of time that teenagers are spending on social media and multiple devices, attention spans in the classroom have decreased. 2018 surveys collected by Act for Youth show that 88% of middle schoolers
opinion
Photo collage | Pexels
101 students think social media affects attention span
70 students don’t think socials affect attention span polled out of 171 students
and high schoolers have computer access at home. 95% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 own a smartphone. Of the teens who own phones, nine out of ten have an active social media profile. 85% use YouTube. 84% of teens (92% of male-identifying teens) have access to game consoles. During the school day, many students will hop on their phones and spend class time scrolling through social media. This causes distractions for other students, teachers, and it decreases the chances students have to turn memories into longterm episodic ones, making it more difficult to recall what you’ve learned in school on another day. Another huge indicator that technology and social media are affecting attention
span is the decrease in movie viewership. Teenagers tend to be in search of fast-moving plots. A movie offers a slow moving plot compared to their competitor, TikTok, where users scroll quickly through 15 second to three minute videos. These lengths allow teens to see developments in a plot storyline faster than they would in full length films. While scrolling through social media, the brain searches for dopamine, according to Bustle.com. Dopamine is a chemical that is released by the brain as a reward system when there are feelings of pleasure. This hit of dopamine from a like or a funny meme encourages app users to acquire more dopamine, leading teenagers to seek out similar items by scrolling for several hours.
When teens exhaust one avenue of social media, they typically switch to another, thereby extending the cycle of dopamine microdosing. Overall, teenage and adolescent brains have seen a decrease in attention span due to technology and social media. Teens should limit the amount of time spent on apps per day. Next time you are scrolling through a feed or binging a show or getting the next high score, stop and take a break. Focus on something that helps increase your attention span, whether it is meditating, getting exercise or chewing gum. With little fixes here and there, the damages done to teenagers’ attention spans as a result of spending too much time on screens can be reversed.
October 2021 // 13
cover story.
14 // LeJournal
cover story
less stress
more rest In a world where the pressure is high for teenagers to engage in multiple facets of life - school, work, sports, clubs and extracurriculars - not leaving enough time to get quality sleep can be more dangerous than it seems. BY COPY EDITOR ZAHRA PARSONS & SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR LAUREN SMITH
H
eadaches. Mood swings. Lack of focus. At some point in time, everyone has experienced the looming and undeniable effects of sleep deprivation on their mental, emotional and physical health. Due to societal pressure to take on a packed schedule, as well as the multitude of physical and mental disorders and diseases, teenagers and adults in 2021 are not getting nearly as much sleep as they should be, with every one in three teenagers being repeatedly sleep-deprived. While it can seem like a minor issue, it can actually lead to many different unexpected but detrimental consequences. However, there are remediations to lack of sleep, and they can greatly improve daily life.
Sleep Science There are two main cycles that the body experiences while sleeping: rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. The first cycle, non-REM, is composed of four stages. The first stage occurs in-between being awake and falling asleep. This leads to the second stage, in which heartbeat and breathing regulate and body temperature drops. Soon after, the third and fourth stages occur, both consisting of deep sleep. During the REM cycle, the eyes are closed and making rapid movements, breath rate increases and the body is temporarily paralyzed. Additionally, brain waves during this stage are similar to when we are awake. Although the REM stage was originally thought to be more important for restoration, cognitive
development and memory, according to Johns Hopkins, new data suggests that the non-REM phase has a larger impact on these areas. These two cycles repeat throughout the night. In addition to the two cycles, there are also two main processes that help regulate sleep: circadian rhythm and sleep drive. Circadian rhythms help control what scientists consider to be an internal clock held by the brain, according to Cleveland Clinic. The purpose of this clock is to control the body’s sleepwake schedule, which it does by picking up on light cues. These light cues are transmitted through the eyes into the brain, letting the body know when it is time to sleep. The internal clock is influenced by the melatonin hormone, age, physical activity and social behaviors. Occasionally, people with total blindness can have trouble sleeping due to the inability to detect these light cues. The second process, sleep drive, is the body’s ability to know when sleep is needed. Throughout the day, the need for sleep builds as energy is used, a process that scientists describe as similar to hunger buildup. In the case of hunger, however, your body can’t force you to eat, but it is able to put you to sleep when it needs to, an occurrence known as microsleep episodes. These episodes can potentially be very dangerous, as they are commonly seen during activities which lack physical and mental engagement, including driving, one of the most important reasons that doctors and scientists emphasize the importance of sleep.
October 2021 // 15
cover story. of heart disease. 59.5% of students say that they feel that both their physical and mental health are affected by sleep deficiency.
Importance It is widely understood that sleep is important for people of all ages, but during the teenage years it is especially essential for physical, mental and emotional performance and development. Sleep benefits the brain by promoting thinking, comprehension and analytical skills. It also makes it easier to consolidate information and distinguish what is most important. Students who get too little sleep are much more likely to struggle in school than those who don’t due to compromised motivation and concentration span, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. During sleep, the brain forms connections that help it to process and remember information, and chronic sleep deficiency is harmful towards both long and short-term memory. “When I get enough sleep, my brain has more time to rest. I am up pretty late every night with homework, so getting not enough sleep makes me drowsy the next morning,” freshman Charlotte Zender said. “My brain isn’t quite awake yet, and my ability to understand and learn is impaired.” Lack of sleep can be emotionally detrimental, especially for teenagers who are trying to balance the many aspects of their lives. “The big red flag or negative side effect of lack of sleep is going to be mood dysregulation,” psychologist Dr. Kelly Jameson said, who spoke to students and faculty about mental wellness. “The first thing to go if you’re not according to 169 students pollled sleeping well is your mood, because what sleep does, it’s an anti-inflammatory, so it washes away all of NO your neurons that didn’t connect during the day, like yes a nighttime janitorial service. So if you didn’t get enough sometimes sleep, you didn’t get that basic maintenance, and so the next day you’re not going to look or feel good.” Students can feel this on a day-to-day basis when not getting enough sleep, but still continuing to go through the same routine. Mental and emotional well-being can be significantly disrupted through sleep deficiency, as well as behavioral control. “A really big factor for me is my mood, like I’ll be really irritable and cranky when I don’t get enough sleep,” senior Lauren Shaw said. “I can tell when I’m well rested because I’m a lot more calm and a lot less stressed.” The frontal lobe, the part of the brain that is critical in controlling impulsive behaviors, can also be affected by a loss of sleep, leading to an increased risk of drug and alcohol use, smoking, inappropriate sexual behavior and violence. Additionally, those that are sleep deprived while driving have an elevated risk of accidents due to the possibility of microsleep episodes, as well as delayed reactions. Quality rest is imperative in maintaining normal physical health and development. It powers the immune system, helps regulate hormones and enables muscle and tissue recovery. According to Sleep Foundation, teenagers who regularly experience inadequate amounts of sleep can develop an impaired metabolic profile and insulin regulation, putting them at a higher risk of developing diabetes and long-term cardiovascular issues. Johns Hopkins pediatrician Michael Crocetti notes that teenagers are going through a second stage of cognitive maturation, and sleep is crucial in supporting that development. It can also lead to higher blood pressure, weight gain, poor balance and even increased risk
Preventing factors According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 need between eight and 10 hours of sleep per night. From a national sample taken by the CDC, 72.2% of high school students reported not getting enough sleep on school nights. Between balancing school, sports, clubs, volunteering, extracurricular activities, jobs, family and social lives, it can be extremely difficult for adolescents to reach at least eight hours of sleep per night. This causes continuous sleep deprivation and less energy to fulfill those activities. School work takes up a large portion of Sion students’ time, as 84.6% of girls say that they attribute their lack of sleep to time taken to do school work. They also report different factors in their lives contributing to their lack of sleep, such as taking care of siblings or family members, long commutes to school and household chores. In addition to busy schedules, there are several medical conditions that can hinder amounts and value of sleep. Common diseases associated with sleep problems include heartburn, diabetes, respiratory problems and thyroid disease. Heart failure, characterized by decline in the heart’s ability to regulate blood circulation, can cause a person to stay awake at night due to shortness of breath because of the extra fluid around the lungs when they lay down. People with coronary artery disease experience fluctuations in circadian 16.5% rhythms which can trigger chest pain, irregular heartbeat and even heart attacks during sleep. Due to pain, as well as insomnia caused by steroid treatments, those with arthritis and fibromyalgia can experience regular sleep deprivation as well. Mental health disorders can also cause a lack of sleep. Those with severe anxiety, also known as generalized anxiety disorder, typically experience persistent worry almost every day for a period of six months or longer. As a result, many who suffer from anxiety have trouble falling or staying asleep, as well experiencing restlessness during sleep. Depressive disorders can disrupt sleep, as 90% of those who have them experience insomnia and spend less time in the non-REM stage. During a manic episode, those with bipolar disorder may go up to several days without sleeping, causing them to stay in bed during depressive episodes. These disorders can all be treated through psychotherapy and medication, however some effects never completely reside, which is why it can be important to find smaller daily lifestyle changes that help you achieve a longer, more restful sleep. It is very common in society to underestimate the importance of sleep and the effects that it has on different aspects of daily life. Often, completing homework and doing various activities takes precedence over physical, mental and emotional health because they lessen the amount of time available for sleep. Additionally, various environmental and biological factors can prevent sufficient, quality sleep. It can be helpful to find different ways to help reach an adequate amount of sleep, and that may mean stepping back from some activities or extracurriculars. It is becoming increasingly necessary to put health and wellness first and to start taking better care of ourselves.
do you typically get as much sleep as you want/need?
50%
33.5%
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Sleep improvement 101
There are many small, daily lifestyle changes you can make that can help you achieve longer, more quality sleep.
Increase bright light exposure during the day. Sunlight or bright lights help regulate the circadian rhythm and keep it healthy, increasing energy and sleep quality. A study by Healthline showed that it helps decrease the time it takes to fall asleep by 83%.
Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule. The circadian rhythm functions on a loop, aligning with sunrise and sunset, and more regular sleeping patterns can maintain your circadian rhythm and melatonin levels, improving long-term sleep quality.
Put away devices. Blue light exposure to the eyes caused by looking at electronic devices such as smartphones and computers can affect your circadian rhythm and trick your brain into thinking it’s still daytime. It also reduces melatonin hormone levels and makes it harder to relax and sleep deeply. Scientists recommend ceasing blue light exposure at least one hour before bedtime.
Cease engaging activity as early as possible. “I know this is hard with practices and rehearsals and things, but if you can eat dinner earlier, shower earlier, back it up a little bit, that’s better,” said Jameson. “It takes teenagers quite a while to kind of turn their brains off enough to go to sleep, so if you can back everything up as much as you can, that will be helpful.”
Don’t consume caffeine late in the day. Although caffeine has numerous benefits, such as enhanced focus and alertness, consuming caffeine up to six hours before bedtime can significantly worsen sleep quality, as it can stay elevated for six to eight hours in the bloodstream.
Regulate the bedroom setting. According to Healthline, a warmer and brighter room has been proven to be harder to fall asleep in. Experts recommend a base temperature of 70 degrees and little to no light in the room.
Exercise regularly. A Healthline study showed that regular exercise halved the time it took to fall asleep and helped increase sleep time by 41 minutes. Avoid exercising later in the evening, as it increases alertness hormones such as epinephrine and adrenaline, and can make it harder to fall asleep.
Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol is known to cause an increase in sleep apnea, snoring and disrupted sleep patterns. Avoiding it around bedtime can help regulate levels of melatonin and human growth hormone, as well as the circadian rhythm.
Supplements. Many natural supplements have been known to aid sleep quality and duration, such as melatonin, glycine, magnesium, lavender and valerian roots, which promote relaxation and restfulness.
ccording to 169 students pollled
October 2021 // 17
Concert Conundrum
A&E.
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A&E
Don’t miss out on these long-awaited concerts coming to Kansas City. BY SOFIA AGUAYO PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dan + Shay
T-Mobile center, Nov. 14 Country/pop duo Dan+Shay, composed of Dan Smyers and Shay DAN SHAY Mooney, released their newest album, “Good Things,” in August, 2021. According to Mooney in a Taste of Country article, the friends have been making music together since 2013 after they met at a house party in Nashville. According to Apple Music, the duo believes they delivered the “best album of [their] career so far.” The album consists of 12 songs with the first track being the album title, and also the first song they wrote over Zoom, according to Apple Music. Dan+Shay did not take a turn in genres from their past music, but pulled through with producing the classic sounds their fans love.
Beabadoobee & Christian Leave The Truman, Dec. 5 From a troublemaking past in London to a country-wide album and EP tour, Beatrice Kristi Laus is about to begin her travels touring her first album, “Fake it Flowers” and her most recent EP, “Our Extended Play”. Her music has an alternative rock feel with lots of drums to support her singing. Beabadoobee partners with indie pop artist Christian Leave to open for her at all her shows.
Photo | Vishnu R Nair from Pexels
Dayglow
The Truman, Oct. 30 Although it sounds like a band name, Dayglow is the stage name of 22-year-old singer songwriter Sloan Christian Struble. Struble attended the University of Texas at Austin, but dropped out to pursue his dream of performing his own music. In 2018, he came out with his debut album, “Fuzzybrain,” and recently released his latest album, “Harmony House,” which he is touring this year. “Harmony House” has a laid-back alternative/indie feel to it, so expect the concert to be more of a jumpy evening with friends, not a rager.
Surfaces
The Truman, nov. 16 After releasing their fourth studio album, the duo Colin Padalecki and Forrest Frank, commonly known as Surfaces, are now touring their “Pacifico” album. Best known for their hit single “Sunday Best”, one of the hottest tracks this past summer, Surfaces seamlessly mixes pop and acoustic feels to produce music which transports you straight to a sunny beach and nice weather. Everything about the feel of their music is sunny, cool and calming, even their matching themed album covers consisting of soft tones and sunrises.
Coin
The Truman, Nov. 3 The band trio known as COIN announced their “Rainbow Dreamland” tour this past April, which combines their 2020 “Dreamland” album and their 2021 “Rainbow Mixtape” album. COIN is an alternative/pop band with song styles anywhere from contemplative and slow like “Earth to God,” to pop party music such as “Talk Too Much.” If you’re looking for an up-close and personal entertaining concert, this is the one for you.
October 2021 // 19
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PHILLY FIGHTER Morey Williams found her passion through Muay Thai fighting and kickboxing and has competed and trained to fight in competitions. BY KATE MCCARTHY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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ark grey doors creak open. She steps through. Her walkout song, I Love It by Icona Pop is deafened by the echoes of cheers bouncing off the concrete walls surrounding the arena. Heart pounding, mind racing, she knows what happens in the ring is real. Boxing gloves heavy on her hands, she brushes her honey blonde hair away from her face, secures her bright red head gear, and slides in her mouth guard. Morey Williams is prepared to fight. Dr. Morey Williams, Director of Humanities, is a Muay Thai fighter. Beginning her fighting career at the age of 27, Williams began practicing due to her natural inclination towards exercise and athletics and as a way to let off steam from a stressful lifestyle. Growing up as both a field hockey and softball player, Williams is very familiar with the realm of exercise. “I was always a big athlete. I’ve seen people doing kickboxing and I’m like, ‘Wow, that seems like a great workout,’” Williams said. “I have a lot of anxiety, so just hitting something would release a lot of anxiety in a healthy way.” Williams has fought in seven official fights and won all of them. In addition to this, Williams is the 2009 World Kickboxing Association gold medalist for both Muay Thai and kickboxing. According to Williams, fighting was an eye-opening experience to the reality of the world. In Muay Thai, the round stops when one person is unconscious. Williams gained a new perspective on perserverence and respecting your competition, as this rule makes the sport dangerous and at times, terrifying. “You get in there, you can barely breathe, and then you’re expected to fight somebody for three rounds,” Williams said. “It’s the longest two minutes of your life, and it’s the hardest you’ll ever breathe.” Williams has always been a person who gives her all - a passionate, determined woman in everything she does. Exercise through Muay Thai allowed Williams to grow her student relationships as a teacher and continue to grow her relationship with herself. Williams’ husband, Brent Schulte, describes his wife as a person with a huge heart who stands up for the things that she loves and cares about. “Fighting has absolutely shaped
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her life,” Schulte said. “She only fought actively for a couple of years, but it was incredibly empowering for her. She is tough and resilient, and I think that fighting helped her develop those qualities.” Combat has taught Williams crucial lessons about her life and the ways in which she should live it. According to Williams, Muay Thai has allowed her to learn how to be patient, strong, and communicate with others. She passed these philosophies to students at the SelfDefense course during the Life Beyond Sion Deep Dive with her co-teacher Brian Carroll. Carroll is also a Muay Thai fighter and has been teaching this sport for 20 years. According to Carroll, this is the “art of eight limbs,” consisting of punches, elbows, knees, and kicks to take down the opponent. Through his experience in directing the Self Defense course during the Deep Dive with Williams, Carroll learned that she is a well rounded fighter, dedicated to training and working with her students. “Learning any form of martial arts gives the practitioner a heightened sense of awareness and comfort,” Carroll said. “It builds character, breeds humbleness, brings a healthy way of living and teaches the practitioner to fight through pain in the ring or life when things are tough.” Williams has done just that with her fighting experience. A Philly-born fighter with a fiery soul, her way of life and passion is an inspiration according to Schulte. Williams’ selfless qualities lead her to care for others deeply and empower their actions. Ultimately, William’s fighting spirit is shown through her teaching style. A champion for her students, Williams will go to any lengths to protect those she cares about. “She is the most caring and selfless person I have ever met. She cares so much about others, especially her students, and I admire that about her,” Schulte said. “I have seen videos of her fighting and training. Let’s just put it this way: Don’t mess with Dr. Williams.”
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PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT Williams secures her headgear and gets into the zone as she prepares herself to fight in the 2019 World Kickboxing Assosiation National Championships. “This sport is not giving up. I realized that if I can fight then I can do a lot, pretty much anything really,” Wiilliams said. Photos submitted | Morey Williams
october 2021 // 21
takes two news.
to
tango
Dancing with the Stars gains publicity as Jojo Siwa is chosen as a celebrity contestant, despite previous professional dancing experience, and forms the first same-sex dance couple. STORY BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LIV ZENDER DESIGN BY PRINT EDITOR-IN CHIEF SOFIA AGUAYO
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n August 26, “Dance Moms” alum and children’s idol, Jojo Siwa, announced that she would be participating in the next season of “Dancing with the Stars” alongside dance partner Jenna Johnson. Siwa and Johnson are the first same-sex dance pairing to be featured on the show. This announcement came as shock to many as not only are Johnson and Siwa the show’s first same-sex dance partners, they are both already professional dancers. According to sophomore Gracie Orf, she’s not surprised that Jojo Siwa was hired on to the show, even though she is a professional dancer since after all of these seasons, Dancing with the Stars has probably started running out of celebrities who want to participate. “They’re kind of running out of people,” Orf said. “It’s not really fair, but what else are they gonna do?” The latest season of “Dancing with the Stars” premiered on September 20, starring many well-known celebrities. “Dancing with the Stars” has been a hit television show since it premiered in 2005 and has released 30 seasons since. Over the years, “Dancing with the Stars” has gone through several hosts, many judges, and dozens of contestants. The goal of the show is to match professional dancers who already know how to dance with partners who don’t know how to dance, generally well-known celebrities. Together they memorize weekly dance routines and perform them for an audience, a set of judges and live television. Then the judges vote, along with the general public who can submit their votes through text. Audience votes are counted up and worth 50% of the group’s score. The other 50% is based off of the score that the panel of judges decides on. For junior Angie Schimmel, “Dancing with the Stars” has been a consistent part of her life for several years. “I have watched Dancing with the Stars for the past four years,” Schimmel said. “My favorite part about this season is how there is a variety of different ages, some are younger competitors and some are older.” Arguably one of the most well known celebrities participating in this season of “Dancing with the Stars” is Jojo Siwa. Siwa has a very large fan base with a wide variety of different ages. Teenagers and young adults remember her from her original claim to fame, “Dance Moms”, a reality show about a children’s dance studio. Siwa left the show in 2016 during season six after signing a contract with Nickelodeon for an overall talent deal, which included consumer products, promotions and more. Since then Siwa has gone on to release many singles, one album and most recently a movie. Like many teenagers, Schimmel knew of Siwa before “Dancing with the Stars”. “When I think of Jojo Siwa, I think of Dance Moms,” Schimmel said. “That, and the big bows.”
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Jenna Johnson’s career originated on the show, “So You Think You Can Dance” when she placed third runner up. Now she is on her eighth season as a professional dancer for “Dancing with the Stars”, with her most memorable performances being during her second season on the show, when she was partnered with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and ended up winning first place. Schimmel remembers Johnson from her previous years of dancing for the show. “I’ve watched her previous dances, she’s been around for a while,” Schimmel said. “I like some of her older dances but not necessarily her newer ones.” Siwa and Johnson form the first same-sex dance partners to ever compete on “Dancing with the Stars”. While the decision came with controversy, for the most part people were very excited and supportive of the announcement. In fact, many people questioned why it had taken so long for same-sex dance partners to be featured in the first place. Junior Katherine Pineda thinks that having samesex dance partners has been a long time coming. “I think it’s really awesome that they finally have samesex dance partners on the show,” Pineda said. “I feel like they should have done this a long time ago. But I’m glad that’s finally happening.” Arguably, what ended up bring even more controversial than a same-sex couple being featured on “Dancing with the Stars” was the fact that Siwa was chosen to be a celebrity contestant when she is already a professional dancer herself and perhaps should be competing against Johnson rather than dancing with her. She is the only celebrity in this season that is a previously trained dancer, and people speculated that this would set her above the other competitors and their partners. Thus far, this theory has proven to be true, with Siwa and Johnson having placed either first and second in the first four dances that have taken place. Pineda agrees with most of the general public, who also think that it’s unfair to have a set of dance partners that consists of two professional dancers. “I do feel like there is an advantage, which I feel like isn’t the greatest, especially since it’s supposed to be a show where professional dancers and non-professional dancers dance together,” Pineda said. “But either way I am so happy that she was on it.” While views and ratings have plummeted during this season of “Dancing with the Stars”, the Siwa and Johnson duo has definitely brought some extra attention to the show, but whether it is negative or positive attention has yet to be determined. However, competition-wise, Siwa and Johnson are flourishing and it should be interesting to see what they bring to the table in future weeks and future competitions.
news
“ “
I absolutely love this partnership. That was a moment.
Derek Hough You affected my brain with the quality of the technique, you
affected my heart with the artistry that you produced.
Len Goodman
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The most exquisite interpretation of the importance and power of friendship.
Bruno Tonioli
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You leave me
nothing to say,
other than this
was perfection.
Carrie Ann Inaba
October 2021 // 23
feature.
The ability to speak multiple languages connects junior Juwali Ya, freshman Maya Devkota and senior Anna Baklanov to their families and their cultures. BY SOPHIE GROMOWSKY COPY EDITOR
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athed in the glow of the afternoon sun, junior Juwali Ya adjusts the colorful skirt of her longyi to perfectly reflect the light before turning to strike a pose for the camera. A longyi is a traditional piece of clothing worn by women in Burma, and Ya says traditional fashion is one of the many aspects of Burmese culture that are present in her home. However, the part of the culture that is most prevalent in her everyday life is the language. Ya learned to speak Burmese from her parents, Kari Mar and Mya Dwe, who both grew up in Burma before immigrating to Thailand, and later to the United States when Ya was three years old. During her early childhood, the family spoke exclusively Burmese and Ya did not begin to learn English until she entered Pre-Kindergarten. “When I was super young everyone around me spoke Burmese, no one spoke English so when I went to Pre-K for the first two or three days I had a hard time adjusting to how things were done,” Ya said. “But after that I started to get the hang of it.” Now fully fluent in both English and Burmese, Ya says that being bilingual still comes with some challenges. Sometimes she says she will begin to read something in English and automatically begin translating it to Burmese in her head. Other times, she will start to speak in Burmese without even realizing that she is doing it because it comes so naturally to her. She also finds that she is more prone to forgetting simple words in both languages. “The other day I forgot what a watermelon was in both English and Burmese,” Ya said. “I had to ask my mom, ‘what’s the very big green fruit with the stripes on the outside?’” Being bilingual has also inspired Ya to want to learn more about other languages. She is also currently learning to speak Thai through an online
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program and with the help of her sister-in-law who speaks Thai fluently and incorporates it into their conversations and text messages. Ya also studies French at Sion and hopes to be fluent by the end of her junior year. “Anywhere you go, being a translator is a good thing,” Ya said. “So I’m trying to learn to speak several languages so that I’m able to do that as well.” Another way that Ya’s family incorporates Burmese culture into their lives is through their cooking. Dishes prepared in their home are made with many Asian spices, such as masala and tumeric. Ya says that some of her favorites dishes are Burmese curry called aamellsarr hainn, which her mother makes often, and as well as a white sweet pudding. “It’s super sweet. When you look at it you think it’s going to be like milk but it’s really not.” Ya said. “It’s made with a lot of condensed milk, evaporated milk, a lot of sugar, and these little dough balls in there.” Ya plans to one day travel back to Thailand, where many members of her family still reside, and cross the border into Burma to experience the culture firsthand. Currently, Burma is under a Do Not Travel Advisory due to the country’s tumultuous political situation, but Ya is hopeful that it will be possible in the future. “That’s my heritage,” Ya said. “I don’t want to be one of those people who says they’re so proud to be from somewhere but doesn’t know anything about the culture.” Overall, Ya believes that being bilingual has made her a better person because it has exposed her to two different cultures, which has opened her up to be more accepting of different points of view. She believes that if she only knew one or the other, it would not be as easy for her to be so open minded about other ways of life. “I know two different things,” Ya said. “And because they’re so different I’m more open to other cultures and other languages and other aspects of life than I would be if I only knew one.”
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ne hundred twenty-five meters in the air, freshman Maya Devkota gazes out over the sparkling city lights of Paris as she dines at the Jules Verne restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower. As they feast on French delicacies including escargot, frog legs, and cow tongue, Devkota and her family talk, laugh, and spend time catching up on their busy lives. Devkota’s mother immigrated to the United States from France, where she moved to in high school after spending her childhood in Morocco. As a result, she became fluent in the languages English, French, and Arabic, all of which she has taught to Devkota. “I learned English first. Then I learned French as soon as I got English down, so about two,” Devkota said. “Then Arabic I learned around the time I was four.” Though English is the primary language spoken in their home, Devkota still regularly practices her other languages as well - French in conversations with her mother and Arabic in WhatsApp calls with her grandparents. “I speak English a lot at home, but I speak more French when I’m with my mom,” Devkota said. “And then Arabic when I’m with my grandparents who I see or call really often.”
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ecalling days filled up with visits to small carnivals in the park, eating vanilla ice cream cones, and going for long walks with her grandmother, senior Anna Baklanov remembers her time spent with family in Russia and Belarus as some of the happiest of her life. These trips have also provided her with the opportunity to be fully immersed in Russian language and culture. Fluent in both Russian and English, Baklanov says that being bilingual provides her a unique connection to her family and her heritage. “It makes me understand more of who I am and the amazing community that I’m a part of,” Baklanov said. As a child, Baklanov’s parents spoke to her in Russian, familiarizing her with the language. Today Russian is the primary language spoken in their household. Baklanov also found a way to practice speaking Russian during the pandemic through daily Facetime calls with her grandparents who live in Germany. “My Russian improved and I also grew closer with my grandparents,” Baklanov said. “It was really beautiful.” Baklanov is given the chance to spend time with her grandparents and also to experience more aspects of her Russian culture when they travel to visit every fall. During their stay, Baklanov’s family spends time together preparing traditional Russian dishes including borscht, red beet soup with potatoes and carrots; coleslaw-type salads and different porridges. They also play Russian card games such as Durochka, which translates to fool in English, referring to the person who loses the game. “It’s the most competitive game we play,” Baklanov said. “My mom can’t go to bed when we play until someone else loses and has to be the fool.”
During trips to France and Morocco Devkota also has the chance to fully immerse herself in each of her languages. Her family visits Paris every year, and having traveled there so frequently, Devkota considers herself to be familiar with the scenery and no longer visits the standard touristy landmarks. Instead, she enjoys exploring the city and finding new shops and restaurants to stop into. In Morocco, she spends her days with family on the beach. One of her favorite memories from her travels is riding a camel with her mother on the beach as the sun set over the ocean. “It was super hard to get on the camels and they smell really bad,” Devkota said. “Obviously I was terrified at first, but then it was actually super fun.” Devkota’s family also incorporates other aspects of Moroccan culture into their lives. They have several family heirlooms including a teapot and necklaces that have been passed down from generation to generation. They also make traditional dishes such as paratha, a layered flatbread that can be filled with stuffing, and couscous with orange sauce. “I know the recipes, but I don’t really like cooking that much so I don’t cook them,” Devkota said. “When I’m with my grandparents I try to, but my grandma wants them perfect so I don’t really help.” Devkota celebrates her trilingualism as a part of her identity which makes her unique. As a younger child she says that she sometimes wished she only spoke one language in order to better fit in with everyone else, but as she grew she came to realize that her abilities set her apart and made her special. “It’s super cool in a way because I know a lot of people that speak different languages and they’re ashamed when they come to America,” Devkota said. “But I’m proud that I speak other languages.”
Traveling to Russia and Belarus has given Baklanov the opportunity to learn more about her family’s heritage. While there, the entire family on her mother’s side gathers to stay altogether in one home. During previous trips to Belarus, they have stayed in a summer house belonging to Baklanov’s grandparents and harvested carrots and potatoes from the large garden. They have also spent time at a flat in Minsk that has been in Baklanov’s family since before World War II and is decorated with paintings done by her great-grandfather. From each of their travels they bring back with them a souvenir, like nesting dolls, which serve not only as a memento of the trip but also a symbolic reminder of the culture. “It’s one thing to know the language, it’s another thing to fully understand where the language comes from, where the land is, what the people look like, what kind of culture it is,” Baklanov said. “And just fully understanding that makes language a part of something bigger than just the language.”
A&E.
AUTUMN ANTICS
Delicious recipes and creative pumpkin carvings in celebration of Fall. BY ELLA ROGGE MANAGING EDITOR
CLASSIC CARVING Your typical jack-o’-lantern giving everything from a murderous facade to a simple smiley face. These pumpkin carvings have endless possibilities and offer a perfect expression of character through a simple outsource.
MANDALA
Mandala pumpkin carvings are a simple, repeated design around the entirety of the pumpkin. These are easily completed but offer a unique look contrary to the classic carving.
INTRICATE WORD Word pumpkin carvings are an adorable adaptation of the classic carving that allow for the implication of phrases or sayings. These pumpkins are perfect for commemorative occasions such as a simple “you’re cute” or “will you be my girlfriend?” when on a fall themed date.
PAINTED Tired of the mess created by carving pumpkins? Painting your pumpkin is an easy but equally decorative adaption without having to touch the innards of the pumpkin. There are endless possibilities when painting a pumpkin, from a classic face to an intricate piece of art.
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A more difficult version of the classic carving, intricate pumpkins allow for more depth in the art of the pumpkin. Whether it may be decorated with your favorite Disney character or a dramatic scene, intricate carvings take your jack-o’-lantern to the next level.
A&E
PUMPKIN BREAD BARS
CINNAMON DONUTS
A fall classic that can be found at Starbucks and local grocery stores, pumpkin bread baked fresh with cream cheese frosting is a game changer. This recipe, suggested by senior Ava Albracht, can easily be adapted to fit gluten free and vegan needs.
Pairing perfectly with any fall flavored or classic morning coffee, cinnamon sugar donuts are a top tier fall snack without the sometimes overused flavoring of pumpkin spice. These donuts are the perfect start to any fall morning, especially when baked fresh.
Ingredients: 4 eggs 2 cups of sugar 1 cup of vegetable oil 2 cups of pumpkin puree 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg Frosting Ingredients: 1/2 cup of butter 3 ounces of cream cheese 3 cups of powdered sugar Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a jelly roll pan. 2. Beat eggs in a large bowl, then add sugar, oil and pumpkin and mix until smooth. 3. In a seperate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg, then add to pumpkin mixture. 4. Pour into greased pan and bake for 25 minutes. 5. Combine frosting ingredients and spread onto pumpkin bread bars once cooled.
PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES A fall version of the ever-loved chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are the perfect, easy-to-make fall dessert. Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 sticks of unsalted, softened butter 3/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of granulated sugar 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree 1 large egg 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice and salt. 3. In a larger bowl, combine butter and sugars using a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract until equally combined, then add flour mixture. 4. Beat on low until dry ingredients are distributed, then fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes. 5. Scoop 1” balls onto prepared baking sheets, placed approximately two inches apart, and bake for around 12 minutes or until puffed up and golden around edges. Recipe by Lena Abraham of Delish.
Ingredients: 2 cups of all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups of sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 large egg 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 1/4 cups of milk 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Topping Ingredients: 1 stick (8 tbsps) of unsalted butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two doughnut pans or cover a baking pan with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter and vanilla, then combine the wet and dry mixture into the large bowl. 3. Spoon the batter into the doughnut pans until 3/4 filled, or roll into balls and place onto parchment paper around 2 inches apart. Bake for 17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the doughnuts to cool for five minutes. 4. For the topping, melt butter in a small pan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. First dip each donut in the butter then the cinnamon sugar. Recipe derived from Ina Garden of the Food Network.
APPLE DUMPLINGS A bite-sized version of the classic apple pie, croissants filled with apple pie filling, apple dumplings satisfy all the expectations of apple pie but take half the prep time. Ingredients: 2 Granny Smith apples 2 cans of croissant dough 1 1/2 sticks of butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Pinch of salt 8 oz. of lemon lime soda Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking dish with butter. Peel and cut apples into eighths. 2. Separate croissant dough into triangles and place one apple slice at the wider end, then roll the croissant dough inwards to create the typical shape. Repeat with the remaining apple slices and croissants, then place the apple dumplings into the greased pan. 3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Once combined, pour the mixture over the dumplings. 4. Pour soda around the edge of the pan, avoiding the apple dumplings. Bake until golden brown, around 30 minutes. Recipe derived from Makinze Gore of Delish.
October 2021 // 27
Headed To Bed Help get this little guy get to his bed for the night.
