STATESMAN DECEMBER ISSUE Special Edition Activity Book
AT THE RINK pg 22
PERSPECTIVES
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT
CONTENTS 4 6 8 11 12 14 16 17 18
TIS THE SEASON OF GIVING- Lilli Eppinga HOLIDAY FILMS- Kathryn Sweeter & Nyah Thaemert
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AT THE RINK- Anna Langseth & Morgan McDonnel
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IS IT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO EAT SNOW?- Sara Croghan
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GUIDE FOR THE BEST HOLIDAY COOKIES- Easton Plourde 25-DAY HOLIDAY CHALLENGE- Alexis Miller LET’S GET COOKING: HOLIDAY EDITION- Madeleine Kemper THE BEST HOLIDAY SONGS- Chloe Hartje STATESBUDS: HOLIDAY EDITION- Brita Quello & Nicole Schmitz SPOT THE DIFFERENCE- Jaida Sorensen BLIND DATE- Kaden Fossum & Charley Lockwood-Powell
CHANGE YOUR DAY- Chloe Houwman OH HOLIDAY SPIRIT, WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?- Ree Baireddy GIFTS WILL NEVER FUFILL YOU- Abbie DeKramer A LETTER FROM SCROOGE- Avery Blackman
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FEELING “FROZEN” IN LIFE- Timothy Stolp
STATESMAN
The Statesman’s purpose is to inform and entertain with an honest and accurate approach. The opinions of students, staff members and faculty are expressed in a tasteful manner. The Statesman is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association. The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The Statesman has received Superior and best newspaper in the state of South Dakota. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman.
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Editors-in-Chief: Taylor Ericson, Timothy Stolp, Genna Sheriff and Cathleen Weng Feature Editors: Kathryn Sweeter and Chloe Robinson Entertainment Editors: Morgan McDonnel and Nyah Thaemert Sports Editors: Landon DeBoer and Spencer Wasmund Perspectives Editors: Carly Wheeler, Slater Dixon and Mara Fendrich Photographer: Jaida Sorensen Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Staff Writers: Ree Baireddy, Daniel Bethke, Avery Blackman, Sara Croghan, Abbie DeKramer, Lilli Eppinga, Kaden Fossum, Chloe Hartje, Hunter Hauck, Chloe Houwman, Madeleine Kemper, Anna Langseth, Charley LockwoodPowell, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Nicole Schmitz, Jazlyn White Adviser: Katie Kroeze
by Lilli Eppinga There’s no better way to end your year than giving back to the community. It’s coming up fast, the season of giving, and there are several different opportunities to volunteer and donate this winter. The Helpline Center has created an enormous list of great ideas, but here are just a few to choose from.
Army Sioux Falls, 1.Salvation Donations for Angel Tree
Website: www.sasiouxfalls.org Phone: (605) 338-6649 Ext. 317 Every year the Salvation Army assembles the Angel Tree located in the Empire Mall. It’s an opportunity to purchase a gift for a child, ages 0-12, and place the unwrapped gift under the angel tree before Christmas Eve. While all gifts are welcome, the ages of focus for this holiday season are 9-12 year olds; this is the age group that receives the least donations each year. Parents and guardians that are eligible are accompanied by a volunteer before Christmas to help them choose a gift for their child. They take the gifts home to wrap them for Christmas morning.
3.
Toys for Tots
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Project Warm-Up
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School 1510 S Lake Avenue, Sioux Falls Date & Time: Dec. 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Project Warm-Up distributes blankets to children and families in need in order to give them a little comfort during difficult times. There are opportunities for both giving and donating. This organization is requesting the donation of fleece to make blankets; the specific measurements can be found on their website. They are also hosting a giant blanket making party Dec. 14, so bring your friends and family and have some fun giving back to the community.
The organization Toys for Tots was founded by the U.S Marine Corps with the mission to “collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.” There are two different opportunities to help pass out gifts to families and children in the local area. For more information, contact Melissa Jungemann at siouxfallstoysfortots@yahoo.com. Dates and shifts available: Saturday, Dec.16 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
4. Beresford Faith in Action 101 S. 5th Street, Beresford, SD 57004 Phone: (605) 763-8019 This organization needs the following items to help local families and children in Beresford and the surrounding areas.
Deodorant Soap Diapers Gift cards Toothpaste Canned foods Shampoo Tuna Jelly Detergent Tape Toothbrushes
HOLIDAY FILMS
BY KATHRYN SWEETER & NYAH THAEMERT
Watching holiday classics is essential to the winter season. Here are a few holiday movies you will not regret watching.
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The Kranks love celebrating Christmas with their daughter; however, when their daughter moves away, the Kranks stubbornly choose to skip Christmas altogether. Low on Christmas spirit, the Kranks experience an uproar when they unexpectedly change their plans and celebrate Christmas with no preparation. This movie is suggested for those who enjoy family friendly comedies.
During the family’s hectic packing for their vacation, their eight-yearold son Kevin is accidentally left home alone. While Kevin is left home alone, he encounters a couple of burglars, and he finds creative and comedic ways to protect his house and himself. This movie is a great classic for people who love mischievous pranks.
This 1983 classic movie follows the life of a young boy named Ralphie who attempts to convince his parents to buy him a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. His struggles include avoiding a school bully, a ruined Christmas dinner and several people rejecting his Christmas wish. This movie has been a classic for years and it will continue to be.
Plans for a big family Christmas can get out of hand. The Griswold’s family Christmas takes a disastrous turn when Cousin Eddie’s family unexpectedly shows up. This is the best movie for those who relate to the crazy occurrences that can happen at a large family gathering.
An elf who is raised in the North Pole discovers he is actually a human. After this realization, Buddy the elf travels to New York City in hopes of locating his real father. While there, he tries to spread Christmas cheer to the people of New York and runs into some trouble while doing so. This movie starring Will Farrell is recommended for families and those who love action packed comedies and want to get into the Christmas spirit.
This 2000 classic is based off of Dr. Seuss’ book. In the movie, a green, revengeful Grinch searches for ways to ruin Christmas for all citizens of Whoville. This movie is perfect for all ages, especially those looking for a comedy.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY IMDB.COM 7 ARTWORK BY CARLY WHEELER
RECIPE FOR HOLIDAY COOKIES BY EASTON PLOURDE
INGREDIENTS:
STEPS:
2 ¾ cups of all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ cups of sugar 1 egg ½ teaspoon of baking soda 1 cup of butter (softened) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set bowl aside. 3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. 4. Beat in egg and vanilla. 5. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Steps 1-5 should result to dough. Place cookie cut outs on dough. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven. Decorate your holiday inspired cookies with frosting.
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DECORATE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY COOKIE:
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25 D A Y H O L I D A Y C H A L L E N G E
by Alexis Miller
1 Support our South Dakota farmers and landowners by purchasing a Christmas tree from one of our local tree farms!
6 Hallmark is a holiday favorite! Spend an evening re-watching a childhood Christmas film.
11 Find your holiday outfit; Christmas PJ´s and fuzzy socks are available at a Target near you!
16 Create your very own advent calendar!
21 Check out the production of “The Nutcracker” at the Orpheum downtown.
2 Take it back to the good old days! Spend a day sledding with your close friends.
7 Create a personalized holiday playlist.
3 Purchase a holidaythemed coffee from your favorite spot and treat someone in line with a free Christmas coffee!
8 Attend a holiday play or musical.
12 Hallmark is a holiday favorite! Spend an evening re-watching a childhood Christmas film.
17 Prepare holiday cards for your family and friends.
22 Take a carriage ride! During the month of December, many downtown businesses host these types of events.
13 Build a snowman… carrot nose and all. Be creative!
18 Drink some eggnog; the age-appropriate kind, of course!
23 Write a letter to mail to an overseas troop.
4 Spend an afternoon skating at the rinks in town with your siblings or a close family member.
9 Visit Santa! P.S. you´re not required to sit on his lap!
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5 Spread some holiday cheer by baking some goodies for your neighbors!
10 With our luck, we will be receiving a boatload of snow. Take time to shovel a driveway for a neighbor in need.
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Take a tour of the Falls; Visit a living nativity! there is a great view from Southern Hills Church the lookout tower. will be hosting its 23rd annual nativity this year.
19 Obtain an ugly Christmas sweater… thrift shops have tons of options.
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20 Set aside time to serve a meal at the local homeless shelter this month!
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Donate any pocket change to the Salvation Army. Last, but not least, take a day to relax with your family!
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LET'S GET COOKING:
BY MaDeleIne KempeR
As we say goodbye to another Thanksgiving feast and turn our calendars over to the last page, we usher in the new season with open arms and an empty stomach. But first, we must put on the festive music we’ve been pretending not to listen to since Halloween and break out the cookbooks. Get in your kitchens people! At the briefest mention of holiday recipes, one’s mind begins to turn with all the different Pinterest-worthy creations floating around out there. Instead of getting sucked into this vortex, I decided to select some of the most popular foods that people like to eat around the beloved month of December. Rather than sticking with the domain of one holiday celebration, I have selected three delicious recipes, each one unique to its origin. The first recipe comes all the way from the Latin American celebration of Las Posadas, meaning, “the inns.” This Spanish holiday is celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and some parts of the U.S., commemorating the journey that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge for their unborn child. It is a nine day celebration, starting December 16th, and ending on the 24th. In many Spanish speaking countries this novenario, as it is called, is celebrated with festivals, reenactments 12
of religious stories and of course, the tamale. This is by far the lengthiest of the recipes, however it is well worth the patience when you taste the fruits of your labor. To begin, any meat of your choosing needs be slow cooked, I chose pork. It requires about six to eight hours of cook time, but don’t worry you can easily turn on a few holiday movies while you wait! Next the masa must be made, a corn dough, which acts like a casing to the meat filling. This can be made while the corn husks are soaking, the final wrapping paper on this meal. Once all of the food has been cooked, the masa is rolled in circular sections, the width depending on how big you want them; the meat is then put inside. Each one is encased in a tied cornhusk, and can be topped with salsa, cheese or sour cream and is often served with rice. The next recipe is highly consumed during Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, also known as the Festival of Lights. Having its origins in Israel, this eightday-long celebration is full of potato pancakes, otherwise known as Latkes. They are even enjoyed by those who don’t celebrate Hanukkah. As implied by the name, you start by shredding potatoes, along with an onion, then combine with eggs. If you want more
of an authentic taste, combine with applesauce. To cook, place in an oiled pan for a crispy texture. Finally, while they are still warm, sprinkle with salt. Of course, no holiday is complete without a dessert. Millions of Americans enjoy this treat around Christmas time. It is a true classic that requires almost no effort. Yep, you guessed it: Peppermint bark. The first step is to melt chocolate, any kind you desire. Once this is done you can combine it with peppermint extract and pour the smooth chocolate mixture into a flat baking pan. It is highly recommended to lay down aluminum foil or wax paper in order to save time during the cleanup process! Let this layer cool completely while you melt the white chocolate, again mixing in some peppermint extract. Once this is done, pour it on top of the now solid layer and immediately sprinkle crushed peppermint candy canes onto the white chocolate. Break it up into pieces once it has solidified and enjoy! No matter what holiday you celebrate, there are plenty of recipes out there to put you in the right festive mood. Winter won’t seem as long and cold with good food to take comfort in. Invite some friends over to partake in the fun and as always, have a happy holiday!
Tamales What you’ll need: 1. Masa mix 2. Corn husks 3. Pork (or any meat of choice) 4. Chiles for flavoring 5. Salsa, sour cream or cheese for toppings
PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN
Peppermint bark What you’ll need: 1. Milk or dark chocolate for melting 2. White chocolate for melting 3. Peppermint extract 4. Crushed candy canes
Latkes (potato pancakes)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATT HARVEY
What you’ll need: 1. Peeled and shredded potatoes 2. Eggs or applesauce to use as a binder 3. Flour 4. Grated onion for seasoning 5. Salt for seasoning PHOTO BROVIDED BY LYNN GARDNER
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by Chloe Hartje
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” By Andy Williams
You’ve probably heard this iconic song on the TV or radio advertising holiday shopping, and it belongs on this list as well. The lyrics describe activities associated with the holiday season, like hosting parties, roasting marshmallows and singing Christmas carols. If you aren’t already in the spirit, then listen to this song to get you hyped up for the festivities.
“Winter Wonderland” By Michael Bublé and Rod Stewart
If you haven’t already heard Michael Buble’s Christmas album, then you have been missing out. The album is full of the most iconic holiday songs, “Winter Wonderland” being among the best. This song is about looking at a picturesque winter landscape, like the Winter Wonderland at Falls Park!
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“Jingle Bells”
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By Bing Crosby
This is one of the most recorded songs of all time by artists like Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble and Dean Martin. But, the best and most famous version of all time, is by Bing Crosby. So, befowre you start listening to dozens of average covers of “Jingle Bells,” save your time and go straight to the best.
“Sleigh Ride”
By The Ronettes
“Let it Snow” By Dean Martin
Since we live in South Dakota, we might as well make the most out of the dreadful snowfall we receive each year. This song will help you embrace the snow, hopefully, while spending it cuddled up by a fire with some hot chocolate. Besides, the best Christmas is a white Christmas!
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“Sleigh Ride” was first composed by Leroy Anderson as an instrumental song, with sounds of a horse clipclopping and a whip used to get the horse moving. It has since been covered, with lyrics, by the Ronettes, an American girl group. This song will get you wanting to go on a sleigh ride yourself.
“Mistletoe”
By Justin Bieber
If you aren’t into the classics and looking for a new holiday song to listen to, then Justin Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe” album may be your best bet. It is full of originals, with “Mistletoe” being one of the most popular. The song has more of a romantic vibe, with the iconic symbol of the “mistletoe” as the main focus.
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Guess the name of the song ACROSS 4 featured on her album “Christmas Kisses” 5 a plant that people kiss under during the holidays 7 the Fall’s Park annual light display
DOWN 1 featured in the movie “Mean Girls” 2 an iconic winter activity 3 the most iconic holiday song of all time 6 something everyone in SD can relate to
HOLIDAY MUSIC CROSSWORD
Answer Key: 1-Jingle Bell Rock, 2-Sleigh Ride, 3-Jingle Bells, 4-Last Christmas, 5-Mistletoe, 6-Let it Snow, 7-Winter Wonderland
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“Last Christmas” By Ariana Grande
“Last Christmas” is a song by the English pop duo, “Wham!”, but Ariana Grande features her cover on the album “Christmas Kisses” from 2013. The song is about a breakup from the previous year’s Christmas and finding someone new to spend the holidays with this year.
“Jingle Bell Rock” By Bobby Helms
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For the last holiday fav, we are bringing it back to the classics once again. Most people recognize this song from the iconic “Mean Girls” movie. This song will get you dancing just like Cady and the “Plastics” at their talent show.
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STATESBUDS: HOLIDAY DRINKS With the holiday season, comes scrumptious holiday drinks. We took it upon ourselves to test out and come to a conclusion on the most unique and delicious festive drink in Sioux Falls. Scooters, Starbucks and Caribou were all in the running.
STARBUCKS
SCOOTERS
CARIBOU
The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino was the winner by a long shot. This drink was a mix of white chocolate with a hint of mocha. The small touch of espresso was perfect for me because I am not a coffee drinker. Although for the coffee fanatics, this drink may not be satisfying. If you are looking for a seasonal but enjoyable sweet drink this would be the one for you.
If your coffee of choice is stronger than most, then the Sugar Cookie Latte is the holiday drink for you. The espresso delivers a rich flavor that awakens your taste buds as it hits your tongue and is followed by the sweetness of the sugar cookie, leaving you wanting more. This drink is perfect for running errands as it gives you a shot of energy and delivers the sense of nostalgia of baking cookies in your own warm kitchen.
The Ho Ho Mint Mocha was an excellent balance of chocolate, espresso and mint. If you are looking for a warm drink to get you into the holiday spirit, this is mocha is highly recommended. It’s lush and creamy texture doesn’t let you put it down and you will be sure to want another.
BY BRITA QUELLO & NICOLE SCHMITZ
DESIGN YOUR OWN HOLIDAY CUP!
Answers: poster on the left, missing A, LHS football, missing a pumpkin on the bookshelf, front book is flipped, missing a book, chair is flipped, llama on the bookshelf, llama standing above the missing book.
photos by jaida sorensen
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Can you find all 9 of the differences in the library?
A night to
Remember by Kaden Fossum & Charley Lockwood-Powell
by Charley Lockwood-Powell & Kaden Fossum
PHOTOS BY CHARLEY LOCKWOOD-POWELL & KADEN FOSSUM
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According to the website Couple Advice, 4 out of 10 Americans have gone on a blind date. Gen Z is a bit young to be already going on blind dates, so when we told our waitress we were four high school students on a blind date, her reaction was nothing but shock. Immediately, the night started with a clear lesson: do not let Ree Baireddy set up a blind date for you. It was a wild goose chase. Our initial dinner spot, the Diner, was closed. During this time, we still had no clue who we were meeting, making for an interesting start to our date. To make matters worse, we had to do some investigating ourselves because Baireddy wouldn’t answer her phone. A few minutes later, we finally found our mystery dates, freshmen Sophie Siegel and Claire Brown. Our second choice was to walk one block to the restaurant Mackenzie River. To our disappointment, we went 0 for 2 to start off the night. Mackenzie River had a 45-minute wait, so for the sake of time, we made an executive decision to go to the Italian restaurant Spezia, allowing our blind date to officially start. Around 7 p.m., we finally sat down at our last option. We both ordered the same thing: three-cheese tortellini. Siegel and Brown both ordered burgers. It took what felt like a million years to receive our food, but in reality, it was only about 20 minutes. During those 20 minutes, there were a lot of interesting conversations. “Charley and I are in love, and you can expect to see us getting married,” said Brown to the waitress. Brown was very outgoing, which made the night less awkward for everyone. When Siegel and Brown are together it
Rate the date
makes for a very loud conversation, casually bursting out in loud laughs and talking even louder. We both didn’t see this as a bad thing; we saw it as two other people who were like us: very outgoing. Together, we had conversations ranging from their freshman problems to sports, learning we all had some things in common. Aside from the annoyed looks from other dinner-goers and awkward interactions with our waitress, the dinner couldn’t have been any more entertaining. The food was substantial, tasty and did the trick filling us up. Once dinner was wrapped up, Charley’s sweet tooth kicked in, and after some convincing, he got us to go to DQ. “Big dawgs gotta eat,” said Charley. The night had brought us to our final destination. There, we drowned
ourselves in frozen deliciousness and finished our night strong. After we dropped off our dates, we both could agree on one takeaway from the night: aside from some awkward situations like Brown claiming her and Charley were dating just an hour after they met, it was a unique experience. Not a lot of people can say they have gone on a blind date before, especially at the age of 17. “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new,” said Brian Tracy, a public speaker. I would encourage you to try putting yourself in a situation that might not seem the most appealing to you, because who knows? You may just have a good time or meet the love of your life *wink wink*.
Kaden: 5/5 “Even though the night started off with some complications about where to eat, I can say confidently it was a great night.”
Charley: 4/5 “Night got a little weird. I like weird.”
Claire: 5/5 “It was such a good time and it was so romantic. I felt a great connection with Charley, I can’t wait for the second date.”
Sophie: 5/5 “My date was awesome, and I had a great time.” 19
WHY AND WHEN DID YOU BEGIN SKATING? Sam: “I started hockey in kindergarten, and the reason I started was because I went to a Stampede game and my parents saw that I was in love with the game.” Lily: “I started skating when I was eight years old because my mom was a figure skater in Northern Minnesota, so she put my sister and me in skating.” Ian: “I saw the Stampede play, and I liked it. I then picked goalie because no one else wanted to play it.”
Ice skating is a typical seasonal activity that buzzes during the cold, holiday months. A group of students at LHS spends ample amounts of time on the ice and knows a few things about skating and everything else that comes with it. Over the years, hockey and figure skating have
Kevin: “I started hockey back when I lived in China after my dad saw a rink, and he came home and said that I am Canadian, so I should play hockey.” Emma: “One of my family friends influenced me to start skating, so my parents put me in it.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB?
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Sam: “My favorite part is being able to hang out with my teammates and making the journey to state and playing in the state tournament.” Lily: “I would say that my favorite part about ice skating is getting to hang out with all of my friends there. It is also very rewarding to pass a test.” Ian: “My favorite part about being involved is that I have made a lot of friends.” Kevin: “I just like the team and it feels like a family.” Emma: “I like that figure skating is an individual and team sport.”
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Sam Siegel (12) Sioux Falls Flyers & Team South Dakota
Kevin Zhou (12) Sioux Falls Flyers
Ian Pattison (9) Sioux Falls Flyers & Team South Dakota
continued to grow in Sioux Falls. The number of kids going out has increased and the facilities provided in town have been key in the development of athletes. At LHS, many students are involved with the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club and various hockey teams including the Sioux Falls Flyers.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY? Sam: “My favorite memory is either winning the tier ll National Championship in New Jersey or winning State last year by beating our rivals the Rapid City Thunder.” Lily: “Some of my favorite memories are from our shows every year. They usually have a theme, and we get to do programs with our groups which is really fun.” Ian: “My favorite memory is going to nationals last year in South Bend Indiana with Team South Dakota. We played teams from all over the nation and placed second.” Kevin: “I like when I score goals. I don’t score a lot.” Emma: “All of them. I have very good memories with all of my friends.”
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by Anna Langseth & Morgan McDonnel
TRIVIA QUESTION 1. Who’s the only player to average over two assists per game in a single NHL season? 2. What do hockey wags dub the “sin bin”? 3. Who was the first ever American woman to successfully complete a triple axel in competition?
Emma Miller (12) Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club
Lily Derynck (11)
4. What is the area called where skaters go to sit with their coaches and hear their scores? (a) The Smile and Cry (b) The Kiss and Cry (c) The Smile and Sigh
Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club 1. Wayne Gretzky 2. The penalty box. 3. Tonya Harding 4. (b) The Kiss and Cry
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IS IT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO EAT SNOW ?
by Sara Croghan With a jingle in every bell, a twinkle in every eye, a fire in every hearth and a star on every tree, the holidays have made a sweeping appearance, and with
their annual presence comes the annual ambiguous question: Is it socially acceptable to eat snow? Do not fear, young ice crunchers, for this year, Santa has brought an extra gift: an answer. There are a few aspects to address. The cleanliness, the practicality, and lastly, the “socially acceptable” part. All can remember the common playground folklore, that snow is filled with dog urine, and that eating snow is equivalent to licking a fire hydrant. Astoundingly, this repulsive reality phased very few, and I am proud to say I spent recesses in the winter as a child very hydrated
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(until a few years later and it was no longer cool, and my snow feasts were left to the confines of my own yard). But why is it no longer cool? Even these days I do not come home from a tiring day of school, grab a fork and go sit in a snowbank. What happened? While maybe I did come to question the medical risk I was putting myself in, it surely is no worse than eating in the school cafeteria. If you ignored the ominous little black dots it was fine. We are all still standing, are we not? Still, very few adults walk around carving away at a snowball in their hand as they would an apple. Perhaps it is a matter of practicality. Snow pales in comparison to a water bottle. It melts, makes a mess and does not stay cold forever. There is no such thing as fruit-infused snow, and I have yet to see anyone dump a packet of Crystal Light in a drift. (Although, in my culinary opinion, dog urine does add a bit of a zing.) Nevertheless, although it is abundant and easily accessible outdoors, the need (and urge) to pack together a wad of snow to munch on seems to be fading as the years progress.
with the latest snowfall. This is not unexpected, but a little disheartening. Not because of the judgmental nature of society, no, that is inevitable and ostensibly crucial. But because not eating snow displays a fundamental lack of I-donot-give-a-“crap” behavior. Do not take these words too literally. Everyone very much does need to give a crap. Sometimes, however, there is no harm nor foul but only much needed comic relief in “crash your car for the sound of it,” “paint your nails for the smell of it,” or “eat that snow for the taste of
I no longer find myself outside for prolonged periods of time, like recess, in the winter, and a more practical method for liquid consumption is always within reach. As children become adults, snow loses all nutritional value and becomes only a traffic hazard. I think many people forget it is zero-calorie. At last, the “socially acceptable” part. It is almost a guarantee that an array of strange looks and various substance use accusations would accompany any post-prepubescent person that visibly quenched their thirst
it” attitudes. Everything anyone does can be subject to scorn, but only some things that some people do can be subject to laughter and light-heartedness. Thank you, Ms. Wilson, for melting that chunk of purposefully dirty snow in an attempt to show your kindergarteners (myself included) how disgusting it was. However, I have come to think that that demonstration only made eating snow a greater act of defiance and symbol of rebellion to us authorityquestioning young deviants.
of course it is.
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ARTWORK BY CARLY WHEELER
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CHAN by Chloe Houwman
As the new year approaches, many will start making resolutions to better themselves. However, most people are unable to follow through with their resolutions, and there might be a trend that causes this to happen. This is because most resolutions are too broad. According to a study completed by the University of Scranton, only eight percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions stick with them. “[New Year’s resolutions fail because] your intentions aren’t clear,” said Shainna Ali of Psychology Today. “You feel overwhelmed and discouraged and you’re not ready to change.” Maybe we need to take a different approach to be successful. If you make small changes to each day, tackling a large task throughout the year will be much easier. Ashira Prossack of Forbes had an idea of what this different approach could be. “This year set goals instead of resolutions,” said Prossack. “Goals are specific, whereas resolutions tend to be broad and vague. Goals are much more actionable, which is what makes them more effective.” With this being said, one must distinguish how they may transform their resolution into a series of goals. Find something that you want to change about yourself. Anything. Think about how it would better your life to be without, and ask yourself, “What are some small steps I can take to achieve this?” The seven strategies for highly effective new year’s
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goals according to Margie Warrell of Forbes are: Know Your Why - Make sure you understand why you want to achieve this goal. How is it going to benefit you, and understand how it aligns with your values? Be Specific - Goals should be easy to understand and easy to follow. Having the goal to ‘be healthier’ is not specific enough. If you are looking to better your health, think of some small, specific steps you can accomplish to achieve your goal. You can decide that you are going to go to the gym twice a week. This gives you the opportunity to have time for yourself and build up to more times if you like the results you are getting. Don’t Just Think It, Ink It - Write your goals down. Make them your screen saver, keep a picture of them in your phone, set reminders on your calendar. Anything to help you remember them and allow you to plan around them. Design Your Environment - Don’t set yourself up for failure. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, don’t buy loads of treats from the store. I am not saying that it isn’t okay to treat yourself, but don’t go overboard. Recruit your friends and family to cheer you on and help you achieve your goals and provide support.
ANGE YOUR DAY Narrow Your Efforts - I don’t recommend making too many goals so that you overwhelm yourself - pick a few parts of your life in which you want to change and really zoom in on them. Focus On The Process - “Focus on the process itself, and develop greater competence of the actual activity, habit or skill you want to acquire,” said Warrell. “For instance, if you want to become more fit, focus on being able to jog a little bit further every time you go for a walk, rather than being able to run five miles within a week. Persistence always pays off.” Forgive Your Failures - We are humans, we are not perfect. Allow yourself to take a break if you are overwhelmed; allow yourself to make mistakes. Setbacks and errors are bound to happen, but don’t let them discourage you. Accept that you made a mistake, take in what you learned from it and move on. Hopefully, with these steps being laid out, you will be able to be successful in attempting a New Year’s goal. Remember to allow mistakes to happen and that small, specific goals will lead you to victory in the end.
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oh holiday spirit, where have you gone? BY REE BAIREDDY
Once we get our fill of turkey and welcome the holiday season warmly in the harshness of December, we are encouraged to get into the “spirit of the season.” In general, we are encouraged to be charitable, joyful and warmhearted. These emotions are usually challenged by the stresses of holiday shopping, returning family members and traveling. But with the season coming up, the question lingers: Is there still such a thing as the spirit of the season? As we progress as a society, the holidays seem to become more materialistic, and the magical feeling that we had as children during the season dissipated once the reality of life hit us. Unless people make a conscious effort to integrate the spirit into the season, it eludes us. Through my personal experience, the once-wonderful feeling of the holidays vanished once the piles of homework and hours of practice kept stacking on to each other, turning into a mountainous heap which seemed impossible to climb over. Studying for finals became more of a concern than buying thoughtful gifts for loved ones. But during the holiday season, we are constantly reminded that we must put our priorities aside and give to the community rather than ourselves. The holidays can be different for everyone. It can be a time of year where people can visit family they have not seen all year, or where you can give back to loved ones or those in need. But the undying
truth about the holidays is that it is continuously mistaken as the season of gift-receiving. If I am being 100% honest, the holidays are my favorite due to the cash load I receive. But I can never forget the memories I hold from when I was younger. Whether it was spending time with my family or camping out in front of my Christmas tree with my older sister, I was always excited for the season. These events soon became history as I felt as if I had “more important things to do.” So here I am, a veteran of the holiday spirit, waiting for its forced return. We are constantly reminded that we must obtain the spirit of the season ourselves through kindness and charity, but is it really that easy? I don’t want to sound like Ebenezer Scrooge, but the spirit of the season is dead. We can put up a front that we are getting in the festivities of December by participating in giving to homeless and spending time with family, but shouldn’t these activities happen all year long? The holidays are not a time nor a season, but rather a state of mind that one must obtain. A state of mind that I believe should not be limited to the mere month of December, but rather all the months in which you can spread cheer and goodwill. To the fellow believers and followers of the holiday spirit, I say this to you: Cherish your loved ones, and spread holiday cheer throughout the season and long years you have ahead of you.
create your own snowglobe
by Abbie DeKramer
NEVER
There is an invisible force in this world that inherently prevents us from ever feeling fulfilled. Materialism is being exceedingly occupied with material objects and possessions rather than intellectual or spiritual connections. Being materialistic and seeking fulfillment are mutually exclusive in almost every scenario; the exception being the moment where the hand first touches the supposed desire. Then this momentary excitement makes the next want begins to feel like a need. A perfect example of the relations between materialism and fulfillment is in relation to holiday gifts. At a young age, we are not able to contextualize the value of money, but we are able to identify personal value. When I was eight, I wanted nothing more than an American Girl doll. I didn’t know that American Girl dolls were one of the most expensive gifts to buy a young girl that year. December 25th came, and my family began our Christmas tradition of opening gifts. Before Christmas, I had surveyed the tree and immediately noticed the large, narrow rectangular box— which I thought held my American Girl doll. The clock struck six and the festivities began. I jumped toward the rectangular box and began to tear apart the wrapping. My eyes widened at the sight of my doll. The box said “Olivia,” and there was a blue and green floral color scheme on the packaging. I was overjoyed, even though it was a Springfield Collection doll instead of an American Girl. I played with my doll all day, every day, until I lost her when we moved. Fast forward several years, I was 12 and receive my first pair of chestnut UGGs. I waited for my first
pair of UGGs in hopes of finally being able to fit in with my friends and peers. A week later, I was already looking at the next pair I wanted. I loved my new UGGs, but the idea of seeking more was overpowering in comparison to my momentary happiness. The UGGs were everything I wanted for Christmas but still never reached the level of fulfillment compared to the doll; even though the doll wasn’t exactly what I wanted, I was fulfilled for a longer period of time compared to the UGGs I received at an older age. From a young child’s perspective, the amount of fulfillment received from a gift is based on a personal connection and personal value. As we age and enter a new realm of middle school and high school, one could argue that fulfillment is received from a gift based on social status. The media creates a mindset that in order to feel good or happy one must form to trends; in this case, this trend is UGGs. This value at a young age has the potential to have a lengthened duration but as we age and form to concepts such as media and social inclusion the trade off of fulfillment and the time we feel fulfilled decreases substantially. As a child, the ability to identify gifts with a spiritual or intellectual element makes material desires and a longer duration of fulfillment not mutually exclusive. But at a greater age, especially as high school students, we often spend little time being joyful and being fulfilled at this longer duration compared to at a younger age. The connection of a material items and a value becomes muddled. The reach for fulfillment can never be reached, even in the spirit of the holidays.
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A Letter From Scrooge
by Avery Blackman
I’m sure you all have seen “A Christmas Carol” and know who I am. The infamous Scrooge, hater-of-Christmas. Most would probably see me as cruel and heartless; however, I am here to change your minds. With this letter, I promise I will convince every one of my readers that the holiday season is the single worst time of the year. Every year it seems like the holiday decorations go up earlier and earlier. The first weekend in November, you can surely see one of the neighborhood dads wobbling on a ladder in his front yard, hanging up some colorful lights. Why must the anticipation start so early? Is it impossible for people to live without counting down the days until the next holiday? Now, don’t even get me started on the colors. Red and green are the most visually unappetizing combination possible; just because they are complementary colors doesn’t mean they look good together! The amount of tacky holiday decorations I see in public places is immeasurable. It makes me queasy just thinking about the flocked trees and dripping icicle lights. The blow-up Santas which litter peoples’ lawns are even worse- seeing them feels like a knife to the heart. There are many desserts associated with the holidays, and each one is worse than the last. Sugar cookies: so sweet they promise to give you at least three cavities. Pumpkin pie: do I even have to comment on this one? One could describe it as brown mush baked into a soggy crust with a sad dollop of whipped cream. Gingerbread houses: a whole different ball game. Not only is constructing them a waste of time, but the cookies themselves taste like cardboard if they are even that tolerable. The one thing I can admit that I am a sucker for is hot chocolate, but that is hardly a holiday exclusive. I couldn’t possibly stress how overdone holiday movies are these days. In fact, I could probably summarize the plot of every Hallmark Christmas movie ever made, but I won’t waste my ink on such trivial topics. Even the classic holiday films (excluding “A Christmas Carol”) promise to be the demise of many people during this extra-festive season. Every year, networks air the same 20 or so movies during the winter months. And every year, people get amped up as if somehow the movies have gotten better in the last 11 months. Well, I can promise you they haven’t. The thing that I despise most about this time of year is the weather. Yes, I know this statement isn’t applicable everywhere, but it certainly should be taken into consideration considering we live in South Dakota, the epitome of a winter tundra. December, more specifically the second half, is arguably the most miserable time of the year. There is nothing more excruciatingly painful than walking outside and losing feeling in your fingers and toes and having the wind burn your cheeks. Everyone always raves about the excitement of sledding, skiing and ice skating, but ask yourself: is it really worth the pain? Certainly not. Could that statement be applied to the holiday season as a whole? Is it truly the most wonderful time of the year? The answer to this question ought to be a resounding no.
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ARTWORK BY CARLY WHEELER
Feeling frozen in life BY TIMOTHY STOLP
South Dakota winters are far from a man’s best friend. Rather, like the ticks that latch onto our furry, four-legged companions, the brutal season carries with it the potential for negative side effects. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly referred to as seasonal depression, is not uncommon. I think it’s safe to say that many South Dakotans are aware of this ailment, but handling it well is something that many of us struggle with. Though not all Midwesterners deal with this sudden drop in energy, those of us who do need better ways of understanding its causes. A common misconception is that SAD is still not a “true” or “real” malady. Unfortunately, this view is held especially in places like the Midwest, where the destigmatization of mental health issues is just beginning. The root of mistrust in the legitimacy of seasonal depression lies within the lack of diagnosis and specialized treatment for the affliction. As the Mayo Clinic states on their website, it can be hard to distinguish SAD from other forms of depression. In other words, it can be hard to separate SAD from general depression without thorough evaluation. From there, treatment is
relatively similar to that of general depression. In this way, many people consider it a reducible issue, a case to be worked on personally. This is all well and true: in the long run, resolving the winter blues (as with bouts of mental health issues in general) is a matter of self-care. However, there is an underlying problem in shunting the feelings solely onto the victims themselves. It is important we redefine the issue as collective: it is a matter of community spirit, as well. Though for each person, the causes and effects of SAD or the likes of it (which I would argue, all those who have lived through intense winters have felt to some extent) may be different, the understanding that everyone has felt this way at some point or another could change the course for many. Perhaps it may be hard for many hard-stock, red-blooded South Dakotans to admit, but at some point or another, the winters have the capacity to bog anyone down. We would see drastic changes in the way we feel during winter months if we could open ourselves up more. I know that for myself, during the years in which I am honest with myself and others about needing to take that three-hour break to watch two movies,
I am more responsible. Though I may lack energy, I am responsible about getting homework done so as to make time to go out with friends or clean my room. Communicating my feelings can be hard when I feel this unmotivated, but once I speak and ask for sympathy, more often than not others confide in me that they have felt the same way. The connection made allows us to keep each other accountable. I feel stronger because I am encouraging someone else and they are reciprocating that positivity. There will still be days where you can’t get out of bed or simply can’t force yourself to do your homework. The important thing is to remind yourself of the goals, the friends, the dreams you still have for tomorrow. Much like ticks, these winter blues, though they may bite, are treatable pests. And just like dogs, we all could use a helping hand to alleviate some of our troubles.
If you or someone you know is in need of more assistance, there are various programs you can reach out to in Sioux Falls. Check out LHSCOUNSELING.COM for more information, under the Personal/Social tab.
STATESMAN
Special Edition Activity Book
ARTWORK BY LANDON DEBOER