March 2019 Issue

M ARCH 2019

V OL . 53, N O . 6

251 TO 605 pg. 12

TABLE

OF CONTENTS PERSPECTIVES

ON THE COVER 12-13 FROM THE 251 TO THE 605 PHOTO BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

FEATURES

34 THE BEAUTY OF LIVING A LIFE OF LEARNING 35 ON BEING QUIET

SPORTS

36

STEREOTYPES IN REALITY TV

22-23

TRACK IS BACK

37

THE (WAGE) GAP BETWEEN US

24-25

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

39

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTION

26-27

THE UNSUNG HERO

43

SENIORITIS

11

STATESBUDS

THE NEED FOR SANCTIONING

46-47

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

32-33

THE PALINDROME

30-31

SOLVING BOREDOM

6-7

LHS CALENDAR

8-9

MR. LHS

14-15 21

44-45

IN EVERY ISSUE

4-5

THE CARLSONS

STORY OF A BEEKEEPER

ENTERTAINMENT ENGAGE

40-41 REDEFINED

16-17

NOT MAKING THIS UP

18-19

2019 DISNEY MOVIES

S t a t e s m a n 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, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and is a winner of the George H. Gallup award for “…distinctive achievements in scholastic journalism.” The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman.

Editors- in-Chief: Gage Gramlick and Hannah Hansen

Perspectives Editor: Katie Osmundson

Photographers: Riley Rasmussen and Jaida Sorensen

Feature Editor: Taylor Ericson

Meet the Varsity: Chloe Crissman and Somer Luitjens

Sports Editor: Somer Luitjens

Design Editor: Taylor Ericson

Entertainment Editor: Timothy Stolp

Cartoonist: Vince Hofer Staff Writers: Georgia Conlin, Kate Fehrs, Chloe Harbaugh, Parker Hibbard, Morgan McDonnel, Margaret Meierhenry, Brooke O’Connor, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Maryam Rauuf, Chloe Robinson, Nicole Schmitz, Emily Shank, Kathryn Sweeter, Nyah Thaemert, Carly Wheeler Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Adviser: Katie Kroeze

CARTOON BY VINCE HOFER

SOLVING BOREDOM CHLOE ROBINSON There are 43 quintillion possible ways to solve a Rubik’s Cube: a “manageably” imaginable number. Yet, the 12 members of the Rubik’s Cube club at LHS take on this challenge every Tuesday after school.

Freshman Carter Bitz started the Rubik’s Cube club in September of last year to try and bring together people who enjoyed cubing as much as he did. Bitz has been cubing for about four years now, ever since the Rubik’s Cube murals at Edison Middle School inspired him to make it his favorite hobby.

Freshman Ryan Schock is also a prominent member of the club. Schock has been cubing ever since his friends showed him all the possible ways to solve a Rubik’s Cube.

“I needed to know how to solve after that, so I went home and figured it out and I kind of got hooked,” said Schock. “I’ve been cubing ever since.”

An average Tuesday meeting after school consists of a competition-style average of five solves. For non-cubers, this means everyone solves their cube five times with predetermined BY

scrambles, and whoever gets the fastest time is the winner for that particular meeting.

Almost everyone in the club has been cubing for at least a few years and members continue to practice to try to reach their current goals.

At the moment, Bitz and Schock both want to average a few seconds faster. For Schock, that is around 10 seconds; for Bitz, it is an impressive six seconds. Schock and Bitz enjoy practicing in their free time (around an hour a day) by doing a variety of different solves to try and reach these goals.

“I usually do solves at my house when I’m bored or I want to procrastinate doing my homework,” said Bitz. “It is a really good distraction.”

Cubing has been proven to improve memory, patience and problem-solving skills. Bitz and Schock both strongly encourage LHS students to test these skills and become part of the cubing world: maybe even join the club.

“Watch lots of videos and get immersed in the community,” said Schock. “The more you do, the better you will become.”

upcoming events

calendar

BY MORGAN MCDONNEL & EMILY SHANK

April 7-8

5

Mr. LHS A “beauty pageant” for junior and senior boys.

State STUCO

11-13

18

“Beauty and the Beast”

Teacher Inservice

22

25-27

This year’s musical at LHS costs $8 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for children three and under.

No School

All-State Jazz Band

9-11

Smarter Balanced

A standardized test for juniors.

19

No School 27

Senior Prom

The last school dance of the year costs $20 for a single and $35 for a couple. Grand March is $5 to take pictures.

May 2

Patriot Pride Assembly

23-24

Semester Tests

24-26

State Baseball

6-17

AP Testing 24

Last Day of School 26

Graduation Graduation is May 26 at the Sioux Falls Arena, the LHS ceremony is at 7 p.m.

16-18

State Boys Tennis

24-25

State Track 26

Senior Class Party The party begins at 10 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m.The cost to get into the party is $40.

MR. LHS

BY KATE FEHRS

Mr. LHS is a male pageant made up of five juniors and five seniors, voted by their female classmates.

Each male performs in various acts, such as the talent portion, a joke, a pick-up line and a choreographed group dance. The event takes place in the auditorium at LHS on April 5, at 7 p.m. Cost is $5.

The judges consist of LHS male teachers: Travis Aukerman, Steve Blankenship, Eric Rice, Jared Jansen and Scott Embry.

01 Caiden Capaldo What do you adore most about yourself?

“My right eyebrow.”

If you could get a tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Been there, done that... 15 year olds should not Google ‘how to stick ‘n poke.’”

02 Ian Ward What do you adore most about yourself?

“My ability to avoid social encounters.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“A supply and demand graph on my hand to ace that AP Econ test.”

03 Jack Elliott What do you adore most about yourself?

“My elaborately coiffed hair.”

If you could get a tattoo, what would it be and why?

“A tattoo of Mr. Blankenship on my bicep so I am reminded to always be as strong as the Rock.”

04 Jared Jaros What do you adore most about yourself?

“I feel like I have the biggest feet. My mocs are size 14.”

If you could get a tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Travis Aukerman’s face. I would get it because if I ever get sad, I could look at it and become happy right away.”

05 Sam Elliott What do you adore most about yourself?

“My beautiful baby blue eyes.”

If you could get a tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Tattoo a Polo Ralph Lauren sign on my left pec, so I never go a day without my Polo game.”

01 Archer Hoffpauir What do you adore most about yourself?

“Being super chill because it makes life easier, as well as being a meme connoisseur.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“A cat riding an eagle, wielding an American flag soaring across the country spreading patriotism.”

02 Court Anderson What do you adore most about yourself?

“My three-week neckbeard.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“A six-pack tattoo. I’m not getting in shape anytime soon.”

03 Devin Vasa What do you adore most about yourself?

“My dimples.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Mr. Aukerman’s face because he’s a good-looking dude and is a big role model of mine.”

04 Johnathan Smith What do you adore most about yourself?

“My watermelons for quads.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Slater Dixon’s face on the Statue of David.”

05 Slater Dixon What do you adore most about yourself?

“The fact that I am the child of Stacy Dixon.”

If you could get one tattoo, what would it be and why?

“Ellen’s face on my face.”

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

How happy is a Happy Meal?

STATESBUDS

by Brooke O’Connor The name says it all. The kid’s meal from McDonald’s is supposed to be a meal full of happiness, and that is all I could remember it to be. How could a kid not be happy to see a surprise toy with their meal?

With that question in mind, I decided to take a visit to McDonald’s to bring back the joy and happiness I once found with the “Happy Meal” as a child. When I arrived at McDonald’s, after many years of being absent, I did not find that same kind of joy I once felt with my meal.

To start off, the options were alarmingly limited.

A child has the option of a simple cheeseburger or chicken nuggets, a side choice of sliced apples or Yoplait GO-GURT and the generous addition of maybe three fries. Lastly, yet surprisingly the most satisfying, the drink choices consisted of milk, soda or water. I decided to get a cheeseburger with sliced apples, fries and a bottled water. I was pleased to see that it was only $3. As I waited eagerly, like a child, I was curious to see what my surprise toy would be.

As the McDonald’s worker approached me with my “Happy Meal,” the red box had a genuine smile which made me excited to see what was inside, despite the lack of variety in the choices offered. Of course, I started by opening the iconic Happy Meal toy. The plastic figure stood in front of me as I questioned

the purpose of the toy. I continued to open the box only to find that I had received a total of five fries and four apple slices as my side. Finally, I pulled out the cheeseburger that I had ordered as my entree.

Although there was nothing wrong with the entree itself, it just did not bring a smile to my face.

After being let down at McDonald’s, I was afraid to visit yet another restaurant from my childhood: Culver’s. Fortunately, my trip to Culver’s was much more successful than McDonald’s. I found the serving sizes there to be much more comparable to those as an adult meal unlike the kid serving sizes at McDonald’s.

Rather than getting a toy that I would never use again, like at McDonald’s, I was offered a free scoopie token with my purchase of a kid’s meal. For those who don’t know what a scoopie is, it is Culver’s famous custard topped with a choice of any topping. Although the Culver’s kid’s meal is more expensive than the McDonald’s Happy Meal, it is still only $5 for all that is included. With quick service and delicious food, Culver’s is the place to go.

I strongly recommend grabbing a friend, taking a trip down memory lane and enjoying a delicious and filling kid’s meal at Culver’s. The free dessert alone will leave you happier than any Happy Meal at McDonald’s.

251 605 from the

to the

BY TAYLOR ERICSON

Rushing to get to your next class, you pass hundreds of students with different cultures and backgrounds; the majority of these students often complain about their required attendance, seeing it as a burden.

Freshman Abdiyo Ali has a very different perspective, to say the least.

Ali moved to the U.S. when she was six years old with her mother and four of her siblings in order to have access to greater opportunities.

“They chose a group of people to come to America and our name was on the list, written on the wall,” said Ali. “When we saw our names, my mom was pretty excited, so I guess we were all excited to go to America.”

Although the U.S. contained many new freedoms in comparison

to their old home, those freedoms did not come without a mountain of challenges.

“We speak Somali in Ethiopia and when we came here and they were speaking English, we didn’t know a word they were saying,” said Ali. “It took me about four months to learn English.”

Along with the challenging implementation of a new language into their lives, Ali and the rest of her family had to learn to live without a member, their sister, Barwaqqo.

“I have five siblings, four sisters and one brother,” said Ali. “One of my sisters is still living in Ethiopia with my uncle and his family but she is coming here soon. It’s a process. My mom usually calls her every morning and night. She tells us how she is doing over there and we tell her how we’re doing here.”

Barwaqqo originally was to arrive in the U.S. in December, but due to the government shutdown, the move was delayed until the summer. While living in Ethiopia, Barwaqqo has not had the privilege of attending school; however, the access to education will soon be at her fingertips when she attends LHS next fall.

As a result of Ali’s experiences, she perceives her access to education as a privilege and plans to use the opportunity to its full extent in her future.

“I am really grateful that I get to come to school and other people should be grateful too because it helps you to get jobs and learn a lot of new things,” said Ali. “Right now, I am planning to become a doctor but I’m struggling to decide if I want to become a doctor or something else.”

THE CARLSONS: A FAMILY BAND

by Margaret Meierhenry

“I had the privilege of being a student of my father’s for eight years and then teaching by his side for 14 years. In all that time I don’t think we ever had an argument,” said LHS band director Dan Carlson.

LHS has had a strong, competitive marching band for decades that would not be possible without one family: the Carlsons.

Bob Carlson, the patriarch, started teaching after receiving his music education degree from Dakota Wesleyan in 1969, even though he did not start teaching at LHS until 1999. Through his years of teaching, he worked to build the band, even bringing up his own children in the program.

Under his baton, his children and grandchildren saw his love for music and created their own. Dan Carlson, his youngest son, taught alongside him for 14 years, even though music was not always his designated career path. At SDSU, Dan began his studies in graphic design and computer science. It was not until his sophomore year that he realized what he wanted to do was right in front of him: music education.

“One night I called my dad and started by saying ‘Dad, I’m going to tell you something and I am not changing my mind about it. You may not like it, but I am going to switch my major to music.’ Needless to say, he was thrilled about it, and the rest is history,” said Dan Carlson.

After graduating from SDSU, the two of them elevated the LHS program to distinguished events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

The musicality of the family does not end at this father and son relationship.

Some of LHS’s top musicians share a last name with these talented men: Zac, Izzy and Mikayla Carlson.

“Music to us is one of the most important elements in our lives and performance is just exhilarating,” said Zac Carlson.

Zac is a sophomore whose main instrument, just like his uncle and grandfather, is trumpet; he plays alongside his sister and cousin in Symphonic band. Zac and Mikayla’s father Kevin Carlson, a banker, still is essential to the marching band

shows. He alongside his little brother, Dan, arrange the music to create the marching band theme. Musicality is also heavily embodied in those married into the Carlson family, as Zac and Mikayla’s mom, Andy, plays the French horn in the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Sioux City Symphony.

There is one more Carlson kid coming up the ranks. Kyan, Zac and Mikayla’s brother, is in 7th grade and is currently the first chair French Horn in the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band. Izzy as well as her older cousin Mikayla play clarinet in symphonic band at LHS and in the South Dakota Youth Symphony.

Conducting the family, Bob Carlson helped paint the picture of this beautiful family portrait. Together this musical family has crescendoed into striking talent and distinction.

“I’ve been around music my entire life, so I’ve constantly been immersed in the program; everything from late marching band staff meetings in our living room to traveling all the way to California or St. Louis to do what we love doing,” said Izzy Carlson.

PHOTOS BY ALEX HEROLD

NOT MAKING THIS UP

BY NICOLE SCHMITZ AND BRITA QUELLO

Talented artists fill the halls of LHS; however, some go unrecognized. Samantha Schwartz is a very talented makeup expert.

Within the last few years, she has been able to perfect her craft. She has gained more followers by creating a social media account that displays her talents and by offering makeovers for dances and other events.

Schwartz’s passion for makeup started when she was young. She was inspired by her cousin Paige, and now makeup is something they bond over. “[Paige] would always want to do my makeup for Christmas and Easter, which then turned into me doing her makeup,” said Schwartz. “It is something that really brought us closer together.”

Besides her cousin, Schwartz is also inspired by famous makeup influencers, such as Jeffree Star and Jaclyn Hill.

“They inspire me to create new looks and try new techniques,” said Schwartz.

“They’re also a huge reason why I started to really get into makeup.”

As time passes, Schwartz has been able to perfect some of her techniques.

“I really like to do a golden eye with g nice bronzy cheeks and a nice blinding ks highlight,” said Schwartz. “I think it looks ve good on all skin tones and personally, I love how it looks on myself. My favorite trick that I like to do that I learned from Jaclyn Hill, is to put powder underneath my eye and to the side to create a nice winged effect when doing eyeshadow. It catches all the fallout.”

Schwartz developed an interest in makeup during middle school but really started to explore her talent in high school.

Through the years, she has learned the pros

and cons of the most popular brands.

“Morphe is hands down my favorite brand,” said Schwartz. “Their makeup is so cheap but works like a million bucks.

They sell other brands of makeup on their website as well, if they’re an influencer on YouTube. They do many collaborations with YouTubers including Jaclyn Hill, James Charles, Bretman Rock and many more.

Their brushes are so soft and really work well with products.”

With her talents, Schwartz has been able to do makeup for many events ranging from senior pictures to weddings to school dances.

“I do makeup on other people just for fun and to practice a lot,” said Schwartz.

“It has been a very fun experience being gh this and able to meet new people through just doing what I love. So, go follow me on chwartz.makeup.”

Instagram @samanthaschwartz.makeup.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SAMANTHA SCHWARTZ

DISNEY MOVIES

BY KATHRYN SWEETER & NYAH THAEMERT

Disney has been very busy producing many new movies that will be released this year. The movies range from remakes of original Disney movies to additions of existing series. Here are eight summaries of the upcoming movies:

“Captain Marvel” March 6

“Dumbo” March 29

This adventurous movie is about Carol Danvers.

It follows her experience of becoming one of the universe’s most powerful heroes while the Earth is in a war between two alien races.

Dumbo, an elephant with oversized ears, uses his flying abilities to save a struggling circus. When the circus plans a new adventure, Dumbo and his friends find out the dark truth of the circus.

“Avengers: Endgame” April 26 “The Avengers: Infinity War” left the universe in ruins. Now, with the help of remaining allies, the Avengers attempt to assemble once more in order to restore the universe.

“Aladdin” May 24 “Aladdin” is a live character remake of the 1992 original Disney movie.

This film follows the storyline of a street urchin using a genie’s magic power to make a princess love him.

2019 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DISNEY.CO.UK, IMDB.COM & WALTDISNEYSTUDIOS.COM

“Toy Story 4” June 20

“The Lion King” July 19

“Frozen 2” November 27

“Star Wars Episode IX” December 20

The fourth movie in the “Toy Story” series features a new toy named “Forky.” All of the new and old toys reunite on a road trip where they discover that the world can be a big place for a toy.

This is the realistic remake of the original “Lion King,” featuring a lion cub experiencing the challenges of growing up.

Following “Frozen,” this movie is the second movie in the series. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf adventure deep into the forest to discover the truth about their kingdom.

The final episode is predicted to be about the characters coping with the absence of Luke.

STORY OF A BEEKEEPER

by Genna Sheriff, Online Feature Editor

As teenagers, we join clubs, work, play sports and volunteer, all while trying to stay on top of our school work. Amongst all of this, it can be hard to find what we are passionate about. For junior Joseph Stangeland, he was fortunate to find his passion before entering high school.

Stangeland has owned bees for over three years. He first became interested as an eighth grader by doing research and watching videos. This interest quickly blossomed and he bought two hives the following summer.

“It is recommended that you start with two hives so you can compare and contrast them,” said Stangeland. “I let them build up that summer and they both got strong and went into winter. When spring came around, both hives were alive.”

That spring, Stangeland purchased two more hives and split one of his previous

ones, making five hives in total. He started to harvest the raw honey, filter out the wax and bottle the honey to be sold. By the end of the summer, he had harvested around 120 pounds of honey from one of his hives.

Going into last winter, Stangeland had three hives, but as the winter months dragged on, the hives died one by one. This led Stangeland to talk to local beekeepers and to Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, who formerly worked for the USDA. Not too far from Stangeland’s farm, Dr. Lundgren had 100 hives, which all died that winter as well.

Spring of 2018, Stangeland had to rebuild. He still had his equipment and comb so he purchased nine packages of bees and watched them form their hives.

While some hives had their challenges throughout the spring and summer, Stangeland currently has seven hives going

strong. He hopes to get them through the winter safely, as beekeepers typically lose around 30 percent of their colonies during the winter.

“I don’t do much to help them besides feed them sugar water, which is their food for the winter, and provide them with a windbreak,” said Stangeland. “The cold is not what kills bees in the winter; it’s moisture from a poorly ventilated hive or hunger.”

Stangeland is going into his fourth summer with bees, and while it takes time and effort, he enjoys every minute of it.

“My favorite part about having bees is the learning experiences about them and how it transfers over to our life, not only by them doing pollination but their social levels in the hive and how they interact,” said Stangeland.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STANGELAND

TRACK IS BACK

BY EASTON PLOURDE & PARKER HIBBARD

MORGAN HUGHES Track and field season is upon us. Senior Morgan Hughes cannot wait for the season to begin. From shot put to discus, Hughes does it all.

“I’ve just always done it since middle school, and I continued on in high school,” said Hughes.

Hughes is ready to have her best season yet, dedicating her time to the sport she loves.

“Winter conditioning is the highlight of my week,” said Hughes. “This year I hope to throw over 120 in disc and hopefully qualify for State in shot put.”

With big goals in sight, Hughes plans to make an impact on the field at State this year.

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

LAST YEAR SHE PLACED 10TH IN DISC 10TH IN SCHOOL HISTORY DISC THROW WITH A THROW OF 116’ 11” COULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE 4X100 FOR LHS

WILSON FURULA Winter is coming to an end, and spring is starting to begin with Wilson Furula and his senior year of track. Furula’s love for track started at a young age when he was influenced by his older brother.

“My older brother got me to start track when I was younger in elementary school,” said Furula.

Furula plans on making a statement senior season.

“In the offseason I just started going after track ended last spring,” said Furula. This year he is looking to go harder and faster and is looking to make a huge improvement from last year.

“I have more focus and confidence going into this year,” said Furula.

#10 ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY: 100 METER DASH, 11.04 SECONDS MEMBER OF THE 5TH BEST 4X100 IN SD STATE HISTORY

PLACED 5TH IN AA IN THE 100 M HURDLES, 15.42 SECONDS MEMBER OF THE 2ND PLACE MEDLEY RELAY TEAM AT STATE

Elliott Hackett tt

Lauren Merkley M l

Behind

The Numbe Jacob Randle le Taylor Raak

Kesean Ladd d

ers

By Chloe Harbaugh

In most team sports, players wear a team jersey. On the team jerseys, usually on the back, there is a number. Whether they are scoring a goal, throwing a touchdown, shooting a three-pointer or hitting a homerun, what makes each individual special is the number they wear. Read below to learn the stories behind certain numbers that LHS athletes wear.

EMILY EKSTRUM “The number eight has always been my favorite number. For some reason I always pick it.”

TAYLOR RAAK “I have always worn the number 12 since I was 12 years old. I thought the number was cool since it was an even number and my birthday is also on Jan. 12. It continues to be my favorite number and lucky number until this day. #tuff #nocap #athlete #lovesports.”

KESEAN LADD “I chose number 23 because Lebron James is my favorite basketball player, and he wears the number 23. MJ also wears the number 23, so I thought it would be cool.

LAUREN MERKLEY “When I was a youngin’ I played soccer, and I was always the number 33 or 14. When we were choosing numbers for soccer, 14 was already taken, so I decided to choose the number 33. #beastmode #cry.”

ELLIOTT HACKETT “When I was in third grade, we got to pick out basketball jersey numbers. I was the biggest on the team, so I picked the biggest number, number 44. I am still the biggest man in this school, so I kept it going. #hairyorphan.”

Emily Ekstrum Ekst k

JACOB RANDLE “I picked the number 49 because it fit in my position group, and it was the closest number I could get to 27.

Eddie George was number 27, and he was a running back beast for the Titans.”

PHOTOS BY JAIDA SORENSEN

PHOTO BY JAIDA SORENSEN

THE UNSUNG HERO

BY SOMER LUITJENS

When someone thinks of a good basketball player, they think of the highest scorer or the player with the bestlooking statistics, yet with senior Grant Russell, this is not the case. Not everyone always knows he is there, but the team would not be where they are without him.

For Russell, basketball has been in his blood for as long as he can remember. From the time he was able to walk, to his senior year of high school, the sport has taken up his entire life. No matter what he has gone through or where he is heading in the future, one factor remains the same: his love for the game.

“I have been playing ball since I was two, but I started playing organized basketball when I was five,” said Russell. “My whole life seems to be revolved around it. If I’m not playing, I’m probably thinking about it.”

Over his years of playing basketball, Russell has learned that the game is about much more than winning.

He worked harder and harder every year in order to get where he is now, which included overcoming many strenuous challenges in which he was more than excited to take on. Russell has been a part of the LHS basketball program for four years now and has never stopped trying to better himself and take on bigger roles for the team.

“My experience with LHS has been amazing and very successful,” said Russell. “We won a city championship freshman and sophomore year, and I got some time junior year, but not much. I worked really hard to get better and now I start.”

Throughout his years playing at LHS, basketball became his home. Russell has created friendships that will last a lifetime, making basketball so much more than just a game he loves to play. Not only did he make a lot of friends through the sport, but basketball itself became his best friend, as it created a place where he could get away from the stress of life.

“I’ve met some of my best friends through basketball, and it’s what made me the person I am,” said Russell. “It’s taught me how to persevere and be motivated and I’ve learned lots of life lessons from it. It’s just a place where I can escape from anything that’s bothering me.”

Russell provides a lot of skill to the LHS basketball team which has helped them get to where they are today.

He is a player that betters everyone around him through his court sense and his extreme intelligence on how to play the game. A great basketball player makes their teammates have superior stats, and that is exactly what Russell does.

“He’s a really hard-working kid who’s willing to do whatever it takes to win,” said senior Jared Jaros. “It’s really fun playing with him because he brings a lot of energy and makes big plays.”

Once his senior basketball season comes to an end, Russell has decided to continue his academic and basketball career at Dakota State University. He decided that 16 years of basketball just was not enough and leaving the game in his past was not an option.

“I decided to play in college because that has been one of my goals ever since I was little,” said Russell. “I can’t imagine my life without basketball, and I wasn’t ready to give up the game I love.”

Basketball is not an easy sport to take on, which is really what drives Russell’s passion for the game.

Basketball takes so much more than the skill he possesses. It is really about when a team comes together and plays with one heartbeat. The intensity and atmosphere of the game give players, including Russell, a feeling that is impossible to describe.

“I’ve tried to figure out why I picked basketball out of all things, and I think that it’s something about how it’s not easy and it takes a lot to be successful at it,” said Russell. “The feelings I get playing are indescribable and I just love it.”

To say Russell’s future as a basketball player will be successful would be an understatement. He plays the game to better his teammates and does not worry about himself or how he looks. All the pressure, challenges and excitement give all players an opportunity to grow and rise together. Each and every player on the LHS basketball team has their own role in order to help the team win. Without each and every player, along with the chemistry they have together, they would not be the team they have grown to be. Through the LHS basketball program, and growing up surrounded by the game, the sport has turned into so much more. Basketball is a way to learn how to overcome challenges and to find success within oneself. For Russell, basketball is a lifestyle.

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elcome to Perspectives, a new way to share ideas. The Statesman believes “that you can set your own ideas against ideas you dislike. That you should be free to argue, explain, clarify, debate, offend, insult, rage, … sing, dramatize and deny.” The goal of Perspectives is to start and add to conversations through persuasion, thought provoking ideas, research or some combination thereof. Each Perspective is written by a Statesman staff writer, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff in its entirety. We write because ideas “are invisible, and they linger, and, sometimes, they are even true.”

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ngage

For the last few months, I’ve been grappling with the Statesman article “The Silenced Majority,” which lays out the reasons why most conservatives at LHS feel afraid to voice their opinions. My most closely-held belief is to always fight on the side of the oppressed. Had I, in my numerous conversations and debates about the wall, LGBTQ issues, race and women’s reproductive rights, actually been oppressing people? Have I been silencing the majority? The thought terrifies me.

I see it, though. I’m loud. I’m inaccessible. My friends are largely homogenous, politically speaking. I write articles condemning beliefs and behaviors many conservatives hold dearly. I even condemn some conservatives whose principles, or lack thereof, are too dangerous to be seriously considered (i.e. white nationalists). But the vast majority of conservatives at LHS are far from self-identifying white nationalists.

As pointed out in the article, the truth is rarely as polarizing as the media would have us believe. And the truth is, I don’t think LHS conservatives are bad people. I think that on the core level, our values are much the same: equality, happiness, safety. It’s in the interpretation and application of those values where hate lives.

So clearly, the article stopped me in my tracks. It left me with a piercing question: How should I communicate with my right-leaning peers about divisive and important issues without making them feel scared to share their opinions? More importantly, how do I do that without entertaining the often hateful rhetoric of the far-right?

I think the answer is empathy. But my principles and empathy often conflict. For example, I strongly believe that listening to others’ opinions and understanding how and why other people feel is the key to unity. Empathy does move mountains. Yet, I refuse to give power to damaging, platitudinal thinking by even considering ideas that abridge peoples’ rights. Rights aren’t negotiable. That’s why, when a conservative peer argues against marriage equality or [insert other right], I refute that idea swiftly and directly. In doing so, though, they feel silenced. Empathy is always the answer, but when empathy for one group blocks empathy for the group they’re oppressing, empathy becomes relative.

In a way, the situation at LHS reminds me of the “safe space” epidemic plaguing university campuses across the nation. Many left-leaning college students have called for safe spaces, wherein like-minded students can escape from the ever-oppressive counter-narrative, a place without dissent, a place without democracy, a snowflake’s paradise. Yet, I will always contend that the solution to bad ideas isn’t to hide from them like cowards; the solution to bad ideas is more ideas. Better ideas. The reason these liberals want safe spaces is because they know that, without these college-designated echo chambers, they would have to muster the courage to speak up and defend what they believe. And that’s how it should be.

The road to growth and consensus isn’t frictionless. And we shouldn’t expect it to be.

Conservatives at LHS have to have the guts to speak up. That’s not to say it’s acceptable for liberals to bully them, but it’s also not acceptable for conservatives to play the victims of oppression in order to avoid defending ideas that have real-world effects. If you feel you aren’t being heard, be louder. And, if you find it’s hard to share or defend an idea, maybe you should reconsider it, because we Patriots know that “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

By Gage Gramlick, Editor-in-Chief

CONFORM “We are the murderers holding the knife... we just don’t know it yet.”

Conformity’s kill cuts as deep as an actual knife: equal force, equal harm. But perhaps the deadliest similarity lies not in the damage that’s done, but in the cutthroat feeling right before it is.

Conformity is invisible to those who refuse to see it.

No one can make you see something you don’t want to see. But the basis of seeing is rooted in your perception of the world. We all see the world differently, and no person or definition or standard will ever be able to tell you how you should or shouldn’t see it.

It’s mediocrity to dare say the world is a stencil, meant to be traced.

This is what makes conformity so inherently corrupt: Its main purpose is to tell you how to see the world, when you should be making that choice for yourself. And you go along with it, because its influence is absolutely infinite. Perhaps conformity is intimidating because of this confident persona it forces you to feel, and maybe we are attracted to it because it offers a simple alternative to a judgemental and pompous world.

The most inconvenient and destructive aspect of conformity is that it’s a choice.

We can’t pretend that we

are innocent enough to see through the angelic, robust tunnels of preparedness, made simple by the complicated versions of ourselves that we see in the mirror. And if you think you can remain emotionally intact while following conformity’s guidance through this tunnel, think again. Those who choose to conform in the context I am speaking of aren’t forced to by anyone. The decision to conform may be channeled through the demands of a desired self or the societal implications placed upon the shoulder, but we are the murderers holding the knife... we just don’t know it yet.

Perhaps conformity is the simple solution to a complicated world. Living in this world that favors the simplicity over the complex reflects a society’s tendency to endorse conforming over the seemingly impossible and reckless action of “being different.” But in this categorical and uniform default of searching for simplicity, something is forgotten: the harsh, deeprooted kill of conformity.

Do you feel it yet?

My words won’t echo in those who refuse to listen.

While it is a writer’s dream to reach as many readers as possible, having one reader who listens is far better than having a hundred who don’t.

Although I am fully aware of the complications born through complicated writing, I am trusting you to listen: actually listen.

There are those who know conformity because they have not only experienced it, but were aware of what they were

experiencing. I am one of those victims and self-killers who have done both. But, like I said before, if you are refusing to listen or, at least, consider what I’m saying, then you very well could be a conformist yourself. In that case, Watch out for the knife.

At first consideration, conformity is effortless. All that is asked of you is to be the reflection in everyone else’s mirror, to follow the road paved for you by the leader conformity has deemed “the optimal subject.” It’s saddening to know that this unseen influence is the puppetmaster behind our everyday grievances. Perhaps it's even more disheartening to realize that, in the midst of all this talk about being afraid to stray from the norm, you, yourself, have possibly recounted the times conformity’s grasp was too strong to resist: and that, in itself, is the most deadly kill of all.

I look around each day and question how many of us are afraid to rebel against the grasp society has on our true selves: It’s manipulation in every sense of the word. The realization that conformity’s kill runs deeper than expected forces you to question not only who you are, but who everyone else is as well. Can we really believe that our interests have been explored to the depths they seek? Are we truly pushing ourselves to reach the knowledge we lust after? Or are we afraid of the stigma associated with the desire to learn, or the desire that is deemed divergent from the modern attraction to conform? Are we that

ITY

cautious of straying from the normality of the world, that we kill our internal selves as an elementary repercussion of impressing our peers?

The bright side to the burden of choice is that there is also the decision to set yourself free from conformity’s grasp. It took me a very long time to separate who I knew I was from the person I thought I should be, fearing that distancing myself from the uniformity of society would set me apart from conformity’s crowd. And it did, very much so that I still struggle with it today. But when I put it in perspective - my perspective I realize that I am much more qualified to decide who I am than “the optimal subject” is.

And that is enough for me.

Conformity’s kill is unforgiving in the sense that it doesn’t consider how you want to see the world, or who you want to be or even where you want to go. It’s as if it’s a shadow that never fails to reappear, even when the sun departs behind the horizon.

But perhaps this isn’t the downfall to conformity as much as it is the optimism housed within its conspicuous reputation. Knowing that you have the power to resist conformity’s influence, and knowing that its shadow is always one reflection behind your own, assigns a particular value in resisting its leadership. Conformity’s reflection never fades away and never will its hold on society. But its hold on you?

Now, that’s what can change all you have to do is look in the mirror, and drop the knife.

THE

KILLS PALINDROME

BY HANNAH HANSEN,, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE BEAUTY

OF OF LIVING LIVING A A LIFE LIFE OF LEARNING

by Riley Rasmussen

We, as people, are constantly experiencing throughout our lives.

We are also constantly evolving. But through this, most importantly, we are constantly learning from experience.

Experience. Throughout the many moments of life, we are given the opportunity of experiencing.

We perform daily to our best knowledge in each moment of our lives. But through these experiences, we either fail or we succeed. There is nothing wrong with the outcome of the experience, whether we may fail or succeed. It is simply just the outcome of the experience that enables us to learn.

Learn. Each one of us has heard the words “you learn from

your mistakes” all our lives. But essentially, these words carry heavy truth. We learn from each one of our experiences, whether it be a positive or negative. It is important for us to not allow our pride to get in the way of our learning.

When you believe there is no room for learning, you will not grow.

However, if you do believe there is room for learning, you will grow.

The concept of learning is what enables our abilities and knowledge to grow.

Evolve. In each moment, we experience. From each moment, we learn. We, as people, must acknowledge what we have done right and wrong. We must reflect on our actions. From this, we can evolve and apply our learning

to our lives. We must take the opportunity of evolving from our experiences.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” These words perfectly demonstrate the idea that experience is what enables us to learn and gain knowledge.

We have all failed, and we have all succeeded. However, allowing ourselves to reflect and apply is what enables us to grow within our lives. We are not able to evolve as people without learning from our experiences.

We experience, and from that we learn. From what we learn, we can constantly evolve into a better form of ourselves. And that’s the beauty of it.

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Catholicism, I still argued against going.

“Considering the varying allegations and injustices committed by the priesthood, I’d rather not,” I cried. What insanity, I thought. This couldn’t stand. Though our battle was not as severe as others we have had, it persisted through the car ride.

As we got out of the car, my father, having left behind his time as a non-denominational pastor, offered sage advice without inserting his opinion.

“You don’t have to like it, but we are here and we’re going in,” he said. “Try to have an open mind.”

It’s always been a common occurrence in my household: arguments. We yell, we rage, we scream, we cry, we blare, we fight. It’s not a pretty sight. But it never escalates to an alarming state, and we always regroup and recuperate. We grow from it, in most instances. However, there is an element of futility that I’ve learned from these situations: Sometimes it’s better not to chime in.

babble of everyday conversation can become cumbersome. In heated debates with family or friends, the white noise of it all can leave me paralyzed by confusion. For all the times I’ve heard that speaking out is better than being a bystander, there are as many cases where taking the opportunity to stand back and learn rewarded me more.

To be certain, I am not suggesting never voicing your opinion and standing up in situations where you can utilize your knowledge or power to advance the situation. In fact, there are likely predicaments you can solve every day. What I mean to make the case for is surrendering to not knowing everything and listening.

My father says this to me a lot: that I don’t know everything.

I usually get mad because it’s meant to belittle me when we’re arguing, but in a different light I find value in the statement.

Being able to take a step back and recognize I am about to speak on something I am not the expert on in an encounter with someone who is perhaps more knowledgeable on the subject is

own mental sanity. Modern discourse is dramatic and dizzying. For example, on any given day, you might find yourself talking to a group of teenagers about reverse racism or immigration.

These convoluting and dicey subjects can become cacophonies of mismatched statements, one which doesn’t necessarily require your input. It is not your job to change every person’s mind. Laugh a little at your ridiculous peers; let them figure it out for themselves.

During mass that Easter Sunday, I laughed a little, but I cried too. I laughed because I never expected to end up in Catholic pews. I cried because the homily was wonderful, a stirring speech about something or other— it’s unimportant. What is important is that what I found in dropping the clamor was peace and beauty.

My dad’s favorite part of the mass was when a couple hundred people sat and said nothing. That was beautiful.

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STEREOTYPES IN REALITY TV

BY JAIDA SORENSEN Reality TV is supposed to represent real life for entertainment. Instead, they are full of stereotypes and fake lives. According to Screenrant, most of the shows are scripted for more drama and entertainment for the viewers.

What are the subliminal stereotypes that get thrown at us episode after episode and week after week?

On “The Bachelor,” many women say they come on the show to find true love. That means 30 women must quit their jobs, pack up everything and leave to be in an unreasonable position to marry one man. This gives the audience the idea that finding true love is a fulltime gig, and that there is no room for anything else. The men are also not supposed to see the women without their makeup done because that would mean seeing their “monstrous” faces.

Finally, at the end of the show, the bachelor will give a rose to the special women he wants to keep. If you do not receive a rose that basically means you have to reevaluate everything in your life.

The stereotypes do not stop there; there are plenty more in “Keeping up With the Kardashians.” In the show, all the women in the family have drama with each other, whether it is about something serious or a little misunderstanding. This portrays the negative idea that all women are drama-filled. Another idea that is forced on society is how to look. We’re expected to have the perfect makeup and a perfect body with only the most expensive clothes, and if you do not have all of that, then you will not be successful in the world. Most of the

episodes are also filmed inside the houses of the women, which reinforces the harsh negative stereotype that women belong in the home instead of making a career for themselves.

Lastly, “Big Brother” has all the expected stereotypes, from the hot mom to the playboy. The show purposely picked the most stereotypical people to all live in a house together just for entertainment. There is the tough guy who is always supposed to be lifting weights or hitting on the ladies or the old guy who is supposedly unaware of everything happening around him.

Obviously, there is the hot dumb guy who is all for looks and nothing more, and lastly, the token-gay, who is the one who brings the flair to the group.

All these people have certain things to say and do to give off their “character.”

Similarly, the audience will pick people out that they know in their lives and place them into a group comparing them to people from the show.

Stereotyping can make others think they have to act a certain way to be able to fit into a group. These stereotypes are the harsh reality of what our world has turned into. We are more worried about fitting into a group rather than being true to ourselves because we fear what people might say. Now I’m not saying that all reality TV is bad, but rather to keep in mind what the effect could be on some people. There are even stereotypes in our own school that most people might be so used to that we don’t even realize it. So, next time, before judging someone based on stereotypes, maybe get to know the person.

In 1964, America received equality for all races. In 2015, we were granted equality for all marriages. Yet, here we are in 2019 with still no equality in wages.

There are a few excuses when it comes to why women aren’t paid as well as men: women get pregnant and aren’t as “valuable” when they come back to work, women tend to take lower paying jobs (nurses as opposed to surgeons), and my personal favorite, women aren’t as “tenacious” as men.

There is a notion that when women have children and go on leave, they lack hours in their field and can fall behind. However, according to an article published by livescience.com, women can learn faster than men can, so it is no problem for them to make up what they lost during a 12-week maternity leave.

The issue is that once they make up for lost time and improve their skills, they are still paid less. So, I guess the moral of the story is that if you want to be paid as much as your male counterpart, you must remain without children for the rest of your life.

When it comes to the argument that women tend to take lower paying jobs than men, there are real and disheartening reasons why more women aren’t surgeons. In an article from the Association of American Medical Colleges, Dr. Brandi Ring stated that, “Orthopedic surgery is still very male dominated, and it’s one of those fields where the culture of the specialty reflects a ‘boy’s boy’ image.” How can women compete in a field where they aren’t given the chance? Before you go rolling your eyes and think to yourself, “This is dumb.

If women want to be surgeons, they should just go be surgeons,” understand that this is a much deeper issue.

Since the day they were born, children have been ingrained with gender stereotypes. In my AP Macroeconomics class, we were taught of a schoolyard parable. Imagine this: It’s recess time and a group of young boys are huddled by

The (wage) gap between us

by Chloe Crissman

the woodchips. One boy says, “I want to go on the slides. Let’s go now.” The rest of his friends follow him, and the onlooking parents think, “Wow Johnny sure is a leader!” Now reverse the gender and imagine girls in this same situation. Can’t you already hear the parents in your head? “Wow Michelle is so bossy! What if the other girls didn’t want to go on the slides?” This might be an exaggerated scenario, but this same mentality effects women as they grow up and enter the workforce. We are set up with a handicap of only being added to board positions for looks and being thought of as weak and passive.

So how do we fix this? Unfortunately, it’s not a simple cut-and-dry answer. On average women are paid 80 cents to a man’s dollar. Most tend to believe that that issue needs to be dealt with by the government, but Steven Blankenship, Economics and Government teacher at LHS, thinks a little differently.

“It’s a hard thing for the government to come in and fix,” said Blankenship.

“I would be fine if the government set some projected goals for companies, if you started with Fortune 500 companies to eliminate that gap. But it might be hard for the government to deal with because it is a socially systemic thing.”

It can only be beneficial for our country if women and men were paid equally for the same job.

“Theoretically Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would increase,” said Blankenship. “If we can do something as easy as paying women and men equally, then I believe it can lead society to have a far better standard of living. It can potentially reduce crime as people aren’t worrying about how much money they’re making, which leads them away from making money from nefarious means.”

There you have it folks. The wage gap (kind of) solved. It begins at home with the roles we ingrain in our children in the generations to come. Just be better, so women can get this bread.

ART WORK BY VINCE HOFER

SOCIAL MEDIA MAY NOT BE KEEPING US THAT

CON

NEC

by Georgia Conlin

Unfortunately, or fortunately (you pick) social media is a part of our daily lives. From checking Instagram right when you wake up in the morning, to sending a quick snap during school to ending the day with a check of all the social medias before bed, for most people it is all-consuming.

The whole idea of social media seems harmless. It connects us to everyone around us, and it even helps us to stay in contact with people we normally wouldn’t see.

So, how does something that is constantly working to connect people actually make us feel lonely?

Within the last 50 years, the rate of loneliness doubled in the U.S., according to Psychologytoday.com.

Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram all involve posting pictures to let their followers know who they’re with, what they’re doing and most importantly what they’re wearing. And it can definitely be fun; however, when too much time

is spent on apps like these, some may begin to feel lonely, depressed and even jealous. While looking through Instagram, you can usually find gorgeous models, people on dream vacations and everything else that would make our lives “perfect.” That is how social media really traps us. We love looking at these posts, feeling like we are a part of this person’s life, even if we just liked their picture. In reality, using social media decreases our well-being when we see all the things we want, but can’t have.

Even YouTubers, people who get millions of views and make money off creating videos are depressed.

Their lives aren’t as perfect as they may be showing their fans. This is because their job is social media.

They are constantly posting and busy on their phones. In a way, they are isolating themselves from others around them, making them feel alone. YouTubers have begun to speak out about mental health, most of them having their own

TED experiences. According to Liza Koshy, a YouTube influencer, she took a two month break from making videos because of the stress it was causing, realizing she wasn’t as happy as she wanted to be.

So, does reducing the use of social media help people who may be depressed or feeling lonely? It may seem ironic that laying off social media can cause a decrease in loneliness, but really, having less to compare yourself to really does help to stay positive and happy, according to Sciencedaily. com. It would be extreme to say we should drop using social media all together, plus it’s just unrealistic.

Instead, limiting the amount of time spent on apps like Instagram may be what keeps you from constantly comparing yourself to others. It may be cheesy but it’s the truth: disconnect to reconnect.

The citizens of the town of Cremona, Italy have agreed collectively to stay silent for more than a month, all for the cause of music.

In Cremona, there exists one of the last remaining sets of the Stradivarius quartet, some of the finest instruments in the world. And ones that have been proven impossible to recreate. So, a museum in Italy has set out on the challenge of recording every possible note with high intensity microphones, so that future generations will have this music.

But, because the microphones are so sensitive, it requires the town to become silent. Traffic is stopped, coffee shops are silent, small talk ceases.

Every accidental noise is met with

what’s your music?

shudders from the whole community.

Everyone has agreed that the music is a priority, and to protect it like one.

The concept of individuals coming together to protect a resource for a future generation is one we often don’t see in our world today. But it is one that should be.

One resource we should protect is history.

Sure, everyone is forced to take history classes in school. We learn about Christopher Columbus, slavery, the wars, we take a test, pass a class and forget. But when do we take time to apply what has happened in history to our lives?

Preserve history,

for yourself. Live each moment in a way that future you will cherish.

Because every second, history is made. Treat each person in a way that you would be proud of future generations learning about.

Handle conflict in a way that future you will be proud of. Learn from each event that happens in your life. Learn to apply history.

But don’t just apply personal history. Our nation’s history is not exclusively filled with moments to be proud of. We’ve seen people act on beliefs and ideals that we claim will never be repeated.

Our nation has stood in silence in the past, while

horrific events were happening in the world, and we have vowed never to allow it to happen again.

But our mindset now seems to claim that current problems are someone else’s responsibility.

How often are we so focused on ourselves that we fail to consider how the world today will impact future generations?

Right now, the next generation may never see an elephant in real life. May never have access to pure water. May experience a world where the things that we cherish are gone.

Are we willing to put aside our personal comforts for the

preservation of the future? It is time to learn from history and think for the future.

The people of Cremona are willing to give up the comfort of noise because they understand that the preserving the music is important. They still have the instruments now, they can still hear the music in real time, but they know that the luxury isn’t promised for the future.

What do you have now that you don’t want future generations to live without?

Consider.

Decide.

Preserve.

redefined

BY KATIE OSMUNDSON

SENIORITIS

BY MARYAM RAUUF

Monday, I check Google Classroom. I have an assignment due Friday. I think to myself, “Maybe this week I’ll get everything done and I won’t have to worry about assignments last minute.” Wednesday, I still don’t have the assignment done, but no worries: I’ve got until Friday. I will not let it stress me out last minute. Friday, the period before my assignment is due, the status of my assignment: unfinished. I shrug it off; I have plenty of time. Now it’s Saturday: the day after the due date. I finally start to look at the assignment details. I grow bored quickly. I decide to take a nap and try again later. Monday, I get a notification from Infinite Campus: another F. Oh well, at least I tried my best.

ARTWORK BY MARYAM RAUUF

BY CAMERON RHODE LHS offers a wide variety of sports and activities for students to be involved in. Most of those sports are sanctioned.

Sanctioned sports allow programs and groups to receive funding. This funding covers the sport’s cost for jerseys, transportation and anything else they may need.

the fall, so we practice five days a week for two or two and a half hours,” said Osmundson. “During that, we are fielding and hitting, then in the offseason, when a lot of us play on travel teams, we practice one to two times a week.

Then once summer comes, we go to two or three times a week and weekends with tournaments.”

Osmundson. “I think if we would get it sanctioned we would be closer to the school and not have to fundraise as much. A lot of people don’t even know we have a softball team, so I feel like if we were to get it sanctioned, we’d get more people to be aware of that.”

The need for sanctioning

Here at LHS, softball and baseball are not sanctioned, meaning they either have to pay for everything or they have to fundraise for it.

“We do a lot of fundraisers to cover the costs,” said LHS junior Emma Osmundson. “For travel, we go to Rapid [City] every year, so we have to pay for our hotels and meals. We also do the fundraisers to pay for our jerseys.

The baseball and softball teams have many people who are very committed to the game. They also often play it year-round. Most love the game and the teams are quite talented at what they do.

“I really like softball,” said Osmundson. “We have a really good team and coaches. I have a lot of friends that play.

Even though [softball] is not sanctioned, it’s still fun to play.

I’ve always played softball.”

For the players who play yearround, they almost never stop training.

“For school softball, we start training in

Because of how much these students train, the school district should consider sanctioning these sports. A lot of LHS students are part of the teams, and they are extremely committed to these sports. LHS already has four juniors committed to play D1 softball. It is unfair that the student players do not get any money when students who play other sports do. LHS is home to some amazing players, and we should support them with spirit and the necessary funds.

“I think [softball and baseball] should be sanctioned, because we have a great team and since we have to travel so much to Rapid and Yankton and everywhere else,” said

ART BY VINCE HOFER

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

My mom tells me these few words quite often: “Sometimes, you just have to say enough is enough.”

She’s been saying it for a couple years now, but just recently I’ve started taking it to heart.

The last time she said this to me was a couple nights ago. It was a little after midnight and I was sitting in my room at my desk, barely awake, trying to finish my AP World History reading. I sat there, tears slowly streaming out of my exhausted-looking eyes and pouring onto the thousandpage textbook. As she approached my door, I imagined it was quite obvious for her to see that the stress of my demanding schedule had hit me.

She knocked and made her way over to where I was tiredly slouching over the book. With one hand combing through my hair, she looked me in the eyes and said those nine seemingly simplistic words: “Sometimes, you just have to say enough is enough.”

46 PERSPECTIVES

Right then and there, it hit me; all this time, she had been right.

I never realized exactly what she had been trying to say the countless times before. But now I do, and I’m here to spread the message.

by Carly Wheeler Many students push themselves tremendously during their four years of high school: packing their schedules full of AP and accelerated courses, joining every possible school club and some even committing to timeconsuming sports.

The students at LHS are no exception. According to the LHS Counseling Department, this year, 155 students are taking three or more AP classes.

Furthermore, there are roughly 74 students, including myself, who opted out of a lunch this year in order to add yet another rigorous class to their packed schedules.

As high school students are constantly being reminded of the near future, which in many cases includes college, it’s not very surprising that many feel the need to push themselves to the extreme. But in the process of overcommitting themselves, some students are dangerously pushing their mental health to the back burner. Homework, extracurriculars and jobs are replacing it in importance.

According to a study on mental health of American teenagers conducted by NYU, many “top high school students” experience chronic stress “to the extent it

impedes their abilities to succeed academically, compromises their mental health functioning and fosters risk behavior.”

While stress in moderation can be healthy, there are many concerns surrounding the immense stress levels seen in high school students.

“Stress is a normal and healthy response to things that cause people to grow and change, so school will likely be stressful if students are challenging themselves appropriately,” said LHS counselor Becky Thomas. “However, the stress shouldn’t become too overwhelming to the point of preventing a student from sleeping, eating or participating in normal, everyday life activities.”

There comes a time when the pressures of overloading on school work from demanding classes outweigh the longterm benefits. In the grand scheme of things, it is not worth compromising mental health in order to take difficult classes that could potentially “boost” a college application.

“We are concerned that students in these selective, high pressure high schools can get burned out even before they reach college,” said Noelle Leonard, PhD, a senior research scientist at the NYU College of Nursing.

If students are not

physically and mentally healthy when they graduate from high school, it can be difficult for even the brightest to succeed in college. Now, I know that when my mom says to me, “Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough,” it is her way of reminding me that, above all else, my health - both physical and mental - comes first.

I’m not saying it’s O.K. to slack in high school, but I am saying it’s O.K. to take three AP classes instead of four. I’m saying one B is not going to ruin your chances of getting into a competitive college. High school AP and accelerated classes are not worth sacrificing your mental health.

Push yourself, but not past your breaking point. You could always add more to your essay and double, triple check your calculations on a lab report, but ask yourself: Is it time to say enough is enough? Is it worth losing another hour of sleep and gaining even more stress?

So, go to bed at a decent time, even if it means not reading over an essay once more. Turn the assignment in, even if you didn’t get the chance to doublecheck your answers. Don’t take yet another AP class solely to boost a college application. After all, sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.

PERSPECTIVES 47

Statesman