The Mix - Volume 24, Issue 1 by The Mix - The Student Voice of Monarch High School

the

Mix

The Student Voice of Monarch High School

The final go Phil Bravo leaves the game

329 Campus Dr

Louisville, Colorado Volume 24 Issue 1 October 2021

80027

the

Mix

The Student Voice of Monarch High School

the Mix-Up

The Final Go

Editor In Chief Kate Muldoon

Editors Maeby Aleo Layla East Minh Anh Le

Staff Arianna Bergman Zack Frieder Josie Furst David Maxwell Zoey Perrine Brenna Severson

Adviser Ben Reed 2

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Paranormal Experiences

10 She’s All That

Our Vision: The Minority Myth MoHi Media’s vision is to be

16 Being Unvaccinated

the source of information for the Monarch community. Our school can count on us to tell the stories that need to be told and to voice the opinions and ideas that need to be heard in an honest, truthful way.

Our Policies:

20 Red Flags Waving High

Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of Boulder Valley School District Board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Mix is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Monarch High School. The Mix is willing to accept and publish any appropriate articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature.

table of

Contents October 2021 3

the

MIX-UP A compilation of our blah blah blah

HUNGRY FOR SCHOOL SPIRIT Grill Club executives strengthen sense of community By David Maxwell

izzling burgers and a loud, swarming crowd surround the rundown gas grill on a sweaty Friday outside B Hall. The members of Grill Club are hard at work getting each burger ready, but are working even harder to amplify school spirit. Grill Club co-president Hank Tucker ‘22 has dreams for the club. “We can do more fun things for the school and for the club like get jerseys and provide more food for everybody,” Tucker said. “We all just want to see it succeed.” Last year, Grill Club was rarely active, leaving the executives with a fierce determination that the club hadn’t yet seen in its four years of existence. “We are trying to bring it back better than it was before,’’ Grill Club treasurer Cassie Ferrera ‘22 said. The members of Grill Club are an engine for school spirit. Last year there were no pep rallies, no tailgates and overall low school spirit. “We’re trying to get back to regular traditions,” Tucker said. Burgers during a tailgate or a lunch period are the perfect way to increase students’ sense of community. “I feel like food brings people together really easily,” co-president Alisha Herremans ‘22 said.

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Miseria: a mystery The first chapter of our ongoing short story By Layla East and Josie Furst

piece of paper flutters out of my locker and lands at my feet. My face twists in confusion as I grab it and examine it. It simply reads, “Hello.” Such a common greeting feels ominous. The lack of a name doesn’t calm my nerves. I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. This is probably a stupid prank. My shaky hand reaches into my locker, taking out my history notebook. It’s way too quiet here. If I didn’t want to be stuck in these halls alone, I probably shouldn’t have left my notebook here. A slight breeze ruffles my ginger curls as I thumb through the pages of my worn notebook, my awful handwriting decorating every page. I close the book and shove it into my backpack. As I zip my backpack, I feel a presence behind me. I turn around to scan the hallway, then my locker door slams and I jump. “Feeling artsy today, loser?” I sling my backpack onto one shoulder and let out a sign of annoyance. I turn to face Eris, my best friend for as long as I can remember.

UPPERCLASSMEN LOSE THE UPPERHAND Seniors frustrated with changes to assembly traditions

“Nope, just irritable.” I reply, crumbling the note in my hand. “Hey,” Eris whines. “I’ll always be the irritable one. I claimed that title years ago.” His smirk only widens when I stomp away from him, dropping the note. “Whoa, whoa,” Eris says behind me, “I got one just like this.” I stop abruptly. The bell rings loudly and the hallway crowds with people. I slowly turn on my heels to face Eris, who’s already caught up to me, both notes in his hands. He stares down at me, letting his greasy black hair fall into my eyes. I find that both notes are written on the same type of paper. I reach out to grab them, but Eris yanks them away from me. “Ah ah ah, what’s the magic word?” Eris says in a condescending voice. I roll my eyes and he takes that as a cue to continue his melodrama. But then someone walks by him, bumping his shoulder, and a note floats out of his hand onto the floor in front of me. On the front of the note I see my name and as it flutters open, the words make my heart stop. I’m coming for you, it reads.

“I think most of the fun at pep assemblies had to do with having the upper hand as a senior. Everyone understands and will get there at some point, so it’s like a little treat for being in your last year of high school.” - Emily Joy ‘22 “We’ve worked very hard over the past few years and we deserve to win.” - Jimmy Fisher ‘22

Jimmy Fisher ‘22 prepares to throw a water balloon in a pep assembly competition.

CoyoTEA How do you ask someone out?

Danny Bell ‘24 “I would ask them out by saying, ‘Hey, will you go out with me.’”

Hadassah Fair ‘25 “I would probably just be straight forward with it and probably text them.”

Kaitlin Swanson ‘22 “It’s definitely nerve racking, but it’s not as bad as people think...If they say no, then they say no and you move on.”

Tyler Rock ‘23

“It’s easier to ask someone out over social media.”

October 2021 5

Leaders of the Arts Students play major roles in Arts departments at Monarch By Zoey Perrine

Elena Medina

Out of the many actors and actresses in the theater program, Elena Medina ‘23 is one of five Thespian officers. “It was a process with some applications and interviews but mostly just the support of my peers,” Medina said. Being an officer is a big responsibility. “I’m basically in charge of organizing

and planning events, making sure communication is going well for everyone in the department, as well as making sure that everyone feels welcome,” Medina said. Theater requires that everyone works together, and as an officer Medina takes on a leadership role making sure everything goes smoothly.

Caroline Farris

“I like the people,” Caroline Farris ‘22 said. “Some of my closest friends are from band.” Farris has a passion for band, and she has been playing music, namely the clarinet, since middle school. “As a section leader I’m basically a link of communication between [band director Chuck Stephen] and my sections, saxophones and clarinets,” Farris

Xavier Gonazales

As a leader in Monarch’s choir community, Xavier Gonzales ‘22 dedicates much of his time to making sure that those around him get the guidance they may need. “I help the underclassmen that need help with stuff like finding the right note,” Gonzales said. In both concert and tenor bass choir Gonzales is a known leader. “I just give them that kind of musical leadership

everybody could use,” Gonzales said. Even as a senior, his choir journey isn’t over. Gonzales plans to continue to sing throughout college because it is a crucial part of his life. “My favorite part of choir is that there are different people, and we can share our other side, stand out and say, ‘Hey, I have this side of me that I don’t show,’” Gonzales said.

THE YELP Student reviews of Netflix’s Outer Banks “I was a fan of the plot, and I thought the acting was pretty good, however, each episode was pretty long. Overall, I would recommend.” – Grant Gasser ‘23 “It was a solid show and a good binge-watch.” – Jay Groves ‘22 “It was suspenseful and left me always wanting another episode. I also envied all the characters because of where they lived, and their lifestyle was super cool and unique.” – Sophia Stalter ‘24 “I loved how fun the atmosphere of the show was, and all the characters had little quirks that made it really funny and relatable.” – Maren Holecek ‘25

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said. She leads her section by making sure that her section always has what they need as well as relaying information to and from Mr. Stephen, the band director. In both band and marching band, Farris has a huge time commitment on her hands. “Although it’s a lot of work, which can be tricky to balance with school and other activities, I definitely wouldn’t change it,” Farris said.

J.D. from the show Outer Banks poses at the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards. Photo used with permission from MTV/ViacomCBS.

OFF-CAMPUS OPINIONS Student opinions on off-campus spots Life as an upperclassman is full of perks, but a notoriously exciting one is getting to leave campus for lunch. There’s something special about driving around blasting Harry Styles with your best friends. Here’s where students said they like to go, according to a @mohimix Instagram poll.

Where are you getting your coffee?

Starbucks — 79% Bittersweet — 21%

Just Joking Math teacher Brian Beamer’s best jokes How many math teachers does it take to screw in a light bulb? None, they assign it as homework.

Where are you grabbing lunch?

Chick-fil-A — 59% Chipotle — 41%

How many Monarch graduates does it take to screw in a light bulb while they are at college? Just one, but it takes five years.

Spooky and Sweet The Halloween movie you should watch based on which treats you pick Pick a chocolate candy: A. Milky Way B. Junior Mints

C. Butterfinger D. KitKat

Pick a sour candy:

C. WarHeads A. SweeTarts B. Sour Punch Bites D. Sour Patch Kids

Pick a hard candy:

C. Red Hots A. Lemon Heads B. Tootsie Roll Pop D. Jolly Ranchers

Pick a chewy candy: A. Swedish Fish B. Airheads

Pick an M&M:

C. Black Licorice D. Skittles

A. Caramel M&M’s C. Pretzel M&M’s B. Mini M&M’s D. Peanut M&M’s

If you answered mostly A’s, you should watch: The Addams Family. It’s different from the average spooky movie, and your taste in candy is random and varies from the average person.

If you answered mostly B’s, you should watch: Scream. The movie is full of comic relief, and honestly your taste in candy is pretty funny.

If you answered mostly C’s, you should watch: Nightmare on Elm Street. It has the tackiness of an 80s movie, but it’s one of the scariest, and your taste in candy is a little frightening.

If you answered mostly D’s, you should watch: Halloween. It’s a classic, and you like tried-andtrue, basic candy.

October 2021 7

C O A C H

B R A V O

THE FINAL GO Phil Bravo leaves the game By Zack Frieder and David Maxwell

s Phil Bravo led the Whittier Christian High School Heralds onto the field to play crosstown rivals Beaumont High School in his first game as a varsity head coach, things didn’t go according to plan. When the captains of the Heralds won the coin toss, they followed Bravo’s advice and chose to defer, which meant they would kickoff to start the game. Moments later, the red and gold uniforms of Bravo’s Heralds raced down to tackle the Beaumont kick returner, but couldn’t catch him. Bravo stood on the sideline, watching the first play of his head coaching career end with the other team scoring a touchdown and his team trailing 6-0. Thirty-six years, over 400 games, 300 plus wins, and two Monarch state championships later, Coach Bravo is retiring from high school football coaching, leaving behind a legacy. “I told the seniors on the team I’m really in the senior class with them,” Bravo said. “Not only age wise, but I’m graduating this year with them, too.”

1998 First game at Monarch 8

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It’s been a long road to get to this point in his career. After leaving California in the Spring of 1991, Bravo found himself in Colorado, seven years before Monarch opened. The first stop for him was Centaurus High School as its head football coach. “We did real well. Multiple league championships, a championship runner up, and two other semi final appearances,” Bravo said. Seven years later, in 1998, Bravo became the head football coach at Monarch. A brand new school with only underclassmen. While many might have expected little from the team, Bravo never changed his standards. “I never lowered my expectations, because this is something that I’ve never done,” he said. “Playing a varsity schedule, everyone else had three classes, and we joined their league. Our kids competed like mad dogs, and we went 5-5 in our first year.” Defensive coordinator Aaron Paddock played for Bravo at Centaurus from 19911992 and has coached with him since Monarch opened. Paddock says he owes

much of his knowledge to Bravo. “For me personally, he has been my greatest mentor as an adult,” Paddock said. “I played for him for two years, then when I transitioned into being a teacher and being a coach, having him be a consistent person that I wanted to emulate and model myself after. I am going to miss that the most.” Former Monarch football player and captain Jackson Bennett, a linebacker and tight end, played for Bravo from 2015-2018. “Coach always had so much energy that it was contagious,” Bennett said. “He always had us very prepared for what was coming and the team that we had to play. He has a legacy at Monarch, and I’m sad to see him

2002

2013

First state championship at Monarch

Second state championship at Monarch

“I never lowered my expectations

because this is Coach Phil Bravo talks to his team before the game against Green Mountain on Aug. 27. He is retiring this year after a celebrated career.

go, but I’m excited for him for the next stage of his life.” In the Fall of the 2019 football season, Bravo achieved his 300th win as a head coach. According to a list compiled over a decade by Texas resident Steven Floyd, fewer than 300 high school football coaches in America have ever won this many games. Current Monarch football player Griffyn Weber ‘23 hopes to make the most of his last season with Bravo. “All of the crazy stories he tells us about his life, and the wisdom and life lessons that he shares with us is what I’ll remember the most,” Weber said. Throughout all of those 400 plus games,

2013

Denver Broncos High School Coach of the Year

he has been to multiple state championships, many playoff appearances, and tons of league championships at Monarch, Centaurus, and Whittier. However, Bravo says every game is just like the last, and he’s enjoyed every minute of it. “I haven’t sat back and had some time to reflect, and it’s hard to do that when you’re driving the ship because you’re in the grind now,” Bravo said. Through every summer and fall of 47 years he has been involved in football, Bravo has missed the things that don’t involve football, and that’s what he plans to do in the future. “This is a fun group to leave and to call it an end with,” Bravo said.

something

that I’ve never done.”

-- Phil Bravo

2019

2021

300th career win

Last season coaching October 2021 9

Paranormal Encounters Strangled ghost and Netflix-addicted spirit take up residence in students’ homes EMPATHIZING WITH APPARITIONS

lthough it may seem impossible, an ice cold hand clinging to her neck, or a glimpse of an eerie little girl sitting patiently by her bed were realities for Heather Joy ‘23 growing up. She believes spirits talk to her with the hope that she can help them. Or maybe they just need someone to understand. “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always been extremely sensitive to energies and people’s emotions,” Joy said. “I actually don’t have a psychic because I literally am a psychic.” When she was young, Joy could typically find comfort by going to her mom’s room if she was experiencing something potentially paranormal. Yet one night, her mom’s room failed to calm her. “I felt like something wasn’t right,” Joy said. “I could feel something in my mom’s bathroom.” She lay paralyzed in the bed across from the bathroom, eyes wide open. Even though the room was pitch black, she knew something was there. “I saw this man standing in the corner of the room with a top hat, and I saw someone

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strangling him,” she said. “Then I felt hands around my throat, like someone was strangling me, and I couldn’t breathe.” Joy freaked out. “I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t talk,” she said. Joy believes the man was trying to give her a message. “I felt like he was trying to communicate what had happened to him to me,” she said. “He was trying to make me understand because I definitely saw him getting strangled by someone.” The feeling of being strangled is haunting, mentally and physically, even to someone, like Joy, who is familiar with paranormal experiences. “It made me feel terrified,” Joy said. Is it possible the paranormal are trying to convey a message? Or are the interactions some experience supposed to be humorous and entertaining? Either way, it’s obvious the paranormal have something to express, and it’s up to each individual to choose how they perceive it. “You see it out of the corner of your eye,” Joy said. “And then you look back and it’s gone.”

39% 61%

say they have had a paranormal experience

say they haven’t had a paranormal experience

* 298 Monarch Students voted on a @mohimix Instagram

By Arianna Bergman, Brenna Severson, and Kate Muldoon

PRINCESS LOVING POLTERGEIST

t was three o’clock in the morning at a typical sleepover. For Lillian Vaughn ‘25 and her friends, that meant it was time to break out the Ouija board. “I saw a white shadow go across the ceiling,” Vaughn said. “I kind of screamed at the top of my lungs.” Even though Vaughn’s first instinct was to be scared, she quickly found it amusing. “I was the only person who wasn’t afraid of it. Everybody else was just squealing, and I was like, it’s just one figure, it’s not a big deal,” Vaughn said. The white shadows and Oujia boards were not a one time occurence for Vaughn. Paranormal activity surrounds her, and spirits even affect her family and friends. In the safe place Vaughn calls home, there lives a residential ghost. Meet Jeremy: with a princess-show-watching lifestyle, he is unafraid to alert Vaughn of his presence. “I was home alone, just chilling, watching TV, then my remote stopped working,” Vaughn said. “The TV suddenly switched from Hulu to Netflix and started scrolling through shows.” She had no choice but to wait and see what would happen next. “It clicks on some princess show that already had four episodes watched. I haven’t watched that, and I’m pretty sure my mom hasn’t watched that,” Vaughn said. “Now our remote to the downstairs TV is missing, and the TV turns on and off.” For Vaughn, seeing Jeremy’s typical habits became a daily occurence. Similar to her Ouija board experience, she wasn’t afraid and soon accepted Jeremy as a new part of her life. “I was like, a little freaked out but now, I just think, hey the TV is on, must be Jeremy trying to watch princess movies on Netflix,” Vaughn said. However, Jeremy was not simply full of fun and games. “A glass shattered in my mom’s hand for no reason whatsoever. Her hand was perfectly fine, but a glass shard came down and cut her shin,” Vaughn said. Living with Jeremy keeps Vaughn on her toes, and paranormal activity is constantly on her mind. No matter the possible unfavorable outcomes, Vaughn is eager to further explore her connection to the paranormal. “I’m getting a Ouija board for Christmas. So, it’s probably not going to end well,” she said.

October 2021 11

Jessy Funk ‘22 gets busy while doing homework. She catches up on work for her four AP classes and 16 college applications.

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she’s all that 8 clubs 6 leadership roles 16 college applications 1 Jessy Funk, ready for the challenge

By Minh Anh Le, Josie Furst, and David Maxwell

October 2021 13

Jessy Funk ‘22 reminisces about her middle school days. She used to be a disorganized middle schooler, but in high school, she made a change.

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or Jessy Funk ‘22, middle school was grim. “I felt….bored in middle school,” Funk said. She was underwhelmed because she felt there wasn’t a place for her interests at her middle school, Monarch K-8. When she was challenged, it was only in a few places. Her life also felt chaotic. She couldn’t keep track of things she was involved in. This led to the notorious bad habit of procrastination. It meant waiting until the night before to cram and stress. But that wasn’t the only thing that held her back. “I am definitely a perfectionist,” Funk said. “In middle school, I would spend hours on an assignment because I knew I had a test the next day.” She had an urge to make everything flawless. The battling feelings of waiting until the last minute and making everything perfect overwhelmed her. So, she decided to make a change in high school. She realized that procrastination would get her nowhere. She also began to draw the line between perfect and good enough. She saw how far was too far. She learned this by forcing herself to think, “this is good, it doesn’t have to be perfect.” Funk understood that other aspects would suffer if she spent too much time on one assignment. The further into high school she went, the more she accepted this new thought process. It kept her busy, and happy. Funk wasn’t the only person who noticed changes as time went on. “She wasn’t a natural, like in kindergarten she wasn’t running clubs or anything like that. She was a bit more shy,” Funk’s mother, Debra Brady, said. “But when she started high school, she decided to get involved.” DECA, Distributive Education Clubs of America, was one of the first clubs that Funk set her eyes on in high school. The business club nurtured her passion for economics and public speaking. As her interest in DECA grew, so did her desire for leadership. “When I first met Jessica, she stood out as someone who is really hardworking and passionate and excited to try new things.” Jody Bennett, the adviser of DECA at Monarch, said.

“When I’m working on a club, I have something to do and it keeps me happy.” - Jessy Funk Funk made a point to jump into a new life in high school. This meant setting her sights on her major interests: economics, politics, and business. DECA gave her the perfect space to explore those, especially when she became a leader. “By the end of her four years here, she will have been the only student that I know to have been on the DECA officer team for four full years,” Bennett said. When given the opportunity to be passionate about her interests, like politics and business, Funk dove right into clubs like DECA, Speech and Debate, and JSA. She finally found ways to express herself. “Clubs have been a way to keep me busy and make sure that I feel fulfilled and good about myself,” Funk said. “When I’m working on a club, I have something to do and it keeps me happy.” She dove into leadership roles for the clubs she loved. “Instead of just saying, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll participate in that,’ [she said] ‘I’m going to lead it, I’m going to create something and I’m going to study so that I can do my best,’” Bennett said. When she leads a club, she thrives on it. “It’s a great way for me to give back to the activities I enjoy,’’ Funk said. For many, a schedule this full would be exhausting, but Funk doesn’t want a break. It’s her passion. She wants more. Not only in the present, but the future. “Maybe after college, I’ll become a lawyer or get a Master’s degree in Economics. I think I’d really like to be involved in public policy.” Funk said. She’s also a black belt in taekwondo and a lover of volleyball. She’s in Science Honor Society and she’s also got a funky sense of style. This shows that even though her passion takes up most of her time, she’s more than that. And she’s ready to conquer the world with her busy schedule in hand.

A SCHEDULE TO IMPRESS 8:35 MODEL UN MEETINGS 9:35 AP STATS 11:00 MANAGEMENT 12:25 CURRENT EVENT CLUB 1:30 INTERNSHIP AT PACEY 4:20 COLLEGE APPLICATION WORK 12:00 OFF TO BED October 2021 15

The Minority Myth Students look to reshape perceptions of minorities By Maeby Aleo, Layla East, and Zoey Perrine

he swift movement of short, dark hair glides through the hallway past a sea of faces. Olivia Harston ‘22 is part of the crowded halls at Monarch High School. Yet in a high school that is predominately white, Harston, a half Japanese-American student who uses they/them pronouns, often struggles to find students they relate to. “You realize most people around you don’t look like you and don’t have the same cultural background as you,” Harston said. According to the website Public School Review, Monarch High School is 78% white, which brings plenty of struggles to Harston, an Asian-American student. “Since I’m one of the few Asian kids in my classes, if we’re talking about a certain subject, teachers look at me and want me to talk about something just because I’m Asian,” they said. This can be attributed to the Model Minority Myth, the flawed idea that all Asians are smart and get straight A’s. According to Learning for Justice, when Asian-American students don’t reach the high standards that peers and teachers hold them to, they can be singled out and essentially ridiculed for their so-called failure. “The stereotype that ‘all Asians are smart’ can be pretty harmful to the Asian

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community and mental health,” Harston said. “It’s part of the reason why I have a hard time with school and grades.” This expectation can be extremely harmful to the mental health of Asian-American students, according to Learning for Justice. Those who do get high grades feel as though they can’t get anything lower. And those who get lower grades, feel as if they are less than. As if they are failures. “A lot of my self-worth is dedicated to school,” Harston said. “I put so much blame on myself when I don’t get a good grade.” This problem can get worse when facing more blatant forms of racism. While Harston appreciates their ethnicity and heritage, they sometimes feel like some white students and teachers aren’t accepting of others’ cultures and make uncomfortable comments, often without any awareness of the effect of their words. “I spoke with a teacher who said some offensive things, and luckily they were very understanding and apologized for it, but the kids not so much,” Harston said. Harston leads Monarch’s Asian-American Student International Association (AASIA), which aims to make it easier for AsianAmerican students to build connections with other students. “The Asian community at the school is pretty small,” Harston said. “I just wanted

to meet more people.” With only 5% of the school’s population being Asian, encountering other Asian-American students is rare. Finding other Asian-American students is not the only thing that Harston has a hard time with. Because they have a mixed ethnicity, Harston undergoes a sort of internal identity struggle as well. “I think a lot of people think being mixed is bad because of the identity struggle that comes with it,” Harston said. “I definitely have experienced that, but I feel like it has helped me figure out more of who I am.” Harston isn’t the only student of color at Monarch who has felt singled out and stereotyped because of their ethnicity. Remelia Hubbard ‘23 is an AfricanAmerican student who goes through comparable struggles. “It can be hard not to see a lot of people like you around, exhausting even,” Hubbard said. African American students represent 1% of the student population at Monarch. Although she doesn’t often face extremely obvious or blatant racism, she said microaggressions are a dime a dozen. “The whole ‘angry black woman’ thing. I get that a lot,” Hubbard said. “People usually think that I’m trying to argue with them.” The “angry black woman” stereotype,

Olivia Harston ‘22 enjoys watching a movie. They helped AASIA get back on it’s feet and connect students at Monarch.

October 2021 17

Black

Asian

r Two oe r o m

nic Hispa

10%

White

78%

Monarch’s demographics The race students identify as, according to the website Public School Review

similar to the Model Minority Myth, can my hair a lot more than other people’s hair negatively affect the mental health of just because it’s different.” African-American women, according to Students aren’t the only people guilty of Forbes. doing and saying insensitive things. Many African-American women tend “I’ve had teachers that assume that I would to suppress do worse feelings of than other anger or students,” even distress Hubbard because they said. “It really fear fitting into upsets me this inaccurate because they stereotype. don’t think Holding back I’m capable of feelings to not good grades be perceived even though as an “angry I’m usually black woman” a straight-A can cause student.” mountains Assumptions of stress, — Black Student Union like these are according to harmful to adviser Tony Tolbert Forbes. students like Despite Hubbard. Hubbard’s Not actual personality, she feels people have only do the stereotypes negatively affect predisposed ideas in their minds about her mental health and self-image, but they also before they even talk to her. In her opinion, negatively affect students who may or may they characterize her as angry because she’s not fit into the stereotypes, similar to Asianblack. American students and the Model Minority “I like to voice my opinion to other Myth. people,” Hubbard said. “I think sometimes Hubbard is a media and outreach director they think that I’m trying to start an for Monarch’s Black Student Union (BSU). argument, but I’m not.” The club’s main goal is to create a safe place Not only do people characterize Hubbard where African-American students can feel based on her outgoing personality, but she comfortable. also feels they invade her personal space BSU is not only for black students, but also without asking. for students of other races and ethnicities to “People try to touch my hair without my show that they are allies to African-American permission a lot,” she said. “It makes me students in the school. really uncomfortable. They also compliment Educating people about cultural and racial

“Every person in the building can be involved in this change.”

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diversity is important. BSU adviser, Tony Tolbert, said BSU’s goal is to do just that and more. “We have to educate enough of the staff and the students so they know that it’s civil rights and inclusivity that we’re talking about,” Tolbert said. Tolbert, Hubbard, and the rest of BSU strive to make change in the school and its curriculum to be more inclusive of all students and teachers, regardless of race, gender, or religion. “Every person in the building can be involved in this and involved in this change,” Tolbert said. “If every person got involved in the changes, then the little things we’re asking for would get accomplished.”

Remelia Hubbard ‘23 meets with BSU. She works as a media and outreach director making change for Monarch.

Last school year, BSU approached the school faculty with a few ideas and proposals in order to make this change. “We talked to the teachers about the school curriculum to help it be more inclusive of all people,” Hubbard said. Tolbert said the organization’s attempts to create change and inclusivity in the school have been impactful so far. Even with their successes, BSU struggles on a daily basis. They lack the numbers in members and the time to create the change that they want to make. “The enthusiasm is there, but it feels like there’s no time, like we haven’t been able to breathe,” Tolbert said. “We’re still doing it, though. We’re still trying to make it happen,

and we’re still looking for more and more people.” Fortunately, the school has fully supported BSU and its goals. The support the school has given them has pushed them to continue this process of change. “The school was very open and willing, and I thought the administration was very open and willing,” Tolbert said. By creating an inclusive culture, BSU hopes to make the school environment feel even more comfortable for minority students like Harston and Hubbard. “The white students here don’t seem to be affected by students of color,” Harston said. “Race isn’t a big deal to them.”

Learn more BSU

@mohiblackstudentunion on Instagram or contact Tony Tolbert

AASIA

@aasia.club on Instagram or contact Matt DiCarlo October 2021 19

Why I’m Not Vaxxed

Don’t assume about unvaccinated people when you don’t know

y family is upstairs laughing over some movie they found to watch for Friday movie night. Popcorn is flying, which my dogs are happy to clean up. And they’re happy to be spending this time together. I, on the other hand, am sick with a disease that I have luckily escaped for the two years this pandemic has lasted. I stare at the same TV, the same teal carpet, and the same barn door that I’ve been staring at for the past four days. Only six more days, I tell myself. Six more days of quarantine, where everyday I wake up and a new prominent symptom makes my life hell. A stuffy nose that causes me not to breathe, chest pain that forces me to take painful breaths, or a swollen throat that makes it near impossible to swallow anything. And I just sit on this couch and take it. Day in and day out. Sometimes I blame myself. Maybe I wasn’t careful enough. I took all the precautions. Six-foot distance and masking, unless I’m outside. But that won’t quiet the voice inside that yells at me for not getting that stupid vaccine. A vaccine that could have made this sickness easier to bear. However, it also could have hurt me more than I care to admit. I have one, soon to be two, autoimmune issues that affect my heart, immune, and nervous system. Getting that “life saving” vaccine could enlarge my heart, complicating my current heart problem. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “People with autoimmune conditions...should be aware

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By Josie Furst that no data is currently available on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines for people with autoimmune conditions.” I spent a lot of sleepless nights deciding whether I should get it. And for a while, I made peace with the decision not to get it, telling myself that if I took precautions, I could live my life. Now that I have COVID, that peace is shattered. For many people in my generation, there are only two explanations for those not getting the vaccine. First, your parents were anti-vaxxers before this pandemic started. They prefer to use vitamins and natural treatments as protection. Second, your family has hard-core political views. It isn’t about saving lives. It’s your right as an American. Choosing to ignore national mask mandates and not get vaccinated is your choice. Even though your choice also affects my safety. And yet there is a third group of people like me, who often don’t come to mind. People who still choose to wear a mask in crowds. Those with serious health conditions in a similar situation to mine. Those people, like myself, who were so happy to hear that according to the Boulder County Website, Louisville is over 80% vaccinated. This meant that herd immunity was reached. Little did I know, people in my vulnerable spot would receive major backlash. Even around school, hurtful comments are being thrown at the unvaccinated like, “Do you have hippie parents or something?” or even so far as to ask, “What’s wrong with you?” I, thankfully, have not had to deal with this

discrimination because I’ve been keeping my vaccine status in the dark. When I thought of this article being published, I was terrified. Telling the whole school that I’m not vaccinated? I had to make an extremely tough decision for my health. And now I might face backlash of some sort? However, telling my story is important. And everyone needs to know that many people in my shoes don’t want to be unvaccinated. Students at Monarch need to understand what we’re going through. It’s like you don’t know that we have a fear of being isolated from those we love because we caught COVID at Homecoming, which I did. Or ending up on a ventilator because for some people it’s so hard to keep your mask above your nose. Earlier this year, I chose not to attend a retreat for the Leed Colorado Leadership Program because I have to take my mask off at night. And during that time, I could catch COVID from someone in my cabin. I cried for the entire night after I made that decision because I couldn’t bring myself to believe that these were decisions I had to make. To not only protect myself, but also my family. I only ask for simple things for the people like me who are in the minority. Be kinder. Before you push us away or discriminate against us, ask for our story. Think about how we’re struggling before you decide that we’re challenging your health. Wear a mask around us, above your nose, because although you may not get symptoms, we could die from it. And just because I’m unvaccinated and got sick doesn’t mean I deserve it.

Opinions Unpopular opinions Takis are gross Takis are not good. I know a lot of people live for their Takis, but they’re just too chemicalfilled and synthetic for my soul to handle. It’s as if you always need a glass of milk right next to you whenever you eat them. Not to mention they dye your hands an ugly reddish orange color that lasts for at least a couple hours. Layers of chemicals upon chemicals. The so-called “different flavors” aren’t even that contrasting. Like, how is there any distinction between barbecue and fajita flavors? I mean, what even are the flavors? Angry Burger? Volcano Queso? Scorpion Barbecue? With Volcano Queso and Scorpion Barbecue changing color? Pure chemicals. All of it tastes like the feel of death as your taste buds slowly die. - Brenna Severson

Where is your fashion Harry Styles sucks sense? Monarch has no sense of fashion. No one is ready for the runway. We just went through COVID, so I should be gentler on this one, but when I look around the halls during a passing period, it looks like everyone just crawled out of bed. We need to step it up, Monarch. I think people have the resources to make the right decisions regarding their clothes. I am sick of seeing pajama pants and some old Utah State Parks hoodie. It is not stylish or appealing when your shorts are all pulled up so it looks like you decided to go to school in your birthday suit. And that goes for both gentlemen and ladies--no one wants to see your cheeks. Here is my solution: every time you get ready, I want you to be able to look in the mirror and say, “I am proud that I am choosing to wear this.” - David Maxwell

One Direction is way better than Harry Styles’ solo career. I know I’m going to get a lot of hate for this one. I just straight up don’t like Harry’s music. After his recent concert in Denver, the number of Instagram and Snapchat stories of his performance was absolutely appalling. Do you think I want to click through five-thousand worthless videos? No. I don’t want to waste my time. “Sign of the Times” is the most boring piece of garbage I have ever listened to. That’s five minutes and 40 seconds of my life that I will never get back. On the other hand, One Direction at least has that nostalgic feel of 2000’s pop music. The first notes of “Live While We’re Young” make me want to turn the radio up and jam out in my car. Harry Styles’ music just makes me want to crash my car into the side of a Noodles restaurant. - Maeby Aleo

Pizza doesn’t deserve Qdoba dominates Chipotle the hype Qdoba is better than Chipotle. Chipotle Pizza just isn’t good. People make it out to be the best food ever, but it’s gross. Cheese in general is bad. Everyone has loved pizza since the day they were born, but it’s disgusting. Sure, if you took the cheese off, it wouldn’t be all that bad, but then it wouldn’t be pizza. At every event ever there’s always pizza. People love it. Next time the only option is pizza at a birthday party, or a team dinner, or a sporting event, I’m leaving. - Zoey Perrine

is overrated—I don’t understand why everyone’s so obsessed. Qdoba’s cuisine is always warm, and the gooey cheese melts perfectly in your mouth. They take the time to thoughtfully season the food because they care. Whenever I take a bite out of a Chipotle bowl, the food is boring and tasteless. The cheese tastes like it was carelessly thrown on top after purchasing from Walmart 10 minutes earlier. To make matters worse, the cheese doesn’t even melt since the food is so cold. When I was little, I always went to Qdoba after gymnastics, and it became my comfort food. Chipotle just doesn’t offer the same connection. Qdoba’s amazing and unique style of cooking will always be superior to boring old Chipotle, the restaurant with absolutely no flavor. - Arianna Bergman

Don’t be a minimalist Minimalism isn’t cute. If I don’t see trinkets and old soda cans used as decoration the second I enter someone’s bedroom, I’m leaving. I’m sick of seeing rooms with absolutely nothing on the dresser, night stand, walls, etc. Rooms are meant to be filled with junk. It shows your personality. What conclusion am I going to make about you as a person when your room looks like you just moved in last week and haven’t unpacked 90% of the boxes? If I don’t see rocks you decided to take home because of a weird connection, I’m going to assume you have no personality. -Layla East

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Red flags waving high Romance movies normalize abusive behavior, leave negative impact on viewers

omance movies. Cheesy one liners. Questionable love interests. For years, I’ve never seen the appeal of them. Instead, I’ve found them downright damaging. Many of these movies portray abusive behavior as flirty and romantic, from the dismissal of bad behavior to the romanticization of abuse. Twilight is one of the most well known romance movies of this generation. It depicts the story of Bella, a human torn between choosing to love a vampire or a werewolf. It’s troubling how much red flag behavior is prevalent in it. The vampire, Edward, is depicted as a picturesque boyfriend: Bella’s knight in shining armor. In reality, Edward exhibits many alarming traits, the most notable being overprotectiveness. Edward designates himself as Bella’s bodyguard, unbeknownst to her. He stalks her in the name of “making sure she’s safe.” Even if it is a sweet sentiment, he doesn’t have the right to decide what’s best for her, only she does. For example, in the first movie after he saves her from a group of guys, he tells her that he just feels the need to be protective over her. He’s not giving her the choice to say no; he’s already decided it’s what’s best for her. Viewing someone as an object with which you get to do what you please isn’t love. It shouldn’t be viewed as just a part of the dating experience, yet this movie normalizes such behavior. The feeling of wanting to protect someone can turn into controlling behavior. The feeling isn’t the problem, it’s how the characters respond to it. The characters

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By Layla East always act on the feeling by asking their love interest to do things to ease their mind, such as telling them who they can talk to or how late they can stay out. The Kissing Booth is the story of Elle denying her feelings for her childhood best friend’s brother, Noah. This movie is wildly problematic, incredibly unfunny, and another great example of a big budget movie with numerous red flags. The worst scene

“It’s beyond disturbing how easily you can sweep awful behavior under the rug if you package it up with a pretty bow and call it a day.” in the movie is when Noah tries to control Elle yet again. An argument escalates to the point where Noah slams his hand on his car and yells at her to get in. Then, when he recognizes how his words affect her, he lowers his voice and calmly asks her to get in the car. This red flag is called Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Noah was violent. His hand slamming on the car hood was letting Elle know how strong he is. Then, instead of apologizing he just repeated his demand in a softer tone. In real life, the violent behavior could escalate if you stayed in a relationship like this. Instead of a car hood getting hit, it could be you on

the receiving end of the abuse. Even Disney movies aren’t immune to this, with a prime example being Beauty and the Beast. A Disney classic filled with magic and a questionable prince. The Beast controls Belle. He makes her do things she doesn’t want to do and even refuses to let her eat. It’s beyond disturbing how easily you can sweep awful behavior under the rug if you package it up with a pretty bow and call it a day. Easily, the criticism could be brushed away by saying “Oh, It’s just a kids’ movie.” However, that is exactly why it’s so bad. The normalization of abusive relationships has been drilled into our heads since childhood. I grew up thinking that was love, and so did millions of other kids. Truly, I am sick and tired of seeing movies romanticize such horrible actions. The romance genre is now infested with awful movies about sad, troubled, bad boy characters who abuse their lovers and the people around them, and we’re expected to be okay with it. Abuse is abhorrent. It’s extremely difficult and dangerous to get out of an abusive relationship, and movies like these don’t make it any easier. People stuck in a bad relationship can look at these movies and use them as evidence that they aren’t being abused. This needs to stop in order to prevent kids from drawing false conclusions about what healthy relationships entail, to stop victims of abuse from possibly dismissing abusive behavior, and to stop normalizing abusive relationships.

Staff Editorial The painful life of a procrastinating perfectionist Good enough can still be adequate

pon sitting down to write this, I can’t take my eyes off of the twelve tabs across the top of my computer screen. I can feel their judgement sinking into my soul. Why don’t I revise my essay for English one last time? After all, it’s due next period. Or maybe I should just add a couple more pictures to my anatomy lab. My grade will probably drop a whole 10% if I don’t, right? Wrong. My thought process couldn’t be further from the truth. I have always been a perfectionist, but now I’ve learned that there is a time and a place. Initially, however, it worked out well. In elementary school I didn’t have many assignments, so I could spend ample time on all of them without affecting my mental wellbeing. Middle school was a different story. The workload got heavier, and I got more invested. To most parents and teachers, being so invested was a positive. But sooner than later, I was drowning in schoolwork. Then, perfectionism led to procrastination. The idea of starting an assignment that had to be perfect was so daunting that I stopped

By Kate Muldoon starting them altogether. However, I cared too much about my grades, so I couldn’t bear to have missing assignments. This resulted in waiting until the night before due dates to begin working. Unfortunately, I was still a perfectionist, so I still had to spend as much time as possible making everything exactly correct, but now I only had one night to do so.

“The idea of starting an assignment that had to be perfect was so daunting that I stopped starting them altogether.” Simply put, it was self sabotage. Obviously, this method quickly caught up with me. I pushed myself to stay up late many nights, and by the time I was in high school, I couldn’t afford to lose that valuable sleep. I knew my habits were unrealistic, but the

perfectionist in me had been battling the procrastinator for years, and the rational part of me decided it was time for them to reach a compromise. I began to actively force myself to be okay with submitting work that was adequate rather than perfect. Of course, more important work took precedence and was permitted to still be perfect, but it had to be kept within reason. I am still actively working to change my mindset, because my perfectionism doesn’t simply go away if I tell it to. It is rooted in my brain. But I have to remind myself that sometimes it is okay to be satisfied with an imperfect finished product. In the moment, it seems like a single assignment will have a drastic impact on the future. In reality, however, assignments will come and go and prioritizing the most important ones in the current circumstances is crucial to living a less stressful life.

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