The Mix - Volume 25, Issue 3

The Student Voice of Monarch High School

the editor

Some days I ask myself if anything is worth it anymore.

I don’t feel like doing the things I used to do daily or weekly that I loved at one point in my life.

I don’t feel like writing this letter. I don’t feel like putting on my soccer cleats for practice. I don’t feel like turning my keyboard on and playing songs I used to like singing along to.

I don’t feel like it, and quite honestly, I haven’t for a while.

Someone who knows how I’m feeling, however, is Vish Venkataraman ‘23. He has struggled in the past with his mental health and depression, too, and over time has worked with professionals to begin to feel better, along with the support of his family and friends.

Friends can be the best people in our lives. They get and understand us. They’re with us for the saddest, happiest, and funniest moments.

For Paxton Hurst ‘24, Trystan Trinh ‘24, and Lachlan James ‘24, friendship is all these guys need, other than cars.

But above friendship (and cars), is family.

Our families have been with us since day one. Through thick and thin, family is there for each one of us, even if they annoy us at times.

But what if we couldn’t live with our families? What if our country was overtaken by war and we were split up?

That’s what happened to Tymur Minzyanov ‘24 when Russia started the war against Ukraine a year ago. It’s also what happened to Andriy Chersak, a Ukrainian soldier who ended up in Louisville, Colorado to get a prosthetic leg.

We all have our own stories and our own journeys to go with them. But, the thing we can count on the most to be there with us during our journeys, is our families.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Maeby Aleo

MANAGING EDITOR

Arianna Bergman

DESIGN EDITORS

David Maxwell

Brenna Severson

COPY EDITOR

Zoey Perrine

OPINIONS EDITOR

Minh Anh Le

SPORTS EDITOR

Zoey Perrine

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Josh Huyg

Brianna Sandoval

SOCIAL COORDINATORS

Abbey Elalouf

Ben Lehman

STAFF WRITERS

Sofia Blair

Cas East

Abbey Elalouf

Maren Holecek

Josh Huyg

Ben Lehman

Zach Mirviss

Clay Mustoe

Alex Randle

Brianna Sandoval

Mars Smith

Matthew Spratlin

Maya VanVleet

Ben Reed

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.

MAEBY M. ALEO

ADVISER

the mix-up

FREQUENT flyers

SCIENCE TEACHER INSPIRES AVIATION CAREERS WITH NEW FIGHT SIMULATORS

By Zach Mirviss

In upstairs B wing, science teacher Eric Gordon watches students buzzing on computers with specialized features. Rudder pedals. Yokes. Throttles. It’s on these computers that a flight training program known as X-Plane is loaded.

“It allows you to do all the things you would normally do with flying an airplane,” Gordon said. “But from the safety of sitting in front of a computer.”

The simulator room, known commonly as Terminal M, allows flight training for any student intrigued in flight and for a more diverse set of flight scenarios. Gordon believes some scenarios are best faced on a simulator.

“The simulator allows you to practice situations that you probably wouldn’t want to encounter in real life,” Gordon said. “Such as a bunch of birds flying up at your airplane or engine failures.”

Allowing room for testing, the simulator acts as a powerful tool to get those interested in aviation to fly as if they are in the real world. Gordon sees it as a pathway to future careers for students after they graduate.

“There are so many great careers that kids can get into these days in aviation and aerospace,” Gordon says. “The simulator is taking kids who already have the interest and giving them the time to practice and get better in a way that’s totally free, safe, and right here at school.”

Science teacher Eric Gordon runs a flight simulator in a classroom in B hall. The simulator gives students interested in aviation a chance to test out different scenarios.

ENGINE essentials

6 ITEMS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED IN YOUR CAR

first aid

lug wrench

COYOtea

WHAT IS THE WORST HAIRSTYLE YOU’VE SEEN?

sunglasses

air freshener

“Buzz cuts or nasty bedhead.”

keys gum

the YELP

STUDENT REVIEWS OF HBO MAX’S THE LAST OF US

“

The Last of Us has amazing representation and really focuses on the story rather than just the action. I also love how true the show stays to the video game.”

— Zasha Greening ‘24

“

A few years ago, my dad and I played the video game together, so it’s been really nice to watch the T.V. show with him and revisit that bonding. I think that’s why I enjoy it so much since I get to hang out with my dad.”

— Anna Claire Jones ‘25

The show is based on a video game. However, the adaptation is done very well. The acting is also done well and all performances are done with great effort.”

— Patrick Maring ‘23

The story isn’t bad but it’s also the weakest part of the show. It focuses too much on the narrative and not the actual zombies. There have been multiple episodes with little to no zombies, and this is disappointing considering the genre.”

— Aidan Gover ‘24

“The Jedi rat-tail.”

“Mullets for sure.”

“The occasional Karen haircut.”

Jordan Ellerington ‘26

Rudy Malia ‘25

Tommy Decaro ‘23

Reese Trobaugh ‘24

FUNNIEST THINGS OVERHEARD IN THE HALLS

–

by

“What if I jumped off the stairs, someone catches me, and that’s how I meet my soulmate?”

– Heard by Aishika Kolla ‘26

“Someone pointed at me once and said, ‘Rizz,’ and I’ve never stopped thinking about it since.”

– Heard by Casper Harvey ‘24

comforting CUDDLES

STUDENTS SHARE THEIR LONG LASTING STUFFIES

“ “ “

I’ve had these two for as long as I can remember. They bring me so much comfort and remind me of when I was little.” THE MIX 6

I call it my special blanket. I have had it since I was born, and I still do because I got so attached to it as a kid.”

– Addy Vonnahme ‘26 – Sammy Olsen ‘25

I’ve had this blanket since I was about 3 years old. I still have it because it’s my comfort item, and I would take it anywhere.”

– Lillian Dehner ‘23

“I don’t want to pay for my organs. I want to pay with my organs.”

Heard

Bella Schnepp ‘24

FIT FOR fashion

UNIQUE FASHION STORMS THE SCHOOL WITH PERSONALITY, FRIENDS SHARE OPINIONS

I love Lacy’s outfit because it shows her great sense of fashion and also really reflects her personality.”

That jacket isn’t something you see everyday. Like a plastic, vinyl windbreaker thing. I think he uses what he has to make his fits cool every time.”

– Zuru Sjong ‘24

I think it’s really cool that Roxy’s carabiner matches the letters on their shirt.

Roxy rocks it.”

– Maya Raulf

‘23

Zach Rosse ‘24

Roxy Garrard ‘24

Lacy Thompson ‘25

– Marina Eissenstat ‘25

WELCOME TO colorful CO ROAMING

the rockies

LOCAL SPRING BREAK RECOMMENDATIONS

EXPLORE COLORADO’S MUST-DOS AND MUST-HAVES FROM THE STAFF AND STUDENTS OF MONARCH HIGH SCHOOL

“I like biking in the spring because it’s not too hot and not too cold. There’s so many places to go biking, and the views are pretty.”

“Bouldering is great in the spring because the snow melts, so the rocks are dry, but it’s cool outside so you can take advantage of the friction of the rocks.”

– Kate Chynoweth ‘23

“I would recommend to go skiing if the mountains are still open.”

– Sam Scott ‘26

– Kenny CervantesGonzales ‘26

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and take out two rimmed, half or quarter sheet pans.

2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

GRANOLA

analysis the

SCIENCE TEACHER

KATHY ELLIS SHARES

HER CRUNCHY RECIPE

ingredients

cups old fashioned rolled oats

cup raw cashews

cup sliced almonds

cup raw sunflower seeds

cup pecans

cup flax or chia seeds

cup of oil of your choice

cup of maple syrup or honey

tablespoon vanilla

3. In a medium saucepan, combine oil and sweetener.

Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture is simmering. Simmer for about 30 seconds.

Take off heat, add vanilla, then pour the hot mixture over the dry ingredients.

Stir thoroughly until every nut and oat is coated with the syrup.

7. Pour granola onto the sheet pans and spread it out thoroughly.

8. Put both pans in the oven on racks about five inches apart and cook for about ten minutes.

9. Take pans out of the oven, stir the granola, then put the pans back in the oven, switching them so that the one on top is now underneath the other. Do this routine every five minutes until golden brown.

10. Let it sit on the pan until completely cool. Store in a container for a week.

&mix matches

GIRLS SWIM GIRLS BASKETBALL

“I knew it was going to be a good season when I qualified for A-leagues at the BoCo invite. It meant a lot because that was also the meet that the team placed third.”

“After our season last year, we kept a lot of our starters and gained good players, so I knew we were going to be good this year.”

HOCKEY WRESTLING BOYS BASKETBALL

“In our game against Cherokee Trail, we didn’t feel like we’d win, but we had a really great game, and I realized we were going to be good.”

“I wrestled the NCC tournament and beat the number one ranked wrestler for the weight division. I also beat the number two wrestler.”

“I knew we were going to be successful the moment we beat Regis in overtime 3-1 to book a ticket to Nationals.”

Arezo Safi ‘23

Evan Trujillo ‘24

Emilio Trujillo-Deen ‘23

Jackson Brotski ‘24

Ella Malm ‘23

FOOTBALL it’s called

BRITISH HISTORY TEACHER PURSUES COACHING OVER PLAYING SOCCER

By Zach Mirviss and Alex Randle

In 1983, Keith Mainland, a competitive soccer player at Georgia State University, walked off of the soccer field with his head held high. While he didn’t win, he felt like a champion.

Over two years, he scored 28 goals and made 17 assists. He was well known for his ferocious behavior. Even though his team lost the national championship game, he was thrown into the spotlight.

“It was an ego boost when kids asked for my autograph,” Mainland said. “I was signing soccer balls and shirts, it was a big deal.”

Over a decade after graduating from GSU, Mainland coached for Monarch in the school’s inaugural year, 1998. This presented a unique problem.

“The school opened with just freshmen and sophomores,” Mainland said. “I had to play a varsity schedule with no upperclassmen.”

Despite the fact Mainland’s team was missing two grade levels worth of players, he pushed ahead.

In the Alexander Dawson tournament, Monarch was up 1-0 against powerhouse Niwot High School at halftime.

“Their coach was going nuts,” Mainland said. “We were a team of freshmen and sophomores holding our own against a 4A state

championship team.”

Although the score eventually flipped, and the team lost 3-1, the experience stuck with Mainland.

Twenty-four years later, varsity head coach Katy Wood encountered Mainland’s unique coaching style.

“He’s very tactical while also having a great sense of humor,” Katy Wood said.

During the soccer season of 2022, Emma Eichinger ‘25 enjoyed playing for Mainland.

“He isn’t afraid to be honest with us,” Eichinger said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat words, which is really helpful in the long run. That’s one of the best things about his coaching.”

PUCKING UP the slack

HOCKEY TEAM THRIVES DURING 2023 SEASON

By Abbey Elalouf and Benjamin Lehman

It’s game day. Rap or hip-hop blasts in the locker room as the Monarch hockey team kicks a soccer ball back and forth to get loose. While most of the team is getting hyped for the upcoming game, Connor Johnson-Feeley ‘25 sits silently, following his pre-game routine.

“I stay quiet,” Johnson-Feeley said. “I distance myself from everyone. I think I play better when I’m more focused.”

This concentration from everyone on the team is one of the major factors that has guided them to success. The team is the No. 5 seed in the 5A State playoffs and has its eyes on a championship win.

Johnson-Feeley was most composed for the game against Ralston Valley High School. A ruthless match-up started out rough for the combined Monarch hockey team, which consists of players from multiple BVSD schools. Entering the third period, they were down 5-2.

“Our captain was trying to get us going and hyped up,” said Johnson-Feeley.

This encouragement was precisely the fuel the team needed to tie up the game 5-5.

He said this comeback tie against Ralston Valley was the confidence booster the team had been waiting for.

Later in the season, the team won against a strong team, Regis Jesuit High School. This win bumped them up in the league rankings. “We were playing super badly in the first period,” Johnson-Feeley said. “Like super bad.” However, the team stepped up their game as the third period started.

“Our captain was yelling at us, telling us our effort needed to be higher,” JohnsonFeeley said. “And so in the second period, we played really well.”

The team went on to dominate the game and win 3-1.

Coach Jimmy Dexter loves the team and said the win against Regis Jesuit helped fuel the team’s drive toward greatness each game. “Regis is another powerhouse like Valor, and to beat them was huge,” Dexter said. Valor High School is the No.1 seed in the state playoffs.

The team won their first game in the State playoffs against Lewis Palmer High School, 12-0. They played a rematch against Regis Jesuit in the state quarterfinals on Feb. 28, yet the final score cannot be reported due to press deadlines.

“We continue to get better and better,” Dexter said. “I’m looking forward to seeing our future success.”

Keith Mainland points directions at players during a weightlifting session with the girls soccer program. He played soccer in college before coaching at Monarch.

Jackson Brotski ‘24 fights for the puck in a game against Valor Christian. He and the team had a successful season this year.

FAILUREflexing on

BODYBUILDER DEDICATES EXTREME LIFESTYLE TO COMPETITION

By Arianna Bergman

The gym can seem daunting to women. Weight rooms are commonly filled with muscular men lifting heavy weights. Sweat. Anger. Testosterone. Such a dank environment causes many women to hesitate to enter the gym.

“A lot of women are scared to take up space in the gym, and they think it’s only for guys or that it’ll make them bulky,” Tatum Reading ‘23 said.

After years of playing basketball, Reading discovered a passion for weightlifting. After months in the gym, she discovered a new way to move her body.

Bodybuilding, extensive exercise used to control and build one’s muscular physique, is much harder than at first glance.

“At first, I saw it online, and it was just a dream,” Reading said. “After working out in the gym for a while, I decided I wanted to make a goal out of it, so I found a coach and started prepping.” A rigorous process, the preparation involved with bodybuilding tended to be so controlled that oftentimes, Reading felt the concern of disordered eating habits.

“The body building process was full of ups and downs,” Reading said. “There were times when I wanted to quit. I wanted to stop being on a strict meal plan, and having to drink a gallon of water a day. I would be unmotivated, tired, and I felt as if I couldn’t do it anymore.”

Bouts of depression and anxiety regarding the future began to swallow Reading whole.

“What if I don’t win? What happens if I do win? How do I release this obsession of control,” Reading said.

Luckily for Reading, it was worth it in the end. At her final bodybuilding competition on Aug. 20, 2022 in Denver, Reading won the teen, novice, and open divisions.

“When I won, I was shell shocked,” Reading said. “I didn’t believe I could win against all of the amazing women out there, but when I did, everyone was so proud of me. My friends were cheering for me, and I just felt so grateful I got to experience it. It opened a whole new world for me.”

Months after the show, Reading had to learn how to enjoy life without strict planning and control. While Reading experienced newfound freedom, she also felt lost. However, soon she found a new passion.

“Right after the show, my brain immediately went to power lifting,” Reading said. “I felt I had to find something else to keep me busy. But eventually I decided I just want to enjoy my senior year, feel free, and regain strength in the gym lost from prep.”

Bodybuilding revealed to Reading the empowerment and strength she could carry. She hopes to inspire others to get out of their comfort zone and embrace any endeavor they set their mind to.

“In the end, don’t be intimidated to go to the gym,” Reading said. “This is going to sound so cheesy, but nothing is impossible. Go for your dreams.”

Tatum Reading ‘23 poses at a bodybuilding contest. Reading trained for 10 years before the contest.

play LIKE A girl

GIRLS BASKETBALL RISES THROUGH RANKS

By Abbey Elalouf and Brianna Sandoval

Standing in front of the net, ready to score her 1000th point, Natalie Guanella ‘23 took a deep breath before shooting the free throw that would change her basketball career forever.

The varsity girls’ basketball team has continued to make its mark. The team entered the state playoffs as the No. 4 seed after winning the 6A Front Range Girls Basketball league. Entering the playoffs, the team had an overall record of 22-1.

They played a quarterfinal match up against Regis Jesuit High School on March 4 at the Denver Coliseum. Press deadlines restrict us on reporting the final score.

“I think it’s really cool for us to be ranked that high,” Guanella said. “In the past years, we haven’t been able to play against nonconference competition that let us prove ourselves, but this year we had a really tough non-conference schedule.”

Non-conference games are games played against teams that are not in the same league as the team. The girl’s basketball team has played more games this year outside of the 6A Front Range league than last year, like their trip in Texas.

“We had an out-of-state tournament in Dallas where we won 3-0, and it was a huge confidence booster,” Guanella said. “I think that everyone’s just been working so hard because we want to keep this streak going.”

Head coach Michael Blakely has led many of the girls through their basketball journey. He said players like Guanella and others have pushed the team to the next level.

“I think that consistency and coaching helps,” Blakely said. “I think

the fact that we have really good players who know what it takes to prepare to play against really good teams helps us be successful.”

Many of the girls on the team have played together since their freshman year. They have continued to grow close after many years of learning and playing together.

The team credits its success to the community and bonding built throughout the years. They work hard every day and have learned to communicate with one another.

“I love everyone that we’ve played with for so long,” Amelia Rosin ‘23 said. “We’ve just built a lot of chemistry on this team, and we all have played really well together.”

Hayley Luther ‘24 joined the team her sophomore year and remembers how she felt when welcomed onto the team.

“It wasn’t scary, but it was definitely an adjustment playing with older girls,” Luther said. “Being the only sophomore at the time, they took me in like a family.”

“I think how close we are really impacts how we play together,” she said. “It’s different from other teams. We’ll go hang out after practice. I think that’s very special and some other teams definitely do not.”

After years together, they have grown in many different aspects of the game, especially their bond with one another and their ability to work together.

“For most of the game, I try to bring energy to everybody and there’s a lot of talking,” Guanella said. “Whether it’s on offense or defense, we’re calling out who you’re defending or calling for the ball. You have to listen to your teammates all the time.”

Caroline Walley ‘23 scores on a layup. Girls basketball earned the No. 4 seed in the State playoffs.

“I think the fact that we have really good players who know what it takes to prepare to play against really good teams helps us be successful.”

– Head Coach Michael Blakely

NOTE

STUDENTS, TEACHERS CONNECT WITH MUSICAL EXPERIENCES

worthy

By Minh Anh Le, Josh Huyg, and Alex Randle BAND TOGETHER

Underneath the blistering September heat, the news hit baritone player Makoa Brown ‘25 like a bag of bricks. 14th place. Monarch had never scored this low at a marching band competition. They didn’t qualify for the next stage of the competition.

“It was clear that the practices before had not been productive enough,” Brown said. So who was to blame?

“It was all of our faults,” he said. “We knew we could do better.”

Brown has been a part of both marching band and indoor percussion for two years. Placing 14th motivated Brown and the band to work harder and push themselves through the upcoming colder weather and earlier

ORCHESTRATING A FAMILY

Sitting in the first chair of the second violin in the orchestra as a freshman, Alana Saliba ‘23 faced the responsibility of navigating a tense dynamic in the ensemble.

“I knew that the seniors didn’t want me there,” Saliba said. “There was a big divide between the seniors and the underclassmen. We didn’t talk. We didn’t hang out.”

Three years later, Saliba is a leader in orchestra. Now, she prioritizes looking out for her peers.

“We are trying to foster a community where everyone feels safe and welcomed because high school is really, really hard,” Saliba said. “I do my best to try and help freshmen out. It’s almost like a big sibling kind of thing.”

The tension that once plagued the room is no longer and laughter echoes through the classroom.

“The community just blossomed into something that is really wonderful for myself and everyone else involved,” she said. They even visited the local haunted house Terror in the Corn with the entire orchestra.

Exchanging nods and smiles, the bonds within

the community become part of their symphony.

“Having respect for the people around you helps you want to listen to them more and foster a better sound because we’re listening to each other,” Saliba said. “Music is its own language.”

To Saliba, POPS, a departmentwide concert, always brings her an absolute delight of harmonizing all types of music together.

“POPS has its own special flavor,” she said. ”We had groups of people from all the different music programs,” she said.

“Everybody’s there together for three days. Just being together, listening to each other, and hanging out.”

Caught somewhere in her four years in music, those three days are the moments Saliba cherishes the most.

“All we want collectively, is to spread love and kindness through music,” she said.

sundowns, a far cry from the warm summer nights the band was used to.

“After that competition, we started to focus more on improving our rehearsals and limiting the distractions,” Brown said.

After weeks of focused practice and climbing up the ranks in later competitions, the state championship at Air Force Academy on the weekend of Oc. 29 was where the band wanted to show their how much work they’ve put into improving the show.

“We ended up getting 4th in State against 60 other bands,” Brown said. “Walking off the field, we were much more elated. We knew we tried our hardest, and we got to reap the rewards of our product.”

The hard work that’s been put towards the shows has motivated the band to work as an effective team.

“There’s nothing better than walking off the performance space and knowing you did your best,“ said Brown. “The joy and excitement you feel afterwards is worth all the hours and work put in.”

ON A HIGH NOTE

At a mere 4 years old, choir teacher Kate Klotz started studying music. She didn’t want to be an international pop star like any other little kid. She wanted to be a choir teacher.

“I got really involved in singing in choirs, then went to college for a Bachelor’s degree in music education and a Master’s degree in music,” Klotz said.

Klotz wanted to help students find their voices. She wanted to give them a safe place to make mistakes.

“My main goal as a music teacher is to challenge students to find their strength and embrace their talents as musicians, while also giving them a place to be creative and explore the music,” Klotz said.

Jack Cook ‘23 has been involved in Monarch’s choirs all four years and is currently a part of CHAOS and Madrigals. From the start, Cook enjoyed being in the choirs.

“I joined the choir on a whim,” Cook said. “I was not really sure if I would see it through.”

Cook had no interest in playing an instrument but still needed to fulfill his music credits.

“Mrs. Klotz is a great director,” Cook said. “I got hooked, and I just started pouring effort into choir.”

Klotz has a special way of teaching her students. Inspiring them to be the best they can.

“She is always willing to work with us from start to finish and really helps us improve, and that kind of commitment really made it seem like what we were doing was special,” Cook said. “She’s always working to improve her own abilities, which makes everyone else want to improve with her.”

There’s no doubt that Klotz has made a long-lasting impact to inspire and sustain the musical aspiration at Monarch High School.

“It’s never too late to get involved in music.” Klotz said. “Music has been such a positive thing for me. There are so many really amazing people you meet as musicians and so the more students we have, the better.”

CAR BROS

3 FRIENDS WHO BUILD CARS, RACE CARS, AND TALK CARS

By Sofia Blair, Matthew Spratlin, Ben Lehman, David Maxwell

“We hit a mysterious

And then all we hear from the back of the car was, ‘My back! My back! I think I broke my back.’

There was a tripod that we used for taking photos the day before, and he kind of flew up, landed on it, and broke the tripod.”

– Lachlan James ‘24

Lachlan James ‘24, Trystan Trinh ‘24, and Paxton Hurst ‘24 have been friends for six years. Building and racing cars has brought them together, along with many adventures. If you were to sit in the backseat of a car with these guys, here are some things you may hear in their conversations.

“Taking photos makes cars

speed bump.

– Trystan Trinh ‘24

“A friend tried to pass me, and I didn’t like that. So I went faster and just spontaneously the tire exploded We put the car on the jack and while we tried changing the tire, the car fell off the frame.”

– Paxton Hurst ‘24

“WE

– Paxton Hurst ‘24

“We looked at tarot cards and started reading each other’s palms. Trystan had crystals and was reading our chakras.”

– Lachlan James ‘24

THE

ROAD LAWS

“I plan to buy a bus or a van renovate it and travel the country or something like that.

If Tristan lived with me in the van, he would probably wouldn’t make it.”

– Paxton Hurst ‘24

FOLLOW

all the time.”

– Paxton Hurst ‘24

“Lets just say we had humanoid looking creatures in the back of my truck. The cops were tailing us.

TWO NATIVE UKRAINIANS FIND COMFORT IN COLORADO

SURVIVAL MODE

By Arianna Bergman, Maren Holecek, Zoey Perrine, and Maya VanVleet

It started out so simply for Tymur Minzyanov ‘24.

One year and six months ago, he left his home in Kyiv, Ukraine to play hockey in New Hampshire.

“I was studying in an online school and playing for a club hockey team,” Minzyanov said.

Simple. No big deal.

On February 20, 2022, he planned to return home.

That’s when things became complicated. Due to the rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, going home was too dangerous. Just four days after Minzyanov was supposed to fly back to his home country, Russia launched their official invasion into Ukraine. He called his parents, brother, and sister

every day to check up on them.

“I felt guilty because I was safe, but my parents and siblings were in this situation,” Minzyanov said. “I was worried. I wanted to help them.”

Minzyanov was stranded. The time allotted for Minzyanov to stay in New Hampshire was up, but his home a world away was not the way he left. So, just before the beginning of the 22-23 school year, Minzyanov’s junior year, he moved to Colorado.

He lived in a world of uncertainty. “It was pretty hard to move on because I didn’t know when I was going to meet my family again,” he said.

As if living in a foreign country without his parents as a teenager wasn’t hard enough, not knowing what was happening in the place he knew as home was even more difficult.

"It's not us that started this war, but we have to fight it."

– Ukrainian soldier Andriy Chersak

“First finding out about the war, I was just so worried about my family because I was all the way in America,” Minzyanov said.

At the same time Minzyanov was separated from his family, fellow countryman Andriy Chersak made the tough decision to join the military to fight for Ukraine. To fight for people like Minzyanov. To fight for every Ukrainian.

“I didn’t serve until the war began,” Chersak said. “I started during the second month of the war.”

In late March of 2022, Chersak left his home, a small village town just outside of Odessa. He also left behind his 6 month old child.

With each passing week, warfare became more and more dangerous.

“We were 100 meters from the Russians every day, sitting in the same spot,” Chersak said. “They were trying their best to harm us. They had a lot of artillery, and our troop did not.”

One day, in the middle of a battle, Chersak and his troop were forced to take a break. They hid near a bridge surrounded by piles of shrapnel from the missiles launched a little over three miles away, while ten of their men went to gather more supplies.

“They needed to get supplies,” Chersak said. “They had to carry 60 liters of water and 20 grenades back. The route they were taking was very dangerous, and the field was covered in mines.”

Carrying that much weight on your back is difficult, and in addition, they had to weave through unexploded weaponry and land mines, so returning with the supplies took much longer than was expected.

“The Russians were using drone attacks on the land,” Chersak said. “They covered things with fertilizers so that it would burn and make it harder for our men to get back, and they were throwing grenades.”

Surrounded by violence, Chersak found it difficult to stay optimistic. As the war continued, his initial hopefulness dwindled.

“I had a hard time believing that there was goodness still in people,” Chersak said. “It's not us that started this war, but we have to fight it.”

Then came the big blow to Chersak’s

Ukrainian soldier Andriy Chersak shows off his prosthetic leg. A non-profit organization called Limbs for Liberty helped bring him to Colorado to receive prosthetic treatment.

APR.

fight for freedom. He was ambushed in a machine gun attack and wounded. As a result, had no choice but to have his leg amputated from the knee down. However, because of the situation in Ukraine, Chersak was unable to receive the proper treatment.

Before he knew it, he found himself in Louisville, Colorado, just like Minzyanov.

Through an organization called Limbs for Liberty, Chersak received a prosthetic leg. Everyday, he saw the immense support that the United States was providing Ukraine, and the tremendous impact that it has had on his community.

“Our whole country should know that America is behind us, and they are going to continue to help us,” Chersak said.

AUG. 2022

In March of 2022, following Russia’s invasion, President Joe Biden announced plans to provide 100,000 Ukrainians safe haven in the United States. Among them was Minzyanov’s family.

“In April, they moved to the U.S.,” Minzyanov said. “They are in California.”

Neither Minzyanov or Chersak ever planned to be in Colorado. But as a result of tragedy, they both somehow found their way to Boulder County.

After receiving his prosthetic, Chersak has gone back to Ukraine. “I’m hoping to bring back this really big, strong, positive outlook that's going to permeate through the people around me,” Chersak said.

Despite the losses that Chersak has suffered, he continues to look for ways he can support Ukraine and help people like Minzyanov return home safely.

Minzyanov’s family currently lives with a host family. “They are thinking of moving to Europe,” Minzyanov said. “One of the European countries, but not exactly Ukraine. They will wait for a little bit longer, though.”

Minzyanov is still over 1,000 miles away from his family.

Chersak’s home is still surrounded by violence.

There is no perfect, happy ending to Minzyanov and Chersak’s stories. Their love and the fight for their country unites and connects them, though their stories are separate.

“Ukraine will win,” Chersak said. “Ukraine above all else. They will win.”

Russia invades Ukraine

Massive Russian missile strike on train station in Kramatorsk

Russian missile strikes shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk

Ukraine launches attack on the only land gateway to Crimea

U.S. President Joe Biden visits Ukraine

2022

JUN . 2022

OCT. 2022

DEC. 2022

FEB. 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes to White House

Russia launches campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

how to HELP

In Colorado, there are many places to make donations:

– Sunflower Seeds Ukraine

– Ukrainians of Colorado

– Caritas Ukraine

– United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Ukrainian Civilian CASUALTIES

United States SUPPORT

$77.3 billion dollars

31 tanks

Deaths of children

According to National Geographic, BBC, The New York Times, and Statista

3,000 US troops

U kraine DEBRIEF

– Ukraine was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1922

– After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine became an independent country.

– Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014

VISHVA VENKATARAMAN ‘23 SPEAKS OUT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES

By Maeby Aleo, Cas East, David Maxwell, Clay Mustoe, and Mars Smith

Heart-wrenching loneliness. Emptiness. These feelings may be foreign. Odd. Wrong. Scary.

For Vishva Venkataraman ‘23, those feelings were all too real. However, the compassion and understanding of his peers and family was his lifeline; it’s what kept him alive during the darkest time of his life.

Growing up, Venkataraman had an unproblematic childhood. Nonetheless, he wasn’t as carefree or happy as many others may reminisce. Rather, anxiety and social isolation consumed his days.

“I was very scared of everything,” he said. “I didn’t really make many friends.”

He always felt different, isolated from his peers. He just felt off. It wasn’t until middle school when Venkataraman was able to find out why.

“In eighth grade, I learned that there was a term for that feeling,” Venkataraman said.

Although he knew how deep his feelings were, there were still friends and acquaintances who did nothing but dismiss his condition as if it was just a bad case of teenage angst.

“I’ve gotten a lot of comments like, ‘Oh, you’re depressed? Just be happier.’ But that’s a lot harder than it seems,” Venkataraman said.

When he finally reached out for help, his parents were shocked. “We were in denial at first,” Venkataraman’s mom, Sujatha, said. “We thought we knew everything about him.”

“The last thing you want your child to say is that they don’t want to live anymore. That’s not something you want to hear from someone who’s in seventh or eighth grade, or even in high school,” Sujatha said.

COVID was a time of isolation and change for everyone, but for Venkataraman, it completely shut him off from the outside world, sending him on a downward spiral.

“I didn’t want to do anything,” Venkataraman said. “I didn’t want to do homework, I didn’t want to play video games. I just wanted to sit there and do nothing.”

Although his parents had known about their son’s struggles, nothing could’ve prepared them for the changes COVID quarantine brought upon him.

“He was lonely, very irritated, and wanted to be left alone,” Sujatha said. They knew that he was not the same Vishva that they had always known.

“We were scared to death,” Sujatha said. “We’d take turns waking up in the

Anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics ADHD

Anti-manics

Anti-depressants

1 in 12 adolescents take psychotropic medications

Percentage of people on SSRIs and ADHD medications

Females

middle of the night to go and check on him.”

Sophomore year was the lowest he had ever felt, trapped in a place unimaginable to many. And with that low place came hopelessness and emptiness.

“There’s this feeling where you feel like you’re empty in your core,” Venkataraman said. “It feels like you’re hollow.”

What can be done when nothing matters? When there’s nothing to live for? The only thing that gave him momentary relief from these intrusive thoughts was harming himself.

“It was really hard to not want to hurt myself,” Venkataraman said. “There were some nights where I was trying to stop myself, but I just had this urge to do it.”

Venkataraman took a huge step in his journey to recovery in January of 2022, when he was able to meet with a psychiatrist.

“I started on Lexapro, and every month or so, we would keep increasing the dose,” Venkataraman said.

Along with taking medication, Venkataraman started seeing a therapist, This enabled him to begin the slow ascent out of the seemingly bottomless pit of depression he had been living in for so many years.

“It took me a while to get help,” Venkataraman said. “I knew that I needed help, but at the same time, therapy’s a little hard”

Over time, Venkataraman has slowly been able to heal using strategies he’s learned that help him with managing his mental health.

“Distracting yourself is one of the best things to do,” Venkataraman said. “Doing nothing will only make it worse.”

His parents and close friends have been the biggest support that has helped him

climb out of his loneliness.

“Getting through depression by yourself is one of the hardest, if not the hardest thing to do,” Venkataraman said.

“Even if you have one or two people to support you, that is huge. The only thing that’s gotten me through, is my friends and the people around me.”

Although his journey with mental health is far from over, it has given him a new outlook on the world,including embracing the struggles he still deals with daily.

“I think of life as a roller coaster,” Venkataraman said. “You know, it has its ups and downs throughout, but eventually it has to go up.”

His struggles have provided him with hope for himself and for others.

“You’re not alone,” Venkataraman said. “There’s so many people out there like you.”

if you had to watch one show for the rest of your life ...

Cobra Kai is undoubtedly the greatest show of all time. It’s not a show that can be easily copied since it’s a sequel to the 1980s movie, The Karate Kid. Some of the original actors, like Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, play Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence respectively, so the story continues. Plus, Cobra Kai has the perfect mixture of comedy, action, and romance to make it even more captivating. Don’t even get me started on the karate. It’s so intense that I practically fall off the couch every time I watch it. The epic rivalries near the end of the seasons between characters like Tory and Sam or Miguel and Robby are enough to make your hair turn gray. If I had to watch one show for the rest of my life, I’d choose Cobra Kai because it never dies.

— Maya Vanvleet

obra Kai ost

C S L

cooby Doo

When I was younger, my siblings and I would race to the basement with our Cheez-Its and Gushers in hand to watch a movie. Our first choice was always ScoobyDoo. I have been obsessed with every movie and show since I was a kid. The jokes appeal to every age group and the whodunit’ mysteries were always so entertaining. And Zoinks! The monsters are creepy, but still manage to make you laugh with their odd behavior and it’s so impressive that no monster was ever used twice. From the Black Knight to the Phantom Virus, Scooby-Doo monsters are so different and never get old. Those shows and movies fueled my childhood. I still watch the same movies I’ve seen hundreds of times before as if I’m 6 years old, plopped in front of the TV watching them for the first time.

— Brianna Sandoval

After more than ten years of the show airing its finale, I strongly believe that nothing can top the cinematic masterpiece known as Lost. It starts out with a plane spontaneously crashing on a desert island, leaving the survivors to uncover its secrets, only to realize that the island they’re on is not ordinary. From the complete character arcs to the beautifully drawn-out storylines and episodes, it feels like a whole new story each time I watch it. So many little details are easy to miss, making it extra attention-grabbing. It’s a show I can watch over and over again. From season one to six, Lost continues to comfort me in maintaining the same exhilarating feeling.

— Ben Lehman

Doremon ilmore Girls

The greatest show of all time is, without a doubt, Gilmore Girls. It’s pretty much the only show I watch anymore. I have watched it so many times, I could quote the entire thing. The love stories, the friendships, and the calm nature of the show makes it simple, yet so incredible. It’s the best show to watch with a cup of coffee on a quiet fall day. The nostalgic nature of the show resonates through each season. The unique characters and quaint, small town make it a comforting and relaxing show.

— Zoey Perrine

If I had to watch one show for the rest of my life, it would be Doremon. Doremon is the epitome of a comfort show. Accompanying the normal life of four Japanese fourth graders is their unusual best friend, a robotic cat with a pocket to the fourth dimension in his stomach, who travels back from the 22nd century. Doremon has all the unprecedented, magical gadgets invented in the future. The gadgets range from a door that leads anywhere to a camera that dresses a person physically in an outfit based on an inserted picture. It’s absurd, but so entertaining. Despite being a children’s show, it doesn’t fail to construct a complex backstory for each character as it creatively incorporates historical events into the storyline. The seamless blend of the past, present, and future make the show unique and irreplaceable. And along with everything are its comical illustrations and lovable characters.

G H

When I tell you I haven’t seen a funnier, raunchier, more out-of-pocket show than Shameless, I haven’t seen one. Most TV shows lose their quality and humor after about three or four seasons, but somehow the writers of this Chicago-based show managed to entertain me with eleven solid seasons. The Gallagher family is chaotic and deranged but always manages to keep me on my toes with their one-liners and “couldn’t care less” personalities. My favorite Gallagher, Carl, basically carries the show on his shoulders. In the first few seasons, Carl was just the annoying little brother, but later became a delinquent in juvenile detention. With his witty cleverness, he ends up running the place. When he gets out, he continues a life of crime, but uses the money he makes to help his older sister repurchase their home, putting his family’s lives above his own, and proving what the whole show is about: family.

— Maeby Aleo

— Minh Anh Le

Hanna is hands down the best show on Amazon Prime. It’s action-packed, but also has flawless acting and a surprising plot. The cast fits their characters perfectly. The show takes place mostly in Europe, where a girl raised alone in the woods by her father searches for the truth of her past. Over the course of three thrilling seasons, the plot expands beyond the original characters and becomes a complex and electrifying story filled with twists and suspense. The show follows Hanna through many different countries, so German, Spanish, French, and a variety of other languages are featured. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat from the beginning of the first episode to the very end of the last.

— Maren Holecek

LETTER to the editor

My name’s Remelia Hubbard and I’m a Senior here at Monarch. After reading the recent article in the last issue of The Mix, I felt I needed to write this. The incident of blackface that occurred at our school has hurt me and many other Black students. Seeing other students laugh and joke around while having their faces painted black disgusted me. It left me feeling unsafe around other students at my school and had me crying once I saw photos of the incident. I keep hearing people say that we don’t know their intentions. Their intentions don’t matter. The actions of the students matter and their actions were racist. Their actions hurt people and caused harm to our community at Monarch. Other Black students and I have to walk around the halls every day knowing that these students are walking around with us, but the students who did it get away essentially scot-free. These students should have been properly punished, but they weren’t. They caused harm and did a racist act and they should face more consequences for that than getting a “talking to”. Allowing these students to get away with this puts white students’ futures above the mental well-being of students of color.

In my opinion, our administration handled this situation poorly. They should have spoken out about the incident. They send out emails about the smallest things like there being a bobcat or coyote near the school. They could have easily sent out an email saying that there was an incident at our school and that they stand against racism, but they didn’t. I even encouraged them to do so and so did other students that I know. The administration said that they tried to handle the situation quickly and in the classes that were affected, however, people not in the classroom were also affected. As soon as the pictures and videos were sent out, this incident moved from a classroom issue to a school issue. Every Black student that saw these photos or heard about the incident has been affected in some way. I believe that the article that was previously written in The Mix also handled the incident poorly. I have discussed their perspective with them, as the

people who wrote the article, and understand why they did what they did, however, I still disagree with it. The friend of the perpetrators should not have had a platform in any way. This student was clearly not Black and was therefore not affected. He even fell into the common microaggression of excusing racism by claiming his Black friends don’t care. He had no right to have a voice on this issue and his words should have never been published. I wrote this to speak out about how this has affected Black students and how I feel this situation was improperly handled. None of the adults or students that have dealt with the aftermath of the blackface incident have taken it seriously enough including our administration. I hope reading this has led you to a better understanding of a Black perspective on this blackface incident and has you thinking more about students of color at our school as you move forward. We are a very small portion of the school, but our physical health, mental health, and overall well-being are just as important as white students and I hope the students and administration at our school will start to act like it.

– Remelia Hubbard ‘23

our policies

Any person interested in the Monarch community and has an opinion to be voiced is encouraged to submit letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include contact information, but anonymity may be requested. Anonymity will only be granted if deemed necessary by the Editorial Board and each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Letters to the editor may be submitted to the adviser’s mailbox in the office, delivered to room A208, or emailed to mohimediapublications@gmail. com or to the adviser. The staff will not make grammatical corrections to the letters, but reserves the right to edit for libelous content or space limitations. It is preferred that letters are typed, but handwritten letters will be accepted, if legible.

How can you just forget to do it?

HIGHS & lows

By Joshua Huyg

There’s not much that I remember about the day I was diagnosed with a genetic disease. Screaming, crying, anger -- I was only five years old when I was told my life would never be the same as my peers, and that I’d have to get used to needles and blood.

Over the years, I’ve gotten used to poking my fingers, administering insulin, and living with the fact that I have to do this ritual every time I want to eat, until the day I die.

Yet, ironically, I’m still not over my fear of needles and blood.

Being told I have Type 1 Diabetes, a genetic disease, wasn’t easy for me to come to terms with. A disease? Is it infectious? What did I do to deserve this? Why do I have to live with this for the rest of my life?

This was a process to come to terms with, and it’s still really hard for me to live with the fact that eating, exercising, and being sick is much harder due to the fact I have diabetes.

Over the years, I’ve had people close to me tell me I can’t have certain foods because their diabetic uncle didn’t manage it well and lost a foot. Sometimes, they would push me towards healthier options like salads or fruit.

I would roll my eyes, pretend to thank them for their public service announcement, and grab whatever I wanted to eat.

Ask any diabetic if they’ve been in a similar situation, and I’ll bet dollars to donuts they’ll say yes.

We’ve adapted our lives to live around diabetes. We know what we’re doing. I have never used any advice given to me from these types of people because there is nothing to be learned.

Last time I checked, I’m not their diabetic uncle, and I never asked for their opinion

STOP GIVING UNHELPFUL MEDICAL ADVICE

Type 1, on the other hand, is entirely genetic. The pancreas just doesn’t work at all. What did I do to deserve a genetic disease? It’s human nature to help others, and I understand that they care enough to worry about me, but there is a difference between helping someone and telling someone what to do.

Helping others is guiding them to the end goal, and giving them the freedom to proceed on their own. Telling someone what to do is making sure they reach that end goal no matter what.

You can inform me of how many carbohydrates are in my meal. However, I don’t want you to tell me what food I can have.

about what I can eat either.

I’ve also had ignorant people tell me that I “deserve” diabetes because of poor health choices I’ve made.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the most common form of diabetes is type 2, which means the body doesn’t respond well to insulin. Lifestyle factors like eating unhealthy foods and lack of exercise are possible causes of type 2, but genetics also can play a part.

Nobody likes being told what to do, and how to do it. It’s not okay when others tell people how to live their life, but it’s suddenly okay when a health condition is involved? Asking questions to learn more about what we have to go through is totally okay because someone will learn something for the future. But, unless you know the hardships that we go through, it’s best to mind your own business.

If there’s nothing to be learned at the end of the conversation, then there’s no purpose for those words.

Unless you know the hardships that we go through, it’s best to mind your own business.

Do better! You can’t have that.

You deserved it.

I just want to be normal

DRUG deceptions

By Cas East PERSONAL

MEDICATION

6% of U.S. adolescents aged 12–19 reported psychotropic drug use in the past month

According to the Centers for Disease Control

20-50% of patients do not take medications as recommended

According to National Library of Medicine

In an offshoot room in the library, a junior sits. The table shakes from their foot bouncing as their breath is bated. Their world is closing in. They can’t breathe. But a friend helps. Their kind words soothe some of the anxiety, but what they said stuck in the junior’s head.

“Whatever you do, don’t go on Zoloft, it’ll ruin your life,” they say.

According to Medical News Today, side effects of “all antidepressants, including Zoloft, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in people under the age of 24, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or after a change in dosage.”

The most concerning thing is who this side effect applies to. Young adults. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), young adults are the most likely to struggle with mental health and consider medication.

An article from the NIMH states, “Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of SMI compared to adults aged 26-49 years and aged 50 and older.”

When dealing already with a mental health crisis, the last thing a teen wants is to experience a potentially life threatening issue. It feels like as a young adult, you’re pushed into taking potentially harmful medications. What choice do you have?

You do have a choice, to listen to your doctor. Doctors are there to help you through whatever crisis you’re going through and to give you the proper information and recommendations for you to have the best care. Doctors are morally obligated to give you informed consent.

Informed consent is a medical term

explaining doctors’ obligation to inform their patients of all the facets of whatever medication they’re going on.

It’s a doctor’s job and responsibility to inform patients on whatever they’re prescribing. There is an issue with misleading patients and leaving out vital details, but it doesn’t mean we should take it into our own hands.

I’ve seen people, including myself, say what psychiatric medication is good and bad to take. We have this facade of wisdom, but only know things from personal experience. You are not smarter than a doctor. In this day and age, we think a quick Google search is sufficient enough to override years of college when it comes to reliable information.

Telling friends and family to refuse medication prescribed by their doctor is wrong and down-right dangerous. In the neurodivergent community, I’ve seen a lot of people talk badly about a depression medication, Zoloft, but according to The National Library of Medicine, Zoloft is a safe and effective medication.

In a study on Zoloft versus other depression medications, “Evidence favoring Sertraline over some other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression was found, either in terms of efficacy or acceptability/tolerability.”

Personal experience is a powerful thing, and I’m not against sharing it, however it does become an issue when you share this experience with the air of authority.

However, doctors can be biased, wrong, and at times intentionally deceptive for personal gain.

EXPERIENCE ISN’T ALWAYS RELIABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH

GOING

global

By Maren Holecek

There’s more to the world than America.

There’s more than Superior or Louisville or Colorado.

And there’s more to it than our lives here.

There are eight billion people out there living through their own challenges, being impacted by their governments’ decisions and the actions of our own.

So, shouldn’t we care?

It’s easy to be passive citizens, ignoring politics and leaving them to the adults, but we need to consider what that implies. Do you want adults, disconnected from your needs and beliefs, making decisions that impact you? Besides, shouldn’t we care about the people who are affected, even if that doesn’t include us? It’s important to know what’s going on to make the changes you want to see.

You’ve heard of the war in Ukraine. Last year, you heard about the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Now, images of protests in Iran and the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquake are probably scattered through your For You Page.

But more is happening in the world than these broadcasted events. The problem with social media and politics is that issues gain popularity and spread like trends, then fade out into background noise when our short attention spans run out. We need to remember that these issues don’t just go away once the spotlight of social media

HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE

NEWS

moves on to the next thing.

Keeping up with global events is a matter of compassion. We need to acknowledge that news isn’t just words on paper or twodimensional statistics, but people’s lives and their realities. It’s the least we can do to break the “ignorant American” stereotype and recognize the gravity of these situations.

Issues like abortion rights and gun legislation can directly impact high school students like us. The overturn of Roe v. Wade puts our bodies and futures in the hands of the state government, which could completely change the course of our lives. According to gun safety organization Everytown, the United States sits alone at the top of global statistics, with over 18,000 children and teens shot every year and 3,500 of them killed.

Beyond these immediate concerns, the looming consequences of climate change should also be on our minds. As the next generation of voters, we have a responsibility to know and care about how the U.S. plans to reduce our impact on the planet.

Even on a local level, our awareness and advocacy matter. The National Education Association confirms that teacher salaries in the state of Colorado are far below the national average, contributing to the nationwide teacher shortage. Lower wages discourage people from becoming teachers and make it harder to retain current teachers. These factors can have a detrimental effect

on our education.

The state government also controls our curriculum. Conversations around Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ+ education are growing in multiple U.S. states, including Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. The more we pay attention to these discussions, the better prepared we are to fight for our own education should the need arise.

I’m sure we can agree that our generation has a short attention span. It’s hard for us to sit down and read long news articles, especially during stressful times. But while social media offers a digestible means of staying informed, it’s also easy to get sucked into curated feed that only tells one side of the story. If you want to rely on Instagram for your news intake, just make sure you follow a variety of reliable, unbiased sources. But if you ever do have the chance to read a thorough news article, it’s well worth it. There’s more to the world than Monarch High School. It’s crucial you see that, and expand your understanding of worldwide events and politics before it’s too late. If you don’t, you might wake up one day to find your rights and choices taken away. You might realize that your uninformed decisions have consequences you can’t take back.

So wake up now.

Open your eyes, and learn how to make informed decisions that help build the kind of world you want to live in.