The Viewpoint April/May 2016 Extra

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Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 10 ISSUE 5 April | May

oN PAGE 6 read our review of "In the Heights"

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The Viewpoint APRIL | MAY 2016 VOLUME X EXTRA ISSUE

BEHIND THE MASC Masculinity is an age-old social concept in which men are expected to be strong, emotionless, and independent. To be “one of the guys” a man has to adhere to the standards that are forced upon them from a very young age. Placing these expectations on boys is toxic and represses a boy’s individuality. In order to save boys from these painful pressures, society needs to stop teaching boys that only masculinity is acceptable, and instead allow children to blossom as their own people.

As young boys, masculinity is built into their brains while they are still developing.

Parents (fathers specifically) often teach their sons that having emotion and not “acting like a man” makes you weak, and being weak is something you should never be. If a boy were to prefer playing with dolls rather than typical “boy” toys, his parents might assume he’s too much like a girl and try to correct his behavior.

While parents do play a pivotal role in raising boys to adhere to masculine standards, peers can also influence the way they act as well. Men will judge other men for anything: their style of dress, their taste in music, their voice, and everything else. Every little thing has a masculine standard that boys are supposed to adhere to.

In a male group of friends, there are unspoken laws about how everyone is supposed to act. If one male in a group of all masculine friends were to suggest that the group goes shopping, he would be laughed at. Because

shopping is an activity labeled as something women do, it’s just not normal for a group of men to go shopping together. This is because everything in society is gendered.

Younger girls who prefer to participate in “boy” activities are simply labeled as tomboys and are almost fully accepted. However, boys who act more femininely are not accepted like tomboys - their feminine attributes are considered wrong by most people.

Any boy with feminine traits is looked down upon in society and labeled as weak, sissy, or worst of all: gay. A lot of boys are raised to believe that being gay is the worst possible thing a man can be. This is because women play a big role in a male’s masculinity. Men are raised to chase after women and woo them for the ultimate goal. Sex. It seems that men respect sexual conquests more than they respect another man landing a girlfriend. In a man’s world, sex is seemingly the ultimate goal - it’s the best thing a man can get.

It should be clear that by saying this, I’m in no way trying to say masculinity itself is toxic.

The problem is that society is teaching boys that being masculine is the only acceptable way to act. Some people (both boys and girls) naturally feel more masculine, and that’s perfectly acceptable. However, some people also naturally feel more feminine, and that should be accepted as well. Instead of pressuring the sexes to act a certain way, everybody should be able to live as people, not as a gender.

Staff Writer

Editorial Board

Hailey Bullis Cory Haley Sarah Yakulis Social Media Editor

Krissy Poff

Copy Editors

Leah Garza Reagan King Adviser

Trisha Strahl

The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.

Staff Writers

Jenny Bullers, Lily Cowper, Paige Doerfler, Michael Goffus, Zane Gobie, Alex Harrington, Morgan Ocetnick, Reagan King, Austin Venable Front Cover Photo: Sarah Yakulis

2014, 2015 Virginia High School League State Championship First Place Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011, 2010 and 2009 Virginia High School League First Place Award Winner

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

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When you label someone by the way they look you’re doing more than just calling them a name you could be harming their mental and physical health.

Body image is very important to having good health and building self confidence. by Abigail Whitehead

ody image is an important part of everyday life and affects mental and physical health.

Body image is the mental picture you have of yourself, and a negative body image can cause many health issues.

We live in a time period in which young women are exposed to models with different body types some of which are associated with a negative body image. Looking at the Internet scrolling through the comments on these photos you see hate messages about a thin girl being anorexic and nasty comments telling a curvy girl that she is unhealthy.

Young girls are forced to live with these comments on the way they look which can cause one to have a negative body image.

Having poor body image can seriously affect your health it can cause eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. When you label someone by the way they look you’re doing more than just calling them a name you could be harming their mental and physical health. Instead of labeling people, we should focus on building self confidence and making people feel comfortable in their own skin.

Body shaming goes both ways; by tearing thin girls down to build curvy girls up we are never going to get anywhere in the body image issue.

Some girls are naturally thin, and some girls are naturally curvier. There is nothing wrong with either of them. The thing is people need to learn

that the way someone looks has nothing to do with them, and they do not need to comment on the way someone looks.

When students were asked about the issue of body shaming they became uncomfortable and tended to think that it wasn’t an issue or that it didn’t affect them. Although it is a proven fact being told that you look unhealthy or anorexic is not good for one’s self esteem, body image is still a touchy subject. By talking about the issue we can feel more comfortable with the way we look, instead of being uncomfortable when someone mentions body image.

Don’t comment on the way someone looks unless you want someone to say the same thing about you. People need to learn that the way someone looks has nothing to do with them and commenting on the way someone looks is not helpful. Young girls are frequently surrounded by models that are perfectly curvy or amazingly thin.

It is okay to be either one, or even completely different. Being body positive has nothing to do with the way someone else looks it has do with how you look. Being body positive is about being comfortable in your own skin and loving who you are.

It’s 2016. It’s time for women to no longer be expected to be a certain body type and for people to move forward with the times. Everybody is different and we need to learn to accept that and love who we are as individuals.

“Yes, I’m a body positive person and someone who is body positive respects themselves and loves who they are.”

-Freshman Rachel Delgado

april | may 2016 q the viewpoint q 3

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4 q the viewpoint q april | may 2016

SILENCE

Are you going to be silent when a friend calls for help?

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by: Kaylynn Ottwell

Imagine there’s a heavy weight on your chest. You cannot breathe, and it’s hard to get up or even move because the pain and the pressure is just too much to bare in that moment. When you call out for help everyone either ignores you or tells you “it’s not that heavy. Just get up.” No matter how loud you yell or scream you’re disregarded by many, not everyone, but many. The worst part is most of them don’t even know what to do or say. What if this happened every day until finally you were silent because you were sick of being ignored?

Mrs. Dellinger, a teacher at Mountain View High School said,“ I think that silence about what a person is going through can amplify any negative

feelings those people are experiencing .“ Mental illness can do just that. Whether you have anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, or panic disorders, any of it can go unspoken because we as a society deem it’s “too awkward” or that it’s “attention seeking’’.

We are so undereducated on this topic that we often label it as something it’s not. Mental illness is serious and I think we need to feel comfortable about speaking out so that “weight” I was talking about is able to be lifted.

How do we approach this?

Well, we should educate the people about this. We need to understand what mental illness actually is, how it can affect us, and why people may feel this

way. If people knew what’s happening or why it’s happening we would be able to get people who are suffering some help.

Statistics show that mental illness is more common than might be expected. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 42,773 Americans commit suicide each year and between the ages of 15 to 34 due to a type of mental illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. Also, statistics show about 17% of students seriously considered suicide in the year of 2015. Around 14% had a plan, 8% attempted one or more times , and 3% of students nation wide were seriously injured and needed medical attention.

Dellinger also said, “I feel

people should be open to talking about mental illness.”

Dealing with these things are scary, especially if you feel alone. So many people suffer daily because they don’t know how to talk or help with mental illnesses or are too scared to talk about it. If you know someone who might be suffering talk to them. If you your self are going through a tough time you can talk to your family, or any one you trust. If you feel you’re in a crisis state please call 1-800-273-8255 or text “go” to 741-741.

Whatever you do, please don’t be silent.

april | may 2016 q the viewpoint q 5

INthe

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6 q the viewpoint q april | may 2016

“In the Heights” is a story of a Puerto Rican girl, Nina, who returns home from Stanford to her family in New York City. It is her story of deciding what to do after she has dropped out, and can’t afford to pay her tuition: a story of reconnection, love, obligations, and misfortunes.

The characters began weak. I was discouraged at first, thinking the portrayal would be less ethnic and authentic than it could’ve and should’ve been. However, as the storyline developed, the characters developed too. I felt a growing chemistry between the leads throughout the play, which is almost better than if I had felt connections like that right off the bat. The audience grows right alongside the story.

This play is meant to have people of color playing the lead roles.

I think Mountain View did the best that they could with diversifying the cast. The people who were cast were also not simply cast because their race fit the role; they were bursting with talent, which tied the whole play together.

Most of the acting is modern and well done, especially among the leads, although some parts felt unenthusiastic. Also, members of the ensemble are important. They should be as good as the leads, but they were simply not enough. The ensemble is not just a part of the ambiance, but also plays a key role in the leads’ interactions and keeps the viewer believing in the atmosphere. Maybe it is because there are not enough talented actors to choose from, but Mountain View could strive to do a better job of this when looking in retrospect at their past productions.

Almost all the actors who were playing Puerto Rican roles played them very well, in a way that celebrated their culture instead of making it the butt of a joke. One of the most notable characters for me was Benny, played by Jared Wood, who the central love interest for the main character, Nina, played by Laura Watson. He was a natural on stage, fitting the generally relaxed vibe of the play, and had a great voice and flow of words when rapping. There was obvious chemistry between Wood and Watson throughout the duration of the play.

The character of Daniela, played by Zoe Woodaman was the most professional and believable performance in the show. She has a great voice and colorful acting, which is showcased in the second act with the song “Carnival.” Woodaman was a genius at making the smaller role stand out.

Nina’s mother Camila, played by junior Emily Dalton, was a surprising talent to me in the show, because her role started out small, but later in the play, we have the opportunity to see just how strong her emotion gets. It is one of the most touching performances of the night.

Overall, the acting was incredible among the leads. The flow of Benny, Usnavi, and Sonny’s voices in their many rap performances was incredible. The rap, honestly, is the most exciting part of the show, and I was glad it was so well done. Vanessa, played by Synit Zecarius, had a fun character with a great voice, which was another highlight of the play.

The most powerful scene of the musical happens at the end of Act I in a dancing/fighting scene at a club. It was very “West Side Story.”

The music in the show was phenomenal—it makes the show. The band represented it very well. Highlighted songs include “96,000” and “Enough!”. This play is a great event to attend. I recommend seeing “In the Heights” at Mountain View, if not for the music or the play itself, then the talent hiding right under our noses in the halls at school. r owpe LIly C

Mountain View’s spring musical “In the Heights” is a stunning and authentic portrayal, playing May 5, 6, and 7 at 7:00 p.m. by Lily Cowper

Llyod Watts

It’s Election Time

Students share their opinions on who they think will win and who they voted for. by Charlotte Hazard

“I don’t think the candidates are very good, but I think Hillary is going to win. I don’t exactly know why, I just think that she is.”

-Abigail Bishop, senior

“Fortunately I think Trump is going to win.

I like his ideas, and he has good supporters and debates.”

-Jordan Escolero, senior

“I voted for Carly Fiorina because I agreed with her platform.”

-Katey Mooney, senior

“I voted for Marco Rubio because he’s a republican and not Donald Trump.”

-Lexi D’Amico, senior

Eighteen is an important age for many people qualities in presidential candidates such as integfor they are able to play a part in choosing their rity, courage, being able to act quickly, calmness, country’s next leader. Some students were given and ability to inspire. All of these qualities will the privilege to be able to vote in the primary look different in different peoples’ eyes. A good elections and there were many different opinions. leader will not be loved by all but hopefully at There was no popular choice for the voting; least trusted by his or her country. students had different people who they wanted Confidence is a major quality for someone elected. Even students who didn’t vote still had an running for president. Presidents need confidence opinion or idea of who they believed was going in order to make decisions for the greater good of to win. Whether it was a gut feeling, agreements the country. For if a leader is not confident in his with their ideas, or dislike for the other candichoices, how can the people expect him to guide dates, everyone is different with varying opinions the country? The president should also be willing on who would make a good president. to work cooperatively with other people and take

People tend to look for excellent leadership advice. They should share ideas and compromise

with the legislative and judicial branches, so he/ she doesn’t have too much power. A major quality is being able to recover from a mistake. No one is perfect and America needs a president who can get over his/her mistake and move on even if certain people will hold it against them. As Winston Churchill quotes, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Leadership is not always an easy task, especially when it is leading an entire country. But it is up to the people to decide who will take on that role, which is why voting is so crucial. Everyone’s opinions matter and one way to show it is going into a

small box and checking a name for a new leader. april | may 2016 q the viewpoint q 7

GI Generation: 1901- 1926 Generation X: 1965- 1980 Silent Generation:1927- 1945 Millennial/ Generation Y: 1981- 2000 Baby Boomers: 1946- 1964 Generation Z: 2001- present “Back when I was a kid...” This is a statement that has been uttered by older generations for years. It isn’t uncommon for parents to yearn for their youthful days. When discussing changes in society with older individuals, I asked overall what they think of the Millennial generation, (those born roughly from 1981-2000).

Terrible, conceited, lazy, selfish, whiny, annoying, babies, and my personal favorite “the worst generation” were all things that were said. This got me thinking, are we really that much different than previous generations? What defines us and what are our traits, morals, and values?

Just what has united the “worst” generation?

We certainly are a diverse bunch. With 73 million members, we comprise about a quarter of the United States’ population. The demographics of the Millennial generation are 59.8% white, 18.5% Hispanic; 14.2% black; 4.3% Asian; and 3.2% mixed race or other (Nielsen). This makes us the most racially diverse generation in American history. Among other quirks, 38% are bilingual, 33% are obese, 21% are married, and 38% have at least one tattoo (Nielsen.)

One thing that has definitely defined this generation is sweeping social change. Issues that were once considered taboo, such as the legalization of marijuana, same sex marriage, and the role of women have all become less stigmatized and accepted by millennials. We also seem to be less religiously involved. Only 41% of millennials say religion is very important to them, and 27% attend religious services weekly (Pew Research).

Then of course you have the explosion of technology. Never before have people had such ready access to information. For the most part, it is not even necessary to own a home computer anymore. Many people own smartphones, allowing access to information wherever they are, anytime they want.

Gone are the days of thumbing through textbooks for hours trying to find the information you need for a paper; now it can all be found online.

Probably the most shared trait between everyone in the millennial generation is the lack of job opportunities and overall poor economic conditions.

Born during the prosperous times of the 1980s and 1990s, we grew up during times of low unemployment and rapidly rising wages. However, as this prosperity came to an end in the 2000s, it soon became obvious that the 2008 recession was not going to be a walk in the park, and with the near collapse of the financial system, this has lead to the depressed economic conditions of the present day, leaving us with little prospect of wealth accumulation and job security.

This isn’t the first time this has happened to a generation. Post World War II, much of the world experienced incredible growth. Specifically from 1949-1991, Japan’s economy gave the appearance that it was never going to stop, and many youth were hopeful and optimistic for the future. However, this over-confidence fueled massive bubbles in real estate and the financial system, in a similar fashion to the conditions that led to the 2008 American recession. With the collapse of the Japanese real estate bubble in 1991, this effectively brought the economy to a standstill. Japan has since never recovered strong economic growth. Who’s to say the United States will never fully

My Generation

recover like Japan?

Social Security is another aspect that can be touched upon. When the Social Security Administration was created in 1935, the elderly population of the United States was very low, only about 5%. The system was initially sustainable as long as the generation after it would be large enough to support the previous aging generation. However, the Baby Boomers threw this system off balance. The Baby Boomers are the largest generation in United States’ history, and the generations after them were much smaller. Many Baby Boomers have now reached retirement age or are almost at retirement age. The coming strain on the Social Security fund will become very apparent, and many Baby Boomers will discover there numbers are simply too much for the system to handle, and in a worst case scenario, will not be able to get the benefits they have been paying into for their entire life. Millennials will have it even worse, as not one person will see any benefits, and our generation may very well have to accept the fact that we will not have the comfort of Social Security once we reach retirement age.

We’ve basically been told: “Sorry, you’re going to be working for your entire life until your death, and even though you pay Social Security tax, you will not benefit from it”.

I believe this has had a substantial impact on the behaviors of the Millennial generation. Due to chronic low wages and little prospect for improvement, this has encouraged many to continue to live with their parents at home .

Combine this with an explosion of technology making every small task easier, and it almost seems childhood is being extended, not because the generation is lazy, but it is simply so difficult for anyone to move on and start their adult life. How can we when wages simply haven’t increased while the cost of living continues to rise?

How can we be considered the most selfish generation? If anything, we are just as generous, if not more so, than previous generations. We have entire organizations at Mountain View alone dedicated to helping others, such as Students Helping Honduras and the Buddy Club. Learn and Serve is a class offered that involves researching problems facing the community and then taking action to solve said problems. These programs were almost non-existent in previous years. If we really were that selfish, would we really be hosting these programs, where students purposely go out of their way to help out others?

The G.I. Generation is remembered in history for growing up during the hard times of the Great Depression, and then going on to bravely fight for their country during World War II. The Silent Generation is known for its strong work ethic, social conformity, and overall keeping to themselves. The Baby Boomers are remembered for their rejection of conservative values, creating a distinct youth culture, and embracing change. Generation X is known for its strong sense of independence, growing up in a non-segregated America, and overall possessing a more cynical view of the world.

How will we be remembered?

Millenials are constantly labeled as the worst, but are we really that much different from previous generations? by Austin Venable

april | may 2016 l the viewpoint l 8

Graduation is almost here With graduation just around the corner some Mountain View High School seniors divulged their plans for after graduation.

by Michelle Clavel photos by Michelle Clavel

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Allison Merida Senior Allison Merida has opened up about her plan after graduation. She has decided to attend Baltimore Community College; where she’ll be close to her parents. Merida will be living with her parents while she attends college because it is a cheaper living choice. This has been Merida’s plan from the beginning. She said that she is very happy and excited for graduation because she is making her parents proud of her.

Kaitlyn Orzechowski Senior Kaitlyn Orzechowsh has decided to attend the University of Georgia; she loves biology and chemistry, so she plans to major in Biochemistry. She has family who lives in Georgia making it more cost affective. Orzechowski says to have had several college options, but she sat down, thought about it and decided that going to Georgia was her best option; she is very happy with her decision she’s made. Orzechowski is excited about graduation and a little nervous, but overall she is very excited to move on with her life.

ver since the beginning of school, students have been taught that it is important to do well, get good grades, have goals and graduate high school in order to have a successful future.

Once entering high school, graduation is what teens are expected to be working towards.

Graduation seemed to be so far away, but graduation is here, and now many can hardly believe it. For many it has been their dream since day one, to walk across stage to receive their high school diploma and make their parents proud. The day of graduation has come faster than many expected; senior year is consider to be the shortest year of all high school.

Some future high school graduates get caught in time because they have not made a plan or do not even know what they want to do yet. Some do not know where to start from, so they might need a little of help; sometimes knowing what others have planned for their future can help to bring some ideas. It is always nice to hear about others to consider from what they have plan especially this far into the year that graduation is only weeks away.

It is time to start making decisions about your future as an adult. The closer graduation gets the more important it is to sketch out a plan because you do not want to get caught not knowing what to do or where to start from after graduating. Being an adult could be very difficult especially if parents have always been there to do everything for you.

Fortunately, many Mountain View seniors have in mind what they want to do and opened up to their plans after graduation.

Teal Schuppin Senior Teal Schuppin will continue to work at her summer job as a lifeguard. She will be driving down to West Virginia and adventuring a little bit. Teal choose to do this because she believes she deserves to be free, and it’s her time to be an adult. She is happy with the decision she has made.

Schuppin has other plans, but this is her plan right after graduation; she is happy to graduate.

Alexis Viola Senior Alexis Viola plans on enlisting in the United States Air force in the Pararescue department. She made this decision because she wants to go into the combat medical field and help people while serving for the country that she loves. She is very happy with the decision she has made; ever since she was 13 years old she dreamed of being a Pararescue in the Air Force. It was only recently that the dream became a potential reality rather than just a dream. Viola is really excited about graduation, but confesses that by the time June hits she’ll be more nervous about it, yet she can’t wait to pursue her dream. april | may 2016 q the viewpoint q 9

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Trustworthy, confident, and most importantly a good leader are just a few of the words used by fellow teammates to describe their captains. Captains is the person who is thanked for their team’s success, the one who is there for his or her team in and out of the field.

By Isabella Colon

For years captains have been chosen for both academic and athletic teams to lead them towards victory. But why is a captain so important?

A captain can be seen two ways, either a player who is chosen to watch the team while the coach is absent, or a true leader. In lacrosse, baseball, softball and many other sports their captains lead practice, and help their team as much as possible during the real action. Captains also show full commitment.

For example, baseball captain Nathan Neff said, “ Alex and I we both come up with a practice everyday.”

Because of their captains, teammates Thomas Bush and Forrest Penninger both said,“Captains are a mayor contribution to our teams success.” Even though coaches, as well , play a mayor role in any sports team a captain is more know for their confidence, respect, and skill.

Peter Fulton, sophomore, said, “When your competing its very hard for your coach to give you the advice because their generally adults and haven’t done it in a while were as the team captain is right there doing it with you.” It is easier to take advice from someone sharing the experience with you rather than someone who is just watching.

The basis of a good team is trust, and that is why captains strive on making sure their teammates have full and complete faith in them. It’s not good enough to just be one of the best players because being likable, and serious are also key elements. As a captain a huge amount of responsibility and respect is being handed to the person. Overall Captains are thought to be necessary because their considered the glue to a team. clipa rtoo ns.c om

10 q the viewpoint q april | may 2016

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MV GIRLS LACROSSE

“Our team meshes really well together.”

-Senior Shaina Rouseau, varsity defender

The lady Wildcats explain that they’re confident in their skills and have strengthened their teamwork while heading in to their third season.

By Sohni Bhuller Photos By Sohni Bhuller

The girls varsity lacrosse team is expecting to have a good season because they’re more confident in their abilities this year.

Last year the team finished off the season 9-7. So far the Mountain View girls lacrosse team has played six games, winning three of those.

Senior Lauren Sarno, varsity attacker on the field, explained that there’s almost a new and improved dynamic with the team this season. She said, “I’m excited for this season because we have a lot of new, talented players that joined the team.” Sarno also explained that the girls also work more as a team this year than they have in the past.

Many of the girls on the team have many years of experience playing lacrosse.

Despite the years of experience for many of the players, just like with any team, practice makes perfect. Although the girls have strengthened their skills, there’s always still room for improvement.

Senior Graciella Sejas-Padilla, varsity defender, commented on one thing that the girls need to work on: “I feel like we’re going to do a lot better this season….there’s stuff we need to work on though like working the ball up the field,” Both Sarno and Sejas-Padilla made it a point to emphasize the closeness between all of the girls. They explained that that’s one of the main factors that will make this season a great one for the team. Sejas-Padilla said, “We play as a team, not as individuals.” The team’s bond has strengthened and that has helped improve how they play out on the field.

For many of the girls like Sarno and Sejas-Padilla, they’re seniors which makes this season their last one at Mountain View.

However, Sarno has committed to playing lacrosse in college at division one school, Wofford University.

Although teamwork is an extremely influential part of how the team plays, Senior Shaina Rousseau, varsity defender, also described some of the things that effect the team’s quality of play, such as the intenseness of a previous practice and each player’s attitude before a game.

The girls have strengthened their abilities and have learned to take on each game as a team, using everyone’s skills. It’s clear to see that the team has become more of a tightknit group and formed a closer bond which is evident on the field.

The girls have high expectations for this season, and the rest of the Mountain View wildcats should as well. Good luck to Mountain View’s girls lacrosse team as they take on their third season.

april | may 2016 q the viewpoint q 11