The Viewpoint March/April 2018

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

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4 March | April

The Viewpoint Check out the centerfold and the back cover for reviews on some of the best pizza joints in the area.

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The Viewpoint

EDITORIAL

INDEX

MAR | APR 2018 VOLUME XII ISSUE IV

01 Cover 17 the gouda, the bad, and the 02 Advertisement 18 advertisement 03 Index 19 sharp shooter 04 Briefs 20 uncovering sleep 05 Walk out 21 take a gap and travel the 06 Medicinal herbs 22 spring cleanign 07 make every day earth day 23 spring cleaning 08 the most important meal 24 don’t get affected 09 the most important meal 25 forever or a minute 10 tattoo you 26 why vine died the Viewpoint!

11 advertisement 27 advertisement Dylan Martinez John Sherry Rebekah Farris Ed Hatcher Jordane Biacan Renato Roscigno political culture its all about purse-spective 12 28 Edward Murphy Jose Lizardo Rick Whitehead Edwin Ridout Kabe Hasenecz Riley Roo Elsa Vinso Karen Lizardo Ruger Keppler 13 quotes to live by 29 political culture Emilie Klinger Katie Rowe Rusty Ben Emma Stockholm Kavon Herndon Samantha McKinnon Bown Kaylee Lizardo Sandy Ridout 14 overcoming procrastination 30 dress for success Emmaleigh Ethan Roeske Lance Roeske Sarah Galligan Felicia Preston Leigh Haag Sarah Reed this is awkward why they teach 15 31 George Kabay Linda Brigham Sarah Roeske Gia Morreale Lisa Wray Sarah Stahl Dausman Logan Spreeman Scott Pollock 16 the gouda, the bad, and the 32 welcome to flavortown Grace Hanna Navarro Luna Hinz Sean Afriyie In elementary school, we participated in fun crafts and engaging lessons about how we should be mindful of how we impact the earth as Earth Day came around.

Staff members note how we used to write short stories, read books as a class, color, and go on field trips to the recycling center. “The Lorax,” written

by Dr. Seuss, was heavily emphasized during this time as well. This book focused on the effects of deforestation on the environment and the animals living it. The Lorax was a fictional character that “spoke for the trees” while industrialist Once-ler cut down all of the them for his own profit.

This created a sense of environmental awareness that could be instilled in young people.

Now, as teens and adults, we tend to overlook Earth Day. People put out “awareness” posts here and there, but they don’t seem to understand what Earth Day is, the importance, and the change it can bring.

Earth Day is supposed to be about recognizing the effects of human footprints as countries continue to develop and industrialize, as well as encouraging people to reduce the effects we have on the environment. We should be focusing on this neglected holiday and use information generated by the Earth Day Network to change our world for the generations to come.

Thank you for Giving-A-Buck to support

Abbie Gobie Abby Sussman Adam Vanderwood Adriana Keane Aeneas Alvarez Al Youhana Alex Grissom Alex Perez Alyssa Brumfiel Alyssa Young Anaya Lang Andrew Offineer Anna Selman Anneliese Hinz Arin Doerfler Asi Rogers Ayanna Alston Beth Mowry Beth Whitehead Bo Keppler Banny Navarro Brendan Heatherman

Brenda Piper Brenndan Rhodes Bri Lamborn Bridget Gargain Bryan Melendez Bryan Zardezed Bryce Piper Carol Kabay Casey Doerfler Casie Powers Cassie Sturgill Charles Hazard Chloe Adler Chris Mandez Claire Watkins Cliff Davis Cordelia Piper Danielle Wogales David Brady David Cohen Dexter Doerfler

Harbin Dilley Harshal Patel Heather Blach Helen Hazard Hellen Brigham Holly Hazard Illeana Mattison Isabella Shimabukuro Juan Navarro Ivan Torres Jacob Lizardo Jacob Pollock Jahari Lewis James Jackson Jameson Bolin Jason Silva Jeanette Dellinger Jeffrey Ntiamoah Jesse Oakley Jianna Rios Joanne Stawder John D’Lima John Libon John Oakley

Lynn Reid Mackenzie Rivero Maggie Hanse Maia Roscigno Mathias Spangler Maya Barnhill Melissa Brigham Michael Bendele Michael Madsen Mike Owens Morgan Dugan Nancy Heyward Nate Davis Nathan Dawson Nathan Popping Nicole Albertson Nyan Graham Pada Garcia Pamela Veal Patrick Kabay Patricia Mayes Phyllis Pollock Rachel Price Raven Lang

Sean Fijalkowski Selena Dowd Sheldon Hall Sherif Abdelkader Sierra de Toll Sondro Roscigno Stephanie Banghart Steven Albertson Taylor Larned Thomas Doerfler Tina Herndon Titan Hovey Todd Reid Tommy Wray Travis Miller Trent Oakley Tyler Haskins Vanessa Lee Victor Candelario Wayne Mayes William Davis Yana Cole Zack Whitehead Zak Jones

Managing Editors Paige Doerfler Emilee Holmquist Ruby Jackson Social Media Editor Sophie Perez Copy Editor Bella Roeske Photography Editor Emilee Holmquist Briefs Editor Charlotte Hazard Adviser Trisha Orndorff 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 and art to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.

Staff Writers Brody Albertson, JoJo Brigham, Gia Morreale, Isabel Navarro, Selena Obregon, Danielle Piper, Caroline Pollock, Chloe Reid, Adam Skoloda, Lexi Strawder, Damien Veal, Abbey Whitehead Front Cover Paige Doerfler Ruby Jackson 2014-2016 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

Loving The Viewpoint? There’s even more! Check us out on issuu.com to see more pages of content from The Viewpoint EXTRA. index q march | april 2018 q the viewpoint q 03

Events

at Mountain View

Chorus Assessment

by Selena Obregon Photo by Selena Obregon The Mountain View Chorus has never ceased to dazzle their audience with their exemplary display of vocal talent. It’s clear that that’s not going to end any time soon.

With not only one, but two superior rankings and one excellent earned at all county assessments on March 12, 2018, the chorus team represented our school in a superb way.

The MV Chorus team was split into three classes: Mixed Choral, Chamber, and Madrigals. The Mixed Choral sang “Ave Verum” by Mozart and “Beyond This Day” by Anthony K. Williams; Chamber sang “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” by Eric Clapton and “Radiant Sister” by David Brunner; and Madrigals sang “The Dream Ship” by Susan LaBarr and “Balleilakka Rahman”, arranged by Ethan Sperry.

According to Bonita Keene, the chorus instructor, ”We [chorus] started working on the music probably towards the end of January.” The chorus also had instrumental accompaniment from seven talented students for assessments, one of them being Jack Miles, junior, on the piano. This was Miles’ first time ever accompanying a chorus on piano.

Miles said, “Well, I felt suddenly nauseous. But I just went on stage and whenever I perform I just kind of like imagine that it’s just rehearsal and no one’s really there but my choir and that usually works.”

However, Miles didn’t falter and was able to pull through with a beautiful performance.

There were some cheers from the MV Chorus team when they found out their hard earned scores on assessment, and it’s safe to say that they’ve got all of Mountain View High School cheering right along with them.

Yoga Club

by Abbey Whitehead Photo by Abbey Whitehead

MCJROTC Drill Team

by Damien Veal Photo by Damien Veal

The MCJROTC Wildcat Battalion Drill team’s hard work has been paying off lately as they have found recent success in past events in the drill meets they have competed in.

During the month of January, they competed in two meets.

The first meet took place at Snow Hill High School in Maryland where 12 other schools attended and the Wildcat Drill team placed second overall. In the next meet, the team travelled to Eastern View High School where seven other teams attended and the Battalion took home first place.

Individuals such as London Rizzi, Zachary Foltz, James Russ, Kai Rullman, and Jesse Scott have all been recognized by judges for good performances among the team and in individual competitions.

Cadet Corporal London Rizzi won first place in a knockout competition involving 200 other Marine Corps JROTC members, which tests their knowledge and application of the drills and ceremonies that the teams learn.

The team has to work hard for each meet which involves coming in to practice every morning from 6:30 to 7:30. Meets usually involve different drills that the team has to learn.

Junior Joseph Smoot said being on the team is fun, but it involves discipline, especially when marching. He said having to come in early in the mornings is worth it because the team does well at their meets. Each drill can take not days, but months for the drill team to learn.

“It’s a big family as a team,” said Smoot.

The Drill Battalions hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed by judges or by the rest of Mountain View.

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Recently, juniors Sophie Perez and Meghan Wiley got the idea to start a yoga club at Mountain View. Yoga is great way to stay active and to build strength and bringing it into Mountain View will be a great way for students to try a new activity.

With the help of Meghan Johnson and Steve Watkins, who are both English teachers, the yoga club will have have meetings throughout the rest of the year. During these meetings, members will watch videos and do yoga along with them, focusing on the improvement of their skills.

Watkins, who is also a yoga instructor, might even end up teaching some classes.

The club will be open to anyone who wants to join; from experienced yogis to beginners, everyone will be welcome.

Johnson and Watkins will help club members learn and advance in yoga.

Wiley, one of the founders of the club, said, ”I wanted to start the club to give people a chance to see how fun yoga can be.”

This club should begin having meetings shortly after spring break and will be a great way for students to find a new way to be active. So if you are interested in joining the club, listen to the announcements to hear when the first meeting will be held.

WALK OUT Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s (MSDHS) 17 murdered students and staff members have been added to the statistic of victims to gun violence in the United States, and will soon be only a statistic. Since the Columbine Shooting in 1999, gun violence in schools has become more prevalent, and according to “After mass shootings, the status quo reigns supreme in Congress,” by Jaime Fuller, Washington Post, “Congress has [only] passed one major law strengthening gun control in the aftermath of a mass shooting.”

However, students around the nation have been voicing their opinions about the recent tragedy since February 15, the day after the shooting. They have been using the hashtag #NeverAgain to spread their message on social media as a form of online protest.

Students from MSDHS took buses to their state capitol to share their concerns with the more right-leaning legislature in Tallahassee, Florida. The protesters from MSDHS and other surrounding schools came demanding reforms to gun access, including expanded background checks, a higher age requirement for buying guns, a ban of bumpstocks and a ban on semi-automatic firearms stated the New York Times. Bump stocks, like the ones used in the Las Vegas shooting, are rifle modifications that increase the fire speed and lethality of the weapon.

The students pushed Florida legislators harder than ever to readdress the heated gun debate in the politically torn environment. “What’s next for gun measures at the Florida state legislature” by Athena Jones, CNN, gives the run-down of the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.” Senators voted against clauses of the act that would place a ban or a temporary ban on assault and assault-style weapons, and not to give local authorities the power to make gun regulations in their communities. The act also pushed to raise the required age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21, place a ban on bump-stocks and provide more funding to student resource officers and mental health services.

Around the country, student walkouts have been organized like the #Enough National School Walkout on March 14, where students planned to exit their school buildings and observe 17 minutes of silence for the 17 victims at MSDHS. The March For Our Lives on March 24 was the main protest held in Washington D.C. and sister marches around the world. The National School Walkout on April 20 is an all day walk-out beginning at 10 a.m. commemorating the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting and pushing for stronger gun regulation.

After the Parkland school shooting, students around the country say they’ve had enough

by Danielle Piper “We [student leadership board] had two meetings where we decided what we were going to do. We wanted to make sure it was impactful and it was giving the right message. We got the idea [for the memorial walk in] from Stafford High. I wrote the script, the student council members read the names and other associate members stood in the back and lit candles. It was a beautiful, team effort. I‘m proud of how well Mountain View students handled the whole situation.”

- Junior Grace Dalton, SCA Treasurer “I thought it was very respectful. I’m also glad no politics were brought up, because I’m sure it would have caused conflict. Being part of the JROTC program was nice because we could all stand together in a formation and salute the students who died, which included two JROTC cadets. I honor the way today [March 14] was planned, in the fact that we can honor those who died in the shooting, yet not protest in a way people could get into trouble.”

-Senior Lainey Gish, JROTC Cadet “The memorial was thoughtfully put together. That being said, when talking about issues and taking part in political activism, it is important to be cognizant of what you’re actually campaigning for. As Mountain View looks at the consequences and importance of a sit-in or a walk- out, we need to take the time to consider the bigger picture and how important our words and actions are. Blind activism is detrimental to achieving goals. Our generation has the ability and momentum to move mountains. Today’s [March 14] vigil was a great place to start.”

- Senior Meredith Speet

Here at Mountain View (MV), Dr. Stemple, and other administrators in Stafford County, are concerned first and foremost for the safety of their students. Dr. Stemple said, “The main thing is school safety. One of the problems is that it was a nationally publicized day of vulnerability. If [someone] was crazy and wanted to take a shot at kids, that’s the best day. So in our minds, it became about how we can keep kids safe, but allow you to have a right to assemble, allow you to have a voice.” As an alternative to walking out of class on March 14, MV held a “walk-in” memorial service.

Another concern was to keep students from feeling alienated. If the memorial would have taken place at 10 a.m., students could feel pressured to walk out or not walk out. Also with it being in the morning, “there would be no loss of instructional time for students that want[ed] to go to the memorial. So I think it met a lot of criteria,” said Dr. Stemple.

“I didn’t decide anything actually. We have here a student leadership council of class officers and SCA officers. All these kids are elected by the students and I meet with them quarterly anyway, so we were about to have our third quarter meeting and I said, ‘Hey guys, what would you like to do?’ and we just brainstormed some options, looked “Overall, I thought it was very good and well at what some of the other schools were doing, and came up with this solution which was to have a memorial and put together. I’m glad they decided to honor the also a call to end violence.” victims. Although, I do wish they would have Students wishing to show their support to MSDHS were encouraged to do it by “marooning-up,” or wearing done what some other schools did and took the maroon, a color shared by both MSDHS and MV. Classes started at the regular time for students who didn’t wish to whole school outside including teachers and participate, but those who did were invited to participate in the voluntary walk-in, which began at 7:40 a.m. and protested together. I understand it’s the school’s ended at 7:57 a.m. Students also signed a banner in the cafeteria during lunch which will be sent to MSDHS. At 10 responsibility to keep us safe and I believe they a.m., Dr. Stemple gave a short announcement about the importance of school safety, and about the beginning of did what they thought was safest for us, but I just the see-something, say-something campaign. wish they would respect our right to protest.”

Regarding April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, Dr. Stemple said, “I’ll let the students get togeth- Freshman Katie Hasenecz er again, talk to their friends, and come to another decision. I told them, ‘we’ll see how tomorrow [March 14] goes, and maybe we’ll want to do something different.’” news u march | april 2018 u the viewpoint u 05

Homegrown remedies can be superioir alternatives to prescription drugs

by Bella Roeske | Photo by Bella Roeske

Medicinal herbs

Eighty percent of the world’s population, as estimated by the World Health Organization, currently still uses traditional remedies as their primary health care tools. Natural products, the majority of which being plants, have aided in the According to MedicalNewsToday, ginger has been production of 70 percent of the used for cooking, as well as medicine. Ginger is known new drugs introduced in the to aid in digestion. The phenolic compounds help United States. relieve gastrointestinal irritation, stimulate saliva and bile production, and suppress gastric contractions as food and fluids move through the gastrointestinal tract.

There is even evidence that ginger affects the enzymes trypsin and pancreatic lipase which increase motility through the digestive tract, therefore, helping prevent colon cancer. Other medical uses include relieving nausea, cold and flu relief, reducing pain and inflammation, and improving cardiovascular health.

The reason peppermints are given out at restaurant is because peppermint actually aids in digestion.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the main ingredients in peppermint are menthol and methyl, which have antispasmodic effects, calming the gastrointestinal tract. The ingredients that work as calming agents can also help headaches, skin irritation, nausea, bloating, menstrual cramps, and anxiety.

“I believe that medicinal herbs and other forms of homeopathy are not a bad thing, but far from a good option (...) I don’t feel herbs and homeopathy is it [the good option] in the long run,” said Jameson Bolin, sophomore.

“It’s more holistic, so there’s less chemicals that can affect you in negative ways. I like the more holistic approach because I’m nervous a lot, so I get stomach aches a lot, so taking stronger drugs could affect me negatively more than other people,” said Lilia Vanderhoof, sophomore.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, essential oil is extracted from the flowers of a lavender plant.

The essential oil can aide insomnia, hair loss, stress, and anxiety. It’s also used during massages, acupuncture, and therapeutic treatment for lower back pain.

According to Medical News Today, thyme leaves are beneficial to treat stomach aches, arthritis, sore throat, cough, etc.

Food Microbiology proved how thyme can prevent food poisoning and decontaminate previously contaminated foods.

The dried flowers of Cannabis Sativa are used for recreational and medicinal purposes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of many cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC-based medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be prescribed in pill form to treat nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in patients with wasting syndrome due to AIDS.for ten minutes. Then, strain the tea and let it cool.

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“I think there’s an ancient legacy of use where we have 1000s of years of practice and and it’s important for ppl to have the choice if they want to pursue options. Prescription drugs come from plants, but they have gone through a different kind of process. I think some herbalists would say they (medicinal herbs) are better. I prefer natural and holistic remedies when possible. I have used medicinal herbs many times as preventatives rather than cures,” said Sharon McCamy, an Enligsh teacher.

MAKE EVERY DAY

Earth Day

As Earth Day approaches, be conscious of the efforts of the Earth Day Network and their goals to save the planet

by Paige Doerfler | Picture by Paige Doerfler Earth Day has become one of the most wellknown and widely celebrated environmental events across the globe. Every year, worldwide events are held to increase awareness and appreciation of the environment.

“Earth Day is all about appreciating the uniqueness of our planet Earth with its incredible diversity (...) various national and international activities are conducted to understand the biodiversity and how should we protect our nature-plants, animals, and environment,” said Conserve Energy Future, a site containing articles geared towards environmental awareness.

Since 1970, the Earth Day Network’s (EDN) mission has always been “to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.”

The whole idea behind Earth Day being a national day, with the sole purpose of focusing on the environment, dawned upon former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson after he witnessed the devastation of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement that was also taking place during this time, Nelson realized that if he could create

reforestation

The Canopy Project strives to strengthen communities through the planting of trees. The EDN uses agroforestry, sapling distribution and tree care training to promote reforestation. It targets extremely poor communities, lands devastated by natural disaster and environmentally critical areas, such as the Amazon rainforest and the Boreal Forest. Planting trees can benefit local economies. Every dollar spent on the planting of one generates $2.50 in local downstream income and benefits. Since 2010, millions of trees have been planted by the EDN. Their goal for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020 is “to plant 7.8 billion trees, one for every person on earth.”

such a movement and public concern about environmental concerns, it would force its importance onto the national political agenda.

Senator Nelson announced his idea to the national media, persuading Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey to serve as his co-chair, as well as Harvard graduate Denis Hayes as the national coordinator for the EDN. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the EDN, on April 22, 1970, 22 million Americans organized and celebrated in streets, parks, auditoriums, colleges, and universities in support of environmental protection.

By the end of that first year, the United States established the EPA and passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Today, the EDN is the largest recruiter to the environmental movement. Working with over 50,000 partners in over 195 countries, it strives to build environmental democracy and advance the fight for a clean environment, which is becoming increasingly urgent as the severity of climate change and its effects on the earth continue.

plastic

In response to the detrimental effects that the exponential growth of plastics threatens, Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to informing and inspiring humans to change their attitudes and behaviors towards disposing plastics. The EDN plans to pave the way for globally regulating plastic pollution. In order to do so, they must educate the general population to demand action towards the control and diminishment of plastic pollution, as well as inform and motivate people to take personal responsibility for the plastic pollution they generate. The EDN plans to work with education institutions, local governments, journalists, and organizations to strengthen this platform through creating educational resources and building partnerships.

"Earth Day reestablishes the importance of our surroundings and how we need to value what we are given instead of constantly taking the blessings we've been given" -

Leanna Tarr, senior "It makes us focus on all the wonderful things nature has to offer us. while drawing our attention to the things we need to fix, such as pollution." -

Kamryn Cajohn, sophomore "I think it's counterintuitive to dedicate just one day to 'so-called' Earth Day when simple adjustments to daily activities could make every day Earth Day" -

Catherine Skelly, biology teacher

green schools The EDN has quite a few projects geared towards high school and college students. It recently launched a campaign for global environmental and climate literacy by Earth Day 2020 dedicated to ensuring that graduates leaving high school are environmental and climate literate citizens. College students have been targeted in the past by the EDN with the 2012 education campaign MobilizeU in order to educate students about the environment. Since then, over 500 U.S. colleges and universities and 380 global college and universities have joined. This campaign created a international network of concerned students united by their common interest of a sustainable future.

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1

THE MOST IMPORTANT

meal of the

Day

Start your day fueled with energy with these delicious, healthy breakfast foods

by Lexi Strawder and Gia Morreale | Photos by Lexi Strawder Gia Morreale

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3.) Cherry tomato balsamic avocado toast

1.) Five minute breakfast quinoa (yields four servings) Recipe provided by Alyssa from Simply Quinoa Ingredients 1 cup cherry tomatoes 4 cups spinach, fresh 4 eggs 3 cups quinoa, cooked 2 tbsp pre-made garlic & herb seasoning 1/4 teaspoon salt (if desired) Hot sauce (if desired) Directions 1.) In a small bowl or saucepan, mix together the cooked quinoa, tomatoes, seasoning and salt if using.

2.) Evenly distribute between four bowls. To the bowls, add one cup spinach and set aside.

3.) Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Fry eggs about one minute per side and top each bowl with an egg or poach egg in a pot of boiling water 4.) Sprinkle with pepper and hot sauce if desired and enjoy!

Side note: you can swap the spinach for kale, chard or arugula, or you can swap the tomatoes for sun dried tomatoes or bell peppers.

2.) Vanilla maple almond butter overnight oats (yields two servings) Recipe provided by DishingOutHealth Ingredients 1 cup old fashioned oats 1 cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened vanilla almond milk 1 tablespoon salted creamy almond butter* 1 tablespoon + 1 tsp pure maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Fruit of your choice for the topping Directions 1.) In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, almond butter and vanilla extract. *I found it best to use a drippy almond butter for ease of mixing.

2.) Combine almond butter mixture, oats and almond milk in a mason jar with a lid or Tupperware container.

3.) Shake or stir until thoroughly mixed. Refrigerate (covered) overnight or at least six hours.

4.) Add toppings of choice in the morning before you eat and dig in!

(yields two servings) Recipe provided by Stacy Homemaker Ingredients 2 slices of bread (your choice) 1 ripe avocado, mashed ½ cup cherry tomatoes 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar glaze Sea salt & pepper to taste Instructions 1.) Toast the bread.

2.) Mash the avocado and spread it on toasted bread.

3.) Top with halved cherry tomatoes.

4.) Drizzle balsamic glaze over the top. Sprinkle sea salt & pepper to taste.

4.) Banana coconut granola (yields six servings) Recipe provided by Kelly Roenicke Ingredients 1/4 coconut oil 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup very ripe banana 2 cups gluten free oats 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut 2 tablespoons gluten free flour blend 1/8 teaspoon salt Instructions 1.) Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.) Place the wet ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.

3.) Add the gluten free oats, unsweetened coconut flakes, gluten free flour blend and salt. Stir until everything is evenly coated.

4.) Spread granola on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 50-60 minutes, until golden brown.

5.) Stir the granola every 15 minutes. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

5.) Granola parfait with peaches and blueberries (yields one serving) Recipe provided by Alison Randall Ingredients: 1 (5-ounce) container vanilla Greek yogurt 1/3 cup granola (refer to coconut banana granola and add dark chocolate pieces) 1 peach, sliced into thin wedges 1/4 cup blueberries Instructions: 1.) Layer half the Greek yogurt on the bottom of a desert glass.

2.) Top with half of the granola, half of the peach slices and half of the blueberries.

3.) Create one more layer of yogurt, granola, peaches and blueberries.

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Tattoo You A venture into the art of body modification by Ceci Alvarez

Tattoos

The term itself sends off a bad vibe as you read it, even though it simply means permanently changing one’s appearance.

Humans have been creating ways to alter their appearance for ages and for different reasons. Social status, wealth, and culture can influence your decision to undergo these intricate procedures.

Tattoos and piercings are the most common; meanwhile, scarification, branding, and implants are on the extreme side of the body modification spectrum.

Wes Moore, professional tattooer at Time Honored Tattoo, said that one word to describe his career in the tattoo world is,”Lifestyle.”

Anyone under the age of 18 requires parent consent to undergo a piercing or receive a tattoo. Some students are doing just that and opting to experiment with body modification.

Before making that decision, it is helpful to do some research on what changes will be happening to your body.

The practice of tattooing is estimated to date back to around 5,200 years agoaccording "The Smithsonian" website. The meaning has overall stayed the same: to make a statement.

Methods, however, have varied throughout time. Walking into a tattoo shop today, you’d see a hand-held machine with a needle moving back and forth rapidly, injecting ink into your skin at an alarming rate. Jump back to around 5,000 years ago, and there would be a single needle being dipped into ink, poking each dot and line into your flesh one by one, step by step.

Getting a tattoo is a commitment; it’s a big decision you need to know you’re ready to take, and many things need to be considered before you get one. The best thing you can do for yourself is start small. It’s important to understand how much pain you can handle and the process itself.

Timing is a big factor of this process. Exposing fresh tattoos to great amounts of sun and water can damage the tattoo and your skin. Spring and Fall are ideal times of the year to get tatted simply because sun exposure is minimal and you can easily cover them during the healing process.

Tattoos are not cheap. If a tattooer gives you a price that almost seems too good to be true, it probably is. Tattooing is an expensive process and paying more is worth it. It’s better to wait until you can pay a trustworthy professional.

Remember, these are permanent.

wesmooretattooer

Wesmooretattooer

Body modification

Piercings

Wikipedia

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Ear piercing has been prevalent in most cultures throughout history.

Many people are aware of ear and nostril piercing since they are the most common, but you can essentially get pierced anywhere. According to the website "All That is Interesting", piercings were found on the oldest mummified person, 5,300 years old. Many important people through history have their ears pierced, such as Julius Caesar, King Tut, and many wealthy people in the past. Sailors even pierced their ears, so in the instance they died at sea, the earring would be enough to pay for their funeral.

Never be afraid to ask questions when getting a new piercing. It’s important to know how sterile everything is, what sort of instrument is being used, any complications, etc.

Getting pierced with a needle is highly suggested rather than using a piercing gun, according to liveabout.com. The gun puts a tremendous amount of force through your skin. Getting pierced with the gun is not only more painful, but increases the risk for infection.

Make sure you know how to properly clean your piercing after you get it.

Not cleaning your piercing will cause it to get infected and could lead to you needing to remove the piercing.

STAFFORD GLASS, INC.

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mv cafe

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It’s all about

purse-spective

Everyone has their own opinion on the necessity of and the content included in a purse by Chloe Reid | Photo by Chloe Reid Purses have been around since 1500 A.D., but their usefulness has developed quite a bit since then. According to the Tassen museum Hendrikje Museum of Bags and Purses, purses used to represent wealth and status and were a way for women to carry coins. Now-a-days, women carry way more than just coins in their purse.

Purses are a great way to always have what you need at your fingertips. That terrible feeling of never being prepared and not having what you need can be prevented by a purse. These handbags have a significant role in women’s lives, not only for fashion, but also because you never know what you’re going to need.

With many different kinds of purse-users, there are different handbags to suit the needs of each. There are large bags for those who need to carry a lot with them, and there are also smaller sized purses for more simplistic purse necessities.

Junior Grace Prestige, a travel student from North Stafford High School enrolled in the Culinary Program at Mountain View High School, tends to use a larger purse. An unusual item she carries in it is a box of crayons. Her reasoning for this is that she feels like she is around kids quite a bit. Items she cannot live without are her phone and her wallet. Her favorite purse is one she currently uses from Target because it’s large.

Senior Alaina Johnson also tends to use a larger sized purse. She said she keeps a regular sized bottle of lotion in her purse due to the fact a lot of people ask her for lotion. She can’t live without her chapstick in it. Johnson’s favorite purse is her Michael Kors bag.

From a teacher’s perspective, Chevonda Clark said that for field trips, she tends to use a smaller clutch or crossbody but says “it depends on the event.” Her favorite purse is her leopard print Michael Kors. One unusual item she keeps in it is a package of baby wipes because she “always has to wipe her kids’ faces.” She cannot live without chapstick in her purse, but she said “[choosing an item I can’t live without is] a toss up between her phone, wallet and chapstick.”

On the other hand, it is quite interesting to see what guys think girls keep in their handbags. Senior Robert Brown said, “Females’ purses contain items they might need or use through their everyday life, like emergency items such as pepper spray. I think females keep different miscellaneous items in their bags ranging from necessities to space-filler items.”

Sophomore Preston Cockram added, “I think girls keep makeup, tissues, candy, portable charger, and tampons in their purse.”

This “girl’s best friend” may be filled with different things for different people, but their essential use across the world is a great way to be prepared and plays an instrumental role in most women’s lives.

12 u the viewpoint

u march | april 2018 u feature

QUOTES TO LIVE BY An inspirational quote can serve as a life motto or motivation for goals by Isabel Navarro

Junior Sarah Reid

Hailey Davey, math teacher

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

- Winston Churchill

Sarah Roeske, history teacher

“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”

- Edmond Burke

“People will hate you, rate you, shake you, and break you. But how strong you stand is what makes you.”

- Unknown

Senior Michi Rullman

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

- from the Norweigen T.V. show, “Skam”

Freshman Nia St. Cyr

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.

It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

- Vivian Greene

Senior Christian Beach

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

- John F. Kennedy feature u march | april 2018 u the viewpoint u 13

OVERCOMING

PROCRASTINATION Procrastination tends to prevent students from getting things done without stress; here are a few tips to get stuff done by Isabel Navarro| Illustrations by Isabel Navarro

Get started. The hardest part about doing a task you have been putting off for a while is getting started. Approach this issue by completing the easiest part of your task first. Whether it’s writing one sentence of an essay or one problem on your math homework, get something done, even if it’s small. This will bring you closer to finishing the task.

According to Harvard Business Law, we remember uncompleted tasks better than completed tasks. Once you start your work, you will be more likely to continue working and possibly finish the task.

Think about the end results.

You’ll be prepared for you test.

You won’t have to do homework later on. You’ll have a better understanding of the topic you’re learning in class. You’ll get a good grade on your assignment. If you feel unmotivated to start on a task, think about what will happen once you finish. Larry Crosswell, math teacher, said, "Procrastination is a problem which students should address sooner rather than later.”

“I deal with procrastination by making a list of stuff I need to get done with time increments.

I think that having a lot of things you need to finish in a short time limit can be overwhelming and definitely causes procrastination,” said senior Jennifer Rodriguez.

Cell phones can be a huge distraction and are often the most common form of procrastination. Senior Rachel Janney says, “Honestly, if I didn’t get distracted by my cell phone, I would get a lot more things done.”

Turn off the phone, turn on do not disturb or put the phone in another room in order to reduce the urge to scroll through social media instead of doing what needs to get done.

According to the website “Very Well Mind,” creating a schedule and planning your tasks are effective ways to cope with procrastination. Planning out your work can help you figure out how to complete your task in intervals.

Create a schedule for when you are going to complete homework, study or any other important tasks and stick to it. By doing this, you will develop better time management skills and work towards overcoming procrastination.

One step at a time. If you are overwhelmed with many tasks, split your work up into multiple parts that can be completed at different times. Completing your work in intervals will reduce the immense stress of finishing a big task all at once. It is beneficial to start on homework or studying a couple of days prior to the due dates rather than rushing to finish everything the night before. This way, you have more time to understand concepts that you’re studying or do a better job on homework or a project overall.

14 u the viewpoint u march | april 2018 u feature

Why They Teach EmiAlex lie Klinger Goldbach realized she was a nursing wanted to be a major but quickly reteacher while she alized that her heart wasn’t was volunteering in it and began to pursue her true at an orphanage in passion, which was teaching. Seeing a India. She was asked students face light up with realization after they’ve to teach English and been struggling with a subject is what Goldbach deems to ended up loving the subject. be one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

As someone who’s taught multiple She recognizes that math is not levels of classes (including IB the most popular subject amongst Lang and Lit Part 1 and Creative students, so when she hears Writing), Klinger has experia student describe math as While plenty of diversity regardenced “fun, ” she finds it equally sitting in his high ng levels, capabilities learni ing rewarding. school orchestra class, Tom McAfsts. She also finds intere and Donald realized that he would love ter an students tend to have IB that to teach an orchestra class when he Audioloa passion for learning which grew up. McDonald credits this realizagy field doors to “fun conversaopens tion to the orchestra teacher he had, and a deexpeeven if the students are tions” sire to continue on the inspiring work of that rience more passionate about teacher. “Seeing the light bulb click” in a lead her a subject other than student is what McDonald describes as the to realize English. most rewarding aspect of teaching. Some the pracaspects of teaching that he enjoys are tice wasn’t having the ability to use whatever for her, Amy musical pieces Jannereth went he sees fit back to school to pursue a and havteaching degree. Jannereth ing the finds watching her IB students ability to grow from freshman to seniors and change hearing students say they’ve come to the pieces love history particularly rewarding. If she if necescould change anything about the school Danielle Evans besary. system, Jannereth would allow teachers gan her teaching career to stray further from the SOL curriculum in as a long-term sub for order to more easily express and a middle school English share their class. After the months passion for the she spent with these students, she subject they realized teaching is what she wanted teach. to do. Building personal relationships with students and seeing them have an “aha!” moment is what Evans finds to be Mark Sanford started his the most rewarding part of teaching.

Growteaching career when he joined the Evans says that although she ing up with program Troops to Teachers after retiring knows the Nutrition and both parents befrom the Navy. Sanford finds having the chance to work Wellness curriculum ing teachers, Seth Thompson with Mountain View’s students to easily be the most like the back of had always viewed teaching as a rewarding part of teaching. Having previous her hand, she possible career choice. Seeing the experience in multiple math fields and current also enjoys impact a teacher can have in a stupractice in Geometry and Math Analysis, the topic dent’s life, especially in as crucial a Sanford has come to believe that each class diversity time period as high school, is comes with more enjoyable units, as well of Child the main reason Thompas ones that “you have to get through Developson decided to become a because they’re the ment and teacher. ”Without a doubt, basis for other Parenting. it’s the relationship formed things.” with students”, said Thompson.

With physics being an elective class, Thompson appreciates the leeway in curriculum that he experiences in comparison to SOL-based classes.

Being a teacher isn’t for everyone, so what makes the job worth it for Mountain Views staff By Sophie Perez

feature u march | april 2018 u the viewpoint u 15

The gouda, the bad, and the ugly

3

Sam's Pizza and Subs

Join us on our journey across Fredericksburg and Stafford to find the best slice by Paige Do-

erfler, Emilee Holmquist, Ruby Jackson, and Chloe Reid | Photos by Chloe Reid Read about the best pizza place on page 32.

432 Garrisonville Rd #11, Stafford, VA 22554

2

aaaab Benny Vitali's

722 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

aaaaa

In the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, Benny Vitali's is chock-full of hipster vibes and tasty pizza.

Even though they have extremely limited seating, the city-feel makes up for it.

As a local favorite, they offer 28-inch pizza pies for as low as $28.00; however, we settled on ordering single cheese slices for $4.00 each. These single slices are two-plates long, which are perfect for your appetite needs before a walk around downtown Fredericksburg.

The pizza was dripping with grease, but definitely not in a bad way. The crust was noteworthily delicious, covered in a thin layer of not-too-sweet tomato sauce and savory cheese.

With the slogan "Home of the Virginia Slice," it's clear that fellow Fredericksburg-goers agree with the fact that Benny Vitali's pizza has one of, if not the best, slices of pizza in Virginia (ranking right next to Family Pizzeria).

16 q

the viewpoint q march | april 2018 q opinion

Primarily considered an inexpensive take-out pizza joint, we discovered a new side of Sam's Pizza and Subs that is not commonly taken advantage of.

Although the exterior may have been a little deceiving, the interior provided an atmosphere perfect for a pizza night with the girls (excuse our cheesiness).

With a quiet sports lounge feel due to the lowlights and booth seating, Sam's had an ambiance that was both enjoyable and entertaining.

The pizza itself was definitely above average. The fresh-off-the-oven pizza exceeded our expectations.

The crust was, for lack of better words, fluffy; however, the texture of it was overpowered by the gooey cheese.

The crust-to-sauce-to-cheese ratio could have been improved; there was not enough sauce and cheese. In any case, the pizza was to our standards.

Sam's Pizza and Subs may get tossed to the side in favor of other pizza franchises, but next time you want a convenient and reasonably priced pizza pie, try the dine-in experience and be prepared to have your mind completely changed.

4

Castiglia's Italian Restaurant

324 William St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

aaabb Located in downtown Fredericksburg, Castiglia's Italian Restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant perfect for the casual dinner-goers and those looking for more of a formal night out.

The pizza was massive in the sense that it was extremely filling. It had a thick layer of cheese, which was delicious; however, the crust of the pizza tasted like straight up unseasoned, raw dough. The sauce was plain and conventional; it could've been more unique.

The presentation of the food and atmosphere was commendable.

Everything in the restaurant was clean, well-kempt, and sophisticated.

Castiglia's Italian Restaurant had the right vibes, taste and atmosphere to make a nice night out.

5

7

Vinny's Italian Grill

397 Garrisonville Rd, Stafford, VA 22554

263 Garrisonville Rd #107, Stafford, VA 22554

aaabb

Vinny's Italian Grill has two locations in Stafford. We chose to critique the one on Garrisonville Road because of its convenient location.

The exterior was nothing special, but with red table cloths and gelato at the door, this restaurant had a warm Italian interior. The large dining room, along with a exclusive party room that can be rented out, provided adequate seating for many customers. Lively jazz music buzzed in the background.

Starting at $1.95 for one big slice of pizza and going upwards of $16.00 for a fully-topped regular or Sicilian pizza, they offer a wide selection while still being affordable.

There was a short wait, and with excellent service providing bread and drinks, the time seemed to fly by (though the bread was definitely a little too burnt for our tastes).

The crust of the pizza basically mirrored the "appetizer," but the pizza itself wasn't bad at all, besides being a bit on the greasy side. The cheese was thinly sprinkled, providing a limited but satisfying layer to this pizza. The sauce was not noteworthy.

Vinny's Italian Grill is a perfect place for inexpensive, satisfying food. It brings a little piece of Italy to the area.

*all reviews are our opinions and our opinions alone

Tony's Deli and Pizza

abbbb

6

The Mantle

15 Tech Pkwy #101, Stafford, VA 22556

aabbb The Mantle is a newly established trendy coffee shop, geared towards what seemed to be a hip, young crowd.

With an open mic and a cool, inviting interior, it captivated our attention immediately and prepared us for what we thought would be an amazing taste-bud experience.

After what felt like an extremely long wait, we were given a scolding-hot pizza, as well as two cookies for the inconvenience of the wait-time (shout out to the barista). The fact that only one person was working at the time might have contributed to not only the long wait time, but also our experience as a whole.

The look of the pizza was similar to that of a frozen thin-crust pizza, and the taste wasn't that far from it. The sauce was terribly sweet and overpowered the entire pizza. The cheese was basically non-existent, but did have a nice taste. The crust was thin and bland.

All-in-all, the atmosphere was trendy with different seating options and areas to hang out in, although a little chilly.

The pizza and temperature were minor flaws in regards to this up and coming coffee shop. There were gluten-free options, which is pretty uncommon in such an establishment.

As a jack-of-all-trades, The Mantle made an honorable attempt at crafting a perfect pizza; however, there is always room for improvement.

Located in the North Stafford Plaza on Garrisonville Road, Tony’s Deli and Pizza is in a prime spot for customers to easily stop by and have a slice.

While there wasn’t a long wait, we felt that even the shortest of waits would not be worth the pizza we ordered.

Unable to buy single slices, we settled on ordering a personal pizza for $5.

Although the price was great, the taste, and the fact that we were not given actual plates, was not up to our standards as customers.

Overall, the personal pizza tasted extremely bland. The crust was thin, which would’ve been decent if the other ingredients and their flavors balanced its underwhelming taste. The sauce was excessively sweet, as well as watery, contributing to the mediocrity of the pizza. In regards to cheese, it was sparse and burnt, although the sauce completely overpowered it.

As we were eating, we noticed several unappealing things. First off, the door was propped open, making the entire restaurant uncomfortably cold. The employees were obnoxiously loud with their noise traveling through an open kitchen. Also, the dining room was unkempt and dishevelled.

Tony’s Deli and Pizza was a literal hole-in-the-wall. Most of the time, when you think of hole-in-the-walls, you think of good food; however, this positive feeling towards such a place was not present at this second-rate restaurant with below-average pizza.

opinion q march | april 2018 q the viewpoint q 17

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18 u the viewpoint

u march | april 2018 u advertisement

Sharp Shooter Junior Maggie Sharp recently reached a basketball milestone and scored 1,000 career points by Caroline Pollock | Photos by Caroline Pollock

1 How long have you been playing basketball?

“I have been playing basketball for six years. I started in sixth grade on a travel team.”

2 What are your plans for the future in regards to basketball? What are some of your goals for the near and far future in regards to bas-

ketball?

“To play in college has always been my dream. My goal is to play Division I. For next year, my goal is to win another conference championship and to keep making all region and all district. Also, to improve my stats.”

3 Have you always wanted to continue your future in basketball?

When did you realize that basketball was the sport for you?

“I have always wanted to play a sport in college, but at first it was soccer. For a year I juggled soccer and basketball but it got too hard playing both so I had to choose, but I had already fallen in love with basketball so it was an easy choice.”

6 How do you feel about this past season, compared to previous seasons? Do you have high hopes for next year’s season?

“This season was more of a building year because we lost so many seniors last year. Hopefully with some hard work this summer, we will be able to bring home another conference championship next year.”

7 What types of things are you doing outside of high school to prepare you for the future?

“I try to workout at least two times a day. I do speed training and I workout with my trainer, Rick Wright, at least five days a week. I also get in my own workouts by going to the gym by myself to work on my shot. I also go to college camps and I play AAU with the VA Sting.”

8 What people in your life have influenced your career the most?

“God first because he has given me the gift of playing basketball.

Also all my trainers and coaches for helping and my mom and dad for always pushing me and supporting me.”

9 Has there been any turning points in your career?

4 What schools are interested in you? What schools are you interest“In ninth grade, I played for a AAU team, BWSL. My coach had unfored in? tunately passed away due to cancer, and he had a big impact on my “The schools interested in me are St. Francis in Brooklyn, North Florida, and University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), all Division I. CNU and Virginia Wesleyan are also interested. My dream school is Penn State.”

game. He was the first coach to give me confidence in my shot. After he passed, my team had fallen apart, which was sad because we were really close. I had to find a new team which was VA Sting, but I’m also happy to be on this team because they feel like family.”

5 Did you expect to achieve your 1,000 points goal so soon? How did you feel when you scored your 1000th point?

10 What obstacles have you had to face?

“Scoring 1000 was one of my goals this year and I worked really hard “I always get told I’m way too short to play basketball, but it has never all summer on my shot and adding driving to my game. I was very excited.”

hurt my confidence. It just makes me work harder so I can prove them wrong.”

feature umarch | april 2018 uthe viewpoint u 19

UNCOVERINGsleep MYSTERIES Myths

Watching T.V. while trying to sleep may seem like a harmless thing to do; however, it may have more negative effects than people realize. Due to the blue light emitted by T.V.s, people’s minds believe that it’s still daytime, causing an unnatural sleep cycle.

According to sleep.org, watching T.V. before bed can affect the quality of sleep, leading to drowsiness and the obstruction of REM sleep.

REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, contributes to the refreshed feeling after waking up. Without this, a person will feel a decrease in their physical and mental state.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends not using electronics, such as cell phones or T.V. at least 30 minutes before bed to reduce the risk of and prevent these harmful side effects.

Because of factors like genetics and age, there is no magic number of hours of sleep a person should get per night; although, everyone should sleep at least five hours per night. As long as healthy sleeping habits, like avoiding napping and large meals before bed, are followed regularly and a person feels well-rested, they should be healthy without getting eight hours of sleep.

“Most importantly, make sleep a priority. You must schedule sleep like any other daily activity, so put it on your ‘to-do list’ and cross it off every night,” said the National Sleep Foundation.

Yawning is often considered a sign of tiredness, but there are many other factors that can cause it. Even something as simple as seeing someone yawn can trigger you to yawn.

Although occasional yawning is harmless, excessive yawning can be a characteristic of more serious health conditions. Sleeping disorders, epilepsy, hypoglycemia, and more all share a symptom of excessive yawning. A more common cause is that yawning is simply a natural response because of the body feeling exhausted.

20 u the viewpoint u march | april 2018 u feature

Sleep is an important part of everyone's life, but there are often common misconceptions of it by Ruby Jackson | Photo by Ruby Jackson

“Taking melatonin, listening to music, showering, running, and turning off the lights [are some things I do to fall asleep],” said freshman Katherine Fines “68 percent of students in the United States report getting less than eight hours of sleep on a school night.” - The Center for Disease Control “I don’t think students prioritize sleep. For school, they’re pressured to finish multiple assignments for multiple classes and turn them in on time,” said junior Daisy Reyes

Truths

The right amount of warm milk before bed can actually aid in enhanced sleep cycles. Although this old wives’ tale is that milk contains amino acids known for inducing sleep, it has not yet been proven. While there may not be a biological factor induced by warm milk, there may be a psychological one.

“Our brains and physiology like routine and predictability, so if someone has a routine each night of, say,… having a warm glass of milk... then the brain and our physiology recognise this behaviour as part of the preparatory process for sleep,” said sleep expert Naomi Rogers.

Snoring is a common condition that can affect anyone. Viewed by some as relatively harmless, it can actually be harmful to a person’s health if it occurs regularly.

According to WebMD, snoring can be caused by a number of things, some of which include obstructed airways, large tonsils, and poor muscle tone of the throat. WebMD also includes several major risks of snoring like frequent waking, a strain on the heart caused by sleep apnea, and chronic headaches.

Both diet and exercise can affect a person’s physical health; however, bad sleeping habits can affect both a person’s physical and mental health.

Even minor sleep disorders can be linked to lower immune system function and an increase in heart disease and strokes.

Stress, traveling, and other environmental factors can negatively influence sleep cycles. Stress is the number one cause of short-term sleep difficulties, according to the American Psychological Association.

“Stress causes insomnia by making it difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep, and by affecting the quality of your sleep. Stress causes hyperarousal, which can upset the balance between sleep and wakefulness,” said the National Sleep Foundation.

T

ap

g a e k a and

When students take a gap year, they don’t lose a year; they gain a life-altering experience by Olivia Thompson artwork by Christina Rahm Imagine being able to take a year off between high school and college to increase self awareness, broaden your knowledge of cultural perspectives, and help you experiment with future career possibilities. If this sounds interesting to you, then you might want to consider the up-and-coming trend of taking a gap year.

A gap year is an experimental year usually taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical and personal awareness. In the United States, gap years have only started to gain popularity while in the rest of the world they are already a cultural norm. Many students who have taken a gap year speak of it as a life altering event or a turning point in their lives.

According to the Gap Year Association (GYA), gap years originated in the United Kingdom as a way to fill the seven-to eight-month gap between exams and the first year of university. The original intention was to develop the student through an international experience. Overtime, they have changed from simply traveling to an opportunity to work or volunteer before pursuing higher education.

According to the GYA, 60 percent of 280 people who have taken a gap year said it helped them in university. Gap years are associated with higher GPAs and students who take gap years are more likely to graduate with first class honors degrees.

According to US News, between 30,000 and 40,000 students took a gap year in 2015. Many well-known people have taken gap years, among them are all of The Beatles band members, Mark Zuckerberg, Mahatma Gandhi, President Obama, Benedict Cumberbatch, Malia Obama and Angela Davis.

Students who have taken gap years returned to school with different perspectives of the world and themselves. Today, many young adults are too preoccupied with raising their grades to appear strong on a college applications. What they do not realize is that while they are stressing over letter grades, they are letting other parts of them go undeveloped. By taking a gap year you will be able to expand your horizons and gain new perspectives on life in general while taking a break from A’s and B’s. Gap years will give

pixabay

travel the map you a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a year to mature, and a chance to earn money for college. These experiences can teach you things school will never be able to, such as respect for other cultures and to be more open minded.

Sarah Hodges, guidance counselor, said that “...some students choose to take a gap year to work and save money for college, and that is a need. We have had a few students do it for religious reasons, like [wanting] to go on a mission trip prior to going to college....I think that is a great opportunity, and it gives the student a chance to learn new things.”

Kayla Estes, a senior who is taking a gap year, said "I’m just going to stay at home and find a full time job…[I want to] save up money for college.”

She said that by taking a gap year, she will be more comfortable in college since she skipped junior year and does not want to be the youngest one there.

Some people fear that by taking a gap year, they will either lose their studying habits and not want to return to school. Estes said, “I have been told that I probably won’t [want to return to school], but I’m set on a certain job, and I know that I will have to go to college for it.”

Often times students who take gap years come back enlightened and know that to succeed in life, they should continue with their education.

Mark Twain once said, “Don’t let your boy’s schooling interfere with his education.” By saying this he meant that algebra and English are not the only things you need to focus on. To be a well-rounded person, you need to take other things into consideration.

A gap year will help you do this by giving you time to breathe before diving into the rigorous university life and by teaching you life skills you will use for the remainder of your life. It will take you away from your desk and into the big, wide,beautiful world.

feature q march | april 2018 q the viewpoint q 21

spring cleaning DIYs to help you organize your room or bathroom just in time for spring

by Selena Obregon | Photos by Selena Obregon

DIY #2 DIY #1

Charger organizer DIY: Instead of leaving your charger laying around, keep it safe and sound with this easy DIY made from a plastic bottle!

Candle container DIY: Have an old candle lying around? Put it to good use with this DIY jar to neatly store and organize your things!

First, take a candle that has been used up and put it in the freezer for a few hours. Once the wax is hard, you’ll be able to use a knife to pry the wax out of the container of the candle.

Next, wash the container and use it to store whatever you want! For smaller candles, you could try storing cotton swabs or cotton balls. For bigger candles, you could try storing pencils and pens.

Shopping bag holder DIY: Keep plastic shopping bags in one place with this convenient DIY made out of a disinfecting wipes container from Jen Hadfield’s blog “Tatertots & Jello."

To start off, grab a dozen plastic shopping bags and flatten each one out individually. Then, fold them all in half and flatten them out again.

Next, layer each bag on top of each other by overlapping the handles at the bottom of the previous bag. Fold the first bag’s handle upward so you can pull it out once you’ve finished.

Finally, roll them all up starting from top to bottom and insert them into an empty wipe container and make sure you can pull on the first bag’s handle as if it were a wipe. You can keep the wipe container as is or decorate it as you please.

the viewpoint u

march | april 2018 u

Next, take a rubber band or a hair tie and put it about five to six inches above the bottom of the bottle. This helps with evenly tracing out a circle around the bottle. After you trace your circle, trace a tab on one side of the bottle that’s bigger than your charging cube. Then, trace a square inside that tab that the prongs of the cube can fit into.

Finally, carefully cut out the outlined areas. When you’re finished, you should be able to fit your charger into the hole created. This will allow your organizer to be held up by the charging block. This can also be handy if you have an outlet by your bed, as you can fit other things in it too such as your glasses.

DIY #4

DIY #3

22 u

To start off, get an empty plastic bottle that you’ll use to store your charger cord. I used a shampoo bottle, but you can use whatever you want, just make sure you can cut through it with a pair of scissors.

feature

Clothespin Hanger DIY: Need more space or organization in your closet? This simple DIY may be able to help, and it only requires a hanger, hot glue and clothespins!

First, get a plastic hanger, four clothespins (you can add as many or as little as you want, but I used four) and glue.

I recommend hot glue because it’s easy to work with and sticks to plastic pretty well.

Next, space the clothespins out evenly on the hanger and hot glue them down. Hold them down for a few seconds to make sure they stick. I would suggest putting glue on the other side of the pins as well in order to ensure that they stay. After the hanger is dried, you can hang it in your closet and use it to organize whatever you want, such as hats, scarves, belts and more!

DIY #1 “I would probably want to organize my desk/vanity in my room because I’m usually there doing my makeup and homework everyday, so I would want it to be clean and organized. Usually I would buy something to help organize, but if I see a DIY that looks easy, I would do it and give it a try.”

DIY #2

- Linda Fuerte, junior

“I always prefer to DIY because you can make something your own and make it really fit the space it has to go in all on a budget.”

- Haven Kelley, senior

DIY #3 “I would like to DIY stuff because you can do it with your friends and I take pride in things I make myself. I tried the duct tape DIY in the Viewpoint a while ago it was cool, I would do it again!”

- Jordan Venning, sophomore

DIY #4 feature u

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the viewpoint u 23

Don't get affected Our generation seems to be easily influenced by things we see or hear

by Javonna Brigham

In our generation, many kids and teenagers are easily influenced by things they see in the media. Violence, substance abuse and sexualized behavior are often glorified in today’s T.V. shows, music and video games. Although these things seem like trouble, it is okay for these behaviors to be exposed to the youth population.

Stories of things such as violent crimes and drug usage are constantly being reported. Children often play video games with these features in them at a young age. Although there are age restrictions on intensely violent video games, young kids still get a hold of them.

Being exposed to these adult-like behaviors prepares children for common situations they could see in the future. Some, though, take things too far and are the reason people are so concerned with letting children experience violence and things of that nature.

“I think violence in the media puts a negative damper on our behavior. I also would even say it damages us and prevents our behavior from developing into an adult state,” said freshman Callie Knight.

Some of the concern towards this topic comes from the effects that media can have on physical health. It may sound fake, but Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is a real disorder. According to Psychology Today, being too involved with the media and simply being on the Internet too much can cause anxiety, shivers, nausea and tremors to those who are extremely involved.

Remember the game “Slenderman?” Back in 2014, a young teenager from Wisconsin was charged with second degree intentional homicide. She claimed that Slenderman had told her if she killed her friend, she could join him and his lifestyle. She went through with the action and lured her friend into the woods and stabbed her multiple times. During the trial, she was claimed to be ‘mentally ill.’ This is a case in which people are easily influenced and their media exposure should be restricted.

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Those who believe media exposure won’t negatively affect them shouldn’t have that taken away from them just because they’re more mature than someone who could be affected. If they understand right from wrong, and what to do versus what not to do, then they are prepared for media exposure and should be able to view it, play it, or listen to it.

If children play violent video games and watch violent programs, they are more prepared and will know how to better react when facing situations as adults. In cases where children take these behaviors and use them in inappropriate ways, people begin to change their opinions about the way the media affects the younger generation.

“I think anything you experience see can affect the way you behave, so limiting what is being shown won’t necessarily change the way you act,” sophomore Amanda Bridges said.

Thinking about the future, some adults act the same way they did when they were children. On the other hand, many people grow up to become completely different people than they were as a young person.

Your behavior isn’t solely based on the things you’re exposed to. Your perception of the world is what forms the basis of your behavior and attitude. Just because a child or teenager plays Call of Duty or Fortnite doesn’t mean they’re going to grow up and be real life killers or very aggressive people.

Video games, music and television often makes us more creative people and helps us form our opinions on things.

It is easy to see why people believe that younger generations are easily influenced. There have been stories where you hear of children doing something because they “saw it on television,” but those cases are rare as most children know what is right from what is wrong.

Media can influence they way we think, act, talk, etc, but if you can avoid yourself from being affected by others, growing up and facing real world situations will be a much easier task.

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These days it seems high school relationships don’t seem to last.

Several reasons play a role in why a high school relationships do so: immaturity, school work, another girl or boy, etc.

When you look around a high school, you’ll most likely spot out multiple relationships going on. The following week they have all moved from one relationship to another.

“School work and stuff that happens at home can get in the way of relationships,” said Mike Jones, sophomore.

Your everyday high school experience could affect your relationship with your girlfriend or boyfriend. You’ll have too much school work and won’t have time to go out on a date, you’ll want to hang with friends and try to fit in, things that interest you might have a different response on your partner, and then there is the fact that you might be a wild child trying to have a good time.

High schoolers might not be ready for a relationship. To some they are either stupid, time consuming, or they think they can handle them while completely flopping two days later. Not everyone is ready for a relationship and not everybody wants to be in one. This is just the one of the many factors of why a relationship can end.

“It was stupid of me to go into a relationship without a hundred percent trust,” said Jennifer Hunt, senior.

There might be a person in your way, and sometimes that person can be the one to end your high school relationship. Your boyfriend or girlfriend might meet someone new and think he/she is wonderful and start crushing on them while they are in a relationship with you.

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If that person cheats or leaves you for someone else, then it is obvious that person was not truthful with his or her feelings towards you. You can see this in marriages and college relationships as well. This is just another factor to a relationship ending.

Some people just want to be in a relationship because they do not want to be alone.

“I don’t like the feeling of loneliness,”said Hannah Myers, freshman It’s not a popularity contest. You don’t have to catch up with the crowd by having a boyfriend or girlfriend. If you are in a relationship because you just want to be with someone, not because you like them, then it’s not meant to last.

According to Psychology Today, “The beginning of lasting love starts with a mutual sense of belonging together in a relationship that is worth building their future upon.”

Not all high school relationships fail; there are exceptions. People can manage, graduate high school, and still be in a relationship.

“My mom and dad were high school sweethearts, and they still love each other as much as back then,” said Sydney Brown, sophomore.

Several reasons play a role in high school relationships not lasting.

You might be cheated on, not have time to be with another person, or lack of maturity in oneself, etc. Experimenting and being in relationships is just one part of being a teenager.

So, when you are asking why high school relationships don’t last, these reasons may be why.

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Do you miss watching and creating those short videos that made you laugh your head off? What about having Vine-offs with your friends to see who can name more Vine references? What is a conversation without a vine reference, right?

“Vine was a video-sharing app designed to allow users to film super short clips that could be linked together in one video for a total of six seconds. Each short video played in a continuous loop. They could be embedded and viewed directly in Twitter’s timeline or any web page,” said Elise Moreau, who works for Lifewire magazine.

According to the Vine website, “Vines are short looping videos that have inspired, entertained, and given rise to a creative community since 2013.” People have become more and more creative when creating the videos.

Vine officially died on January 17, 2017. This was a very sad day for Vine lovers.

“I love Vines because it lifts my mood every time I watch them,” said senior Kiana Collins.

On the up side, there are still ways to enjoy Vine videos. For example, there are many Vine compilation videos on YouTube that are available for enjoyment.

Videos are still able to be created on the app, but the original network of Vine on a larger scale has been terminated. The continuing app is now called the Vine Camera. Also, archived Vines are still available to be shared and downloaded.

Jianna Rios, junior, said, “Vines have become a part of our daily vocabulary. I don’t think I can imagine a world without Vine quotes.”

Some famous Vine quotes include, “Can I get a waffle? Can I please get a waffle,” “Happy birthday Raven,” “I can’t sweem,” “Girl, you’re thicker than a bowl of oatmeal” and ‘Sleep? I don’t know about sleep... it’s summertime” “You ain’t go to bed?” “Oh she caught me.”

Twitter is the parent company to Vine, so when Twitter started to

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by Caroline Pollock

s, Vine Lab

The real reason why Vine was shut down and if it is going to be brought back to life

have financial issues, Vine was forced to shut down. Twitter’s financiality was just one of the many reasons why Vine is no longer running, according to Isabel Thottam, who writes for the Paste Magazine.

Other reasons included competition with Instagram increased, Vine stars quit, and advertisers were hard to find for funding. Once Instagram launched videos, Vine could not compete with them. Vine’s six seconds could not compare with Instagram’s 15 seconds.

Also, advertisers found it difficult to capitalize on the app. It made it even harder to advertise when the app did not catch on as much as the founders had hoped. The founders of Vine were anticipating for it to take off and keep up with the new innovations of Facebook, YouTube, and Snapchat, but sadly it was unable to.

“Vine is not dead. It is a way of life and definitely adds character to any conversation,” said senior Kayla Jackson.

Team Vine remarked, “We value you, your Vines, and are going to do this the right way. You’ll be able to access and download your Vines. We’ll be keeping the website online because we think it’s important to still be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made.”

Team Vine has also made sure all Vine lovers are aware that there will not be any changes made without them being informed.

There have been many speculations that Vine is going to come back and people will be able to enjoy it once again, but unfortunately there is no real evidence to backup these claims except for one thing.

On Dec 6, 2017, Vine founder, Dom Hofmann, tweeted about a socalled “v2 app.” It aroused much confusion. Many people believe he is referring to the possibility of Vine being brought back to life as he has tweeted multiple times about this possibility.

Despite these speculations of a Vine 2, Vine is sadly still terminated.

Vine was unique with its own creative personality while it lasted. It will be missed by many.

Arin Doerfler (410) 971 - 4919 arindoerfler.le-vel.com

Dance and Gym Expressions

263 Garrisonville Road Suite 109 Stafford, VA 22554

Hours of Operation Monday 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm Tuesday 3:30 pm - 9:30 pm Wednesday 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

4:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Thursday Friday Saturday

9:30 am - 11:30 am 4:00 pm - 9:30 pm 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Phone: 540-720-5406 E-mail: dandgexpressions@gmail.com

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How does political culture affect teens in modern society and how do we handle it by Charlotte Hazard | Photos by Bella Roeske Sophomore Carla Rodriguez said, “People make a big fuss about politics. They talk like they know politics and go with what others tell them without fact checking.”

How and why did this happen? It has been suggested that social media has been the main impact. There are a lot of political pages or accounts on social media. When someone looks at the average comment section of one of these pages, a good majority of the comments are people just being outright rude to each other while debating politics. Political commentators such as Ben Shapiro and Dylan Ratigan have social media pages and whenever one of them shares a political link, the comments consist of their followers and people who oppose their political positions arguing about the topic in the comments. Most of these people never see each other face to face; therefore, sometimes it seems easier to make a point while also being rude and snarky. Teenagers use social media daily, can see these fights, and even participate in them.

Another idea is that people are taking politics extremely personally. When people say our generation is offended by everything, they’re right in some sense. There have been instances where teens have left class due to hearing something they didn’t like at universities such as Yale. The issue with taking politics personally is that it most likely turns the argument into an argument about feelings and takes the focus away from the actual issue. An interesting suggestion is that maybe the press has contributed to the division of people in the United States. There’s an old saying that crazy people speak the loudest. The media tends to report on extremists on both sides being rude and attacking those with different viewpoints. Since the news is on 24/7, a lot of people give their opinions that people watching may resonate with.

Sophomore Sydney Jo Smith said, “I think we should be changing our mindset to being more bipartisan. We should be more open minded and not shut out new ideas.”

Despite the negative vibe politics has received lately, it’s important for teens to know that there are ways to have reasonable discussions with people without friendships breaking up and harsh words being said.

The term political socialization describes the lifelong process in which people form their personal ideas and opinions on politics and develop political values. This is a process everyone goes through. It is influenced by a surrounding environment, peers, and nowadays, social media. One’s political socialization can vary throughout life and some people keep quiet about their views or express them very vocally.

Expressing political views has become so much easier in our society, especially with social media. There are many writers who publish opinionated political pieces that can be shared on Facebook, politicians have social media accounts that many people follow, and the news is available 24/7. It’s hard to escape politics when news about political events is constantly being posted and updated on the Internet. Besides the internet, family and friends can also have a major impact on a teenager’s political socialization. In certain households, families can be more left or right leaning on the political spectrum. The teenagers or children in those households grow up usually only hearing one side of the story, which can result in them adapting their parents’ views and not questioning what they grew up hearing. However,when they go out with their friends or when they are around other people, they hear different opinions, resulting in them questioning the views they grew up with, and forming their own views.

Junior Mark Yacone said, “My family influenced my political views by raising me, so there’s really no way around that. With friends, not so much. I feel you chose your friends due to political views or lack of political views.”

In the early 2000s and even before that, politics was something discussed at parties, social gatherings, and was used for intelligent conversations. People would discuss their political views with one another. For the most part, politics didn’t cause a lot of fights or the breakup of friendships. It seems; however, that recently, politics has been harder to talk about, possibly due to the 2016 election or the influence of our biased media.

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Black Lives Matter - July, 2013 28 u

Unite the Right Rally - August 11, 2017

Women’s March - January 21, 2017

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March For Our Lives - March 24, 2018

#MeToo Movement - October 15, 2017

National School Walkout - April 20, 2018

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The political culture in America has been a major influence on teens in the past few years due to the 2016 controversial election and the consequences that have arisen as a result. While it may seem like teens do not have any say in politics right now, political socialization can change future political decisions when teens become politicians, judges, jury members, and active citizens.

The ideas and opinions that teens form in this time of their life will influence their decision making for the rest of their lives. All teens have the right to contact their congress representative and the right to protest. At 18, teens can vote. Politics have an effect on everyone, but it is a personal choice on how to act on the world’s controversies.

Senior Bella Colon said, “In my opinion, the current political culture has divided society so much, even among teens. On a positive note, it has taught them to stand behind their opinion, but at the same time, it has also taught them to go against anyone who doesn’t agree with them completely.”

When it comes to family and friends, political opinions do not have to tear apart relationships. If you think that bringing up a controversial topic could be harmful or hurtful to another you are close with, avoid that topic for betterment of your relationship.

Remain calm when talking about controversial topics and always be respectful, especially with family. Politics and cultural ideals can be generational, so keep that in mind when talking with older relatives. Instead of going straight into a debate, offer some evidence of your position and try to nicely educate them without sounding like a know-it-all. Making one feel provincial or unknowledgeable creates a negative atmosphere and little good will result from the conversation.

While there is a division, politics are only one aspect of a person.

Make sure to understand and research the opposing side of your opinion and educate yourself as well. Many arguments stem from close-mindedness and the unwillingness of researching a side that opposes your own. Lastly, engage in civil discussions with neutral arguments as often as possible to further your knowledge on worldly topics.

How does political culture affect teens in modern society and how do we handle it by Bella Roeske | Photos by Bella Roeske “I think that a lot of [politics] is negative because it causes a radical divide between groups of people,” said Matthew Crawford, senior.

While most teachers have learned to be unbiased in the classroom, some have not shown as much temperance. Government classes, along with others, can be difficult when discussing controversial topics with a diverse group of people. Practice debate tactics without yelling. Civil question and answer sessions are crucial to understanding two sides of a resolution. Without knowing the contentions presents both ways, you will have no way to refute and back up your own position.

There are many public figures who take to social media outlets, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., to express political opinions. Fights are not uncommon in the comment sections or retweets.

President Donald Trump has even blocked people from his Twitter for expressing their concern of his presidency, such as Chrissy Teigen. Social media can also be a place to gain followers for a movement, such as how the survivors of the Florida school shooting have tweeted about their experience how they want to make a change. Yes, you should use your voice to be heard and make a positive change, but using your voice to attack a person without leaving room for a debate is unnecessary.

Sometimes, ignoring controversial comments made for the purpose of stirring a conflict is the best option. When there is an opportunity for a discussion between two mature people, take it and have a debate that will leave both parties enlightened.

Sophomore James Russ said, “I think political events have affected teens because now that we have social media. A lot of political events can get out very quickly, and teens have access to it, and they can see what’s going on and then they take it personally into their lives.”

When entering into a conversation with someone you respect that you know has a differing opinion from your own, do not expect him/her to agree with you or change their minds. Do not expect that person to have an epiphany about the topic you are discussing and switch sides of the position. Make sure to listen to the other person’s point of view fully.

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Dress For Success

Dressing nicer for school can make an impact on students’ days by Gia Morreale

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ven though it may be a hassle, dressing up for school or work can really affect one’s mood. According to the website Good Therapy, a study has shown that people who are more depressed tend to wear more baggy clothing because tighter, more fancy clothes can be uncomfortable, while people who are happier wear dresses or dress pants.

When one goes to a fancy event, they tend to dress nicer. Therefore, when one dresses nicer on an everyday basis, they are put into a mindset where they feel more professional. This causes them to go throughout their day with a better attitude.

Four hundred students at Mountain View were surveyed and 72.5 percent believed that the way they dressed affected their mood.

Jordan Basenback, psychology teacher at Mountain View, believes that dressing nicer affects the way you go through your day, “Especially when you change how you normally dress, it can affect your mood.” He added, “We often tie the manner in how we dress to important events in our lives. So, if one dresses nicer, they relate how they feel to said event.”

When one does not dress up very often, it can make them feel better about themself because it is a significant change to their everyday life.

Basenback explained that the article of clothing that affects his mood the most is a tie. Basenback said, “When I think about days that I teach in a tie, it feels different.

The tie is kinda tight around my neck and changes the whole mood.”

Basenback thinks that the color of the clothing one wears affects one’s mood as well. He described how Tiger Woods wears red in the final round of every golf tournament. Scientists believe that the color red signals intimidation in the world of animals, and implies aggression and dominance. “Tiger Woods felt that it gave him a psychological advantage in the game. As for me I don’t normally wear bright colors, but only because I don’t really care for them,” Basenback said.

Receiving the awards for best dressed senior class superlatives, Gianna Amabile and Zach Mumma both agree that the way they dress affects their mood. Mumma said, “When I dress nicer, it really affects the way people act with me and treat me.” When one dresses up, they are viewed differently by others. Dressing up makes individuals appear more professional and content with their life.

On the other hand, when people are upset, dressing up does not even seem like an option. Sometimes it even becomes a hassle because they are more focused on how they are feeling then dressing up. Amabile states, “When I am dressed nice, I feel like I am more positive and that I can get more work done.”

Mountain View’s fashion design teacher, Kerri Hederer, said, “Our attitude is based on how we look or often times they encourage each other. If you dress down or ‘bum it’ you tend to have a more negative attitude. Whereas, if you look your best, you tend to try your best.” Robert Ridge, the associate professor of psychology at Brigham Young University said, “There definitely can be a connection between how people dress and how they feel. The more you like your appearance, the more confident you can be.” Hederer also touched on how students should always try to look their best because they never know who they are going to meet. Hederer stated, “First impressions are important and are made well before you speak.”

Picking out the perfect outfit may be difficult, but it can really improve one’s day.

Students notice a difference in their mood when they dress nicer. People treat others differently based on how they look and the vibe that they give off.

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this is AWKWARD Although awkward moments aren’t funny when they happen, looking back at them can be pretty hysterical by Javonna Brigham

To some people, talking about their past awkward moments is just as embarrassing as when they happened. On the other hand, there are people who look back at their moments and laugh. Whether it be a down zipper, peeing on yourself, or falling on your face in front of your new significant other, stories that turn you red from embarrassment are often the ones that turn others faces red from laughter.

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“Okay, so one day, I walked into the school and I was just casually walking around, you know, having a good day. Then this really attractive guy said, ‘Hey! Your zipper isn’t pulled up!’ I looked at him and I said, ‘Please tell me you’re kidding.’ He said, ‘Nah’, and so I looked, and my zipper was down. I asked him if this could stay between us and he said, ‘Okay, just wanted to help you out.’ I told him I was really embarrassed, and he told me, ‘It’s okay, at least you’re pretty.’ After that we just walked away from each other and it was really awkward, I was really embarrassed because I’m sure tons of people saw my zipper was down.” ~Saige Beltran, freshman~

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Where's the flag?

“I was playing seventh grade football on my club team and doing my thing, blocking people and stuff.

When I was on defense, I got past a guy but he still held onto my pants so my pants came all the way down to my ankles. I was in nothing but my underwear and some of my butt was showing. Worst part about it was there was no flag called.” ~Brendan Heatherman, sophomore~

Need a bathroom?

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“So, there was this one time when I went to the gym, and I wanted to do this super intense cardio workout. I was super pumped and super ready. Ten minutes in and I’m sweating like a dog. Then, I realized I’m wearing light colored pants. It looked like I had straight up peed myself, and I could see people’s heads turning as I was walking by. I realized why they kept staring a few minutes later when I looked down and in the mirror.” ~Tori Goss, senior~

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How do you work these?

“In kindergarten, I peed on myself because I didn’t know how to get my overalls off. I pushed them down as far as I could and just started to pee everywhere. I came back soaking wet and went to recess with everyone else until my teacher noticed I smelled like pee. She made me change my clothes and I cried.” ~Kyle Morgan, junior~

IT'S FINE! I'M TOUGH!

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“I was just starting to date my now husband, and he wanted to go for a run. The way that he took us was across this really busy road. It was across like four lanes of traffic, that’s where we had to go. I was trying to act all tough and had all this gear, and I was thinking to myself ‘Yeah I got this, I can keep up with him perfectly fine!’ [While] we were crossing the four lanes, I just skid across gravel and I slammed across the street with my face in the dirt. He somehow still loved me and married me! But it was still really awkward because I told him I was really tough but… obviously not.” ~Mrs. Stutler, math teacher~

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Welcome to flavor town Join us on our journey across Fredericksburg and Stafford to find the best slice by Paige Do-

erfler, Emilee Holmquist, Ruby Jackson, and Chloe Reid | Photos by Chloe Reid Read about more local pizza places on pages 11 and 12.

With the intentions to find the top all-around pizza joints in town, we found ourselves overwhelmed by the selection of eateries at hand. In order to acknowledge the best of both Stafford and Fredericksburg, our search was narrowed by affordability, location, and overall publicity.

We excluded large chains like Pizza Hut and Dominos, and focused on more local(ish) restaurants.

Instead of focusing on what makes a pizza shop traditional, we decided to elaborate more on what makes them unique compared to the competition.

Our expectations weren't anything extraordinary; we were just searching for good pizza in an appealing restaurant that spoke to the average hungry teenager.

Several factors contributed to our critiques. These included, but weren't limited to, cleanliness, ambiance, taste and appearance of the pizza, and price.

Although our expectations were relatively average, our critiques seem to reflect otherwise. This is because we wanted to be thorough. We didn't allow previous experiences to provide bias, resulting in what we felt were fair and accurate reviews based on one isolated experience.

We found great difficulty in ranking these restaurants in comparison to each other due to the overall positive experiences we had; every place had its own strengths that triumphed most of their weaknesses.

Solely focusing on taste, we definitely judged crust harshly. Our version of a perfect crust was doughy on the inside, with a crisp layer on the outside. Sauce was not as pivotal in our reviews, unless it had an overwhelming or underwhelming presence. Cheese was still important, but didn't stand out unless it was lacking.

Overall, there are many different opinions on the best pizza in the area; however, there are a surplus of options available to satisfy anyone's cravings.

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Family Pizzeria 1924 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554

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Described as an "unfussy, longstanding pizza joint offering NYC-style pies, subs, sandwiches, burgers, and wings," Family Pizzeria, located in front of The Cavalier Family Skating Center on Route One, outdid itself.

Twenty-six years of business has allowed them to establish a highly decorated interior full of the restaurant's history and values, an extensive menu filled with customer and employee-suggested items, and a large topping selection.

The interior is very warm and inviting, giving off a small hometown feel. With an obvious support for the armed forces, Family Pizzeria is decorated head to toe with hats, shirts, and other memorabilia. The exterior truly emphasizes the "family" in Family Pizzeria. Located in an actual family home, this restaurant is welcoming to all.

With prices ranging from $9.75 to $28.00 for up to 28" pizzas, we felt that it was a little bit pricey, but upon the first bite, we immediately understood why. The crust was exceptionally soft with a crunchy outside. The perfectly seasoned sauce underneath melty cheese danced across our taste buds.

Our overall experience at Family Pizzeria was delightful. From great service to great food, this exceeded our expectations. Perfect for the satisfaction of all ages, it's New York-Style pizza with a hometown feel.