The Viewpoint January/February 2018

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

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 12 ISSUE 3

January | February

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READ ABOUT THREE ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS ON PAGES 16 AND 17 AND ABOUT LAUREN BRISTOW, VIOLINIST AND ARTIST, ON PAGE 32.

STOP! Before you go off to college , take a few months and learn some selfdefense

263 Garrisonville Rd. Stafford, Virginia 540-720-1988 powerkixusa.com

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The Viewpoint

Editorial

INDEX 01 13 02 Advertisement 14 winter blues 03 Index 15 saving winter 04 Briefs 16 military life: the cycle 05 Mars initiative 17 military life: the cycle 06 It’s never too early 18 advertisement 07 it’s never too early 19 slam poetry 08 Save the date 20 healthy smoothie recipes 09 Are you hip to nova slang 21 healthy smoothie recipes 10 lollipop moments 22 get your head in the game 11 advertisement 23 advertisement 12 dulcet art 24 lauren bristow Cover

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JAN | FEB 2018 VOLUME XII ISSUE III

Declaring a major for college early on can be beneficial to making sure you have a general path to follow during your college career. However, students are finding it increasingly difficult to choose a field of study when they are just finishing a chapter of their life.

After graduating high school, college freshmen experience significant changes in their lives, such as trying to be financially stable, new civic duties, and leaving the comforts of their old lives. Declaring a major just adds to the copious amount of stress that comes with graduating high school and getting ready to enter college.

However, the pressure to declare a major seems to be increasing.

While in past decades, college was more about finding one’s self, it has recently become more career and future focused; the number of students entering college with undeclared majors has significantly decreased.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “At the University of Denver, undeclared freshmen declined to 6% from 33% in 1995-96. Most of the other colleges examined showed a similar trend, though less pronounced.”

The issue that has arisen is that, due to this increase in pressure to declare early, many students end up inevitably being employed in a field where their degree is not used.

“In 2012, nearly half of college graduates between the ages of 22 and 27 were unemployed or had jobs that didn’t use their degrees,” said a 2014 paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

So instead of rushing into a major, consider your options as you work through your general classes the first two years of college.

Then, when you find your area of interest, you can make a good decision that you know will impact your future positively.

2018 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BYRON HOOVER

by Lexi Strawder

Lexi Strawder

Byron Hoover was awarded teacher of the year for 2018.

Hoover teaches Psychology, IB Psychology and Theory of Knowledge at Mountain View. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Educational Psychology at George Mason University.

Enthusiastic about teaching, he said his favorite part about the job is “the collective energy that occurs when a large portion of the class gets engaged in learning together. I enjoy other parts of teaching too, but my favorite by far is being ‘in the flow’ with others.” He explains the energy he feels while teaching as having an “almost addictive quality to that experience and it is challenging to attain.”

While his class is very task oriented at

times, he likes to give students the option to be socially interactive. He said, “I believe that getting students to be cognitively, motivationally, and emotionally engaged is both a means to an achievement end and an end in itself, i.e. this benefits students both to attain objectives and to improve their overall educational experience.”

Hoover values and encourages students to engage in class to gain a greater sense of knowledge. However, he said, “...it is too individualized a quality to be found in only one type of design or strategy.”

After being recognized as teacher of the year, Hoover explained his initial emotional response as being “a mixture of pride, gratitude, and anxiety.” Dr. Stemple presented him with the award at a faculty meeting in the auditorium.

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 Lauren Bristow 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 january | february 2017 q the viewpoint q 03

winter Events at Mountain View

Drama Cabaret

by Bella Roeske Photo by Bella Roeske The Mountain View WildAct members performed in the second annual Mountain View High School Cabaret Night on February 1 in the auditorium. The club members had been practicing for the Cabaret since before winter break and were hoping for a good turn out as the entrance fees go towards supporting Mountain View’s drama department.

Fourteen acts were presented as the performers sang songs from famous musicals. Notable ones include “Empty Chairs” from “Les Miserables” sung by Teddy Gross and “Anything Goes” from “Anything Goes” sung

by Jillian Brence. Gross’s voice stood out as powerful and his confidence was evident. Brence was dressed for the part with a sailor’s outfit on and a hat to match. Owning the stage, Brence walked around and let her voice fill the auditorium.

A few duets also performed, including Leigh Haag and Maria Florio who performed “Only Us” from “Dear Evan Hansen” and Amanda Vacher and Grace Dalton who performed “Be More Chill” from “Be More Chill.”

“The Cabaret was such an open-ended production that allowed us theater kids to do basically whatever we wanted on stage. The only rule was that the performance had to be from musical theater,” said Grace Dalton, junior.

Many of the performers used props. Sydney Givler sang “What Baking Can Do” from “Waitress” while she was kneading dough and held up a pie for the audience to see. Caroline Senter pretended to type on a computer at the beginning of her performance of “Watch What Happens” from “Newsies.”

The emcee of the night was senior Meredith Speet.

“I have been taking breaks from singing and I decided that I could be a good voice for the Cabaret.… I really like listening to my friends sing and seeing my club members and like my peers do what they love doing, so it’s really nice to be backstage cheering them on while they sing,” said Speet.

The Cabaret went on without a hitch and ended with an ovation from the audience as the Wild-Act members held hands and bowed on stage.

Strategy Game Club

by Selena Obregon

SCA Meeting

by Caroline Pollock Photo by Caroline Pollock The Student Council Association (SCA) met after school to discuss upcoming events and activities they are planning the community of Mountain View High School.

They discussed new ideas to be more involved in the student population, along with ways they would support the teachers and staff. The members of SCA thought about or are planning many events that correspond with some holidays: Valentine’s Day, Daylight Savings, and many appreciation days.

They talked about many unique things they could do that were different than everything else they had done before. They solidified some while scratched others off their list.

A couple ideas that came to the table included a dress drive, a morning drink station for spring forward, and chalking the parking spots of the bus drivers for Bus Driver Appreciation Day on May 2.

“I have been having so much fun being apart of SCA. Our main job is homecoming but we have been doing little projects here and there since then. We are going to be making a lot of drinks for the hot chocolate and coffee stands and also for the bus drivers,” she said.

Along with the little projects they have been partaking in, they also have a few surprises for the school’s students and staff. The SCA is excited for the things they have in store for the new year of

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Clubs are a great way for students to interact with their peers and build their high school resume for college. Luckily, more clubs are being created and giving students more variety to choose from so there’s something for everyone.

Among these new clubs is the Strategy Club, which is in the process of being approved with the intent to “create a place for students to gather and be able to relax after school’s over, but still be actively involved in thought-provoking activities”, said Kate Heffner, the overseer of the club.

They choose specific games, such as Monopoly, which makes them strategize and think in an effort to win while still leaving room for fun and the spirit of competition.

“It sounds fun to me. I like Ms. Heffner, and I get to just play board games with my friends after school”, said Ashley Neighm, a junior who’s signed up for the club and plans to be a member once it starts.

The first official meet date is pending, but the club will be in full swing by next year. In order to find out information or if you’re interested in joining, go to room 208.

Mars initiative

How the human race plans to become an interplanetary species in the next 20 years by Selena Obregon

Space and planetary exploration has always been a concept that has fascinated people, and this fascination has led to countless accomplishments for mankind in recent years. Since the possibility of settling on Mars and establishing a colony for the human race has been proposed, a new space race has kicked off once again, and the three biggest American contenders are NASA, SpaceX, and Mars One. NASA has led many explorations and launches, one of its most famous being the Apollo 13 mission. Now, with the assistance of President Trump who, according to the Washington Post, a bill has been signed authorizing 19.5 billion dollars of funding towards manned missions to the moon. With the hopes of making it to Mars before his presidency is over, Trump is backing NASA in order to be one step closer to completing their mission to Mars.

According to NASA, their plan of action now is to begin the “Proving Ground” phase this year, which is when NASA plans on sending humans to Mars. They will launch a new rocket called the Space Launch System that will eventually carry astronauts in the Orion to Mars before 2030.

However, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has his own plans of getting to Mars. Musk is credited for plans to get to Mars, and is known to be the most ambitious and potentially promising American contender. According to Time Magazine, SpaceX is the first private company to launch a payload, or the part of a spaceship that transports cargo and astronauts, into orbit and return it to Earth intact, which is something only government agencies had done before. According to SpaceX, they plan to send its first cargo and crew to Mars around 2024 and will likely use their “BFR” Spaceship for the mission which, according to Spacex, is a single system that can “service a variety of markets” while still being affordable.

Mars One is a unique contender of the Mars Race, as it is a nonprofit organization that runs primarily on donations for funding. Mars One has become a main competitor of the Mars Race and is much more involved with the public compared to NASA and SpaceX, which has played a part in their rising popularity.

In fact, they’re even allowing the regular public to apply for a slot to go to the red planet themselves, and according to Bas Lansdorp, CEO of Mars One, “In the first seven months after we announced our plan in June 2012, we received about 1,000 emails from people interested to go. In the last week we received another 1,000 emails and over 30,000 people subscribed to a mailing list that updates them on any news on the selection procedure.” According to Mars One’s roadmap, they plan on sending their first crew to Mars in the Mars Transit Vehicle (MTV) which is a compact space station that will be developed by a third party for Mars One.

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“NASA will probably make it first, I feel like they have the resources and more experience when it comes to space exploration to make it first.”

- Ileana Mattison, freshman news u january | february 2018 u the viewpoint u

05

I t’s Never too Early It’s never too early to start your college preparation, and knowing what state schools can offer or what they look for can help greatly by Chloe Reid All throughout school, kids dream of graduation and growing up, especially high school students. Though this may be true, many students find they wait too long to begin preparing for college. Normally one would say junior or senior year is when students begin preparing, yet it can be extremely beneficial to start preparing earlier. Once students turn the corner of junior year, it can be difficult to undo the mess they may have made their freshman and sophomore years, especially when considering aspects such as GPAs and extracurriculars.

Many seniors right now would tell you that they’re stressed about college or that they wish they would’ve worked harder sooner, and that it is never too early to start preparing. Some aspects of preparing for college sooner rather than later are having more extracurriculars, a higher GPA, scholarship applications fulfilled, sport opportunities, college research, college tours, and SAT or ACT preparation.

According to college admissions counselors, a perfect student in the eyes of college admissions counselors is one who has great grades, but also participates in extracurricular activities. Joyce Lopes, high school counselor, said, “Colleges look for students who take the most rigorous classes available to them, and do well in those classes. [They like to] see that you are consistently involved in something (i.e. being in journalism for so many years) as opposed to trying five different clubs only for a year. They like to see leadership, they like to see community service, but mostly they like to see students who are involved in their community and who are challenging themselves academically.”

It is important to consider this as soon as you start high school your freshman year.

Activities like sports, clubs, and community service all four years of high school may be that “it” factor that gets you into your dream school. This shows college admissions that you are a well-rounded and involved student.

A factor in being a well-rounded and prepared student is your GPA, or grade point average. This is one of the biggest deciding factors for colleges. This number, normally on a 4.0 or 5.0 scale, can possibly make or break you. Every class you take throughout your high school career will be recorded and can affect your GPA; this is why it is important to work for that goal of college early on. Also, thinking about college sooner allows you to take advantage of advanced classes such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment (DE), or Honors. A component to this is the weighted credit for AP, IB, and DE. These classes tend to operate on a 5.0 scale and have the ability to positively affect your GPA. Lastly, your GPA will be a challenge to get up if you choose to slack off as an underclassmen.

Additionally, college may be a dream that some can not quite afford. Scholarships are the perfect opportunity for all students. The range of scholarships accessible to many is

astonishing. There are scholarships for arts, sports, grades, and much more. Though these scholarships seem to be the perfect solution, the application process tends to be quite lengthy. A student who has an idea of what college they would like to attend, or a career they’re interested in can choose to apply for scholarships early on. This is just another reason why college should be more thought through as an underclassman, and even at the beginning of junior year.

Any student athlete with the goal of playing their sport in college knows that their grades have to be good, and they need to start looking around and talking to college recruiters as early as sophomore year.

Junior Megan Watts said, “If I knew I wanted to get recruited, especially for the amount of people that play soccer, you kind of have to stand out over everybody else, so you have to start working early to get that jump over people, especially academically, so that schools can look at you early.”

Not only do student athletes have to look for colleges sooner, but all students should too. With Virginia’s 14 state schools, not including private universities and colleges, selecting a school can be a difficult choice. This is only considering in-state schools, but if you are also considering out-of-state schools, you have hundreds of colleges and universities to choose from.

These schools can range from the grand size of Virginia Tech to schools like Virginia Wesleyan that are on the smaller side. It is all based on preference, but it is important to see multiple colleges to determine your preference. Yet again, this is made easier by starting to look early. Participating in college tours and performing your own college research can be vital to picking the right school for you. This part of the college process is especially important due to the fact you could be there for four years, and your life at college can influence your major and future career. Senior Rachel Hunter said, “I started looking the second semester of my junior year, and I don’t think I needed to start any earlier.” Junior year is the perfect time to start seriously considering your top schools, as the time to make your decision is quickly approaching.

Last but not least, SAT and ACT preparation classes and practice exams are a great reason to prepare early.

Most of the time, these tests are required to be submitted to colleges, and it is important that you do well on them and prepare yourself for them. Many schools host SAT/ACT preparation classes. These classes are a great opportunity to expand your test-taking strategies, especially if you are not the strongest test-taker. Along with these classes, students have the opportunity to participate in the PSAT up until their senior year. Starting early gives you the opportunity to take as many practice exams as you may need.

All of these benefits together create a very strong argument for early college preparation. After all, it is never too soon to consider your future.

‘‘ There are no se-

crets to success.

It is the result of preparation’’

- Colin Powell ,Retired four star general in the United States Army

06 u the viewpoint u january | february 2018 u feature

State Schools Christopher Newport University

Old Dominion University

Average GPA 3.76 Acceptance Rate 60% Average SAT 1220 Average ACT 25 Newport News, Virginia

Average GPA 3.28 Acceptance Rate 83% Average SAT 1110 Average ACT 21 Norfolk, Virginia

College of William and Mary

University of Virginia

Average GPA 4.19 Acceptance Rate 34% Average SAT 1430 Average ACT 30 Williamsburg, Virginia

Average GPA 4.23 Acceptance Rate 30 % Average SAT 1410 Average ACT 30 Charlottesville, Virginia

George Mason University

University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Average GPA 3.66 Acceptance Rate 66% Average SAT 1210 Average ACT 26 Fairfax, Virginia

James Madison University Average GPA 3.5 Acceptance Rate 73% Average SAT 1200 Average ACT 25 Harrisonburg, Virginia

Longwood University Average GPA 3.46 Acceptance Rate 79% Average SAT 1060 Average ACT 20 Farmville, Virginia

Mary Washington University Average GPA 3.56 Acceptance Rate 83% Average SAT 1180 Average ACT 24 Fredericksburg, Virginia

Norfolk State University Average GPA 2.9 Acceptance Rate 67% Average SAT 950 Average ACT 18 Norfolk, Virginia

Wikimedia Commons

Ron Cogswell

Average GPA 3.23 Acceptance Rate 77% Average SAT 1030 Average ACT 20 Wise, Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University Average GPA 3.64 Acceptance Rate 72% Average SAT 1180 Average ACT 24 Richmond, Virginia

Wikimedia Commons

Virginia Military Institute Average GPA 3.63 Acceptance Rate 53% Average SAT 1200 Average ACT 25 Lexington, Virginia

Virginia State University Average GPA 2.9 Acceptance Rate 77% Average SAT 940 Average ACT 18 Petersburg, Virginia

Bill Dickinson

Virginia Tech Average GPA 3.64 Acceptance Rate 73% Average SAT 1280 Average ACT 27 Blacksburg, Virginia

*All statistics were acquired from prepscholar.com

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Save the Date Based on your personality, here is the best date night for you by Lexi Strawder and Abbey Whitehead

1.) On a normal weekend, what would you typically do?

A)Stay in at home and cozy up with your favorite book.

B)Go out with your friends for a nice dinner.

C)Get a group of friends to play a game or you have sports practice.

D.)Meet new people and go on new and fun adventures.

2.) What is your ideal gift you like to receive?

A)A new book! You love reading new things.

B)Clothes and/or jewelry C)Tickets to your favorite athletic event D)Gifts don’t matter, you would rather go out and do something fun

3.) Which famous couple is your favorite?

A)Holiday Reinhorn and Rainn Wilson B)Chrissy Teigen and John Legend C)Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry D)Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

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4.) Where is the first place you would go when shopping at the mall?

A)You don’t like to go out to the mall, you would rather go thrift shopping or shopping online B)Francesca’s or Polo Ralph Lauren C)Athleta or Nike D)American Eagle or REI

5.) What trait best expresses your personality?

A)Introverted and artsy B)Modern and classy C)Athletic and passionate D)Energetic, outgoing, and curious

6.) Which clothing article could you not live without?

A)Fuzzy socks and graphic tee shirts B)A nice outfit that makes you feel confident C)Running shorts and a pair of running shoes D)A Northface and comfortable shoes

If you mostly answered A’s If you answered mostly A’s head to Downtown Fredericksburg and check out a bookstore like Riverby Books. After go grab some coffee at Hyperion Espresso and check out your new books with your significant other. Next you could take a walk down by the river and just relax for a little bit.

If you mostly answered B’s

If you answered mostly B’s then get dressed up and head out on the town for a nice dinner. Pick out your favorite outfit and fancy restaurant and you’re guaranteed to have a great time. Some restaurants close by that you can check out are The Log Cabin, Kybecca and Fahrenheit 132.

If you mostly answered C’s

If you answered mostly C’s then pick up some tickets to see a local sports team. Try to pick a team that you and your significant other like.

After you could just go out to a casual dinner and you should have plenty to talk about after watching a sports game.

If you mostly answered D’s If you answered mostly D’s then try to pick a day with warm weather because you would have the most fun doing something outside. You and your significant other could pack food and hit the hiking trails or maybe even the ice skating rink. As long as you are doing something new and adventurous you should have a great time.

I

s that “jont” “tuff”, “lit”, or “hype”? Are you “weak” because “that’s a geek”? Are you “shook” or “salty” because you “got carried”? Are you “siced” or are saying “bet” to those “moves”? If you understood what you just read, it seems you are “hip” to Northern Virginia slang. If not, continue reading to find out what the kids are saying these days.

The region of Northern Virginia (NOVA) doesn’t look out of the ordinary, but what does stand out is its own set of slang words unique to the area. With new words coming seemingly out of nowhere, NOVA slang can be a bit difficult to keep up with, so here is a mini dictionary of some of the most used words and phrases.

ARE toYOU HIP nova slang?

for longer may recognize “hip” and think it to be used to describe something as cool or in style; however, now it has a different meaning when it is used today. When somebody says “I’m hip”, or the shortened version of just “hip”, they are voicing that they agree with something, or that they know something to be true.

“Tuff”, “Lit”, “Hype”: All three of these adjectives have similar meanings- both phrases “that’s lit” and “that’s hype” are used to describe something as fun or exciting, and “that’s tuff” is used to describe something as cool.

“Siced”, “Weak”, “Shook”, “Salty”: These are all words that can be used to describe emotions or how one feels in a situation. “I’m siced” would be used to express one's excitement for something, whereas “salty” is used as a replacement for anger or bitterness. Phrases “I’m weak” and “I’m shook” can be used in different scenarios, including when one is “weak” from laughter and “shook” with shock from an unexpected occurrence.

“Carried”: Carried can be used as a verb to say that somebody opened a message or, more commonly, a Snapchat and intentionally refrained from replying.

“Jont”: This is a noun that can basically be

used to replace any object. For instance, one might say “pass me that jont” instead of “pass me that ball”.

“Moves”: Phrases like “any moves?” or “that’s the moves” are used to make plans with someone or a group of people.

Flip upside down for answers to the questions. Check how many you got right to rate your expertise: 0-2: You never use NOVA slang 3-5: You tolerate NOVA slang and pick some of it up along the way, but you generally don’t use it very much.

6-7: You are really “hip” to that “jont”.

2. Which of the following words can be used to describe something as “fun” or “exciting”?

A. Tuff B. Geek C. Hip D. Lit 3. What, in terms of Northern Virginia slang, does the word “geek” mean?

A. A person who is nerdy B. Funny or humorous C. The Geek Squad D. Smart 4. What would the term “That’s a bet!” be used for?

A. To express one’s excitement about something or to make plans B. To declare something as completed C. To wager or gamble D. To say something is correct or true 5. When is the word “carried” generally used?

A. To influence greatly or unreasonably B. When somebody is holding something

C. To describe a woman that is pregnant D. When somebody opens a text or a message without responding 6. What are “moves”?

A. A type of shoes B. The motions one goes through while dancing C. Plans being made/already made D. A type of fast racing car 7. If you were to be angry or bitter about something, which word would best be used to describe how you feel?

A. Siced B. Tuff C. Shook D. Salty

SICED

CARRIED

“Bet”, “Geek”: Both of these words are similar in that they can be stated by themselves, or can be used after “that’s a” to describe something. “Bet” is used both to express agreement or to make a plan. “Geek” is used to describe something as funny or to express one’s amusement.

1. If you were to agree with something somebody else says, which of the following phrases would you use to voice your agreement?

A. “That’s a geek.”

B. “That’s tuff.”

C. “I’m hip!”

D. “You got carried.”

LIT TUFF

GEEKED

“I’m hip”: Those of you who have been alive

Learn about and quiz your knowledge of the slang used by the youth of Northern Virginia by Emilee Holmquist

BET

HIP

feature q january | february 2018 q the viewpoint q 09

Q U E S T I O N A N S W E R S : 1. C 2. D 3.B 4 .

A 5. D 6. C 7. D

“I got my dad a bottle opener, and he was very happy,” said Sean Fijalkowski, junior.

p i o l p l o

L

“I compliment people daily in the hallway because it makes them feel good,” said Zach Whitehead, senior.

Moments

Little actions can change someone’s life, even if they go unnoticed

by Charlotte Hazard and Danielle Piper

During a leadership TED Talk, speaker Drew Dudley gave a speech about small moments in life which he referred to as “lollipop moments.” He talked about how just talking to someone, giving a compliment, or giving a little motivation can really affect them or even change their life. According to Dudley, leadership doesn’t have to mean you are in charge of a lot of people, or in a high position of authority. Leadership can also mean simply talking to someone which can result in making their day or life better. Students and teachers around Mountain View High School have been asked to share their “lollipop moments” which have really affected them in their lives.

“Mrs. Irizarry told me, ‘You can’t change what someone else is going through so don’t let it affect you,’ while I was going through a rough breakup,” said Sierra de Toll, sophomore.

“When I was a freshman, H [Mr. Hokanson] told me not to be dumb. It helps me rethink decisions,”said Bri Lamborn, senior.

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u feature

“I work at Chipotle, and so when we saw this lady struggle with her sick baby, we took care of her meal. She started crying and she told us how she could barely afford anything and they just got out of the hospital. She came to Chipotle because she had a buy one, get one. We “One made her whole day because all she had time a student been hearing was bad news,” said was not in a good place Nelson Alvarado, junior. while she was going through a breakup. I said to her: ‘You have to believe in yourself. If someone is causing you to feel this way they are not worth your time,’” said Mrs. Becky Kowalski, social studies teacher.

“One day, my friend told me that I’m really import to him and it made my day,” said Cameron Kulstad, junior.

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dulCet

ART DULCET [DUHL-SIT] ADJ. PLEASANT OR AGREEABLE TO THE EYE OR THE FEELINGS

BY PAIGE DOERFLER AND RUBY JACKSON | PHOTOS

BY RUBY JACKSON (LEFT), ALEXIS GARVEY (MIDDLE), AND THROUGH IT ALL PHOTOGRAPHY (RIGHT) 12 u the viewpoint u january | february 2018 u feature

Alexis Garvey, senior cellist,

Senior Artist Elizabeth King started painting when she was in elementary school. “[The art program there] helped me lay a good foundation for skills I would develop later on,” she said.

King continued evolving her abilities throughout junior and senior high, focusing on acrylic and oil painting, but favoring acrylic.

“The colors in each type of paint mix a little differently... and I can manipulate colors quickly and easily without losing too much intensity,” she said. “The paint also shows the texture of each brush stroke, which really sets different artists’ styles apart.”

After using acrylic paint for a few short years, she feels as though it is instinctive to work with.

Oil painting is a new style of work she began recently in International Baccalaureate (IB) Art, but she always seems to find herself going back to acrylic.

King finds inspiration in nature, animals, and landscapes. She also is influenced by traveling, focusing in on European cityscapes.

Aspiring Disney animator, King plans on double majoring in Creative Technologies and Computer Science at Virginia Tech, where she will be furthering her art career and pursuing her dreams.

“Be patient and persevere. You don’t build skills overnight; it’s a process, and a frustratingly slow one sometimes. Failure is a great teacher. Sticking with it even when it seems futile is exactly what makes it worthwhile, and eventually, success will come to you. There will be a time where nothing you do seems to match your vision, and that’s the most important part.

It means you’re on the verge of something good, but you have to push through the stage to reach your full potential,” she said.

was fascinated at a young age by the way orchestra ensembles’ sounds blend together.

She was introduced to music by her sister, who played the viola, and decided to pick up the cello because she wanted to be unique and collaborate with her sister.

“The sounds [of the instruments] weren’t like anything I had ever heard of; you don’t typically hear orchestral music on the radio,” she said.

After coming to high school, she was immediately inducted into the Chamber Sinfonia, the top orchestral group, due to her innate ability to play beautifully.

She challenged herself in numerous ensembles including the Rappahannock Youth Symphony, from sixth to tenth grade, and is currently a part of the Virginia Cello Ensemble.

She annually participates in All-County events and auditions for Regional events as well.

As a section leader, Garvey demonstrates a natural ability to lead and work in a team to sound pleasing to an audience.

Because of her years of experience and love for music, she helped found the Wildcat String Quartet, which performs for numerous school events across the county.

In addition, this group established the Pedal String Quartet. This quartet is not associated with the school, but they do play for paid gigs in Fredericksburg. They can be seen on the streets of Downtown Fredericksburg every once in awhile, busking for bystanders to enjoy.

“We don’t play traditional orchestral music, but rather pop songs, which we transpose ourselves,” she said.

Garvey plans on keeping up with her skills in college, not as a major, but as a hobby on the side.

Senior Michael wood is a member of the Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Band, playing the french horn, trumpet, and, most notably, guitar, which he picked up when he was 12 years old. “[Picking up the guitar was] mainly as a new challenge, but I quickly fell in love with it once I discovered AC/DC,” he said.

Wood is currently the lead guitarist of Villified, a band focused on expressing human emotion and experience. Their songs touch on the general themes of hate, anger, love, sadness, and hopelessness. “[Music is] more of an outlet than it is anything else. The music and the lyrics are all things that the four of us experience together but simultaneously alone. I’m not sure where we would draw inspiration from elsewhere,” Wood said.

Arranging all of the songs for the band, Wood describes that all their music is original; however, during live events exclusively, they tend to play one or two covers.

Villified plays at numerous venues from New Jersey all the way down to South Carolina.

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B r e t n i W

s d tip n a ed roline wer a

ans to by C r e d isor ock | Pho D e ll ctiv e Po

e l Aff y Carolin a n o b Seas Blues” t u o r s ab “Winte n o i t e s que beat th r u o Yo ow t h n o ck

o Poll

Is your mood falling along with the temperature? You may have a case of the “Winter Blues.”

There are many names for the “Winter Blues,” such as “seasonal depression.” However, the medical term is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This disorder is a type of depression that occurs around the same time every year. As suggested in the name, “Winter Blues,” most of the time it occurs in the winter months. Although it is uncommon, this disorder does sometimes occur in the spring or early summer months. According to Amanda Leigh Mascarelli with Health Key, “Just as some people are brought down by too little light in the wintertime, others seem to be laid low by summertime’s intense heat, bright light and long days.”

The official definition of SAD, according to “The Family Doctor,” is a type of depression that is triggered by the seasons of the year.

Common symptoms of SAD, according to the Mayo Clinic, include feeling depressed most of the day, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, having low energy, experiencing sleeping problems, changes in appetite or weight, feeling sluggish or agitated, having difficulty concentrating, feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty, and having frequent thoughts of death or suicide.

Senior Kayla Jackson said, “The “Winter Blues” make you super sleepy and have low energy.”

There is no known specific cause for the “Winter Blues”, but some possible factors for the symptoms may include the Circadian Rhythm (your biological clock), serotonin levels, melatonin levels, and vitamin D levels.

“Personally, I believe the cause of SAD is the declining number of hours of sunlight in the days of the winter months. The amount of sunlight you take in can definitely affect your mood and body,” said sophomore Sabrina Troughton.

A few treatments for SAD are light therapy, medications, psychotherapy, and mind-body connection. Some mind-body connection examples include relaxation techniques, such as yoga or tai chi, meditation guided imagery, and music or art therapy.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, “It is thought that SAD is related to changes in the amount of daylight during different times of the year.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than three million cases of SAD every year in the United States.

“I think the idea of someone having SAD is sad, especially since people have it for a whole season every year, but I believe it is treatable,” said Grace Dausman, sophomore.

Most cases of this disorder occur in adults from the ages of 20-30, but it can affect people of any age. Four out of five cases are diagnosed in women. Researchers have found that the darker months have more of an impact on women’s circadian rhythms.

In either the winter or summer months, symptoms can start out mild but become more severe as the seasons progress.

There is not much that can be done to prevent SAD, but there are many ways to help manage the symptoms.

Nine ways to survive, thrive, and beat the “Winter Blues

1. Make your environment brighter- Open blinds and curtains or sit closer to windows for an extra dose of sunlight.

2. Eat smarter- A healthy diet can boost your mood, give you more energy, and stop you from putting on weight over winter.

3. Get outside- Spending time outside can help increase focus and reduce stress levels, while also getting that extra dose of sunlight.

4. Exercise- A 2005 study from Harvard University suggests that walking fast for about 35 minutes a day five times a week or 60 minutes a day three times a week improves symptoms of mild to moderate depression.

5. Turn on the tunes- Playing upbeat or cheery music can improve your mood and encourage your mindset to be more positive.

6. Help others- Helping others or volunteering can help improve mental health.

7. Keep warm- Being cold can make you more depressed. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce symptoms by half, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

8. Spend time with friends and family- Spending time with people you care about can relieve stress and improve your mental health.

9. Seek help- If your symptoms become so bad that you can’t live a normal life, see a professional for possible treatment options.

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june 2013 l the viewpoint l 15

SAVING WINTER In the near future, global warming could change the way winter has been forever

by Abbey Whitehead Many people often think of global warming and immediately associate it with warmer springs and summers, but global warming can also entail warmer winters and less snow.

To many, warmer winters may seem like a blessing, but it actually causes many problems for the environment. Snow in Virginia may not seem important, but many areas in the U.S. depend on it.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the total amount of snow in the U.S. has decreased with 57 percent of the EPA’s stations seeing an average decrease of .19 percent per year.

Although this amount seems small over time, it will have a drastic effect on many places throughout the U.S.. Snow is also very important to many industries in the U.S., such as agriculture. Without snow, farmers’ soil would not be properly irrigated, which would lead to many issues with different crops. Many areas also depend on ski resorts for their economy and have been struggling to make enough snow to stay open. For example, many towns in Colorado, like Telluride and Durango, are struggling to keep their ski resorts open due to a lack of snow. This not only affects tourists, but also all the people that are employed by the ski resorts who rely on the resorts staying open for their jobs., Without snow some of the areas that depend on these industries for their primary means of income could have problems with their economies.

Junior Heather Donald said ,”I think it’s important to stop the bad effects of global warming so that our future

“Hopefully if everyone works together then in the future global warming won’t change the way we live our lives. ” -junior, Anneliese Hinz “Even though winter is cold and we always want it to go away it’s really important that we stop global warming so it doesn’t go away.”

-junior, Lauren Jackson generations can experience the same things that we have with winter.”

Not only does global warming affect snowfall amounts, but it is also melting the polar ice caps. With the polar ice caps melting, many coastal areas are seeing a rise in the sea levels. Cities such Cambridge, Massachusetts; Oakland, California; Miami and St. Petersburg, Florida; and the five boroughs of New York City could all see massive damage due to the increasing sea levels. According to NASA, the Arctic ice caps have reached a new low, and the only thing we can do to stop them from melting is reduce pollution.

Not only are the ice caps melting, but so is the permafrost layer in the Arctic as well. Along with the permafrost layer melting, more carbon dioxide is being released into the air, which further leads to climate change.

In order to stop winter from disappearing in the future, we must reduce pollution and stop climate change. Individually, each person should also work to reduce their carbon footprint to fight against the warming of our climate. To reduce your carbon footprint, you eat locally, carpool, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

Junior Anneliese Hinz said, “Hopefully if everyone works together then in the future global warming won’t change the way we live our lives.

It is very important for us to save winter for climate change, but it is also important for us to save it for the many areas in the United States that depend on annual snowfall.

feature u january | february 2018 u the viewpoint u 15

Photo taken by Maricol Garcia Photo provided by Nolan Conway

Photo provided by Rebecca Brown

Junior Daniella Garcia and senior Paola Garcia with their cousins in Neuschwanstein, Germany.

Junior Nolan Conway and his family living in Germany while his father served in the Army.

Senior Rebecca Brown, daughter of a retired US Marine, and her family in Okinawa, Japan.

Military life: the cycle Military dependents transition between multiple duty stations often and have to adapt to life in a new environment.

by Isabel Navarro

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T

he children and spouses of service members live a unique lifestyle as military dependents; military families transition between various duty stations around the globe.

Many students and teachers at Mountain View have experienced this cycle of transition and exposure to new cultures and environments. The military life is an interesting one and many people are unaware of what it is like.

AP Comparative Government teacher Kimberly Allen, senior Alex Grissom, and freshman Victoria Rogers have each experienced the military cycle and have provided us with an inside look at their life throughout the years.

Photo taken by Tanya Kiyomi

K

Photo taken by Susan Grissom

Allen hugging her son, Shawn Allen, during his return from an eight month deployment.

imberly Allen, AP Comparative Government teacher, is the spouse of a retired sailor and mother of an enlisted sailor. She has been a teacher at Mountain View for four years and previously taught at five different schools around the country and overseas.

Allen met her husband while he was an active duty sailor stationed in Mayport, Florida. They have been married for 14 years. Allen’s husband was enlisted in the Navy for 22 years until retirement, where he then began working for the government. During their marriage, Allen and her husband have transitioned between five different duty stations: Norfolk, VA; Yokosuka, Japan; Pensacola, FL; Sanford, NC; and Stafford, VA. “I don’t really have a favorite or least favorite duty station. I just lived it,” said Allen.

She continued with, “Do I really miss the eight month deployments? No.” As a sailor, Allen’s husband worked on various ships and spent a significant time away from his family. During their first three years of marriage, Allen’s husband was home for a total of 12 months.

“Deployment is rough during the middle months,” said Allen.

For Allen, the best part of being a military dependent is the sense of community present among military families. “There are times I miss the military because it is a community. It’s like an extended family. You form relationships where you know you are going to be leaving, but at that time they are your family; they are your community, and you leave them behind, but they are always there,” said Allen.

A

s the child of a retired marine, senior Alex Grissom has lived in various places around the country. His father served in the Marine Corps for 21 years and retired when Grissom was in seventh grade.

Grissom has lived in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Jacksonville, NC; Woodbridge, VA; Fredericksburg, VA; and Stafford, VA. He usually stays in one place for one to two years, with the exception of Stafford, where he has lived since he was in middle school. ”You meet a large variety of people and you get used to leaving them a lot,” said Grissom when asked about his experience with moving frequently. He said he didn’t care much about having to move around alot, but his mother felt differently.

Grissom’s favorite duty station was Kaneohe, Hawaii, but even the best comes with some difficulty; “All of our family is on the East Coast, so being in Hawaii was hard,” said Grissom. He lived in Hawaii while he was in kindergarten to about fourth grade.

“You make a lot of new friends that you never end up talking to again,” said Grissom about his least favorite part of having to move between duty stations.

When his father was still enlisted in the military, Grissom said he liked the military lifestyle. His favorite part was having the opportunity to travel. “When my dad was in [the military], traveling was my favorite. We’ve gone outside of the US, but have never lived [there],” says Grissom.

Grissom living in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Photo provided by Victoria Rogers

F

Rogers and her family in New York.

reshman Victoria Rogers is the daughter of an Army veteran. She recently moved to Stafford in August 2017 from Missouri; this is Rogers’ fifth time moving.

During her father's 26 years of serving in the Army, Rogers and her family have lived in Colorado, New York, Texas, Missouri, and now Virginia. Rogers has lived in each place for about three to four years.

For Rogers, moving to Missouri was the hardest place to adjust to. “It wasn’t a military base, so people didn’t see new kids a lot. I was kind of the odd one out, and it was hard to join cliques and friend groups since they were already established,” said Rogers.

“When I was younger, I didn't really care about leaving because I didn’t establish any deep friendships, but I feel like leaving in my teens is way harder,” said Rogers about her least favorite part about the military lifestyle.

Out of the many places Rogers has traveled and lived in, her favorite duty station is New York. “It’s so much prettier than everything else; it’s so much different,” said Rogers about New York.

“It gave me a more open mind set towards people, because moving around so much gives you the opportunity to meet so many new people,” said Rogers about how the military has affected her and her lifestyle.

feature u january | february 2018 u the viewpoint u 17

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Slam Poetry

Slam poetry allows for expression through performance to showcase pure emotion by Bella Roeske Pictures by Bella Roeske Slam poetry is the art of spoken word poetry, usually performed in competitions known as poetry slams. The image of a foggy, dark, downstairs lounge with poets wearing berets is what many picture when I speak of slam poetry, but rather, it is poetry that is meant to be heard by an audience and the goal is to leave an impounded effect. A poet’s words are powerful and should engulf listeners with emotion. Simply put, slam poetry is meant to make people feel.

In the 1980s, open mic sessions opened in some major cities across the country and slam poetry gained popularity, largely influenced by beat poets, such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

The first National Poetry Slam was founded in 1990 by Marc Kelly Smith. This slam occurs annually and was held in Chicago, Illinois in 2017.

“I feel like slam poetry is a way to express things, either personally or worldly, with extreme emotion to prove a point. If well done, it can be a wonderful work of art to listen to and enjoy,” said Rachel Delgado, junior.

To begin writing slam poetry, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First; watch slam poets perform. Learn from others who have spent their lives performing and writing. Neil Hilborn has dedicated his life to poetry and

is a phenomenal performer.

Olivia Gatwood and Rhiannon McGavin are also two inspiring poets to learn from.

Second; any topics are fair game. More often than not, slam poets choose controversial or personal topics to write about, considering these are the ones that they are most passionate towards. Third; remember that these poems are meant to be performed, so write with emotion that will be evident through performance. Many techniques are used that manage to make performances memorable and meaningful to perfect strangers.

Repetition is one element used quite often in slam poetry.

While performing, repetition can include yelling certain word(s) at opportune moments, speeding up the repeated word(s), and even changing the pronunciation. In the poem “Trigger Warning” by Karina Stow, about learning her own triggers in life, Stow repeats the word “trigger” after every few lines to represent which personal occurrences she speaks of have become an emotional trigger to her. Repetition in spoken word poetry shows strength in emphasization. By repeating certain words, it shows how the author reclaims that word and uses it as a source of power and control within their own words.

Belissa Escobedo, Rhiannon McGavin, and Zariya Allen collectively wrote and performed a slam poem by the name of “Somewhere in America.” These three girls performed their poem on the

Queen Latifah Show in 2014.

“Somewhere in America” expresses concerns about the school system, the lessons taught to children in crucial parts of their lives, and the lessons they must learn on their own. Escobedo, McGavin, and Allen talk separately at times and then all talk together at other times to emphasize lines. The individual lines show personality and create a sense of empathy for the speaker. When lines are spoken together, the point being made is thrown at the audience and engulfs them so that the poets’ voices are true power. They use dynamic levels to their advantage by catching the audience off guard.

Theatrics is also a huge aspect of slam poetry. Darius Simpson’s and Scout Bostley’s performance for their poem, “Lost Voices,” uses theatrics as part of the theme.

Simpson is a black man and Bostley is a white woman. At the beginning of the poem, the two act like they’re about to speak, then stop, and switch places. Simpson says Bostley’s lines about being a black man in America while his mouth is moving and Bostley says Simpson’s lines about being a woman in America.

Every poet starts off as a person with an emotion that screams to be let out. The first step to writing good poetry is to write; just write.

Practice, perform, and feel.

Blythe Baird

Niel Hielborn

Olivia Gatwood

feature u january | february 2018 u the viewpoint u 19

y h t l a e H { e i h t o o Sm } s e i p i c e R healt hy {Make t he se ls to feel w o b ie h t o o sm d nd refre she a d e iz g r e n e ing by Gia for t his spr hotos by Gia Morreale}

Morreale | P

Benefits:

Ingredients:

Blueberries are filled with antioxidants, called anthocyanins, that help keep your memory sharp. Blackberries are loaded with vitamin C, but are very low in calories and sodium. Vitamin C is very beneficial for the immune system, which helps protect the body from a cold. Strawberries are have many nutrients including vitamin C, folate, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, and magnesium.

-¼ cup blueberries -¼ cup blackberries -¼ cup strawberries -1 frozen banana -a handful of spinach -almond milk -granola -almonds -chia seeds

y r r e B y {Ver e i h t o o m S Crunch Bowl}

Directions: 1. Pour milk into blender.

2. Add fruit and spinach.

3. Blend on high speed.

4. Pour smoothie into a bowl.

5. Top with chia seeds, strawberry and banana slices, blueberries, granola, and almonds.

20 u the viewpoint u january | february 2018 u feature

re my faa s ie h t o o m “Green s to get as e ik l I e s u a vori t e bec t hey are n e h w ... in s man y green c an’t tast e u o y , ie h t o o in a sm Coach, Josi s ic t s a n m y t hem,” G Brook s.

Benefits:

Ingredients:

Green smoothies are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and phytonutrients, which causes one to feel fuller longer. Green smoothies regulate one’s body cleansing processes. Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and low in fat. Kale aids in digestion and elimination of toxins in the body.

Avocados contain more potassium than bananas and are loaded with hearthealthy fatty acids.

-1 frozen banana -½ an avocado -½ cup fresh kale -¼ cup pineapple -½ cup vanilla yogurt

Directions: 1. Pour milk and yogurt into blender.

2. Add pineapple, kale, and avocado.

3. Blend on high speed.

4. Pour smoothie into a bowl.

5. Top with banana and pineapple slices, and granola. (Optional)

{Tropic al Green Smoo t hie Bowl}

“I love smoothies with avocado in them because they are very refreshing,” Junior, Grace Boles.

{St r awberr y Kiwi Smoot h ie Bowl}

Benefits: This smoothie helps keep one feeling full longer and helps to fight off diseases. According to OrganicFacts.net, kiwis lower blood pressure and promotes the absorption of iron in the body. Kiwis are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Vitamin K normalizes the number of platelets in the body to regulate blood clotting.

Ingredients:

-1¼ cup cold apple juice -1 ripe frozen banana, sliced -1 kiwi fruit, sliced -5 frozen strawberries -1½ teaspoons honey

Directions: 1. Pour apple juice into blender.

2. Add banana, kiwi, strawberries and honey.

3. Blend on high speed.

4. Pour into bowl.

5. Top with strawberry, banana, and kiwi slices, and granola. (Optional) feature u january | february 2018 u the viewpoint u 21

Get Your Head In The Game

Get your head in the game and know how to mentally prepare for your sports performances by Lexi Strawder | Picture by Avery Shover

It’s the biggest game of the season; the thing that you have been waiting for all year is finally here. Naturally you’re nervous about your performance and start to become anxious. Before you know it, you have put yourself in such a negative mental state that you do not perform to the best ability that you are definitely capable of achieving. This term known as “psyching yourself out” is the overwhelming thought process that affects performance.

According to the American Psychological Association, “Sport psychology is a proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal performance and well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations.”

Sports psychology was first introduced to sports medicine in 1920 by Carl Diem in Berlin, Germany. Sports psychology was not very popular in the beginning of its time due to the lack of funding needed for further exploration in research. It wasn’t until the 1960s when people gained interest in sports psychology again.

In the 1980s, research for sports psychology skyrocketed.

Kendra Cherry, author of “Everything Psychology” said, “Sports psychology became

22 u the viewpoint

the subject of a more rigorous scientific focus as researchers began to explore how psychology could be used to improve athletic performance, as well as how exercise could be utilized to improve mental well-being and lower stress levels.”

Sports psychology has become increasingly popular in today’s day and age. As a result of the research, scientists and psychologists have developed new techniques and treatments that help to create a positive mental state before a performance. Some of the more popular techniques that sports psychologists have used include imagery, motivation and attentional focus.

Imagery allows an athlete to mentally visualize performing an event or task successfully while letting go any intruding negative thoughts.

Motivation is broken down into intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic motivation involves the awarding of personal appraisal whether a sense of pride or a “personal desire to win.” Extrinsic motivators are materialistic awards such as money, trophies, or medals that encourage people to perform well.

Cherry states that attentional focus “involves the ability to tune out distractions, such as a crowd of screaming fans, and focus attention

u january | february 2018 u feature

on the task at hand.”

The use of sports psychology has allowed athletes to become both mentally and physically strong.

According to Dr Patrick J Cohn, the author of “Going Low, Peak Performance Golf, The Mental Game of Golf and The Mental Art of Putting,” some benefits of the use of sports psychology include improving focus, gaining confidence, developing healthy coping habits, improving communication skills and cohesion, improving motivation for optimal performance, developing confidence post-injury, and developing game specific strategies for performance.

Sports psychology is increasingly becoming popular in sports. Senior Lauren Raymond, a cheerleader at Mountain View, said, “Before we perform, we all close our eyes and someone puts on music and you visualize yourself as you would be on the mat. It benefits us because we’re able to calm down before we go out on the mat to warm up.”

Whether you’re a believer in sports psychology or not, it is a definitely growing and becoming more well-known through the countless numbers of studies and individual accounts of using it, showing it to be something worth taking note of the next time you’re about to play.

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23

ARTIST

Lauren Bristow

WITH ASPIRATIONS IN MUSIC, LAUREN BRISTOW DESCRIBES HER PICTURESQUE LIFE AS A SUCCESSFUL MUSICIAN AND ARTIST by Paige

VIOLINIST

Doerfler and Ruby Jackson | Photos

by Ruby Jackson

Despite lack of experience, senior Lauren Bristow has quickly climbed up the artistic ladder at Mountain View. Starting her journey in Art Club her sophomore year, she realized her natural talent and eye for the aesthetics in art.

After recognizing her love for art, Bristow took an Art Foundation class her junior year in order to develop her gift for the mastery, as well as increase her artistic capabilities.

"It's been really fun so far, and I think I have just grown a lot. It has been another way for me to express myself," said Bristow.

Currently, she is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art. "Lauren is really mature for her age, I'd say. She has a good work ethic and always does very well in art because she puts in a ton of time," said Kristin Mohan, Bristow's AP Studio Art teacher. "I know that she is a very accomplished musician, so the fact that she does so well in my class, which is time intensive for some of our bigger projects, and she participates in such a high level in orchestra is, very impressive."

24 u the viewpoint u january | february 2018 u feature

"

"I think I have just grown a lot. It has been another way for me to express myself.

With aspirations to become a music teacher at James Madison University, Bristow became interested in playing the violin when her elementary school choir teacher played for the class.

"I had thought it was the coolest thing ever because I had always been in choir...

All of a sudden, I knew that [playing the violin] was what I wanted to do," she said.

Bristow begged her parents for lessons, but when she actually began learning, she had a lack of desire to practice.

Once orchestra was offered in middle school, Bristow took learning violin, as a soloist and as a member of an ensemble, a lot more seriously.

When she was in seventh grade, Bristow joined a youth symphony and played with numerous youth orchestras including Youth Orchestras of Prince William and the Rappahannock Youth Symphony.

She currently plays with the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic, and has recently performed in California with this prestigious group.

"