DM North Media's The Oracle - Issue 2 2023-2024

THE ORACLE Volume 122, Issue 2, Winter 2024

Walking into North’s Wonderland

North High School 501 Holcomb Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313 A Public Forum For Student Expression

take a

Seat

“Coming Out”

North students share their stories on allowing the world to see them as who they are Words: KaMarra Wright | Visual: Canva | Design: DM North Media In today’s world, being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is enormously more normalized.

However, this community still faces ignorance or even scrutiny for their sexual preference and even just plain identity.

Many people a part of this community have a story. A story of their “coming out,” which is a person recognizing a part of themselves dealing with their sexual orientation and experience then sharing that with loved ones, or people around them.

But because many have come out in comparison to cis (straight) humans that don’t have to come out to people as straight, this is usually a prominent experience in one’s life. It’s like a big discovery within yourself.

I am a lesbian. A lesbian that was very “closeted” at one point.

I experienced moments of shame in elementary because the children around me seemed as if they were fully clear and comfortable with themselves and their relationships. Then there was me, a confused 11-year-old.

I had celebrity crushes, that I had religiously convinced myself was solely because the celebrities were pretty, but by 6th grade I

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School

found myself never worried about around 4th grade and 5th grade. boys and was severely crushing Understanding my sexuality on a girl in my science class. It all and understanding it has been seemed too hard for me to underdifficult due to, even now, I still stand and when 7th grade came don’t know what my sexuality is around, I had accepted that my and probably won’t for while and sexuality was a part of me that I my sexuality changes so what could not change and that it was I thought I knew I don’t feel at completely fine. But, for the short some moments. Sometimes it’s period of time before I came out, difficult to not know who I am or I was so anxious as to what people have a label to what I’m feeling.” might think of me, especially the ones I loved; would they think of Ivy Greene, junior me differently?

“I think around COVID time Spoiler: They did not, but even my freshman year. It is good. I if they did it would have become have a good, supporting family, so clear that they weren’t good friends it is easy to be open about.” if they didn’t accept me for me.

Anthony Jenkins, junior We asked NHS LGBTQ+ Students: “Around like the time I had my When did you realize you were a last girlfriend and I realized I was part of the LGBTQ+ community? not really attracted to this girl in How has this journey been? that way, and I started to look at my boy best friend in that way Imani Wynne, sophomore more who ended up putting me on “Maybe when I was in 7th grade; to a boy. At first [it was difficult] I thought my best friend was cute but no, not anymore because noand I was like ‘oh, I like this girl.’ body can tell me about me.”

My journey was not difficult because I already knew what I liked.”

Not only are these students walking around North’s halls, but Marz Barz, junior these are people who have got to “I realized I was a part of the a place in their lives where they LGBTQ+ community sometime accept who they are.

New Years Resolutions

Words: Sheena Jepchumba| Visuals: Sheena Jepchumba|Art: Keira Steenhoek|Design: Sheena Jepchumba Here are what some of your teachers and students have for there New Year’s Resolutions!

Questions: 1. Do you have a New Year’s resolution? 2. Why did you chose this?

Natasha Smith, FR

1. I used to go on three-mile runs almost every day.

2. I used to do it all the time and I kind of quit after my friend moved away. So now I only go on one-mile runs.

1. I do only have like two just for now. One of them is to make a routine like every day and every morning and a to do list so that I can write down everything I need to get done, and I want to get it done on the same day.

2. The first one the reason I chose that one is because my days are not like organized like I will just be scattered everywhere. I would not even know what to do and then when I do not have a routine I will not be able to do. It is because I would not feel productive and for the to do list is because I need to know what I am doing because sometimes I would like to forget everything. One more thing is that high school’s hard. Just get through it. Do not think about everybody else. Just think about you. Do not try to make yourself better because this makes someone like you.

Tayler Kwezi, SR 1. I want to pick up a new hobby or healthy habit.

2. I do not have enough habits that are healthy and would like more.

1. I want to be comfortable taking myself out.

2. I feel like it is a bad habit not trying new things because I am not comfortable by myself.

Mrs. Epping

Ms. Miller

Aleea Bak, FR

Fatuma Alobo, SR

1. My resolution is to meal plan every Sunday so that when my wife and I come home, it is not a discussion about what we are eating. We already know and then we are also going to call dibs on who is cooking or buying each night.

2. We usually text each other in the middle of the day. Like, what are we eating tonight? I usually do not care, but she has a lot of opinions about what she wants to eat.

So, I just want to destress about it and I think like sitting down on Sunday and being like, “we’ll have tacos on Tuesday and we’ll have pasta on Thursday and we’ll go out to eat on Friday,” and so we can kind of know exactly what we’re doing and then we can say, “I’ll make the tacos. I’ll make the spaghetti,” or whatever it is. So, we know what the plan is and so we can also just be more responsible at. Just being more intentional about time together. We have tried it for a few weeks, and it is worked flawlessly. And then we get lazy or tired on Sundays after doing whatever all weekend, and then we do not have the follow-through.

1. My resolution is to follow my heart and listen to my intuition more. I feel like I have not been making choices based on my own thoughts and feelings lately. I have been making them based on other people’s thoughts and feelings. I feel a need to do what is best for me more.

2. I think by doing some reflecting, I am a pretty reflective person anyway, but sometimes when I do not want to, when I want to avoid things. I think reflecting on choices I have made and things I am feeling, doing some journaling.

Community

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Off to a fast start!

1966 boy's swimming compared to the 2023 Otter girls during their home swim meet.

John Grazier and Steve Bryant demonstrate their dh·ing ability in recent inter-squad swim meet at North.

Never out of style 2023 vs 1966 North girls posing at home­ coming.

I, 2, 3! Ding, Ding, Ding The 1966 wrestling team pinning their opponent and the 23' team pinning their opponent down as well, 57 years later.

Rockin' the court The official girl's basket­ ball team of 2023 vs an intermeral girl's basket­ ball team in 1966.

We've still got spirit

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lii,ii.t.liiliililillii-.,,..:::.:.::t-' Judy McCann, and B \"ick.i Sh:1Cer. Lolly Johnson. Terri BroJ:ml!yer. Cathy Quick, Swarb: were chosen ekt�!; repttsenta.t.ive!j.

North PeD Club Awards Spirit Stick For Membership

The 1966 school spirit stick vs the 2023 spirit stick won by the Junior class of 25' earlier this fall.

Entertainment

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START HERE

WHAT GENRE ARE YOU? (KEEP TRACK OF YOUR POINTS FOR THE END!)

Words: Keisha Huerta and Nye Meh | Design: Keisha Huerta Visuals: Keisha Huerta, Netflix, Hulu, Pluto, Peacock, Tubi and Youtube Do you prefer...

Would you rather:

Would you rather:

A: Hanging out with friends? (+2 POINTS)

A: Drink Orange Juice for the rest of your life? (+4 POINTS)

A: Be the smartest but everyone hates you? (+2 POINTS)

B: Drink Apple Juice the rest of your life? (+2 POINTS)

B: Be the dumbest but everyone loves you (+3 POINTS)

Are you more:

Would you rather use:

A: Messy (+5 POINTS)

A: Netflix (+3 POINTS)

B:Organized (+2 POINTS)

B: Hulu (+5 POINTS)

Pick a color:

Favorite animal:

Would you rather fight:

A: Blue (+ 3 POINTS)

A: Cats? (+3 POINTS)

A: 5 younger versions of you (+3 POINTS)

B: Green (+4 POINTS)

B :Dogs? (+5 POINTS)

B: 20 year old you (+2 POINTS)

B: Staying home (+1 POINTS)

Which Disney princess do you think your similar to?

A: Mulan (+2 POINTS) B: Tiana (Princess and the frog) (+3 POINTS)

Keep track of your points here!

If you got 19-22 points, your genre is...

Mystery!

You are someone who loves to stay home alot. You probably dont like really loud people or places. But most of the time you’re either a calm or very trustworthy person. Some shows and movies we recommend to you are....

Stranger things (On Netflix)

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Entertainment

Squid Games (On Netflix)

All of us are Dead (On Netflix)

The Sixth Sense (On Hulu)

If you got 23-26 points, your genre is...

Horror!

You are a quiet person but once someone gets to know you, you are the loudest in the room. You have a pretty unique personallity and you probably think your the funniest person ever. Some shows or movies we recommend are...

Terrifier (On Tubi)

Sweet Home (On Netflix)

Scream (On Youtube)

Midnight (On Amazon Prime)

The Kardashians (On Hulu)

Hell’s Kitchen (On Pluto)

The Riveras (On Peacock)

Drag me to Dinner (On Hulu)

If you got 27-31 points, your genre is...

Reality TV! You are probably one of the nicest people ever or one the meanest, no in-betweens. You might cause drama sometimes or be around it alot. You have wonderful taste in music though and you love to tell people that. Some shows we recommend are...

If you got 32-35+ points, your genre is...

Comedy!

You probably think you’re funny, but you’re not. You’re probably loud and like staying out. You also enjoy being around others. Some shows or movie we recommened are...

The Office (On Peacock)

Legally Blonde (On Pluto)

Business Proposal (On Netflix)

Young Sheldon (On Netflix)

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

3. What a detective works to solve 5. What your partner is on February 14th 7. A sport using hoops and a (usually) orange ball.

9.The opposite of the past.

10. The act of heating foods for consumption

1. A paranormal apparition 2. A pie-adjacent dessert containing cheese 4. The only South American country to primarilty speak portuguese.

6. A table used for work at home, school, and a job.

8. An action done while playing a character

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How to Say "Happy New Year" in different languages :