December 2022

GAME ON!

From the editors

Dear Readers,

After an extremely successful first edition, the Northern Light staff is excited to bring our second edition for volume 53. With a 38 member staff, we were able to spread our talents out and showcase each member’s talent with either writing or designing. Throughout Portage Northern many students spend their free time playing video games. We decided to focus our center feature and staff ed on the world of gaming. To accompany the center feature, we have an array of news, entertainment, feature, and opinion pieces. The NL staff is ecstatic to bring the second edition and we hope you enjoy it!

Happy Reading, Jackson & Brie

On the cover

This edition’s cover was designed by senior CTE art student Emily Hickman. “While I’m not really interested in graphic design, I’m really passionate about illustration and concept design. I’m actually planning on going to school for illustration and pursuing a career in that field,” she said. “What I really enjoy about illustration/graphic design/art, in general, is the process of turning any idea in my head into a finished product. Having that ability has come in handy on many occasions and can also earn me some money.” Photo courtesy of Davis Henderson; page design by Brie Quick.

Policies

The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated, public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body.

In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained.

As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication,

the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use or part of public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission.

It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editors and guest contributors, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.129, emailed to pnhsnorternlight@gmail.com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.

Intro

In this edition…

News

4: Holiday dance Vendor show

5: Gingerbread architecture

Blood drive

Opinion

9: Heard it from a Huskie

10: Exclusion of vegetarian option in mainstream holiday meals

Feature

12: Game on: today’s teens reinvent the social gaming landscape

14: New staff

Sports

16: Coach Twitchell: SMAC coach of the year

18: Fall sports signees

Entertainment

20: Comic strip: Surprisingly

Difficult

21: Bookish with Avery Bogemann

Editorial Board

Editor in Chief

Jackson Barnard

Editor in Chief

Brie Quick

Creative Editor

Annabelle Bartz

Feature Editor

Abby Hosler

News Editor

Ella Morofsky

Opinion Editor

Kayla Malaski

Digital Media Manager

Lizzie Seem

Staff

Veterans

Mitchell Barnard

Avery Bogemann

Cynthia Brown

New Members

Jenna Abdulhak, Maya

Abdulhak, Trevor Anderson, Kennedy Barnes, Kennedy Beck, Trinity

Christian, Kaitlyn Dulyea, Maelys Fayet, Everett

Fields, Ashton Hall, Brad

Kovach, Valeria Alverez

Emily Lynch, Mariah

McCollough, Eliott

McGlynn, Kayla Miller, Lexia Mulvey, Lauren

Pernie, Aly Radford, Zoe

Reuss, Lizzie Seem, Sam

Snead, Cole Sykes, Chase

Vanderwalle, Brooklyn

Wade, Ash Weller, Dillyn

Yokie

The book, The Seven

Pictured above: (top to bottom): Students in the doghouse at the Peppermint Twist; photo by Mariah McCollough. Recipe cards sorted for use; photo by Annabelle Bartz. PN’s new staff members; photos by Annabelle Bartz. Varsity football coach, Kurt Twitchell taking to his player after a game; photo courtesy of Kurt Twitchell.

Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; photo by Annabelle Bartz; page design by Brie Quick.

Peppermint Twist brings back the winter dance tradition for the first time since 2019

By Mariah McCollough and Lexia Mulvey

e 2022 holiday dance, the Peppermint Twist, was hosted by the Portage Northern Parents Compass group. It is also the largest fundraiser toward the graduation costs at Miller Auditorium. Due to COVID-19 this is the rst year in two years the dance has been back. e dance was held December 3rd from 8:00 - 10:30 pm, in the Dog House. e event was lled with multiple types of lights and decorations!

“It felt like I was walking downtown with all the lights,” said senior Camilla Castillo Rua. “I went my freshman year but freshman year wasn’t as fun. is one was a lot better. e vibe and energy was way better.” Tickets were $15 prior to the dance, and $20 at the door. Snacks and beverages were provided, along with music, photoshoot setups, and a coat check.

Students give their blood in hopes of helping others

By Samuel Snead and Bradley Kovach

On December 15, 69 students signed up to donate blood to help area individuals in need. “I really like that students rise to the occasion and give up their time to save lives,” said history teacher and Student Senate adviser Joseph Wood.

Students signed up under a sta member in the spirit of healthy holiday competition, and Team Twitch beat Team White 40 donations to 29. In total, 53 units of blood were donated this year. Last year, students succeeded in achieveing the largest December blood drive ever for PNHS with a total of 63 units collected.

Above: this chart that shows the historical trend of units of blood donated at PN Blood Drives. Image and data courtesy of Joey Wood. At top right: Senior Casey Conboy laughs while getting their blood drawn. Photo By Abigail Hosler. At bottom right: Junior Alanna Harris relaxes during her blood draw.

Students enjoy their time dancing and taking photos at the Peppermint Twist dance.

Photo by Mariah McCollough

Photo by Abigail Hosler; page design by Ella Morofsky.

Student entrepreneurs show off their businesses at student vendor fair

By Valeria Alvarez and Alyssandra Radford

e second Student Vendor Fair took place on ursday, December 8th, 2022, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm in the community room. It was the perfect place to get gi s for loved ones from a variation of shoes, jewelry, ornaments, candles and other items.

Business teacher Amy Meyer created the fair last year. e idea was initially sparked by a pair of young entrepreneurs, and Meyer wanted to help students have an audience for selling their goods. “I was inspired

last year by two senior students, Lauren Mastenbrook and Anaya Fernando, who ran their very own businesses selling custom tee shirts and stickers (Laura) and bath and body products (Anaya),” explained Meyer.

At right: Students and teachers gather in the community rooms to support the small businesses of other students.

Photo by Valeria Alvarez.

Spanish three students compete for the gingerbread title

By Brooklynn Wade

During the holiday season Northern wants students to get into the spirit as much as they can. anks to Spanish teachers, Christy Rath and Kaitie Paynich host an exciting event called Gingerbread Architecture. “For this project, students pick a famous piece of Architecture from a Spanish speaking country and recreate it out of edible food items.” says Paynich. ere is also competition going on throughout the Spanish teachers to win a trophy that will be kept for a whole year. is year three of PNHS present sta are the

to do good and challenge their cra y abilities. Teachers had to plan just as much as the students did. A er researching and constructing the students will come up with an essay on the place they have modeled. is will take 8 days to complete but it is “totally worth it.” according to Paynich. is has been a prideful tradition as well. “It was originally created over 20 years ago by a legendary Spanish teacher, Senor Michael Braun’’ says Rath. Due to Covid, restrictions for the past few years Northern was unable to do so. Financially, Paynich

so therefore on December 7th only for the research to start, and construction was held in the community rooms. en the competition started December 12th throughout December 14th. e nal projects will be shown for other classes in the building to see.

Photo by Brooklyn Wade; page design by

Annual Breadlist raises over $18k for the West Michigan Cancer Center

By Lauren Pernie; Design and illustrations by Lizzie Seem

Every year, Portage Northern High School participates in the Breadli fundraiser where students go out on the Saturday before anksgiving morning and sell bread to the community to raise money. is year, all purchases were donated to the West Michigan Cancer Center. A goal of raising $25,000 was set for all students participating. In the end, $18,205.55 was raised, which is the third largest amount ever raised in the 56 years of Breadli history. “I personally love how Breadli has become a weeklong drive, kicked o by the Powder Pu Volleyball game and including the dress up days leading up to the big day on Saturday,” said History teacher and student senate advisor, Joseph Wood. is year’s fundraiser was a little di erent than past years

as there was a snowstorm a few days before Breadli . As a result, only 170 students made it out to knock on doors this year, instead of the original 230 that signed up due to the conditions. However, the students that were able to make it out seemed to really enjoy themselves. “I enjoyed how it was really fun and it really kind of united the students together and it was fun to do it with each other,” said sophomore Mistoo Singh. Breadli has such an impact on the student body as well. Sophomore Gideon Post says, “I did breadli because I wanted to have a sense of pride for our community and really help out and, at the same time, just feel that belongingness to the community.”

Seniors Emily Molenkamp, Ava Burns, Halle Read, Mya Loc, and Sophmore Delanie Allman get ready to head out.

Seniors Nick Jepson, Turab Alam, Aaliya Motiwala and Jackson Altwies get ready to count the money.

Bread crates get ready to load into the cars. All photos courtesy of Baylee Wilk.

African American male mentoring program takes off

By Emily Lynch; Design by Lizzie Seem

The African American Mentoring Program is a program that helps young African American male students by giving them resources to build their paths for after high school. The program also brings in adult African American men who are positive leaders in the community and other resources so the students can interact and receive advice from various sources. “I like how we talk about how to make connections and how to excel a little more,” states senior Jerry Afiademanyo.

PPS basketball coach and interventionist Kevin White and PPS SuperIntendent of Facilities Johnny Edwards made the African American Mentoringing program after meeting with the administration shortly after being hired. “We want to start a certain group to help some of our African American males in school to give them some resources outside of here to help them kind of guide their path for after high school,” states White.

So far, 20 students are part of the African American Mentoring Program, including underclassmen and upperclassmen. “We get in a group once a month,” states junior Ashton Hall. “We talk about stuff in the world, and stuff in the school that we can help out.” Because the program was created just this year, it is still working to grow into other programs. “By the time the freshmen are seniors, we should probably have 7 or 8 [targeted groups] in all kinds of groups: male, female, underclassman and upperclassmen,” states White. Students that want to join the program can meet with White in his room located next to the 3rd-floor office. From there, they can fill out a form and a packet will be sent home with the students so their parents can also learn about

Members of the AA Mentoring Program gather together during lunch to bond and hear a message from James Liggins

Gamifying school

Using technology helps increase engagment learning

By The Staff; Design by Mitchell Barnard

When used conversationally, “gaming” is easily understood to mean playing video games. While schools haven’t yet found a meaningful way to incorporate video games into instruction, a current trend in education is gamifying - incorporating a variety of games into the classroom for teaching, learning, reviewing, and testing.

At Northern, the most commonly used platforms are Kahoot, Quizizz, Quizlet, and Blooket, and overall, they are making students’ class time more enjoyable. The competitive nature of the games makes reviewing content fun and engaging, and it’s especially rewarding when there are prizes involved. Playing games also has the potential to bring classes closer together through shared experiences because there is almost always something funny or worth retelling that happens. Gamifying the classroom can also

increase student learning. Playing to get to a mastery level of a skill or concept is appealing in ways that traditional book or note studying is not, motivating students to go deeper into their learning when they might not otherwise.

Like with anything else, though, teachers have to make sure that they’re integrating games meaningfully in their classrooms in order for them to maintain their effectiveness. Using them in the same way that one would use a worksheet, offering it as an option / allowing some students to opt out, making it feel forced or like busy work, and using the same kind of game too often are all things that start to drain the fun from what can otherwise be a good experience. If teachers use games wisely and have enthusiasm for them, students will too.

Students in Justin Olsen’s seventh hour science class participate in a Blooket. Photo by Jackson Barnard.

Elle Ahrens Ashlynn Charkowski Zane Gardner Chloe Clarke

Class of 2023

Pass a plate

are movies better enjoyed in the theater or at

IN THEATERS

FACE OFF: AT HOME

Now that theaters have reopened, the age long debate of watching movies at the theater vs. home has reentered our society. People who prefer watching it at home always bring the same arguments to the table: it’s cheaper, I can bring whatever food I like, I can wear my pajamas comfortably, and those are very valid opinions. However, each of these points

It’s cheaper to watch movies at home. Of course, this is true, but going to the movies is not an everyday thing; watching movies at the theater is an experience, and a treat, and who won’t spend a bit of money once in a while for a little self indulgence. Just like people go to the salon or read a book to wind down, the movies are also a way to let out pent-up stress.

Expensive and limited food options are also an acclaimed downside of theaters. Although I do admit this is a downside, it’s a very overcomable one. Sneaking food into theaters is so common, it’s practically part of the experience. Since I was a child I always would nd my little purse and stu a bunch of snacks with my siblings. e argument about food is true, but it’s so easily overcomeable that it doesn’t have much weight.

Having to wear non-comfy clothes to the movies is a pretty common argument for people who prefer watching movies at home. However, going out, meeting friends, it’s all part of the experience. e main reason you invite friends to the movies is because it’s a change of pace, staying at home and wearing the same old, same old, would ruin it. Watching comfortably at home may be fun, but it doesn’t provide the excitement of actually going out to the theater.

Watching movies at home just can’t provide the same experience at the theater. Wearing uncomfortable clothes is just part of the experience the movies bring. Even though you have to sneak in some food and spend some money, the bene t of the experience outweighs the setbacks.

Photos by Annabelle Bartz; Design by Maya Abdulhak

Ages

Who they play with

How often they play

Staff members take on new roles; call NHS home

By Ella Morofsky, Brie Quick, Everett Fields, Cole Sykes; Design by Kennedy Beck

Nicholas Vichinsky

New English teacher, freshman football coach and PN alumni Nicholas Vichinsky never thought that he would be the one to come back and teach at his old high school. “Coming back really felt like I was just coming back home,” explained Vichinsky. After going through college and interning at Battle Creek Lakeview High School, PN wasn’t at the top of his list. “I was always that person that wanted to get far away, I thought teaching was a way to do that,” Vichinsky explained. As time went on, he came to the conclusion that Portage is a special place and one that he loves.

With being a PN alumni, Vichinsky has the ability to not only connect

Kevin White

After just one season with Coach Steve Hawkins, new staff member Kevin White came to Portage Northern to take over the varsity boys basketball program in may of 2022 and introduce a new resource to the students. “Administration liked the idea of the job I had at Parchment and wanted to bring it here,” said White. As an intervention specialist, he helps primarily juniors and seniors set up college visits, fill out applications, and prepare things like NCAA eligibility for the athletes.

Being a new coach, it is easy to forget about building a relationship with your players. White has been an easy point person for many of his new players. “Coach white has helped me out in so many different

with his students, but also reunite with old teachers. “It makes me feel old having one of my former students as a colleague, but I couldn’t be happier that it’s Mr. V,” said Spanish teacher, Christy Rath. Students share Rath’s enthusiasm with having Vichinsky back in the building. “In his class, you’re comfortable and it’s not just a classroom setting. It’s a place where we can share how our day is and he cares,” said sophomore, Kamryn Stinnette.

From wanting to be a sports journalist, to then wanting to be a psychologist, Vichinsky made his final decision: he wanted to become an English teacher. In his junior year of high school, Vichinsky read the

ways. He’s become an important person in my life because he has done things for me no one has ever done,” said junior Youssef Elghawy. Being a former NCAA college coach to many schools, White has connections within the sports world. “Using my connections to help our students is one of my favorite things,” said White. “He makes sure I am on track to the future I want, using his connections and knowledge. He pushes me to be the best version of myself all the time, and he has really helped me realize the kind of person that I want to be,” said Elghawy.

Kalamazoo college basketball coach and long time PN English teacher

Ben Neal has developed a strong relationship with White through both

book Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. He immediately fell in love with the art form and the idea of the human experience part of literature. “It was the first book that I read where I was like, ‘Reading can be like this?!’” said Vichinsky. For the past six years, Vichinsky has been working his way up to hopefully have this same effect on his students.

their love for the game. “Coach White and I are basketball junkies, we love every aspect of the game and having each other around is great as we can bounce ideas off of each other or just tell stories about the game we love,” said Neal. “He and I have been in a gym with many teams for a long time, and comparing notes and stories helps us stay sharp and stay connected.”

Vichinsky at home in his classroom.

Photo by Annabelle Bartz

White displays his affinity with helping students navigate college by displaying various flags in his classroom. Photo by Annabelle Bartz

A new principal, math teacher, interventionist, and a Huskie graduate turned English teacher are just some of the new faces at NHS this year

Christopher Fryling

Christopher Fryling has been teaching math for ten years, but this will be his first year teaching at Portage Northern. Before teaching mathematics here at Northern Fryling taught at Climax-Scotts Jr. and senior high. It wasn’t until he had to substitute here at PN that he realized this was the place he wanted to be. “I get the opportunity to improve and grow as a professional each year, and I love incorporating new things to try to provide a great learning experience for my students.”

At Climax-Scotts he had a group of seniors that were involved in his Dungeons and Dragons club, and because of Covid they didn’t get to

Dr. Nate Ledlow

Dr. Nate Ledlow was given the position of interim principal on October 9th after former interim principal Michael Huber was placed on administrative leave. Portage Northern was then faced with the challenge of filling the principal position once again, following the recent departure of principal Jim French and interim principal Michael Huber.

For Ledlow, the transition from assistant principal to principal was quite spontaneous. “I was told about 20 hours before I officially became interim principal about the position switch,” he said. Despite being notified less than 24 hours before the switch occurred, Ledlow seemed to be ready, and was reassured by members of the Northern community. “There has been nothing but high points. Everyone has been so supportive, and I feel like there has been a lot of positive energy in our building. I am so appreciative of all of the support!” Says Ledlow. He has accepted his new position with

finish their campaign before the seniors graduated. “[During] 1st hour plan I can hear him go through his first hour geometry class. He has some new ways of presenting material to his class that have been really beneficial for me to hear before I teach my classes.” Said Nikki Callen.

Fryling stays after school at least once a week to give additional help to students. He does not take work or emails home however, because he values time with his wife and two sons. “Mr. Fryling is a caring individual with a lot of good ideas. It’s especially great to have a fellow nerd around the math department,” Shared Patrick Greeley.

grace, thankful for the chance to make a difference within the building. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity being provided to me by district administration, and I could not be more humbled and honored to fill this role.” Said Ledlow.

The student body seems to be a ccepting of the switch as well. Senior and Student Senate member, Jada Clomon, described Ledlow as “extremely impactful” and “a person that everyone feels comfortable approaching for help…”

The staff and administration have recognized Dr.Ledlow’s efforts to push the community of Portage Northern to its fullest potential. “His ability to listen, collaborate, and clearly communicate have also really helped with a smooth transition.” Said Brett McNeal, current IB Psychology teacher, Site Based Team Leader, and School Improvement Chairperson. McNeal has had a lot of experience working with Ledlow, given his position within the admin-

istration; allowing him to see for himself how Ledlow works with fellow staff members.

The transition has been seamless, and the Northern community has acknowledged Dr.Ledlows relentless efforts to sustain an optimal learning environment. He has been known to “get things done for the student body” , says Clomon, Ledlow worked closely with the student body on events like Breadlift, the Peppermint Twist, and will continue to plan future events. McNeal, a prominent member of the school administration, also noted that “his desire to help teachers and students reach their fullest potential has been very well received by staff.”

Dr. Ledlow attends to administrative tasks in his office. Photot by Annabelle Bartz.

Fryling works at his board to solve a math problem. Photo by Annabelle Bartz.

More than Football:

By Jackson Barnard and Ashton Hall; Design by Chase Vanderwalle

On November 19, 2022, head varsity football coach Kurt Twichell was named the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference (SMAC) head coach of the year (COTY) by the Michigan Sports Radio Media. After a shaky first season as head coach in 2021, going 3-6, Twichell and the Huskies worked diligently to ensure that this year’s team would be play-off contenders. “Our improvement as a program from 2021 to 2022 was very evident on the field, as was our improvement throughout this year as a young team,” he shares. “We dropped a couple of close games early, but then went on a strong run through the month of October to get in the play-off and go beat the 1 seed decisively on the road.” The Huskies ended their season 7-4 after losing a difficult play-off game against the highly touted East Lansing Trojans.

Despite their shortcomings, Twichell spoke humbly as

to what he thinks contributed to his achievement. “COTY is a program award, and is credit to our players and staff,” he voices. The Huskie football players praise Twichell’s selflessness, and many of them have similar insights into what makes him such a great coach. “It’s admirable to see someone wanting to improve everyday. He’s always pushing us to be the best version of ourselves even when we don’t see it,” says junior defensive end Manuel Messan. Twichell’s perception of what it means to be “PACK strong” has been very impactful. “The culture Twichell has installed is something that the whole school has grabbed onto,” states sophomore tackle Cody Haworth. “Every opportunity he has he uses to make the football program and school a better place.” Reverence for Twichell is not only shared amongst the students, but with the adults in the building as well. Chris Riker, Portage Northern’s Athletic

Kurt Twichell honored with SMAC Coach of The Year award

Portage Northern Head Coach Kurt Twichell addresses the team after defeating Kalamazoo Central 63-7. Photo courtesy of Kurt Twichell.

Director, believes that “he has done a great job instilling the PACK strong culture into the football program.”

Coach Twichell also associates the Huskies success with the routine he and his staff have established. No matter what day it is, Twichell begins every meeting, lift, and practice with, “Sun is shining, birds are chirping, great day to be a Husky.” He uses this expression as a reminder to the players that each day is a new opportunity to be grateful, and that they will attack it with en- thusiasm and pride. Se- nior Quarterback Cane Mack utilizes this saying to acknowledge what he is appreciative for. “I think that it helps remind me that I am ex- tremely thankful for what I am doing every- day, no matter if the sun is shining or not.” The Huskie quarterback had an explosive season, setting school records in both passing yards and touchdowns thrown. “I absolutely think that the culture Twichell brings has helped the team and I succeed,” says Mack.

Twichell’s devotion towards coaching comes from an enlightening experience. He began volunteering as a coach at age 19 to stay involved in the game, but later obtained a degree in exercise science with the intention of going to medical school. However, a mentor of his, who’s son he had been coaching at the time, sat him down and said, “Twich, you have no idea what kind’ve impact you’ve had on my son. You need to keep doing that. Stop whatever it is you’re doing and get into education.” From that moment, he never looked back. Twichell recognizes this conversation as the moment he knew to pursue education. “That was really powerful coming from someone I respected so much,” he adds. “I truly believe I now have the best job in the world.”

From the players

Career Stats with the Huskies

2 Seasons with the Huskies

10-10 Record

8-6 Conference record

1 Playoff win

Senior HB #10, Ajamen Ozuzu: “Twichell made us a better team. He really motivated us with his “sweep the sheds” saying. He deserved this award because he took us from a horrible to a good record.”

Sophomore WR #4, Jadyn Walker: “Coach loves all this players and wishes them the best. He will coach up super hard and send love afterwards, wwsuch a great coach to have and has so much knowledge to spread the game and make his players better.”

“I truly believe I now have the best job in the world.”

-Kurt Twichell

Huskie athletes prepare to play at the

Jordan Wesaw

Caysee Burk

Addison Bobbio

Bobbio takes a moment on base to talk to coach JimSwinehart. Photo courtesy of Addison Bobbio.

Burk signs her letter of intent to play spccer at Ti n Univeristy. Photo courtesy of Caysee Burk.

Wesaw signs her letter of intent to play for Kalamazoo College. Photo courtesy of PNHuskieSports.

THE POWDER PUFF

PHENOMENON

By Trinity Christian, Zoe Reuss, and Kaitlyn Dulyea; Design by Jackson Barnard

e kicko of the Powder Pu volleyball game on November 10th at 7pm marked the next step in a tradition that spans over 50 years. e game is always about having fun and raising money for a good cause, but the meaning behind the name isn’t as lighthearted: “powder pu ” derives from the stereotype of girls being fragile and prissy.

Yet over the years, girls from Portage Northern have proven otherwise, taking on the role of football players during the annual Homecoming activities. Health

teacher Chris Furlong is in charge of Powder Pu . “It started with an idea from a few girls to put it together in the spring of 2017,” he said. e teams were coached by current varsity football players with the seniors being led by Cane Mack, Everett Fields, and XaVior Tyus and the juniors being coached by Braylen Amos, Daniel Tafoya, and Jackson Altwies. is year, the junior class was victorious over the seniors.

e roles reverse in the winter, when the boys play volleyball as a part of spirit week. e

teams were coached by varsity volleyball to raise money for a good cause, with proceeds from both games supporting charity.

Top: Senior Cane Mack looks across the court at his opponents at the PowderPu volleyball game; photo by Abby Hosler. Middle: Seniors Camryn Batt, Lexi Ahola, Megan Bowers, Rosie Friedman, and Jazelle Morris pose for a senior picture; photo courtesy of Megan Bowers. Bottom: Seniors Rosie Friedman and Megan Bowers (in black) line up across junior Kiera Sims (in orange); photo courtesy of Megan Bowers.

JuniorRyanGillentossestheballupto serve.PhotobyAbbyHosler.

Surprisingly Diffi cult

Love hurts. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, love nds a way to grip your heart, and tug whenever the need arises. Love doesn’t ask who you are, or what’s going on in your life, it nds a way to sneak into your body and it never seems to leave.

When I opened e Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I never expected to nd a story so heart-wrenching and real. It’s the life of a woman who doesn’t know what’s best for herself. It’s the story of a woman who just wants success, yet nds more than she bargained for.

Evelyn was a young girl when she entered the acting world, much like many other young women during the time this book is set (the Golden Age of Hollywood). It shows the struggles women went through during this time to be taken seriously and the mysoginy they faced as they chased fame. e book focuses on the relatuionships she makes during her life in the spotlight, it shows how complex her feelings were, and how that was sometimes used against her.

Love of all kinds was the thing I took away most from the book, platonic love, romantic love, and familial love. All of it came together to share the tale of a women who foucsed on the wrong things, made mistakes, and how that shaped her life.

It’s a beautiful tale of overcoming adversity and nding what really matters. is book has bisexual representation, but it doesn’t scream from the roo ops that this has queer rep. It’s subtle and treats it as if it’s normal, which I respect because as a queer reader myself, it makes me feel more normal in a world that o en tries to convince the LGBTQ+ community otherwise. Reading a story about two women nding love in each other despite circumstances and overcoming hurdles together le me in awe. e story is beautifully constructed, and it le me craving more.

I felt connected to Evelyn, as I also have a hard time showing my emotions, and sometimes that causes me issues. I felt connected to her con dence, she inspired me by how in control of herself she was. I felt connected to her love story, and how raw and real it felt. It wasn’t glamorized despite the Hollywood setting, it was real and felt like I was getting a glimpse into a real womens romantic life.

is book changed me. I read it for the rst time a year ago, and I still think about it to this day. I think about Evelyn’s story, quotes from the book, and the plot twist that I never saw coming. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. When reading I was able to feel what the characters were feeling, and sympathize with everyone. Only a good book can make you feel things, and this book made me feel a lot.

Did You Know?

-Taylor Jenkins Reed also wrote another popular Booktok book called Daisy Jones and the Six.

-The book is being turned into a movie by Netflix

KEEP TO MYSELF

phrase (as both an instruction and a resolution), is unique in that it is almost exclusively used to deter a person from becoming involved in something that they see as unproductive. This may be an interpersonal dispute, observing another person struggling, observing a harmful behavior or tendency in another person or group, and in each case, the choice to keep to oneself may be circumstantially appropriate or helpful. But it is the moment of deciding that is crucial to understanding the temptation to withdraw; knowing that a choice must be made to do so reaffirms the legitimacy of the antecedent impulse to help. This impulse must be manually deactivated by a decision, resulting in the cluttered conscience muttering the common “keep to myself” monologue. Good or bad or nothing at all, this tendency is worth examining for its power to sway outcomes, and may be useful in learning to adapt community understandings of love and care to something more individually sustainable.

Photo by Annabelle Bartz; design by Jackson Barnard