Elevate 5.2

ELEVATE MAGAZINE RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE

REGIS JESUIT HS

VOL. 5 ISSUE 2 MARCH 2020

YOU

11

29

35 16

38

26 10

CONTENTS NEWS

SPORTS

BOYLE 8 MR. 30 WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ATHLETE Our new teacher Mr. Boyle just compeated in the olympic trials, see what it took to get there.

ESPORTS 10 NEW TEAM ON CAMPUS! thsi semester Matthew Collins ‘21, with some help, formed an Esports team to be reckoned with.

11 ROBOTICS

The robotics team has been hard at work thsi semester, check out what they have been up to.

12 MISSION SEASON

This year mission week has been spiced up, so whats is this new mission season thing all about?

FEATURES

Dive into the minds of athletes on campus and how they use sports to cope with the realities of real life.

34 GIRLS WRESTLING

This year the girls wrestling team made a comeback on campus see what the girls have to say.

STATE 35 WRESTLING This years wrestling team has made its mark , with major wins at state and a look backnon the season.

SEASON 38 PLAYOFF a look at our teams as they made their way into playoffs.

EXTRAS+MORE

16 MENTAL HEALTH

21 THREE NEW ACTIVITIES

18 SLEEP DEPRIVATION

39 ALBUM REVIEWS

22 VAPING

42 OP-EDS

Take a look into mental health and how students cope, our school statitics and more.

Tak a deep dive into sleep deprivation and how it affects students and its impact

A student testimonial about coping and learning the hard way what vaping can do.

Audrey Harmon ‘22 trys three new acativities.

Matthew Terniey ‘22 and Calvin Bart ‘22 look back on teh best and worst albums

Students voice their opinions on topics they care about and bring light to the injustice they see.

DATE 25 BLIND We sent two sophmores, yes sophmores, on a blind date, both of them had a lot to say about it.

COVER 14 YOU

In this section you will find first hand stories on everything from mental health to blind dates, and find out what makes these students themselves and how they cope with being a high schooler.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01

ELEVATE EDITORIAL STAFF & POLICIES

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE HEADS OF RJ MEDIA: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 SAM STERN ‘20

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: HUNTER SULLIVAN ‘20 SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

EDITORS

MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21 SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22

HEAD DESIGNER:

SERENA NGUYEN ‘22

HEAD ILLUSTRATOR: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22

ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM

CONTRIBUTORS: Matthew Tierney ‘22 Calvin Bartt ‘22

Sarah Faestel ‘22 Audrey Harman ‘22 Frachesco Contreras ‘22 Grant Barnes ‘23 Jake Fete ‘20 Yasmin Latchman ‘23

Dainel Soto ‘23 Victoria Tuffour ‘22 Christina Nelson ‘20 Weston Mullins ‘23

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Sophia Marcinek ‘20 Reilly Wible ‘22 Armando Moldanado ‘21

Zion Taylor ‘23 Sean Vestecka ‘20

ADVISERS NICOLE ARDUINI ADAM DAWKINS ‘98 MARIA LYNCH SARA HILDRETH

We’ve partnered with publication printers to completely offset our magazine’s paper consumption but “releafing” (replanting) trees around the globe.

02 ELEVATE STAFF

THE NUMBER OF HOURS that we all spend in the lab is almost ridiculous at this point. The year is in full swing now and we have finally found our footing as a magazine team and are figuring out this whole magazine-making thing out. We have had so many underclassmen step up to help make this magazine possible and we are so thankful for all the new staff members we have added the past few months. In this issue we chose to focus on the people that matter most to us, the student body, our readers. We included a wide range of pieces dealing with mental health, what a blind date is like, and many more. We wanted to highlight the achievements of our students, go deep into the minds of our student body, and share with you what we see happening around campus. We have spent many mornings, academic supports, lunches, and after school hours putting together this magazine to share with you. We hope you enjoy it. - THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE TEAM

JOIN OUR STAFF COLOR PALETTE: Pantone 2347 CP, 4006 CP, 7466 CP, 3125 CP, Black 6 CP FONTS USED: AHJ Franklin Gothic for body copy & captions Masthead: Mongoose Bold Headlines: Mongoose Bold Subheadlines: Bodoni 72 Bold Drop Caps: Bodoni 72 Pull quotes: AHJ Franklin Gothic Condensed

RJ Media is an open Forum for student free expression We met every Monday during academic support and Tuesdays after school.

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas?

Come and see us in the RJ Media Lab RM P102 or find us on Social Media.

@rj_media @rj_media @rjmedia

EDITORIAL POLICIES RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjmedianow.com, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students.

The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness.

The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently.

We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

OUR MAGAZINE STAFF

This semester we have had old faces come back but also tons of fresh new faces come in and grace the media lab. Our staff, through countless hours of work, has gotten extremely close and we are so proud of all of them. NOT PICTURED: Matt Tierney, Sabrina Vizurrga, Sam Stern, Maddie Proctor

MEET THE ARTIST- After a chaotic three hour bus ride from Arvada to Denver Sophomore Joey Paolucci is labeled a hero by the Elevate Magazine staff. Joey has stepped up and done all of the artwork for this magazine. Joey has been drawing since he was 10 and when asked about becoming a member of the Elevate team Joey said, “I think it is really fun to actually participate in the magazine that I read.” Joey is obviously extremely talented and the team is lucky to have him.

The student Editorial Board will have final say in the content of the publications. School officials, administration or faculty and staff shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics, wherein coverage will be worked through with the president and principals: Obituaries, employee termination, and crimes or cases in the court of law.

RJ MEDIA SWEEPS

CHSAA

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked.

All material published by RJ Media is copyrighted to RJ Media, year and date of original publishing. RJ Media will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright.

We take our own photos and produce our own content. We sometimes use photos with express written permission, but only if we absolutely have to. Those will be credited to the photographer with attribution specified by the permission of use. Read our full editorial policies at rjmedianow.com/ policy

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

Read our full Editorial Policies at rjmedianow.com/about

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

WANT TO BE PART OF OUR TEAM? RJ MEDIA CLUB Meets on Monday during academic support and Tuesdays after school for Elevate, the school magazine and Thursdays for broadcast TAKE ADVANCED JOURNALISM In this class you will gain real world experience with magazine production, social media story telling and online news format with RJ Media NOW

AWARD WINNING RJ MEDIA At this years Continental League media Contest RJ Media picked up quite a few awards across the board. The awards that were picked up were: 1ST PLACE – News Magazine Design and Layout -Elevate Magazine Staff 1ST PLACE Broadcast Feature Story – Kylie Pendelton and Isabella Vickers 1ST PLACE Broadcast News Story – RJTV Staff 1ST PLACE -Feature Writing – Maddie Proctor 1ST PLACE – Short Documentary – Cami Evangelista and NIck Faestel 1ST PLACE – Photography – Sophia Marcinek 1ST PLACE – Sports Writing – JP Pak 2ND PLACE -Creative Poetry- Grace Varga 2ND PLACE – Photo Essay- Sam Stern 2ND PLACE Broadcast sports story – Earl Stephens And Zac Van Haslen 2ND PLACE newspaper writing sport writing – Parker Biley 2ND PLACE Editorial Writing – Sophia Marcinek 3RD PLACE Broadcast Feature Story – Owen Cabibi and Hayden Proctor 3RD PLACE Editorial Writing – Ryan Tierney 3RD PLACE Broadcast Sports Story – Morgan Anderson, Olivia Catalano, and Skylar Cain

STAFF ELEVATE 03

ELEVATE LEADING OFF

04 ELEVATE LEADING OFF

BACK

TO BACK

ANTIONIO SEGURA WINS STATE

At this years state wrestling championship Antonio Segura ‘21 took home his second W two years in a row.

He is now a 2x CHSAA State Champion, after winning his 145 pound weight class.

“Winning thsi is a dream come true, and for a second time... it’s unbelievable,” Segura told reporter Armando Maldonado.

PHOTO BY: ZION TAYLOR ‘23

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 05

CHEERING

FOR OUR

TEAM

Students fill the stands at Family Sports Center and the Raiders game against rival Valor Christian.

The Raiders ended in a tie game 2-2. Read more about fans in the stands on page, 41 PHOTO BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

06 ELEVATE LEADING OFF

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 07

ELEVATE NEWS

RUNNING AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS in Atalanta Georgia Chris Boyle lived out a life long dream. “I was running so hard the last 10 miles I didn’t soak in crossing the finish line too much; I was trying to survive.

It was pretty surreal to see people who have supported me my entire running career waiting for me. It would have been more emotional if I hadn’t just ran the hardest race of my life.

Photos provided by Chris Boyle

08 ELEVATE NEWS

BY: GRANT BARNS ‘23 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: CHRIS BOYLE

RUNNING TOWARD A DREAM

MATH TEACHER CHRIS BOYLE RUNS HIS WAY TO THE OLYMPIC TRIALS

You would never guess if you saw him walking down the Boys Division freshman hall, but math teacher Christopher Boyle is an Olympic hopeful.

Most students know him as a friendly math teacher, but he is also known as someone who competed at the Olympic trials.

Mr. Boyle qualified for the U.S. Marathon Olympic Team Trials after running at the California International Marathon in 2019. This meant that on February 29th, he joined 652 Olympic hopefuls in Atlanta Georgia and ran the race of his life. The top three runners from that event will represent America in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Racing to be in the Olympics was not just a random decision for Mr. Boyle, it was a process full of hard work and determination. Boyle’s best marathon time is an incredible 2 hours 18 minutes and 22 seconds.

Running over 26 miles isn’t something you can just jump into. Mr. Boyle spent years of his life running and building up to going the distance that he runs today.

“I started running when I was in fourth grade.

I ran cross country from fourth to eighth grade.

I stopped doing it when I got to high school because I got too nervous before my races,” Boyle said.

After taking a couple of years off from running, Mr. Boyle had noticed that his brother was really exceeding as a runner. Mr. Boyle, being very competitive, went back to running as a junior in high school forgetting his nervousness.

“At the end of the day, the reason I run is because I love to compete. Put it all out on the line and see who’s the best,” Boyle said.

With any large goal, the journey to achieving it has its ups and downs. Mr. Boyle faced these ups and downs several years before he had qualified for the trials. Mr. Boyle started thinking about the competeing in the Olympics nine years ago. Because they hold the trials every four years he started running for the Olympics in 2012.

Unfortunately, he did not make it. Waiting nearly four more years he tried again for the 2016 Summer Olympics and fell short.

“I started thinking about running three Olympic cycles ago, then I had a lot of ups and downs—injuries, stepping away from the sport. The last year and a half has gone really well being at Regis and finding new training partners. It just clicked this year,” he said.

Mr. Boyles’ previous two attempts for the Olympic Trials did not stop him from going out this year for the 2020 games. In preparation for his marathon, Mr. Boyle set goals for success. His goals included running a certain amount of miles a week and staying healthy.

With all of his preparations he felt excited rather than nervous to be running for a shot on the Olympic team. The school and his students were excited for him too. His advice for students?

“Enjoy what you do. Sometimes it can be really daunting. Spend time around positive people who support you,” Boyle said.

Mr. Boyle completed the hardest race of his life surrounded by his friends and family. He placed 109th out of 652 runners with a time of 2:25:49.

“It was pretty surreal to see people who have supported me my entire running career waiting for me at the finish line,” Boyle said.

“I GOT TO RUN AND I GOT TO COMPETE AGAINST THE COUNTRIES BEST, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I’M A MATH TEACHER HERE AT REGIS JESUIT.”

A RANDOM RUN IN Running in Wash Park Mr. Boyle ran into an old competitor from college. They started training together and making small waves amongst other runners in the Denver area. Three more runners joined and all began training for the Olympic Trials. The are affectionately known as “The Good Boys” based off the mutual soft spot for pups and the fact that they run Wash Park 3-5 times a week. Photos provided by Chris Boyle

NEWS ELEVATE 09

ELEVATE NEWS

THIS YEAR CHSAA RECOGNIZED ESPORTS as an official pilot activity, and

ESPORTS MAKES IT’S DEBUT WITH KILLER GOALS IN MIND

A LEAGUE of their own BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 PHOTO BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

Regis Jesuit—along with 46 other high school teams in Colorado—are jumping at the opportunity to start their own teams.

This semester Mr. Davenport, Matthew Collins ‘21 and, Peter Lengwin ’20 have made it their mission to create a team that dominates Colorado.

Our school, along with most high schools, are focusing their efforts on one game in particular: League of Legends, more commonly referred to as League.

League is a multiplayer online game, where players must use team-based strategy to defeat other teams and ultimately destroy the opposing team’s base.

League was created in 2009 and has grown rapidly since. It has more than 80 million players worldwide with the game bringing in more than five billion dollars in the last five years for its developer Riot Games.

When talking about the game itself Collins said, “League is a game of skill and teamwork, it takes leaders and

skilled players, to defeat the other team the whole team must work together to infiltrate their base.”

Before creating the Regis Jesuit Esports team, junior Matthew Collins played on the Cherry Creek Esports team for a year.

Collins talks about his experience playing for the Cherry Creek esports team last year.

“After playing for Creek I learned what it takes to make a winning team. I learned how to play the game {league} so that we can win, and keep winning,” Collins said.

Collins had the opportunity to help bring a state title to Cherry Creek as their top lane but what he really wants is to bring a state title home to Regis Jesuit.

“Winning state was awesome, I was so nervous and I didn’t play my best but when we won, that feeling, yah that was awesome. Now I just want to do it for Regis,” he said.

The team is looking very strong after having just started their season and their chemistry on the screen is obvious, and a great season is predicted from the Esports team.

OBJECTIONyour honor!

THE ROAD TO STATE FOR MOCK TRIAL TAKES DEDICATION BY: MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21 PHOTO BY: MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21

At Arapahoe County Courthouse for the Arapahoe Regional Mock Trial Tournament. The team went 4-0 and won the championship/a bid to state/ a best witness and best attorney award for Kenna Haverkamp ‘20 and Mati Rogers ‘20 respectively.

From left to right: Trenton Schultz ‘21, Charlie Henninger ‘20, Chalmers Powell ‘21, Peter Lengwin ‘20, Mati Rogers ‘20, Layton Hall ‘20, Kenna Haverkamp ‘20, Maddie Proctor ‘21

10 ELEVATE NEWS

“Objection, Your Honor!”The defending state champion Regis Jesuit Mock Trial “A Team” competes in the final round of the regional tournament. The energy in the room is palpable, and family and friends listen intently as senior Peter Lengwin stands up to deliver the closing argument against Saint Mary’s Academy.

“After I heard we were in the championship round, I really got in the zone. Our coach told us to carpe diem, and we sure did,” Chalmers Powell ‘21 said.

The team practices four times a week—drilling rules of evidence, legal procedure, and performance skills. Mock trial rounds last about two hours, and competitors act as either attorneys or witnesses.

Attorneys are responsible for crafting questions and a case theory that proves their side of the case, just like real life. Witnesses play a wide range of characters,

from medical experts to dog walkers.

“I portray the witness Dr. Chris Traeger, an expert in gerontological neurology. I enjoy being an expert witness because I can utilize the strengths of my own personality,” Peter Lengwin ‘20 said.

Each round is a blend of improv acting, logic, and rhetoric. Regis Jesuit has three teams (A, B, and C), each with an all-star coaching staff of practicing and former attorneys. The A Team won the Arapahoe Regional Tournament for the third consecutive year, securing a chance to defend their state title on March 13th and 14th.

Seniors Kenna Haverkamp and Mati Rogers won Best Witness and Best Attorney awards, respectively.

“I would like to thank Ann Taylor, whoever that is,” Mati Rogers ‘20 said.

ROBOTICS GIVES STUDENTS AN ESCAPE FROM TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY, letting them experience engineering,

Photos by Sophia Marcinek ‘20 and Sean Vestecka ‘20 For any questions about Robotics club come to BD 179 on Tuesdays or Thursdays after school and meet the team. Don’t forget to support our Robotics team at the DU on March 21st.

MORE THANa club ROBOTICS OFFERS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN ENGINEERING & PROGRAMMING BY: GRANT BARNES ‘23 PHOTOS BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 & SEAN VESTECKA ‘20

designing, and programming in a safe environment.

This student-led club has a lot to offer for any students interested in joining, and plans for big events and future projects as well. Meeting after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this club works on advancing their creations and technique. If you’ve ever seen the Boys Division Tradition Hall when Robotics are working, you would see the hard work that every member contributes and the several pieces to the project they are working on. So what is that the Robotics club is doing in the BD Tradition Hall after school?

For the Robotics club captain Sofia Reyes ‘21, preparing for the upcoming competition is very important. This team of 35 students are working after school for the DU Robotics Competition this March.

The Robot that is being created will be able to pick up and shoot a ball, climb, and determine the colors of a spinning wheel. The process of creating this robot from a single idea into something roaming the halls shows just how impressive and talented the club is.

“Seeing it come to life through the process of building and programming is rewarding,” Reyes said.

Even though the Robotics team shows lots of talented engineering, programming and building club members, not everyone started with any experience.

Many students, especially freshman look into Robotics for different reasons, and find that it is easy to be taught. The team captain Sofia Reyes ’21 started out in Robotics as a freshman looking for something fun to do. ”Freshman year I was exploring clubs for and wanted to try it out. I enjoyed the people and made good friends so I stuck with it. It is a great experience to be apart of,” she said.

Many other freshmen have been brought into the club with little to no experience. Freshman Damon Shin was able to learn a lot of programming in his first year with the help of others.

“I’ve had a not so great experience at my last school, and I wanted to give it another shot. This was way better. I have had little experience but it was easy to learn. People here helped and supported me and now we are ready for the competitions,” Shin said.

For senior Luke Aschenburg, being apart of Robotics was not something new. Since second grade he had been part of a team and Regis Jesuit Robotics club and for him it seemed like a natural next step to participate in high school.

Primarily training the younger students, Luke got to lead and be part of several astounding projects in Robotics.

“Our FLL teams have spoken to astronauts and electrical engineers, I’ve developed working genetic algorithms, and there is no existing code on the internet for non-mecanum field-centric drive,” Luke said.

For these members of the club, and many others, Robotics has made relationships and was a new learning experience for many.

“OUR FAMILY DOESN’T WATCH BASKETBALL— WE WATCH 200 POUND ROBOTS PLAY BASKETBALL, ULTIMATE FRISBEE, OR, IN THIS YEAR’S CASE DODGEBALL.” -LUKE ASCHENBERG ‘20

NEWS ELEVATE 11

ELEVATE NEWS

MISSION SEASON

I

n past years, Regis Jesuit took one week out of the year to focus on fundraising for schoolrelated causes, service and foundations in the Denver area. This year, Mission Week is being extended throughout the entire season of Lent, which began on February 26th and ends April fourth.

Members of the Regis Jesuit community were able to pre-order and purchase t-shirts, sweatpants, and a bracelet to support Mission Season.

This money contributes to the many

12 ELEVATE NEWS

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE STORY BY: GRANT BARNES ‘23

donations that Regis will be collecting this season. By purchasing the bracelet for $15, students and staff will be able to participate in Dress Down Fridays. Students without bracelets have the opportunity to donate $5 on individual Fridays to dress down.

“Dressing down each individual Friday is $5… So some quick math says the wristband is definitely the way to go,” Trevor Jackson, Student Council’s moderator said.

Even though you can’t order Mission Season Gear anymore, you can begin or even continue

to donate this season through special events.

Students who attended the school dance on February 28th donated $1 with their ticket purchase and raised $700 for Christ in the City, a Catholic organization that serves the poor with the help of young volunteers.

With the help of Cadre, Student Council is raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Tennyson Center for Children, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Give Her a Future foundation this Mission Season.

OUR LENTEN MISSION CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME

CALL TO WORSHIP BY MR. JIMMY TRICCO

WORDS FROM ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE We received a piece of the planet on our and renewal of God’s creation. forehead on Ash Wednesday. We were THIS LENT, WE WILL FOCUS OUR smudged with earth. Marked with creation by ATTENTION ON THE FOURTH APOSTOLIC something that died. During the Season of Lent PREFERENCE, THE CARE FOR OUR we are welcomed into the Passion and Death of COMMON HOME. Jesus. We reflect on those things that may keep The Regis Jesuit Environmental Club and us from relationship with God, attachments that Chemistry Club will be leading an awareness place our focus on ourselves rather and action campaign during “WHILE LENT MAY than something bigger.

BE A TIME OF FAST- the 40 days of Lent to engage While Lent may be a time of ING OR OF “GIVING our community. Our efforts will fasting or of “giving something up,” SOMETHING include a waste audit this week, UP,” WE TURN we turn our attention to awareness, OUR ATTENTION educational outreach, new signage TO AWARENESS, mindfulness and an intentional for landfill, compost, and recycling MINDFULNESS AND care of our environment, so that we AN INTENTIONAL bins, prayer focused on care for CARE OF OUR ENVI- creation, student-led and facultymay become something new.

RONMENT, SO THAT In partnership with Pope led activities and a second waste WE MAY BECOME Francis, the Society of Jesus called SOMETHING NEW.” audit on the Tuesday following all of our apostolates—works Easter, on April 14. like Regis Jesuit-- to a deeper commitment to We will be challenged to consider how our justice in the Universal Apostolic Preferences impact on the environment affects the dignity released last year. and rights of people today and into the future.

The four apostolic preferences include Our hope is to use this time of prayer, reflection, showing the way to God through the Spiritual education, and action to inspire a deeper Exercises, walking with the poor and commitment to justice in caring for our planet. outcasts whose dignity has been violated, The ashes we received on Ash Wednesday accompanying young people in the creation of remind us of where to keep our focus: on God’s a hope-filled future and care for our common love for creation and relationships with one home, which is collaboration for the protection another. - MR. TRICCO

PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

JUST THE FACTS environmental club sustainability stats for RJ 16,000 40% OF IN ONE $40K $25K 180 stats provided by the environmental club

POUNDS WASTE In a typical month, Regis Jesuit puts approximately 16,000 pounds of trash in the landfill.

we produce is going into compost and recycling containers.

We can do better!

MONTH A YEAR A YEAR TREES of recycling and composting, Regis Jesuit can save more than 15,000 gallons of water and enough electricity to power a home for nearly 3 years

LED Lights in the BD and GD provide the school a savings of approximately $40,000 a year.

Our campus evapotranspiration irrigation system saves RJ $25,000 a year in watering cost, and saves countless gallons of water.

We have more than 180 trees on campus, doing all the good things trees do, with plans to plant another 15-20 trees every year!

LET US BE MARKED NOT FOR SORROW AND LET US BE MARKED NOT FOR SHAME. LET US BE MARKED NOT FOR FALSE HUMILITY OR FOR THINKING WE ARE LESS THAN WE ARE BUT FOR CLAIMING WHAT GOD CAN DO WITHIN THE DUST, WITHIN THE DIRT, WITHIN THE STUFF OF WHICH THE WORLD IS MADE AND THE STARS THAT BLAZE IN OUR BONES AND THE GALAXIES THAT SPIRAL INSIDE THE SMUDGE WE BEAR. -Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace

NEWS ELEVATE 13

ELEVATE YOU

14 ELEVATE YOU

YOU

W h o a r e y o u ? W ha t i s m o s t i m p o r t a n t to you? What inspires you? How to

y o u c o p e ? W h a t m a k e s y o u ha p p y ?

These are all questions students continuously ask themselves. In t h i s s e c t i o n y o u w i l l f i n d f i r s t ha n d stories on everything from mental health to blind dates, and find out what makes these students themselves and how they cope with b e i n g a h i g h s c h o o l e r.

YOU ELEVATE 15

ELEVATE YOU

comfy couches WELLNESS WEDNESDAY BY: SAM STERN ‘20 PHOTO BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

& AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT

Counselors wear several hats, but the most important one is supporting you

STATS FROM STUDENTS GRADES 9-12, IN 2018 OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD COMPARING NATIONAL AND STATE AVERAGE

31% CO&US

Percent of high school students who report they felt sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities

17% CO&US

Suicidal thoughts, attempts, and related injuries among high school students who report they seriously considered attempting suicide

7%

CO&US

attempted suicide 1 or more times Data from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

58%

COLORADO

has seen the highest increase of teen suicides in the nation jumping up 58% more then twice what the nation saw.

16 ELEVATE YOU

H

igh school can be summarized in one word, a grind. Through the process there are adults who exclusively work to make the lives of the students better. They are your Regis Jesuit Counselors.

In both the boys and girls divisions there are counselors that open up their rooms to students who need a place to feel comfortable. So often in high school it is hard to fight through the trials and tribulations of what high school has to bring. They provide a safe atmosphere with some comfy couches, fun games, and most of all, a positive vibe.

“As a counselor, we have a multifaceted role of supporting the students in navigating through anything that gets in the way of their well-being,” Mr. Brian Merz-Hutchinson, Boys Division Counselor said.

The life of a high schooler provides plenty of moments where there are questions and concerns about the person’s mindset. Counselors give students an opportunity to open up about problems in and outside of school. They come up with ways to communicate with students in a very reflective and calm manner.

“In terms of well-being and mental health, the one factor in a community or a situation that is the most important for a student, is having a trusted adult that they can go to in the school,” Merz Hutchinson said.

The counselors try to portray to the best of their ability how important it is

to go out and talk to a trusted adult.

Even if it is talking to a teacher or a staff member of any kind, having an adult to confide with is very important for a student’s mental health. Being able to have an adult that can give their perspective in a different lens can enhance a student’s self-confidence.

The mind of a teenager is constantly circulating ideas and thinking heavily.

Escaping the stress trap can be a huge hurtle. Stressing over homework, quizzes, tests, and other school projects can have a major impact on a students school experience.

“The one thing that is the most detrimental is to bury it under the rug and not talk about it. That can make it build up and just become worse overall,” Merz Hutchinson said.

It is so important to keep in mind that there are always ways to keep the human mind in tact and safe. Keeping situations in private that are affecting the person mentally can ultimately be dangerous. It is important to come out and have conversations with those you trust.

Take advantage of the peers and friends around the community as well.

Being able to talk with a friend about a situation that is wearing down the person mentally can be so positive.

Don’t be afraid to reach out. You never know when you could have a conversation that could have a major impact in such a beneficial way.

You are NOT

ALONE Suicide is the 1st leading cause of death in ages 10 - 24 in Colorado second in the US

One in five children and teens between the ages of 13 and 18 have or will have serious mental illness.

WARNING ! of Mental Illness SIGN

Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities

!

Mental Health

35%

RJHS Counselor Visits r he

Ot

7%

50%

Of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14.

! !

Social Withdrawal, Long lasting sadness or irritability Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart, physical discomfort or difficulty breathing

58%

Academic

Common

1st

Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.

NEED HELP? YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS HERE TO HELP AND OFFER NO JUDGMENT.

REACH OUT

YOU ELEVATE 17

ELEVATE YOU

get some

FOR MOST STUDENTS SLEEP IS A LUXURY, BUT AT WHAT COST?

I

BY: JACK FETE 20 ILLUSTRATION BY: JOEY PALOUCCHI ‘22

t is six o’clock in the evening and you are just getting home from practice, your evening is not even close to being done. You have assignments in every class and a test tomorrow and you aren’t sure how you will fit it all in.

You crank out a couple assignments before you eat dinner. After dinner comes chores and more schoolwork. Suddenly it is 11:00 p.m. and you still don’t feel very confident in your knowledge for the test tomorrow. You study an extra 30 to 45 minutes, and then you fall asleep just after midnight.

The alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. and you hit snooze a few times. Now you are late getting ready for school. You manage to grab a bar as you run out the door and you still don’t feel 100 percent awake as you wipe the sleep dust from your eyes on your drive to school.

18 ELEVATE YOU

You show up for the test and you cannot remember anything you studied because you are so tired. You end up flunking the test, you fall asleep in the next class and get a demerit. Now you’re behind in yet another class. Because you are exhausted, you push off homework, creating an endless cycle of anxiety and stress, which will lead to less sleep.

According to the American Sleep Association (ASA), about eight percent of teenagers get the recommended amount of sleep each night, which is eight to ten hours. There are many factors that lead to sleep deprivation amongst teenagers like homework, after school activities, and jobs.

According to Mrs. Ames, counselor in the Boys Division, screens are the leading culprit in sleep deprivation among teenagers.

“The brain has a tough time relaxing, but kids are turning to screens for multiple

reasons. 1: homework, 2: entertainment, 3: socializing, everything seems to be on that screen. That causes later bedtimes and having a hard time resting and finding that restful state in the first place,” Mrs. Ames said. “Screens nearby your bed create a distraction when trying to sleep, because you become tempted to check social media or watch a YouTube video.”

A lack of sleep can lead to many problems for students. A loss of sleep impacts our circadian sleep cycle. All the activities, homework, and exams that eat up time after school, help push back that cycle disrupting it from working in a healthy way.

This results in abnormal sleep schedules making it harder to go to bed early. Being unable to go to bed at an earlier time makes us exhausted the next day and unable to focus. Along with this changes, lack of sleep is partially responsible for a rise in mental health issues among teenagers, resulting in

big changes in someone’s psyche.

“Sleep deprivation is a huge link to mental health concerns, anxiety, depression, stress and lack of sleep contributes to poor nutrition, if you ever stayed up late even doing work, you wake up the next day and you eat poorly,” Ames said.

While there are many sources that influence our sleep negatively, there are many ways for us to help improve our sleep.

“One of the big benefits of sleep is recovery,” Ames said. “Your body is able to kind of disengage if you will, its recovering from being stimulated all day.”

For students this recovery is essential. It allows us to recharge our batteries to full so that we are prepared for the next day. There are many ways to help improve your sleep.

The first and possibly most prevalent, would involve screens.

“Not having screen time right up until you want to go to sleep is healthy, so half hour to 45 minutes before bed is recommended on screens,” Ames said.

When we are on our screens constantly before bed our brains don’t have a chance to rest. Giving the screens up in order to let our minds relax before we go to sleep is an excellent way to get to sleep earlier.

This time could be used for such things like music, reading, meditation, and prayer, which all aid in some way with you getting more sleep, according to Mrs. Ames.

There are many ways we can get more sleep and help relax our bodies before it’s time to go to bed. There are things we can do in the day that will put our bodies in a state where sleep will be easier. Finding a

“

SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS A HUGE LINK TO MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS. LACK OF SLEEP CONTRIBUTES TO POOR NUTRITION, IF YOU EVER STAYED UP LATE EVEN DOING WORK, YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY AND YOU EAT POORLY.

way to incorporate physical exercise after school could really help.

Getting some sort of physical activity in during the day is a great way to burn much of the energy that you have stored during the day. It allows your battery to be emptied and a need to refill it which will also, make you more tired and ready to fall asleep.

Sports practices after school are a great way to burn off energy, but for those of us that don’t play sports a good run or bike ride can help burn off some energy.

Another way we can possibly get more sleep is to hold off on homework. Yes, it does sound like a bad idea at first glance, but here at Regis Jesuit we are blessed with Academic Support and a long lunch period.

While for most students these periods are time for socializing, they are also a great time for students to do homework they had not done the previous night. If it is getting late and you are working on an assignment due third period the next day, don’t be afraid to put it down and get that sleep you need and continue it during academic support.

Students must remember that their mental health and well-being comes before their schoolwork. Students should take a step back and identify what factors in their lives are causing them to lose sleep and make changes. Whether it involves removing the screens earlier in the evening or removing something from you daily schedule, give yourself more time and don’t feel bad about it. Whatever you chose to do remember that our counselors are here to help you if you need it.

YOU ELEVATE 19

ELEVATE YOU

SILENCE, A GATEWAY TO THE INTERNAL AND AN OPPORTUNITY THAT GROWS GREATER AND GREATER AS IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY SCARCE.

FINDING THE SILENCE BY: JACK BRUSTKERN ‘20 PHOTO BY: KAM BERMUDEZ ‘22

According to studies done by Psychology Today, meditation can help individuals sleep better, cope with some symptoms associated with mental disorders like depression and anxiety, reduce some of the psychological difficulties associated with chronic pain, and even improve some cognitive and behavioral functions.

20 ELEVATE YOU

By silence, I do not mean a mere absence of outside noise. I am instead referring to a sort of inner silence. One that only develops if we take a short break from the constant, overwhelming noise in our lives and allowing our minds to settle.

From this place of inner silence, we are able to take advantage of a few significant opportunities. For one, we can take a step back to reflect on what is actually going on in our lives and what is actually important to us.

This will allow us to better understand who we are and where we are, which will strengthen us in the second opportunity silence gives: a time and a space to plan how we will put into practice actions in accordance with both our principles and our hopes.

If we go without silence for awhile (I’ll be the first to admit that I neglect this myself), and opt for the easy road of distraction (think gaming, social media, music, hyper-focus on school, etc.), we can start to feel a buildup of frustrations that aren’t fun to face. Ignoring these frustrations, however, doesn’t make them go away. It just pushes them further down the road and allows them to build up over time. This just makes it harder to turn to silence because the longer we wait, the more we have to work

MORE TO HIS STORY

face and work through in ourselves.

In other words, if we avoid taking a break from the hustle and bustle we have become accustomed to, we are making it harder for ourselves to take the opportunity to look at our life and to course correct in the direction we want to live toward.

Okay, but wait, I’m a busy kid. How do I have time for silence? Again, I’ve been there too. Here’s the trick. You don’t have to start something totally new. Work with what you are already doing. I just decided to stop listening to music in the car. I would consciously choose to stop the constant noise (literal or figurative) so that my mind could unwind, something that I have never stopped due to just how much more relaxed I feel when my mind isn’t constantly spinning.

But perhaps you would like to take it up a notch and commit on a deeper level. Perhaps you commit to meditating for five minutes each day and to reflect for a minute or so after about what you want to accomplish that day. By getting to a nearly neutral mind, we can think on a deeper level and increase our capacity to live our lives in accordance with the good, true and the beautiful.

Jack delivers inspiring digital wellbeing talks loaded with practical tools. He will be taking a gap year in 2020-2021 and hitting the road, putting 18,000 miles on a converted van to speak at over 70 schools and reach over 20,000 kids with a digital wellbeing talk.

VISIT DETACHNOW.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

33

THE FACTS

Studies show that exercise can work quickly to elevate depressed mood in many people. This is something we are often told that exercise reduces stress and anxiety but what does this really mean? According to Harvard Medical School exercise, “stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.”

Endorphins are neurotransmitters, these control how your body reacts to pain, stress, and other stimuli. Endorphins are sometimes called a “natural painkiller routine the bodies feel good chemical”.

New Activities in days

They say exercising helps relieve anxiety and stress so Sophomore Audrey Harman decided to put it to the test

BY: AUDREY HARMAN ‘222

ROCK CLIMBING

1

DAY ONE: I went Rock Climbing at Lifetime Fitness with Sarah Faestel ‘22. We climbed three levels of walls, all of which were for beginners. Even though the walls were termed “easy,” Sarah and I felt that the walls were challenging in their own way. There is a steep learning curve with rock climbing, and without much instruction, it was easy to learn, but difficult to improve. While climbing on the second wall, it challenged me because it had few foot holds, making me dependent on my arm strength. The final wall was challenging because there were even fewer hand and foot holds, and the wall curved a little bit. Overall, it was a good time.

RATING: 3.5/5

EXERCISE NOT ONLY PROMOTES HEALTHY LIVING AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, YOU CAN ALSO REAP THE BENEFITS OF A GOOD WORKOUT BEFORE IT IS EVEN OVER. EXERCISE IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP MANAGE MOODS AND ENCOURAGE FEELING BETTER.

2

SNOWBOARDING

DAY TWO: I went snowboarding with an array of people at Keystone Ski Resort. (The group included Calvin Bart ‘22, Blake Bateman ‘22, Paige Zilvitis ‘22, and Hanna Ryel from Chapparal.) Hanna and I drove up together and hit the learners slope a couple of times before going onto harder runs. This was Hanna’s first time ever on a board, and I had only been a couple of times the previous year. Hanna and I proceeded to wipe out a cumulative total of 13 times down our first run.

After we made it to the bottom of our first run, I talked Hanna through her anxieties over being on her first ever ski lift with words of encouragement. After doing some green runs, we stopped for lunch at the Outpost and met up with Calvin, Blake, and Paige. We even saw a member of the RJ staff, Mr. Niebur! After lunch, Hanna and I dragged our elite friends to the easy slopes, and we took off from there. At first, Hanna refused to “ride it like a skateboard” as Bateman would say, but after some convincing she was cruising down Schoolmarm (the family run). Everyone had a great time watching as Hanna and I ate it down the mountain (though we did eventually tear up some blues). Overall, it was a great day with no “knucks” (fist bumps) put to waste.

RATING: 5/5

3

YOGA

Earlier this year, I gave up soccer, a sport I had played for 11 years. For the first few weeks, it was great. There were no practices, my weekends were open, and I felt more energized because I was getting more sleep. But after a month or two, I started to feel sad, and I missed being outside and being with my teammates. I felt like I wasn’t growing mentally. I wanted to try some new things that I had never done before.

Endorphins being released comes from the pleasure center of the brain and this causes the body to feel what some refer to as a “runners high”.

Exercise not only promotes healthy living and an active lifestyle, but you can reap the benefits of a good workout before it is even over. Exercise is a great way to help manage moods and encourage feeling better.

“Exercise can improve mood and can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression and even make you more resilient to stress.” -Brain Nerd

DAY THREE: Catharine Redden ‘22 and I went to Core Power to try out hot yoga. Before we went in, Cat gave me the rundown of what to expect. She told me I should bring a mat, a towel, and a lot of water. We walked in and the wave of heat rushed over me immediately. We did a level two class, meaning that the moves are harder than the first level class and that the room is at about 98 degrees. I learned a lot about yoga that I didn’t know before, tried a few of the poses, and did my best to keep up with the class, which became very difficult once I began to sweat. I got light headed there-quarters of the way through and got a head ache once I got home. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know if I’d go again.

RATING: 4/5

YOU ELEVATE 21

ELEVATE YOU

A students first hand account of their vaping experience

WHY I

QUIT STORY BY: YASMIN LATCHMAN ‘23 ART BY: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22

ELEVATESTUDENT YOU PROFILES 1222ELEVATE

WE ALL KNOW THAT VAPING IS AN EPIDEMIC. BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHY DO STUDENTS VAPE. WE SAT DOWN WITH ONE STUDENT WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND HEARD FROM THEM HOW THEY STARTED AND HOW IT CHANGED THEIR LIFE.

suspended wasn’t good for my mental health.

ELEVATE: DO YOU THINK SUSPENSION IS SUFFICIENT/IS GONNA HELP PEOPLE QUIT? A: I think for people that are heavily addicted to juuling, it doesn’t matter.

When I get in trouble, I take that as “don’t do it again.” I just stopped, but I feel like if they show a little bit more care in the person they would be able to see that it isn’t good for them, instead of what they do. The dean made me write a paper about it, and that helped in my decision in not wanting to do it anymore.

To answer the question, I think there is a ELEVATE: TELL ME THE STORY OF lot of gray area and it can’t be addressed YOUR FIRST VAPING EXPERIENCE. A: It was at the Village Inn down here by in black and white. school. One of my older friends had one ELEVATE: HOW HAS VAPING AFFECTED and that was when I first took a hit. In the YOUR LIFE? A: It has brought more stress in terms moment I was trying to be a rebellious of strain on relationships with my teen. parents, but not so much around friends ELEVATE: DID VAPING MAKE YOU or anything like that. It brought a lot of FEEL CLOSER TO YOUR FRIENDS OR unneeded stress. Academically, I’ve FURTHER AWAY FROM THEM? been a good student as far as I can A: Most of my friends at the time had remember, and I never really noticed any tried it or were doing it. In a way, I cognitive effects. It affected more the felt closer, but also not... It was just emotional/ social aspects of school. something we all did.

ELEVATE: DID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ELEVATE: WOULD YOU CALL YOUR VAPING EXPERIENCE AN ADDICTION? FRIEND GROUPS WHEN YOU DECIDED A: Totally. With the addictive chemicals, TO QUIT? I was always wanting it, getting cravings A: No. Most of my friends were slowing down or had already decided to stop and for it, getting with drawls, getting did stop. You have to have friends that headaches. don’t do it first. If you and your friend ELEVATE: CAN YOU DESCRIBE group do it, it’s really hard if one person WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ADDICTED wants to stop and all your friends do it.

TO VAPING? As a friend group, if one person wants A: It was like a subconscious want for to stop then everyone should make an it. To me it wasn’t a need for it, not like effort to, but that’s kind of an unrealistic I would be sitting in class and I have to thing. I still have friends that do it for go get it, but I would want it from time sure, and it’s still around me. I’m valuing to time. I don’t think it was ever terrible my parents’ relationship with me over to the point where I couldn’t survive that at the moment. without it.

ELEVATE: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ELEVATE: HOW DO YOU THINK THE A TEENAGER WHO WANTS TO TRY REGIS COMMUNITY COULD DO VAPING? A BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING A: Don’t, it will just hook you. Especially STUDENTS WITH THIS ADDICTION? if it is prevalent around you, and you A: I brought it to school just in spite of are trying to stop, your subconscious what was going on in my life. I was not is telling you to do it, and it’s around in a good place mentally or emotionally you. So it’s gonna be hard to say no. at the time. Getting in trouble didn’t Just say no to start. I don’t think people help the cause. I’m not saying that read articles about this kind of stuff. punishment should be void, but when We definitely don’t. Especially in our I got in trouble they didn’t ask me if I day and age, we are always moving fast was doing okay. I went to talk to my pace with school and stuff afterwards. counselor about it, before and after getting in trouble which helped...Getting We are always constantly moving. That’s

another reason you get addicted is, it’s a stimulant and you keep going with it, but we don’t take the time to sit down and read articles about that kind of stuff. People don’t want to know about it because they are already addicted to it and they’re just like: damn I can’t stop but I know it’s bad. The addiction part of it overpowers the patience of trying to wait it out and trying to beat the withdrawal process of it so people just keep going back.

ELEVATE: DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PUNISHMENT FOR VAPING? A: I don’t want to say a harsher punishment is the way to go because that isn’t what helped me. Maybe making kids go to classes for it if they get caught with it is helpful or not. I just had something click for me. It is going to be different for so many different kids. You have to get to the root cause of why they started it and what things in their lives are more important than it. That takes getting to know each kid individually. It takes a lot of work, but that’s what you’re gonna have to do.

Q&A

QUICK FACT

“

We all know that vaping is an epidemic. But the real question is why do students vape?

VAPING IS INHALING AND EXHALING CHEMICAL VAPOR, USUALLY KNOWN TO BE FLAVORED AND FILLED WITH NICOTINE. The health aspect of vaping has not been thoroughly researched because we haven’t seen people who vape as they age. However, the studies of the immediate effects of vaping prove that it is harming the cells in your lungs. Once you start, once you try the addictive chemicals and let them alter your brain, there’s really no going back.

According to The American Lung Association, a vape contains and emits a plethora of chemicals that weaken the cells in your lung.

One of them is an herbicide, mainly found in vapes without nicotine or marijuana, called acrolein. This is the same toxic chemical used in weed killer. We sat down with one student and heard about how he started and how it changed his life.

WITH THE ADDICTIVE CHEMICALS, I WAS ALWAYS WANTING IT, GETTING CRAVINGS FOR IT, GETTING DO YOU WANT WITH TO QUIT? DRAWLS, Go see your counselor for resources without fear of GETTING discipline or text HEADACHES. “ditchjuul” to 88709

YOU ELEVATE 23

ELEVATE YOU

DATING IN HIGH SCHOOL...

A

BY: SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22 PHOTO FROM: UNSPLASH FILIPE ALMEIDA

WHAT’S THE DEAL?

Ah, spring. The time of raging hormones, tears, and heart shaped chocolate boxes.

Without a significant other, spring time and Valentine’s Day can be melancholy. For some, it’s a time of celebration of love. While some just don’t give a darn whether or not they have somebody to spend it with.

So what does “dating” look like at our school? How does the co-divisional environment affect this?

First things first, how do RJ students meet people? One sophomore girl said “I usually meet guys through school, social events, after school activities, or mutual/family friends. The guys that I’m closer to have been introduced to me by my friends.”

From the first encounter, many girls reported kindness, intelligence, and listening are what they find attractive. For boys, appearance, personality, and a strong character matter. Many girls reported it’s unattractive when boys act like a jerk and make sexist comments. It is important to these students to have both a romantic side, while also maintaining a friendship.

“If she bails on her friends completely and makes you priority number one, I would argue that’s not a good sign,” one student reported.

24 ELEVATE YOU

For the actual dates, many reported that they like to keep it casual. Taking a long stroll or going to the movie theatre seemed to be a common answer.

“I’m like a dog, I like long walks and sunsets,” one student responded after being asked about her favorable dates. Some students reported its difficult to even find time to schedule a date, due to conflicting schedules. However, some have mastered the art of time management.

It’s overall important to be mindful of keeping a balance between relationships, friends, and family so that no one feels excluded or less of a priority. Through planning and communication this can be achieved.

If you’ve never been in a romantic relationship and are feeling left out, don’t.

“There’s such a hype over dating, but sometimes it isn’t worth it,” one sophomore said after experiencing multiple heartaches.

Dating is never easy, especially not in high school. It can be hard to manage school and the pressures of being and staying in a relationship. So, if you’re single, be ready to mingle. If you’re in a relationship, make good choices.

Q &

HOW DO YOU MEET POTENTIAL DATES?

G: I usually meet guys through mutual friends, co-ed clubs/activities.

B: I meet girls through friends, social media and sporting events.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL FIRST DATE?

A

dates I go on are usually walks around main street G: The and spending time at each others houses.

B: I think that it depends on the girl, if I am really into them then I usually

take them out to dinner or a movie, if I don’t know them very well I usually go somewhere with friends.

WHAT DO YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE? find kindness the most attractive, especially when they are very thoughtful G: Itoward you or others.

B:

When girls are really genuine and when they are nice people and they are good to their friends and good to people they don’t know.

WHAT DO YOU FIND UNATTRACTIVE? don’t like when guys act like jerks, because they think it’s cool or when he G: Icompletely ditches her friends for you. think that it is unattractive when girls jump in really quickly, take B: Iyour time but don’t hide your feelings.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR TIME BETWEEN SCHOOL AND RELATIONSHIPS? dates I go on are usually walks around main street G: The and spending time at each others houses. think that it depends on the girl, if I am really into them then I usually B: Itake them out to dinner or a movie, if I don’t know them very well I usually go somewhere with friends.

ON DATING

YOU ELEVATE 25

ELEVATE YOU

SINGLE

AND READY TO MINGLE STORY BY: SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22 ILLUSTRATION BY: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22

26 ELEVATE YOU

I don’t know if you have ever found yourself googling “how to go on a blind date,” but recently, after a fortuitous series of events, I discovered myself there. First dates are hard. Especially when they are blind first dates. There is no name. No Instagram stalking. You do not even know if you will like the person.

The beginning of this story starts off just like any other Thursday afternoon. I was in an RJ Media meeting when Mrs. Arduini suggested a blind date as a piece for the magazine. I quickly volunteered myself, misunderstanding the fact this would be for the magazine and not RJTV. I envisioned a very awkward date segment, which would fall in line with RJTV’s cringy comedy skits and my dry humor. I would later find out there would be no “lights, camera, action.”

Instead, I would have to write about my date.

On the morning of the date, I was excited to try something new. I am naturally a very reserved person, so this date was far outside of my comfort zone. I woke up early to make myself look decent, but, unfortunately, my hair did not cooperate.

I went through my day as normal, while casually dropping to some of my friends that I would be going on a date that night.

Their response was a chorus of squealing and giggles. A few of my friends wanted to FaceTime me while I was on the date, to make sure he was not going to kidnap me. I reassured them by saying that he couldn’t even drive.

The end of the school day finally arrived, and it was time to meet the “mystery” man. ( Major disclaimer: the boys that set me up were not the best at hiding my date’s name, because there were a lot of issues finding a date and then scheduling.) I walked into the media room with butterflies in my stomach and a smile on my face, looking around to get a clue of who it might be. Quite honestly, I did not really know what was going on when I was introduced to my date. There were many RJ Media Club members in proximity to our introduction, watching our initial interactions with great amusement.

My date turned out to be Francesco, whom I had met about a year prior at Regis Jesuit’s Day for Others. Francesco

and I began with introductions and then started to walk out with our Uber drivers/ photographers, Sophia Marcinek ’20 and Hunter Sullivan ’20. While in the (very long) car ride, be it less them five minutes away, Cesco and I found a few commonalities, two of which were writing and a shared interest in musicals. I was impressed to hear that he played Grandpa Jo in “Charlie in the Chocolate Factory,” and that he is learning to play the saxophone. Francesco has a silvery voice and charisma that keeps you in tune with his stories. I enjoyed listening to his clever and intriguing narratives of his times on and off the stage.

Before arriving at the bowling alley, I warned Francesco that I’m awful at bowling—which, as he would later discover, is no lie. “You know, I’m not going to lie to you, I have my on and off days with bowling,” he replied. (Yay for me.) When we entered the bowling alley, our gift card from RJ Media was not able to pay for bowling. We called over Sophia. She rang up Mrs. Arduini, who would later come to the rescue. While waiting for her, Cesco

“

and I went over to the bar. This is probably the only moment when everything felt like an actual date. We were sitting next to each other, sipping on water. Here we had sort of moved away from the small talk, and had a deeper and more personal conversation. I opened up about my brother with autism, and Francesco empathized with me as he told me stories of his disabled aunt.

Then came the hour of my “destruction”/humiliation/most embarrassing moment of my entire life… we began bowling. It was gutter-ball, after gutter-ball, after gutter-ball. (Obviously, I am by no means athletic.) Francesco crushed me in our first round and teased me for all of my gutter balls. As a person who gets embarrassed and awkward easily, I would like to publicly apologize to Cesco for my awkwardness.

Sometimes he’d hit the “woah” after making strikes. He even bet a dollar that he’d hit the last, standing pin. Which he did and I still owe him a dollar for.

Fortunately for my uncoordinated and un-athletic self, I improved a lot in bowling

by the end of our date, with a few tips and pointers from him. We almost tied in the last game, but apparently bowling backward works very well for Francesco.

Francesco is the type of person you feel like you’ve known for years. He is very easygoing and laid back. This was very well suited for my quiet mannerisms. It has always been hard for me to cultivate new relationships, including friendships, specifically the early stages. Although there wasn’t much chemistry between either of us in a romantic way, I would say Francesco was a very good match for me. (The “friend-zone” was mutual.) I think our personalities balanced well, as I am quiet and an introvert and he is extroverted and talkative.

Learning about someone else is basically the purpose of a date. Although our date was lighthearted and lively, it can be very hard to get to know me well. Afterward, I felt like I came off as uninterested and boring, due to my shyness. But overall, I had a really great time making a new bowling friend. I would 10 out of 10 recommend trying to go on a date with Francesco.

SABRINA WAS FUN TO HANG OUT WITH, I DESTROYED HER THREE TIMES IN BOWLING. IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE.” -FRANCESCO CONTRERAS ’22

YOU ELEVATE 27

ELEVATE YOU

FINDING CALM IN CREATING NECKLACES FOR OTHERS

GETTING creative

DID YOU KNOW?

Spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression.

Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed.

STORY & PHOTOS BY: AUDREY HARMAN ‘22

Staying on trend can be expensive, so sophomore Grayson Parsley ‘22 decided to get creative. She had been shopping and was sad to see how expensive the necklaces were at stores like Urban Outfitters and Altar’d State. Frustrated by high prices, she decided to create her own necklace making business.

“I didn’t want to pay a lot of money for something that I could easily make,” Grayson said, so she made them herself for half the cost. Her necklaces are nearly identical to ones at stores.

Though the cost was the main reason she started to make the jewelry, she said the process is what really keeps her doing it.

“Making the necklaces is very therapeutic and relaxing for me,” Grayson said. She explained how it allows her to take time away from her daily stress and allow her to ease her mind. She enjoys how she can focus on something so simple and let her brain calm down.

Each piece takes about 10-15 minutes to make.

Parsley makes necklaces, anklets, and bracelets from lots of assorted beads and charms.

“They are pretty and nothing like the ones you make at a summer camp,” she said.

Traditionally, jewelry you make at summer camp is very cheesy and you throw them away after a week or two. Parsely’s jewelry is different and can be cherished forever. Parsley doesn’t charge anyone for her pieces. She feels that people shouldn’t have to pay for something that she enjoys doing.

Her friend Lucille Orona ‘22 owns a bracelet and a necklace made my Parsley describes them

28 ELEVATE YOU

Headtohealth.gov

hobbies as sweet, dainty, and pretty. You can ask anyone who has received a piece of jewelry from Parlsey and they will only have good reviews.

“I don’t actually make money off of it, and it is more gratifying for me to see people happy when they receive the necklaces,” she said.

She hopes that everyone enjoys her necklaces as much as she enjoys making them. She also hopes to make enough revenue to donate to charity. She feels that it would be a good way for her to give back after so many people supported her, and helped her start her business.

WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT HORSEBACK riding is when you get going fast on the horse and the wind is in your hair it feels like you are flying in the air with just you and nature.”

EVIA HUGHES ‘23

“Anything can be art, it’s just an expression of how you feel inside.”

- Bella Ames

E the influence of MUCH MORE THAN A PROJECT

ART

STORY & PHOTOS BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

Every art room seems to have that vibe, music playing, students in the zone and it just feels creative when you walk in.

The artists have their air pods in, and are working independently on their own projects and Senior Bella Ames is no exception. She picks up the paint brush and gets in the zone. But For Bella her portfolio for AP Art is so much more than just a project.

Ames ‘20 is Working on her portfolio for AP Art and has chosen to focus on what happens in the mind and mental health.

Bella is the daughter of an artist and one of our school counselors, Kathryn Ames in the Boys Division, so her portfolio only seems fitting.

“Anything can be art, it’s just an expression of how you feel inside,” Ames said. “I like when I look at my art that it shows how I feel or shows how I am trying to convey other emotions.”

The AP Studio Art class at Regis Jesuit is varied towards each individual student, each student must pick a subject that their entire portfolio is about and then use that as inspiration for each piece that they produce.

Each student is given an opportunity to express themselves in a unique way in this

class and that is the whole point. To build individual profiles or to show each person’s personal investigation.

“AP Studio Art allows students a year to conduct a visual investigation and develop a portfolio which they will submit to the College Board for AP credit. They also have the opportunity to create work for their portfolio should they choose to pursue art or design in college,” Ms. Meyerrose, AP Art Teacher said.

Bella is not only a student and an artist, but she is also an athlete. Bella is a 4-year varsity lacrosse player and she has committed to Regis University to play lacrosse. Finding balance between all of these isn’t a struggle for Bella though, “Art is therapeutic for me, I don’t need to force myself to make time for it, after lacrosse it’s nice to be able to come home and paint.”

Bella is someone who classifies herself as “not awesome with words” but art is a way to put what she is feeling down on paper. Art is a way to show how someone might be feeling more than words can.

Bella is looking into going into art therapy after college and combining her love for art and her passion for mental health.

YOU ELEVATE 29

ELEVATE YOU

HOW MY

Sport helps with my mental health ATHLETES HUNTER SULLIVAN ‘20 AND GRACE WEIGAND ‘21 EXPLAIN HOW THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SPORT THEY PLAY AND HOW THEY COPE WITH THE PRESSURE OF SCHOOL, BEING AN ATHLETE, AND MAINTAINING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK. BY: MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21 PHOTO BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

HUNTER SULLIVAN ‘20: HOW SWIMMING IS MY RELEASE I LOVE SWIMMING. I love getting up before the everyone else to go to practice with my best friends.

I love my coaches, I love racing, I love competing. I love the feeling I get after finishing a hard set. Swimming was my first love and it will always be a part of me. Swimming has shaped my person, taught me how to work hard, and taught me how to be disciplined. Swimming has ultimately bettered my life simply by going to practice every day.

On my hardest days, I always have practice to go to. I always know that my coach will be there for me, my friends will be there to cheer me up, and I know that I can work to become my best self on that given day. Knowing that I have that escape every day is important to me as it provides stress relief and a decrease in anxiety levels while also staying in good shape.

According to swimming.org, 1.4 million adults admitted that swimming a few times a week drastically helped improve their mental health. I can confirm that this is true from experience as I notice that days I do not practice I am moodier and more unpleasant to the people around me.

It is important for everyone to find something like this

30 ELEVATE YOU

to provide a release from the monotony of daily life. For me, it’s swimming. For others, it can be jogging or riding a bike. In an era where social media dominates our lives, myself included, it is important to get away from it all and do something that you love doing. You do not have to be the best swimmer in the pool or the best player on the field, all that matters are that you are enjoying what you are doing, and you are finding relief through that outlet.

Mental health is important, and it is also important for you to look out for yourself. By providing a system of support and structure, one can enhance their overall quality of life. We get a month break from swimming every year and it always feels like eternity because I miss my friends, miss the hard work, and miss the mental benefits I reap. I have found that sometimes it is really challenging to talk about mental issues you are facing, which is why taking care of myself was crucial to my health. When I focused more on how much I gained from swimming rather than how hard practice was, I noticed that it made my days much more enjoyable. Go out there and find your pool, find your field, or find your quiet corner in the library. It will be worth it.

ELEVATE: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT SPORTS HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? GRACE WEIGAND ‘21: Sports are an outlet for me. They allow me to have many different groups of friends. They make me happy.

Lacrosse is a place where I can be happy and worry about nothing else besides just playing. I don’t have anything to worry about besides doing what I love. Sports are really some of the best parts of my day. When I’m having a tough time with some of my friends, I know that I have the ability to go to a practice and see an entirely new group of people. The friendships I have really make me happy. It’s awesome to be with a group of girls that understand what you do on a daily basis. I love to compete and it’s super fun. This is some what weird, but it just makes me feel like a kid honestly. It’s like tunnel vision, especially with lacrosse.

There’s nowhere I’d rather be. When there’s something going on in my life or decisions I need to make, I normally go find a goal to shoot on or hope the fence to Machebeuf down the street.

ELEVATE: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT SPORTS HAVE BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: I mean I think detrimental is a really tough word but there’s definitely certain things that affect my health negatively.

The pressure that comes along with my athletics is sometimes a lot. I wouldn’t say it’s really from anyone in particular, but it mostly comes from myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best and to be perfect. Stress is pretty evident in my life, but I’ve learned how to deal with it. Stress normally comes from my time management with school, as well as sports. Like I said, I definitely have standards of excellence that I try to live up to. The most negative thing for me is internalizing failures.

Because sports are such a big part of my life, it is difficult to separate my athletics from my identity. Sports are a huge part of me, but they aren’t all. Failures happen a lot in sports. I fail and make mistakes all the time, and with a constant pressure to be perfect, sometimes things get difficult.

The stress becomes a lot to handle, and if I internalize failures I often have confidence issues.

“

EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT, AND I THINK KNOWING THAT POINT AND BEING ABLE TO PUSH IT AS HARD AS YOU CAN WITHOUT HURTING YOURSELF IS IMPORTANT.”

people who I love and love me. It’s an overwhelming feeling. Laughing with my friends or making jokes with my mom really makes me happy.

I am also so, so happy when I’m on the field playing lacrosse or field hockey or playing basketball. I really like just going to shoot on a goal with some music or playing lacrosse with my friends. Of course I am happy after winning a state championship in field hockey or making it to the semis in lax, but I am happiest when I am just playing lacrosse with my friends and family. My siblings are the greatest and they make me so happy. Playing lacrosse and basketball with my sister was some of the greatest moments of my high school career. I knew I had someone to rely on which is really important for teams.

ELEVATE: DO YOU EVER FEEL DEFINED OR LIMITED BY YOUR ATHLETIC ABILITIES? IF SO, EXPLAIN. A: Yeah, I definitely feel defined by my abilities sometimes. It’s awesome that people know that I play three sports but sometimes I feel like that is all they see. That amounts to a lot of pressure to be perfect and to keep up an image of an athlete. I know that people do not try to be judgmental or mean when that’s what they talk about, but sometimes it’s really difficult because I don’t want to disappoint. I want people to know that sports are a part of me but not all. People who are my close friends, and my family know that I am much more than that. However, one of my biggest challenges was convincing myself of that earlier in the year (kairos).

ELEVATE: DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH GO HAND IN HAND? A: Yes, I think physical and mental health go hand in hand. Feeling good about yourself and happy definitely goes into being healthy physically.

Being successful makes me happy. It all goes hand in hand.

&

Exercise Stress Ever noticed how your body feels when you’re under stress?

Your muscles may be tense, especially in your face, neck, and shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain, or painful headaches. You may feel a tightness in your chest, a pounding pulse, or muscle cramps. You may also experience problems such as insomnia, heartburn, stomachache, diarrhea, or frequent urination. The worry and discomfort of all these physical symptoms can in turn lead to even more stress, creating a vicious cycle between your mind and body.

helpguide.org

ELEVATE: DO YOUR ATHLETICS IMPACT YOUR SELF ESTEEM? A: I don’t think wins and losses impact my self esteem. However, sports are definitely a part of who I am. Successes of course make me happy and are great. My self esteem is affected by whether or not I brought my best and worked as hard as I could. Achieving success is tough, and of course it’s a bummer when you don’t get there, but when I give my all I know I have something to be proud of.

It is also super fun when you get to go really hard.

ELEVATE: HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AS AN ATHLETE? A: There are so many ways I take care of myself as an athlete. I know I do not do the greatest sometimes but I think a huge thing is sleep. I try really hard to get a good amount of sleep which does not always happen. Ice, resting, stretching and taking breaks when you need it are necessary, but honestly I don’t do well with that either.

ELEVATE: HOW IMPORTANT IS MENTAL HEALTH AS AN ATHLETE? A: Mental health is so important as an athlete. Without good mental health, I cannot perform my best. The brain affects every part of my body and if I am tired or stressed, it definitely makes a difference in my performance. I never really had performance anxiety but I know some people do. I just go play because I love to compete and it’s super fun.

However, sometimes I do have glimpses in my mind of not performing well. I often try to get those out of my mind as soon as possible and avoid any negative thoughts.

As I said earlier, sometimes pressure can be a lot. Last year I definitely learned that. As an athlete and being at practice everyday after school and always working as hard as I can, I often have the mentality of pushing as hard as I can. That’s what makes, I think, some people great is pushing the limits as far as you can go, however this at some points is negative. Everyone has a breaking point, and I think knowing that point and being able to push it as hard as you can without hurting yourself is important.

ELEVATE: WHEN ARE YOU YOUR HAPPIEST? A: There are many things that bring me happiness but I am the happiest when I’m with my friends or family. Knowing that I am around

EXERCISING IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO BREAK THIS CYCLE. AS WELL AS RELEASING ENDORPHINS IN THE BRAIN, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS TO RELAX THE MUSCLES AND RELIEVE TENSION IN THE BODY. SINCE THE BODY AND MIND ARE SO CLOSELY LINKED, WHEN YOUR BODY FEELS BETTER SO, TOO, WILL YOUR MIND.

YOU ELEVATE 31

ELEVATE SPORTS

1

2

3

5

SPORTS

POWERHOUSE

32 ELEVATE SPORTS

9

5

4

1. SENIOR JADA MOORE hit her 1000th point playing for the raiders this season. Moore has committed to play for Kansas State in the fall.

2. SENIOR WILL BARBERA is pictured at the Raiders historic win over Cherry Creek in the second round of playoffs where the Raiders won 69-65.

6 7

3. SENIOR TOBY YARRINGTON gears up for a face-off at the hockey game against Castle View where the Raiders won 41-1.

4. ANTONIO SEGURA ‘21 wins state for the second year in a row after taking on Legacy’s Joey Joiner in his final match.

5. AVERY VANSICKLE ‘21, starting varsity point guard, passes the ball during an away game at Mountain Vista where the Raiders won 71-37.

6. VARSITY BOYS RUGBY takes on East High School for the state rematch for their first game of the year. The Raiders won 16-10.

7. DEFENSEMAN BLAKELEY STOUGHTON ‘21 plays his last game of the regular season against Ponderosa where the Raiders won 66-47.

8. GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE ended their season on a high note with a Third place finish at state. The team also competed at A, B and C Leagues.

8

9. THE RJ VARSITY HOCKEY TEAM stands on the ice for the national anthem at their game against Valor where they tied 2-2. The team ended their regular season 13-6.

PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20, ARMANDO MALDONADO ‘21

SPORTS ELEVATE 33

ELEVATE SPORTS

INTERESTED IN WRESTLING?

WORDS FROM THE FIRST FEMALE WRESTLERS AT RJ MAKENNA ELLMANN ‘20

“Do not be intimidated by your fear. As long as you are willing to put in your full effort, it does not matter whether you win or lose your match. Also, getting to tell people that you are a female wrestler is pretty sweet!”

JOELLE MACKE ‘20

“My advice for future wrestlers, especially girls, is to not be intimidated to try a new thing and don’t be afraid of what other people say. Work hard, show up to practice, and don’t give it 50%, you’re there so give it your all, even when it gets hard.”

RILEY OLSON ‘22

“Just come in with an open mind and just try your best to not be nervous because it’s new.”

LIZET RAMOS ‘21

“Be aggressive and don’t hold back.”

34 ELEVATE SPORTS

Now that Regis Jesuit has a girls wrestling team, all are welcome to join in future seasons. Feel free to come by the PE office (BD 185), Wrestling room (187) or ask another wrestler. Observe or participate in practices and see if this is a Regis Jesuit team you want to be a part of.

STORY BY GRANT BARNES ‘23

BREAKING NEW GROUND AT RJ Wrestling isn’t just for boys anymore, girls can do anything boys do AS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING FOR COLORADO GIRLS GREW, IT WASN’T LONG UNTIL REGIS JESUIT CAUGHT ON. This year was the first time that girls participated in organized wrestling. The pioneers Makenna Ellmann ‘20, Joelle Macke ‘20, Riley Olson ‘22, and Lizet Ramos ‘21, showed up constantly to the team practices and tournaments.

Introducing girls wrestling to this year made Regis Jesuit history, but how did this start?

Junior Lizet Ramos, strongly advocated for girls wrestling at Regis Jesuit prior to this season.

In fact, she proposed to have a Girls Division club for any girls who wanted to wrestle. When talking to her father, Mr. Ramos (IT Director) and Ms.Schaff (Communications) about starting the club, she was introduced to the possibility of starting an official team. After emailing the head wrestling coach, Coach Bieshaar, all Lizet needed to do was find at least 10 other students interested in joining.

Eventually, she got people to sign up for the season and it was official, Regis Jesuit had a girls wrestling team. Even though she had 11 girls sign up, only three of them along with Lizet followed through with the entire season. Although Regis Jesuit has a team, as of this year Girls Wrestling was not a sanctioned CHSAA sport. The girls were still allowed the opportunity to have matches and tournaments with different teams. Lizet was successful in starting the team and the message she wanted to tell to Regis Jesuit.

“I wanted to prove to people girls can do what boys can do and it helps people develop important qualities like self-esteem and leadership skills”.

In any sport there will be difficult practices, games, and matches where you are expected to perform well. This season of girls wrestling was no exception. The four girls who wrestled had their individual obstacles they had to go through this season. For Joelle Macke ’20 and Riley Olson ’22 the challenge was with practicing with each other.

Riley said, “A difficult obstacle so far is just the lack of girls who joined. It is hard to practice against the same girls every day”. Whereas for Lizet Ramos ‘21 it was difficult to stay on weight. “Being able to maintain weight especially because girls aren’t allowed to cut weight”. For senior Makenna Ellmann, fear was the largest obstacle she had to go through at the beginning of the season. But unfortunately her season was cut short with a broken collarbone from one of her matches, but she still was proud that she joined the team and she had a great experience.

“I realized that this injury is part of the overall experience and that it is going to help shape me into a better person even if my season did not end the way I expected it to”. For the remaining days of the season, Makenna continued to show her support for the team by showing up to practices and matches even though she was not able to participate. Each of them finished the season leaving their coach, Coach Gary Segura proud.

STORY BY ZAVIER CARROLL ‘22 PHOTOS BY ARMANDO MALDONADO ‘21 AND ZION TAYLOR ‘23

FIRST TIME STATE

G

Six years of hard work pays off at State

QUALIFER

GOING TO STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. This

achievement, being a state wrestler, required a lot of dedication and demanding work. Maintaining my weight was a difficult part of the season. There were many intense workouts, one being sprinting up and down stairs around the school.

Others included wrestling hard for 15 minutes straight, with only 15 seconds of rest in between! All that hard work paid off; I was prepared to wrestle to the best of my ability.

Even with my preparation, there were a lot of nerves.

As I was warming up, my hands started getting sweaty and my stomach began to hurt.

Soon enough it was time for me to wrestle, and I got a feeling like I’ve never had before. This time it was a state match, and I began doubting myself. Negative thoughts began to fill my head and the roar of the people in the stands made me think that I wasn’t good enough to be here. It made me think I might not have been prepared. My coach helped me out, telling me that the

most important part of this was to have fun. I started to calm down.

I thought about how Tony Segura ‘21 succeeded as a sophomore wrestling in a state match, and I wanted to do the same. From this, my confidence began to build up. Once I checked in, I zoned everything out. I focused on the kid in front of me, the kid I had to beat.

Then the whistle blew, and it was time to wrestle.

The tournament went better than everyone thought. Senior Antonio Sandora wrestled a good couple matches and made it to the second round. Sadly, his season came to an end in overtime and he was not able to place. I made it to the second round as well and lost a close one 3 to 1. Segura was able to win state for the second time in a row dominating his opponent 8-4.

The whole suite went nuts when we saw Tony get his second state championship. That was a highlight.

It was an incredible experience seeing how far I have come, starting wrestling when I was 8, continuing for 6 years and now at state for my school.

AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY FOR ALL

“

LATINOS UNIDOS HAS HELPED ME FIND PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO LEARN FROM PEOPLE WITH ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FROM ME.”

SPORTS ELEVATE 35

ELEVATE SPORTS

THE SEASON OF A LIFETIME

HOCKEY OVERCOMES ADVERSITY AND LOSS ALL IN ONE SEASON STORY BY: JAKE STUART ‘20 PHOTO BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

The stakes were high and the moment was as big as any.

Oftentimes in sports or simply in life, the question comes down to recovery—how do you recover from a loss? How do you rise up from the ashes and make a name for yourself?

After winning the championship for three consecutive seasons, the Regis Jesuit Raiders hockey team was faced with high standards coming into the year.

Losses come in many forms and after going 28-1 in the season prior, the Raiders hadn’t tasted a loss in what seemed like a lifetime. The team, after losing fourteen seniors last year, held their heads high, eager to learn and grow.

Yet, with the toughest schedule in the state of Colorado and with such high hopes, the team faced nearly insurmountable odds. They opened the season with a win over Mountain Vista, but lost the next game to Denver East on December 13.

Seniors Leighton Walsh and Nolan Sargent proved to be strong leaders and valuable assets as Sargent put up 7 goals and 15 assists, and Walsh added 11 goals and 12 assists. After passing the test and going 7-2 in one of the biggest stretches of the season, the team was steaming hot with just two games left until the playoffs, and it became apparent that they were as hungry as ever.

Just when the team seemed to have recovered over the early season hurdles, they faced a tragedy. Head Coach Dan Woodley’s son, Cale Woodley ‘16, passed of a traumatic brain injury due to a tragic accident that occurred

36 ELEVATE SPORTS

February 23.

Cale touched the lives of so many and will never be forgotten.

He won many championships while at Regis Jesuit and was most proud of being part of the RJ hockey teams that won the 2015 National Title and the 2016 Colorado State Championship Title.

Through it all the team showed courage, compassion, and resilience. They undertook a journey of true strength, a journey dedicated to the memory of Cale and to his father Dan. Coach Woodley said in a statement “I want to thank the entire hockey community for your support of me and my family during this tragic time. I take comfort in the memories of Cale playing the game that he loved, and each of you have a part in that whether teammate or respected opponent, thank you!”

Throughout the playoffs, the team fashioned a customized white sticker with Cale’s number and name on their helmets. The team honored Cale with a moment of silence at Big Bear Arena prior to the first round playoff game against Mountain Vista.

They continued their dominance with an upset over fourth ranked Denver East, to once again head to the Pepsi Center. With the Final Four and a match up with top ranked rival Valor on the horizon, Regis Jesuit hockey continues to surpass all expectations, and play not just with one another, but for each other.

Family and brotherhood: the two driving forces that compelled the Raiders to accomplish the season of a lifetime.

This magazine was sent to the printer prior to the end of the championship season.

H

BOYS BASKETBALL

Having an 0-9 record midway through the season would normally destroy a team’s confidence in any sport. The Boys basketball team mustered up a resilient effort that boosted them back into the mix.

The team was led by two senior captains in Chase Allen ‘20 and Will Barbera ‘20. Senior leadership was a crucial part of the comeback this season, and their courage and passion for the team was shown in a powerful way. With a team full of rising stars, they had the two seniors to lead the pack.

The season was summarized as an all around team effort. The team played every game by committee, and they played for each other through all the ups and downs.

Junior Michael Wolf ‘21 averaged 12 points per game (ppg) on the season and Blakely Stoughton ‘21 averaged 10 ppg.

The team entered the first round of the playoffs with a match against the Monarch Coyotes. They came out with a huge win with a final score of 65-62. Stoughton played his best game of the season with a monstrous 29 points shooting 63% from the field. His lights out shooting was too much to handle during the first round.

The #4 Cherry Creek Bruins were having a fantastic season behind excellent play from Sebastian Cole ‘20, Myles Purchase ‘21, and Julian Hammond III ‘21. The Raiders knew they had a tough match, and they came out to play from tip. Will Barbera came out aggressive from the start and put up 13 points and 4 assists.

The game as a whole was super entertaining, but there was one play that blew the top off the building. Stoughton had the ball on a fast-break, and threw it up ahead Jokić style to Barbera, and then as he was falling backwards threw it back to 6’7’’ junior Clay Nanke ‘21 who threw it down emphatically over senior forward for Creek, Chance Hausman ‘20. Wolf also went 8-8 from the free throw line to close out the Bruins in the fourth quarter.

The 29th seed Raiders pulled off a huge upset over the No. 3 seed Cherry Creek Bruins and went on to bet No. 13 Denver East, securing a spot in the Elite 8.

The heroics of Coach Shaw and the Raiders continued once again. The story of the 29th ranked Raiders is magical, and their hopes of winning a championship could still be alive.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Photos from top to bottom: Sam Jones ‘21 makes a layup at the Regis Jesuit v Holy Family at the catholic school match up.

Michael Wolf ‘21 talks with Coach Shaw during free throws at the game against Chaparral High School.

Senior Jada Moore makes a layup at Mountain Vista. Cate Lord ‘21 goes for the rebound at the Raiders game against Thunder Ridge.Alonzo Paul ‘21 sinks a three at Mullen High School with the Raiders won 70-55.

The Girls went 20-0 in the State of Colorado! The Raiders new superstar trio in Jada Moore ‘20, Avery Vansickle ‘21, and Sam Jones ‘21 were firing on all cylinders this season. Moore and Vansickle both averaged 11 points per game (ppg) and Jones averaged 11 ppg and 6 rebounds during the season.

With Francesca Belibi ‘19 graduating last year, the Raiders had a void in the roster that needed to be filled going into the season. The team pulled together to fill that empty void, and they played some of the best basketball they have played in a long time.

With the tenacity of Grace Weigand ‘21, the shooting ability of Madden Mchugh ‘22, and the brilliant minds of Nia Mckenzie ‘23 and Savitri Jackson ‘23, the Raiders were full of talent to compete for a championship

SEASON BREAKDOWN This magazine was sent to the printer prior to the end of the championship seasons.

yet again.

After a first round bye, the No. 3 seed Raiders secured a first round bye and then beat Liberty 88-24. In the Sweet Sixteen they took down Broomfield 58-51 to head to the Denver Coliseum for the Great 8 match up against Highlands Ranch.

Not only are they advancing in the playoffs, but during the Liberty game Avery Vansickle also accomplished a huge feat in her illustrious career as the starting shooting guard. She hit 1,000 career points and got a rousing standing ovation from the sold out crowd in the Girls division gym.

With a stacked roster, their championship goals are becoming closer and closer to coming true.

BASKETBALL DREAMS DO COME TRUE STORY BY: SAM STERN ‘20 PHOTOS BY: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

SPORTS ELEVATE 37

ELEVATE REVIEWS

FLIK VS. POPEYES AN UNFORGETTABLE TASTE TEST

BY: MATT TIERNEY '22 & CALVIN BARTT '22

LOVE THAT CHICKEN FROM POPEYES

F

lik Fil A- How does it Stack up to the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich?

Without a doubt, the Regis lunch provider, FLIK, is controversial. Boasting organic ingredients and in-school preparation and cooking, a lunch from FLIK could easily set a student back 8 to 10 dollars (with a drink). So, when the hugely popular Popeye’s chicken sandwich was released last November for only $3.99, students like Tyler Bretaux (’22) found themselves asking if FLIK could compete. Specifically, they asked if FLIK’s locally famous “FLIK fil A” was a reasonable alternative to the new Popeyes sensation. “I would walk ten miles for that Popeyews sandwich,” Tyler said to me, but would he shuffle through the cafeteria line for Flik fil A? The next time FLIK’s sandwich was for sale, we sat down with both the Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich and a FLIK fil A sandwich to see how everything stacked up. First, it’s important to describe exactly what each sandwich is equipped with.

38 ELEVATE REVIEWS

"I WOULD WALK TEN MILES FOR THAT POPEYE’S SANDWICH."

The FLIK fil A sandwich meal includes a whole grain bun, spicy breaded chicken patty, and potato wedges.

The Popeyes spicy chicken sandwich comes with a buttery brioche bun, spicy Popeyes signature chicken patty, pickles, and spicy mayonnaise. A side and a drink can be thrown in for the low price of $3.00. While both sandwiches are roughly the same size, the Popeyes chicken sandwich seems to come with a much thicker slab of meat. The FLIK fil A chicken is less juicy and is overall a thinner sandwich. It is spicy, however, and doesn’t lack in flavor. However, the Popeyes chicken sandwich is a perfect collage of flavor, with the buttery bun providing an excellent backdrop for the tangy mayonnaise and flawless chicken patty. The chicken is juicy, but also wonderfully crunchy. According to Hudson Ridley, “The sandwich overall

is richer, and the ingredients feel higher quality.” When asked his opinion on the flavor of the sandwich, student Calvin Bartt described it as a “one-way ticket to Flavortown.” I have yet to hear something so enthusiastic directed at FLIK fil A. With this in mind, there has to be one area where the FLIK fil A beats out Popeyes, right? There must be a justification for the higher price other than the convenience (for seniors) or necessity of purchasing lunch in school. It could be that the FLIK fil A is just healthier, and those extra $2.00 are an investment in a longer life. The FLIK fil A sandwich is less greasy, and the whole wheat bun certainly beats the shiny brioche bun in the nutrition department. Is it worth it? Maybe, but if you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior, you don’t really have a choice.

MUSIC REVIEWS

BY: MATT TIERNEY '22 & CALVIN BARTT '22

MADGDALENE-FKA TWIGS

THE LOST BOY-YBN CORDAE

KAYTRANADABUBBA:

MAGDALENE is singer/ songwriter FKA twigs’ newest record, following the release of several EP’s and one full length album titled LP1 back in 2014.

MAGDELENE, released in early November, does not disappoint her fans who have waited for a second full length project from her for 5 years. Twigs’ distinctive voice stands out on her ambitious new album, using her voice to channel pure emotion and the sincerity of her emotion rings throughout every song.

FKA twigs places herself in the lineage of a figure in Scripture famously known as Mary Magdalene.

Twigs finds herself in the oppressive and ancient archetypes that were placed upon Mary Magdalene, and, having received a Catholic education, Twig explores the deeply conservative and old expectations of women.

RATING: 8/10 Favorite Track: “holy terrain (feat. Future)” Least Favorite Track: “fallen alien”

THE LOST BOY is North Caroline rapper YBN Cordae’s debut album.

After gaining commercial success in the rap group YBN consisting of YBN Nahmir and YBN Almighty Jay, Cordae made the decision to release a solo album following the release of the YBN mixtape in September of 2018.

On The Lost Boy, YBN Cordae mixes lyricism with hard-hitting beats coming from producers such as Take a Daytrip. Drawing heavily from the works of Kanye West, Cordae crafts an album that goes through his rags to riches story. Songs such as “Wintertime” and “Bad Idea” demonstrate gospel chops, while songs such as “Way Back Home” have strong bass lines. A strong point for Cordae is that he manages to stay soulful on beats with more of a trap influence. YBN Cordae’s main downfalls are his often corny lyrics and an unrefined, unoriginal sound.

RATING: 6.5/10 Favorite Track: RNP (feat.

Anderson .Paak), Nightmares are Real Least Favorite Track: Been Around

On his highly anticipated sophomore album, Canadian producer KAYTRANADA delivers with an infectious dance record to close out 2019. “BUBBA” is packed with crisp dance beats, hip-house influenced bangers, and colorful features from the likes of Pharrell and Mick Jenkins.

While it can grow tiresome towards the end of the record, and some features seem to detract from the flavorful beats KAYTRANADA lays out, the album usually strikes a perfect balance between smooth vocal performances and syncopated production.

This comes through the most on “Gray Area”, with one of KAYTRANADA’s most impressive beats yet and a melodic performance from rapper Mick Jenkins. The precise synths on this track and others help create a distinct, hazy club feel that only reinforces “BUBBA” as a catchy, fun dance record.

RATING: 8/10 Favorite Tracks: “Gray Area (feat. Mick Jenkins)” and “September 21” Least Favorite Track: “Taste (feat. VanJess)”

DABABY- KIRK Finishing off the most dominant year of his career, Charlotte rapper DABABY puts together another impressive display of his unique flow and carefree lyrics on “KIRK”.

Often criticized for his lack of versatility, I’ve heard people say that DaBaby makes the same song repeatedly, and that there’s almost no difference in energy or flow from one track to the next. On “KIRK”, this feeling doesn’t entirely go away; almost every track uses DaBaby’s signature flow made popular on the hit single “Suge”.

However, with beats from several in-demand trap producers (Kenny Beats, London on da Track) and plenty of features, “KIRK” feels considerably more varied than DaBaby’s last album, “Baby on Baby”. While DaBaby employs some underwhelming guest artists, they generally do a lot to break up DaBaby’s nonstop, energetic flows. The song “GOSPEL” exemplifies this, with features from Chance the Rapper, Gucci Mane, and YK Osiris. There’s a lot of chemistry between everyone on the track, and it’s certainly a highlight of the album. During the second half of “KIRK”, the tracklist becomes less interesting or varies, and DaBaby’s lack of versatility shows a little bit more. Despite this, “KIRK” does a good job of showcasing DaBaby’s energy and charisma. If you liked “Suge”, then “KIRK” is worth checking out.

RATING: 7/10 Favorite Tracks: “BOP” and “GOSPEL (feat. Chance the Rapper, YK Osiris, and Gucci Mane) Least Favorite Track: “THERE HE GO”

WHOS YOUR FAVORITE BAND AND WHY DO YOU LIKE THEIR MUSIC? "I love Zac Brown Band because their songs are super catchy and I love good country music like that."

- KAYLA STOLTE '22 "I like some of Skillet’s music cause it helps motivate me when I exercise."

- SOPHIA CASE ‘22 “Queen because Freddy Mercury has a beautiful voice, their ideas are supper creative, and they’re music is legendary.”

- CAMILA RODRIGEZ ‘22 “My favorite band is the Eagles because their songs make me think of summer and I love the guitar in them.”

- LAUREN BACHMAN ‘22

WANT TO WRITE A REVIEW?

Are you interested in writing a reviews for music or restaurants Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@ regisjesuit. com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102).

You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

REVIEWS ELEVATE 39

ELEVATE OPINIONS

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

CLIMATE JUSTICE

IS RACIAL JUSTICE BY: LIAM GROVE ‘21

OK, now that I have your attention let me explain. Climate change is directly linked to racism, along with many other commonly addressed issues in the modern world. Most notably climate change is in direct connection to forms of classicism and mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression). Climate change is one of the most pressing social justice issue to address, because it impacts so many other social justice issues. Oh, and of course there will not be people to stop social justice issues if there aren’t any people left.

Climate Justice is Racial Justice. Climate change disproportionately effects people of color, in particular coastal societies and indigenous communities. Yes the indigenous people are still alive. Hopefully this is more common knowledge than it sometimes seems to be. They CAN HUMANITY UNITE AS are also still being A SPECIES IN ORDER oppressed just the TO HELP EVERYBODY, OR same as they have WILL WE ALL JUST.. been for hundreds PERISH DIVIDED? of years. This comes in the form of more broken treaties, stolen land, and pipelines. For example, the Wet’suwet’en territory is being ransacked right now by authorities to lay down a new pipeline. This land was never bought and is still a sacred home for these people, but they are being forced off in the name of oil.

The indigenous community is doing the least to impact climate change, while being some of the most effected.

The Brazilian fires last year burned much of the indigenous Brazilian land, and forced them away from their land. Those fires were started illegally, in an attempt to clear land for agriculture. Due to climate change, these fires had unexpected fuel and force and got out of

40 ELEVATE OP-EDS

hand fast. They took many peoples homes and lives. The fires also killed a ridiculous amount of tress (which take greenhouse gases out of the air), and will be replaced by mass amounts of agriculture (which emit mass amounts of greenhouse gases). This will further accelerate climate change. Island and costal communities will also be wiped out by disasters, or put under water by climate change. This doesn’t just mean places like Florida or California, but places that are literally just islands.

Places like Haiti or Puerto Rico. Places that are not primarily rich people’s beach houses. The majority of people who live in these places are people of color, and are also some of the smallest contributors to climate change. Those who are effected the most by climate change are doing the least to cause it.

How does Climate Change work? Basically climate change is caused by an increasing layer of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere reflecting the sun’s natural energy back onto Earth, rather than just going back out. The natural flow of energy is being disrupted, causing the Earth to heat over time. This in turn causes many other things to change in a chain reaction. Some examples are sea levels rising, fires are more common and more dangerous due to rising global temperatures, and weather patterns become more unpredictable and more destructive. It is the Earth’s way of relieving herself of something that is harmful, similar to relieving yourself of a virus.

But, human beings are not viruses. We have the ability to stall and eventually reverse the most destructive impacts of climate change. Climate change is a beautiful issue. It is the ultimate test for humanity.

Can humanity unite as a species in order to help everybody, or will we all just.. perish divided?

It’s not all that bad! There is just lots of work to be done. The biggest roadblock to stopping climate change is the division of people. Everyone is so busy pointing at everyone else, that they refuse to change until everybody else does. Many Americans point at China, but if America changed then there would be far more time to figure out a long term solution. Then other places would have time to start taking greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. This proves that we not only don’t need to, but can’t wait for others to change until we do. The other major roadblock to stopping climate change is dishonest ignorance. Climate change is terrifying, especially for the younger generation because we will be the ones who

experience the worst of it.

Dishonest ignorance is finding other people who are terrified by something like climate change, and pretending that it just isn’t real. Eventually you believe it, and cause others to also believe it. It is a tactic of coping with tremendous fear. Although it is understandable, those people will have to address the truth of something like climate change in order to stop it. It also comes in the form of leaders pretending it isn’t real so that they can gain support from people and businesses. If enough people lie, and that lie seems way more comforting than the truth then people will support it. The simple truth is that climate change is proven by science, and doing nothing about it will result in a terrifying future.

So..What can you do? Again Climate change is terrifying, but there are ways you, as a high school student can combat it. In order for policy to change to positively impact the climate crisis, the people of need to rise up and be vocal with their leaders and peers.

Civil disobedience and direct action are the most impaction ways to impact climate change, especially as a teenager. Movements like Earth Guardians, Greenpeace, and the Sunrise Movement are incredible with this.

They are supportive groups of, also terrified, people who are standing up and directly supporting legislation and candidates that will combat climate change. This comes in the form of strikes, sit-ins, and even caucusing for a candidate. It is disappointing that kids have to strike from school in order to protect their futures, but then again most problems fall exclusively on those who are directly impacted. The people and leaders in these groups are very supportive, and appreciate as much, or as little as you could sacrifice. In order to survive as a species and even combat systematic racism, it will take a mass organizing of young people to stand up and be heard. Are you up for fighting for your future?

MLK IN ACTION

HOW CAN WE LIVE IN THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR?

Today we celebrate MLK. If you don’t know who that is then you might be living under a rock and you might want to talk to your history teacher.

MLK was the most important figure in terms of activism in history. And it wouldn’t be right for me to not compare this to that of Jesus. Hopefully I make my theology teacher proud.

Jesus was a man who preached something radical. In Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 14 it says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy, without holiness no one will see the Lord”. I’m no expert on main ideas but I believe that this is telling us that to truly be holy we must make peace with everyone. Because News flash… we are all human. Let’s take a second to take in this huge piece of information.

We are all working to a common goal in life which is to be happy. Some people tho find the need to stomp on other people’s happiness to achieve theirs.

I know it sounds cliché but we are all equal.

We will all die and be buried side feet deep. It is what it is. We love to focus on our differences which is simply dumb.

In Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 28 it says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither servant nor free; there is neither male nor female.

For you are all one in Christ”.

Martin Luther King said in his book, Strength

BY: DANIEL SOTO ‘23

to Love, “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood.”

All the time we don’t want to do change. Who wants to get up and do all that work. As long as it doesn’t affect me I’m all good. But when it does start to affect you what then? You could have done something before. The early bird gets the worm.

Why not do change now. We are the future of this country. We should not complain about issues if we are willing to do anything about it?

Many people may ask ourselves what does that change look for me. The change your make does not need to be a change the course of history moment. It can be little things such as informing yourselves, calling your representatives, or and for those that are over 18 voting. If you are willing to be more committed join an organization, go to a rally, and perform advocacy. Our changes can be big or small but all in all will contribute to our society.

As Gandhi said, “Be the change that you want to see in the world”. It might be hard to go to the margins of people. To go to those neglected. Jesus did it. Jesus worked with the lepers, poor, sinful, prostitute, and those that hated him. MLK did not work only for the needs of the black community. He worked with the

MLK AND BLACK LIVES MATTER First and foremost, Martin Luther King is coined with saying the quote, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

At the time he said this, he was obviously referring to his belief in not being silent about the needless killings, socioeconomic disparities, mass incarceration, and much more that black people were facing at that time.

Needless to say, he was taking a stance on fighting against the system. I would like to say that Dr. King’s work is complete but unfortunately, that’s not the case. 52 years after Dr. King’s death, we still see black people being unlawfully killed by police, black people living in poor neighborhoods that force them to be put into an unjust system, and black men being put into incarceration more often than their white counterparts. Fortunately, there are movements such as Black Lives Matter that work to protest these inequities. Since its start in 2013 by three women, Patrice Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometti, with the hashtag “black lives matter” on Facebook, the movement has grown to be worldwide.

Unfortunately, Black Lives Matter has undoubtedly faced a lot of controversy. With push

homeless, the Latino, the Asian, Muslim, and white communities. It should be our goal as well to do it.

And we do it here at Regis Jesuit. We work with the homeless, go on service projects, and inform ourselves which is in it of itself a service to fix these problems. But we must do more.

The marathon continues always. It may offend some people why are you going with that guy or those people. We are supposed to be in comfort.

Comfort does not get change done. Comfort does not get 40.6 million people out of poverty in this country. Comfort does not help out the 76,000 people crossing the border every month. If that were the case then all our problems would be solved.

When no one is to blame for an issue everyone is to blame. Lots of time people are like who cares about this MLK and Jesus stuff that was a long time. It doesn’t affect me, it’s in the past. The players may have changed the game is still the same.

Inequality, poverty, and negligence. Why can we not take these messages and apply it to our lives? Pope Francis once said, “To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us”.

BY: VICTORIA TUFFOUR ‘22

back from “movements” such as “all lives matter” and “blue lives matter”, the black lives matter movement is seen as a movement that “only cares about black lives”.

Now, we know that All Lives Matter and that Blue Lives Matter. But the point of the Black Lives Matter movement is to point out the fact that black lives need extra attention because they aren’t offered the same opportunities that their white counterparts are given.

Just like Dr. King, Black Lives Matter focuses on using the power of nonviolent protests in order to fight for the opportunities that black people simply aren’t even offered. Moreover, Black Lives Matter’s the pure embodiment of King’s Legacy in our lives today and a true example of Jesus’ philosophy to “turn the other cheek”.

Make no mistake, turning the other cheek does not mean to let things go. Turning the other cheek means to respond to something in a way that is nonviolent, meaning that you not only acknowledge what is happening, you stand your ground and call out whoever needs to be called out. Martin Luther King did this by staging protests such as the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” of 1955, “The Birmingham Campaign” in 1963, and so

much more.

Black Lives Matter does this by protesting the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile and unfortunately, many more. Black Lives Matter and Dr. King are also examples of Jesus’ philosophy to “Love your enemies.”

Loving your enemies has a redemptive power that eventually transforms individuals. Both King and the Black Lives Matter movement focus on an intense love that requires action. A love for this country that requires them to take action against the things that the country is doing wrong. A love almost as intense as Jesus’ love for us. So to my peers, I urge you to find new ways that you see Martin Luther King’s legacy in your life and push yourself to contribute to making the America that Martin Luther King would have wanted to see.

An America where people of all races, backgrounds, and experiences can freely associate with each other without fear of discrimination. An America where we can all show our true colors and not be afraid of the repercussion. An America where we can all TRULY be free. I leave you with this quote from Dr. King, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

OP-EDS ELEVATE 41

ELEVATE OPINIONS

A LETTER TO

TIME BY: CHRISTINA NELSON ‘20

Dear Time,

While addressed to Time, I am referring to the abstract numbers we use to measure the amount of sunlight in a day, so if this ends up in the hands of Customer Service over at Time Magazine, please kindly dispose of my letter and go on to the hundreds of other complaints you have… or if you’re interested, by all means, continue reading.

I have to say, I’m frustrated. I’ve had a lifelong struggle with you, Time, and while I’ve never addressed this issue directly with you, it’s come to my attention as a last semester senior that you are extremely inconveniencing me. My biggest complaint is that there’s never enough of you when we most need it. Everyone tries to fit the absolute most into every day. I would like to meet the person who decided there would only be 24 hours in a day.

42 ELEVATE OPINION

I don’t seem to be the only person with this problem. Everyone is always running around.

Ever wonder why we speed so much? We’re trying to keep up with you or even beat you, and we often fail. And then as soon as it’s inconvenient for us, you pass as slowly as you please. An hour and 25 minutes of calculus and an hour and 25 minutes of scrolling through TikTok seem to pass at extremely different rates. I’m convinced that the clocks at Regis run slower than any others.

Another qualm I have is the fact that overnight, you, for some reason, have decided is the best time to start running.

This isn’t a marathon, so slow down please. Explain to me why 5 hours at work seems endless, whereas 5 hours of sleep has extreme tolls on my coming day.

As soon as I close my eyes, my clock speeds up so much that

my alarm goes off 20 minutes after I fall asleep.

How come you have such an ability to piss everyone off, but yet we all still depend on you?

You sound like the government.

If one day you decided to stop or if every clock broke or the sun stopped turning life as we know it would be completely messed up. No one would know how to function without you. Without even noticing, we rely so heavily on you and you’re constantly ticking in the background.

The inability to freeze time or time travel still upsets me since it’s already 2020 and we like to pretend that we humans are running the show. You never stop, dictate our lives, inevitably bring old age, seem to constantly run at unreliable paces and are uncontrollable. How could that not make someone angry?

Sincerely frustrated, Christina Nelson

BY: SARAH FAESTAL ‘22

WHERE ARE

THE FANS?

The bleachers are packed and Lou Kellogg Stadium is filled with red. It’s August 30, 2019, the first home football game of the school year.

The freshman storm the field covered in paint taking part in the Freshman Day of Fun. Parents, alumni, relatives, and supporters fill the Girls Division parking lot with tailgates full of food and fun. The stadium is hyped up and cheering with the Rowdies.

Then the second home football game comes around, and fans are scarce and eventually as the season continues sometimes less than one row of the student section is filled.

At the first-round playoff game, the Raiders are up big at half-time. I was working the snack shack that game.

An alum comes to the snack shack for a hot dog at halftime and asks, “Where is everyone?

Where are the fans?”

Don’t get me wrong, we have some good crowds sometimes. And when we have a huge crowd we are a good crowd.

And I know we are all busy and cannot go to every game, but certainly on a Friday night during football playoff season we should be filling the stands. And in other sports too, sometimes the other school have a bigger crowd at our home games. For some sports there is no crowd at all.

Regis Jesuit High School offers twenty-eight sports. We have sixty-five teams of dedicated athletes who train year-round. We have 69 state titles. In 2013, Regis Jesuit was selected by Sports Illustrated for having the best high school athletics program in Colorado.

We are consistently rated in the top five for athletic programs by 5280 and Mile High Sports Magazine. But if those publications ranked student sections would we be ranked top five? I do not think so.

OPINION ELEVATE 43

ELEVATE OPINIONS

A CALL FOR ACTION HOW CAN YOU BE PART OF THE CHANGE

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IF EVERY AMERICAN SKIPPED EATING MEAT AND CHEESE JUST ONE DAY A WEEK FOR A YEAR, IT WOULD BE LIKE TAKING 7,600,000 CARS OFF THE ROAD.

44 ELEVATE OPINION

One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa, who said,“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Climate change is a huge issue, and at the current moment our species extinction rate is over 1,000 times greater than normal and our Carbon Dioxide levels are over 25% greater than the highest CO2 levels in the last 800,000 years.

We have often neglected to acknowledge these issues, but we can no longer ignore them. Climate change is a large issue, but that does not mean that it is too massive to tackle. We often feel that if we can’t do something huge, like change a law or a companies policy, then we mind as well give up and do nothing at all.

I want to encourage you that what you do to help our planet can be small, but our earth is in too much danger for us to do nothing at all, out of fear that what we do will somehow not be “enough.”

Each of us can have an impact in helping to save our earth, as well as the animals and people in it. Most people who know me know that I love animals dearly, and that is why sustainability is important to me, but sustainability should be important to all of us because as Pope Francis said, “we are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.”

The negative effects of Climate change affect each of us, but they have the greatest impact on the poor and marginalized. An example of this is that global warming has increased the number of natural disasters afflicting our world, and these natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding cause the most harm to the poor and marginalized.

The girls who attended the New Orleans service

BY: OLIVIA BAPTISTE ‘21

trip saw this first hand, as they helped to restore a house that was destroyed over 14 years ago in Hurricane Katrina. Climate change is a social justice issue that all of us should be trying to combat. I would like to give you all some things to do that are small, but collectively they can make a large difference.

Just at our school, make the effort to distribute your waste correctly into the trash, recycling, and compost bins (there are signs about this above some of the bins). Plant a tree, start a beehive, pick up trash that you see on the ground, ride a bike instead of using a car, turn off the lights, the list goes on and on.

Something I am going to try to do this lent is two days every week, to not eat any food containing products from cows because it is estimated that if every American skipped eating meat and cheese just one day a week for a year, it would be like taking 7,600,000 cars off the road.

Finally, informing yourself and others about how to be more sustainable is exceptionally important.

This can start with something like educating yourself on what truly is recyclable, what is compost-able, and what is trash. Educating yourself on the effects of our consumer goods on the planet and the animals that live in it alongside us is also valuable. For example, the metal coltan found in each of your phones is mined in the Western Lowland, eastern Lowland, and Mountain gorilla’s habitat, all considered critically endangered species, so by recycling your phones when you are done with them, you can help to stop deforestation and the extinction of these species.

Just remember, climate change is a prevalent global and social issue so we must act now, just start with one thing and know that nothing you do is too small.

ELEVATE STAFF

STAFF EDITORIAL

WHAT WE THINK ABOUT HARVEY WEINSTEIN

Guilty. February 24, 2020 was a historic day. Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of one count of third-degree rape and one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. This is a victory for the #MeToo movement, for Hollywood, and for women everywhere. It is a statement that those in

power are not above the law. That our legal system, however flawed, does over some protection for the vulnerable. However, there is still a long way to go. Mr. Weinstein has indicated an intent to appeal.

The verdict has been delivered, but we do not know the reasons behind why

Weinstein was acquitted of first degree rape and predatory sexual assault. This appears to be a compromise verdict by the jury to find him guilty of some charges, but not others. It seems as though we have learned much from this experience, but we still have room to grow.

RJTV

ON YOUTUBE

subscribe today RJTV. THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE. LIVE SPORTS BROADCASTS HUMAN INTEREST STORIES PEOPLE OF RJ BETWEEN TWO FERNS CONCERTS FEATURE STORIES SPORTS SPOTLIGHT PROMOS HYPE PERFORMANCES RJTV. THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE.

OP-EDS ELEVATE 45

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

WILL BARBERA ‘20 makes a layup at the teams away game verses Chaparral High School. The team lost this game 58-46 after a winning streak. See more on the teams journey on page 37 inside the magazine.