Pulse Vol. 1 Issue 1 October, 2014

An RJ MEDIA publication Regis Jesuit High School | Aurora, CO

1 Issue | October, 2014 | 1 REGISVol. JESUIT | RJ 1MEDIA OCT, 2014

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PULSE MAGAZINE Megan Jones ‘15 ............... Editor In Chief Mary Bach ‘17 & Rebekah Hale ‘18 .............. Managing Editors Emily Butler, Amber Dalton, Jillian Desmond, Aliah Humphrey, Katie Lewis, Alyse Harris ,Margaret Sykora, Olivia Ary, Lydia Davidson, Charlotte Gutrich, Janelle Hagan-Davis, Clara Lavandier, Savannah Leisegang, Jennifer Menjivar, Madeline Merritt, Skyler Mydler, Riley O’Connell, Kiana Perry, Adriana Sanford, Lori Thompson, Hannah Trotter, Charlotte Visser, Rachel Zinno................................ Editors Tara Mehryar ‘15.......... Contributing reporter

RJTODAY.ORG & SOCIAL MEDIA Nathan Shutts ‘16............... Editor In Chief Noah Sakr & Mason Stragey ‘16 ..................... Managing Editors Katie Lewis ‘15, Megan Jones ‘15 ...........Managing Editors Partick Britti ‘17 & Mason Scheer ‘15 .........Associate Editors

RJTV Mason Scheer ‘15 , Corinne Price ‘17.............. Executive Producers Matt Shanahan ‘16 .............Lead Engineer, Technician Noah Winston ‘18, Jade Valenzuela ‘17 . ..............Associate Engineers Partick Britti ‘17 & Max Zahringer, Cristian Adams ‘15 .........Lead field reporters Emily Aberle, Maggie Bunsness, Alexis Christopher, Clair Conley, Gillian Duncan, Dominique Ebedes, Maddi Emerson, Madison Griggs, Alexis Gutierrez, Amanda Miller, Chloe Morton, Riley O’Connell, Bethany Pfeiffer, Alex Piro, Kaelyn Scheer, Samantha Smith, Alex Cotner, Katie Templeton, Katie Vaeth, Julia Vitella, Erica Worley, Dylan Able, Jack Brown, Austin Campbell, Austin Chouinard, Ryan Cochran, Tummy Daly, Nick Decker, Ty Dorsey, Ace Escobedo, Tommy Gaessler, Zach Gerken, Daniel Hogan, Chris Linn, Jared Marien, Connor Murphy, Daniel Naes, Erich Nuss, Matthew Roark, Drew Schlegel, Jared Worrick ................................ Reporters

RJTV SPORTS NETWORK Tyler Ballinger ‘16.............. Lead Announcer, Producer Drake Emlong ‘16................Lead Producer, Engineer Charlie Smith ‘16 ...............Producer Jack Brown , Ryan Maxfield ‘16 .................. Lead Announcers Sam Bornhorst ‘17 ..............Announcer Alex Osredker ‘16, Patrick Britti ‘17, Noah Sakr ‘16, Myles Murphy ‘18, Patrick Heffernan ‘17........Camera Operators

ADVISERS Adam Dawkins ‘98 & Jason Ell ‘04

IMPRESSIONS Tommy Coughlin ‘15, Riley O’Connell ‘15 .................. Lead Editors John Koerner, Ian Wuertz, Sadie Wuertz .................. Managing Editors John Johnson & Deb Sneddon .................. ..Advisers

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.

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Colin Byrne ‘16 ............... Editor In Chief Champ Martinez ‘16 ........Managing Editor Cristian Adams, Cole Ancell, Jack Doherty,Carlos Gomez, Stephen Haag, Davis Handler, Matt Houghtaling, Grant Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Alec Jotte, David Morroni, Noah Sakr, Mason Scheer, Squid Schmitz, Ben Steyaert, Mason Stragey, Max Zahringer ................Editors Enzo Abott ‘15, Riley Cosgrove ‘18, Nick Sangalis ‘18, Nicholas Pieseski ‘17, Patrick Kenny ‘16, Sam Russell ‘16, Luke Barbier ‘17 ........ Contributing reporters

TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDENT AUTHORS .................................................. 4 TENNIS COACH INSPIRES.............................................6 TOO MUCH SCREEEN TIME?......................................... 8 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR .......................................... 10 HAND PRINTS ON THE WORLD..................................... 12 LIVING THE ARTS........................................................14 COUNTERING THE CONCERT CULTURE............................16 FANS LACKING AT GIRLS GAMES................................. ..17 YOUR TRANSCRIPTS................................... ................18 FAR FROM HOME: EXCHANGE STUDENTS........................20 GUARDING AGAINST INJURY.........................................22 SOUNDS OF MUSIC......................................................24 STUDENT ATHLETES....................................................26 PRIVATE SCHOOL STEREOTYPES....................................28 HOW WE LEARN: BOYS & GIRLS.....................................30 SLEEP DEPRIVATION....................................................32 MIDTERM ELECTIONS GUIDE.........................................34 OPINIONS & HOMECOMING PARADE & PEP RALLY......Middle LOTS MORE.................................................RJTODAY.ORG

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Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedianetwork@gmail.

Photo by: Tara Mehryar ‘15

Cover Photo: Tara Mehryar ‘15

AUTHORS IAN WUERTZ, NATASHA JAIN AND RILEY O’CONNELL FIND

S

PEACE

By: Alyse Harris ‘15 chool can be a very stressful place to spend over 40 hours per week. Homework mounts, drama abounds yet Seniors Riley O’Connell and Ian Wuertz and sophomore Natasha Jain are three students who find refuge in a pen and an empty page.

Riley O’Connell dedicates nearly every Wednesday afternoon to writing. She first found her love for writing in the simplicity of Eric Carl books and in the thrill of the Harry Potter series that she and her brother read together.

Now, she writes because she likes to highlight the teenage experience especially the quiet struggles many encounter. O’Connell strongly believes that people should write what they know. Her focus on everyday life, yields stories teenagers can easily relate to. In first grade she won a class award for a story she wrote.

“I feel like that is something people our age would be interested in, knowing how other people interpret and are seeing the world,” O’Connell says.

Armed with a little confidence and a lot of ideas writing became a passion for O’Connell

Natasha Jain cannot remember a time 4 | PULSE

when she didn’t write. Her drawers are full of old stories and her bookshelves are filled with used notebooks. Her love for writing grew after a knee injury prevented her from participating in sports. She began to spend her free time writing and really fell in love.

When her first book was completed, one of the biggest challenges Jain faced was overcoming preconceived notions about teenage writing.

“I think people make that assumption that it’s not going to be good if you’re a teen… it’s going to be average and if you don’t put your age then they actually consider it,” Jain said.

Jain successfully published her first book, Land of Secrets, earlier this fall. She uses her success to encourage other people to write.

“It think that they should just do it.” Jain says. “Put your writing out there and I think people automatically will get involved if they think it’s an amazing piece of writing.”

The back Jain’s book a quote which reads ‘there are no restrictions on becoming a hero’, came from her grandmother who passed away from a rare nerve condition. Jain has used this quote to define what she has done with her characters, however, this philosophy hasn’t just stuck to the pages.

“In all of my books, I focus on people you might not see as heroes and guaranteed in your own life there are heroes, maybe you forgot your lunch that day and they buy you lunch or maybe they just give you a hug, you know, its little

E IN THE POWER OF THE PEN

things like that and the typical saving the world from evil.”

Jain advocates self-confidence and its importance for personal success. “I think you have to have that self confidence in your writing. It is good enough because you wrote it. That’s what you have to think.”

Senior Ian Wuertz agrees that confidence is paramount. Wuertz successfully published a book of his own at the end of July. He began writing because he had so many stories in his head. Wuertz didn’t like to forget them so he began to write them down.

Over time, he began to develop each story.

He reminds others that writing should be personal. “You’re not writing for other people, your writing for yourself because it’s something that you love to do. And people will either like it or they won’t and if they like it then they’ll support you through it,” Wuertz says.

When he writes, Wuertz is an image of perfect concentration. “I just get in the zone everything else doesn’t really matter. You just get really into it,” he explains

Being able to focus so completely on something definitely has its benefits and Jain agrees.

“I get so absorbed into my writing that I can’t think of anything else. I feel at peace. It’s some-

thing that I do to get rid of the stress of school. It helps me a lot. People do yoga and stuff but for me writing is yoga.”

After this remark, both Jain and Wuertz lean back in their chairs to contemplate that idea. With a nod, a sliver of a smile, and a glint in each of their eyes, you can tell it is true. Writing is yoga and they are perfectly content.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 5

Photo By: Skyler Mydler ‘17 6 | PULSE

7

COACH KOLLMAN GEARHARDT MOTIVATES FROM THE HEART Girls Varsity Tennis Coach uses life experience, lessons well-learned to provide a unique motivational experience for his players.

By: Skyler Mydler ‘17

H

ave you ever met someone whose life has dealt them such an impossibly difficult hand, it would seem beyond miraculous to think they could actually turn it all around and be one of the most inspirational, motivational people you could ever have the honor to meet? Kollman Gearhardt (known as ‘Coach K’ by his students) happens to be one of those rare people. He is a proud husband, father of three, and the GD Tennis Coach at Regis Jesuit.

At 5’10 and three hundred pounds, “Life as a kid in Parker wasn’t what it was all cracked up to be, “ Gerhardt said.”kids were voting me ‘most likely to never go on a date,’ and despite always trying to fit in, I was always the guy who was the fat, funny kid at school, but was never invited to the parties on the weekend.”

Coach K spent the first fourteen years of his life being told he would never amount to anything. He came from a world where depression, brokenness, self-doubt and harsh words surfaced daily.

“I will never forget the day I realized my mom was addicted to drugs and alcohol. She was saying I could never be anything or anyone,” said Gearhardt.

Devastated, he ran out of the house and didn’t stop until he passed out in a field.

“I was ready to give up, but at 14 I had a choice to make: either cry and give up, or cry and move forward. I decided to move forward and I never looked back.”

His father and brother left the family, while Gearhardt remained with his mom. In 2004, both of his grandparents died within the same month. Six months later, his mom passed away from alcohol abuse.

Things were rough, but he never gave up. After high school, he lost 100 pounds. This showed a true act of determination, and was a sign of the path his life would take.

Now pursuing his dream, Gearhardt says, “I don’t believe in the term ‘job’, I believe in the term ‘passion’, and my passion is mentorship and helping motivate others to be what they want to be.”

Senior Haley Chirico has been working with Kollman for quite some time. Chirico said, “He is always so happy about life. He reminds me that God is in everything, even in the hardest times. He is always willing to help you reach your full potential.”

When asked to describe Coach K in one word, Chirio said “Passionate. He challenges me to strive for excellence in all areas of life and to keep things in perspective.”

Peyton Palermo is a sophomore at Legend High School and practices with Coach K regularly. At age five, Peyton developed a serious brain tumor and survived, only to find out it

returned and would require another surgery at age thirteen. She was determined to regain her life as she once knew it, and with her serious drive to be the best in tennis, she knew there was only one person who could help motivate her into reaching her goals-Coach K.

“Kollman has helped me overcome my fears, situation, and problems by always being there for me and investing his time. He pushes me to my limits even when I think things are too difficult. His motivation helps me to push myself and get back on track when I’m down,” said Palermo.

“He is crazy, but has a goal that he works hard for. The best thing of all is that he supports me in every way and not just in tennis.”

It’s clear to see that Coach K is an inspiration to all around him, and one might think that his struggles were over when he made the decision, at age 14, to take control of his future.

But he would be tested, once again. In 2008, as a senior at Northern Colorado, at the height of his tennis career and in the best shape of his life, it was discovered that he had a rare tumor on his spinal canal. It changed the course of his future, once again.

Through it all, Coach K has remained determined to be positive in everything.

“I became a believer in Jesus when I “I was ready to give was 14, and although I have my moments of being human, and have my up, but at 14 I had bad days, it’s God that always helps me work through things I’d never a choice to makeable to do on my own. Taking the either cry and give be negative moments in my life, and up, or cry and move reflecting on how these troubled forward. I decided times can actually be an influence and motivation to help others, helps to move forward me persevere in life,” he said.

“A positive mind set effects and I never looked everything else in life and thats why back.”

I chose to become so motivational.

Life is an amazing opportunity to shed light in the dark. We are blessed, as Americans, and get to enjoy freedom. Through freedom we have the chance to take a tough day and learn from it. We can all become mentors if we want to be,” Gearhardt said.

Inspiration and motivation shine from Coach K each and every day as he extends his hand to those in need, and shows them that life is worth living.

Often times he aks his players: “How uncomfortable are you willing to get?”

Gearhardt stresses that things aren’t always going to be easy. We are all met with challenges in life, but if we face even the toughest situations with perseverance and a positive attitude, we can all come out winners and gain so much through the experience.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 7

iAm Exhausted With the new Ignatian iPad program, and the amount of screen time that comes with it, how can we avoid excessive artificial light and its negative effects?

“It’s hard to say what’s ‘excessive,’ considering most students and adults spend about eight hours a day on the computer [for work], then a few hours later at home. Our society has moved into a social dynamic in which we are engaged in social media almost every waking hour.” - Dr. Mitchell T. Munson, O.D., the 2013-2014 President of the American Optometric Association

8 | PULSE

By: Riley O’Connell ‘15

I

t’s 6:00 on a Wednesday night, and you’re just now getting home from work (or practice, speech and debate, et cetera). You’re hungry, tired, and the last thing on your mind is the paper due for AP Lit tomorrow. Or the 70 pages of reading. Or the twenty problems of Trig. Or studying for a Chemistry quiz. If you’re a senior, throw college applications on top of that, and you’ll be lucky to get to bed before midnight. Right?

“We usually say ‘An hour per class, per night,’ but that’s not based on any real data,” GD Academic Assistant Principal, Mr. Ryan Williamson said about homework.

If this is true, four hours of homework should logically allow you to be in bed by 10:00 pm, leaving around eight hours of sleep to the average student, depending on when the alarm wakes you up in the morning. This is more than ideal, especially considering a 2002 UCSD sleep study determined that “there is no statistical health-related reason to sleep longer than 6.5 hours per night.”

Add in the time necessary for homework breaks and general socialization, and the inescapable distractions of the Internet present on our iPads and computers, and you’re up to maybe six hours, if not more. We all know the Internet can be extremely addicting.

Mr. Beyer, the Boys Division Technology Specialist, challenges students to determine if it really is their “professional” use (homework, projects, research) that is keeping them up all night, or “personal use” (social media,

texting, TV).

“You can’t multi-task with social life and higher thinking,” Beyer said.

This is why, when attempting to do, for example, Calculus and Instagram, our brains must choose one, and most of the time, we will choose the latter.

In a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, “Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds,” almost a third of people surveyed said that “most of the time” when they are doing homework, they are also texting, watching TV, listening to music, or using some other form of media.

But forget, for just one moment, what upwards of four hours of work Online is doing to your social life, and realize that there are far worse effects on your health.

Dr. Mitchell T. Munson, O.D., the 20132014 President of the American Optometric Association, said that, nationally, there has been an increase in near-sightedness over the past five or so years because people are spending more time doing things close to their faces than playing outside like they used to do. “We’re becoming sessile and addicted to our devices and our media,” Munson said in an interview.

However, Munson noted the impossibility of putting a limit on screen time in today’s society.

“It’s hard to say what’s ‘excessive,’ considering most students and adults spend about eight hours a day on the computer [for work], then a few hours later at home. Our society has moved into a social dynamic in which we are engaged in social

media almost every waking hour.”

Negative impacts which Munson has seen with the increase in screen time and technology include dry eyes, headaches, eye fatigue and strain, near-sightedness, and a disruption in circadian rhythm.

The National Sleep Foundation defines circadian rhythm as “our internal biological clocks [that] regulate the timing of periods of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day.” The production of melatonin, a hormone in the human body that assists with nightly sleep, is inhibited by blue light, which is emitted from technological devices like iPads, laptops, and iPhones.

This means that people who spend excessive amounts of time on their devices are more likely to suffer insomnia.

Munson also commented on the increase in obesity due to inactivity, which can be linked back to constant device use.

So what are we, as students utilizing the Ignatian iPad Program at Regis Jesuit, supposed to do with this worrying information?

Munson recommends the practice of his “20/20/20 Rule” (every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to look at something 20 feet away). This can help prevent problems such as eyestrain, dry eye, fatigue, headaches, neck and/or backache, and Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

Along with this, Munson suggests keeping your eyes lubricated with an over-the-counter drug and, if you can correlate insomnia or headaches to device use, recommends the consideration of low-power reading-glasses with an ultraviolet filter.

Of course, “A lot of it is common sense,” Munson said.

5 Tips to avoid excessive screen time: 1. The 20/20/20 Rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break to look at something 20 feet away) 2. The 45/15 Rule (for every 45 minutes of work, take a 15 minute break) 3. Print out worksheets or documents, to avoid eye strain/dryness 4. Always take time to go outside, to take a break from technology 5. Do not keep devices back in your room - leave them elsewhere overnight.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 9

LIGHTS, CAMERA,

ACTION

Behind the scenes of Jesus Christ Superstar with a lead and an understudy By: Kiana Perry & Janelle Hagan ‘17 There is more to being a lead then what meets the eye. Ethan Clock, a freshmen at Regis Jesuit, landed the lead role of Anas. He has prior experience acting, including a numerous amount of productions, two commercials and two short films.

“I have been acting since I was five years old,” Clock said. “When I was really little, my sister was in a dance recital and my mom said that I had said, ‘Mommy, I want to do that.’ She thought that I meant dance, but we found out later I actually meant ‘be up on stage’.”

When asked about how Mr. Pantoja helps him reach his full potential in theatre, he says, “Mr. Pantoja is not just a director or a teacher, he is a friend.”

10 | PULSE

The understudy of Chappuis, Katie Lennon, is a sophomore at Regis Jesuit. She has been acting ever since the summer before third grade.

“I was bored out of my mind, in the middle of the summer,” Lennon said. “My mom suggested I try out for Peter Pan, since I loved the play. I auditioned and got a Lost Boy. It was so much fun, and I got asked back by the company, ever since then, I’ve been acting.”

Lennon has built strong and long lasting friendships with the cast, crew, and pit band. There is more behind it than just reading lines and wearing costumes. Building friendships develop into becoming one big family, making the theater not just a work place, but a home.

“The friendships are absolutely incredible,” Lennon said. “I have so much trust in Mrs. Lynch, the choreographer, and Mr. Pantoja.

I’m comfortable to go to the drama instructors about anything, it’s natural to me to reach out to them.”

Lennon manages her time responsibly. She takes time out of her lunch and academic support to get her work done, so that it’s easier to finish at home. Last year, she manged to get above a 4.0 GPA.

SHOWTIMES Understudy Preview Wednesday, November 5, 2014, 7:00 pm Lead Preview Thursday, November 6, 2014, 7:00 pm Opening Night!

Friday, November 7, 2014, 7:00 pm Understudy Performance Saturday, November 8, 2014, 7:00 pm

Photos By: Kiana Perry & Janelle Hagan ‘17 Lead Matinee Sunday, November 9, 2014, 2:00 pm Lead Performance Thursday, November 13, 2014, 7:00 pm Understudy Performance Friday, November 14, 2014, 7:00 pm Lead Performance Saturday, November 15, 2014, 7:00 pm Understudy Matinee Sunday, November 16, 2014, 2:00 pm REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 11

HANDPRINTS ON THE WORLD

12 | PULSE

RJ STUDENTS AND TEACHERS MAKE A By: Rachel Zinno ‘15

N

GLOBAL IMPACT

o two handprints are the same and every handprint has the ability to make a mark.

Mr. Sean Powers, SJ, Mrs. Kristen Kraus, and seniors Jillian Lenansky and Riley O’Connell have all left their hand prints on the world and its hearts.

Regis Jesuit High School inspires educators and students to branch out into their community as well as globally, and become “ruined for life.’

“Being ruined for life ultimately means that the experiences you have had through your Jesuit education are to be more than just academic, rather, a holistic education that unites the heart, the soul, and the mind.

This ruins for you the life deemed by society and teaches us to challenge the status quo,” says Girls Divsion Service Director Mrs. Kristen Kraus.

“This is why Regis Jesuit adds the word ‘with’, the phrase is actually “women and men for others” but we add the ‘with’ because we want that relationship. It doesn’t help anything to say, I’m going to help you, and not put a face to that experience,” she says.

Mr. Sean Powers, SJ, who has made several global immersion trips to far-reaching places such as Nicaragua and Belize, also sees the beauty in the term ‘ruined for life.’

“When it comes to service and solidarity to be ‘ruined for life’ it means to allow the realities of the poor and socially disadvantaged to call us from living first and foremost for ourselves to living for our neighbor—and the most in need.”

“It simply means to die to the self, and live for the love of the other,” he said.

Being ruined for life might come off as a scary thought, because to be ruined often carries a negative connotation.

But senior Riley O’Connell, who spent a week in Belize this past summer, believes differently.

“Being ‘ruined for life’ means allowing injustice to unsettle you, but also allowing yourself to look past the injustice, and seeing the humanity and love in the people you serve, and letting that reflect back,”

O’Connell says.

“For service work only makes a difference, if it makes a difference to you,” she says.

Capturing this very idea, senior Jillian Lesnansky says being ‘ruined for life’ means “Breaking a person’s heart and soul, however when a person’s soul and heart is broken, they are bound to meet someone or a group of people, that will slowly start to put it back together in the most beautiful way.”

“By seeing the face of God in these people, their souls show that they have been broken, but that good and loving people glued them back together and made them the best type of broken” Lesnansky explains.

Being ‘ruined for life’ and leaving a hand print means being vulnerable and not being afraid to be scared.

When we become ‘ruined for life,’ and we see the world in a whole new way, it makes our eyes see both the things we want to see and the things we have to see.

It means leaving your handprint on others, and allowing others to leave their handprint on you.

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAVE YOUR HANDPRINT ON THE WORLD Nicaragua Belize Gulf Coast March for Life Service Projects Ingnation Teach-In Arrupe Club Justice League RCLC Day for Others REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 13

LIVING THE ARTS By: Lydia Davidson ‘15 & Rebekah Hale ‘18

A

rt. The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. This is the dictionary definition of art. But what does art really mean or express? Regis Jesuit is dedicating this year to the pursuit of the question “What is Art?” through the Year of the Arts. Thanks to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and a generous donation from a benefactor, Regis Jesuit has been given the opportunity to explore and expand in the arts in the Regis community.

“The Year of the Arts is an opportunity for those people who have already engaged in the arts to find opportunities and express their creativity more publicly,” says Mr. Sean Powers. “ For those people who don’t know anything about the arts this is an opportunity to start exploring. Mr. Sauer and I are in charge of this, but really our accomplishments this year depend on faculty and students that want to get involved. We could push, push, push, but if no one wants to do it, it’s a waste of time,” said Powers.

14 | PULSE

Powers, after a busy and productive Year of the Arts lunch meeting on a Friday in the PAC.

This vision for the Year of the Arts is being recognized through the Year of the Arts Club as well as interest from community.

During lunch periods a group of guitarists can be found jamming outside the PAC, a flash mob during lunch is not unheard of, groups and individuals are brainstorming ideas for their next artistic endeavor, and the Year of the Arts club is busy encouraging the community to become involved.

“The point of the club, especially at this time, is organizing different events to try and involve the community. We’re hopefully going to have many art contests and hang the pictures up in the PAC, and I really want to have a Shakespearean Festival here, a music festival, a chalk art festival. We just had a successful flash mob for Jesus Christ Superstar and it was so much fun. It’s doing things like that to get the word around,” says Katie Lennon ‘17. Lennon is a prominent member of the Year of the Arts club. She is also the understudy for Caiaphas in Regis Jesuit’s upcoming performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Thankfully, students and faculty out-

side of the immediate Year of the Arts circle seem ready and willing to jump in.

“I’m just really excited about it. I think it’s really cool that Regis built this whole building dedicated to the arts and is making the arts a more prominent program at Regis,” says Liam Canada ‘15, a member of the Regis Jesuit String Orchestra.

Other upcoming events include a variety show put on by Ms. Jodie Prohira. This one night show has the theme of ‘The Power of the Dream’ and will feature faculty, staff, and alumni, most of whom have had professional experience in the arts.

Left: The Regis Jesuit String Orchestra rehearses Gymnopedie by Eric Satie during 1W. Orchestra is a balance of hard work and having a great time.

Below: Liam Canada ‘15 jams on his violin during orchestra. Music is a huge part of his life, both at RJ and elsewhere. “I think art is just any way that people find a way to express themselves,” he says. Photos by Lydia Davidson.

“I think it’s great for the kids to see that the adults around them can bring something to the table too.

And I think that it will be really fun exposure for the kids,” says Ms. Prohira.

The excitement and anticipation for the Year of the Arts is present. Now it is up to the community to carry out their dreams and plans.

So gather your friends and start singing in the PAC; have dance competitions; invite everyone to participate. Participation in both small and big events will help the Year of the Arts be a success.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 15

COUNTERING THE CONCERT CULTURE

Cold weather, rain and a slight breeze in the air. The Arctic Monkeys walk out and the crowd starts to scream, but all you can think about is the thick smoke in the air. | Photo by Savannah Leisegang ‘17

By: Savannah Leisegang ‘17

“A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favorite part of the business, live concerts.” - Elvis Presley

“Y

ou make the long drive to Red Rocks to see your favorite band. You get the best seats you can find. The concert begins and your heart begins to race. The music moves you.

That is until you realize you are caught in a thick cloud of marijuana smoke.

Marijuana’s affects on the body are clear. Your heart rate raises 100%. Your risk for a heart attack raises 70%, your body instantly begins to shut down.

Oficer in training Gavin Whitman has dealt with it first hand.

“I think the people who get into the most trouble are the people who don’t understand the law,” Witman said.

With the legalization of recreational use of marijuana, some think the use of marijuana in public is accepted.

It’s not.

In some places, such as Red Rocks and on the 16th Street Mall, there is constant heavy use of the drug in both edible form and smoking.

Physician Vic Sanchez says he is disturbed how many teens use it for something that it isn’t helping at all.

“The amount of teens with depression that discover marijuana before they can be correctly treated is sad,” Sanchez said.

He talked about how teens with major medical issues smoke marijuana for a temperately release of the medical issue they face. They are now also on their way to ruining their repertory system and haven’t actually solved anything.

With marijuana use becoming such a growing culture, it is something that is hard to avoid even with such strict legal action, and especially at concerts.

It’s important to know the health effects that it has on the person who smokes it and the health issues that arise from it. Second hand smoke is not as harmful, but it can be damaging over time.

When the THC is smoked, it reaches the brain

16 | PULSE

and the brain cells release a chemical called dopamine.

You soon get a sense euphoria which includes relaxation, laughter, and an increased appetite, but once the effects of euphoria subsides, the worst effects happen. The smoker becomes sleepy and depressed. They also have a chance of experiencing, anxiety, fear, distrust, or extreme panic.

Your heart rate speeds up, your bronchial passages relax and enlarge making your lungs more vulnerable to the drug, the blood vessels in your eyes expand and your eyes become red.

Marijuana use at concerts is huge now and it’s one of the places where although it is definitely still illegal, it is accepted to a certain extent. There are usually still no pat downs going on, but if concert goers are caught they can still pay a very high fine.

It’s something we live with as a society now and it is still very dangerous and misunderstood, but that is what is almost an appeal to the people that use.

So how can you avoid being exposed to marijuana at your favorite Red Rocks show? You can’t, really, but you can make the right legal decision and decision for your health by not using. Recent studies show that the effects on a teenage brain can be harmful and last a lifetime.

Long-term, regular use of marijuana—starting in the teen years—may impair brain development and lower IQ, meaning the brain may not reach its full potential. ~ National Institute of Drug Abuse

Among persons aged 18 or older who reported lifetime marijuana use, almost 53 percent reported that they first used marijuana between ages 12 and 17 ~ The NSDUH Report, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

GO BANANAS? M By: Aliah Humphrey ‘15

EDITORIAL

Not really. Fans lacking at girls athletic events

arch 2012. The Raiders hit the floor for the 5A Girls State Championship. The game is ready to start and tip off is about to begin. The players look up into the crowd and all they see is members of their family and 13 Regis Jesuit students in the student section. The question often comes up why don’t people go to girl’s games?

“I feel like people are more willing to attend boys’ games than they are girls’ games,” 2014 Division 1 recruit and current University of Texas forward Diani Akigbogun said.

At a football game the stands are overcrowded, but at girls’ sporting events and the fans are no where to be found. As a school that believes we have the best school spirit in the state, shouldn’t that include support for both sides?

Geoffrey Kelly, a junior power forward on the boy’s basketball team, says that being a supporter is much more than just a fan cheering loud.

“Being there to support your friends isn’t just about recognizing the hard work and effort they put in day in and day out. Being there to support other sports just shows the relationship between brothers and sisters,” Kelly said.

The problem is not just at Regis Jesuit.

The question about attendance at female sporting events rises even professionally.

Andy Betts, an assistant boys basketball coach, played professionally in Europe. For Betts, the crowd was always important.

“When I played in Greece during the league finals we played in the Olympic stadium which holds 20,000 and it was always full. The atmosphere was incredible. Having someone wear your jersey or hold a banner with your name on it feels great and makes you want to perform even better for them,” Betts said.

That is something you just don’t see at a female sporting events.

When asked what he does as a coach to try and get fans to support the female athletes Betts said he pushes for them to come but it is difficult

because they too have to focus on their own athletics.

Girls Division Athletic Director John Koslosky believes part of the problem is that attending games are more of a social event rather than for an actual love for the sport.

“Girls like to be where the boys are and the boys don’t attend our games in any mass numbers, so the girls would rather go to boy’s games like football and basketball. The fans want to go to where the social aspect is high and not just for the game,” Koslosky said.

At the end of the day, as sisters to the athletes, Girls Division students especially, need to realize that having fans at games is much more than just for the cheering, it helps the athletes feel better and perform at an incredible rate.

The girl’s basketball team was ranked third in the nation last year. Which, for a girl’s team coming out of Colorado is extremely impressive. Yet, we still could not get fans to the games.

When looking back at her years playing for RJ, Akigbogun, who was named Mrs. Colorado Basketball after her senior season, recalled the effects of the lack of fans.

“People don’t realize it, but the energy and the support from the crowd makes a world of difference when you’re playing. To hear people cheering for you and wanting you to succeed makes playing your sport all the more worth it; it’s like you’re playing for something bigger than yourself,” Akigbogun said.

Girls 5A State Basketball Championship game, May 2012.

Only 13 students came to cheer the Raiders to victory.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 17

The Reality of

HIGH SCHOOL Transcripts

Jesuit education does have perks, but whether or not it gives students a significant advantage when it comes to college applications depends on who you ask.

W

hat do I have going for me? Do I have good enough test scores?

Is my curriculum hard enough?

These are just a few of the questions that high school students ask as they begin to apply to colleges.

What students might not always consider is whether or not their school system and status will help or harm their chances. Sometimes, the value of the education is more important than the outcome of the grades and what comes of them.

College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit liberal arts college, gives some advice on the transcripts. They advise that high school students don’t take an easy course load for better grades, plan ahead with long and short term goals, don’t break down after one bad grade, be curious, recognize differences in every high school, and beware of stereotypes.

In a New York Times Article, “How One College Evaluates a Transcript,” Ann McDermott- the Director of Admissions at College of the Holy Cross, says, “College admissions officers will take the time to understand the curriculum of your school.”

If colleges really do take into account the rigorous academics of a Jesuit school, then there really are advantages to a Jesuit education.

Mrs. Sarah Dewhurst, a college counselor at Regis Jesuit, believes that Jesuit schools have much more to offer than a difficult course load.

“One of Regis Jesuit’s most valuable components is the volunteer program. By the end of their four years at Regis Jesuit, students will have a total of 175 volunteer hours, including hours that must include work with the poor and marginalized which is unique to Regis Jesuit,” Dewhurst said.

Dewhurst believes that even though pastoral doesn’t always help with transcripts, it helps students become more mature and in touch with themselves,

18 | PULSE

By: Charlotte Gutrich ‘18

which sometimes is more helpful for college than anything.

Deanna Howes, the Director of Communications for the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, believes that keeping the advantages of a Jesuit high school education in perspective is important. When it comes to transcripts, it’s all about how hard students work in high school, and not which school they attend.

But the benefits of a Jesuit education go far beyond a good-looking transcript, she says.

“I think that a Jesuit education is extremely worthwhile because the whole focus is to education your whole person and that’s what makes it worth while. It’s not just educating your mind, it’s educating you to be a man or a woman for others, it’s teaching you how to fight for justice, and to do community service for others,” Howes said in a phone interview.

In an email interview, Jessica M. Forinash,Vanderbilt University Senior Admissions Counselor explained the process that goes through an admissions counselor’s mind.

“It’s important to understand what types of classes are available at each school. We want to see that a student has selected from the most rigorous coursework available at their school and that they have done well in those courses,” Forinash says.

Attending a Jesuit high school alone doesn’t give students an advantage, but Jesuit students do have a specific work ethic and spiritual connection that often helps them throughout their whole educational career. In the end, it’s all about your choices and how hard you work.

High school students have unlimited possibilities for their next step in their academic career. It all comes back to how they perform as an overall student, and how hard they work to accomplish their goals.

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR TRANSCRIPTS:

1. Work hard all four years to accomplish all that you can as a student.

2. Become involved in classes, activities and clubs that stand out.

3. Take courses that challenge you, don’t take the easy way out.

4. Don’t blow off homework, a project, or studying.

5. Be proactive about all assignments, don’t procrastinate.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 19

FAR, FAR FROM HOME

An insight into the lives of two high school girls living in a foreign country, far away from everything they’ve ever known.

Carolina Longoria has come to Regis Jesuit from Guadalajara, Jalisco to learn more about our culture and attend school at Regis Jesuit. Jewell Humphrey, a Regis Jesuit student, is in Guadalajara, attending Institution De Ciencias, for the first semester of her sophomore year. They are both far from home and on the adventure of a lifetime .

By: Olivia Ary ‘18

“

The Exchange is a program designed To allow students to travel to learn the language and experience the culture.

It helps students to expand their view of the world and develop a sense of independence and confidence,” said Ms. Gonzalez-Hill, Girls Division Director of Diversity, about the exchange program here at Regis Jesuit.

Students from Regis Jesuit do not have to pay tuition, books, fees, etc. to the Instituto de Ciencias, the school the exchange program works with. The exchange student is only responsible for the cost of transportation to and

from Mexico and spending money.

This is the same for the students coming from the Instituto de Ciencias. Students must be in at least Spanish 2 to take this adventure.

“Just waking up every day to a new experience is really fun because it’s crazy for me to think I’m in Mexico and speaking Spanish all day! It’s kind of like a dream,” said Jewell Humphrey, a Regis Jesuit sophomore currently living in Guadalajara.

Right: Jewell with her basketball teammates in Guadalajara. Basketball is amongst the many things that Jewell likes to do, in fact, she played for Regis Jesuit last season. “I like to play Basketball, and all of the girls on the team are really sweet,” said Jewell.

Left: Instituto de Ciencias, Science Institute, is the Jesuit high school that Jewell is attending while in Guadalajara. It is also the school that Carolina attends while she is there.

“The school is crazy similar, but at the same time crazy different,” said Jewell.

20 | PULSE

CAROLINA LONGORIA Can you tell us a little bit about you?

What can I say about myself? I am Carolina, I am 16 years old, I have three siblings, all girls, I love the beach and I have never seen snow; I dream of becoming, someday, someone people will remember. I have a wolf-dog and I love whales and owls. I had never been out of my country -what makes this very special for me. And I love drawing and playing sports.

What do you think of Regis Jesuit? how is it different/similar to Instituto De Ciencias?

I like Regis a lot, though sometimes is weird to be with girls all the time. I like moving from class to class as I used to do In middle school -in high school we just stay in one classroom and the teachers are the only ones that go from classroom to classroom giving their class- I like having half-anhour cookie break and one-hour lunch time and I have to say it, I love the cookies.

at the next one and I like that suspense. I like the big houses and the landscape you can see if you look up to the mountains What do you miss about back home?

What I most miss back home is -besides family- my dog, I know it may sound cheesy but I really do. I miss my friends a lot, too. And obviously, the food.

I miss how we put chili in everything, and the Mexican candies. I miss how it doesn’t matter if people already know you or not they always kiss you and hug you when they greet you. I guess this list is going to increase by the time I go back home.

What do you like about Colorado?

I like the fact that Colorado is big and doesn’t seem to be really crowded, at least most of the times, and I like that everything is spread out. I like the weather here because you never know, you could have snow one day and be in 90 degrees

Carolina at her first football game with some new friends.

JEWELL HUMPHREY Can you tell us a bit about you?

I am a sophomore at Regis Jesuit, and am 15 years old. I like to play basketball, watch soccer, cook, and shop.

What is the school in Mexico like?

It is called Instituto De Ciencias, and is in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The school is very similar but at the same time is crazy different! There are about 35 people in my class and we all have the same schedule. We stay in the same classroom and the teachers come to the room when their class occurs. It’s kind of fun that way because you can get really close with your classmates. The school is Jesuit like Regis Jesuit, so a lot feels the same to me.

What is Guadalajara like?

about three hours away. There are people selling food on every street corner, and a lot of it I have never heard of before!

What do you really like about Mexico?

I honestly love it down here. The food is absolutely amazing and I am definitely going to miss it. Also just waking up every day to a new experience is really fun because it’s crazy for me to think I’m in Mexico and speaking Spanish all day! It’s kind of like a dream.

What do you miss about back home?

I miss seeing my family, my friends, my best friend especially, and Chick Fil A. It’s weird to only hear Spanish all the time, and sometimes I am desperate to talk to someone in English, but I’ve gotten used to it.

It is a lot like Denver to me because there are mountains

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 21

TAKING THE DEFENSIVE ON YOUR INJURIES T By: Jillian Desmond ‘15

he transition is perfect, reaching behind the ten foot line just like coach had drilled into her mind. The set arcs only feet above the net and starts its decent perfectly inside the antenna. Full pike and ready to swing into the ball, Mary feels a searing pain in her stomach and she knows there’s no return.

Junior Mary Raitt has enough experience with injury for a lifetime. Raitt is a volleyball player and a starting right side hitter for Regis Jesuit’s varsity team as well as an outside hitter for her club team, Elevation. Volleyball has been a passion for Raitt for as long as she can remember , but it comes at a price.

Raitt as suffered a shoulder strain, patella maltracking issues, and now a strained or pulled ab muscle.

“My injuries seemed to have something in common,” Raitt said. “They all came after lazy summers of poor dietary habits and very little exercise.”

These two aspects alone can make or break an athlete’s career. So how can female athletes stay injury free?

Lindsay Casas, Regis Jesuit Girls Division head athletic trainer, says it’s about understanding the common injuries and defending against them. Casas sees more muscle pulls and ligament strains than anything else.

There should be a defense mechanism for all of this shouldn’t there? Well, there is.

“A lot of times athletes do not focus on staying in shape during the summer and lose strength. When they come into their fall season sport their muscles and ligaments are unprepared for the work required for the sport,” says Casas. “There has to be a stress on girl’s staying in shape, they cannot just show up at game time and expect smooth sailing.”

It is of the highest importance that athletes take care of their bodies, but sometimes even that cannot prevent the inevitable or unpreventable injuries.

The two most inevitable injuries include ACL tears, especially among girls, and concussions.

According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, women are two to ten times more likely to sustain knee injuries such as ACL tears.

Casas explains that due to females are at a bigger risk due to their monthly menstrual cycles. “On periods, joints get relaxed and ligaments get stretchier due to the

22 | PULSE

hormones being released during the cycle,” she explains.

In addition, female’s naturally wide set hips also cause the knees to be more inwardly pronated, thus placing a stress on the ACL.

Despite this disadvantage, there are still effective ways which female athletes can guard against injury and recover within a timely manner. This regimen includes, first and foremost, rest. Casas stresses the importance of this piece of the therapy.

“A lot of people don’t think that rest is therapy, but it is,” she says of rest and relaxation.

Next, comes range of motion and then strengthening. Before even considering regaining strength athletes must first use their physical therapy to regain a full range of motion to protect the injured area from further damage.

Restrengthening after will insure that the athlete comes back stronger than before and hopefully less likely to re-injure.

Raitt, still in recovery for her strained abdomen, said that among the actions she is taking to recover she is focusing especially on a healthy diet. No athlete can preform and remain healthy if not for the appropriate diet.

Nutritionist Amanda Conti says, “Suffice it to say that Americans, in general, are overfed and undernourished. As pre-adolescent kids enter full blown adolescence, their craving for fats naturally increases. The problem here is that they’re typically consuming the wrong kinds of fats.”

Americans tend to gravitate toward fast food and junk food which contain trans fats, the type that contributes absolutely nothing to nutrition but contain enormous amounts of empty calories.

Conti also shared that while teenage boys tend to crave and consume greater amounts of protein, young women gravitate toward sweets as a result of an increase in estrogen which, she states, “can be a very slippery slope for us ladies if we are not careful.”

There seem to be a baffling number of disadvantages to being a female athlete, so there is only one place to begin to make the change for the better: right from the start.

It is crucial for female athletes, and women in general, to make the dietary change starting with water.

We are made up of 80 percent water, meaning that there is no room to skimp in a healthy diet. Humans can go for

extended periods without food, but without water, there is no means for surviving. In addition, nutrient dense foods are an essential.

“Foods that are nutrient dense are foods that are lower in calories but pack a lot of punch in terms of nutrition. Think fruits, veggies and lean proteins or fatty fish like wild salmon as well as nuts and seeds,” said Conti.

Although foods are the basis for a daily healthy living regimen, they do not necessarily fulfill the job of recovery on their own.

“The human body can require 10-20 percent more calories post injury or minor surgery. More if it’s major surgery. Healthy Omega 3 fats have an anti-inflammatory effect so eating lots of these is beneficial. Decreasing the amount of Omega 6 fats is a good idea as these fats cause inflammation,” states Conti.

Omega 6 fats can be found in various packaged foods containing corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and soy oils. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables will speed healing since they are loaded with antioxidants. Zinc also enhances healing as does Vitamin C, Iron, Turmeric, garlic, cocoa, green tea and a bump in protein contributes to muscle repair.

Whether the injury be preventable or inevitable, there is always a way to defend against it and a recovery route available. Above all, we must keep a healthy body, a stable and nourishing diet, and, always, a positive mindset.

STRETCH IT OUT > WORK TO PREVENT INJURY

Hamstring Stretch - This stretch is mean to focus on your hamstrings. To do this stretch, either use a table or any object with will cause your legs to make about a 90 (or just under 90) degree angle, lean forward and reach for your toes. If you cannot grab the end of your foot, try grabbing your ankle instead and leaning forward into it until you feel the stretch. You can also do this stretch sitting on the ground with one leg stretched out in front at a time.

Downward Dog- The purpose is to stretch out the lower back which is often neglected in stretching. By stretching your lower back, you can prevent strains and pulls in the surrounding muscles.

Quad Stretch- To perform this stretch, you must get down on one knee. Your knee that is off the ground should be at a 90 degree angle and you must grab your back foot of your other leg with the hand on the same side. Leaning forward into the stretch will give you the extra stretch you need to protect your quads.

Quad Stretch #2 - This is simply another variation of the quad stretch show before simply standing up now. To maximize your stretching time, try to find a single spot on the ground to hold your focus. Be sure to be pulling up and your foot and back toward your butt, not in excess though.

Ideally, your knees will line up or be close to lining up during this stretch.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 23

SOUNDS OF MUSIC

M

usic can change the world because music can change people. Music is something that people get attached to. Music is another way of putting messages out into the world which can be good but also be bad at times.

Music can inspire someone to feel and make better decisions but also can inspire someone to feel and make bad decisions.

There are so many types of music. Rap, pop, rock, country, indie, alternative, hardcore are some of the abundant types in the world. People are influenced and affected by music so easily because of the way music is being put out into the world. Music is

something that is around everyday.

When we listen to the new songs, we learn different things going on in the world and we become more open-minded.

Listening to calmer, more respectful and not hateful music can put good inputs on peoples lives and decisions they make.

Erin Biafore, a student at Regis Jesuit High School says, “Alternative and more calm music is what people in this world need to listen too, most of the songs I listen to are calm and alternative, none of them put out any negative or hateful messages out in the world and it’s a good influence for me and it would be a great influence on other people.”

Sometimes, the messages

By: Hannah Trotter ‘18

does not have such a great influence.

Mr. Bernie Sauer, Girls Division music teacher, says “Any music with a negative message,a message that is hateful toward women, gang oriented, violent and any music that promotes hate, I’m against. It makes me feel awful, I think it really affects the soul. It puts a little darkness in you.”

Photos By: Hannah Trotter’19 24 | PULSE

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 25

JILLIAN DESMOND ‘15 - VOLLEYBALL

WHAT IT T

STUDENT

Freshman softball player, Rebekah Hale, who swings between the JV and Varsity team, talks about her experiences juggling between her commitments and academics. rying to manage homework With approximately two and extracurriculars takes a lot hours of homework and one and of commitment and practice. a half hours of practice every day, There are many students at Regis Jesuit High school that have practiced including morning practices, it’s not time management all four years, juggling AP easy.

“I have games everyday, and classes, varsity sports, and school in general.

Students practice this from manage to stay on track with my education,” Rebekah stated. the beginning of freshman year all of the Regis Jesuit has become first way through senior year. How do these girls priority for this freshman student manage to keep a high GPA, and still be an athlete, but she wouldn’t change it athlete?

T 26 | PULSE

for the world.

“Being able to be apart of this community helps me thrive to be a student, as well as being a well-rounded athlete.”

People look at Poms and think it’s only dancing but there’s many aspects that go into it that takes a lot of time management, effort and compassion for doing something you love.

Izzy Gudewicz is a freshman student-athlete on JV Poms.

With practices three days a week for six and a half hours and nightly homework, she is busy. Izzy takes all honors classes except math.

“Having to stay up for two and a half hours managing homework after practice gets hard,” Izzy says.

Being a member of the team involves a lot of effort, but that is expected from a student athlete that wants to continue being apart of a second family.

Running, and being able to be a proactive player on the Varsity Field Hockey team takes dedication and motivation.

Katie Lewis, the Varsity Field Hockey Captain, manages to practice everyday until 5:30 p.m., and makes it to every game including games on the weekend.

Many students use weekends to finish homework. However, on the weekends Katie’s time is spent on the field. Her homework

T TAKES

KATIE LEWIS ‘15 - FIELD HOCKEY

By: By Lori Thompson & Adriana Sanford ‘17

ATHLETES consists of three AP classes, totaling up to a minimum of two hours a night.

“It’s definitely hard to balance homework and sports, but it’s definitely worth it,” she says.

Varsity sports take talent, being in shape, and being committed to doing something you love constantly.

Senior Jillian Desmond takes two AP classes, has practice everyday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and has two games every week.

When she’s not on the court warming up or playing, she is either setting up for or there to support the younger teams.

When school is over, volleyball becomes first priority and doesn’t end until about 10 p.m..

“Coming home, having other things on my mind, and realizing I still have homework is very stressful. The stress is defi-

TYPICAL DAY FOR AN RJ ATHLETE nitely hard to cope with. All you have to do is stay on top of things, use your weekends, non-game days, and cut social time out of your life when it’s needed.”

Desmond has been a student athlete for all four years at Regis Jesuit.

“ Being able to have such a great experience here takes a lot of sacrifices, but that’s the price of being a student athlete,” she says.

Overall, being a student athlete at Regis Jesuit takes a lot of time, commitment, and motivation no matter what grade you’re in or what sport you play.

6 a.m. - wake and get ready 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. - classes 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. - practice

Gameday? could be until 9:30 or 10 p.m.

6 p.m. - 7 p.m. - eat and break 7 p.m. - 9:30 /10 p.m. - homework REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 27

CONFRONTING PRIVATE SCHOOL STEREOTYPES A By: Emily Butler ‘15 and Megan Jones ‘15

s a student at a private school, at some point in your high school career you’ve heard the stereotypes.

Every single student at a private school is filthy rich.

They’re all snobby and preppy and rude. While there are some who fit this stereotype, it’s the same for students at every school. Going to a private school doesn’t make you richer or preppier than the rich, preppy students at a public school.

Just like the majority of stereotypes you will experience in your life, the ones that surround the private school system are almost entirely untrue.

Stereotype #1: Private school kids all have rich parents.

According to Mrs. Kessler, principal of the Girls Division, 25 percent of the Girls Division students are on financial aid. “If we put a group of 100 students in front of us, 25 of them wouldn’t be able to be here,” she says. “That’s why I’m always shocked at the stereotype of being the rich kids. There’s rich kids here, but there’s rich kids at most schools.”

Mr. Carruthers, Principal of the Boys Division, says, “33 percent (of Boys Division students) are on financial aid, and our average gift is around the $6,700 mark.”

“There are students who truly can’t even afford some of the books and there are a lot of kids we give polos to because we know that’s a real stretch for the family. Those are the things that go under the radar but they’re really important to what we do,” says Kessler.

A lot of the rich kid commentary has risen due to the new addition of the new building. What a lot of people don’t know is that not all of that money just went to building a new complex.

“A lot of that big number that’s stamped out there went to other areas,” says Carruthers. “A lot of people think that was just the PAC, but it was endowment, faculty compensation, and then the PAC.” About 12 million of the 20-plus million dollar campaign went to the building of the Performing Arts Complex

Stereotype #2: Private school and public school kids are totally different.

“They’re good kids everywhere, it doesn’t matter if they’re

28 | PULSE

public or private, they’re great kids. I think that in a private school we have the opportunity to work on the whole person and we do address not only academics but the spiritual side and social emotional side and that is a major difference,” says Kessler.

To assume that because you attend a private school you must be stuck up and entirely different than a public school student is a stereotype that is absolutely untrue. There are the same type of students at every school, and the type of school that they attend isn’t going to completely change that.

“We have the opportunity to be a more homogeneous value-based environment and that does change things. Do I think it’s a bad thing though? No. I think most people here share similar values within range, where in public school you have more diverse values.

We have students that come here and don’t fully use their opportunities, but generally students know that education is important,” said Carruthers.

leges.

Stereotype #3: Private school kids get looked at by more col-

A lot of students assume that because we go to a private school, we’re more likely to get into top colleges. This is yet another example of an untrue stereotype.

An article on CampusExplorer.com, a website that helps match students with colleges, outlines what colleges look at when accepting new freshman and the difference between private and public schools.

“To understand the differences between private and public schools we look at three factors: cost, teacher quality, amenities and curriculum,” the article states.

When it comes to cost ,the author says that colleges take into account budget cuts and economic times. The only time that the cost of a school applies is when it comes to scholarships and grants.

In terms of teacher quality, the article recognizes that the quality of a teacher can never be guaranteed. There will be good and bad teachers at every school whether public or private. In actuality, the licensing requirements for private school teachers is far less strenuous, but that doesn’t guarantee their quality or lack thereof.

As the article moves into amenities and curriculum, it states that it really all depends on the school. There are low and high budget private schools and there are low and high budget public schools. It all depends on the location and the size of the school.

Some schools have better recreation than others and that has nothing to do with whether it’s public or private.

While attending a private school can have some underlying benefits, a majority of colleges don’t take that into account. A private school student and a public school student can take the same classes, get the same GPA, have been a part of the same extracurriculars, and the fact that one went to a private school would have little to no affect on that decision.

Stereotypes exist in every society, and especially in high school. People stereotype private schools, people stereotype public schools, people stereotype everything. Just because you go to a private school doesn’t mean you’re a different kind of person. Students are students no matter where they go, and the stereotypes that surround the private education system are often wildly untrue.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 29

HOW WE LEARN: BOYS AND GIRLS By: Mary Bach ‘17

If someone were to walk into room 219, they would see a group of girls with their iPads out, furiously taking notes on the new noun declension concept, trying to keep up with the teacher. But, observing boys taking the same class, they see students intently listening, but not rushing to take notes. This is only one of the many differences between how boys and girls learn.

A

re there really any benefits of single-gender instruction? Can anything good come out of separating boys and girls? The 3 letter answer is: YES.

When learning in a single-gender environment, both boys and girls shatter gender stereotypes that have been placed on them. Boys are much less competitive when there aren’t girls to “impress”, and girls take leadership roles in class because there are no boys to overshadow them.

And the benefits of single-gender instruction don’t just end there.

In a study of 270 thousand South Korean students, done by Dr. Leonard Sax of the NACE, (National Association for Choice in Education) students randomly assigned

30 | PULSE

to single-gender classes scored proficient after 3 months at a 40 percent higher rate than those randomly assigned to a coed class.

Something that the NACE found out was that when girls fail they interpret as that they have failed authority, whereas boys interpret failure as struggling in the specific class subject, so girls will see the failure as a failure of their person, but boys will see failure as a failure of abilities.

But, in this, where does Regis Jesuit stand? With single-gender instruction and opportunities to socialize coed, Regis Jesuit is truly one of a kind, Co-divisional.

Mr. Joe Lechuga, a Regis Jesuit alum who is now a

Regis Jesuit teacher, really knows that a single-gender learning environment is important. Lechuga has taught both boys and girls. Last year, he would teach girls Latin 1 on white days and repeat the same exact subject to boys on red days.

This year, he stays in the Boys Division.

“This year is the first year that I’m not teaching in both divisions, and it actually makes me pretty sad,” Mr. Lechuga said.

Additionally, students love the single-gender class style.

“It is most definitely less distracting” said sophomore Amelia Tadanier.

“Yeah, boys just distract us and take away from learning,” added sophomore Nadyah Spahn as she read and re-read her notes for the rigorous AP World History course

The general consensus of Regis Jesuit students is that the opposite sex is really just distracting. “It’s good to learn without girls because it is a lot less distracting,” said junior Jack Davidson.

Distraction. That is the main reason that Regis Jesuit students like learning only with their gender. When in a coed instructional environment, students are much less focused than when in put in a single-gender environment.

Another favorite part, for students, about the single-gender instruction style is that the teachers know how to teach.

“I really love that the teachers know how boys learn and can apply that in classes,” Jack Davidson said.

The main difference that Mr. Lechuga has noticed is note taking . “ I could go into a class with boys and we could have a very productive class that lasts 80 minutes, but if I never tell them explicitly to take notes, many of them won’t.

Whereas the girls will often ask me to slow down, and to repeat myself and they will as me to write things on the board so that they can have it in their notes correctly,” he said.

So, the ultimate question, which gender listens better? Is a girls class or a boys class more productive? The real answer is none of the above.

“I’ve had students in both divisions who are excellent listeners, and students in both divisions who are very bad listeners” Mr. Lechuga said.

At Regis Jesuit, boys and girls learn separated from each other during class, an environment which has more benefits than one might think. “Learning apart from the boys was really different for me, but I really like it,” said sophomore Kiana Roberts. Photos By: Mary Bach ‘17

There are 4,783 Catholic schools in the world 1,195 of those are in the U.S. 61 of those are Jesuit high schools 29 of those are single-gender education There is only one co-divisional Jesuit school :

Regis Jesuit

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 31

“Just Tired”

More Dangerous Than You Think

By: Clara Lavandier and Jennifer Menjivar ‘18

“Many teenagers think that losing sleep has no serious consequences or that it’s normal to be so tired, but in reality it can be very detrimental to an adolescents health.”

T

o say that sleep is the most important thing in life is a bit far fetched, because where would we be with out oxygen?

But sleep is a close second. Adolescents should be sleeping at least eight to ten hours every night to function best, but conveying statistics isn’t exactly going to help.

So here’s the layout: Sleep Deprivation. It means exactly what it sounds like, people deprived of sleep. Those who suffer from sleep deprivation always have a reason why, whether it is staying up all night doing homework or watching the new season of their favorite television show on Netflix.

There are many causes for sleep deprivation those of which include: voluntary behavior, personal obligations, work hours, and medical problems.

Each of these are direct links to sleep deprivation.

Adolescents have probably experience two if not all of these affiliations, which can lead to sleep deprivation.

Most teenagers experience inadequate sleep or sleep deprivation. Many teenagers think that losing sleep has no serious consequences, or that it’s normal to be so tired. In reality, however, it can be very detrimental to an adolescents health and have some serious consequences.

Between all the school work high school students are given, all the sports, after school activities, and socializing they do, it’s easy to see why they choose to skimp out on sleep to get all these things done. But is it really worth it?

Sleep is extremely important and not making it a priority can lead to many mental and physical problems.

According to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teenagers who sleep five hours or less a night are 71% more likely to have depression than teens who sleep eight hours a night.

Dr. Deborah S Presken, MD is a physician at

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Centura Health. “Sleep deprivation is a huge problem in the United States, particularly for adolescents. Teens are already at risk for depression and ADHD. Sleep deprivation only adds to these problems,” says Dr. Presken.

It can also lead to increased thoughts of hopelessness and increased stress levels. Lack of sleep can also negatively impact your attention, focus, and memory.

So that test you pulled an all-nighter to study for? Well, all of your hard work may be useless, because your brain is so deprived of rest. It just may not function well enough to earn you the ‘A’ you need.

Physically, there are many long term side effects of constant sleep deprivation, such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Also, since your brain works at a slower rate, your reflexes and responses are poorer than usual. Athletes won’t be as fast to react on the field or court.

“High schools give kids a significant amount of homework requiring hours to complete. There is stress from peers, parents and colleges for kids to participate in after school activities such as sports and music,” said Dr. Presken.

“Admission to college is becoming more competitive causing more stress on doing well in class and participating in extracurricular activities. Other families have financial stress-ors due to our poor economic times and kids are having to go to work after school. All of this leaves little time for kids to actually sleep,” she said.

Although it is extremely difficult to balance all these activities and get the amount of sleep our developing brains need, instead of putting sleep in the back seat, we should prioritize it.

Jessica Menjivar, a junior, says, “I think that students can prevent sleep deprivation by accepting the fact that your health is more important than your homework. If it reaches the point where you are getting three hours of sleep every night, and you are unable to cope anymore, that’s the point where you need to stop. Start focusing on yourself rather than an ‘A’.”

After staying up late to do homework because she had a long practice, student cannot seem to keep her eyes open in class.

She falls asleep, missing what the class is learning because her mind and body are sleep deprived. (Photo: Jennifer Menjivar & Clara Lavandier ‘18)

Tips to Get the Zzz’s You need: 1. Establish a bed time and wake-time, and stick to it even on weekends.

2.Try and avoid homework, TV, phones, or any electronics an hour before bed.

3. Make your room a perfect place to sleep! Keep it dark, neat, and not too warm.

4. If you are very tired, set an alarm and take a quick twenty minute nap. It’ll help keep you refreshed!

5. If stress prevents you from sleep, find ways to eliminate that stress like yoga, sports, etc.

6. Stay organized and do not procrastinate. Doing your homework when it is assigned will save you from late stressful nights.

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 33

Information Overload By: Charlotte Visser ‘17

Will you vote in any of the upcoming elections? What do you think about all of the social issues that our nation faces today? Do you understand all of the news that is being thrown at you in frequent social media updates? Teens need to be informed about the things they care about in order to make a difference.

H

igh school kids will soon be able to to vote. Some can even vote in the upcoming midterm elections. To some this may be very exciting, but to others it may be intimidating. Your political identity is just beginning to develop, and you may not be sure where you stand. It’s probably some of what your parents think, a little bit about what your peers think, but also an increasing amount your own opinion that you have gathered from observation of the world around you and personal experiences.

Social media may confuse us even more.

Amidst all of the Twitter updates, Instagram posts and news feeds today’s culture gives us little room to develop our own beliefs.

Chuck Plunkett, the politics editor for the Denver Post, says that social media can be a great tool to help us understand what is going on in our world but is often misused by kids.

“Teens today are often inundated with information,” says Matthew Welchert, a recent Regis Jesuit graduate who works with local campaigns. “The problem is not too little information but rather misleading information.”

Luckily, our social studies classes can help us to get a clearer picture of what is going on in our world and how to deal with it. The information that we learn in class is reliable and will help lead to us making informed decisions about voting and politics.

While no one can be informed all the time with their decisions, engaging in the material you learn in social studies classes is a good way to start.

Mrs. Caroline Howard, a Girls Division Social Studies teacher, says, “Hopefully, by being more educated on topics we learn in Government and U.S. History, students will realize that their opinions do matter.

This motivates them to get out and participate in our political process.”

In the last presidential election, 41.2 percent of

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people ages 18 to 24 voted. Most of them were college students. Higher levels of education constitute greater voter turnout rates.

Under the recent House Bill 1135 teens are now able to pre-register at local county clerks’ offices or through the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. Since January 2014, they have been able to register at Department of Motor Vehicles offices when getting their driver’s licenses.

Registration has proved to be difficult for people in the past. Nearly all of the young adults that voted in 2008 voted again in the 2010 midterm election. Voters who are already registered are much more likely to vote in an election.

While teens are seemingly apathetic about politics, there are many ways that they go out in the community to make a difference with the issues that they care about.

“Young adults can be the catalyst for action on issues other generations have kicked down the road,” says Welchert, “Working in the community by going door to door, engaging in civic activism like registering voters, and fighting for the issues that matter are ways teens can prove they are not to be ignored.”

Only 13 percent of young adults asked why they are not registered to vote said that they don’t care about politics which means that most have some level of interest.

Despite all of these opportunities, not all teens have the time or the interest to participate in something like that.

If they want to have an impact on the political world, the simplest thing they can do is get informed.

Widening the sources that you attain your information is a good place to start. While social media may be confusing us even more, Mrs. Howard says that it actually makes politicians more honest as they can not “hide” from the world.

Learning as much as possible about the people and issues that you will be voting on is very important. We are all part of the political process.

“If anything, young adults are the precursor for the politics to come.

Young adults can be the catalyst for action on issues other generations have kicked down the road.� -Mrs. Howard

2014 MIDTERM ELECTIONS QUICK GUIDE Governor John Hickenlooper Incumbent

Bob Beauprez

-Pro Choice -Supports Some Gun Control -Opposes Drug Legalization

-Pro Life -Opposes Gun Control -No known position on Drug Legalization

Senator Mark Udall Incumbent

All photos fair use Wikemidia Commons

Cory Gardner

-Pro Choice -Supports Gun Control -Supports Drug Legalization

-Pro-Life -Opposes Gun Control -Opposes Drug Legalization

Andrew Romanoff

Congressman Mike Coffman Incumbent

-Pro Choice -Opposes Gun Control -Supports Drug Legalization

-Pro Life -Opposes Gun Control -Opposes Drug Legalization

REGIS JESUIT | RJ MEDIA OCT, 2014 | 35

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