The Talon newspaper Vol. 16 Issue 3

THE TALON

Athletes face injury, recovery

Injuries often take more than physical toll on student athletes

by Sara Pipa

Concussions. Torn ligaments. Broken bones. It happens all too frequently in the world of sports. After professional NFL player Damar Hamlin received a life-threatening injury known as “commotio cordis” on the playing field, The Talon did a deep dive into safety precautions taken at NFHS and how injuries have affected Falcon athletes.

Injuries can be commonly linked back to overuse, direct im-

pact, and extreme force. For the show to go on, both on and off the field in the professional world of sports, every sport has medical emergency protocols and staff on standby ready to move in at any time, especially sports involving physical contact.

There is no such thing as an easy recovery. With the added stress of having to get back into the swing of playing a sport on top of everyday life, injuries can affect athletes more than you probably think.

Safety Summit asks for student input

by Rian Donahue & Lucas Smalley

To discuss school safety, more than 30 students from the three Fort Mill high schools attended the Safety Summit at the District Office on Feb. 8.

The students actively participated in a number of activities to hear what students think about their safety during the school day. The main objective was

to create a time and place for students to voice their opinions and ultimately make all schools safer.

Topics of discussion included student drug use, lockdowns and their effectiveness, speeding in student parking lots, handicap accessibility, mental health, sanitation of the school, open campus issues, and the seriousness of threats and their repercussions.

Death of privacy all too real

Social media kills concept of "personal life"

by Addie Rae Allen

It’s 1998. Grocery stores are lined with tabloids, most of which detail the affair of President Bill Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky. It’s a tale as old as time: “President Cheats on Wife.” Jefferson, Roosevelt, Kennedy. But it’s different in the digital age–Clinton and Lewinsky's faces were not only plastered in print, but also online.

The Clinton scandal may have been one of the first to be displayed in the digital stage, but it has certainly not been the last. Almost three decades later, such large-scale drama exists on computer and even phone screens. Like journalists in earlier years, now regular people are faced with a similar dilemma: to post, or not to post?

In an anonymous Talon poll on Jan. 26, 76.7%

of Falcons say they have reconsidered or debated whether or not to post on social media. The statistic suggests an internal dichotomy between a longing to have a media presence and keeping moments private to preserve the memory free from other people’s judgment.

“I hate how we have made [social media] to where people cannot feel comfortable posting what they want just because of others’ opinions,” Hailey Avitabile (‘24) says. While students may ultimately have the choice to post, many of the famous faces we see daily do not.

“Celebrities' lives are put on blast,” Mackenzie Creasman (‘24) says, “and many people harshly judge them as if they fully understand.” Turn to page 10

“Everyone has a voice,” Safety and Emergency Services Coordinator Charles Todd said to open the summit. “High school students are the first line of defense when it comes to safety.” Students discussed the introduction of an identification system that would help to identify students and discern them from outsiders.

Before losing his junior year football season of football due to an injury, starting running back Will Alvarado ('24) barrels his way through opponents on the football field on August 20.

Photo by Sara Pipa

Share your life

Today’s view of ‘oversharing’ shouldn’t always be seen as intrusive

by Emily Cacciatore

Sharing is caring. A cliche we’re all familiar with. Though the advice has the potential for positive outcomes, in terms of sharing personal stories or gossip, when does sharing become oversharing? Contrary to popular belief, whta is commonly referred to as oversharing is not as bad as it’s made out to be. Oversharing should not be looked down on, and, in fact, should be more normalized.

Oversharing has multiple benefits, such as the therapeutic relief of expressing yourself out loud, the comfort of intimacy with someone willing to open up, and the normalization of more personal topics through open talk about them.

Some people could say that oversharing is a breach of privacy, unnecessary, or “too much,” which falls into the old-fashioned narrative of hiding your emotions to avoid “burdening” people. Oversharing is not always an invasion of privacy and has many benefits.

Oversharing is helpful because it provides the relief of expressing ones thoughts or feelings out loud. According to experts at the Kansas Health System, people need to express feelings in the right ways to feel healthy emotions. We need to recognize the emotions we’re feeling, express them in a healthy way, and then move on.

However, some may say that oversharing can leave someone open and people can use your information against you. I think this viewpoint really takes so many human aspects out of the equation. It is natural in human nature to want to share your experience. The majority of oversharing that happens is innocent venting or sharing of emotions. Saying that all intimate conversation is bad is acting as if sharing feelings is as dangerous as telling people your passwords or logins. Instead of thinking about the personable aspects of oversharing, that concept is solely focusing on the analytical aspect of information sharing.

Someone’s sharing of emotional topics can be helpful for them at the time. When there is a lot on

The Talon Staff

Editors-In-Chief:

Addie Rae Allen

Amaris Arroyave

Rian Donahue

Sara Pipa

Section Editors:

Emily Cacciatore

Mackenzie Creasman

Elizabeth Ferretti

Connor Ford

Lucas Smalley

Graphics Editors:

Connor Lambert

Adviser:

Beth Swan

someone’s mind, the less rational and sensible things seem to them. By sharing these emotions, thoughts, and ideas, people are less able to rationalize feelings and thoughts and can possibly gain another perspective from a listener. Another benefit of oversharing is the comfort of building a deeper connection. Oversharing opens up discussions which lead to more conversations about wider, possibly more personal topics. These topics can deepen relationships and establish a comfortable environment because of the willingness to be vulnerable with someone.

I think that the main reason people are uncomfortable with oversharing is the vulnerability that comes with it. It takes a certain level of vulnerability to be able to overshare. This level of vulnerability might not be comfortable for everyone but the more people around who are willing to be vulnerable enough to overshare will open up the pool for others. When someone tells another person something that may be considered oversharing, the listener will likely open up in return. Everybody has flaws, and nothing makes people feel worse than a person who pretends not to have them.

The idea of not sharing unique topics about yourself is trivial and old-fashioned. In the past, if something was not as nice to talk about, uncomfortable, or just not as common a topic, people might have pushed that information down, and that leads to loneliness. Humans have been around far too long to not fully experience and talk about normal, and possibly embarrassing topics.

Oversharing is beneficial because it normalizes topics through open discussion. Through open talk, eventually there will be a sense of normality about difficult topics.

Throughout time people have valued “normal,” focusing on blending in and not disrupting, but there isn’t a set normal for every person. Every human has a full, eventful story, through oversharing people will likely become more open-minded and willing to listen.

Oversharing is not a breach of privacy--it is bene-

Reporters:

Parris Bowman

Riley Crutchfield

Kalli Desai

Eric Dykhuis

Austin Flemming

Ansley Griffin

Sharvani Kulkarni

Olicia Lucas

Felicia Okereke

Gray Price

Sabrina Randolph

Parker Sharkey

Colin Small

Ava Stubbs

Willow Wyman-Chase

Sophia Zban

by Emily Cacciatore

sources: martech.org newdigitalage.co

ficial for the oversharer in the ways they are allowed to express how they feel, and it’s also beneficial for the people around them with the immense comfort of the vulnerability from the oversharer.

The Talon Policy

The Talon provides students with an opportunity to research and write informative articles related to Nation Ford High School or topics students find interesting. The paper’s objective is to notify the school community of the news in a timely and informative manner and to entertain them through articles and columns.

The staff encourages letters to the editor. Nation Ford High School students, staff members, and the public can express their opinions and reactions to the articles in The Talon

Letters should be signed and should not exceed 150 words. Letters submitted may be published in the paper at the discretion of The Talon staff and will be edited for accuracy, length, and grammar, as well as offensive or inappropriate content.

The staff may permanently keep all unpublished letters for reference or guidance for future writing. All submissions should be submitted to Mrs. Swann, room D111, or via email to swanne@fortmillschools.org.

Please keep in mind that opinions voiced in the articles and personal columns are not those of the Nation Ford High School newspaper staff or Nation Ford High School’s administration, faculty, or staff; opinions are solely those of the author who submitted the article.

Oversharing is beneficial because it normalizes topics through open discussion. Through open talk, eventually there will be a sense of normality about difficult topics.

Recycling bins needed in Commons Now

Staff Editorial

While serving hundreds of starving, restless teenagers is likely far from easy, the school has a significant waste issue. Although High School 101 students have picked up the recycling for classrooms, the waste accumulating in the Commons at lunch continues to pose problems.

Out of the 1,813 students at Nation Ford, more than half of the school’s students buy meals throughout the school day, as documented by the National Center for Education Statistics for the 2021-2022 school year.

Fort Mill School District currently orders their lunch supplies from Gordon Foods, though the styrofoam lunch trays are distributed by Pactiv.

The black trays come in boxes of 500, with the school ordering between eight and 10 boxes per week (that’s approximately 4,500 trays per week).

Most foam food trays are made from polystyrene, a polymer in which the World Health Organization recognizes as a carcinogen, and they cannot be recycled.

Even if recycling was possible, the absence of recycling bins in the Commons precludes the possibility, meaning thousands of trays per week end up at the York County Landfill.

To put that in perspective, the average school year lasts 36 weeks. If Nation Ford uses nine boxes per week that’s 112,500 lunch trays each year. If each tray were laid side-by-side, they would span nearly 27 miles.

While the black lunch trays currently in use are convenient, they are in no

by

way sustainable, not to mention they are flimsy and break easily.

As an alternative, Pactiv offers a few more sustainable, choices such as the near-identical Compostable Molded Fiber tray. In fact, the school district did use compostable trays for part of one school year, but discontinued the practice.

Of course, the district could return to using plastic, reusable lunch trays. However, some rearranging of the cafeteria would

need to be done to equip an area for trays to be dropped off and washed. There would also be a rise in labor costs as the food service team would need to be staffed with a full-time dishwasher.

Perhaps the most prominent issue with Nation Ford’s lunches is the lack of recycling. Due to excessively long lines during students’ lunch periods, many resort to vending machines for a quick bite to eat. Every beverage bought is tossed in

the trash when empty because there is no way for students to recycle. Introducing a few recycling bins to the cafeteria would cut down on the school’s amount of waste.

If state-supported colleges and universities are required by law (S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991) to report annual recycling, then shouldn’t high schools do the same?

Ultimately, the school must choose between convenience and cost-effectiveness or the environmental impact they’re making on Fort Mill.

While this issue may be easily disregarded, it sets a harmful precedent for the generation of students the schools are educating.-RD

requisite People need to be recycling more frequently

Recycling

by Mackenzie Creasman

Recycling is becoming increasingly expensive and uncommon. This crisis is strange considering the benefits of recycling, and the negative effects of plastic when not disposed of in a sustainable manner. Our planet’s health has declined, meaning the need for recycling is higher than ever.

Recycling is increasing in cost because of the garbage that is thrown into the recycling bins. Removing the trash from recycling costs money, so recyclables are now priced higher. Therefore, manufacturers are not inclined to use them. The nonprofit organization Recycle Across America explains that “Contamination is a direct result of: 1) millions of inconsistent and confusing labels on recycling bins throughout society, 2) confusion about what is actually recyclable at a given bin, and 3) the lack of national messaging about the importance of recycling right.”

Recycling is simple when done correctly, but because of the lack of recycling education, a lot of people do not understand how to do it. Recycling confusion makes it inconvenient for the recycler as well as the people who have to pay for it. If recycling was given national attention and was clearly labeled and understood, the price for recyclables would most likely decrease. Recycling seems simple; most people know it is good for the environment, but they don’t understand its true importance.

One reason recycling is essential is that it reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, in turn

reducing our carbon footprint, a contributor to climate change and air pollution. Another example of recycling benefits is the decrease of pollution and the conservation of energy. Creating new products instead of reusing old ones requires more energy and fossil fuels. These products will go to landfills, propelling climate change and other environmentally dangerous results further. The cycle will continue until we run out of fossil fuels and materials as they are not infinite. Also, recycling helps protect marine and wildlife from becoming littered with potentially harmful plastics.

To put it in statistical perspective, “When U.S. recycling levels reach 75% it will be the environmental and CO2 equivalent of removing 55 million cars from U.S. roads each year,” according to Recycle Across America. Recycling is a multi-billion dollar industry, so it creates numerous jobs, and helps support our economy.

Recycling opens up many advantages for our environment and economy, both of which need to be sustained for a long time. If they are not sustained, it will lead to a loss of resources and the eventual fall of our earth and the human population.

It isn’t too late to start being environmentally conscious, and it also isn’t very hard. Try slightly cutting down water usage to simply putting your water bottles in a different bin, or cutting out the use of plastic water bottles entirely. This is our home, why ruin it for the sake of convenience? Recycling should be a national priority. We have to make certain sacrifices in the name of greater good.

Ultimately, the school must choose between convenience and cost-effectiveness, and the environmental impact they’re making on Fort Mill.

It isn’t too late to start being environmentally conscious.

Rian Donahue

Polar Plunge breaks last year’s record Nation Ford High raises nearly $11 thousand for local Special Olympics

by Eric Dykhuis

To encourage students to donate to this year’s Polar Plunge fundraiser, NFHS decided that for every $500 increment donated to the Plunge, one to two teachers or administrators would get an ice-cold bucket of water dumped on their heads once their assigned milestone was reached.

The Polar Plunge is an event that was brought to Fort Mill in 2021 to raise money for the South Carolina Area 11 Special Olympics, held at the Baxter-Close YMCA on Saturday, Feb 4.

“I think this shows that our school family loves all of our students, and I’m overwhelmed by the support we’ve received. I am blessed to be here,” Principal Chris Chandler said.

The incentive of students seeing their favorite or least favorite teacher get soaked by freezing water in the middle of winter has certainly paid off, seeing that NFHS has surpassed its goal by $926 and raised $10,926 total. That’s $3,628 more raised than last year. Both students and teachers say they had fun with the ice bucket challenge. “I don’t particularly like the super cold, but for this, I know everyone else is really excited, so that’s what makes me excited,” marketing teacher Lynn Marsh said.

Alexander Minihin (25’) also enjoyed watching Marsh partake in the challenge. “After working under her for tech crew and marketing, I’d say it was deserved,” he joked.

Period. fights against local period poverty

by Kalli Desai

A local youth group in Fort Mill has come together to fight period poverty and the stigma around menstrual periods. Founder and Operator Lily Sanders (‘26) was inspired to make a change after reading “Period Power” by Nadya Okamoto.

She learned how real and serious the issue of lack of access to menstrual products, known as period poverty, is today. “This is an issue affecting people close to me that I just couldn’t ignore,” Sanders said, “Everybody deserves to feel clean and dignified, regardless of their financial situation.”

In their first year the group collected donations and raised over 10,000 period products and have been actively giving back to the community. They have started to donate to homeless and women’s shelters in Fort Mill, Rock Hill, and Charlotte.

They have recently expanded into the Nation Ford High School Commons bathroom to do a trial run to see the reaction of the students and to see how much inventory they will need. In the fall Period. ran a drive to collect period pouches for elementary, middle and high school students in the Fort Mill School District.

To help keep the cause of Period. going the stu dent body can help by donating through Venmo with codes they can scan which are posted around the school, and donations will be accepted outside of Beth Sidwell’s room B120.

Calling all artists, writers

Falcon family welcomes 3 new faculty members

Trina McFadden, AP

by Caroline Zban

She’s got a familiar face and a new role at Nation Ford High School -- this fall Trina McFadden took on the role of Assistant Principal.

McFadden was a science teacher at Nation Ford, and she worked for 14 years teaching biology, forensics, and physical science. She then became assistant principal at Old Mill High in Millersville, MD for three years before returning to become assistant principal at Nation Ford.

“I am very happy to be back. I came back because I believe it is one of the best high schools in South Carolina,” McFadden said.

As an administrator, McFadden believes that she should be able to connect with the students and teachers while also accomplishing goals and changes to the school that could make it more safe, fun, and educational to everyone.

“She had a great reputation as a science teacher, and for making great relationships with students and staff,” Principal Chris Chandler said.

McFadden said that building relationships and connections is one of her favorite parts of teaching and being an administrator.

“I have talked to her a bit, and I can confidently say she’s very charismatic and definitely cares about who and what she is talking about,” Hannah Cochran (‘25) said.

Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with her family.

She has traveled with students to Peru and

Brigette McSheehan, AP

by Sharvani Kulkarni

Brigette McSheehan joined Nation Ford High School as one of two new assistant principals Jan. 3 after the Winter Break.

She has previously worked as a business teacher and a coach; she coached volleyball, basketball, as well as track at Rock Hill High School.

Now some of her duties include ninth grade transition, instructional technology, student leadership/Student Council, bell schedule and more.

“I might come across as strict or mean, but at the end of the day I will go out of my way to help anybody,” McSheehan said.

She is family- and sports-oriented. She has a son who is a freshman, and she is close to her parents, uncle and aunt.

“Ms. McSheehan is a great team player. She is willing to work hard and do whatever it takes for

Lawton Parker, Ag Teacher

by Sabrina Randolph

Lawton Parker joined the faculty in January to teach Agricultural Science Technology and Small Animal Care. After being in the forestry industry for 13 years, this is his first year teaching.

Parker took on teaching Ag classes because he loves spending time outside and appreciates na-

He shares his passion through teaching. He wants people to be more in touch with the outdoors since many students stay inside with little opportunity to enjoy nature.

“I love to help people,” Parker said. It’s something he’d like faculty and students to know about

Originally from Lancaster, he moved to the Fort Mill area from Clemson College and has grown to love the community.

During his high school experience, he participated in the yearbook staff all four years of high school but was a photography editor for two years, played soccer, swam on the swim team, and worked as a lifeguard and as a Springmaid Mountain camp counselor.

Activities he indulges in after school include

plans to travel with journalism teacher Beth Swann and students to England in 2024.

“I’m so excited Mrs. McFadden is back where she belongs with our Nation Ford Family,” Swann said.

us to be successful,” Principal Chandler said.

coaching his two boy’s sports, skiing, fishing, kayaking, and anything outside.

He also owns two dogs named Grover and Jerry Lee. He brings them into school every now and then for small animal care as examples for the class.

“If anyone wants to learn more about the outdoors come by and see me,” Parker said.

After climbing up to Machu Picchu with nine students in June 2019, Trina McFadden catches her breath.

New Agricultural Science teacher Lawton Parker brings in a rabbit for his Small Animal Care student..

Photo by Sabrina Randolph

An avid sports fan, Assistant Principal Brigette McSheehan joined the faculty second semester from Rock Hill.

Isa Rivas Named Miss Nation Ford

NAFO celebrates Black History Month

by Felicia Okereke

As part of Nation Ford High’s celebration of Black History Month 2023, themed “Black Resistance: Building Bridges and Navigating Barriers,” students can see music and dance performances in the auditorium during FLEX today.

Olivia Bennett (‘23) and Nyla Riley’s (‘23) dance will illustrate music history in a performance entitled “The Bigger Picture” by CJ and Friends in the auditorium.

Next Tuesday on Feb. 28, a team of students from each grade will play Black Culture Jeopardy moderated by Ethan Lewis in the auditorium. The winning team will get a prize. Students can sign up on the Enriching Students app.

Earlier this month, activities included a Kickball Trivia event and Super Icy Brothers Feb. 10, and a ca-

reer panel Black entrepreneurs + HBCU experience from alumni on Feb. 16.

Black History Month reminds Americans of important events that happened in the U.S. and to acknowledge those who were frequently left out of American history.

Biology teacher Benson Seisay says it’s important to celebrate this month to remember what African American ancestors went through and the contributions they’ve made.

In February 1976, the U.S. is officially celebrated Black History Month for the first time; 47 years have passed since then.

“BHM should be celebrated by everyone, regardless of race. Everyone should celebrate it,” Seisay added.

After a competitive pageant, faculty sponsor Kristi Kruft crowns Isa Rivas (‘23) this year’s Miss Nation Ford on Jan. 26 while participant Ashlyn Myers (‘23) applauds. Rivas was the winner of a $1,000 scholarship. The Scholarship Pageant is an event where girls of all grade levels come together for a fun and formal evening. The pageant was held on Thursday, Jan. 26 in the auditorium. The bond between the girls was strong. “You get to learn a lot from [the girls] and also just feeling good about yourself and having an opportunity to just really dress up,” participant Ava-Grace Robinson (‘25) said.

Safety Summit

Fort Mill Schools

Continued from page one

This system would work to improve entry into the school by issuing IDs carried on lanyards or hooked to students’clothing, just as teachers are required to wear currently.

“The only problem with this system is that former students would have these IDs,” Principal Chandler stated. A simple way to address this would be using a graduation year or providing the year the ID is issued.

Nation Ford students made comments about the state of the restrooms in their school, along with the lack of hygiene products such as toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels.

“These are items that will be worked on immediately,” Nation Ford Assistant Principal Ernest responded.

Americans spend big bucks on their pets

by Willow Wyman-Chase and Ava Stubbs

People with pets are reaching for their wallets maybe a little too much this year. Average annual household spending on pets rose from $460 in 2013 to $770 in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ever since the pandemic, adoption rates for pets have been increasing. In April of 2020, peak quarantine time, adoption for cats and dogs increased by up to 250%. And pet owners are spending a lot of money.

“People are starting to look at their pets like they are human,” Business owner Kristine Rameriez said. “It’s making it easier to spoil them.”

Health Science teacher Inger Kuhl said she spends $10,000 on two cats, two dogs, three chickens, three geese, one mini goat and two donkeys. Kuhl says that the $10,000 a year will likely rise because Rascal, her small dog, has heart problems.

Health Science teacher Lori Jackson spends $6,000 for her pets a year food, meds, vet bills & boarding for three dogs. Two out of her three dogs need a spe-

cial diet with more expensive food.

“You can tell we LOVE our fur babies,” Jackson said.

Jackson has three dogs, Pennie, Cole, and Finn. All of the dogs have very different personalities.

“Cole is a puppy mill rescue and loves to snuggle,” Jackson said. “He is my person, and I am his. I think I might love him more than my family (ha ha)!”

She bought Pennie from a breeder, and the dog is high maintenance and can be annoying, she says.

“Pennie loves ChuckIt! balls and her claim to fame is she can hold two in her mouth and chew on a 3rd one,” Jackson said.

Due to recent increase in demand, pet food is becoming more expensive, rising over 14% in the past year.

The initial cost of purchasing your pet isn’t the real expense–it’s the money you put into your pet after you adopt it. The healthcare costs, food, and fun toys will really run up your pet’s receipts.

Photo by Addie Gollnick

Voices for Diversity sponsors a Kickball Trivia event in the gym on Feb. 10 as part of Black History Month. Sierra Smith (‘23), Assistant Principal Trina McFadden, and Ethan Lewis (‘23), assist in the production of events. Photo by Lucas Smalley

Prinicpal Chris Chandler works with students at the District Office to gain their input on school safety Feb. 8. Students from all three high schools volunteered to attend the conference and were chosen after applying.

gives high school students opportunity for input on school safety, more

Oz behind the curtain

Behind every

player,

an

athletic trainer to treat

As the wide receiver runs down the sideline, he takes a hit and awkwardly lands on his hand, breaking it. It’s a typical scenario that athletic trainers and spectators see in games. With sports increasing in popularity, injuries are becoming more frequent– and the need for athletic trainers is increasing.

Nation Ford’s Samantha Molony, one of the school’s two athletic trainers, has been working at Nation Ford since 2017.

“The event with Damar Hamlin brings light to things that have been happening, and it shows that athletic trainers are essential,” Molony said. “The preparation and emergency action plan they used was put into play perfectly.”

The trainers always have a medical safety plan and assign positions ahead of time to ensure the best course of action. They update the medical emergency plan every year and make sure that all of the students assisting are trained to know what to do when a player gets hurt.

“Preparation is a very key thing,” Molony said. “A lot of things happen behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t know about.”

When athletic trainers are working at sports events, they are observing, prepping, and thinking about what may happen, and what they would do in the event of an injury.

“I think about how I would treat my patient and who’s helping me,” Molony said. “Trainers have to be ready at all times to ensure if somebody does get hurt, they are there to help.”

Students in Sports Med 3 also assist the athletic trainer after they learn skills from the first two classes.

“Concepts and skills that are taught in Sports Med 3 that enable students to be efficient members of our support staff are hydration, recognition of a heat crisis, preparation of ice immersion tanks, environmental conditions that place athletes at risk, taping, wrapping, bracing of the upper extremity, and signs and symptoms of a brain injury,” athletic trainer and Sports Med teacher Patricia Curley said.

Speed is another part of being an athletic trainer or a student.

“We also stress being quick with care,” Curley said. “If the students are in charge of cleaning a wound, disinfecting blood from that athlete and their uniform, and dressing the wound so the athlete can get back to playing, they have to be as quick as possible while still doing the task correctly.”

Being an athletic trainer means that there is pressure knowing you’re the one who has to help people when they get hurt.

“The most high-pressure situation I have been in was during the football season. The student

by Connor Ford

had a cervical spine injury,” Molony said. “We had to use a spine board, but we were prepared and used the medical emergency plan and everything went smoothly.”

Athletes want to think there is someone there for them in case they get hurt.

“It felt good knowing that I had someone to help me when I got injured on the field,” Falcon linebacker C.J. Smith (‘25) said.

The players aren’t the only ones who want to know someone is there for them. Parents also want to know if someone is there in case of an emergency.

“Knowing there was an athletic trainer on the field was comforting,” Smith’s mother said. “The athletic trainers have been helpful and supportive during the whole process.”

Athletic trainers aren’t just at the games–they are also at the practices.

“I usually stay at the school until all of the practices finish,” Molony said. “I stay in the athletic trainer’s room, a central location to all practices.”

Despite the increasing number of injuries, all schools don’t have athletic trainers.

“A lot of schools have none,” Molony said. “We are fortunate to have two here at Nation Ford, but we still are spread thinly on nights that have events, so even we are understaffed.”

The number of athletic trainers is expected to increase by 17% by the year 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics. The number of athletic trainers will grow, so when injuries occur during games, schools will have someone there to treat injuries.

“I wanted to become an athletic trainer to help people,” Molony said. “It was the perfect career for me.”

Ajhon McCullum (‘23) and Jeremiah Hailstock (‘24)

“

The event with Damar Hamlin...shows that atheltic traners are essential.

Samantha Molony

After a wrestling match, Athletic Trainer Samantha Molony works on Isaac Nieves (‘23).

Photo courtesy of Mac Banks of Fort Mill Prep Sports

Playing at their own risk CAUTION:

Injuries sure to hold power over student athletes by

Continued from page one

Varsity track and cross-country runner Charlie Hall (‘23) is a great example of perseverance and patience. Not only did Hall tear his Achilles tendon during a race in 2021, but he also fractured his rib in an accident in 2022–both of which affected his spring running seasons.

For each injury, Hall was out for two and a half months, leaving him unable to compete in regional or state qualifier meets for track.

“It was hard mentally because I wanted to train more to get better coming into senior year and I was going stir-crazy,” he said.

It is especially hard to be injured when you’re a team player like Hall.

Having to watch the races from the sidelines and knowing there was a possibility that he could’ve won some of those races to help his team earn points had Hall yearning to get back on the track.

“The road to recovery was a long, patient process,” he said. “I was afraid that I would have more issues come up and that I wouldn’t ever be as good as I once was, but once I saw progress I became very confident in my skills and much happier.”

Despite having torn his Achilles, Hall believes that cross country has adequate medical precautions and staff in place, with trainers all around the courses if someone were to pass out or hurt themselves, yet, he’s not sure that track takes the same precautions.

Another inspiring athlete whose injury knocked her off the court is varsity volleyball player Morgan Huor (‘23).

Huor managed to completely rupture the ACL in her left knee during drills one day.

“I jumped for a ball and came down on my left leg, causing it to give out, and when I came down on it is when I tore it,” she said.

She was unable to participate her entire playing season, leaving her distraught.

“It had a big effect on me mentally,” she explained. “Ever since I was a freshman, I dreamed of playing on this team my senior year, having a senior night, and winning region for what I believe would’ve been the eighth year in a row. I wanted to be able to play our rival game against Fort Mill and have all these fun memories that I could’ve made, but since I got hurt right before we could even start our season, I felt that the injury was just meant to happen.”

Being able to come out of a heart-wrenching situation such as hers with a healthy mentality of faith that this was the path meant for her shows Huor’s moxie.

The ability to avoid dwelling on the negative is a strength athletes must develop, even when they are down and out.

“The hardest part was being unable to play in our big games,” Huor said. “It was really hard watching through a screen for the Wando Tournament especially. I really wish I could’ve been there and supported my team in person.”

Although Huor reported that an accurate diagnosis was difficult on the scene in her situation, she believes that NFHS has good protocols for sports injuries.

“The protocols for other sports injuries I have seen are quick and efficient, and I’m very grateful for our athletic trainers,”

she said.

Sara Pipa

It’s not only our seniors who are affected by sustaining an injury that prohibits the athlete from playing.

Varsity wide receiver Josh Ameo (‘25) can attest to the fact that it was just as difficult mentally as it is physically to be unable to play during part of his sophomore year.

“I had a hip pointer, and I was unable to participate for two and a half weeks,” he said.

During his absence, the Falcons lost two games in a row, and Ameo says that the wide receivers missed his leadership on the field.

These losses encouraged him to try to practice while still injured, but he said that it hurt too bad to continue.

Following his injury, Ameo began to take his games more seriously.

“I didn’t have as many games as the other kids, so I had to do my best. My first game back I had three touchdowns, and it was very exciting because I was waiting for that moment,” he said.

Like Hall, Ameo believes there is an adequate amount of experienced staff to assist anyone at any time for any reason. He said this includes teacher cadets, Sports Med 3 students, and athletic trainers.

Another varsity football player, Jason Baxter (‘24), suffered an injury that prohibited him from playing during his fall season. Baxter sprained his ankle and was out of playing for about 2-3 weeks.

“I hadn’t played in the jamboree we had, and I’m the center, so I’m in control of the whole ‘O-line,’ and it wasn’t going too well with me out,” he said.

The experience had a big impact on him because it was the first injury he’d suffered that he genuinely couldn’t walk on.

He says the hardest part was enduring the pain while playing/practicing on his ankle.

Baxter agrees that there’s sufficient arrangements and staff in the case of an injury.

He made sure to mention that along with athletic trainers, experience is a huge factor regarding safety in sports.

“Football isn’t an easy sport that you can just come out and play–you have to know what you’re doing or you could get hurt easily,” he said.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF FALCON INJURIES

watch a varsity football game from the bench last fall. Photo by Sara Pipa

“

I wanted to be able to play our rival game against Fort Mill and have all these fun memories that I could’ve made....

Morgan Huor

On the sidelines of a varsity football game last fall, Athletic Trainer Patty Curley stretches the leg of MLB Clayton Rygol (‘23).

Photo by Sara Pipa

Falcon baseball team appeals violation

Nation Ford fights allegations against young team who wants to impress

by Connor Fowler, Liam Quinn & Connor Ford

Nation Ford has appealed a decision to penalize the baseball team for what the South Carolina High School League has called a violation of a closed season rule that, if upheld, will result in penalties, including being locked out of a playoff spot. At press time, SCHSL has not yet responded to the appeal.

The SCHSL first informed Principal Chris Chandler and then Coach Jeff Stack on Feb. 8 that the baseball team had committed a tier 3 violation for 12 illegal practices during a “closed season” over the winter. A closed season is a time when student-athletes are not allowed to practice at school facilities or have contact with their coaches.

“The Nation Ford baseball program did not have practices during the closed season,” Chandler said. “An outside organization held clinics with our pitchers in which none of our coaches did any coaching. Coach Stack shared the information about the clinic with our players because it would help the players.

“We don’t believe that we did anything wrong in this situation and that all of our coaches acted in the best interest of the baseball players,” he added.

Several players on the team did pay for and attend clinics to work on pitching with Dynamic Pitching Institute, a private business not associated with the school, and the coaches associated with the clinics are not on NFHS staff. Rule 2 in the SCHSL states

that “school facilities may not be used after school hours during closed season by other students of a school except if they are members of an outside team clearly sponsored by an outside agency.”

In addition to being locked out of playoffs, the penalties for a violation means the team would also be suspended for three days with a $500 fine.

The Falcons were supposed to play preseason home games on Saturday, Feb. 18, but could not under the SCHSL restrictions.

“The Nation Ford baseball program did not have practices during the closed season.”

–Principal Chris Chandler

Nation Ford’s appeal, if successful, would put them back in playoff contention. Coach Stack says he’ll stand by his team.

“I will walk side by side with my guys as we navigate through these challenges, and I will always be there for them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Falcons plan to play their region home opener against Clover on March 15 at 6:30 p.m.

After a rough season going 9-21, the Falcons base-

ball team wants to get back on track this year.

Nation Ford hired Stack over the summer to take over the baseball program after the departure of Michael Lewis.

Stack, who comes from Sun Valley, had won South Carolina 4A Conference Coach of the year in North Carolina back to back years before he decided to make a switch and move to the Falcons.

The baseball team is young this year with only 10 returning varsity players.

“I think we have a young team that is eager to show what they can do,” Athletic Director David Johnson said. “There is a growing excitement about the upcoming year, and I look forward to watching them compete.”

Going into the season, the Falcons’ region is filled with three top 10 teams in the state. However Nation Ford is nowhere to be found in the rankings. Even with a tough schedule, the Falcons are not worried.

“I don’t think we should worry about what outsiders say,” Coach Johnson says. “If we keep our head down and work hard every day this team has all the tools to compete.”

The Falcons will rely on their offense this year as they will be bringing back their two top hitters, Jacob Pettit (‘25) and Gabe Simmons (‘23).

“Our main strengths going into this year are our offense and team chemistry,” Paul Solari said (‘23).

Boys lacrosse prepares for battle this season

by Lucas Smalley & Parker Sharkey

After an upsetting loss against Wando in the State Championship last year, Nation Ford Lacrosse looks to get their revenge by coming back better than ever this season, starting with their season opener against Catawba Ridge at home last night.

Nation Ford’s Lacrosse team held a 14-0 record during the 2022 regular season led by Head Coach Cory Turner. The team played the Wando Warrior’s in the final game last season, losing the game 21-9.

As the focus shifts to this season, Coach Turner has a positive outlook.

“We overachieved a lot last year. I don’t think anyone saw it coming,” Coach Turner said. “This year we are only bigger, stronger, and faster.”

The team isn’t the only thing that is stronger this season, so is their schedule.

They set off to face Dutch Fork, Oceanside, and Lucy Beckham--the number one ranked lacrosse team in South Carolina. Out of these games, Dutch Fork will be the only game played at home.

The players have high hopes for this season.

Track sets sights on their state meet

by Olicia Lucas

The Nation Ford track and field team is already looking forward to the end of the season and hopes to compete at the state meet on May 20 with both girls and boys at Spring Valley High School starting at 9 a.m.

“The goal is for the girls to win the state meet and get multiple boys to the state meet,” head coach Micah McCoy said.

The team believes Blythewood High School

and Fort Mill High School will be challenging to beat, however Nation Ford has faith they will come out on top.

“I think that hard work and dedication are definitely some key factors that will help the team win meets and just sticking together as family and pushing one another, even if that’s just in practice,” Cameron Glover (‘24) said.

The track team’s chemistry, fewer distractions and new additions to the team, versatile runner, Olicia Lucas (‘23) and Coach Thomas will set them up to win.

“In workouts I am used to not being pushed, but Olicia pushes me. I also believe Coach Thomas brings new and different energy and we as a team needed that,” Sierra Smith (‘23) said.

Last year, the girls 4x100 meter relay placed 3rd overall at the state meet with Sierra Smith (‘23), Alyse Davis (‘23), Aubrey Barney (‘25), and Jasmine Gourdin (‘25).

“We are staying focused–we want revenge for what happened last year,” midfielder Aiden Witkopf (‘24) said.

Defensive midfielder Greg Hagerty (‘23) added that going back to the State Championship and winning this year has been pushing them to give it their all this season.

“After watching all the hard work the team put in last season end in a 21-9 loss, how could we not be motivated for this season?” Hagerty said.

Goalkeeper Owen Collette (‘23) , who was one of the players on the field during the game last year, agrees.

“It was heartbreaking to be put in that position after the blood, sweat, and tears that we put into the season,” he said. “We all wanted it so bad and for us to go down like that killed our spirits.”

A big fan turnout of last year during the playoffs, student athletes are hoping fans continue to come out.“The fans being there made us feel pressure to win,” Collette, who is now team captain, said. “We usually start flat but with the fans, we came out hot.”

The Nation Ford Lacrosse team is the team to beat this year.

During offensive drills , Trevor Keaton (‘25) and Darrin Woodberry (‘24) go into action on the field on Feb.6, 2023.

Photo by Lucas Smalley

“We are ready to battle for states we are the team to beat and we need out revenge.”

–Darrin Woodery (‘24)

Practicing their 4X4 last year, Sierra Smith and Alysa Davis push each other to be their best.

Pushing to come out on top team optimistic this season

SPORTS WRAP UPS

-

As

Upper State tournament

ends, State begins

Three NFHS wrestlers qualify, hope to place at states

by Connor Ford

Three wrestlers qualified to compete today at the the 5A State Championship after qualifing at the Upper State Tournament last weekend. Danny Gilstorf (‘25), Mitchell Ladamus (‘24), and Clayton Rygol (‘23) are eager to show who’s the best.

Last weekend these wrestlers came out ahead when NFHS sent a full line up of 13 wrestlers to compete for state slots.

As Bret Peltier’s first year as a head coach comes to an end, the Falcons wrestling team finished the regular team season with a winning record 14: 13.

Coach Peltier changed the culture of the team right off the bat.

“Grit, toughness, and consistency are the main things I want more of on the team,” he said.

Even with a young team, the wrestlers showed good promise for future years.

“It’s many of the kids’ first year wrestling on varsity,” Peltier said.

Highlights include Rygol and Ladamus both winning the Bearcat Tournament for the first time in school history. Gilstorf’s hard work in the off season and freestyle wrestling helped his ticket to state tour-

JV boys basketball has winning season

by Ansley Griffin

The Falcons JV basketball team finished with an overall record of 16-10, ending with a 48-46 nail-biter loss to Rock Hill on Feb. 2.

To prepare for their games Jeffrey Papin said he made sure to stay hydrated and listened to upbeat music while warming up with some practice shots and stretches.

Drew Robertson said he tried to be well rested

nament this year.

“It was a great reminder of why I work so hard at practice, while at the same time, it was a goal for me,” Ladamus said.

Rygol won three tournaments total this season, including the Bearcat.

“It was an unreal experience to win three in a row,” he said. “I thought it would be impossible to be at the top.”

The team only had three seniors this season, with them acting as leaders for the young team: Clayton Rygol, Alan Minarro, and Issac Nieves.

Coach Peltier expressed gratitude to the seniors in particular.

“Most of you have been around for a while,” he said. “The way you conducted yourselves on and off the mat showed the underclassman how to act.”

With the season over and the seniors leaving, the underclassmen are going to have to step up next year.

“Over the past couple of years, I have seen the seniors step up and lead the team,” Ladamus said.

“Next year, I am ready to guide the team in the right direction.”

the nights before a game to make sure he can have the best performance possible.

What kept them motivated? Papin says he looks up to many NBA players including Kobe Bryant. His success and positivity is a strong influence.

Another factor to team success has been the relationships. “‘My favorite part of the team is how we all get along so well,” Robertson said.

Papin said his favorite part is his team’s work ethic. What they both look forward to most is game day.

The new coach, Tremaine Smalls, says the best part of the team was how the kids developed throughout the season.

Girls basketball team season ends with loss

by Austin Flemming

The girls varsity basketball team has had an exciting season this year with 12 wins and 10 losses at press time. But this season full of nail biters is not over.

The team lost their home conference game against Spring Valley in Columbia by a score of 78-48 on Feb. 7.

Nation Ford’s season kicked off with a crushing loss against Andrew Jackson High School on Monday, Nov. 21 with the final score being 70-62.

After the loss, the Falcons bounced back and won 3 straight games, each of them being complete blowouts.

“The first game was a wake up call about how the season was going to be, we needed to play harder to win games,” shooting guard Kayla Wilmore, a starter for the Falcons said.

The starting point guard Camille Kerridge (‘25) is the team’s leading scorer averaging 18.6 points per game.

“It takes a lot of work and practice, and I also have good teammates who help me get to where I am,” she said.

“They say they built trust for me and how to play the game,” he said. ”They drill hard and push each other to meet their potential for themselves and their teammates.

He said they struggled with re-balancing roles after sophomore Ben Chuttey was moved up to varsity, causing them to lose four games in a row. With the help of Isaiah Williams they were able to get back on a winning streak, in the later part of the season for some big region wins.

Overall, Smalls said the team had a great season and he’s looking forward to what’s to come. They hope to see another winning season next school year.

Boys soccer ready for spring season with confidence, intensity

by Colin Small

Dedication & intensity is the name of the game when it comes to Nation Ford Boy’s Soccer. Fans can come out tonight to watch the Falcons battle Ashley Ridge at home at 5:45 p.m.

With a current record of 2-1, the Falcon’s varisty team lost their home tournament game against Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mt. Pleasant, SC) by a score of 3-1 on Feb. 13.

The Falcons lost their first game to Gaffney 2-0 on Feb. 7 in conference play.

They tied their scrimmage 1-1 with cross-town ri-

val Catawba Ridge on Feb. 14.

Potential boy’s soccer players met with Coach Anthony Marple last semester to start lifting weights together beginning at 7 a.m. in the morning - before a full school day before tryouts, followed by conditioning and pick-up games with around 80 other players from all skill levels.

Nafo soccer usually fields three boys teams: JV-A, JV-B, and Varsity. Tryouts were a long and intense process according to the guys who gave their best shot this year.

“I think our varsity soccer team will be pretty good

this year and hopefully they win it all,” said Richardson.

Some athletes are looking for more than competition and like the opportunity to make friends and build relationships.

“Soccer is a sport where I can make new friends and get involved with the school and learn new things,” said Jonny Attard (‘26).

Nation Ford has had a pretty good run when it comes to varsity soccer, and this season they surely won’t disappoint. The team appreciates the support of fans, so come out tonight for a good game.

the match starts, Alan Minarro (‘23) stares down his South Pointe opponent and gets ready to make his first move at Cataw

ba High stadium at the start of the season.

Students with narcolepsy can

really struggle to stay awake

by Riley Crutchfield

Head on the desk, snoring in the back of the room, sleeping in school is nothing new. Is it boredom or fatigue? Or perhaps something more serious? While rare, it could be Narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy affects nearly 3 million people worldwide, and it’s something that even students in our school struggle with.

Many people may not know about Narcolepsy because the disorder isn’t common. However, a serious and taxing disorder for an individual who has it.

Narcolepsy is characterized by random sleep attacks, caused by the immune system accidentally attacking the cells that produce the chemical hypocretin in the brain or blocking the receptors that allow hypocretin to be absorbed.

Some circumstances can cause sleep attacks to occur more frequently, such as strong emotions - fear, anger, stress, excitement and even laughter. For example, someone with narcolepsy could laugh as much as anyone else, and it could potentially cause a sleep attack where they become extremely overwhelmed with drowsiness.

If they are in a place where falling asleep is inappropriate, their brain prepares to go to sleep, causing a sort of brain fog as if they were just waking up or are exhausted and ready to pass out.

Narcoleptics struggle with day-to-day life and always have a low energy state. A low-energy state for anyone will affect them mentally and physically but for someone with the disorder, it is a constant cycle.

“Not being interactive with activities causes fatigue for me because I have a short attention span, and when I lose interest with nothing else to do, I want to sleep,” says a student diagnosed with narcolepsy who prefers remain unnamed.

Daily life can be a struggle and the biggest help is a simple nap throughout the day to regain energy.

Narcolepsy tends to be misdiagnosed unless properly diagnosed by a neurologist to determine the presence and severity of the condition. Patients need to be referred to a sleep specialist for treatment and care. The common misdiagnosis is usually that the person has ADD or ADHD, but that does not mean everyone who has ADD or ADHD will have narcolepsy - there are just under 200,000 cases in the U.S. per year, which is around 1 in 2,000 people so it’s quite uncommon.

People that are diagnosed with this neurological condition can experience challenges in school or other academic settings. The disorder itself does not affect intelligence, but it will clearly affect the ability to learn if not treated properly, according to Dr. Thomas Roth, a psychologist and sleep disorder expert.

Privacy may be on its death bed

Continued from page one

Celebrity culture thrives on the establishment of a relationship like the kind Creasman has described, also called a “parasocial relationship.” Such a relationship blossoms when an audience feels like they are involved with the personal lives of media figures.

A part of everyday life is seeing your favorite star’s post in your feed, listening to your top artist, and anticipating a new movie with your favorite actors. Repeated exposure to such media may result in a parasocial relationship–we may feel we are friends and not fans.

The line of obsession, even idolatry, can be thin at this point. People can constantly tiptoe the line, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. In 2020, Lady Gaga told People magazine, “... I felt threatened by the things my career brought into my life and the pace of my life.”

This threat has been most recently exemplified through Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s decision to leave their British Royal titles after media harassment and what they say is lack of support from the Institution. An early acknowledgment from Prince Harry about the situation is from an official statement released in 2016, which concludes, “[Prince Harry] has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done.”

Some may say an audience’s feeling of entitlement for the details of a social figure’s personal life

Cyber attacks

by Connor Lambert

Technology today has become a prominent tool in life. Technology has made life easier in many ways–it can automate tasks, set up reminders, gather receipts, offer entertainment and more. With around 5.07 billion users a day on the internet, technology can also be an unsafe place if you aren’t cautious.

While technology can be a great place for storing your information for easier accessibility, such as bank accounts, social security numbers, emails, passwords, and other personal data, it isn’t as safe as many people think. Getting hacked is actually quite common, with around 2,200 accounts getting hacked or ‘cyber attacked’ every day. That’s an estimate of 800,000 people per year. Even though that is a large number of people, some might not even know that they have been hacked or that their personal information was revealed, which can make this situation frightening.

People can make common mistakes that allow their personal data to be stolen.

is justified. It’s a recent debate: do public figures surrender their rights to privacy the moment they step into the limelight? Of the Falcons surveyed, 35.1% say always yes, and 45.5% say it depends.

The question could also apply to students. On average, Falcons spend between four and five hours a day on their phones, indicating that our thoughts are available to others for this amount of time in addition to the seven hours we spend at school. While it is a choice to be available to others in this way, what can’t be controlled is the reactions of others.

“People have become less respectful of people’s privacy, and people in general,” Creasman says. “Social media, although it can be inspiring, has also given people a platform to be extremely critical and nasty without the backlash of saying it to their face. It’s become custom to get in others’ business and state your views on the lives of people that you don’t even really know.”

It’s 2023. Scrolling fills our free time and our feeds are smeared with celebrity news and jokes about what is circulating in the media.

“Social media controls our society,” Gali Strilka (‘23) says. “It’s not only something we use to post what we are doing once in a while. It has become something that some people post all of their thoughts, and for some it has become their only form of communication with each other.”

Posting can seem harmless. We see our friends, and perhaps most importantly, others see us. The digital dilemma is, how much of us should they see?

“People can be hacked by not using strong passwords, allowing others to use your account, using unprotected public wi-fi that threatens digital privacy, accepting requests to share your location, or clicking links or opening attachments in emails.” Fundamentals of Computing teacher, Charles Brown, said.

One of the most common methods is phishing. Phishing happens when a scammer pretends to be a financial advisor, or IT support, or any other ‘trustworthy’ source. This method can occur through emails, messages, and other common sources of communication. Other ways people can be hacked include accidentally downloading malware and going to unsecure websites.

Fortunately, there are many ways that people can stay safe online. “Be wary of the links you click, update your passwords regularly, when using public WiFi remember that everything you do while connected can be spied on, and be very suspicious of emails or messages,” Brown suggests. Other ways that people can stay safe include making sure your wifi software is up to date and protected, using a password manager, as well as using antivirus or firewall software.

Although technology has become a staple in recent years, and most people see it as an amazing tool, it can still be unsafe if people are not careful. It can be easy for people to be hacked and have their important information stolen from them, and this situation can be scary. But if you make sure you use safe and different passwords for your accounts, make sure your devices are up to date, and you think before you click on a link or share information, you too can stay safe on the internet.

Teens fall asleep at desks, but not usually while taking a test. Narcolepsy can cause teens to fall asleep at inappropriate times.

They’re more common than you think, so take precautions now

The pitfalls of perfectionism Teens today struggle while

seeking unrealistic goals

by Elizabeth Ferretti

With the fear of disappointment and judgment, many teens face the struggles of perfectionism in today’s society.

Make money while spending

by Mackenzie Creasman

Did you know you can make money from shopping? I know that seems impossible, but with Fetch, it’s not. Fetch is a free app that rewards the users points for simply scanning receipts.

You can scan any receipt that you have from within the past 14 days, and it must include the date, price, and store. All you have to do is press the camera button on the bottom of the homepage and take a picture of the receipt. The points you accumulate can be redeemed for gift cards from many brands like Amazon and Ulta.

I was skeptical of Fetch at first because I wondered what they were doing with the receipts. However, anyone who is suspicious of the app or thinks it is a scam can rest assured. According to research and finance experts, the app is safe and reliable.

On Fetch’s blog, you can find out how they make their money and how important user safety is to them. They have a cybersecurity team who shields user data from potential threats. Fetch does sell your data; for example, where you shop is shared with advertisers, but the data is anonymous and protected. Also, the data is only used to monitor wide-scale shopping behavior trends. In addition, data is commonly used and sold on most websites and apps, including social media. It’s honestly refreshing to know that Fetch cares about your data.

Fetch also makes money from their partnership with big brands as they promote the brands and products on their apps by offering more points for buying those brands/products.

Fetch has over 13 million users. One of these users is Michael Timmermann, a personal finance expert who shares his advice on michaelsaves.com.

“Since I first downloaded the Fetch app (formerly Fetch Rewards) in January 2018 and started uploading my grocery receipts every week, I’ve redeemed my points for more than $1,000 in Amazon gift cards,” he says.

So far this month, I have gotten one $10 Amazon gift card, and I am about to receive another. I have introduced my entire family to this app, and they all love it. You get points for joining, and there are many other opportunities for rewards; sometimes, Fetch gives daily rewards that occur every 24 hours, which allow you to spin a wheel and collect points.

Fetch has been nothing but amazing and helpful since it’s convenient and makes shopping feel rewarding. Who doesn’t want to get paid for buying things?

Defined by experts at Brown University, perfectionism is “a set of self-defeating thoughts and behaviors aimed at reaching excessively high unrealistic goals.” They also say: “Perfectionism is often mistakenly seen in our society as desirable or even necessary for success.”

Parental figures can also have an impact on the desire to be flawless. The gut-wrenching feeling of failure and making mistakes affects numerous teens when they feel their work is not perfect. The desire for approval from their guardians motivates many to go above and beyond, in an attempt to pursue excellence.

Being in a new environment this year, freshman Caroline Easler speaks about what causes her feelings of perfectionism “Teachers and peers encourage my feelings of perfectionism because I feel like I have to do as well as they think I am going to do,” she says.

There are many ways you can strive for greatness in a healthy way, like setting realistic goals which is important because they are achievable, therefore success is more likely guaranteed. Perectionism is seen in gifted students more so than others because they are expected to exceed the average, and when they don’t, the urge to try harder affects them personally.

Many students get overstimulated from not perfecting their work and don’t know how to calm down. “To

get calmed down I take a step back from my work and focus attention on something else then come back to it with a positive mindset” says Paityn Tumblin (‘24).

When making mistakes, many people, especially teens, feel embarrassed or guilty in some way, avoiding those feelings often develops a perfectionist. Perfectionism is also associated with anxiety and linked to other mental concerns.

“To students who struggle with perfectionism, I want to stress that they need to give themselves some grace, says Principal Chris Chandler. “At the end of the day, if they worked hard and did their best then that is all that anyone can ask of them. There is also value in learning from failure because we don’t always get it right, but those lessons when I have failed have stuck with me more than others.”

Sooner or later everyone is most likely going to experience imperfectection but when the time comes, being prepared and giving yourself credit for doing the best you can is ultimately what keeps those feelings to a minimum.

Rewatching something familar makes people feel good

by Amaris Arroyave

Are you still watching? It's late at night, and the question pops up on your brightly lit screen. More often than not, people get caught up in the show-binging abyss. What makes this abyss more unfathomable and puzzling is when someone goes back to watch episodes of a show they’ve already seen back to back.

Whether someone misses their favorite characters or wants easy-tofollow content by putting on a familiar show, rewatching shows is not only common, but also healthier than you might expect.

People were rewatching shows even before the pandemic began. However, during and since COVID-19 caused shut downs and quarantine, the number of people who have replayed shows has increased. In an article published in June 2021 by Jennifer Fayard, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ouachita Baptist University, many people had been rewatching familiar TV shows rather than new shows within the last fifteen months, these months include the height of the pandemic and its aftermath. Because the pandemic was a time of uncertainty, people watched “comfort” shows. Something we’ve already seen holds a sense of normalcy

and familiarity for viewers; hence the increase in people rewatching their favorite shows.

"There was never a lot to do, or a good way to spend the time," said Sia Dighade ('24). "Watching shows was entertaining, something I desperately needed during quarantine, when we couldn;t fo anywhere or do anything. It was like an escape"

Studies show that people might lean towards rewatching a show versus starting a new one due to an increased cognitive load, which refers to the quantity of stress placed on the working memory. The material from a previously seen show has already been retained, so seeing it again would not add to the cognitive load.

TV shows already provide a great way for people to unwind. When stressed and overloaded people can fall back on familiar shows–they are restorative.

“I think rewatching TV shows can be good sometimes,” said Madden Bessant ('24). “It’s nice to sit back and watch something familiar…it might bring you back to certain good times you wish to relive”

TV shows enhance feelings of belonging. Humans have the natural tendency to find belonging in groups of people, and TV shows make it that

much easier for people to feel like they fit in, such as fitting in to that cast of characters.

“When I was a kid whenever I saw a character like Elmo I would feel happy and excited, like he was talking to me,” said Melody Allen ('25) “I felt like I belonged and we were best friends.”

People tend to build parasocial relationships with characters. Relationships that are one-sided in which one person extends a type of energy, such as emotional energy, to a person or fictional character who does not reciprocate that energy or does not even know the other exists. Parasocial relationships have more benefits than you might expect. For instance, they can inspire and even encourage viewers. A fictional character from a TV show has the potential to be whatever the viewer needs them to be in their life, such as a comedic relief. So, a person has more incentive to watch a show, especially one already seen before with characters that are familiar so as to relive that relationship.

Rewatching shows proves beneficial as it restores the soul and gives people familiar content that becomes a comfort. Replaying shows is a common phenomenon that makes people feel good.

So go ahead. Keep watching.

Avatar 2 Review

Box office hit ‘Way of Water’ could be better

by John Frick

Avatar “The Way of Water” made $134 million on opening weekend while the original film only grossed $77 million the first weekend. Will Avatar 2 continue to do better numbers than the first? Fourteen years after Avatar’s release it is still the highest-grossing film of all time with box office sales of $2.92 billion.

James Cameron, director of both Avatar movies and Titanic, is the second highest-grossing director of all time behind Steven Spielberg. This movie delivers in the action department with impressive action sequences comparable to those of elves of in “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit“trilogies.

Many critics have acclaimed the sequel for its special effects however, the film can’t be all be good as it features more Na’vi who speak perfect English, even though they haven’t been in contact with humans, a major contrast to the few English speakers from the original.

The water tribes’ teenagers excessively say “bro,” which doesn’t sound at all like a Na’vi expression. Despite “bro” slang spoken on an alien planet, the Na’vi of the water have many similarities to the first tribe we met in 2009.

The motive for the humans to interfere with a new tribe is to kill Jake Sully and get Tulkun Brain Fluid,

a substance that is worth a fortune. Tulkun Brain Fluid is a substitute for unobtainium, a natural resource being mined by humans.

The water tribe has aquatic animals that they connect with physically through the tail like the mountain banshee do with terestrial species in the original movie. The tribe has a close relationship with the water and the creatures of the water. The complexity of the relationship between them is shown thoroughly throughout the film.

The fact that Jake Sully, the main character of the original film, has less screen time than his son Lo’ak may make viewers upset–or hopeful for the future of the series.

The future of Avatar is undoubtedly on the way, Avatar 3, 4, and 5 have all been confirmed by James Cameron. Avatar 3-5 are set to release in late December of 2024, 2026, and 2028.

The opening weekend didn’t do as well as predicted but still made $1 billion in only 14 days, compared to the original which earned $1 billion in 19 days. The original movie made $2 billion 47 days after its release, while Avatar 2 made $2 billion after only 39 days in theaters.

Avatar 2 may have not hit initial box office predictions but it is certainly a huge success and is currently the sixth highest-grossing film of all time.

Naf Naf offers good food, service

by Amaris Arroyave

Naf Naf translates to ‘fan the flame,’ an expression that means to extend a friendly invitation to loved ones to gather and enjoy a delicious meal. At Naf Naf Grill, the expression lives up to its name.

Located in Fort Mill’s Brayden Village, the modern and casual restaurant is close to Super Chix and Duck Donuts. Walking into this contemporary, unassuming Middle Eastern Grill, you can expect a buildyour-own-meal experience, similar to that of Cava and Chipotle.

Naf Naf Grill focuses heavily on guaranteeing good service, and they make that fact clear. The patient and helpful staff make it easy to order food by helping customers with any questions, as well as recommendations for what customers could add to their meals as they build their meals. If you are unsure about any ingredient on the menu, Naf Naf will let you sample select items.

I tried Naf Naf with a few friends, and we ordered a build-your-own basmati rice bowl, pita bread, a bag of falafels, a steak pita, and finally, baklava.

The basmati rice bowl, with additions that includ-

Greek restaurant brings new zest to Fort Mill area

by John Frick & Sara Pipa

The minute you step foot in Ilios, the new Greek restaurant located in Baxter Village, you are immediately immersed in Greek culture. The smells of distinct spices take over the room, and the sounds of cultural music fill your ears. You have to get in line quickly with the booming popularity of this newly-opened restaurant.

Upon entering Ilios, we were kindly greeted by a staff member who then waited patiently for us to figure out our order. Finally, we ordered a traditional pita sandwich with chicken souvla ($11.75), a side of Greek-style fries ($4.75), Greek rotisserie half chicken ($14.95), as well as another side of fries, bringing the total to $36.20. While these prices may seem high, we noticed the portion sizes were quite large–making the expense understandable.

The rotisserie chicken had a delicious lemon sauce on top, and the Greek-styled fries also contained a lemon tang that was very notable within the taste, along with a mellow taste of shredded cheese that was sprinkled on top, bringing together the perfect combination of flavor.

Adequate seating inside the restaurant includes tables scattered around and a quaint bar that overlooks the main street of Baxter Village. The ambiance was unmatched, and the table tops were all nicely cleaned, ready for customers to come and take a seat to enjoy their meals.

The flavors incorporated into each dish were more than enjoyable, from tangy tzatziki sauce to crispy seasoned french fries, it was all delicious–despite our generally finicky appetites.

Overall, we were very impressed with every aspect of Ilios restaurant–the food, the service, the cleanliness, and the environment were all impeccable.

We would recommend anyone try this spot at least once, don’t knock it until you try it.

ed chicken shawarma, chopped salad, and sumac onions, had just the right amount of seasonings and spices to enrich the rice’s flavor and enhanced the bowl altogether. The rice itself had been cooked just right, not too hard or too soggy. The complementary fresh-baked pita bread provided with the bowl was a delicious, slightly chewy yet soft, fluffy bread with a simple flavor that balanced the rice bowl nicely. The bowl ended up being about ten dollars, but for flavors like that, the price was worth the price.

The hand-made falafels, which had the right amount of crunch and a rich, savory flavor, were a lovely side dish and were bursting with flavor.

The steak pita could only be described as yet another dish packed with mouthwatering flavor. The steak, marinated in tasteful seasonings, tasted well and cooked right. The toppings brought the entirety of the meal together.

The baklava tasted great, which provided a great end to the night. Just as delectable as the other foods mentioned, the baklava was sweet (but not too sweet) rather than savory. The syrupy pastry was rich with cinnamon.

The prices are affordable, especially for the quan-

tity and quality of food you will receive. Of course, some dishes might be better to share with the company as individual meals can be more pricey.

Overall, the food tasted great, and the environment held up even better. Naf Naf Grill brings fresh, brilliant flavors to the table. The service was friendly and patient, and the restaurant was clean. Naf Naf Grill is a wonderful addition to the area and is a dining establishment worth visiting with friends and family.

Naf Naf’s rice bowl containing rice, chicken, onions, and more