Realm 1 - 2016 by Guevara

THOMAS DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL

REALM HAPPINESS

VISCOM

Editor’s Letter Welcome to Volume 8 Issue 1 of the Realm! The staff has put a lot of work into this issue. After many mishaps last year, we have decided to entirely rebrand the Realm, adjusting its content, design, and overall message. Instead of focusing on school news, the 2016/17 Realm will focus on worldwide issues and in-depth profiles of Downey students. Another change we have made is to unify the Realm under one monographic theme per quarter. Unlike most school newsmagazines, each time the print Realm is released, it will have an abstract theme that all of the content within it relates to. Readers can look at the online Realm (www. tdhsrealmonline.com) to find school news updates and more typical articles.

differently than we do? What kind of music makes people happy? Does happiness or depression fuel creativity? This issue will strive to answer these questions. In addition, the issue contains profiles of students who have suffered through some sort of loss and how that affected their happiness.

Editor-in-Cheif: Hannah Hightman Photo Editors: Brielle Villanueva, Amelia Lund

Copy Editor: Leia Johnson Design Editor: Alyssa Greenhalgh

All of this strives to answer the question that has plagued humankind forever: are we truly happy? And does it even matter? I don’t think anyone can be in a constant state of euphoria, but I also believe that most of us can point to a moment in our lives when we were truly happy. This issue attempts to harness that feeling of true happiness and explore it. Novelist Tana French once said “I am not good at noticing when I’m happy, We wanted to start off the year with some- except in retrospect.” I think most of us are thing fun and exciting, so the first issue of guilty of this too. It is it not often that we Realm has a theme of happiness. It is in- realize we’re happy in the moment, and pertended to be broad and all-encompassing. In haps we should change that. this issue, we will explore what constitutes happiness. Do the things some of us rely on I should take my own advice here and say to make us happy (like drugs) really work? that I’m genuinely ecstatic to be serving What resources (at Downey or otherwise) as editor-in-chief this year. In junior high, do we have to cure unhappiness? Despite I heard of Realm’s existence and I’ve been growing up in somewhat difficult times, planning my launch as editor-in-chief ever what makes this generation so positive? since. I hope you enjoy this issue as much How do other cultures approach happiness as I do.

Volume 8 Issue 1

Table of Contents: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 15

Highs and Lows Burning it Down Healthy Start Matthew Baughman Oxford Happiness Survey Youth and Positivity The Big, Bad Wolf Happiest Country in the World?

16 17 18 19 23 25 26 27

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Happy Physical Activity vs. Social Media Happiness Levels Helena Arroyo Smile Senora Eitelgeorge Happiness Lexicon Happiness and Creativity

Comic

THOMAS DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL 1000 Coffee Rd. Modesto, CA 95355 Adviser - Rene Guevara Designed By: Alyssa Greenhalgh

Highs and Lows

such a relevant matter, being ignorant about the topic isn’t ideal. We tend to fear what we don’t understand, and something as taboo as marijuana is indeed difficult to fully comprehend.

It turns out, marijuana is a specific form of a broader substance: cannabis. This is found in plants known as cannabis sativa, ruderalis, and indica. These plants flourish in tropical, humid areas but can grow almost anywhere, even indoors. Cannabis is used in three major ways - marijuana, hashish, and hash oil, each of these varying in method of use and potency. But here’s the important part; the main active ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or much better known as THC, which causes the psychological effects or “high” that people experience when interacting with the substance. High levels of THC enter your bloodstream and overstimulate the cannabinoid receptors of your brain, giving you euphoric sensations and heightened perception. This is why marijuana is so popular; it makes the user feel happy.

Does Marijuana Make for Harm or Happiness? High school students are constantly pursuing what they believe will make them happy; socializing with friends, having influential presence on social media, or even something as simple as enjoying a hearty meal. But there’s another source that some high schoolers interact with that has become one of the most controversial modern issues: marijuana. Some people believe that marijuana harms you, while others believe that it makes you happy, and this heated debate has landed the topic a place among today’s matters of controversy like gun control and immigration policy. But what exactly is true about marijuana? For some people, marijuana is something they interact with in their daily lives. And for others, their experience extends only as far as seeing it on a television or computer screen. And perhaps an even larger group of people don’t even know what marijuana is. Because the question of whether marijuana is harmful or happy has become

Written By: Kyra Pelham

This appeals to those who always seem to be finding ways to be happy: high school students. One anonymous Downey student in particular can verify this. When asked why he uses marijuana products, he answered, “A lot of people smoke weed because their friends do but I smoke weed because of the way it makes me feel.” And because the mind-altering effects of cannabis impact each individual in a unique way, he was also questioned how it personally affects him, to which

he replied, “I’m a really anxious person, and I have anxiety attacks and I can’t sleep at night, and smoking by myself in my room is the best way for me to calm down and stop worrying so much.” Then, addressing the most relevant inquiry of all, he commented on whether or not marijuana makes him happy: “For me it’s a way to calm my nerves. I’m happy using it because it takes away all my negative thoughts.” For this student, marijuana is an external source of happiness that quells his anxiety when nothing else seems able to. But the use of marijuana doesn’t always have such positive results. Another Downey student can draw upon their own experiences to confirm this alternate perspective. Asked the same question of why he used marijuana products, he responded with, “My older brother and friends smoke weed so I don’t even feel like I made a choice about it, it just happened.” Marijuana affected him in a much different way, and he expanded on this by saying, “It got to where I needed weed. It wasn’t about smoking with friends or getting high anymore, it was to where I needed to be numb to everything.” Unlike the first student, marijuana was not a source of happiness. “I thought it made me happy because when I smoked weed, I was fitting in. But I got so dependent on it that it ruined other parts of my life. I became really closed up and it ruined my year-long relationship,” he explained. Clearly, these students have two distinct opinions of marijuana and how it emotionally affects them. And this individual, varied experience is also true for the millions of others who interact with cannabis. Everyone has a certain combination of mental and physical characteristics that cause the effects of marijuana to be specific to each person. Because of this, whether or not marijuana is helpful or harmful is an entirely personal question.

Photography By: Priscilla Dominguez

Burning it Down Chloe Kline remained oddly positive after her house burned down

Though each day drags on and the mere thought of you twenty years from now seems nonexistent, in the words of the Bible, “You are really but a wisp of vapor that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air.” Though we rather not admit it, life is uncontrollably short; experiences now are soon to become fond memories of our youth. The greater amount of us do not dwell on nostalgia until we are completely forced to on graduation day, where we bid farewell to all of our peers and the life we’ve known for so long. Despite this heartbreaking transition, the former Knights (and other graduating classes) will always have a place to return to and reminisce. Our childhood homes are something we as humans take for granted. Each corner contains little memories from our past. Whether it be where you used to jump on the couch with your friends or where you routinely watched Tom and Jerry with your siblings, we have artifacts to trigger those distant memories. For junior Chloe Kline, retrospect doesn’t come as easy seeing as there are only ashes and frail walls where her childhood house once stood. In late March this year, Chloe got a call from her father, informing her that his house had caught fire early that morning. In complete shock, Chloe had the opportunity to walk through the spectacle that was previously her family abode. Kline described the feeling as eerie, as if it wasn’t her house. “It was like walking through a memory, I could tell you a dozen stories for every room in that house.” Chloe’s childhood best friends all live within a few blocks of the Magnolia house; everyone in agreement that the Kline household would be the central location where the crew would assemble. Chloe’s “ ix- ack” was truly on a mission to redefine home movies, from defending attacks from zombies with water-guns to classic music videos. One of her fondest recollections from her childhood was tying her year younger brother, Dexter up with jump ropes and leaving him for an hour so she could watch

Written By: Leia Johnson

Monsters Inc. in peace. Chloe recalled that she and her brother had originally planned on sleeping at the agnolia house the night before the fire, but their schedules were too hectic to switch houses. “It might have affected me more emotionally if I had stayed the night, considering our rooms are on the second oor.” In contempt of the evident devastation, Chloe remained oddly positive about the entire ordeal. “I really wasn’t bothered by the whole situation, other than the safety my dog and dad, I didn’t really mind.” A study by The University of Pennsylvania discovered that people who experience traumatic events such as a house fire will become more distressed the following year. Chloe didn’t notice this trait in herself but attributes that to the fact she spends most of her time at her mom’s house. “I think the main reason it hasn’t affected me as much as people expected it to is because I didn’t have many valuables left over there. The most important being some old yearbooks.” Chloe went on to say that if she really wanted to see those old books, she could ask a friend for theirs. Chloe encapsulated the “Glass Half Full” outlook on her tragic situation. Chloe described herself as somebody always striving for new beginnings, and has seemed to view the fire as merely a new experience in her life. Luckily her dad and dog escaped with only minor burns and the majority of her memorable possessions were intact or at her mother’s estate. Her uniquely positive outlook confused many, particularly when she sarcastically tweeted about the fire one day after the event. She commented that she didn’t want people to feel uncomfortable bringing up the situation so she blatantly broke the ice with a joke. Chloe’s determination to not let the devastating occurrence change her outlook on life has truly shown through all of her actions. Since then, Chloe helped her father and dog move into a new house in the same area. “In life, it’s much more important to appreciate the people you surround yourself with, not the place.”

Photography By: Randi Capitao

Healthy Start

Helping people find themselves again As sad as it may be, depression is a serious issue affecting individuals of all ages, rank and stature. Depression can be compared to a sickness, it must be eliminated with an antidote before it stems into a worse situation.

en’t experienced depression or any sort of burden, it’s very difficult to identify it as an outsider looking in,.” said isty arry, a staff member at Healthy tart. arry used to work at an elementary school where she saw similar programs to Healthy tart that provided students with necessary resources to thrive. arry wasn’t subject to depression, but she was born into a family with a rough start. “I have never been through depression or self-harm, but my sister did brand herself which made me feel confused,” arry said. “ he obviously wasn’t hurting herself for fun, it seemed like she was trying to cope with something, or relieve herself. The way people deal with these emotional negativities intrigued me, which is one of the ways I ended up here.” To make matters worse, her mother was a recovering drug addict and her father was an alcoholic, yet, she still managed to power through that.

The antidote, in this case, is the Healthy tart rogram, located next to the tudent enter. nown for its multitude of resources, Healthy tart is one of the many nation-wide programs combatting depression, stress, and many other emotional negativities for both students and teachers. ne of the basic missions of Healthy tart is to create a stable learning environment for all attendants of school, though the only way to achieve this is to minimize or completely erase all traces of stress and depression. As straightforward and simple sounding as it may seem, depression is a very difficult issue to deal with, especially since most people mask their problems and many refuse to disclose information unless they’re under specific circumstances with people they know they can trust.

Depression has integrated into the mainstream, which makes Healthy tart’s job even more challenging. ome people may be hurting themselves for actual problems they have in life. “A trend like this is a global problem, there are no generalizations,. very situation is different,” arry said. “We are not trying to condemn them for their actions, but rather why is it necessary for them to in ict self-harm. Depression is a widespread problem, it may affect people in different manners, but in every situation it ultimately deprives people of happiness.”

Healthy tart is here to simulate that trust, it attempts to create a safe environment, so people won’t hesitate to talk about the root of their negative emotions . ne of the main problems of ridding the ongoing issue of depression is that people won’t recognize that someone is depressed unless they have went through a similar experience in the past. “If you havWritten y: oises enavides and eia ohnson

Designed y: Hannah rownlee

hotography y: Hannah mith

Matthew Baughman

“I’m happiest when I’m creating something.”

Childhood joy becomes a lifelong passion Though many adults lose their childlike sense of joy when they enter the working world, Downey alumni Matthew Baughman kept in touch with his childhood through his occupation. Baughman has worked on the Curious George television series and is now the associate producer of ofia the First. His work on these programs have helped him to find happiness in the simple things. “I’m happiest when I’m creating something, whether it be something on the computer, or writing, or art. That’s been my main sense of enjoyment since I was a kid,” said Baughman. His happiest state is when he is producing something, and it always has been. Baughman hasn’t changed that much since he was a Downey student. “I always saw myself doing something creative [as a profession] when I was younger. I never really saw myself doing anything else.” Although Baughman’s interests are along the same line as his current career, he didn’t end up exactly where he expected. “My career kind of took a detour when I started to work on

Written By: Hannah Hightman

animation.” As a high school student, Baughman was on the newspaper staff and wanted to work in film. Nonetheless, Baughman achieved his boyhood dream of working in some sort of creative field, and is very glad he did. He has also attained success in his industry. He received a daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program for his work on Curious George. Baughman characterized the experience as extremely unusual and surreal. “It was overwhelming, but a lot of fun. I really appreciate it because that doesn’t happen often. But my job isn’t just about the awards.” This notoriety, however, does not translate to wealth. The mere mention of riches evoked laughter in Baughman. “No, no I’m not wealthy,” said Baughman. “I’ve gotten to work on so many amazing projects, but I don’t make that much money.” To appeal to his target audience, Baughman must look to his own childhood for inspiration. “We create very simple story lines. You really tap into your own childhood doing that.” It is somewhat difficult for adults to connect to a demographic so far away

from their current age, but much of Baughman’s success is owed to his ability to do precisely that. The happiest moments in his career are when he sees this connection firsthand. “I was talking to this little girl who knew all the storylines from Curious George and was reciting them to me perfectly and in great detail. It was amazing. I realized then that we’d connected with children [through the show] which was really cool.” Baughman may be strikingly similar to his high school self, but he is not completely unchanged. Rekindling this innocent feeling of merriment through his work has changed Baughman’s perspective on happiness. “For me in high school, happiness was about accomplishing my dreams. Although I still have aspirations now, as an adult, happiness is about accomplishing personal projects rather than the big picture.” Spending time with his nineteen-year-old daughter is at the top of this list of personal projects. “You know, you’ll always have ambitions but happiness comes from personal enjoyment.”

Photos Provided By: Matthew Baughman

Oxford Happiness Survey Below are a number of statements about happiness. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each by entering a number in the blank after each statement, according to the following scale: 1 = strongly disagree 2 = moderately disagree 3 = slightly disagree 4 = slightly agree 5 = moderately agree 6 = strongly agree Please read the statements carefully, because some are phrased positively and others negatively. Don't take too long over individual questions; there are no "right" or "wrong" answers (and no trick questions). The first answer that comes into your head is probably the right one for you. If you find some of the questions difficult, please give the answer that is true for you in general or for most of the time. Those statements marked with an 'R' will be scored in reverse.

The Questionnaire 1. I don't feel particularly pleased with the way I am. (R) _____ 2. I am intensely interested in other people. _____ 3. I feel that life is very rewarding. _____ 4. I have very warm feelings towards almost everyone. _____ 5. I rarely wake up feeling rested. (R) _____ 6. I am not particularly optimistic about the future. (R) _____ 7. I find most things amusing. 8. I am always committed and involved. _____ 9. Life is good. _____ 10. I do not think that the world is a good place. (R) _____ 11. I laugh a lot. _____ 12. I am well satisfied about everything in my life. 13. I don't think I look attractive. (R) _____ 14. There is a gap between what I would like to do and what I have done. (R) _____

15. I am very happy. _____ 16. I find beauty in some things. 17. I always have a cheerful effect on others. 1 . I can fit in (find time for) everything I want to. 19. I feel that I am not especially in control of my life. (R) _____ 20. I feel able to take anything on. _____ 21. I feel fully mentally alert. _____ 22. I often experience joy and elation. _____ 2 . I don t find it easy to make decisions. (R) 24. I don't have a particular sense of meaning and purpose in my life. (R) _____ 25. I feel I have a great deal of energy. _____ 26. I usually have a good in uence on events. 27. I don't have fun with other people. (R) _____ 28. I don't feel particularly healthy. (R) _____ 29. I don't have particularly happy memories of the past. (R) _____

Calculating your score: The questions that have an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Râ&#x20AC;? next to them should be scored in reverse. So if you wrote 1, change it to a 6, if you wrote a 2 then change it to a 5 and so on. Add up all of your scores and divide the total by 29. Interpreting your score: 1-2: Not happy. At risk of depression 2-3: Somewhat unhappy. 3-4: Neutral. Not depressed, but perhaps in need of a little more joy. : atisfied. This is where the average person is. 4-5: Above average happiness. 5-6: Extremely happy. Ideal score. 6: Excessively happy, overly happy. May cause poor performance in school, etc.

Resources from these sites: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/03/take-the-oxford-happiness-questionnaire http://www.doctoroz.com/article/oxford-happiness-questionnaire http://www.happiness-survey.com/

Design By: Alyssa Greenhalgh and Kasey Peters 7

Youth and positivity. Why are the youngest generations the happiest? Despite all of the negativity in their lives and upbringing, millennials have found a way to stay positive. Looking back 20 years, people were not as informed of these things as we are today. While terrible things may have been happening just as often, people were more unaware. Now, almost everyday the news covers another story of destruction or death. Whether it is terrorists or natural disasters, it’s very constant in today’s society.Nationally, internationally, and in nature it may seem as if everything is coming down at once. There’s political turmoil with the coming elections and the media is no help. In nature there are earthquakes where there shouldn’t be, and major ooding down south. Internationally there is terror being spread by extremist groups. Despite all of this members of the millennial generation and Generation Z stay positive. ne of the main differences between millennials and previous generations is the internet. With the major advances in technology, people are now allowed to access the internet from virtually anywhere such as on their phones, which also enable them to communicate with almost anyone, anytime. This new freedom could be the link between millennials and their positivity. Taking into account the popularity of social media, the average person is now empowered to reach more of an audience than before. This gives them the opportunity to connect with people

Written y: mma Arviso

that either have the same interests as them, or with those who may be going through a similar situation. Studies show how valuable connecting with one of similar interests can be. “[Social media] meets our very basic need for a sense of belonging. Hearing from our friends and family makes us feel important and loved,” said JoAnne Cantor, an expert on the psychological impact of media. It can also boost a person’s confidence when they find someone who thinks the same way they do about certain things, giving a certain kind of validation to thoughts and ideas. Finding a person that was/ is in the same situation gives them the chance to relate to someone to in a different way than before. In many cases people are found who can keep positiveness in the forefront of someone’s mind. While technology is one way millennials stay positive, another is through their freedom of expression. The new normal seems to be challenging the norms. This is allowing millennials to feel more comfortable in expressing themselves. The biggest way millennials express themselves today is through their music. Sophomore Alexia Moradian has very interesting taste in music. She listens to just about every major genre of music. “Music has always been apart of me. I have different songs that I listen to depending on my mood,”she said. “No matter what kind of mood I’m in when I start lis-

hotography y: Amelia und 8

tening to my playlist, I’m always much happier by the time I’m about halfway through.” Alexia finds her positivity in her music. When she gets stressed out, she puts in her headphones. If she’s mad about a grade, she turns up the volume. If she’s happy about winning her big game, she puts on the happiest songs she has. No matter her mood, her music either changes it or enhances it. ophomore ylie rubbs finds positivity and hope in something very simple, in fact people having been finding positivity in this for years. he finds positivity in her dog, Ombre. “Ombre can tell when I’m sad,” Grubbs said. “When I’m feeling down and laying on my bed he will just hop up and cuddle with me and I instantly feel better.” Kylie and her dad use to go to the Oakdale Animal Shelter and help out. One day she was helping clean out the kennels, when she got to Ombre’s kennel she opened it and looked at him, she instantly knew that this was going to be her dog. Ever since then Kylie and Ombre have been inseparable, as they have a special bond between owner and dog. It’s almost as if Ombre can instantly sense the changes in her emotions. “During the school day, when I’m without him I’m just a lot less positive. Even being without him for that short amount of time changes my attitude. So I honestly don’t know what I would do if I ever lost him,” rubbs said. ylie also finds positivity in the future. She looks forward to traveling with Ombre when she gets older. “I want to travel the world with my dog and learn to surf, that’s what keeps me going.” It is still unclear what exactly is keeping millennials positive. “I find the millennials think it will work out in the end. They don’t listen to the doom and gloom,” says Steve Weisman, senior lecturer of law, taxation and financial planning at entley University. Whatever the reason, it’s refreshing to see such vibrant positivity from a younger generation.

Designed y: Forrest Hillar

The Big, Bad Wolf “I can’t have a smile on my face all of the time.”

In a room that he shares with his siblings, Ruben Diaz sits at the foot of his bed and describes the plot of his favorite HBO programs. “This one, it’s like Girls, but with gay guys,” he says pointing to the object in the room that makes him the happiest. He describes television as his central hobby. A atman mask sits conspicuously next to him. “I’m pretty busy these days with watching Big Brother. Plus, in the fall, a lot of TV shows are going to be coming back.” He gestures towards the remote with expressive movement as he speaks. The room is fairly unadorned, but still looks well-lived in. There is a happy birthday sign for his sister plastered up in one corner, and toys are strewn across the oor. Ruben cheerfully chatters away about fall programming, and no one would suspect that he had just finished talking about his abusive, alcoholic father that passed away last spring. “I grew up in Newman and I was a pretty boring child.” He’s not quite as eager to elaborate on his childhood as he was to elaborate on the NBC fall line up. “The person I consider my dad is in that room right there,” he says when asked about his father. “My biological dad, he loved us and everything, but he was an alcoholic. He was good for us financially but not emotionally,” he re ects. His voice audibly drops a few decibels before he adds “He was abusive to our mom. He

the animal. He also has been nicknamed Baby Wolf; his uncle was Big Wolf, and his dad was Little Wolf. “He has all these little sculptures and pictures with wolves on them. He likes wolves...he really liked wolves.” Ruben sometimes speaks of his dad as if he were still alive. For him, his father is an evil that appears to be immortal. “I just thought that he was one of those people that just wouldn’t die for some reason. Like he would just go on and on. And then one day, I’d be like oh you’re still here?’ For some reason, mean people stay around a lot longer than nice people,” he observes. After being kicked out of the house, Ruben’s father lived in Watsonville. Ruben and his sister would visit on the weekends. “We didn’t know we weren’t allowed to leave the house with him. We used to go on little hikes and stuff. Then my mom found out, and we weren’t allowed to go back there.” His father then moved first to Watsonville and then to New Mexico. When his father was nearby, there was always a dull fear that he would come back, and a feeling that the family couldn’t escape him. In many ways, Ruben’s father resembled the animal that he had such a love for. After his father left the house, the family feared the big, bad wolf would come back to terrorize them.

“She dealt with that for nine years so we would have it good.”

never hit us, but my mom would get it.” Ruben speaks fondly of his mother, mentioning how she looks much younger than her age. His mother doesn’t make an appearance today, but she comes up in conversation several times. “I told her a couple of weeks ago that I really appreciate her going through that [abuse]. She dealt with that for nine years so we would have it good.” Ruben’s mother eventually forced his father to leave the house after having all she could take of the abuse. Although Ruben sometimes employs a sarcastic tone, he is genuine when speaking about his mother. Even after his father’s death, Ruben’s few good memories with his dad are tainted with darkness. Something would go wrong on family outings, and it would almost always be tied to alcohol. “We would go places and do things as a family, but [his] drinking got in the way a lot.” Even when he wasn’t drinking, Ruben’s father had some sort of vice at hand. Ruben cites his grandmother’s death as the only time he saw his father sober; instead his dad was smoking cigarettes. During this time, he “was nicer.” In addition to having a drinking problem, Ruben’s dad was involved in gang activity. He never sought help for his problems. Ruben had decided long ago that his father didn’t deserve to be dignified with the name that matches his relationship, so he called him Wolf, after an animal he had an affinity for. Ruben’s middle name is Wolfie due to his father’s love for Written By: Hannah Hightman

“I always wondered, like, what would happen if he showed up to my school and asked for me, and I saw that it was him. What would I do? What would happen? I don’t know.” Even now, it is strange for Ruben to be relieved of that fear. He hadn’t seen his dad in six years, since he moved to New Mexico. The family found out about the death when an acquaintance on Facebook asked them to confirm the rumors that he was gone. Ruben was relatively unaffected by the incident. His mother and sister, however, started crying. Even though he illustrated the death as a relief to the family, his mother still had a grieving process. It was more nuanced, however, than a typical reaction to a death in the family. “My mom cried. I don’t know why but she did. I think some of it was relief, too, not having to worry about it. We’re safe now. ut she was also sad, because he is the father of us. He gave her us.” His father’s death wasn’t a relief to everyone though. His adult sister, Brittany, was quite close to Wolf. He would come and visit her and the two would talk over text. His younger sister Cheyenne was also distraught about the incident. “On our side, it was a relief, but my sister Cheyenne cried a lot. She saw him a lot more than we did. She really cared for him.” Ruben takes a brief intermission to watch a documentary on a disco singer. Despite the heavy topic, he is somewhat light-

Designed y: Alyssa

reenhalgh

Photography By: Brielle Villanueva

hearted. He then begins talking about the funeral process. The funeral was similar to a family reunion. There were relatives there that Ruben didn’t even know. “We met his side of the family, which we’ve never met before. I didn’t really consider them family because the family I knew was his adopted family. A lot of his old friends were there too.” The social setting of the funeral was oddly segregated. “There was the Salinas family, and they were all together, and the Watsonville family and they were all together. It was very separated and stuff.” It was strange for Ruben to meet people he was related to, but didn’t have a relationship with. “They came up to us, and started hugging me and I was like No. ou don’t need to touch me, I don’t know you like that. I am not close to you.’ I made sure that they knew I didn’t think of them as family. They were nice, I mean I don’t think you can be mean in that situation, but I didn’t like them.” Without any guilt, Ruben adds some details to justify his behavior. His uncle, at one point, sat down next to him and ruined an emotional moment because of the man’s atrocious smell. Ruben describes some of the more poignant moments at the funeral. “I was starting to get emotional, because my grand-

mother was talking about how she’d taken Wolf in from the street when he was thirteen, after he had ran away from home to join a gang.” His adopted family had taken him out of the wild, but they could not take the wild out of Wolf. “They did their best to keep him away from all that stuff, but it didn’t work well enough.” He looks down, licks his lips thoughtfully for a moment, and then throws himself back into his TV shows. The funeral provided an opportunity for catharsis, but Ruben remains indifferent to his father’s death. Regardless of the incident, he is the happiest he’s ever been. “I would say I’m happy. I can’t have a smile on my face all of the time. I might have resting I-don’t-like-you-face sometimes, but I’m really happy,” he smiles. The music of Pink and the taste of pizza are the first things that come to mind when Ruben thinks of what makes him feel good, but those are closely followed by the currently happy and stable state of his family. “I think we’re at a way better place than we used to be and I’m just happy that we’re doing so well. It was all bad and stuff, but now we’re in this house and we’re doing really good... and also, I’m happy I’m my parents’ favorite,” he adds in a tongue-in-cheek tone.

We’re the est ountry In the World - Why Aren’t We the Happiest? The World Happiness Report, commissioned by the United Nations and conducted by numerous independent sociological experts, reveals the top five happiest countries in 2015. Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Canada all made the grade, but our great nation is nowhere to be found. What is it about these countries that is causing their citizens to experience an overwhelming amount of happiness? And how can happiness, unlike something tangible like money or exported products, even be measured? Each nation has a unique, individual culture that has been gradually crafted over hundreds of years of growth through events and outside in uences. This means that happiness does not have a universal definition, and the state of being happy means something different to every person. In the attempt to make happiness an objective study, the experts behind the 2015 World Happiness Report based their statistics off six main factors: •What is the nation’s gross domestic product per capita? •What is the national average life expectancy? •Do citizens feel that they have someone to count on? •Do citizens feel the freedom to make individual life choices? •Do citizens feel free of corruption? •Do citizens feel an overall sense of national generosity? It seems as though the United States would pass this test with ying colors. However, since its conception in 2012, the World Happiness Report repeatedly shows that this isn’t the case. So what do the nations that passed the test have in common that we are clearly lacking? First, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Canada all have systems of government that mostly favor socialist principles, like universal free healthcare. Denmark in particular is known for its significantly generous maternity and paternity leave, which has been practiced for many years, far before the recent rise of “stay-at-home” fathers in the United States. Countless sources claim that the more a nation focuses on healthcare and overall well-being, the more happy its citizens will be. According to the various universal and accommodating systems in place in countries like Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Canada, the overall quality of life for its citizens appears to be of much more importance Written y: yra elham

than any measure of success. Financial gain, foreign in uence, and military power are all overlooked by these countries in order to assure that the people within are peaceful and content. Connected communities, equality, and widespread support are openly promoted, whereas most Americans are more self-centered in their lifestyle and ambitions. In many other cultures around the world, less glorified is a life of riches and fame, and more honorable is a life of generosity and cooperation. And Western European countries aren’t the only nations that boast happy cultures. Many other parts of the world seem to have harnessed the science of happiness, including an unexpected location: hutan. ocated in between India, Tibet, China, and Nepal, this small Asian nation has amazingly maintained an almost completely isolated country. This is a characteristic that few nations can possess in our modern, globalized world. ut even more unique than its own impressive cultural preservation is that hutan is the only country to measure NH, gross national happiness. This, like the research conducted for the World Happiness Report, is determined by the quality of life experienced by its people. For the hutanese, a balance between material and spiritual development among its community as a whole is heavily emphasized, and this equilibrium has landed the nation the title of happiest in all of Asia. ecause the United tates is notorious for being the land “where dreams come true,” its citizens have become so caught up in pursuing individual success that the well-being of the majority has long been forgotten. While foreign cultures have mastered the art of happiness by building up the group, us Americans are stuck in discontent because our vision of happiness is distorted by selfishness. Fortunately, if other nations are capable of achieving such satisfaction, so are we. ut this level of contentment is not something that a country can reach overnight. If we begin to mirror the generous actions of happy cultures found in countries such as Denmark, anada, and hutan, we can gradually evolve into a nation known for much more than its power. Not only will the United States be know as the “best country in the world” because of our economic and military prowess, but for the quality of life that exists for our citizens. y doing something as simple as looking out for our fellow human, the United States can also be known as the “happiest country in the world.”

Designed y: Hannah rownlee

Comic By: Ella Vickery

et’s

appy

It’s common to find ourselves coming back to music for a hub of nostalgia or a needed emotion, like happiness. For avid music enthusiasts and mediocre music listeners alike, there are certain songs that takes one back to a specific time or even an exact location. All of these songs are universally happy and were handpicked to inflict good feelings in the hope that your appreciation of music will grow with each listen.

ey a ut ast ou Make My Dreams all and ates unday andy Donnie Trumpet The ocial xperiment ouldn’t It Be ice The Beach Boys weet aroline eil Diamond b- a-Di, b- a-Da The Beatles ood ibrations The Beach Boys appy Together The Turtles end Me n My ay usted oot ittle Bitty retty ne Bobby Day ou Make Me Feel o oung Frank inatra Don’t orry Be appy Bobby McFerrin ump In the ine arry Belafonte

ritten By: eia ohnson

ettin’ iggy it It ill mith i endrick amar It’s trange feat. .Flay ouis The hild Firefly Mura Masa Daylight Matt and im At ome rystal Fighters arried Away assion it My Type aint Motel ome dward harpe The Magnetic eros nly ove Ben oward Three ittle Birds Bob Marley The ailers

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hotography By: Brielle illanueva

Physical Activity vs. Social Media In a world ruled by how other people perceive each other, visual appearance, of course, is something the majority of people think about daily. This is especially true with young adults and teenagers. A prime component of one’s public persona, at least in the modern age, is their social media accounts. In fact, social media can be a course of depression and anxiety for many people between the ages of 14-19. In contrast, multiple studies have shown physical activity, or exercise in general, increase happiness by releasing endorphins that ultimately makes individuals happier. People always see social media as a positive resource to use, and in some cases, it is. It helps us stay connected with family and helps spread awareness on issues. But some sides of social media can make people unhappy with their lives. AP psychology teacher Mr. Beltz says, “Social media provides a way in which we can compare ourselves to others, resulting in being unhappy with what we have.” In 2014, Centers

Written By: Moises Benavides

for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 1 in 10 Americans between 1 and 2 suffer from depression due to social media. Twitter contains multiple accounts that could be a cause of negative emotions. Some of the most recognizable have name similar to @ girlposts, and attempt to post about “relatable” subjects. Such posts from these accounts are only relatable to a specific group of people. A hallmark of these relatable accounts are posts about wanting more material goods. This kind of materialism can highlight the disappointment of what the average person can or can’t have. It is, possible, however, to prevent these negative feelings. It’s just a matter of whether or not we decide to be more open minded with each other, try to see their perspective, and not fall victim to envy. A good way to balance out this side effect of social media is to be more active. Physical activity tends to increase overall happiness, or at least that’s what the science shows. “Endorphins are like

the body’s natural ‘painkiller’. When we exercise pain is obviously triggered, which in turn activates these chemicals giving us a sort of high similar to that of heroin and morphine,” Beltz said. These chemicals also relieve stress, which is a common issue among a wide range people, including busy high schoolers. When endorphins are released, a sort of euphoria is reached, and similar to a drug addiction, this high becomes increasingly difficult to reach promoting more activity. Exercise just make people feel better about themselves, whether it be striving for a specific goal or just simply going for a jog; it’s also the sense of accomplishment that increases happiness. There are other ways exercise can improve mental fitness, such as relieving anxiety, helping battle insomnia, and improving self-esteem. The objective is not by any means stop using social media, but to instead find a balance between ones online presence and to keep life in perspective.

Photography By: Esmeralda Aguayo

HAPPINESS Exercising for just 20 minutes has been known to have a positive effect on mood for up to 12 hours

Spending a quarter of your day with friends and family makes you 12 times more likely to report feeling happy rather than stressed or anxious

100

Income above $20,000 per person causes a slight increase in happiness. Those in the highest income bracket are only 3.5% happier than average

Dog owners are less likely to be depressed than people who don’t own any pets

People who use social media often are 2.7 times more likely to be depressed In a study, college students that hadn’t slept well recalled 81% of negative words and only 31% of positive words

You can experience mood beneﬁts from spending just 20 minutes outside in sunny weather http://www.happify.com/hd/happiness-by-the-numbers (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/the-science-happiness.html) http://www.helpguide. org articles emotional-health the-health-benefits-of-pets.htm http: www.cnet.com news heavy-facebook-twitter-users-3-times-more-likely-to-be-depressed/

Infographic By: Cody Schut

Change your mind, not your world

Helena Arroyo’s happiness isn’t contained in the sparse decorations in her room, or the owers that grow in clusters and bloom in hues of red and yellow in her backyard. Her happiness isn’t carried in the current of vanilla air freshener that envelops her house, nor does it ow through the front door where she greets guests. It manifests itself in a deeper place, in her story, which is one laced with the sadness of change and the joy of acceptance. Helena and her mother moved from exico to the states about a year ago. The process of moving was difficult, not only because of the culture shock and language barrier, but also because she found it hard to make friends. “After the first two weeks of junior year, I had no friends. I felt the necessity of finding at least one person to help me get through it. The feeling of being lonely has always been an issue of me and having no friends was bringing back my depression,” she said. It was also difficult to express herself and her feelings when so much had changed. “I

found it hard to be me because everyone acted differently.” Helena lives in a quiet neighborhood with her mom. he has settled in quite well, but her room still appears somewhat impermanent. With the exception of some wall decals, textbooks, and a unicorn that her brother got for her at a fair, the small space re ects very little of Arroyo’s bubbly personality. Aside from a few thoughtful moments of silence, she is not visibly disturbed by the change of scenery from exico to alifornia. ut change isn’t unfamiliar to Helena. Her life is full of change, be it good or bad. he quit her job recently, and has just bought a puppy that runs around in circles at her feet. Appropriately, her favorite color is gold, and one cannot help but be reminded of Robert Frost’s Nothing old an tay. When she was two, her parents got divorced. eing so young, she didn’t fully understand what had happened

or what it meant in regards to her life. he didn’t see her dad much after that, but her father had ways of showing his love for Helena. “When I was little, like three or four, he used to take toys to my school for the staff to give to me. ut we didn’t really see each other. I don’t know why ” she said trailing off. ut Helena wanted more than the materialistic toys that were handed to her. he wanted a family, more specifically a father. o a six-year-old Helena took the initiative to make a request to her mother about seeing her dad. Her parents were not mad at each other, but they didn’t - and still don t - talk. Her mother did contact Helena’s father, and she was able to see her dad in person. “ y father and I met at the mall in exico. We hung out for that day, and it was really nice,” she fondly remembered. They began to see each other more frequently, every weekend. Naturally, Helena began to concoct a Parent Trap-esque plan for her mother and father to reconnect, like most chil-

dren in her situation would. ut these naive hopes were dashed on the second weekend she met her father. He was at the mall waiting for her, but so was the family he had started after the divorce. “He introduced me to his other family, and I didn’t like it. I saw his family, and my brother who was one at the time, and I just didn’t want to see him anymore.” ven though many years have passed, she still said the words “other family” as though they had a slight sting to them. Helena knew her father’s new wife before they were married. “His current wife used to work with him, when my mom and dad were together. I used to visit him at work , and she would give me candies and treat me like her daughter. After I found out she was the new wife, I felt betrayed. I mean, she knew that my dad had a wife.” It was difficult to accept that her father could love someone else other than her mother, and this feeling of betrayal made Helena question whether or not she really wanted her dad back in her life. Two years passed since the day at the

mall. At nine, she realized that if she wanted to have a relationship with her dad, she would have to accept his family too. “We started hanging out, all of us together,” said Arroyo. he became closer to her dad, and his new family, but she still felt like an outsider. “ ven though they said this is your house, you can do whatever you want,’ I just didn’t feel it. I just felt really uncomfortable at his house. It’s like going to a friends’ house when you don’t really know their family.” It would take a while for Helena to adjust to her father’s new life. uch like moving to another country, she would have to assimilate herself to this new dynamic, this new culture. he made an effort to feel more comfortable with the family by spending more time around them. “I stayed up there for the whole weekend a couple of times. I wanted to get involved with them, so I think staying with them helped because I was able to see them at all hours, at all times.” ut the most joyful moment in her reunion with her dad was yet to come.

Helena hadn’t yet reconnected with her dad when her first half brother was born, but she was there for the stressful and worrisome birth of her second half-brother. “I didn’t know what was wrong. He had all these books in his house about down-syndrome kids and all of that but I had no idea what that was. o then, when I saw him next, I just started crying. That’s when it really hit me. I wanted to be part of this, of his life.” Having a down-syndrome brother would prove to be quite challenging for both Helena and her father, but it ended up bringing out the best sides of the family. “ ince the beginning I was really worried about him. I didn’t know how to act around him. He was very delicate. He had problems with his heart and he didn’t have certain things in his body. It made me really sensitive. ut ever since I first met him, I’ve been in love with little kids. very person he sees, he wants to hug and play with them, even if he doesn’t know them. He made me more empathetic towards everyone.” The birth of Helena’s youngest brother also had a positive effect on Helena’s father, who had been somewhat harsh when rais-

ing Helena’s other brother. This taught him how to be softer and more patient.

along,” Arroyo said.

Helena’s relationship with her father isn’t where she wants it to be yet. It is still hard for her to accept his new family. “I feel like he acts different around me than when he is around his wife. That makes it hard for me to really have a connection with the whole family. He seems to be more relaxed when he is around me and the kids. When he is around her, it seems like they want to force us to get along.” Although there are no feelings of resentment between her parents, and her mother is genuinely happy that Helena is able to have a relationship with her dad, Helena described her mother as still being a bit sad about their relationship. “ he is happy. he saw how I used to suffer, how I missed him. ou need your father. ut I kind of feel like she still feels sad about how things turned out.”

Helena thinks that the best thing to come out of accepting her dad back into her life has been her younger brothers. Though her relationship with her dad didn’t end up being as crucial to her life as she envisioned, she hopes to strengthen it in the future. In the meantime, she is focusing on being a good role model for her two brothers. “I have two younger brothers that look up to me. I really like that,” said Arroyo. Her father points Helena’s younger siblings towards her as a role model and example. Helena doesn’t feel stressed to match up to an ideal of what a perfect person should be, though. “I try to be the best version of me around them . I don’t feel a lot of pressure, because I feel like I’m a good example. They look up to me for simple things, like having a job and studying so I don’t feel a lot of pressure.”

Helena’s mother is moving on though. he’ll be getting married in a year. Helena has only known her fiancee and his children for a few months, but they are planning a vacation so that the families can bond. “I’m used to it being just me and my mom, but I think we’ll get

Her dad’s new family was a change she is happy she accepted, but it made the change of moving to alifornia a lot harder to bear. Helena visits her father and brothers in exico during both summer and winter vacation, but it is hard to go months without seeing them.

Written y: Hannah Hightman

Designed y: Alyssa

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Despite the distance, they’ve found ways to stay in touch. “We didn’t talk much when I was in the U , but just last month he started texting me and sending me videos of my brothers.” Although the internet has diffused the distance between Helena and her brothers, saying goodbye when one of her visits to Mexico comes to a close is still extremely difficult. “ y brother, he really loves me, so he always says No, don’t go, stay here ’ which makes it hard to leave.” Helena described happiness as feeling comfortable in yourself, your surroundings, and the people around you. “Happiness is feeling that you’re fulfilled,” she said. This also seems to be something that Helena has worked hard to achieve in her life. The many changes that occurred in her life helped to build immense resilience in her character. Her life isn’t yet completely fulfilled things with her father aren’t completely resolved and she is still adapting to life in a new country. ut Helena has learned how to deal with these issues, and they have brought her an unexpected kind of joy.

hotography y: Amelia und

Photography By: Haley Mendlin and Tyler Bowers

Senora Eitelgeorge Embracing the happiness in her culture through teaching The central valley region is completely immersed with Spanish culture: there’s the life-changing taco trucks by the train tracks, the dual-language advertisements, and a great amount of Downey students that are bilingual or native Spanish speakers. It is no secret that Downey’s Latin-American students are extremely proud of their culture, flaunting their pride when given the opportunity. Most high school students have been to a Quincenera, which is the celebration of a girl turning fifteen. At these lively affairs, there is a plethora of joyus dancing and singing, which seem to play as a perfect duo to creating a merry environment. Researchers at the University of Vermont concluded Spanish is the most pleasant of any other language, seeing as it has the most connotations to the word “happy” in their vernacular. The prevalence of the language can be attributed to it’s beautiful rhetoric, but also for the positive culture that has been linked with the speakers for centuries. The fast paced strung together phrases in Spanish have a special diction that sets it apart from other languages. Spanish teacher, Señora Eitelgeorge grew up in the South American country cuador, and perfectly exemplifies her culture. She is proud of her Latin-American heritage, shown through her love of what she teaches. In class, she not Written By: Leia Johnson

only lectures the basic language, but goes out of her way to enlighten her students on the heritage of other countries. From a young age, Eitelgeorge knew she would have to excel in her studies to completely comprehend English as she was not exposed to American culture until her early teen years. She, by choice, took academy English classes after school to help prepare a basis of the language. Senora then furthered her self-disciplined schooling at a bilingual school in her hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador. While Eitelgeorge was growing up, the teaching style

and practices used in schools in Ecuador were extremely different than the United States; now most school systems internationally have adopted the American style of education. While Senora Eitelgeorge was attending school in Latin-America, the teachers would switch classrooms between periods rather than the students, enabling them to make closer connections with their peers. Eitelgeorge thinks that this take on education has great advantages and Designed By: Hannah Brownlee 25

disadvantages. “I think that building a sense of trust and closeness is vital to getting a great education, but it is also very important to be exposed to other people and age groups.” Eitelgeorge comments that at the time she knew no other way of schooling and feels like she benefited from the way it was executed. Senora’s dedication to her own education enabled her to go to extreme lengths with everything in her life. Many years after high school and perfecting her English, Senora Eitelgeorge was teaching English at a University in Ecuador when she met her future husband. Both were avid travelers and bilingual in Spanish and English. They seemed like a perfect match despite the 3,500 miles separating them. After three years of long phone calls and visits, the “Eitelgeorges” were married and are now happily residing in Modesto. Senora is content with raising her children in Modesto rather than Ecuador because it is much safer, though she does miss her family and friends. It was only last year that she switched to Downey from Beyer, and she is very glad to have made the switch. “Downey’s staff and students are all extremely excited to educate and be apart of the school. I really enjoy working here.” Happiness can be found through small increments, luckily Senora Eitelgeorge has found love through her family and work.

Photography By: Koryn Marquez

Happiness Lexicon Happiness is such a strange and elusive feeling that humankind has developed an array of words to describe its many facets. More compelling yet than the many direct translations of happiness is the words in other languages used to describe a particular kind of happiness. Tim Loma, a writer for the Journal of Positive Psychology, compiled 216 of these untranslatable words and published them. Here are 10 of the most interesting: Vorfreude (German): Tarab (Arabic):

The state of euphoria achieved through music Sukha (Sanskrit):

The joy of daydreaming about the future

RamĂŠ (Balinese):

FlĂ˘ner (French):

To happily take a walk in the streets with a sense of freedom

An authentic feeling of happiness that stems from a deep maturity Natsukashii (Japanese): The happiness that comes from recalling a good memory, and Vacilando (Spanish): The the sadness that it is no longer your current reality feeling that the joy is in the journey and not the destination

Sabsung (Thai): Find-

ing a new vitality in something that adds interest to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life

When something is both disorderly and joyous

Njuta (Swedish):

An intense feeling of appreciation nearing bliss

Suaimhneas croi (Gaelic): The feel-

ing of satisfaction after completing a task

Happiness Creativity Creativity is often an innate quality, but it can also be brought about by strong emotions. The cliche of “the tortured artist” is so well known, and is associated with famous artists like Van-Gogh, Edvard Munch, and Pablo Picasso. Studies show that creativity in any form brings about happier feelings. Creative activities such as painting, drawing, or writing are proven to relieve stress and other negative feelings. Researchers are beginning to think that these and any other forms of creativity can be thought of as a kind of therapy for depression, and often times not only resulting in a happier person but also the astounding fruit of their labor because of their strong emotions. Creativity is not something that can be taught. It is solely something that is felt, furthering the idea that it makes people happier. Creativity takes many forms. It can be anything from drawing to choreography. It is simply the use of original ideas or imagination to produce something. Although it is not typically thought of as a creative outlet, for sophomore Alyssa Foote, cheerleading is an art. “Cheer has been a part of my life for a very long time,” said Foote. “It has become something that I look forward to throughout the day.” Cheer has become an unintentional outlet for Alyssa when she is feeling down. At cheer practice she is able to express her creativeness through assisting in the choreographing of certain halftime routines. “After cheer, especially on a day when we got to choreograph routines, I find myself in a much better mood, particularly when I was down or in a bad mood before practice. Cheer just lifts me up.” Part of the reason being creative is proven to keep people positive is the fact that when a person is

Written By: Emma Arviso

doing a creative activity they are usually working towards a product; for Alyssa it is performing her routines on Friday nights. “The reward of giving a seamless and perfect performance is so satisfying,” Foote remarked. The outcome of a person’s creative process gives that person a sense of accomplishment. That accomplishment is one of the things that lifts them up. Ben Clark is also a sophomore here at Downey. He uses drawing as his creative outlet. Ben has been drawing for as long as he can remember. “When I get annoyed or I’m feeling stressed out I can go to my room and start drawing,” said Clark. “After a while I feel much better. Overall I end up being in a better mood.” Drawing allows the person to focus on the task at hand, and not on the particular thing that is stressing them out. “More often than not, by the time I’m done drawing I’ve forgotten what it is I was stressed or annoyed about.” Drawing is something that Ben purposely uses to destress and relax but it is also something that he does and it ends up improving his mood and making him more positive. “Drawing is a sort of escape that allows me to forget everything that’s going on and just not worry about anything,” he said. Overall any type of creativity improves a person’s mood and attitude. It allows the person to forget about whatever is bothering them and just relax. Whether it is choreographing cheer routines or drawing, creativity has a positive effect on those that use it as an outlet for negative emotions. Though not everyone can be Picasso, doing an artistic activity can yield surprising benefits.

Photography By: Randi Capitao

Volume 8 Issue 1

Cover Photo By: Amelia Lund