February 2022 Norse Star Issue

Not e t o S el f : D iving I nt o t he Tr ue Meaning of Loving Our sel ves

The Nor se S t ar S t ought on High S chool F ebr uar y 2022

T abl e of Cont ent s Cover by Emma Farley

TOC by Ava Parr

News - pg 3 S por t s - pg 7 Cover S t or y - pg 10 Ar t s & Ent er t ainment - pg 15 Opinions - pg 18 F eat ur es - pg 21 Ed i t or - i n - Ch i ef - A n ja Roy ko A ssoci ate Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef - Ava Par r Cover St or y Ed i tor - A n ja Roy ko N ew s Ed i tor - D el an ey Gau th i er Feat u r es Ed i tor - Av a Par r O p i n i on s Ed i t or - D el an ey Gau th i er En ter tai n m en t Ed i tor - Em m a Ph i l l i p s Sp or ts Ed i t or - Gabe Rou sseau H ead A r ti st - Em m a Ph i l l i p s Cop y Ed i tor - Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t Gr ap h i cs Ed i t or - M ad i son L u i ck Bu si n ess M an ager - L au r en A m stad t D i str i bu ti on M an ager - Au t u m n Even son Soci al M ed i a M an ager - Ava Par r Staf f W r i t er s - L au r en A m st ad t , Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t, Au tu m n Even son , M ad i son L u i ck , M ad el i n e M on th i e, Em m a Far l ey, B h oom i Pat el Fr eel an ce W r i ter s - L au r a Per r y, Sam Ross, B el i n d a A k al e Ad v i ser - L au r a Str ey l e W ebsi te- th en or sestar .com I n stagr am - sh sn or sest ar Ed i tor i al Pol i cy : T h e N or se St ar str i ves to p r esen t th e n ew s i n a f ai r an d u n bi ased m an n er . A n y col u m n , ed i t or i al , or l et ter t o t h e ed i tor ex p r esses t h e op i n i on of th e au t h or an d n ot n ecessar i ly th e en ti r e staf f . T h e N or se Star i s a p u bl i c f or u m w r i t ten an d p r od u ced by t h e stu d en t s at St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool , an d th ey ar e sol ely r esp on si bl e f or i ts con ten t. St u d en t s, st af f , f acu l ty, an d m em ber s of th e com m u n i ty ar e w el com e to su bm i t l ett er s to th e ed i tor of 30 0 w or d s or l ess. L ett er s m ay be ed i ted d u e t o sp ace l i m i tat i on s, obscen i ti es, or l i bel con cer n s. N or se Star w i l l ver i f y th e au th en ti ci ty of an y l et ter s sen t on beh al f of sch ool or gan i zati on s or gr ou p s. A l l l ett er s m u st be si gn ed an d em ai l ed to sh sn or sest ar @gm ai l .com .

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Mic Drop At Pops An insid e look into one of of the choir prog ra m's unique concerts B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager tou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s 20 22 Pop s con cer t h ap p en ed t h i s m on t h on Feb. 7. T h e Pop s con cer t i s a y ear ly tr ad i t i on w h er e ch oi r st u d en ts au d i t i on f or sp ots t o sh ow of f t h ei r t al en t .

Ry an Casey h as been th e d i r ector f or Pop s si n ce h e started working at Stoughton in 2001. ?T h e Pop s con cer t h as been ar ou n d [si n ce] bef or e I got h er e, h ow ever , i t w as a l i t tl e d i f f er en t . T h e Pop s con cer t w as t h e ch oi r si n gi n g p op u l ar m u si c- - i t d oesn 't n ecessar i ly m ean p op m u si c, i t 's ju st p op u l ar [m u si c]. T h e ch oi r s w er e on r i ser s, si n gi n g m u si cal t h eater son gs, an d t h en a f ew sol oi st s cam e ou t an d d i d som e son gs. I t w as a p r etty bar e bon es k i n d of t h i n g, bu t i t w as a w ay to ju st si n g som e d i f f er en t t y p es of m u si c t h an [w h at] w e n or m al ly d o i n ch oi r . I 'm

S

photo b y ra ven jensen C o n n o r L y o n s p er f o r m i n g "St eam r o l l er " by Jam es T ay l o r o n t h e SH S Per f o r m i n g A r t s C en t er st age. "St eam r o l l er ," al so k n ow n as "St eam r o l l er b l u es" i s a p ar o d y b l u es so n g t h at p o k es f u n at i n au t h en t i c b l u es b an d s t h at w er e p o p u l ar i n t h e 19 70 s. the norse star, february 2022

su r e Joh n , [t h e f or m er ch oi r d i r ect or ], h ad been d oi n g i t easi ly si n ce th e 80 s,? Casey say s.

Ever y y ear , stu d en ts can au d i t i on f or a coveted sol oi st sp ot d u r i n g th e con cer t.

Seven teen to ei gh t een sol oi sts ar e ch osen each y ear f r om a p an el of ju d ges th at Casey i n v i tes. ?Each stu d en t gets a n u m ber . I say th at n u m ber , p r ess r ecor d , I l eave th e r oom , so I 'm n ot i n th er e w h en th ey si n g. T h ey d o th ei r au d i t i on s an d th en [? ] I h i r e f ou r ju d ges w i th k n ow l ed ge i n m u si c. T h ey com e over to m y h ou se [...] an d th ey l i st en to ever y th i n g, an d th ey h ave a ?y es? col u m n , th ey h ave 'a n ot qu i te r ead y,? an d th ey h ave ?m ay be,?? Casey say s.

St u d en ts w h o take ch oi r cl asses ar e n ot th e on ly on es w h o can au d i t i on . Casey say s stu d en t s f r om ar ou n d th e sch ool can si gn u p to sh ow of f th ei r sk i l l s. ?I t ?s op en to th e en ti r e sch ool . N or m al ly th er e's on e or tw o [st u d en ts] th at ar e n ot i n ch oi r th at ar e i n th er e. T h i s y ear i t ju st h ap p en ed to be al l ch oi r stu d en t s,? Casey say s.

A sol oi st f r om t h i s y ear ?s con cer t sh ed som e i n si gh t on th e ex p er i en ces both on an d of f stage. Ju n i or Con n or Ly on s san g Jam es Tay l or ?s ?St eam r ol l er ,? a son g th at w as sp eci al f or both h i m an d h i s f at h er . ?I 'm a ten n i s p l ay er [? ] an d bef or e I cou l d d r i ve, m y d ad w ou l d be th e on ly on e w h o cou l d take m e [to p r acti ce.] W e w ou l d alw ay s jam ou t i n h i s car , ju st to son gs th at w er e ei th er on th e r ad i o or h ook on e of ou r p h on es u p ,? Ly on s say s. ?H e sai d , ?O h Con n or , y ou sh ou l d si n g th i s on e f or p op s? an d sh ow ed i t to m e, an d ever si n ce th en th at w as k i n d of ju st ou r son g th at w e w ou l d p l ay i n th e car an d l i sten to an d jam ou t.?

Per f or m i n g i n f r on t of a cr ow d of p eop l e i s n ot som eth i n g m an y p eop l e d o ever y d ay. Ly on s say s th e

experience was nerve-wracking bu t over al l ver y f u n . ?I n i ti al ly, bef or e th e con cer t, I w as a l i ttl e n er vou s. [...] I 'm u su al ly p r ett y good at sp eak i n g i n f r on t of p eop l e, bu t w h i l e I w as p er f or m i n g, I w as ju st h av i n g f u n . I ju st k i n d of got i n t o th e m u si c an d ju st k i n d of jam m ed ou t th er e,? Ly on s say s.

Ch oi r stu d en ts h ave h ad th e p r i v i l ege of a l i ve ban d p l ay i n g f or th em i n th e back gr ou n d of th ei r son gs f or m an y y ear s. Casey h as been a con stan t p er f or m er on th e p i an o si n ce h e took over d i r ecti n g th e Pop s con cer t, bu t oth er m u si ci an s h ave been h i r ed f or Pop s si n ce. Ken n y L ei ser h as p l ay ed gu i tar an d v i ol i n f or 15 y ear s, M ar k N oxon h as p l ay ed bass gu i tar f or th i r teen , an d Pau l M etz h as p l ay ed d r u m s f or f i ve y ear s. ?T h ese ar e f r i en d s of m i n e; th ey 've been f r i en d s of m i n e f or ages. I u sed to p l ay i n d i f f er en t ban d s w i th som e of th ese gu y s. I t's ju st

a bal l f or u s t o see t h e stu d en ts h av i n g so m u ch f u n an d ju st t r y i n g t o be t h e best accom p an i m en t t h at w e can be f or ever y on e,?

Casey say s.

D i d n ?t h av e t h e ch an ce t o see t h e p er f o r m an ce l i v e?

N o w o r r i es, al l o f t h e so n gs w er e r eco r d ed an d p u t u p o n t h e SH S Vo cal Per f o r m an ce Fan s Faceb o o k p age. Fo l l ow t h i s Q R co d e t o see t h i s y ear ?s, an d p ast y ear s?, Po p s co n cer t p er f o r m an ces.

C asey an d t h e b an d m em b er s h e h i r es p l ay d u r i n g t h e f i n al so n g o f t h e sh ow . T h e ch o i r co m b i n ed t o si n g t h ei r f i n al so n g, "L ov el y D ay " by B i l l W i t h er s. "L ov el y D ay " i s b est k n ow f o r h o l d i n g t h e t i t l e o f l o n gest n o t e h el d i n an A m er i can p o p so n g. W i t h er s h o l d s t h e n o t e f o r ei gh t een seco n d s i n t h e o r i gi n al 19 77 so n g.

photo b y a utumn evenson

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news

Voices of America Joshua Thoma s a nd Na tha n Nelson join forces to b eg in pla nning for a new d iversity cla ss a t SHS B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist

I

th at m ake u s w h at w e ar e,?

T h om as say s. ?I t i s an u nbiased, unapologetic, honest r ep r esen tat i on of h ow th i n gs h ave been com m unicated and portrayed th r ou gh ou t th e cou r se of ou r h i stor y.?

N el son an d T h om as ex p l ai n th at th e i d ea f or th i s n ew cl ass ar ose i n th ei r teach er equ i ty ci r cl e d u r i n g a p r of essi on al d evel op m en t d ay. A f ter goi n g th r ou gh th e p r ocess of p i tch i n g th ei r i d ea to th e stan d - i n su p er i n t en d en t, K at e A h l gr en , SH S w el com ed th ei r n ew class idea alm ost im m ediately.

ar ou n d th e r aci al h i st or y i n A m er i ca. ?W e w ou l d l i ke t o sh ow t h e v al u e of w h at i t tr u ly m ean s t o be an A m er i can .

[A m er i ca] i s com p r i sed of so m an y different people from so m an y d i f f er en t w al k s of l i f e. W e r eal ly w an t t h i s cl ass to ad d r ess al l of th e d i f f er en t cu l t u r es ? be t h at r aci al , gen d er , sexu al i ty, etc. ? w e w an t al l of t h at cover ed , an d w e w an t t o h i gh l i gh t an d accen t u at e t h e l i ves of al l t h ese p eop l e

?W e'r e sp eci f i cal ly l ook i n g at f or m s of r aci sm , h ow to ad d r ess th at an d h ow to m ake m or e equ i t abl e cl asses. [...] W e ar e l ook i n g at th e con t r i bu t i on s of d i ver se p eop l e i n th e U n i ted St at es an d h ow th ey h ave been br ou gh t togeth er w i th A m er i can s tod ay. I n h i st or y, a l ot of ti m e w e k i n d of f ocu s on th e bad stu f f ? th i s h ap p en ed to th i s gr ou p , th i s h ap p en ed to th i s gr ou p ? [ bu t] w h at w e d on 't d o a good job w i t h i s w h at d i d th ese p eop l e con tr i bu t e??

N el son say s. ?Ju st becau se a gr ou p is m ar gi n al i zed d oesn ?t m ean th ey ar e m ar gi n al .?

T h om as ex p l ai n s th e f or m at of th e cl ass i n ad dition to Nelson?s com m ent. ?W e h ave th e gen er al f or m at of w h at w e w ou l d l i ke to d i scu ss an d cover i n [t h i s] cl ass. W e'r e goi n g to go f r om th e ear ly or i gi n s of A f r i can Am erican history to Native Am erican history, Asian history all within the United States and [we?ll show] how they have com e to be where our current state of affairs are,?

T hom as says.

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A s f or p l an n i n g th ei r cl ass, th e tw o teach er s h ave on ly m et a f ew ti m es to d i scu ss i t, th ou gh th ey p l an to m eet sever al m or e ti m es th i s com i n g su m m er to f i n al i ze th ei r cu r r i cu l u m p l an an d ti m el i n e. T h ey m en t i on th at th i s n ew cl ass w ou l d be an el ecti ve cou r se av ai l abl e f or ju n i or s an d sen i or s n ex t y ear an d y ear s to com e. I t cou n t s as a soci al stu d i es or an En gl i sh cr ed i t ? whatever the students ch oose i t to be. T h ey al so sh ow th ei r exci tem en t f or th e cl ass str u ctu r e n ex t y ear . ?I t's goi n g to be a u n i qu e th i n g becau se [N el son ] an d I ar e goi n g to be w or k i n g an d p r esen ti n g togeth er i n th e sam e r oom . [..] W e'r e l ook i n g at betw een 40 to 60 k i d s i n a r oom , so i t's goi n g to be a ver y i n t er acti ve d i scu ssi on - based f or m at th at w e'r e goi n g to u se as w el l becau se w e r eal ly w an t p eop l e to begi n to con ver se an d d i scu ss th ese var i ou s th i n gs th at ar e goi n g on ,?

T h om as say s.

T h ou gh both teach er s h ave th ei r h an d s f u l l w i th th ei r cu r r en t cl asses, th ey ar e exci ted to begi n th i s p r oject, ex p r essi n g th ei r d esi r e to star t som eth i n g n ew. ?I t's exci ti n g to h ave a n ew cl ass w i th even m or e w or k . I t?s goi n g to be r eju ven ati n g,? N el son say s.

B ot h of th em u n d er st an d th e w or k l oad th ey ar e vol u n teer i n g to take on an d both of th em ar e i n sp i r ed an d r ead y to get i n t o i t. ?I t's d ef i n i tely goi n g to be m an ageabl e. I t's easi er to r eal ly get m oti v ated an d i n sp i r ed by con ten t th at y ou tr u ly ar e p assi on ate abou t.

W i th m e bei n g an ad vocate f or soci al ju st i ce an d th at bei n g a bi g p ar t of w h o I am an d w h at I d o, th i s i s a n atu r al f i t,? T h om as say s.

T h ou gh th e com bi n ati on of En gl i sh an d

h i st or y m ay be a l i tt l e u n con ven t i on al , T h om as an d N el son r eassu r e t h at th ese two subjects essentially bou n ce of f of each ot h er w h en d i v i n g i n t o t h e h i st or y an d l i ter ar y h i st or y of cu l tu r al d i ver si ty an d r aci al i n equ i ty i n A m er i ca.

B ot h teach er s sh ow t h at th ey sh ar e t h i s p assi on t o teach stu d en ts t h e sk i l l s t h ey n eed t o br an ch ou t f r om t h ei r cu r r en t

mma b y es to s p ho p hillip

t ?s cal l ed ] Voi ces of A m er i ca, an i n - d ep th ex p l or ati on i n t o t h e cu l t u r al d i ver si ty of A m er i ca th r ou gh th e r ecor d i n gs of h i stor y an d w or k s of l i t er atu r e,? SH S En gl i sh t each er Josh u a T h om as say s.

T h om as an d h i stor y t each er N at h an N el son h ave joi n ed f or ces t o i n t r od u ce a n ew cl ass at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool n ex t y ear i n h op es of op en i n g m inds an d ch an gi n g p er sp ect i ves

en v i r on m en t. ?[St u d en ts] w an t r eal d i scu ssi on s.

You gu y s ar e cap abl e of h av i n g r eal d i scu ssi on s. [...] T h er e's a l ot of d ep th th at y ou gu y s h ave. T h er e's a l ot of i n t r i cate th i n k i n g t h at y ou gu y s d o.

We sh ou l d n 't m i n i m i ze i t. W e sh ou l d n 't p u t a cap on y ou , say i n g ?w el l , th ey can 't h an d l e t h i s t y p e of con ver sat i on . T h ey can 't h an d l e th is kind of d i scu ssi on ?,? T h om as say s. ?T h e m i n u te w e l i m i t y ou gu y s, th e m i n u t e y ou r l ear n i n g ceases." the norse star, february 2022

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Key Club Protects The Pra iries B y L au r a Per r y Freelance Writer ver y sch ool y ear SH S cl u bs an d or gan i zat i on s st r i ve to br i n g p osi t i ve ch an ge to t h e com m u n i t y.

T h i s y ear m an y gr ou p s h ave w or ked even h ar d er t o d o so.

Key Cl u b, th e coor d i n ator of n u m er ou s vol u n teer i n g an d com m u n i ty ou tr each p r ogr am s, i s n o excep ti on .

Bu t w h at i s Key Cl u b, an d w h at d oes i t m ean t o be a m em ber ? Ju n i or Kei l l ey Ri d d l e i s i n h er secon d y ear of m em ber sh i p .

Ri d d l e ex p l ai n s th at t h e h i st or y of t h e or gan i zat i on i s r i ch , an d even ex p l ai n s w h at m ay be t h e si gn i f i can ce of t h e ?key.? ?I k n ow w e h el p th e com m u n i t y so w e cou l d be t h e ?gatew ay,? bu t I k n ow i t w as f ou n d ed d u r i n g W or l d W ar T w o,? Ri d d l e say s. ?W e h ave t h i s p l ed ge w e say at th e begi n n i n g of ever y m eet i n g, t o keep w or l d p eace, w h i ch is p r obably a l i t t l e d i f f er en t n ow th an i t w ou l d h ave been i n th e 40 s, bu t i t 's l i ke l ook i n g ou t f or y ou r com m u n i t y,? Ri d d l e say s.

Ju n i or Ev an L of t u s h as been a p ar t of th e or gan i zati on si n ce his sop h om or e y ear , as w el l .

Accor d i n g t o L of t u s, oth er t h an h el p i n g ou t t h e sch ool an d com m u n i t y, som e of t h e goal s of t h e cl u b i n cl u d e t eam w or k . ?M ak i n g f r i en d s i s th e bi ggest goal f or u s,? L of tu s say s.

H e al so ap p r eci at es th e ver sati l i ty of vol u n t eer i n g op p or tu n i t i es. ?You can si gn u p f or t h i n gs w i t h ou t h av i n g to k n ow w h at y ou r f r i en d s ar e d oi n g. [...] You can d o w h at y ou w an t to d o,? L of t u s say s.

Key Cl u b i s cu r r en tly coor d i n ati n g even t s in St ou gh ton f or both th e H i gh Sch ool an d t h e gen er al com m u n i t y. ?Ever y f i r st an d secon d Satu r d ay we h ave ou r p r ai r i e p r eser v at i on m eeti n gs, an d of cou r se w e?ve got th e PEP d r af t ,? L of tu s say s, r ef er r i n g to th e Per son al Essen ti al s Pan tr y d r i ve th at h as been ad ver ti sed on t h e m or n i n g an n ou n cem en t s. ?[A n oth er ]

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the norse star, february 2022

th i n g th at w e n or m al ly d o i s a K i w an i s br eak f ast th i n g w h er e w e go an d gi ve p an cakes to p eop l e i n th ei r car s,? h e say s.

T h e p r ai r i e p r eser v ati on p r oject s h ave been of i n ter est f or bot h L of tu s an d Ri d d l e, bu t w h at ex actly d o th ese p r oject s en tai l ? ?T h e w h ol e goal i s to p r eser ve th e p r ai r i es, w h i ch ou r tow n h as tr i ed to d o, bu t i t ?s been k i n d of l ack i n g,?

L of tu s say s. ?O u r l ead er [i s] r eal ly d ed i cated to i t. Sh e star t ed a gr ou p an d w e ju st take d ow n an y en cr oach i n g w i l d l i f e an d br u sh an d an y th i n g th at cou l d h ar m th e p r ai r i es.?

[...] d on 't take th em .?

Ri d d l e al so ad d s th at ?W i scon si n [l an d ] i s sl ow ly d i sap p ear i n g,? si gn i f y i n g th e i m p or tan ce of ex p ed i t i ou s acti on i n th e p r ai r i es.

A si d e f r om th e gr ati f y i n g h ou r s sp en t r estor i n g th e p r ai r i es w i th th ei r f r i en d s an d cl assm ates, Ri d d l e an d L of tu s r ef l ect on th ei r p osi ti ve ex p er i en ces gai n ed th r ou gh Key Cl u b. ?I ju st th i n k vol u n teer i n g i s ju st so r ew ar d i n g.

You ju st get to see [th e] sh or t ter m an d th e l on g ter m ef f ects of w h at y ou 'r e d oi n g to h el p p eop l e th at y ou k n ow in th ei r com m u n i ty,? Ri d d l e say s.

photos sub mitted b y eva n loftus K ey C l u b m em b er s t ak e a gr o u p p h o t o af t er cl ear i n g a p o r t i o n o f A m u n d so n Par k .

Ri d d l e d escr i bes th e sp eci f i cs of h er an d L of tu s? w or k i n th e p r ai r i es. ?T h er e ar e tw o p ar k s, Sch ef el ker an d [on e] w h i ch i s by th e Kw i k T r i p by th e oth er w at er tow er , an d w e go th er e an d w e cl ean ou t i n v asi ve sp eci es an d p u sh th em back ,? Ri d d l e say s. ?W h en th e p eop l e w h o p l an t com e i n , th ey al r ead y h ave al l of th e l an d cl ear ed ou t so th ey can ju st p l an t i t r i gh t th er e.?

Ad d i t i on al ly, Key Cl u b m em ber s cl ear aw ay u n w an t ed d ebr i s, su ch as w ood f r om w h en ?p eop l e [...] cu t d ow n th e tr ees an d

L of tu s al so f el t th e joy in h el p i n g oth er s, an d w ou l d l i ke stu d en ts to k n ow th at Key Cl u b i s n ot bi n d i n g w h en i t com es to w ay s to vol u n teer . ?T h er e ar e so m an y op ti on s th at y ou [can ch oose]. You ?r e n ot l i m i ted to ju st on e th i n g at al l ,?

L of tu s say s.

Stu d en ts who ar e i n t er ested i n joi n i n g, or w h o ar e l ook i n g to l ear n m or e abou t Key Cl u b sh ou l d con tact M s. A n d er son or an y cu r r en t m em ber .

Ri d d l e al so r ecom m en d s tal k i n g to Pr esi d en t Kor t n ey Toso i f

K ey C l u b m em b er s (l ef t t o r i gh t) L o f t u s, T aam al l ah , T h r al l , Ri d d l e an d L y o n s p o se f o r a p h o t o . th ey w an t t o joi n t h e or gan i zati on . Ad d i ti on al ly, th ey can sp eak to Co- Pr esi d en t Br ooke T h r al l i f th ey w i sh t o l ear n m or e abou t th e p r ai r i e r estor ati on s an d Key Cl u b i n gen er al .

B ot h Ri d d l e an d L of t u s h i gh ly r ecom m en d joi n i n g Key Cl u b, n ot on ly f or i t s r ew ar d i n g op p or tu n i ti es, bu t f or i ts abi l i t y t o f i l l r equ i r em en t s on col l ege ap p l i cati on s. ?I d o t h i n k a l ot of p eop l e sh ou l d d o i t . I t ?s d ef i n i tely ben ef i ci al , an d i t w i l l h el p y ou get t o t h ose com m u n i ty ser v i ce h ou r s,?

L of tu s say s.

T h e Key Cl u b m em ber s al so sh ar ed t h at t h r ou gh ou t th ese tr y i n g t i m es, act s of ser v i ce an d k i n d n ess t ow ar d th e com m u n i ty ar e p ar ti cu l ar ly h ear tw ar m i n g.

Ri d d l e n otes t h at t h e f eel i n g of gi v i n g back , sp eci f i cal ly i n a l ocal sett i n g, h as been i n cr ed i bly m ean i n gf u l . ?Esp eci al ly r i gh t af t er CO V I D , y ou 'r e [...] f i n al ly bei n g abl e t o d o som eth i n g,? sh e say s. A n d w i t h t h at, Key Cl u b p u sh es f or w ar d , act i n g as n ot on ly t h e ?gatew ay ? t o an i m p r oved com m u n i t y, bu t th e ?key ? t o su ccess f or stu d en ts, u n l ock i n g th e d oor s to n ear ly l i m i tl ess con n ecti on s an d r ew ar d i n g op p or t u n i ti es t h r ou gh ou t th ei r h i gh sch ool car eer s.

Scan t o v i si t K ey C l u b's I n st agr am p age.

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news

The ACT Amid st the Pa nd emic A

l th ou gh al l ju n i or s ar e r equ i r ed t o t ake th e ACT th i s M ar ch 8, U n i ver si ti es i n t h e U W sy stem con t i n u e t o be ?test- op ti on al .? Accor d i n g to t h e w ebsi t e U W H el p , Sch ool s l i ke U W M ad i son , U W M i lw au kee, an d m or e u n d er th e U W sy st em w i l l n ot r equ i r e su bm i ssi on of t est scor es t h r ou gh sp r i n g of 20 25. ?W e r ecogn i zet h at ch an ges to test av ai l abi l i ty an d t esti n g en v i r on m en t s d u e to t h e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c l eave m an y st u d en ts w i t h i n equ i tabl e access to st an d ar d i zed t est s,? U n i ver si t y of W i scon si n Eau Cl ai r e say s on th ei r w ebsi t e.

T h e Col l ege B oar d Bl og ex p l ai n s th at i f a col l ege h as t h e ?test- op ti on al ? p ol i cy, i t m ean s th ose w h o d o n ot su bm i t th ei r ACT w i l l n ot be at a d i sad v an t age com p ar ed t o th ose th at d o. ?I f y ou ch oose n ot to h ave y ou r scor es con si d er ed , y ou will n ot be d i sad van taged , as w e w i l l

B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager con ti n u e to r ev i ew al l ACT ] w as th e on e com m on asp ect s of th e ap p l i cati on ," f actor th at th ey cou l d T h e O f f i ce of Ad m i ssi on s com p ar e stu d en ts on ,? A sh an d Recr u i t m en t at U W say s. ?H ow ever , th er e ar e a M ad i sonsay son th ei r w ebsi te. l ot of si t u at i on s w h er e k i d s D esp i t e th i s, sch ool d on ?t test w el l an d th ey ?r e cou n sel or an d bu i l d i n g r eal ly br i gh t an d r eal ly str on g.? l ead er d ep ar tm en t ch ai r For th ose th at d on ?t test A n n A sh u r ges stu d en ts to as w el l as th ey ?d l i ke to, A sh sti l l stu d y an d take th e test m en t i on s th at w h i l e n ot ser i ou sly as i t can be u sef u l su bm i tti n g a scor e w on ?t i n ot h er w ay s. i m p act cer tai n ap p l i cati on s, ?Sch ol ar sh i p s ar e th e su bm i tti n g a l ow scor e bi g th i n g, or to str en gth en a com p ar ed to th e U n i vsp eci f i c ar ea. You take th e er si ty 's ex p ectati on s can ACT d u r i n g th e y ear , so i t n egati vely af f ect ch an ces of can h el p stu d en t s i d en ti f y sk i l l s an d th i n gs th ey n eed to w or k on bef or e th ey go to col l ege,? A sh say s.

A sh com m en ts th at th e ACT i sn ?t on ly l ooked at f or sch ol ar sh i p s, bu t i t can be con si d er ed d u r i n g th e ap p l i cat i on p r ocess f or ap p r en t i cesh i p s an d jobs i n th e tr ad es as w el l . T h i s bei n g sai d , th e f u tu r e of th e ACT i s u n cl ear as i t s p u r p ose an d u ses con t i n u e to ch an ge. ?I th i n k th at or i gi n al ly th e th ou gh t beh i n d th e ACT w as a l evel i n g th i n g. [T h e

gett i n g accep ted .

W h eth er excel l i n g at t h e ACT i s a p r i or i t y, or i n t h e back of y ou r m i n d , A sh of f er s som e ad v i ce t o get t h e m ost ou t of t h e ex p er i en ce. ?T h e th r ee t h i n gs t h at p r ed i ct su ccess i n t h e ACT ar e tak i n g a st r on g h i gh sch ool sch ed u l e, [h av i n g a] f am i l i ar i ty w i t h t h e t est , an d som eti m es t ak i n g [t h e t est] a cou p l e of t i m es.? g ra phic b y la uren a msta d t

Movement Throug h Med ia Em m a Ph i l l i p s Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist

S

H S?s L M C, r u n by Cath y Gar gan o an d Joan M y szkow sk i , i s r u n n i n g i t s ow n Bl ack H i st or y M on th m ovem en t t h r ou gh t h e u se of m ed i a an d l i t er at u r e.

Bl ack H i st or y M on t h i s a sy m bol of r em em br an ce f or th e n at i on on t h e even ts i n th e h i st or y of t h e A f r i can d i asp or a. I t i s a cel ebr at i on of th e p r ogr essi on an d goal of tr u e i n d ep en d en ce f or Bl ack A m er i can s t od ay. ?For B l ack H i st or y M on th w e've alw ay s d on e som eth i n g i n t h e l i br ar y,?

Gar gan o say s.

Accor d i n g t o Gar gan o, t h e L M C?s goal f or th e m on th w as st at ed ver y cl ear ly, i n t h at t h ey w an t to gi ve stu d en t s an d st af f a st er n r em i n d er t h at ?Bl ack H i stor y M on t h i sn 't ju st on e m on th of t h e y ear . W e sh ou l d be cel ebr at i n g Bl ack h i stor y an d w om en 's h i stor y an d N at i ve A m er i can h i stor y an d al l th ese 6

[cu l t u r es an d gr ou p s] th at h ave a d ed i cated m on th . W e sh ou l d be cel ebr at i n g th i s ever y y ear , or ever y m on th of th e y ear .?

Gar gan o an d M y szkow sk i h ave set u p m u l ti p l e p ost er s ar ou n d th e L M C th at p or t r ay f am ou s B l ack r ol e m od el s an d th ei r h i stor y as w el l as a l i t er atu r e secti on f i l l ed w i t h book s w r i tt en by B l ack au th or s or p or t r ay th ei r stor i es. ?I n B ook Cl u b, w e sp eci f i cal ly ch ose book s th at w ou l d go w i t h B l ack H i stor y M on t h ? ei th er [w i th ] an A f r i can A m er i can au th or or ch ar act er s i n th e book ,?

Gar gan o say s.

T h e p r of essi on al d evel op m en t th at th e d i str i ct p u t s on f or staf f m em ber s i n cl u d es equ i ty ci r cl es.

T h ese ar e gr ou p s of staf f m em ber s run by a f aci l i t at or .

T h ese equ i t y ci r cl es, Gar gan o ex p l ai n s, al l ow staf f m em ber s to

becom e m or e com f or tabl e w i th th e top i c of B l ack h i st or y an d to be better abl e to sp eak to stu d en ts abou t i t i n th e f u tu r e. Gar gan o ex p l ai n s th at th ese equ i t y ci r cl es ar e key to ed u cati n g staf f m em ber s abou t B l ack h i st or y to be abl e to teach stu d en ts. ?W e h ave r ead i n gs th at w e d o ever y ti m e w e h ave a p r of essi on al d evel op m en t [d ay ]. I th i n k gett i n g staf f m or e com f or tabl e tal k i n g abou t i t i s i m p or tan t as w el l , becau se I th i n k a l ot of ti m es w e'r e af r ai d to say som eth i n g becau se w e d on 't w an t to say th e w r on g th i n g,? Gar gan o say s. ?T h e p r of essi on al d evel op m en t th at w e'r e gett i n g h el p s u s becom e m or e com f or tabl e tal k i n g to stu d en ts abou t i t. I th i n k f or m i n g gr ou p s l i ke th at gi ves u s an ou tl et an d a p l ace to d i scu ss. I th i n k th at i s i m p or tan t as w el l .?

Gar gan o al so p r ov i d es

stu d en ts an d st af f m em ber s w h o ask w i t h a sel f - m ad e p r esen tat i on on t h e r eason s th e L M C i s cel ebr at i n g B l ack H i stor y M on t h as w el l as h el p f u l i n si gh t on Bl ack r ol e m od el s, qu ot es, sou r ces, an d p l an s of act i on . ?W e?r e d oi n g t h i s t o l i f t p eop l e u p an d h op ef u l ly t o h el p p eop l e get al on g bet ter an d u n d er stan d each ot h er better ,? Gar gan o say s.

C h eck o u t t h e Q R co d e t o h av e access t o al l o f t h e L M C 's B l ack H i st o r y M ov em en t r eso u r ces! the norse star, february 2022

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Pla ying the Field SHS tra ck a nd field tea m a nticipa tes a successful sea son with well-round ed a thletes B y A n j a Roy k o Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor

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h e 20 22 T r ack an d Fi el d season st ar t s on M ar ch 7, an d f or m an y th i s w i l l m ar k t h e d ay at h l etes w i l l h an g u p t h ei r w i n t er sp or ts gear an d st r ap on t h ei r cl eat s f or on e f i n al season of th e sch ool y ear .

For H ead B oy s T r ack an d Fi el d Coach N at h an N el son , th i s w i l l m ean th at h e can f i n al ly d r aw a cel ebr ator y ?0 ? on h is w h ite boar d u n d er n eat h h i s si gn atu r e f ir st- day- of- tr ack coun tdow n .

Gi ven t h at t h er e ar e a f ai r am ou n t of ex p er i en ced an d talen ted at h l et es r etu r n i n g f or each event th i s

season , N elson an ti ci p at es th at th i s y ear ?s team w ill be f air ly successf ul. ?W e?ve got a l ot of r etu r n i n g l et ter w i n n er s. W e h ave gr eat sp r i n t er s. W e h ave aw esom e d i st an ce an d m i d - d i st an ce k i d s com i n g back . W e?ve got tw o or th r ee good i n d i v i d u al s i n ju st abou t ever y ar ea betw een th r ow s, ju m p s, sp r i n ts, d i stan ce, an d [m i d - d i st an ce],?

N el son say s.

N el son n am es ju st a f ew of th e at h l etes th at h e ex p ect s w i l l be su ccessf u l th i s com i n g season . ?You ?ve got Jay d en Z y w i ck i w h o i s a th r ee ti m e cr oss cou n tr y stat e ath l et e an d th en l ast y ear h e qu al i f i ed f or th e 80 0 . H e i s goi n g to be d oi n g w el l i n h i s d i st an ce an d m i d - d i stan ce even t s. W e h ave Ay d en Pr obst an d D ar r i ck H i l l r etu r n i n g. T h ey w er e both on th at f ou r - by - tw o state team ,? N el son say s. ?Joh n H ar m an w i l l be on e of ou r f ast est sp r i n ter s.?

Sen i or Joh n H ar m an h as been on th e tr ack team h i s en t i r e h i gh sch ool car eer an d i s exci ted to star t th e n ex t season w i th a ban g. H ar m an p ar ti ci p ates in a v ar i et y of even ts, bu t h i s m ai n even ts ar e th e op en 10 0 an d th e op en 20 0 . ?I [al so] d o l on g ju m p an d h i gh ju m p or [an y t h i n g] el se

Coach w an ts to th r ow m e i n ,? H ar m an say s.

H ar m an u ses tr ack as a w ay to i m p r ove h i s en d u r an ce f or h i s oth er ath l et i c p u r su i ts. I n ad d i t i on to tr ack an d f i el d , H ar m an al so w r estl es an d p l ay s f ootbal l .

H e p l an s to con ti n u e h i s f ootbal l car eer at O l i vet N azar en e U n i ver si ty i n I l l . w h er e h e p l an s to stu d y Busin ess an d Biblical Studies.

H ar m an ex p l ai n s th at i t can som eti m es be d i f f i cu l t to stay m oti v ated d u r i n g th e tr ack season , esp eci al ly w i th i t bei n g so cl ose to th e en d of th e y ear ; h i s team m ates h el p h i m w or k th r ou gh th at. ?Pr acti ce i s alw ay s f u n [even th ou gh ] r u n n i n g i sn ?t alw ay s th e m ost f u n ,?

H ar m an say s. ?T h e p eop l e y ou d o i t w i th m ake i t f u n .?

H ar m an bel i eves th at tw o f actor s con sti tu t e a good tr ack team . T h e f i r st i s to h ave tal en ted an d h ar d w or k i n g ath l et es, an d th e secon d i s to h ave a su p p or t i ve an d con n ected team . ?W h at m akes a good tr ack team , i n m y ey es, i s a team th at i s w i l l i n g to w or k togeth er , an d even w h en y ou d on ?t w i n , sti l l stay u n i ted , [en cou r age] on e an ot h er , an d [f i n d ] w ay s to h ave f u n even i f y ou ?r e n ot alw ay s su cceed i n g,? H ar m an say s.

Fel l ow sen i or ath l et e A n n i e Tan gem an sh ar es th e sam e sen tim en t.

Sh e f in ds th e en v i r on m en t

of th e tr ack t eam t o be on e of i ts m ost valu able qu ali ti es. ?I l i ke t h at i t ?s su ch a bi g team , an d y ou get t o k n ow a l ot of p eop l e t h r ou gh ou t t h e season ,? Tan gem an say s. ?I ?ve m ad e a l ot of good f r i en d s th r ou gh t r ack .?

Tan gem an h as h ad m an y f on d m em or i es over th e p ast f ou r season s, bu t sh e say s th at h er t h e h i gh est p oi n ts of h er t r ack car eer w er e h er t w o t r i p s t o state d u r i n g h er f r esh m an an d ju n i or y ear .

Tan gem an say s t h at h er m oti v ati on f or t r ack com es f r om a d esi r e t o i m p r ove f or h er sel f .

Sh e h op es t o h i t t h e gr ou n d r u n n i n g t h i s season an d keep i m p r ov i n g f r om th er e. ?Per son al ly, I w ou l d l i ke to get back t o w h er e I star ted at t h e begi n n i n g of l ast y ear an d t h en i m p r ove on th at,? Tan gem an say s.

N el son ex p l ai n s t h at SH S h as m oved f r om B ad ger Sou t h t o Bad ger East w h i ch h e bel i eves cou l d p oten ti al ly h u r t t h e t eam ?s ch an ces of a st ate v i ctor y.

H ow ever , N el son i s st i l l op ti m i st i c t h at t h e t eam w i l l be abl e t o f i n d su ccess th r ou gh ou t t h e season . ?I d o t h i n k w e?ve got a p r ett y good ch an ce of bei n g i n th e top t h r ee t h i s y ear ,?

N el son say s.

C o ach N at h an N el so n ex p r esses t h at h e b el i ev es sen i o r Jo h n H ar m an (r i gh t) w i l l b e o n e o f t h e f ast est sp r i n t er s o n t h e 20 22 t eam .

Sen i o r A n n i e T an gem an 's f av o r i t e ev en t i s t h e t r i p l e j u m p , so m et i m es, ap p r o p r i at el y r ef er r ed t o as t h e "h o p , sk i p , an d j u m p ."

W h en co m p et i n g i n t h e ev en t , at h l et es sp r i n t al o n g t h e t r ack an d ar e r eq u i r ed t o h o p an d b o u n d b ef o r e ev en t u al l y j u m p i n g i n t o t h e san d p i t at t h e en d o f t h e t r ack . Ev en w i t h a cu r r en t p er so n al r eco r d o f 35 f eet 8.5 i n ch es, T an gem an h o p es t o f u r t h er i m p r ov e i n t h i s ev en t . it t ed sub m o t p ho

the norse star, february 2022

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Fol l ow i n g

B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager

f y ou ar e a Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool st u d en t on I n stagr am , ch an ces ar e y ou ?ve seen p ost s by th e @stou gh ton .at h l et i csaccou n t , al so k n ow n as T h e V i k i n g Sh i p .

Fr om Team Takeover s, t o Ath l et e of th e W eek ,to col l egecom m i tm en t an n ou n cem en t s, sen i or Cam bel l eCh r i sten senr ep or ts on i t al l .

T h e @st ou gh t on .at h l et i cs accou n t w as cr eat ed at th e begi n n i n g of t h e 20 19- 20 20 sch ool y ear by 20 20 St ou gh ton Gr ad u at e Ad am H obson . Si n ce t h en i t h as ch an ged ow n er s an n u al ly, bu t th e m i ssi on of th e accou n t h as st ay ed th e sam e. ?I t's abou t r ep r esen t i n g al l team s an d gi v i n g ever y on e a p l at f or m to ch eer p eop l e on , esp eci al ly w h en som e sp or ts ar e l ess p op u l ar . I t ?s gi v i n g t eam s an ou tl et to p ost p h ot os on an d r ecogn i ze good at h l etes,?

Ch r i sten sen say s.

N ot on ly d o Stou gh ton At h l eti cs h ave t h ei r ow n f eatu r ed I n st agr am p age, bu t th er e i s al so a T w i t ter (@T h eV i k i n gSh i p 1) an d Sn ap ch at accou n t (@sh s.ath l eti cs).

A l t h ou gh Ch r i sten sen say s sh e h asn ?t d on e m u ch with th e Sn ap ch at y et , an d sh e of t en l eaves th e p ost i n g on T w i tter to Cel ly Secti on l ead er s Ad am Sl ager an d Cately n Jask u l ke, l eav i n g th e I n stagr am accou n t t o be h er m ai n f ocu s. ?O n I n st agr am , I ?m p r etty m u ch act i ve ever y d ay. [...] I p ost a l ot on ou r st or y, r ep osti n g w h at oth er t eam s h ave p ost ed so t h at i f y ou d on ?t f ol l ow gi r l s

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basket bal l , f or ex am p l e, y ou can com e an d see ever y th i n g on m y p age,?

Ch r i sten sen say s. ?I al so p ost on th e stor i es tr y i n g to get con t en t an d set a good v i be f or sp or ti n g even ts.?

A si d e f r om th e I n st agr am stor i es, a m ajor p ar t of th e accou n t i s th e Ath l et e of th e W eek segm en t.

T h ese l ess- t h an - t w o- m i n u te v i d eos f eatu r e an ath l et e, ty p i cal ly a sen i or , w h o, accor d i n g to Ch r i st en sen , i s ?sett i n g a h i gh stan d ar d , w h eth er i t ?s bei n g a good team m at e, p er f or m i n g su p er w el l , or bei n g above an d bey on d .?

For th e w eek ly v i d eos, Ch r i sten sen f ilm s th e ch osen at h l ete on h er p h on e or an i Pad i n th e h al lw ay betw een th e str en gt h r oom an d th e m ai n gy m . Sh e ask s betw een f i ve to seven qu esti on s, al l ow i n g h er i n ter v i ew ees f l ex i bi l i ty an d com f or t i n th ei r an sw er s. ?I r eal ly en cou r age th em to tal k as cl ear ly as th ey can an d as l ou d as th ey can . I tr y to m ake i t m or e l i ke a con ver sat i on r ath er th an an i n ter v i ew so i t?s n ot su p er n er ve- w r ack i n g.?

Ch r i sten sen say s. photo b y la uren a msta d t

Jask u l k e f i l m s Gr i f f i n Em p ey f o r h i s at h l et e o f t h e w eek v i d eo , w h i l e C h r i st en sen ask s h i m q u est i o n s o f f t o t h e si d e.

A stu d en t ath l et e w h o h as gon e th r ou gh th i s i n t er v i ew p r ocess f i r st h an d i s ten n i s an d h ockey p l ay er H ay d en Sch r ei er .

H is Ath l ete of th e W eek v i d eo cover s top i cs su ch as w h y h e star ted p l ay i n g, h ow h e th i n k s th e season i s goi n g, an d w h at m akes good team ch em i str y.

Sch r ei er m en t i on s w h at an h on or i t w as to be ch osen f or Ath l ete of th e W eek . ?B ei n g abl e to tal k abou t m y sel f an d m y ath l et i cs w as a gr eat p r i v i l ege. I t w as al so a r ew ar d i n g f eel i n g becau se m y h ar d w or k w as star ti n g to p ay of f ,? Sch r ei er say s.

W h en gi ven th e @stou gh ton .ath l eti cs accou n t th i s su m m er , Ch r i sten sen d eci d ed to m ake i t a p r i or i ty of th e I n stagr am accou n t to f ocu s m ai n ly on th e tal en ted sen i or ath l et es, d u e to th e f act th at CO V I D - 19 m ad e Ath l ete of th e W eek com e to a h al t i n 20 21. ?M y gr ad e r eal ly d i d n ?t see an Ath l ete of th e W eek , an d I val u e a l ot of m y f r i en d s an d cl assm ates w h o ar e good ath l et es,?

Ch r i sten sen say s. ?Ri gh t n ow I ?m w or k i n g on gett i n g th r ou gh som e of th e sen i or s i n h op es th at n ex t y ear w h oever r u n s i t can ei th er d eci d e to d o th ei r sen i or cl ass or an y oth er ath l et e th at stan d s ou t.?

Ch r i sten sen w as abl e to n oti ce th e l ack of ex p osu r e f or th e ath l et es i n h er cl ass becau se sh e i s ver y i n volved i n ath l et i cs h er sel f . Sh e i s cu r r en tly th e cap tai n of th e soccer team an d w ei gh t tr ai n s f or abou t f ou r d ay s a w eek . I n N ovem ber sh e even si gn ed to p l ay D 2

w om en ?s soccer at th e U n i ver si ty of M i n n esot a D uluth . photo sub mitted b y christensen

C h r i st en sen get s r ead y t o m ak e co n t act w i t h t h e b al l w h i l e p l ay i n g f o r t h e W i sco n si n O l y m p i c D ev el o p m en t al Pr o gr am i n I n d i an ap o l i s, I n d i an a d u r i n g Ju l y 20 21.

O n ce gr ad u at ed , t h e I n stagr am accou n t w i l l be p assed on , bu t u n t i l t h en Ch r i sten sen w i l l con ti n u e t o go to as m an y even ts as p ossi bl e to t ake p i ctu r es, r each ou t t o t eam m an ager s f or an y exci t i n g n ew s, an d sp en d h ou r s ed i ti n g At h l ete of th e W eek v i d eos an d p i ctu r e col l ages.

Ch r i sten sen al so p l an s on br i n gi n g back w eek ly team tr i v i a an d h av i n g m or e team s ?h ack ? i n t o th e accou n t f or Team Takeover s. N o m att er w h at en d s u p bei n g i n st or e f or th e @st ou gh ton .at h l et i cs accou n t , Ch r i st en sen k n ow s sh e w i l l en joy cr eat i n g an d p osti n g i t. ?I f an y on e h as an y th i n g th ey w an t t o be f eat u r ed on [th e accou n t], I w i l l p ost i t i n a h ear t beat,? Ch r i st en sen say s. ?W h et h er i t ?s ju st a p i ctu r e of y ou or ju st a si n gl e accom p l i sh m en t, ever y on e w an ts t o see t h at.

I t?s i m p or tan t t o y ou so i t ?s i m p or tan t t o u s.? the norse star, february 2022

sports

SHS Da nces Its Wa y to Sta te B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

Y

ou m ay k n ow t h em f r om t h ei r p er f or m an ces at f oot bal l gam es i n t h e f al l or at basket bal l gam es i n t h e w i n t er , bu t r egar d l ess of h ow y ou k n ow of th em , t h e SH S d an ce t eam h as been an i n t egr al p ar t of sch ool sp i r i t i n St ou gh ton sch ool s an d i n t h e Stou gh t on com m u n i t y si n ce th e sp or t?s i n cep t i on i n 20 11.

T his sch ool y ear ?s season , th e SH S d an ce t eam h as on ce agai n m ad e i t to t h e state- w i d e com p eti ti on f or h i gh sch ool d an cer s, th i s y ear h el d i n L a Cr osse, am on gst oth er ach i evem en t s.

W ith t h e h el p an d l ead er sh i p of t h ei r coach , Au d r a Jen sen , an d st u d en t cap tai n K ay l ea M i d t h u n , th e d an ce team w as abl e toa yle ach i eve sever al goal bsy kath i s mit t ed. b u com p eti tio on season s p h t oof t h e SH S d an ce Coach m id t hdurna Jendsen c e t ea h y t eam , mAu S an r, t rhoas p H S e i he T hi n g iftor been coach tsi x y ear s,n . w h et i t i oat bu t th i s pi so sheerr af icrostm ypear t e d i st r i ct . t h e Stou ghatfon ?T h ey ar e t h e m ost h ar d w or k i n g, sel f - d r i ven k i d s I 've ever [coach ed ], an d i t d r ew m e i n t o w an t i n g to coach h er e,? Jen sen say s.

T h e d an ce t eam r an ked si x th i n th e W i scon si n stat e i n D 2 K i ck s. T h ey al so r ecei ved t h e H i gh est K i ck Scor e of t h e d ay at th e Fr an k l i n Saber Sh ow d ow n i n N ov. I n Jan ., t h e t eam w on D 2 Ru n n er U p at th e W i scon si n A ssoci ati on of Ch eer / Pom Coach es the norse star, february 2022

Regi on al s (W ACPC.) O n Feb. 5, th e d an ce team p l aced si x t h p l ace i n th e W ACPC W i scon si n St at e- w i d e Ch am p i on sh i p .

"M y coach i n g m otto i s ?p r act i ce u n t i l y ou get i t r i gh t . O n ce y ou get i t r i gh t, p r acti ce i t u n t i l y ou can 't get i t w r on g.? T h e team d i d ju st th at th i s season ,? Jen sen say s on th e team 's su ccess. ?T h e th i n g th at i s m ost r ew ar d i n g as a coach w ou l d be w h en th e team i s d r i l l i n g th e sam e sk i l l s or r ou ti n e al l season , an d i t al l f i n al ly cl i ck s w h en th ey h i t th e com p et i t i on f l oor .?

N ot on ly d oes th e SH S d an ce team p er f or m at ou t - of - t ow n com p eti ti on s, th ey al so h el p f oster sch ool sp i r i t h er e i n St ou gh ton , m ai n ly th r ou gh d an ci n g at SH S sp or ts team s? h om e m at ch es.

T his sch ed u l e is d eter m i n ed by w h en th e d an ce team p er f or m s at com p et i t i on s, m ean i n g th ey p r i m ar i ly p er f or m d u r i n g w eek s th ey d o n ot com p ete. ?M y f avor i te [gam es] to d an ce at ar e f ootbal l gam es, an d I l ove d oi n g i t,? Saar i say s. ?[...] I t 's ju st r eal ly f u n w h en i t 's al l d ar k , [...] th er e's l i gh ts on y ou , an d th er e's so m an y p eop l e f i l l i n g al l th e secti on s, an d th ey 'r e ch eer i n g y ou on .?

Sop h om or e H an n ah Saar i h as been stu d i o d an ci n g si n ce sh e w as f ou r .

Sh e d eci d ed to joi n th e SH S d an ce team h er f r esh m an y ear . ?M y f avor i te p ar t abou t bei n g on th e d an ce team i s ju st th e en ti r e en v i r on m en t of i t ,? Saar i say s. ?I t 's su ch a f am i ly, an d ever y on e i s so cl ose. [...] W e ju st h ave so m u ch f u n team bon d i n g, an d w e al l get to k n ow each ot h er .?

T h i s y ear h as been esp eci al ly d i f f i cu l t w i th th e r i sk of CO V I D - 19.

St u d en t cap t ai n K ay l ea M i d th u n , sen i or an d m em ber of th e d an ce team si n ce h er f r esh m an y ear , h as seen h er team st r u ggl i n g w i t h CO V I D - 19. ?Ju st l i ke ot h er sp or t s, th e d an ce team str u ggl ed w i t h [CO V I D - 19],? M i d th u n say s. ?At th e begi n n i n g, w e

photo submitted by kaylea midthun

T h e team p oses w i th th ei r coach af ter a p er f or m an ce. w er e n ot abl e to p r acti ce in p er son an d did ever y th i n g over Z oom .

W h en y ou ar e so u sed to p er f or m i n g, i t i s ver y d i f f i cu l t to th en d an ce w i th a m ask . M ask s can m ake i t d i f f i cu l t to br eath e w h i l e d an ci n g.?

T h e en ti r ety of th e team h as f el t th i s str u ggl e al on g w i th th ei r r egu l ar w or k l oad , w h i ch i s m or e th an on e m ay ex p ect, accor d i n g to H an n ah Saar i . ?I d on 't th i n k p eop l e r eal i ze h ow m u ch w or k an d p r acti ces go i n t o th e team ,?

Saar i say s abou t th e w or k . ?W e p r acti ce over ten h ou r s a w eek , an d som e p eop l e d on 't r eal i ze th at, so w h en th ey joi n , th ey [can ] get a

p ho t o su ha nna h b mit t ed b y sa a ri

M em b er s t eam o f t h e d an c sm i l e p er f o r af t er e m g am e i n g at a f o o t in th e b al l Fal l .

l i ttl e f l u ster ed ."

A l th ou gh th e d an ce team takes a l ot of w or k an d d ed i cati on , i t al so br i n gs m an y ben ef i t s.

Cap tai n of t h e d an ce team , K ay l ea M idth un , ex p l ai n s, ?D an ce h as i m p acted m y l i f e gr eat ly. I t [...] h as gi ven m e m y f r i en d sh i p s, t au gh t m e t o be p ar t of a t eam , an d h as m ad e m e t h e p er son t h at I am tod ay."

photo submitted by kaylea midthun photo sub mitted b y ka ylea mid thun T h e SH S d an ce team m em ber s p ose w i th t h ei r p l aqu e af ter a com p eti ti on . T h e m em ber s i n th e u p p er r ow f r om l ef t to r i gh t: Ava Sed l acek , Jad en D ay, cap tai n K ay l ea M i d th u n , El l a L an ow ay, an d El i an a T h om son .

Team m em ber s bott om r ow f r om l ef t to r i gh t: Em i ly M i d th u n , H an n ah Saar i , Ken d al l Stei n m et z, an d coach Au d r a Jen sen .

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cover story

Note To Self B y Em m a Far l ey, A u t u m n Ev en so n , an d C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer, Staff Writer & D istribution M anager, Staff Writer & Copy Editor A s th e su n r i ses on th e m or n i n g of Feb. 1, th e en t i r e w or l d seem s to d o a qu i ck tu r n ar ou n d f r om d u l l w i n ter d ay s i n t o on es f i l l ed w i t h l ove, ch eesy Val en t i n e's D ay d ecor ati on s, an d af f ecti on f or th e p eop l e su r r ou n d i n g u s. Seem i n gly ever y w h er e w e go, th er e?s a m oti f of l ove an d car e. I t 's i n th e h ear t d ecor ati on s ad or n i n g th e sh op s al on g M ai n Str eet, i n t h e exch an ge of gi f ts betw een f r i en d s an d l over s, an d even i n m u n d an e m at ter s su ch as tr i p s to th e l ocal W al m ar t or Pi ck n ?Save. I t ?s t r u e, t h e so- cal l ed ?m on t h of l ove? u n abash ed ly takes over th e cou n t r y, l ead i n g p eop l e to ex am i n e th ei r r el ati on sh i p s w i t h ot h er s, w h eth er t h ose be r om an t i c, p l at on i c, or f am i l i al . H ow ever , a cer tai n ty p e of l ove of ten f ai l s to escap e ou r m i n d s w h en w e th i n k abou t w h o w e sh ou l d be f ocu si n g on d u r i n g th i s ti m e: th e l ove, su p p or t, an d ad or ati on w e gi ve ou r selves.

Sel f - l ove i s n ot a com p l etely u n h ear d - of con cep t ; i t?s com m on to see i n f l u en cer s on soci al m ed i a p r each i n g sel f - l ove, car e, an d h el p t o t h ei r f ol l ow er s th r ou gh th e m ean s of exer ci se, d i eti n g, an d jou r n al i n g. H ow ever , m ost of th ese soci al - m ed i ap r ov i d ed t i p s on ly go sk i n - d eep r at h er th an d i v i n g i n t o th e tr u e m ean i n g of l ov i n g ou r selves ? both bod y an d m i n d ? an d h ow w e can ach i eve t h i s ty p e of l ove i n ou r l i ves. I t 's ti m e f or th e w or l d to star t u n d er stan d i n g th e m ean i n g of sel f - l ove, i t s i m p or t an ce, an d sm al l w ay s ever y bod y can w or k to f oster i t i n th ei r ow n l i ves.

The Bod y is But a Vessel O

n e of t h e f i r st an d ar gu ably m ost cr u ci al w ay s to p r act i ce sel f - l ove i s by f am i l i ar i zi n g y ou r sel f w i th y ou r bod y an d l ear n i n g t o l ove i t t h e w ay i t i s. T h i s can be h ar d f or m an y p eop l e to accom p l i sh , esp eci al ly i n t od ay ?s cu l t u r e, w h er e w h i t e, t h i n , sm ooth , an d abl ed - bod i ed i n d i vi d u al s seem to be con si d er ed th e soci et al st an d ar d f or beau t y. O th er bod i es, su ch as t h ose i n h abi ted by p eop l e of col or , d i sabl ed i n d i v i d u al s, or an y on e w i t h a n ot i ceabl e st om ach , get p u sh ed t o th e back bu r n er , i f n ot r i d i cu l ed .

Bod y p osi t i v i t y i s a m ovem en t t h at began i n th e 60 s as a m et h od f or p eop l e of al l sh ap es, si zes, an d col or s to f i n d con f i d en ce i n t h em selves i n a soci et y w h i ch h ad n ever al l ow ed t h em to l i ve w i t h ou t sh am e su r r ou n d i n g t h ei r bod y.

U n f or t u n at ely, t h e p u sh w as (an d con t i n u es to be) m et w i t h a l ot of back l ash an d r esi st an ce, an d

10

even tod ay, m an y i n d i vi d u al s w ith l ar ger or d i f f er en tly - abl ed bod i es ar e bu l l i ed or cr i ti ci zed si m p ly f or th e w ay th ey l ook . ?[B od y p osi t i v i ty i s] i m p or t an t becau se, f i r st of al l , i t w as m ean t t o tr y to h el p en d d eh u m an i zat i on f or f at p eop l e. I t's al so h el p f u l f or ever y bod y becau se i t h el p s u s to l ear n to l ove ou r selves as w e ar e an d n ot see ou r selves i n a bad w ay. A n d i t r eal ly h el p s p eop l e's m en tal h eal th [w h i l e al so p r om oti n g] bod y d i ver si ty, w h i ch I th i n k i s su p er i m p or t an t becau se n ot ever y bod y l ook s on e w ay. I t h el p s u s to l ear n to en joy ou r l i f e as w e ar e,?

SH S sen i or L aci M cPh ee say s.

M cPh ee is a firm ad vocate f or bod y p osi ti v i ty th r ou gh an or gan i zati on cal l ed PAT CH , w h i ch stan d s f or Pr ov i d er s A n d Teen s Com m u n i cati n g f or H eal th .

M cPh ee al so u ses h er soci al m ed i a p l at f or m s as a w ay to sp eak ou t agai n st bod y sh am i n g an d p r om ot e accep t an ce f or ever y on e. ?W e on ly h ave on e bod y,? sh e say s. ?A n d ou r bod y i s m ean t to h el p u s to l i ve an d gr ow, n ot to be ch an ged , f i xed or seen as a p r obl em . [O u r bod y ] i s w h at i t i s an d i t 's beau ti f u l th e w ay i t i s, an d I th i n k th at soci et y h as m ad e it ex tr em ely h ar d f or u s to ju st l i ve.?

O f ten t i m es i t ?s h ar d to i n st an t ly sw i t ch i n t o a p er f ectly h ap p y, con f i d en t m i n d set

abou t ou r bod i es. T h ou gh i t w ou l d be n i ce to l i ve i n a w or l d w h er e ever y on e w as p r ou d of th ei r bod i es, i t can be ex tr em ely d i f f i cu l t f or m an y to get p ast th e m en t al bar r i er i n th ei r m i n d s to d o so.

M cPh ee, h ow ever , ack n ow l ed ges a d i f f er en t ap p r oach . ?I th i n k th at som eti m es, p eop l e assu m e th at bod y p osi ti v i ty m ean s th at y ou n eed to be p osi ti ve [abou t] y ou r bod y, w h en r eal ly I th i n k th e m ovem en t i s m or e gear ed tow ar d s ju st tr y i n g to l ear n to accep t th at th i s is y ou r bod y. [? ] I t?s m or e abou t accep tan ce th an th i n k i n g, ?O h m y God , I l ove m y bod y.? I t's ver y h ar d to ju st [i n stan tly sw i tch ] i n t o th at m i n d set. I t's easi er to f l i p i n t o th i n k i n g ju st , ?M y bod y 's gon n a ser ve m e.

N oth i n g m or e,'? M cPh ee say s.

A n n a K r ey n i n , col l ege stu d en t an d h eal th ad vocate, agr ees. ?T h er e's bod y p osi ti v i ty, bod y accep tan ce, [an d ] bod y n eu t r al i t y. I th i n k bod y p osi ti v i ty h as becom e m or e abou t ap p r eci at i n g y ou r bod y f or th e th i n gs th at i t al l ow s y ou to d o an d th e w ay s th at [i t] al l ow s y ou to ex p er i en ce l i f e. I k n ow th at ?body positivity ? doesn't resonate with ever y body, though,? she says. ?Som e people prefer ter m s like body neutr ality, which is m ore about feeling neutr al about your body, not n ecessar i ly as an accessor y, bu t m or e as [a vessel w i th w h i ch ] to go abou t th e w or l d an d

[ex p er i en ce th i n gs] th at y ou l i ke to d o.?

Kr ey n in is a p ublic h ealth m ajor at U W M adison , an d sh e star ted m edical sch ool th is p ast Fall. Up on en ter in g th e p r ogr am , sh e began to n otice a star k absen ce of sup p or t f or p eop le w ith lar ger bodies.

D elvin g deep er in to th e subject, sh e n oticed dif f er en t p atter n s of eatin g disorder s, dy sp h or ia, an d toxic diet cultur es th at h ave all becom e n or m alized in today ?s society. ?I r eally th in k th at th e vast m ajor ity of p eop le h ave h ad exp er ien ce w ith [in secur ity about th eir bodies]. To m e, it alm ost seem s like a p ublic h ealth issue. I th in k th at so m any p eop le ar e dealin g w i t h str u ggl es r egar d i n g t h e w ay th ei r bod y l ook s, an d i t d oesn ?t r eal ly f eel l i ke i t 's br ou gh t u p as a h eal t h i ssu e.

I d on 't th i n k i t 's br ou gh t u p h ow it can i m p act som ebod y 's m en t al h eal t h , even i f y ou d on 't see i t . W e tal k abou t so m an y ot h er h eal th i ssu es [...] bu t w e n ever tal k abou t h ow h av i n g bod y i m age i ssu es, h av i n g the norse star, february 2022

cover story n egati ve f eel i n gs t ow ar d y ou r bod y, or h av i n g n egati ve eat i n g beh av i or s, r eal ly i m p acts y ou r l i f e on p h y si cal , m en t al , an d soci al l evel s,? K r ey n i n say s.

Soci al m ed i a cr eator s h ave begu n t o sp eak ou t agai n st f at p h obi a an d d i scr i m i n at i on agai n st d i f f er en t w ei gh t s, t o ei t h er si d e of th e scal e. T h i s ad vocacy h as been m et w i t h m i xed r eacti on s? som e su p p or ti n g t h e m ovem en t , an d ot h er s bei n g qu i ck t o op p ose i t . ?Cr eat or s w i t h l ar ger bod i es get a l ot of r eal ly n egati ve com m en ts, esp eci al ly w i th r egar d s to h ealth .

Peop le [w i ll com m en t th i n gs li ke] ?You'r e glor i f y i n g obesi ty,? or ?You'r e p r om oti n g an u n h eal t h y l i f esty l e? w h i ch i s r i d i cu l ou s. T h ey ?r e f i n d i n g con f i d en ce i n th ei r bod i es, w h i ch i s beau t i f u l ,?

K r ey n i n say s.

M cPh ee ch al k s th i s d i scr i m i n at i on u p t o si m p l e i gn or an ce, t au gh t t o u s by a ci v i l i zati on gear ed t ow ar d s establ i sh i n g on ly on e bod y t y p e as accep t abl e. ?W e h ave h ad a lack of ed u cati on on f at- p h obi a an d f at- d i scr i m i n ati on , [...] an d th at's w h er e we've l ear n ed to n ot l i ke ou r selves t h e w ay t h at w e ar e. So I t h i n k on ce w e l ear n an d ed u cat e ot h er s on th e t op i c, h op ef u l ly, t h i n gs w i l l ch an ge,? sh e say s.

U n f or t u n at ely, w i t h h ow f ar th e bod y p osi t i v i t y

m ovem en t h as p r ogr essed , i t h as al so d evolved i n t o l ar gely su p p or t i n g f em al e f i gu r es, w h i l e sk i p p i n g over m al e- p r esen ti n g or i d en ti f y i n g p eop l e.

L aci M cPh ee (p i ct u r ed i n t h e b ack gr o u n d ) st ar t ed h er w o r k w i t h PAT C H l ast su m m er . ?I t 's k i n d of sad becau se I th i n k [ bod y accep tan ce] sh ou l d be f or ever y on e.

L i ke n o m att er w h at gen d er or sex u al i ty th ey i d en ti f y w i t h , n o m at ter w h at th ei r bod y l ook s l i ke, i t i s a m ovem en t th at sh ou l d be f or ever y on e. [...] I th i n k th at over th e y ear s [th e m ovem en t h as] ch an ged to v i ew on ly f em al e [or f em al e p r esen ti n g] p eop l e, an d th at's w r on g. I t sh ou l d r eal ly ju st be ap p l i cabl e to an y on e

w i th a bod y,? M cPh ee say s.

O n e l ast ar ea both K r ey n i n an d M cPh ee tou ch on i s th e am ou n t of u n k n ow n p r i v i l ege p eop l e w i th a ?p er f ect? bod y h ave i n m an y ar eas of th ei r l i ves. ?I f y ou 'r e bi gger an d y ou w al k i n t o a r oom , th e w ay th at p eop l e v i ew you ver su s som eon e w h o's n ot [ bi gger ] i s so d i f f er en t. I t sh ou l d be th e sam e, bu t i t's n ot. T h er e's m u l ti p l e ar eas ? l i ke th e en ter t ai n m en t w or l d , th e m od el i n g w or l d , th e h eal th car e sy stem , even ou r ed u cati on sy stem ? w h er e [soci ety ] cou l d be tr eat i n g ever y on e w i th th e sam e r esp ect, bu t w e sti l l l ack th at basi c h u m an d ecen cy,? M cPh ee say s.

K r ey n i n agr ees, say i n g, ?I t can be so h ar d f or p eop l e u n d er or over a cer tai n w ei gh t to f i n d th i n gs l i ke seati n g th at accom m od ates th em , or cl oth es th at f i t th em th at th ey can actu al ly bu y i n a m al l , i n stead of on a sketch y w ebsi te. Peop l e at [a l ow er ] w ei gh t m ar k h ave an i n cr ed i bl e am ou n t of p r i v i l ege, an d i t?s n ot tal ked abou t.?

Soci ety h as f oster ed th e i d ea th at a cer tai n bod y i s th e on ly accep tabl e on e to h ave. Fem ale- p r esen ti n g i n d i vi d u als ?h ave? to h ave f lat stom ach s, lar ge ch ests, an d ton ed legs, an d m alei d en ti f y i n g p eop le ?m u st? h ave w ash boar d abs, bu f f

ar m s, an d br oad sh ou ld er s.

To l ook oth er w i se i s of ten v i ew ed as i n d ecen t or u n h eal t h y.

H ow ever , as K r ey n i n u n d M cPh ee p oi n t ou t, th i s si m p ly i s n ot tr u e.

B od i es com e i n al l sh ap es an d si zes, an d t h at i s completely okay. At t h e en d of th e d ay, ou r bod i es ar e n oth i n g m or e t h an a vessel , a r ecep t acl e m ean t t o keep ou r br ai n , h ear t, an d sou l saf e. N oth i n g el se m att er s. ?I f y ou h ave a n egat i ve r el ati on sh i p w i t h y ou r bod y, w i th f ood , w i t h exer ci se, or an y t h i n g l i ke t h at, i t ?s i m p or tan t t o k n ow t h at y ou ar e val i d , an d y ou d eser ve h el p i f y ou w i sh t o seek i t ,?

K r ey n i n say s. ?A m ajor m i scon cep t i on i s ?M y r el ati on sh i p w i t h f ood [or ] t h e w ay I v i ew m y bod y i sn ?t bad en ou gh t o d eser ve h el p ,? bu t r eal ly, ever y on e d eser ves th at ai d , n o m att er w h at. I t?s n ot y ou r f au l t soci ety m essed u p y ou r p er cep t i on of y ou r sel f , y ou k n ow ? You ar e h an d som e, y ou are beautiful, you are per fect, and it?s past tim e to end this cycle.?

Menta l Hea lth is Mea nt for All I t's no secr et th at st u d en ts n eed a br eak f r om t h e m u l ti tu d e of t h i n gs th ey d o th r ough out th e day. Fr om sch ool, to wor k, sp or ts, an d h om ewor k, th er e doesn't seem to be en ou gh h ou r s i n t h e d ay to d o ever y t h i n g.

T he con st an t running ar ou n d th at st u d en t s h ave to d o accu m u l at es a l ot of st r ess. W h en t h at st r ess get s t oo m u ch t o h an d l e, w e br eak d ow n , an d r esor t to t h i n gs th at can en d u p h u r ti n g ou r selves or ot h er s.

M ost st u d en t s h ave becom e good f r i en d s w i t h bu r n ou t t h r ou gh ou t h i gh sch ool , f or som e i t h as becom e th ei r best f r i en d .

Bu t h i gh sch ool er s d on 't n eed to be so cl ose t o bei n g as bu r n t ou t as w e ar e. Ky r i a the norse star, february 2022

W acket t i s a l i cen sed m en t al h eal t h th er ap i st an d r u n s h er ow n bu si n ess cal l ed ?Ad ver si ty Ri si n g,? a w ebsi te w h er e sh e sh ar es w ay s to bett er on e's m en tal h eal th .

W acket t d escr i bes w h at bu r n ou t i s an d h ow to m ove on f r om i t . ?Bu r n ou t is an accu m u l ati on of str ess th at h asn 't been d eal t w i th [...].

For p eop l e to d eal w i th th i n gs ef f ect i vely, y ou d on 't ju st get r i d of th e str essor an d [ bu r n ou t i s] gon e. [...]

You sti l l f eel bu r n t ou t becau se th e str ess i s w h at's l i n ger i n g. W h at w e k n ow i s th at th e m ost ef f ecti ve w ay to d eal w i t h [ bu r n ou t] on a d ai ly basi s i s to find op p or tu n i t i es to m ove th r ou gh p ai n ,? W ackett say s.

photo b y a nnika b ielig b ussma nn Ky i r a W ack et t go t i n t o m en t al h eal t h w o r k d u e i n p ar t t o h er p ast ex p er i en ces an d h er w i sh t o h el p o t h er s f eel l ess al o n e i n t h ei r p er so n al st r u ggl es.

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cover story D eal i n g w i t h com m on st r essor s t h r ou gh ou t y ou r d ay can be d i f f i cu l t to m an age, an d som e st u d en t s h ave n o w ay of f i gu r i n g ou t h ow to d eal w i t h th ese st r essor s. W acket t sh ar ed on e w ay sh e t h i n k s p eop l e can m ove on f r om th ei r em oti on s. ?Cr y i n g [...] i s on e of th e best r el eases. I t 's an i n n at e r esp on se,? W acket t say s. ?B abi es cr y al l t h e t i m e.

T h at's h ow t h ey get t h r ou gh

W ack et t r u n s h er ow n w eb si t e w h er e sh e gi v es h el p f u l ad v i ce o n h ow t o h el p o n e's m en t al h eal t h an d l ear n t o m ov e o n f r o m f eel i n gs o f r esen t f u l n ess. U se t h e Q R C o d e o r v i si t ad v er si t y r i si n g.co m t o l ear n m o r e!

an d m ove th r ou gh em oti on cy cl es. T h e soon er we em br ace [ou r em ot i on s], th e soon er w e m ove th r ou gh th em .?

For teen s, em oti on s can be a d i f f i cu l t top i c to br oach , bu t i t d oesn ?t h ave to be th at w ay. Tal k i n g abou t h ow w e f eel an d tal k i n g to ot h er p eop l e ou r age can h el p br eak th e sti gm a of m en t al h eal th .

Con ver si n g w i t h th ose ou r age abou t ou r m en tal h eal th i s a h u ge step i n f i gu r i n g ou t h ow to h el p ou r selves, h ow ever m an y teen s f eel th e n eed to com p ar e m en t al str u ggl es agai n st th ei r p eer s. ?St ep on e, stop com p ar i n g an d gi ve y ou r sel f th e op p or tu n i t y to say m y su f f er i n g d oes d eser ve sp ace. [...] T h en I th i n k th e f i n al p i ece w ou l d be [to] tal k to som ebod y. I sp eci f i cal ly th i n k th er ap y i s h el p f u l , becau se w h en y ou l eave, y ou can l eave i t th er e. [...]

T h er e's a d egr ee of cer tai n ty of k n ow i n g th at th at con tai n er i s h el d f or y ou ,?

W acket t say s.

H i gh sch ool i s a d i f f i cu l t ti m e f or stu d en t s. B etw een get ti n g al l A?s i n sch ool to bei n g a p ar t of as m an y sp or ts an d cl u bs as p ossi bl e, th er e i sn ?t en ou gh ti m e to get i t al l d on e. St u d en t s ten d to com p ar e th ei r ach i eve-

m en t s to th e p eer s ar ou n d th em , w h i ch can h ar m th ei r m en t al h eal th i n stead of h el p i n g. W ackett say s th e best w ay to stop com p ar i n g ou r selves i s to qu est i on th e r eason i n g beh i n d th e th i n gs w e d o. ?I th i n k i n p ar t i cu l ar f or h i gh sch ool stu d en ts, th er e i s [...] th i s com p ar i son p i ece of h av i n g to d o i t al l , be i t al l , an d th er e's a l ot of p r essu r e on y ou to be ad u l ts,? W ackett say s. ?Get cu r i ou s abou t w h y w e'r e d oi n g th e th i n gs w e'r e d oi n g an d w h o w e'r e d oi n g th em f or . A r e w e d oi n g th em to m eet oth er p eop l e's ex p ectat i on s? A r e w e d oi n g th em becau se w e'r e avoi d i n g? [O r ] ar e w e d oi n g i t becau se i t's u l ti m ately w h at's best f or u s.?

So, h ow d o stu d en ts f ocu s on th ei r m en t al h eal th ? W ackett say s r ecogn i zi n g w h en bu r n ou t i s abou t to h ap p en i s th e best w ay to stop ou r selves f r om th ose h u ge br eak d ow n s.

Tak i n g a d ay of f bef or e th e p r obl em gets too ou t of h an d ten d s to h el p p eop l e i n th e l on g r u n . ?I absol u t ely th i n k p eop l e n eed to take d ay s of f w h en th ey r ecogn i ze [ bu r n ou t]. M y su ggesti on ty p i cally i s, i f y ou th i n k abou t i n th e l ast si x m on th s,

on a scal e of on e t o 10 ? 10 bei n g th e m ost d i str essi n g d ay y ou 've ever h ad i n t h e l ast si x m on t h s ? w h en y ou get to a si x or seven [...] th at's w h en w e n eed t h e br eak . W e t ake t h e br eak bef or e i t gets t o t h e p oi n t w h er e y ou f eel l i ke y ou w an t to col l ap se, [w h en ] y ou 'r e abou t t o h i t t h e h i l l ,?

W ackett say s.

T h r ou gh ou t t h i s p an d em i c w e h ave seen h ow ou r m en tal st atu s can af f ect u s. K r i sti n e Sch oen , St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool ?s p sy ch ol ogi st, sh ar ed som e of t h e th i n gs sh e h as n ot i ced i n stu d en ts w h o h ave st r u ggl ed m en t aly t h r ou gh ou t th e p an d em i c. ?M an y [st u d en t s] h ave ex p er i en ced f eel i n gs of i sol ati on , d i f f i cu l t y with f ocu s, an d si gn i f i can t st r ess,?

Sch oen say s.

M en t al h eal t h af f ect s u s al l . W e h ave t o t ake car e of ou r br ai n s t o t ake car e of ou r bod i es, an d t h e f i r st st ep i s r ecogn i zi n g ou r n eed f or r est. W acket t w r ap p ed u p th e h u m an n eed f or m en t al h eal th p er f ect ly. ?W e al l h ave m en t al h eal th , an d [m en t al h eal t h i s] a sp ectr u m an d a con ti n u u m of an ex p er i en ce. T h er e ar e ver y f ew p eop l e th at ex i st at t h e 1% or th e 10 0 %,? W ackett say s.

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em ma

Val er i e H essl i n k , a f u l l ti m e y oga i n str u ct or an d ed u cator w h ose M ad i son based bod y - i n cl u si ve y oga p r acti ce w or k s to h el p i n d i v i d u al s r eal i ze h ow th i s f or m of m ovem en t can ben ef i t th em , an d h el p s th em to u n d er st an d th at r egar d l ess of th ei r si ze or si t u at i on , th er e?s a sp ace f or th em i n y oga. ?T h er e's a w ay i n w h i ch y oga br i n gs i n t en t i on an d p u r p ose i n t o h ow w e m ove ou r bod y [an d ] h ow w e br eath e, an d a l ot of ti m es th at can i m p act an d ser v i ce ou r bod y [an d n er vou s sy stem ],? H essl i n k say s. ?[I k n ow th at] y oga can be som eti m es i n t i m i d ati n g.

L i ke, ?O h , I got ta get sp i r i tu al ly cen ter ed , an d i f I 'm n ot l ev i tat i n g above m y m at by th e en d of th e

by

n egate th ei r abi l i ty to ad h er e to su ch ti p s? I t sh ou l d n ?t be m u ch of a n ew s f l ash th at th ose i n d i v i d u al s d eser ve sel f - car e too.

L u ck i ly, th er e ar e m an y al ter n at i ve, an d of ten m or e accessi bl e, w ay s to p r acti ce sel f - car e i n on e?s d ay - to- d ay l i f e, r egar d l ess of i n h i bi ti n g ci r cu m st an ces. I t m er ely com es d ow n to f i n d i n g w h at w or k s best f or each p er son i n d i v i d u al ly.

One of th e m or e cu stom i zabl e ? i n f act, on e m i gh t even say flexible ? w ay s to take car e of on esel f i s th r ou gh th e p r acti ce of y oga.

W hile it m i gh t som eti m es seem in tim i d at i n g, y oga, m ed i tati on , an d m i n d f u l n ess ar e sel f f ocu sed acti v i t i es th at an y on e can p ar t ake i n i n an y cap aci ty.

a rt

D rink w at er , eat ?h eal th i ly,? get m ov i n g, sl eep w el l , an d f or good n ess sake, p u t d ow n t h at p h on e.

T h ese ar e w h at m u ch of th e w or l d k n ow s t o be th e gol d en r u l es of sel f - car e.

Su ch ti p s ar e p l ast er ed on sel f - h el p si t es an d st r essm an agem en t r esou r ces al l over th e i n t er n et, an d even i n m ed i cal set t i n gs.

I t?s tr u e, f ol l ow i n g su ch ad v i ce m i gh t m ake on e f eel a bi t better d ay t o d ay? bu t ar e th ese alw ay s t h e m ost accessi bl e f or m s of self car e?

Som etim es, th ese r ep etitive slogan s can m ake m any of us f eel scolded an d p r actically guilty f or n ot p ar takin g, f or w h atever p er son al r eason th at m ay be.

W h at abou t t h ose w h ose p er son al si t u at i on s, sch ed u l es, an d st r essf u l l i ves

ph illip s

Sta ying Awa re of Self-Ca re

the norse star, february 2022

cover story p r acti ce, I 'm n ot a good y ogi ?. Bu t [i n st ead I can star t w i th ] ?let m e st an d on m y m at, m ove m y bod y a l i tt l e bi t , an d h op ef u l ly f eel bett er af ter w ar d s.'"

H essl i n k tou ch es on an i m p or t an t n ote to r em em ber abou t self - car e: i t can look d i f f er en t f or each p er son . Rath er th an attem p ti n g to m aster w h i ch ever

photo sub mitted b y va lerie hesslink

Val er i e H essl i n k h as f o u n d p u r p o se i n o p en i n g u p t h e y o ga w o r l d t o n o n - co n f o r m i n g b o d i es, em p h asi zi n g t h e i m p o r t an ce o f al t er i n g y o ga t o f i t o u r b o d i es, an d n o t t h e o t h er w ay ar o u n d .

Brooke Thrall (12): ?I workout!?

Rowan Gunnink (11): ?I like to read poem books in cof f ee shops!

Eddy Kemppainen (12): ?Bake and watch comfort shows?

vessel on e u ses f or self - car e, w e sh ou ld i n stead f ocu s on getti n g th e m ost ou t of i t f or ou r selves, even i f th at m ean s m i stakes, i n con si sten cy, or am ateu r i sm .

Som eti m es, tr y i n g to f ocu s on w h at i s cau si n g str ess or str u ggl e i n ou r l i ves can be w h ol ly over w h el m i n g. I n stead of att em p t i n g to solve str ess by goi n g d i r ectly to th e sou r ce (w h i ch can op en u p th e d oor f or n egati ve sel f - t al k i f on e f ai l s to get to th e r oot of th e p r obl em an d solve i t) on e m i gh t f i n d m or e su ccess i n r el ocat i n g f ocu s to som eth i n g th at i s easi er to con tr ol an d be con si sten t w i th , su ch as y oga or m ed i t ati on . ?[I f i n d th at] i f y ou sh ow u p on y ou r y oga m at, y ou sh ow u p f or l i f e [...] Yoga, I f eel l i ke, h el p s y ou r etu r n h om e. A n d th at 's w h er e I th i n k sel f car e com es i n . [ Yoga an d m ed i t ati on p r ov i d e y ou w i th ] tool s to ack n ow l ed ge th at y ou 'r e

H ow d o y o u p r act i ce sel f - car e?

ex p er i en ci n g som eth i n g an d to al so, h op ef u l ly, ch an ge i t i f y ou n eed t o,?

H essl i n k say s.

I t i s also i m p or tan t to r ecogn i ze th at self - car e i s a vast ter m an d look s d i f f er en t f or ever y bod y.

Som e f i n d th at m ov i n g th ei r bod i es ? su ch as th r ou gh y oga, w or k i n g ou t, or goi n g on w alk s ? h elp s slow d ow n th ei r m i n d . O th er s f i n d th at bei n g acti ve can actu ally h ave a n egati ve (or even tr i gger i n g) ef f ect w h en th ey ?r e str u ggli n g m en tally or f eeli n g bu r n t ou t.

Self- car e is n ot a on e- size-f its- all con cept.

W h at m igh t h elp on e in dividual decom pr ess m igh t h ave th e op p osi te ef f ect on som ebody else. I n an ef f or t to sh i n e a li gh t on a w i d er r an ge of self- car e m eth od s, stu d en ts wer e asked to sh ar e th e on es th ey li ke to u se, an d th ei r r esp on ses cer tai n ly d em on str ate ju st h ow m any d i ver se an d u n i qu e p ossi bi l i ti es th er e ar e.

Ava Mueller a(9): rt b y ?I turn on myko hlhhoeflef na cute little lights, light candles, bury myself in blankets, and read, or watch Netf lix.?

Eliana Thomson (10): ?I really love to read. It helps me escape when my mind f eels overwhelmed and overworked. [I Helena Kohlhof f also spend] (11): ?Every Sunday time with my I paint while cats to take a watching a TV break and rid myself of show.? stress or negativity.?

Fina l Notes A f t er con ver sat i on s w i t h f i ve ex p er ts i n th ei r ar eas of w or k an d / or acti v i sm , a f ew v i tal th i n gs h ave becom e cl ear : 1.

2.

3.

Ever y bod y, an d t h u s ever y body i s d eser v i n g of an d w or th y of l ove. I f bod y - f ocu sed l ove i s a bi t too d i f f i cu l t a goal t o ai m f or , i t's i m p or t an t t h at w e r eal i ze ou r bod i es at l east d eser ve m en t al n eu t r al i t y. B od i es d on 't ex i st to f i t m ol d s. T h ey ex i st to car r y u s t h r ou gh l i f e an d al l i t s joy s.

M en tal h eal t h i s f ar m or e th an ex tr em es. B etw een 0 an d 10 0 ex i st s a gr ey ar ea i n w h i ch m ost of u s r esi d e. Each of u s h ave ou r ow n jou r n ey w i t h m en t al h eal t h an d hdave d y h ad d i f f er en t su ccess r ates w i th m an agi n g i t. To com p ar e ou r ow n st r u ggl es to oth er s' i s u n f ai r t o ou r selves. Pai nt oi sbryeleati nve, an d at th e en d of th e d ay, p ai n i s p ai n . W e som eti m es m u st accep t t h at o e h in p n topam p a en d w h atever p l agu es u s, be i t ex h au st i on , str essor s, gr i ef , or an y n u m ber of w e'r e n ot ok ay bef or e w e can begi kem l i f e- r el at ed ach es.

T h er e i s n o su ch t h i n g as a cor r ect f or m of sel f - car e. W h at's i m p or tan t i s th at w e al l gi ve ou r selves th e gr ace t o en gage i n i t. For som e, sel f - car e takes th e f or m of exer ci se. For oth er s, i t ex i st s i n cr eati ve f or m s of ex p r essi on . Som et i m es, i t m i gh t even be as si m p l e as sl eep . Regar d l ess of w h i ch sel f - car e m eth od w or k s f or each of u s, th e i m p or tan t th i n g t o r em em ber i s th at w e al l d eser ve i t . Sel f - car e i s n ot sel f i sh . I t i s si m p ly h ow w e get th r ou gh .

the norse star, february 2022

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arts & entertainment

Exploring the Ennea g ra m B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor T h e En n eagr am , a l esser k n ow n ch ar act er ?t y p i n g? sy stem , d i gs d eep er th an th e oth er com m on ly k n ow n t y p i n g sy st em s.

Rath er th an cat egor i zi n g som eon e as si m p ly ?f ocu sed ? or ?p assi on ate,? th e En n eagr am goes i n t o th e why. W hy d o w e r eact t h e w ay w e d o? W hy d o w e f eel w h at w e f eel ? T h e n i n e En n eagr am ty p es sh ow ou r m oti ves, sh ed l i gh t on w h at w e d r ead , an d ex p l or e w h y w e excel at som e th i n gs an d str u ggl e w i th oth er s. I t w or k s as a m ap th at , w h en w e ar e h on est w i th ou r selves, w i l l gu i d e u s th r ou gh th e f i ssu r es i n ou r sou l .

1

T h e Ref o r m er T h e i d eal s of th e Ref or m er stem f r om th e f eel i n g th at th ey w er e l et d ow n at a y ou n g age i n k o n luic t h e sen se th at th ey f el t h eav i ly cr i t i ci zed an d p u n i sh ed by a car egi ver . T h i s f r u str ati on ma d is hic b y p ra g m or p h ed th em i n to a r u l e f ol l ow er , alw ay s str i v i n g to i m p r ove th em selves, th ou gh stu ck on p er f ect i on . T h e Ref or m er bel i eves th e w or l d m u st be p er f ect an d be kep t p er f ect.

T h e H el p er

T h e H el p er m ay h ave com e to f r u i ti on th r ou gh ex p er i en ces of on ly f eel i n g l ove w h en t h ey w er e h el p i n g ot h er s. T h ey i n tu r n assu m ed th ei r n eed s w er e u n i m p or tan t an d m i n i m i zed th em . A s th ey m atu r ed , th ey d evel op ed a str on g abi l i ty to l ove an d car e f or ot h er s an d to be a cen t er p oi n t i n som ebod y el se's l i f e. H el p er s ar e n u r tu r er s an d u n d er st an d em ot i on s on a d eep er l evel th an oth er s ? th ei r d eep est f ear bei n g th at th ey ar e n ot l oved .

T h e A ch i ev er

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2

T h e ef f i ci en t, con f i d en t , cap abl e, sel f - assu r ed au r a p ossessed by Ach i ever s stem s f r om p r ai se i n th ei r ch i l d h ood ? h ow th ey w er e on ly r ew ar d ed f or w h at th ey d i d , an d h ow w el l i t w as d on e. T h ey f eel th ey h ave l ost or m i ssed ou t on l ove f r om a car egi ver , w h i ch h as cau sed t h em t o f eel u n seen . A n d so ap p ear ed th e m i n d set th at to be seen i s to be l oved . T h ey m ay be ou t on a d esp er ate sear ch f or l ove or f or r ecogn i t i on , r egar d l ess of w h at i t takes.

T h e I n d i v i d u al i st

T h e m i n d set of a Fou r m ay stem f r om a f eel i n g of aban d on m en t i n th ei r ch i l d h ood . T h ey u n d er st an d th e si gn i f i can ce of ever y t h i n g ar ou n d th em bu t f ai l to see si gn i f i can ce w i th i n t h em selves, of t en t i m es m or p h i n g i n to a str u ggl e to f i n d a sen se of sel f i d en ti ty. Fou r s h ave a d r i ve t o u n cover th ei r essen ce an d th ei r r ol e i n l i f e, w h i ch tu r n s i n t o a con stan t sear ch f or d eep er m ean i n g.

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T h e O b ser v er

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O bser ver s of t en f i n d th em selves i n th ei r ow n h ead s. T h ey ar e f u el ed by a d r i ve to u n d er stan d becau se to th em , tr an sp ar en cy i s th e key to cl ar i t y. D ead l i n es an d ti m el i n es ar e a ch al l en ge f or Fi ves becau se th ey bel i eve th at l ear n i n g, obser v i n g, an d ap p ly i n g i s a ti m el ess acti v i t y. At on e p oi n t, obser ver s m ay h ave ex p er i en ced a v i ol ati on of an em ot i on al bou n d ar y, w h i ch cau sed th em to w i th d r aw f u r th er back i n t o th ei r m i n d s.

T h e Sk ep t i c T h ou gh th ey of t en ti m es p r esen t as h er oi c, f ear l ess, th ou gh tf u l r ebel s, Skep ti cs ar e ex actly w h at t h ei r n am e su ggest s: skep t i cal . At on e p oi n t th ey m ay h ave been scar r ed by a str essf u l si t u at i on or str essf u l l i v i n g con d i ti on s. T h ey i n stead v i ew u n p r ed i ctabi l i ty as a th r eat an d h ave becom e d ep en d en t on ex ter n al sou r ces of p r ot ecti ve en er gy. Feel i n g p r ot ected i s to f eel l oved , y et th ey str u ggl e to l ove th em selves.

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T h e En t h u si ast

En t h u si ast s p r oject joy an d en er gy to th ose ar ou n d th em an d en cou r age oth er s to l i ve f r eely.

Seven s ar e i m p u l si ve, w h i ch of ten catch es th e ey e of oth er s. Bu t th ei r r estl ess eu p h or i c acti on s m ay on ly be a r u se set i n p l ace to d i r ect th ei r ow n att en ti on aw ay f r om a f eel i n g t h at th ey m i ssed ou t on f am i l i al l ove. I t i s p ossi bl e th at a car egi ver w i th d r ew th ei r l ove too soon an d i n d oi n g so, en th u si asts f eel th ey h ave been r obbed of th ei r abi l i ty to f eel l oved an d t o, i n tu r n , be l oved .

T h e C h al l en ger

Ch al l en ger s ex u d e an au r a of i n ten si ty an d m y st er y, w h i ch can be tr aced to th e p r em atu r e l oss of i n n ocen ce, or ?gr ow i n g u p too f ast ? d u e to over bear i n g em oti on s. Ch al l en ger s ar e l ear n i n g h ow to l ove agai n i n th e m ost d ef en si ve w ay p ossi bl e. T h ey f ear i n t er r u p ti on , betr ay al , an d ex p osu r e, y et th ey y ear n f or em oti on al i n t en si ty. B ecau se of th i s, Ei gh t s d evel op t r u st t h r ou gh testi n g ot h er s. T h ey ar e a w al k i n g ex am p l e of w h at i t m ean s to be op p osi ti on al , y et ar e a str on g ex am p l e of w h at i t m ean s to ex i st p assi on ately, p r ogr essi vely, an d w i th a f i er y v i br an ce.

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T h e Peacem ak er

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T h e ou t l ook of th e Peacem aker stem s f r om th e ear ly i d ea th at si t u at i on s of ex ter n al str u ggl e ar e m or e i m p or t an t th an th ei r ow n p er son al n eed s. A s ch i l d r en , th ey m ay h ave been over l ooked or l ooked d ow n on f or ex p r essi n g th em selves, so th ey m i gh t f eel a sen se of gu i l t or sel f i sh n ess ar ou n d th ei r ow n em oti on s, an d i n r esp on se th ey d u l l d ow n th ei r ow n p assi on s an d p r i or i t i es to f u r th er v al i d ate th e em oti on s of oth er s. T h i s op en s th e d oor to sel f f or getf u l n ess. art by emma phillips the norse star, february 2022

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arts & entertainment

The Va lue of Va lentines B y M y l ah H al l Staff Writer

"A r eal ly sw eet h an d w r i tten l etter ."

- Ava M u el l er (9)

?Fl ow er s.?

?A stu f f ed d og th at l ooked l i ke m i n e w i th a r ose.?

- Ken d al l St ei n m etz (11)

- A n d y Q u am (9)

?I t w as a w h ol e box of ch ocol ate, w i th a l i ttl e ted d y bear th i n g, an d a car d .?

- M egan Gi l l e (10 )

a rt b y emma phillips

?O n e ti m e m y si ster got m e th i s l i ke r eal ly squ i sh y stu f f ed an i m al .?

- El i Gom ez (11)

W h eth er i t?s to a p ar tn er , f am i ly m em ber , or f r i en d , Val en ti n e?s gi f ts ar e th e p er f ect w ay to sh ow y ou r l oved on es y ou car e. Bi g or sm al l , p r esen t s l i ke th ese can m ake som eon e?s Val en ti n e's D ay ! T h e N or se Star asked SH S f or th e best Val en ti n e?s gi f t th ey ?ve ever r ecei ved . H er e ar e th ei r r esp on ses: ?M y m om gave m e a bl an ket. T h at w as p r etty n i ce.?

?Fu n D i p .?

- K al i Seam on son (11)

?A steak .?

- D an Sch m i d t

- O w en L eh m an (12) ?M y f r i en d m ad e m e a car d i n Ger m an cl ass w h i ch w as ver y sw eet bu t I cou l d n ?t r ead i t so? ?

- M er ed i th T h ei ssen (12) ?N oth i n g, becau se I ?m si n gl e.?

- H ai l ee Kel l n h of er (10 )

?A gi an t stu f f ed sl ot h .?

- Ch l oe Ben n ett (10 )

h ha ll phot os b y myla

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the norse star, february 2022

arts & entertainment

Tea cher's Pets Closest ca ts a nd d ea rest d og s B y Sam Ro ss Freelance Writer

For m an y of u s, n ot h i n g beats sp en d i n g t i m e w i t h ou r bel oved h ou seh ol d com p an i on s. T h i s i sn ?t excl u si ve to stu d en t s, ei th er ! M eet som e of t h e f u r r y f ou r - l egged f r i en d s of Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool st af f m em ber s!

photos sub mitted b y respective sta ff

?H er e?s M ad ey e, ou r 11- y ear - ol d ch ocol ate l ab d oi n g w h at h e d oes best ? r est i n g on h i s bed .

W e got h i m tw o y ear s ago f r om m y si ster af t er sh e m oved to a p l ace th at d oesn ?t al l ow d ogs. Si n ce w e?ve h ad h i m , h e h as on ly bar ked , m ay be, ten ti m es. H e i s t h e m ost ch i l l d og I ?ve k n ow n .?

?[T h i s] i s a p h oto of m y d og Ch ar l i e. Sh e i s an ei gh t - y ear ol d m i xed br eed r escu e d og th at w e ad op t ed as an ei gh t- w eek ol d p u p p y f r om th e H u m an e Soci et y of W ester n M on t an a. Sh e h as tr avel ed w i t h u s t o n i n e d i f f er en t st at es, l oves cam p i n g, of f - l eash h i k i n g, an d sn oozi n g on a h eated bl an ket .

H er f avor i t e sn ack s ar e ch eese an d p ean u t bu tt er .?

- N ath an N el son , Soci al St u d i es Teach er

- K r i sti n e Sch oen , Sch ool Psy ch ol ogi st

?[T h i s i s] M au d e (r i gh t) an d O lv i e (l ef t). T h ese l i ttl e si ster s h ave been a p ar t of th e Stah l f am i ly si n ce O ct ober 20 20 an d th ey ar e t w o y ear s ol d .

M au d e i s an ex p er t at p u l l i n g cl oth es ou t of an y p ar ti al ly op en d r aw er an d th e r el en t l ess t or t u r e of h er ?cat bal l ?t oy s.

O lv i e i s su sp ect ed of bei n g an al i en f r om ou t er sp ace m asqu er ad i n g as a d om est i c f el i n e. ?

?T h i s i s H en r y (an d m e), ou r f am i ly 's n ear ly f i ve- y ear - ol d y el l ow l ab. H e en joy s sl eep i n g, ch asi n g ou r tw o cats, bar k i n g at ow l s, an d w ak i n g m e u p i n th e m or n i n g by ju m p i n g on m e. I d i d n 't h ave an y p et s gr ow i n g u p , bu t m y w i f e A m ber l oves p et s. I sp en t m ost of m y ear ly l i f e d eath ly af r ai d of d ogs an d m ost an i m al s. A m ber h as sl ow ly i n t r od u ced p et s [an d at] th i s p oi n t, I can 't i m agi n e n ot h av i n g "f u r r y f r i en d s" w al k i n g abou t th e h ou se.?

- Ad r i en n e St ah l , A r t Teach er

- Pat Sch n ei d er , Soci al Stu d i es Teach er ?I w ou l d l i ke to sh ar e m y sw eet d og, Reggi e! H i s f u l l n am e i s Reggi e K asber g an d h i s n i ck n am e i s M r . M oo. H e i s f ou r y ear s ol d . H e l i kes bel ly r u bs, l ay i n g u p si d e d ow n , an d con stan t access to sof t bl an ket s an d p i l l ow s. [ W e] cou l d n ?t ask f or a sw eet er com p an i on !?

- K at h l een K asber g, Sp eech & L an gu age Path ol ogi st

"Fi n l ey (p ar t i al ly n am ed af t er M i ch ael Fi n l ey ) i s f i ve an d l oves to p l ay f et ch , d u ck an d p h easan t h u n t . M y h u sban d an d I d r ove t o Bem i d ji , M i n n esota i n a sn ow stor m on Ch r i stm as to get h i m . Fi n l ey of ten l ook s an n oy ed by h i s h u m an si bl i n gs, bu t secr et ly l oves t h em ! " - Kel ly T w ay, Ph y si cal Ed u cati on Teach er

?I h ave tw o p ets, a si lver l ab n am ed Teal an d a ger m an sh or th ai r ed p oi n t er n am ed A l l i . Teal i s ei gh t an d A l l i i s seven . W e got Teal as a p u p p y an d w e r escu ed A l l i w h en sh e w as al m ost th r ee y ear s ol d . Teal l oves to sh ed h u n t (l ook f or d eer an tl er s i n th e w i n ter / sp r i n g), sw i m , an d sh e even com es to sch ool som eti m es! H er f avor i t e tr eat i s l i ck i n g ou t th e bott om of em p ty p ean u t bu tt er jar s. A l l i i s m u ch m or e en er get i c an d i s ver y p r otect i ve of m y n ep h ew s an d son . A l l i w en t sh ed h u n ti n g w i th u s on e ti m e an d got sp r ay ed by a sk u n k , so sh e n ever got to go agai n !?

- M ol l i e B i er m ei er , A gr i cu l tu r e Sci en ce Teach er the norse star, february 2022

17

opinions

a rt b y emma phillips

The Roa d Less Tra veled B y D el an ey Gau t h i er News & Opinions Editor p r ocr ast i n at ed on m y col l ege ap p l i cat i on s. I w asn ?t su r e w h er e I w an ted t o go, w h at I w an t ed t o d o, or i f I w as even m ean t f or col l ege. W h en I f i n al ly su bm i tted m y ap p l i cat i on s to col l eges I ?d bar ely r esear ch ed , ju st bef or e th e d ead l i n es, i t d i d n ?t f eel l i ke a w ei gh t of f m y sh ou l d er s. I n f act, i t w ei gh s h eav i er on m e n ow th an i t d i d w h en I w as putting off actually applying.

O n ce t h ose ap p l i cat i on s w er e su bm i t ted , I h ad to d eci d e w h er e I w an t ed to go on ce I w as d on e w i t h h i gh sch ool , w h o I w as goi n g to r oom w i th , w h at I w an t ed to m ajor i n ; t h e l i st w en t on an d on . I t f el t l i ke t h e d eci si on s w er e n ever - en d i n g.

H on estly, I st i l l d on ?t h ave an y of i t f i gu r ed ou t .

I n al l h on est y, I d on ?t t h i n k I ?m cu t ou t f or th e col l ege l i f e. I d on ?t t h i n k a l ot of p eop l e w h o ap p ly ar e, ei t h er .

H ead i n g to a f ou r - y ear u n i ver si t y r i gh t af ter gr ad u at i n g h i gh sch ool i s su ch a n or m al i zed p ath t h at so m an y p eop l e f eel as t h ou gh th ey ?r e m ean t to d o i t , even i f i t m ay n ot su i t t h em best . N ot t o m en t i on t h er e?s a t r em en d ou s am ou n t of p r essu r e i n h i gh sch ool to get i n t o a good col l ege becau se i f y ou d on ?t , y ou ?r e seen as a jobl ess f ai l u r e with no f utur e p r osp ects. I t ?s a t er r i f y i n g

I

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u l ti m at u m , a d oom sd ay f i n al e to cl ose ou t y ou r sen i or y ear .

W e n ever tal k abou t th e ot h er op ti on s, l i ke com m u n i ty col l ege, th e w or k f or ce an d ap p r en t i cesh i p s, gap y ear s, or even a gap sem ester .

A l ot of th e ti m e, stu d en t s w h o en d u p at a com m u n i ty col l ege, or take a gap y ear , ar e seen as l ess- t h an ; th ey ar e seen as f ai l u r es. W h i l e i t ?s n ot tr u e i n th e sl i gh test , th er e?s a l ot of sti gm a ar ou n d ch oosi n g th ese ot h er op ti on s.

Peop l e v i ew i t as th e ?easy w ay ou t ,? bu t th at?s si m p ly n ot tr u e.

Com m u n i ty col l ege i s a gr eat w ay to f u r th er y ou r ed u cati on at a m or e af f or d abl e p r i ce p oi n t, an d m an y com m u n i ty col l eges of f er tr an sf er p r ogr am s.

Gap y ear s ar e, accor d i n g to For bes.com , m or e p r of i t abl e th an ever , w i th 67% of h i r i n g m an ager s i n 20 20 stat i n g th at a gap y ear on an ap p l i can t ?s tr an scr i p t m akes th em m or e l i kely to be h i r ed . N ot on ly d o gap y ear s i n cr ease job p r osp ects, th ey al l ow f or p er son al gr ow th an d th ey let you tr u ly f i gu r e ou t y ou r p ath i n l i f e.

W i th ou t al l th e p r essu r e of sch oolw or k , y ou ?r e f r ee to ex p l or e h obbi es an d i n ter est s an d tr avel an d even ap p ly f or i n ter n sh i p s th at i n tr i gu e y ou .

Som e p eop l e d on ?t even n eed a col l ege d egr ee for

their future.

For exam ple, the m inim um educational r equ i r em en t f or m ost tr ad e jobs i s si m p ly a h i gh sch oo l diplom a an d an appr en ticesh ip.

No college degr ee n ecessar y .

N ot to m ention that stu d en t l oan d ebt i s, to say th e l east, a cr i si s i n th e U n i ted States. K i d s w h o ar e 17 an d 18 y ear s ol d ju st ar en ?t equ i p p ed to si gn th ei r l i f e aw ay to f i n an ci al i n sti tu ti on s.

N obod y sh ou l d h ave to en d u p i n d ebt f or th e r est of th ei r l i f e ju st to f u r th er th ei r ed u cati on , an d as m u ch as I ?m a f an of th e ?f r ee col l ege? con cep t, th at?s n ot th e p oi n t of th i s ar ti cl e.

T h e p oi n t i s, col l ege i s a h u ge decision .

D ecidin g wh eth er or n ot to atten d college h as lifelon g r am if ication s.

It?s n ot som eth i n g th at sh ou l d be taken l i gh tly, an d m an y h i gh sch ool stu d en ts ju st ar en ?t r ead y f or i t.

Sen i or s i n h i gh sch ool ar e by n o m ean s p r ep ar ed f or th e absol u t e m agn i t u d e of col l ege d ebt, even i f th ey con si d er th em selves m at u r e en ou gh . W e bar ely h ave an y r eal - l i f e ex p er i en ces. O u r h an d s ar e h el d , w e?r e cod d l ed u n ti l sen i or y ear .

W e?r e th r ow n h ead f i r st i n t o

ou r f i n al y ear of h i gh sch ool an d ex p ected t o k n ow w h at w e?r e d oi n g.

T h er e ar e ver y f ew gu i d el i n es p r ov i d ed on h ow to ap p ly to col l ege, h ow t o f i l l ou t sch ol ar sh i p s, h ow t o d eci d e w h er e y ou w an t t o go or w h at y ou w an t t o d o, an d th e h el p w e d o r ecei ve i s gi ven to u s at t h e l ast m i n u te. W e?r e essen t i al ly tol d to ?f i gu r e i t ou t,? an d i f y ou ?r e an y t h i n g l i ke m e, y ou m i gh t h ave n o i d ea w h er e t o star t.

N ot on ly is t h er e i m m en se p r essu r e f r om ou r sch ool s, f am i ly, an d p eer s t o att en d col l ege, t h er e?s insur m ountable stigm a sur rounding the decision not to attend. W h at ?s i m p or t an t i s to r eal i ze t h at col l ege i sn ?t f or ever y on e, an d t h at?s ok ay.

the norse star, february 2022

opinions

Dea r Athletes, Stop Ab using Pre-Workout B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

H

i gh sch ool i s a p l ace w h er e m an y st ar t to d i scover th at t h er e i s m or e t o p l ay i n g a sp or t t h an ju st t h e sp or t i t sel f . At h l etes star t t o l ear n th e i m p or tan ce of t h e w ei gh t r oom , n u t r i ti on , r ecover y, sl eep , an d oth er var i abl es t h at w i l l ben ef i t t h ei r p er f or m an ce. W h at t h i s al so m ean s i s t h at k i d s ar e i n tr od u ced t o u sage of p er f or m an ce en h an ci n g su bstan ces.

N ow, I am n ot t al k i n g abou t an abol i c st er oi d s or an y th i n g ban n ed by th e W I A A . I am r ef er r i n g t o th e d i f f er en t r ecover y su p p l em en ts, p r ot ei n p ow d er s, p r e- w or kou ts, an d oth er su p p l em en ts u sed to en h an ce t h e abi l i t y to p er f or m i n t h e gy m or i n sp or t.

To star t , w h i l e n ot ban n ed by t h e W I A A , th e p ol i cy at SH S i s t h at i f y ou ar e cau gh t u si n g an y of t h ese su bst an ces p r i or to a com p eti ti on , d ep en d i n g on y ou r coach ?s r u l es, y ou m ay be f or ced t o si t ou t of th at com p eti ti on f or t h e d ay.

W h en I w as a f r esh m an , I w ou l d see m u l ti p l e u p p er cl assm en an d even k i d s m y ow n age p ou n d i n g d ow n scoop s of p r e- w or kou t an d en er gy drinks p r i or to com p eti ti on s. Fast f or w ar d t o th e com p et i t i on , th ese p l ay er s w ou l d com m on ly su ccu m b t o cr am p s an d f ati gu e an d h ave t o si t ou t f or m u l ti p l e p l ay s.

A l on gsi d e t h i s, th ese p l ay er s star t ed t o d ep en d on an ex tr a ?boost ? t o get t h r ou gh w or kou t s, p r act i ces, an d gam es.

So w h y i s t h i s t h e case?

I f tak i n g p r e- w or kou ts or t ak i n g w or kou t su p p l em en ts i s h ar m f u l , w h y d o p eop l e u se th em ?

T he r eason th ese su bstan ces ar e h i gh ly d i scou r aged at SH S i s n ot becau se th ey ar e i n h er en t ly bad f or y ou . I t i s d u e t o th e abu n d an ce of h ar m f u l u sage an d l ack of p r op er gu i d an ce on h ow t o u se t h em . M ost y ou n g an d i n ex p er i en ced u ser s d o n ot k n ow h ow t o p r op er ly u t i l i ze th ese su bstan ces the norse star, february 2022

w i t h ou t goi n g over boar d .

T h e bi ggest si d e ef f ects of p r e- w or kou t ar e ty p i cal ly m u scl e cr am p s. T h e r eason cr am p i n g h ap p en s is becau se p eop l e ar e n ot h y d r at i n g p r op er ly af ter u si n g p r e- w or kou t s. T h e ty p i cal r ecom m en d ati on i s th at f or on e scoop of p r e- w or kou t, y ou drink ei gh t ou n ces of w at er .

T h i n k abou t i t l i ke th i s: l et 's say y ou h ave l ef t y ou r car ou t i n th e m i d d l e of a sn ow st or m an d h aven 't u sed i t i n a f ew d ay s. T h en , af ter a f ew d ay s, y ou tr y to star t th e en gi n e. T h er e i s a good ch an ce th e car i s goi n g to f r eak ou t an d h ave a h ar d ti m e star t i n g.

I t i s th e sam e w i th p r e- w or kou t.

W i th th e p u r p ose of al l ow i n g y ou r bod y to p u sh h ar d er , p r e- w or kou t takes m or e en er gy f r om y ou r bod y. I t i s i m p or t an t to con si st en t ly h ave f l u i d s r u n n i n g th r ou gh y ou r bod y i n or d er to keep ever y th i n g r u n n i n g p r op er ly an d m ov i n g.

W h en y ou d on 't p r op er ly h y d r at e, y ou r m u scl es h ave n oth i n g to w or k w i t h an d star t to f ai l (h en ce th e cr am p i n g).

N ow, I am n ot r ecom m en d i n g y ou take p r e- w or kou t by an y m ean s.

W h at I am say i n g i s th at th e sti gm a beh i n d p r e- w or kou t bei n g i n n at ely h ar m f u l i s i n cor r ect . W i th th e l ack of ed u cati on r egar d i n g h ow to p r op er ly u se p r e- w or kou t, i t h as becom e som et h i n g th at can be h ar m f u l i n h i gh sch ool at h l eti cs.

T h e m ost i m p or tan t th i n g f or star t er s, i s to get th e basi cs d ow n , d evel op con f i d en ce, an d l ear n abou t good n u t r i ti on sou r ces an d w h at f ood s/ l i qu i d s will ben ef i t th ei r tr ai n i n g th e m ost .

So w h en I am asked abou t w h eth er or n ot a p er son sh ou l d star t u si n g su p p l em en ts, I w i l l ask th em h ow l on g th ey h ave been tr ai n i n g, w h at th ei r f ood i n take l ook s l i ke, an d w h at th ei r d ai ly h abi ts ar e. A n d m or e of t en th an n ot, th ey h ave a l ot of w or k to d o w i th th e basi cs f i r st.

W ar n i n g: Pr e-W o r k o u t i s o n t h e W I A A's h i gh l y d i sco u r aged su b st an ces l i st . I f y o u ar e cau gh t u si n g i t p r i o r t o a co m p et i t i o n o r p r act i ce, y o u m ay b e d i sq u al i f i ed o r ask ed t o si t o u t .

W h en it com es to r ecover . W i t h ou t p r op er p r op er r ecover y an d sl eep , y ou r p er f or m an ce i m p r ov i n g p er f or m an ce f or w i l l go d ow n an d y ou ar e h i gh sch ool ath l et es, I m or e p r on e t o i n ju r y. h eav i ly r ecom m en d a f ew Getti n g t h ese t h r ee ex tr em ely basi c th i n gs. th i n gs d ow n w i l l ben ef i t Fi r st, keep a h i gh ath l et es m or e t h an a p r ot ei n i n t ake, ty p i cal ly su p p l em en t of an y k i n d . abou t 1.2 gr am s of p r ot ei n U n t i l y ou h ave a f i r m p er p ou n d of bod y w ei gh t. gr asp of t h e basi cs, y ou Pr ot ei n al l ow s y ou r bod y to w ou l d be d oi n g y ou r sel f a r ecover an d r ep ai r m u scl e, d i sser v i ce t o p u t p ot en t i al ly w h i ch i s cr u ci al w i th th e h ar m f u l su bstan ces i n y ou r am ou n t of w ear an d tear bod y i n r etu r n f or at h l eti c ath l et es p u t on th ei r bod i es. gai n .

Gr eat sou r ces of p r ot ei n ar e Take th e t i m e t o p on d er ch i cken br east , eggs, Gr eek th i s qu est i on . W h at ar e y ou y ogu r t , f i sh , an d m an y w i l l i n g to d o t o r each y ou r m or e. Avoi d gr easy / su gar y goal s? f ood s an d d r i n k s i f p ossi bl e O n ce y ou h ave t h at as w el l ; th ese w i l l i n h i bi t f i gu r ed ou t , I t h i n k y ou 'l l y ou r abi l i ty to r ecover an d f i n d th at y ou r i n t er n al w i l l n egati vely i m p act y ou r m oti v ati on i s m u ch m or e p er f or m an ce. p ow er f u l t h an an y Secon d , l i ke I p r e- w or kou t y ou m ay t h i n k m en t i on ed ear l i er , d r i n k y ou n eed . m or e w ater . W ater i s w h at keep s ou r bod i es r u n n i n g. A saf e bet f or h y d r ati on i s to take y ou r bod y w ei gh t, cu t i t i n h al f , an d drink w h atever th at n u m ber is i n ou n ces of w ater .

T hird, get to sl eep ear l i er ! T h i s ussea u g a b e ro i s by f ar th e ho to b y p m ost i m p or tan t bu t u n d er r u ti l i zed p ar t of r ecover y. Sl eep is w h er e ou r br ai n an d bod y ar e abl e to go in to com p l ete r el ax at i on m od e an d h ave ti m e to 19

opinions - editor's column

a rt b y a nja royko

A s I w r i t e t h i s col u m n , th e ti m e stan d s at 11:33 p .m . on T u esd ay, Feb. 8, w h i ch i s r at h er i r on i c con si d er i n g I am cu r r en tly cl i m bi n g u p on to m y soap box to p r each abou t th e i m p or tan ce of sel f car e. M ean w h i l e, I am r u n n i n g on ver y l i t tl e sl eep an d f i ve sh ot s of esp r esso w h en I m ay or m ay n ot h ave an econ t est f i r st h ou r tom or r ow m or n i n g.

I t i s w el l w i t h i n m y k n ow l ed ge th at I sh ou l d be attem p t i n g t o go t o sl eep r i gh t n ow f or m y ow n good , bu t t h at ?s n on e of m y bu si n ess, an d i t cer tai n ly i sn ?t an y of y ou r s!

W i th t h at bei n g sai d , p l ease d on ?t l et m y p oor ch oi ces d eter y ou f r om w h at I h ave t o say.

O u r secon d sem est er star t ed a cou p l e of w eek s ago, w h i ch m ean t n ew cl asses, n ew t each er s, an d t h e begi n n i n g of t h e en d f or u s sen i or s. W i th t h e f i n i sh l i n e ju st bar ely i n si gh t, on t op of h om ew or k , m an y ex tr acu r r i cu l ar s, an d t r y i n g to m ai n t ai n som et h i n g th at r esem bl es a soci al l i f e, I f ou n d i t ver y d i f f i cu l t to find th e m oti vati on t o get u p i n t h e m or n i n g.

T h e cl asses an d ext r acu r r i cu l ar s t h at u sed t o br i n g m e so m u ch joy began t o f eel l i ke bu r d en s, an d t h at br oke m y h ear t.

W hat is wrong with me? D o I even know who I am anymore? W hen did everything change?

I n th e m i d st of t h i s h u r r i can e of an x i ou s t h ou gh ts, I ju st sai d t o m y sel f , ?I t h i n k I n eed t o p ai n t, l i ke r i gh t n ow.?

A f ter ver y little t h ou gh t, I d r ove to W al m ar t, p i cked ou t som e ch eap p ai n t br u sh es an d w ater col or s, an d d r op p ed ap p r ox i m at ely $40 f r om m y sav i n gs accou n t (I ?m sor r y, M om . I p r om i se I ?ll p u t i t back !).

T h en f or h ou r s, I ju st sat ar ou n d an d p ai n t ed .

T h e beau t y of al l of i t w as t h at I w as n ot ver y good , an d I w as ok ay w i th t h at .

I p ain ted n ot to cr eate som eth in g gr ou n d br eak i n g, m ean i n gf u l , or even coh esi ve. I p ai n t ed becau se i t al l ow ed m e t o ex p r ess m y t h ou gh t s an d em ot i on s f r eely w i th ou t f ear of ju d gm en t or an y p r essu r e to su cceed .

N obody n eeded to see th e p ain tin g excep t f or m e.

For th i s f l eet i n g m om en t i n ti m e, I w as abl e to l et go of an y ex p ect at i on s t h at I h ad f or m y sel f an d an y p r essu r e f r om th e ou t si d e w or l d an d ju st ex p r ess m y sel f cr eat i vely an d au th en ti cal ly becau se I cou l d h ave th i s ex p er i en ce al l t o m y sel f .

Si n ce t h at m om en t, I h ave been sl ow ly bu t su r ely tr y i n g t o w i n m y sel f back f r om th e cl u t ch es of th e p r essu r e th at I p u t on m y sel f t o ach i eve p er f ecti on .

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W h i l e str i v i n g to be th e best ver si on of y ou r sel f i s aw esom e an d w e sh ou l d al l con ti n u e to d o so, str i v i n g f or p er f ecti on i s ju st setti n g y ou r sel f u p f or f ai l u r e.

A s h u m an bei n gs, w e ar e al l d esi gn ed t o be i m p er f ect .

W e ar e m ean t to be m essy ; w e ar e m ean t to l au gh a l i tt l e t oo l ou d , cr y a l i ttl e too h ar d , say th e w r on g t h i n g, an d t ake th i n gs too p er son al ly ; w e ar e m ean t t o m ake m i stakes.

Per f ect i on i s a d an ger ou s i l l u si on , an d i t ?s so i m p or tan t to tr y t o bat t l e ou r p er f ecti on i st i m p u l ses.

By p ar t ak i n g i n m or e act i v i t i es an d p r ojects sol ely f or y ou r sel f , y ou m ay be abl e to br eak d ow n t h at i d ea of p er f ecti on an d f i n d t h e p er son th at y ou ar e m ean t to be.

Si n ce th at on e n i gh t , I m ad e a p r om i se to m y sel f t h at I w ou l d m ake an ef f or t t o take better car e of m y sel f becau se I d on ?t ever w an t to l ose h er agai n . I can f i n al ly en joy t h e t h i n gs th at m ake m e h ap p y agai n . I can si t d ow n an d r ead a book w i t h ou t f eel i n g t h e n eed t o ch eck m y p h on e ever y f ou r secon d s; I can w atch W es A n d er son ?s ?Fan tasti c M r . Fox ? f or th e 40 0 t h t i m e w i t h ou t f eel i n g an y sh am e or n eed t o p i ck som eth i n g n ew ; I can bake t h e w or l d ?s u gl i est cake, an d n obod y ever n eed s to k n ow.

I d on ?t f eel em bar r assed abou t m y h obbi es or as m u ch of a com p u l si ve n eed to con f or m t o t h e ex p ectati on s of ot h er s w h en i t com es t o m y ow n ch ar acter .

I ?ve alw ay s been t ol d t o ?m ake th e m ost ou t of t h i s ti m e? becau se i t w on ?t l ast f or ever , bu t h ow ar e y ou m ak i n g th e m ost ou t of t h i s ti m e i f y ou ar e m i ser abl e f or a m ajor i ty of i t?

For th e f i r st ti m e i n a l on g t i m e, I f i n al ly f eel con t en t i n m y ow n com p an y, an d I r eal ly h op e t h at al l of y ou ar e abl e to f eel t h e sam e w ay ; I tr u ly m ean i t.

T h e ti m e i s n ow 1:0 1 a.m . on W ed n esd ay, Feb. 9, so I f or r eal n eed to go t o sl eep n ow.

Pl ease take car e of y ou r selves, w h atever t h at m i gh t l ook l i ke.

. the norse star, february 2022

features

A Hid d en Gem a rt b y emma phillips tr an ger s h u r r y by w i t h ar m s f u l l of sh op p i n g bags, a f am i ly t akes a str ol l on th e si d ew al k , jogger s an d cy cl i sts p ass on th e si d ew al k s, each i m m er sed i n th ei r ow n w or l d s. T h e h u stl e an d bu stl e of O r egon , W i s. seem s t y p i cal , si m i l ar t o th at of ever y sm al l tow n f ou n d i n th e M i d w est .

H ow ever , O r egon p ossesses a bi t of a ?h i d d en gem ? of a sh op ? Peacef u l H ear t , a cr y stal stor e an d ap ot h ecar y d ow n tow n . T h e cal m i n g bl u e w al l s, gen t l e m ed i t at i on m u si c, an d ar om a of i n cen se w af t i n g t h r ou gh th e sh op m ad e f or an i n st an tly t r an qu i l at m osp h er e th e secon d I cr ossed th e t h r esh ol d . ?I alw ay s t el l p eop l e th at i t d i d n ?t m ake sen se on p ap er , op en i n g a m etap h y si cal st or e i n a p l ace l i ke O r egon ,? D or i s D ei ts, ow n er an d f ou n d er of Peacef u l H ear t , say s. ?H ow ever , I d o f eel th at op en i n g th e st or e w as a p ar t of m y sp i r i t u al m i ssi on . I t ?s i m p or tan t t o m e t o assi st an d h el p ot h er p eop l e i n t h ei r l i ves, w h et h er t h at be w i th em ot i on al w el l bei n g, sp i r i tu al i n t u i t i on an d journeys, or general guidance.?

D ei ts f ou n d ed t h e sh op in 20 0 2, h op i n g to n or m al i ze m et ap h y si cal h eal th an d car e i n an en v i r on m en t sh e f ou n d w as p r ev i ou sly u n f am i l i ar w i t h t h e con cep t . ?I t?s becom e a l i t t l e bi t m or e m ai n st r eam n ow, w h i ch i s i n cr ed i bl e. B ack 20 y ear s ago, t h ou gh , m ost p eop l e d i d n ?t r eal ly h ave an y on e to t al k t o [abou t t h ese top i cs], so I st ar t ed Peacef u l H ear t i n an ef f or t t o f i l l th at voi d ,? sh e say s.

Peacef u l H ear t sel l s a w i d e var i et y of i t em s, su ch as cr y stal s, jew el r y, i n cen se, book s, tar ot an d or acl e d eck s, cl ot h i n g, an d m or e.

T h e p r od u ct s com e f r om f ar an d w i d e, accor d i n g to D ei ts. T h e st on es an d cr y stal s com e f r om tr ad e sh ow s acr oss t h e cou n tr y, w h i l e i tem s l i ke can d l es ar e m an u f actu r ed i n n ear by W i s. tow n s by sm al l bu si n esses. T h i s et h i cal sou r ci n g,

S

the norse star, february 2022

B y Em m a Far l ey Staff Writer

com bi n ed w i t h r eason abl e p r i ce p oi n t s, on ly ad d s m or e i t em s to th e l i st of w h y Peacef u l H ear t gets so m an y p osi t i ve r ev i ew s f r om cu stom er s. ?I p er son al ly l i ke th e

w el l - bei n g or em oti on al h eal th . T h at can ap p ly to an y bod y ? m al e, f em al e, y ou n g, ol d , sp i r i tu al or n ot.

W e?r e h er e f or y ou ,? D ei ts say s.

T h e establ i sh m en t h as

photos b y emma fa rley

C r y st al s so u r ced f r o m p l aces su ch as T u cso n , A r i z.; D en v er , C o l o .; an d C h i cago , I l l . ar e o n d i sp l ay n ex t t o l o cal l y so u r ced go o d i es. f act th at th er e?s som eth i n g seen a sl i gh t i n f l u x i n f or ever y on e,? ju n i or A n d y bu si n ess over th e p ast f ew Sch l oesser say s. Sch l oesser y ear s, w i th m or e an d m or e h as f r equ en ted th e estabp eop l e stop p i n g by th e l i sh m en t si n ce th ei r sh op ? i n i ti al ly over w h el m ed d i scover y of i t i n 20 18, an d w i th cu r i osi ty over w h at th e th ey h ave p u r ch ased establ i sh m en t p r ov i d es, bu t n u m er ou s i t em s th er e, qu i ck ly becom i n g f r equ en t i n cl u d i n g (bu t n ot l i m i ted cu stom er s. to) cr y st al s, i n cen se, an d ?I th i n k th at si n ce jew el r y.

CO V I D star ted th er e h as ?You d on ?t h ave to be been a bi gger i n t er est i n sp i r i t u al to sh op at Peacef u l d oi n g som eth i n g m or e H ear t? y ou d on ?t h ave to be m ean i n gf u l w i th , an d an y th i n g, r eal ly. T h er e?s a f i n d i n g p u r p ose [or p assi on ] l ot of v ar i ati on i n w h at y ou w i th i n [p eop l e?s] l i ves. I can bu y, an d I ?ve seen al l th i n k en er get i cal ly th at's d i f f er en t ty p es of p eop l e been a bi g r eason w h y m or e f i n d som eth i n g th ey l oved p eop l e ar e com i n g i n . th er e,? Sch l oesser say s. becau se I r eal ly h aven 't T h ou gh D ei t s f ou n d ed been ad ver ti si n g m or e th an th e sh op w i t h th e or i gi n al n or m al , bu t w e h ave n oti ced i n ten t of bei n g a saf e h aven a l ar ge i n f l u x of n ew f or th ose l ook i n g to get i n cu stom er s com i n g i n . So I touch with their m et ap h y si cal f eel l i ke th er e's som eth i n g si d e, over th e y ear s, th e h ap p en i n g at an i n n er l evel stor e h as gr ow n to becom e a w i th al l of h u m an i ty th at i s san ctu ar y f or al l w h o en ter . k i n d of m agn eti zi n g th em ?I t 's r eal ly [a p l ace] f or to l ook f or som eth i n g w i th an y on e w h o i s i n ter ested i n m or e m ean i n g i n th ei r l i ves, l ear n i n g m or e abou t en er gy w h i ch th en d r aw s th em to w or k , th ei r ow n en er gy ou r stor e,? D ei ts say s. f i el d , th e en er gy of ston es O ver th e p ast f ew y ear s an d cr y st al s, h ow t h ey can m or e an d m or e p eop l e h ave h el p to i m p r ove th em selves d eci d ed to ex p l or e th e an d l ook i n g to f i n d w ay s to r eal m of m etap h y si cal i ty i m p r ove th ei r sen se of an d sp i r i tu al i ty, l ead i n g to a

sl i gh t i n cr ease i n bu si n ess.

H ow ever , i n a p ol l cu r ated an d p osted by t h e N or se Star staf f ou t of 54 SH S stu d en ts, on ly 22 sai d t h ey h ad been t o Peacef u l H ear t , as op p osed t o t h e 32 w h o h ad n ot. ?I f eel l i ke i t ?s n ot as w el l k n ow n as ot h er [si m i l ar ] stor es. I ?m n ot su r e i f t h at?s becau se i t ?s i n O r egon i n stead of St ou gh ton or M ad i son , or f or an ot h er r eason , bu t i t ?s ju st as good as oth er sh op s. [...] I t ?s a d ecen t si ze, h as a l ot t o of f er , an d i s r i gh t u p t h e str eet ,? Sch l oesser say s. ?I t?s al so easi er t o f eel com f or t abl e i n , n o m att er w h at y ou p r acti ce or bel i eve i n . I t ?s cr azy to m e t h at i t ?s n ot m or e p op u l ar .?

T h er e ar e oh , so m an y r eason s on e m i gh t ad d Peacef u l H ear t t o t h ei r l i st of p l aces to v i si t on a r ai n y d ay.

W h et h er t h ey ?r e l ook i n g f or a p l ace t o ex p l or e th ei r i n n er , sp i r i tu al sel f , sear ch i n g f or gu i d an ce an d su p p or t i n an y ar eas th ey m ay n eed , or even ju st l ook i n g f or a cool p l ace t o d r op by an d p er u se, t h i s establ i sh m en t i s d ef i n i t ely a p l ace to t ake in to con si d er ati on . ?N or m al ly, p eop l e ar e ch asi n g m at er i al t h i n gs.

[T h ey th i n k] 'I n eed a n ew car ,' or 'I n eed a n ew boat,' or 'I n eed to bu y t h ese i t em s [to f eel h ap p y ].' I t h i n k t h at's w h at?s am azi n g abou t ou r sh op ; w e ar e abl e t o br i n g p eop l e cl oser t o seei n g w h at?s r eal t o t h em , an d w h at tr u ly m att er s i n l i f e.

T h at 's m agi c al l i n i t ?s ow n .?

L o cal l y so u r ced i t em s su ch as i n cen se, scu l p t u r es, an d can d l es can al so b e f o u n d i n t h e sh o p .

21

features

The Moments Tha t Ma tter B y D el an ey Gau t h i er News & Opinions Editor

A

zu r a M em or y Car e, l ocated on 1221 East M ai n Str eet , m ay seem l i ke an y aver age r et i r em en t h om e, bu t t h at ?s n ot th e case. A zu r a f aci l i t i es i n W i sc. ar e r evol u t i on i zi n g t h e w ay p eop l e w h o su f f er f r om m em or y l oss d i seases ar e car ed f or . gh t n ow, t h e st at e of p ho?Ri to su b d bnyotjust W i scon si nmdit te oes act ineu al b alyrt r equ i r e a cer t ai n am ou n t of o n t r ai n i n g i n w or k i n g w i t h p eop l e w i t h m em or y l oss,? say s Ju sti n e B ar t on , d i r ector of M O SA I C t r ai n i n g f or A zu r a M em or y Car e. ?W e assu m e t h at becau se som eon e i s a n u r se or a d octor , t h at t h ey ?r e ed u cated on A l zh ei m er ?s an d d em en ti a, bu t t h ey ?r e actu al ly n ot . [...] T h ey d on ?t k n ow th e st r at egi es f or com m un icatin g w ith som eon e or th e ch allen ges th at th ey f ace.?

A zu r a M em or y Car e i s a com p an y d ed i cat ed to i m p r ov i n g t h e st an d ar d of living f or t h ose w ith m em or y l oss d i seases.

M O SA I C (an acr on y m f or M em or y car e p r of essi on al s O f f er i n g Su p p or t th r ou gh Ad v an ces an d I n n ov at i on i n Car e) i s th e ty p e of tr ai n i n g u sed at al l A zu r a l ocati on s.

It f ocu ses on com m u n i cat i n g an d en gagi n g w i th th e p ati en t s at each A zu r a l ocati on . ?M O SA I C tr ai n i n g i s r eal ly h an d s- on tr ai n i n g. [...]

I t goes th r ou gh em p ath y tr ai n i n g so th at al l th e car egi ver s u n d er st an d w h at ou r r esi d en t s ar e goi n g th r ou gh an d can be em p ath eti c to th em an d th ei r si tu ati on ,? B ar ton say s.

I t ?s u n d ou bt ed ly a ch al l en gi n g job, bu t B ar ton say s th e tr ai n i n g p r ep ar es th em for any obstacl e th r ow n at th em i n a u n i qu e w ay. ?W e can ?t p u l l th em i n t o r eal i t y ; w e h ave to step i n t o th ei r r eal i t y,? Bar t on say s.

B ar ton d escr i bed w h at?s k n ow n by A zu r a car egi ver s as ?t h er ap eu ti c f i bbi n g,? th e p r ocess of r eassu r i n g p ati en t s by con f or m i n g to

se af ter em b er s p o n i n g . m f af st a r tr ai A zu f M O SA I C a sessi o n o

th ei r r eal i ty i n or d er to p r op er ly car e f or th em .

W hile w or k i n g w i th p at i en ts w h o su f f er f r om m em or y l oss com es w i th i ts f ai r sh ar e of tr i al s, A zu r a l ocat i on s f ocu s on m ai n tai n i n g th e h um an ity of th eir p atien ts. ?At A zu r a, w e d on ?t cal l th em beh av i or s. W e cal l th em ex p r essi on s,? B ar ton say s. ?A s som eon e i s goi n g th r ou gh th e d i sease, an d th ey ?r e n ot abl e to ex p r ess th ei r w an ts or n eed s, th ey h ave an ex p r essi on to tr y to i n d i cate th at to u s, so i t?s ou r job to k i n d of p l ay d et ecti ve to tr y to f i gu r e ou t w h at i s th e r oot cau se [of ] th i s, w h at i s th ei r u n m et n eed , so th at w e can take car e of th at f or th em .?

T h ou gh th e job i s of ten d i f f i cu l t, i t i s i n cr ed i bly r ew ar d i n g as w el l . ?You can m ake th em sm i l e, or sh ar e a m em or y w i th th em , or h el p th em

t h r ou gh th e d i sease. W e?r e r eal ly abou t n ot f ocu si n g on w h at th ey can ?t d o, an d f ocu si n g on w h at t h ey can d o,?

B ar ton say s. ?[I t ?s so r ew ar d i n g] w h en y ou can br i n g [ back] t h ose m em or i es. [...] You get t o go h om e ever y d ay k n ow i n g th at y ou m ad e a d i f f er en ce.?

Seei n g t h e w ay t h ei r p at i en ts?f aces l i gh t u p w h en i n t er acti n g w i t h a car egi ver m akes ever y d i f f i cu l t m om en t w or t h w h i l e. ?A l th ou gh t h ey m ay n ot r em em ber y ou , [...] i n t h e m om en t, y ou ?r e br i n gi n g th em joy, y ou ?r e m ak i n g th em h ap p y,? Bar t on say s. ?W h en m em or i es f ad e, i t ?s th e m om en ts t h at m att er .?

Hrod ey on Hig h School B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

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h er e ar e m an y r ol es w h i ch al l t ogeth er m ake u p SH S. W h et h er som eon e i s h er e t o get th ei r d i p l om a or h as been w or k i n g h er e f or 20 y ear s, ever yone provides som ething to this environm ent.

L i z H r od ey, associ ate p r i n ci p al , h as been w or k i n g h er e at SH S f or f i ve y ear s, p r i m ar i ly f ocu si n g on over seei n g st u d en t an d t each er act i v i t i es.

H r od ey ex p l ai n s sh e h ad alw ay s been d r aw n to t each i n g, w i t h a st ar t as a sci en ce teach er i n N ew Yor k i n 1999. H ow ever , sh e f el t l i ke th er e w as m or e she w an ted t o d o w i t h h er st u d en ts. ?I h ad w an t ed t o d o even m or e w i t h m y st u d en t s i n r egar d s t o h el p i n g t h em n ot ju st i n m y sci en ce 22

cl assr oom , bu t al so i n th ei r n ex t step s i n to l i f e, m ak i n g d eci si on s, an d d oi n g th i n gs th at ar e goi n g to h el p th em so th at th ey can d o w h at th ey w an t to d o af ter h i gh sch ool ,? H r od ey say s. photo from stoug hton.k12.wi.us.com

To H r od ey, a job th at w ou l d m eet th ose asp i r ati on s w as associ ate p r i n ci p al . T h e sh i f t f r om f ocu si n g on on ly stu d en ts i n h er cl ass to th e w h ol e stu d en t bod y w as an i n t i m i d ati n g on e, bu t H r od ey ex p l ai n s th at sh e sti l l m an aged to keep th at p er son al con n ecti on . ?I th i n k th e bi ggest th i n g to d o i s r eal ly tr y to get to k n ow th at stu d en t, on a p er son al l evel , f i n d ou t w h at th ey r eal ly l i ke. Real ly star t to r ecogn i ze, ?H ey, [...] y ou take a l ot of m at h cl asses.

or y of b l e m em O n e n o ta seei n g a st u d en t is at H r o d ey 's d i n au to c o u r ses th i e v w i r o lv ed w h o th to b e i n v an el ec tr i c n o o g S SH for g m o to r s d esi g n i n ar c o m p an y . c

You m u st r eal ly l i ke m ath .?

Fi n d ou t som eth i n g el se [th at] th ey 'r e r eal ly, r eal ly good at t h at t h ey en joy.

Fi n d ou t som et h i n g t h ey d o ou tsi d e [of SH S],? H r od ey say s.

H r od ey sh ar es a p i ece of ad v i ce sh e w i sh es al l stu d en ts w ou l d k n ow. ?En joy y ou r d ay s h er e i n h i gh sch ool . En joy i t , ch er i sh i t, gr ow, t r y n ew th i n gs. [...] You n ever k n ow w h er e th at's goi n g t o t ake y ou ou tsi d e of h i gh sch ool .

K n ow th at ever y bod y h as th ei r ow n p at h w h en t h ey ar e goi n g t h r ou gh h i gh sch ool , an d t h at's w h at m akes u s so u n i qu e an d so gr eat. T h e best p ar t abou t i t i s al l th ose p at h s ar e goi n g to m eet on t h e sam e f i el d on th e gr ad u ati on d ate,?

H r od ey say s. the norse star, february 2022

features

Who is...Mr. Ma ed ke?

B y B el i n d a A k al e Freelance Writer

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o y ou t ake a bu si n ess Gr ow i n g u p en joy i n g p hontootibced y c o lt o nan cl ass? H ave y ou excel l i n g at econ om i cs scdhule a n ew f ace i n t h e sch ool ? an d m rath , M aed ke att en d ed T h i s ?n ew ? f ace i s a th e U n i ver si t y of W i scon si n St ou gh ton vet er an . M eet - W h i t ew at er an d m ajor ed Ch r i s M aed ke, SH S?s n ew in Bu si n ess Ed u cat i on . bu si n ess ed u cat i on t each er .

M aed ke i n i ti al ly w an ted to becom e an accou n t an t , bu t w i t h bot h p ar en ts as teach er s, h e r eal i zed he v al u ed th e soci al i zati on an d p er son al con n ecti on th at teach i n g br ou gh t an d sou gh t to f ol l ow in his p ar en ts' f ootstep s.

M r . M aed ke an d h ?I get to w or k w i th sn ap a p h o to i s w i f e B ec k y f r esh m en th r ou gh to geth er . sen i or s, so I ?m abl e to h ave a p r et ty w i d e v ar i et y of stu d en ts [? ] I tr y to i n cor p or ate l ots of p oten ti al f or kids to w or k in p ar t n er s i f th ey w ou l d M aed ke i s l i ke,? M aed ke say s. cu r r en tly sp l i t t i n g h i s t i m e Bu si n ess cl asses cover bet w een Ri ver B l u f f M i d d l e v ar i ou s top i cs at SH S, al l of Sch ool an d h er e at SH S. w h i ch M aed ke bel i eves to T h e cou r ses h e i s cover i n g be essen t i al to r eal - w or l d t h i s sem est er at t h e h i gh l ear n i n g. sch ool i n cl u d e p er son al ?I th i n k m y cou r ses ar e f i n an ce, sp or t s an d r eal w or l d , an d I ?m w or k i n g en ter tai n m en t m ar keti n g, w i t h sk i l l s an d th i n gs th at an d p r i n ci p l es of bu si n ess. p eop l e ar e goi n g to u se.

At th e m i d d l e sch ool , h e W h en we tal k abou t cover s a bu si n ess com p u ter p er son al f i n an ce, ever y on e cou r se. h as to d eal w i t h m on ey.? ?I get t o sch ool abou t M aed ke say s, ?Ever y on e 6:40 a.m . I ?m h er e at th e n eed s to k n ow h ow to h i gh sch ool u n ti l t h e en d of h an d l e ban k i n g an d cr ed i t. f i f th h ou r . T h en I u su al ly A l l of u s ar e gon n a n eed to h ave a bi t of t r avel t i m e an d h ave a h ou se, an ap ar t m en t, t h en I r etu r n t o Ri ver B l u f f , an d get ti n g l oan s an d an d I t each on e cl ass i n su r an ce." ever y d ay d ow n t h er e. I "T h e top i cs w e cover ar e u su al ly en d u p w or k i n g som eth i n g th at ever y on e u n ti l 4:30 p .m . ever y d ay or h as to d eal w i t h ,? M aed ke so," M aed ke st at es. excl ai m s.

M aed ke, who is ?I n a bu si n ess sen se, or i gi n al ly f r om Ed ger ton , ever y bod y 's ei th er goi n g to st ar ted h i s t each i n g car eer w or k f or or ow n a bu si n ess, i n th e Ed ger t on Sch ool so k n ow i n g h ow th e D i str i ct i n 1997. H e began bu si n ess w or l d w or k s an d t each i n g at SH S i n 20 0 3 as a bei n g abl e to u n d er stan d bu si n ess t each er i n r oom som e of th e th i n gs 20 2. bu si n esses d o to m an i p u l ate ?Room [20 2] w as p eop l e an d get t h em to actu al ly m y cl assr oom f r om m ake p u r ch ases [i s 20 0 3 to 20 12,? M aed ke say s. i m p or t an t]. I f y ou h ave a M aed ke began d ou bl i n g as a bett er u n d er st an d i n g y ou bu si n ess teach er at t h e H i gh can m ake bett er d eci si on s,?

Sch ool an d Ri ver B l u f f M aed ke con t i n u es.

M i d d l e sch ool f r om 20 10 to Si n ce r etu r n i n g to 20 12 bef or e f u l ly r egu l ar sch ool i n g th i s Fal l , t r an si ti on i n g t o f u l l - t i m e M aed ke n ot i ced a d u l l n ess w or k at th e m i d d l e sch ool i n stu d en t m oti v ati on . To i n 20 12.

com bat th i s, h e u ses som e of th e sam e str ategi es h e u ses at th e m i d d l e sch ool to teach his h i gh sch ool stu d en ts. ?I tr y to i n cor p or ate h u m or . I tr y to m ake su r e th at h u m an s h ave th e op p or t u n i ty to w or k on th i n gs an d ask qu est i on s. I tr y to br eak m y cl asses i n t o ch u n k s of ti m e. At m i d d l e sch ool , si n ce v i r t u al l ear n i n g, stu d en ts d on ?t alw ay s h ave th e sam e stam i n a th at th ey u sed to.

So i f y ou br eak th e cou r se d ow n , say ?w e?r e goi n g to d o th i s f or 15 m i n u tes, th i s f or 15 m i n u tes, th i s f or 15 m i n u tes? [? ] i t gi ves th em a l i ttl e bi t of a sen sor y br eak ,?

M aed ke say s.

M aed ke?s p osi ti on i s on e th at sti l l r ai ses l ot s of qu est i on s to m an y stu d en ts an d staf f . ?T h er e?s a ch an ce th at I w i l l be r etu r n i n g to Ri ver B l u f f . I d on ?t r eal ly k n ow h ow th i s i s goi n g to p l ay ou t.

M y h op e i s th at I w i l l f i n i sh th i s sem est er h er e." M aed ke say s, "I 'm tr y i n g to keep th e k i d s en gaged , tr y i n g to p r ov i d e th em w i th cu r r en t an d r el ev an t op p or t u n i t i es f or l ear n i n g th i n gs an d bu i l d i n g w h at th ey al r ead y k n ow,

an d n ew t h i n gs t h at t h ey w i l l f i n d u sef u l as t h ey get ol d er ,? M aed ke say s.

W h en asked abou t a p er m an en t p osi ti on h er e at th e h i gh sch ool , M aed ke sp oke abou t h ow h e val u es w or k i n g ar ou n d t h e w h ol e d i str i ct . ?T h e f u t u r e i s ver y cl ou d y r i gh t n ow, an d I r eal ly en joy ed i t . A n d gi ven th e ch an ce t o st ay h er e l on g ter m , p oten t i al ly, I w ou l d d o i t [? ] d ep en d i n g on w h at w i l l h ap p en w i t h M s. Ross an d w h at th e d i str i ct d eci d es. I ?m a t eam p l ay er .

I ?m h er e to ser ve, an d I t r y to w or k w i t h t h e k i d s t h at I ?m gi ven as I m ove ar ou n d ," M aed ke say s.

As a bass p l ay er , tech n ol ogy n er d , an d bu si n ess l over , t r i p l e t h r eat M aed ke h ad t h i s t o say t o th e stu d en ts of SH S: ?I t?s been gr eat bei n g abl e to be u p h er e an d see so m an y k i d s an d see h ow m u ch th ey gr ow an d becom e am azi n g y ou n g ad u l ts. A s a t each er , i t 's r eal ly gr at i f y i n g an d w on d er f u l t o see t h e i m p act th at ed u cati on an d t i m e h as gi ven an d t h e ch an ge h as been so p osi ti ve.?

ky ma ed ke p ho to b y b ec

the norse star, february 2022

23 he

features

Sing ing Pra ise For

By Cl ar e B or ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

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h e M ad i son ar ea i s p acked to th e br i m w i th ap p eali n g, n ovel r estau r an ts, an d i t can som et i m es f eel d i f f i cu l t to ch oose w h er e to eat becau se of t h e p l en ti f u l ar r ay of cu i si n e. W h i l e p r ov i d i n g a d ef i n i t i ve r an k i n g of each an d ever y am azi n g r est au r an t i n th e ar ea w ou l d be n ear ly i m p ossi bl e, t h e N or se St ar St af f can at l east at test t o th e i n v i ti n g n at u r e of on e i n p ar ti cu l ar : Sw ad I n d i an Restau r an t.

Sw ad I n d i an Rest au r an t, al so r ef er r ed t o as Sw ad , i s a f am i ly - ow n ed r est au r an t l ocated ju st ou t si d e of M ad i son at 60 0 7 M on on a D r i ve. T u cked betw een sever al oth er sm al l bu si n esses i n a con n ect ed bu i l d i n g sp ace, Sw ad i s a bi t of a h i d d en gem . H ow ever , as soon as on e st ep s t h r ou gh t h e sw i n gi n g d oor an d i n to t h e w ar m ly l i t sp ace, i t becom es ev i d en t t h at Sw ad i s a r estau r an t bor n of p assi on an d a l ove f or sh ar i n g au t h en t i c cu i si n e w i th oth er s.

T h e m en u at Sw ad i s n ot l ack i n g i n an y r esp ect ; t h e l en gth y m en u i s d i v i d ed l ar gely in to br ead s, ap p eti zer s, an d m ai n d i sh es sor ted i n t o d i f f er en t categor i es of m eat (i n cl u d i n g ch i cken , l am b, beef , goat , an d seaf ood ) w h i l e al so f eatu r i n g a sat i sf y i n g assor t m en t of veget ar i an op t i on s.

T h ei r l i st of oven - baked br ead s, su ch as v ar i ou s f l avor s of n aan , i s abou t a p age l on g, an d each sect i on of th e m en u f eat u r es d i sh es w i th al l sor t s of bases an d ad d - i n s. Fu r th er m or e, u p on or d er i n g an y d i sh f r om th e m en u , th e cu st om er m ay ch oose bet w een t h r ee l evel s of sp i ce: m i l d , m ed i u m , an d h ot. Si m p ly p u t, Sw ad h as som eth i n g f or ever y on e.

I m m ediately upon entering th e r estau r an t, th e N or se St ar St af f w as w ar m ly gr eeted an d br ou gh t to a tabl e. M en u s w er e d i str i bu t ed , an d staf f m em ber s set ou t on th e d i f f i cu l t jou r n ey of p i ck i n g on e d i sh f r om Sw ad ?s m any ap p eali n g of f er i n gs. As d eci si on s wer e bei n g m ad e, a m em ber of th e Sw ad ser vi n g staf f br ou gh t com p li m en tar y p ap ad am (a th i n , cr i sp y I n d i an f l atbr ead ) an d th r ee cl assi c ch u t n ey s (on i on , m i n t , an d tam ar i n d ) to th e tabl e.

A f ter m u ch d el i ber ati on , th e N or se Star Staf f d i d m an age to p i ck th ei r m ai n dishes. T he lineup included chicken tikka m asala, shr im p cur r y, chicken bir yani, chicken tikka sag,

w i th th e l atter statem en t, of f er i n g gl ow i n g statem en ts of ap p r oval i n cl u d i n g, ?I w ou l d 1,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 % go back [...] I h ave absol u t ely zer o com p l ai n ts.?

O th er staf f m em ber s sh ar ed sim ilar sen tim en ts about th eir dish es, expr essin g over all appr eciation for th e im pr essive balan ce of f l avor s an d d escr i bi n g th e m eat as bei n g ex p er t ly cooked .

O n e staf f m em ber , w h o or d er ed th ei r d i sh w i th m ed i u m sp i ce, ex p l ai n ed th at i t w as th e p er f ect am ou n t of h eat an d th at th e d i sh p ai r ed ver y w el l w i th th e gar l i c n aan . A n oth er m em ber w h o or d er ed th ei r d i sh m i l d sai d th at , af ter h av i n g tr i ed th at sp i ce l evel , th ey 'd con si d er l evel i n g u p to m ed i u m n ex t ti m e.

photos by clare borchardt

M o st cu r r i es at Sw ad co st ab o u t $13 t o $17, an d co m e w i t h b o at s o f co m p l i m en t ar y b asm at i r i ce. and kadai pan eer (p an eer i s an I n d i an ch eese of ten u sed as a vegetar i an p r ot ei n op ti on ). N atu r al ly, sever al ser v i n gs of gar l i c n aan w er e or d er ed , as w el l .

O n e staf f m em ber w h o or d er ed th e sh r i m p cu r r y ap p r eci at ed th at th e sh r i m p w as p er f ectly ten d er an d p ai r ed ver y w el l w i th th e r i ce, an d sai d th at Sw ad w as th e best I n d i an r estau r an t th ey 'd ever been to. T h e r est of th e staf f seem ed to agr ee

O th er s w h o p r ef er l ess sp i ce w er e ver y h ap p y w i th Sw ad ?s take on ?m i l d .? T h e th r ee- sp i ce- l evel f eatu r e of Sw ad i s a tou ch th at en su r es th ei r f l avor f u l f ood can be

en joy ed by sen si ti ve p al et tes an d sp i ce- l over s al i ke.

Sw ad ?s cu i si n e i sn?t th e on ly th i n g th at m akes th i s com f or ti n g r estau r an t sh i n e.

T h e ser v i ce p r ov i d ed at Sw ad i s i n cr ed i bly at ten ti ve, th ou gh tf u l , an d sp eed y. T h e staf f cu r ates a balan ce of ser v i ce th at i sn ?t over bear i n g but d em on str ates an abu n d an ce of car e. T h ey seem ed to h ave a si x th sen se f or w h en th e tabl e w as gett i n g l ow on r i ce, n eed ed r ef i l l s on w at er , or h ad f i n i sh ed w i t h a p l ate an d w as r ead y t o h ave i t cl ear ed .

Ad d i ti on al ly, t h e f ood w as p r ep ar ed i m p r essi vely qu i ck ly an d w as ser ved w el l w i th i n 20 m i n u t es of i t h av i n g been or d er ed .

O ver al l , th e car e of t h e staf f m ad e th e ex p er i en ce of d i n i n g at Sw ad al l t h e m or e en joy abl e an d m ad e t h e att en d ees eager t o r et u r n soon f or an oth er t aste.

Sw ad , l ocat ed ju st ou tsi d e of M ad i son , h as becom e a n ew f avor i t e of th e N or se St ar St af f an d i s cer tai n ly w or t h t h e 19m i n u te d r i ve.

At ten ti ve ser v i ce an d m ou t h - w ater i n g f ood h ave ear n ed Sw ad a u n an i m ou s r at i n g of f i ve ou t of f i ve gar l i c n aan s. T h e N or se Star Staf f en cour ages ever yon e to tikka ch an ce, be cur r y- geous an d give th e won der f ul, n o n aan - sen se Sw ad a tr y. photo by anja royko

art by emma phillips 24

the norse star, february 2022