THE CLIPPER
VOLUME 29 | ISSUE 3 | DECEMBER 2019 | PLATTE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Trump
ON TRIAL PAGE 06
In addition to the football team heading to state, boys soccer, boys swim, cross-country and cheer were also state qualifiers.
A LOOK INSIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS
03
Varsity football competed in the state championship for the first time in 17 years and the first time in Class 4. Losing to Webb City 48-0, they placed second in the state. Photo by Piper Ruwe
FEATURES
CONSIGNMENT CRAZE
Interest in thrifting contributed to the fashion trend of affordable used clothing By Audrey McCoy
OPINIONS
SPORTS
LANGUAGE OF DEMOCRACY
BALLING WITH A NEW BOSS
07
Student governments essential in schools
By Grace Roggy
GEN ZINGER
SCOUTS OF MERIT
Boy Scouts provides opportunities beyond high school
The danger behind adolescent fascination with offensive, self-deprecating humor
By Kiersten Robbins
By Charisma Root and Tatianna Tafolla
05
10
Reflecting on last year of the decade
Rules, regulations imposed by society for modern online dating
SWIPE LEFT
2019 REWIND
By Sophia Zimmerman
06
TRUMP ON TRIAL
Accusations brought against President, what they mean for America By Charisma Root
Staff Editor-in-Chief Charisma Root
Staff Writers Audrey McCoy Grace Roggy Sophia Zimmerman
Feature Editor Kiersten Robbins
Photographers Claire Graves Jessenia Orellana
Opinion Editor Tatianna Tafolla
Adviser Kari Johnson
1
Lady Pirate Basketball team adjusts to new coach, program
By Kiersten Robbins
08
04
Boys soccer won second place at state. They lost 2-1 against Rockwood Summit in the Class 3 championship game. This year was soccer’s first time competing at state. Photo by Karoline Kilkenny
By Grace Roggy and Sophia Zimmerman
12
WINTER BLUES
Seasonal Affective Disorder begins with shorter days, less sunlight By Audrey McCoy
14
WRESTLING WITH WEIGHT Wrestlers must meet specific standards to compete By Tatianna Tafolla
On the Cover
The articles’ of impeachment filed against Trump, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, are currently in the process of being voted on. The illustration depicts the scale of liberty with Trump on one end and the US constitution on the other.
Who We Are
The Pirate Clipper is a student-run newspaper dedicated to informing students on current local, national and worldwide issues without bias. Opinions and editorials do not reflect the views or opinions of the Platte County staff, school, administration or adviser. For questions or concerns, contact adviser Kari Johnson at: johnsonk@platteco.k12.mo.us.
December 2019, 03
CONSIGNMENT Craze Interest in thrifting contributes to fashion trend of affordable, used clothing Written by Audrey McCoy
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oodwill, Savers, The Salvation Army, and local option Hillcrest carry an array of bargains, clothing, decor and furniture. Consistent thrifters say that with patience and motivation, modern clothing pieces and accessories can be found, as well as vintage denim. “Thrifting is like a scavenger hunt because the clothes you find are more unique and you’re less likely to wear the same thing as someone else,” junior Megan Trent said. “It doesn’t feel like much of an accomplishment if you just walk into a regular store and go to a rack that’s your size.” Trent’s favorite purchase is a pair of yellow, khaki Oxfords that she bought for $10. The particular pair of shoes is currently not for sale anywhere else. Sophomore Lyric Ewing’s favorite part about thrifting is saving money. She likes finding different pairs of jeans for cheap that look like they’re from the 1970s or 1980s. It’s not simple to find things, and it takes a lot of time to go through the racks. Therefore, routine thrifters suggest giving plenty of time to go thrifting. “Look through everything when you’re thrifting because you never know what you’ll find,” Ewing said. “Even things that aren’t your size might end up being something you really like to wear, so try everything on because it might not look good on the hanger, but you could pull it off.” The trend of upcycled and vintage-looking clothes is being
replicated by popular brands and priced much higher than at a second-hand store. A popular business tactic is buying items found at a thrift shop and revamping them, ultimately reselling the pieces of clothing online with a markup. Websites, such as Depop, make it easier for people to find the desired retro look without going through the trouble of spending time to thrift. “Saving money is my favorite part about thrifting,” sophomore Brock Vignery said. “I can own more clothes because I can get them for cheaper. I found a jacket that was originally around $50 at Forever 21, but it was $5 at the thrift store so I saved 90 percent.” Thrifting is also credited for being an eco-friendly alternative to buying all clothing first-hand. According to SustainYourStyle, the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. Other studies suggest that environmental damage only increases as the industry grows. “I thrift because it’s the cheapest option, and it is good for the environment because you are not contributing to fast fashion which contributes to about 15 percent of carbon emissions,” Trent said. There are many reasons to thrift and each person’s experience thrifting is unique. The possibilities for the “gems” that can be found thrifting are endless, as long as there is interest to search. “Don’t go looking for a certain thing because you’re not going to find it, just go with an open mind,” Vignery said.
Designed by Claire Graves
04, Feature
Scouts OF MERIT Boy Scouts provides opportunities beyond high school
Written by Kiersten Robbins Designed by Claire Graves
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oy Scouts of America (BSA), one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, was established in 1910. This is an organization where youth ages 11-17 learn life and survival skills, participate in trips and compete in events to earn badges. A recent development with the BSA is the transition into simply “Scouts of America.” Allowing both girls and boys to participate and giving them an equal chance to reach the highest rank in scouts, Eagle Scout; a title junior Taylor Stephens has worked to earn. “Since they started including girls into the troops, they had to rearrange some things,” Stephens said. “Overall I don’t think it was a huge change with some troops, but some of them are very old-fashioned. They don’t like to think outside the box very often. So it’s really troop to troop on how the change was reacted to.” In the BSA they go through a series of merit badges where they must complete a task in order to receive the badge. While earning these badges they learn about science, business,
trade, sports, crafts and future careers. There are more than 135 badges a scout can earn. “The hardest badge I had to earn was personal management,” junior Lucas Walters said. “I had to keep track of all of my money and spending over a 90 day period. It was just exhausting and hard to do, and I really didn’t like the fact that I was spending so much money.” Walters is also a certified Eagle Scout. Only 4 percent of scouts make it to the Eagle Scout level. This is because scouts must complete numerous tasks and earn a certain number of merit badges. “You have to have a lot of leadership,” Stephens said. “It’s basically a final test to test your leadership and see how well you lead others.” The responsibility is not without its rewards. As an Eagle Scout if they plan to join the military and have been a part of the scouts program, they can be moved up from the lower ranks in which others begin. “Being an Eagle Scout is really impressive,” Walters said. “It’s not done by a whole lot of people so it really
helps jobs, and it really does help on your resume and college applications.” The Scouts program has a total of 2.3 million youth participants and 1 million adult volunteers. The number of scouts and troops in the district is large according to Stephens. “I know of one local troop,” Stephens said. “I suspect 30 belong to that troop. There are a couple of neighboring troops so I would guess probably 70 to 100 students in the school that are scouts.” The BSA helps local businesses and communities by doing community service work. Other opportunities a scout may have is to work with businesses in the field of work in which they are interested. The main goal of the Scout program is to teach youth participant’s responsibility, self-reliance and character development through various activities such as educational programs, career-oriented programs and outdoor skills. “It’s a program used to help people figure out what their interests are,” Stephens said. “Kind of give them a jump start.”
December 2019, 05
2019 Rewind
Reflecting on last year of decade
The last “teen” year of the century seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. The year was full of ups and downs in the media, music industry and news. Here are some of the top moments of this year.
By Sophia Zimmerman
1
2 One of the biggest scandals was the
Tristan Thompson and Jordyn Woods cheating allegations that first surfaced in February. The rumors ended Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods’s long-time friendship.
4
On April 15 Lil Nas X released a remixed version of “Old Town Road” with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. The music video has 400 million views on YouTube.
The year started with the egg that “cracked” the internet, as well as the world record for “most-liked post on Instagram.” The famous egg image surpassed Kylie Jenner’s previous world record of 18 million likes on Instagram, reaching more than 24 million likes by Jan. 14.
3
In typical internet fashion, the Super Bowl sparked yet another popular meme when Tom Brady won his 6th Super Bowl ring. He was compared to Thanos from the popular Marvel series, “Avengers.”
5 “Avengers Endgame” premiered April
6
TikTok hit 1.5 billion downloads at the beginning of summer. The app was designed in 2016 to be a better version of a well-known app “musically,” then grew to become a popular app and meme platform for teens and young adults.
8 Next, one of the most elaborate memes
of the year hit its peak popularity. What started out as a joke ended with alien enthusiasts flocking from all over the country to Area 51, the highly classified United States AirForce facility on Sept. 20.
10
Last but not least is the trend perfect for ending this decade. The “Okay Boomer” meme rapidly gained traction this fall. The term was created by millennials and Gen Z kids as an insult after conflict with Baby Boomers over the way adolescents spend their time and money.
26 after a huge amount of hype on all social media platforms. Shortly after its release the film passed Avatar as the highest-grossing movie of all time.
7
Another trend was the “VSCO girl” meme. Major social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter rapidly spread the joke, shedding light on the newest popular stereotype for young girls; “sunny environmentalists” with an affinity for Crocs, scrunchies, sunsets and hydro flasks.
9 News surfaced of a whistleblower com-
plaint alleging wrongdoings on the part of Trump. The impeachment has been big news for all Americans. For more information on the impeachment see the story on page 6.
Graphics created with Canva
06, Feature The articles’ of impeachment filed against Trump, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, are currently in the process of being voted on. The illustration depicts the scale of liberty with Trump on one end and the US Constitution on the other.
Trump on Trial Accusations brought against President, what they mean for America
Written by Charisma Root
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rump, as we all know, has been considered a controversial man throughout his presidency. However, regardless of one’s personal opinions towards his actions or the validity of his charges, it is undeniable that the process of this investigation will alter American history and shape its future. What is impeachment? A common misconception, it would seem, is the idea that impeaching Donald Trump results in him no longer being president. Impeachment however is simply the official term for filing charges against a government official. Once a complaint is filed, committees must investigate the supposed crimes. Judiciary committees look into the evidence and vote to bring charges. Then, assuming the vote totals in favor of charges, the whole House must vote in majority for impeachment as well. Next in the process, the Senate holds a trial with a series of hearings and witnesses to determine their verdict on the crime. If the president is found guilty, they must then decide on a punishment; the worst of which could be a removal from office and
Graphic by Tatianna Tafolla and Jessenia Orellana
permanent ban from future elections. What spurred Trump’s impeachment? As provided by the US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, an anonymous complaint was filed from a whistleblower - or unnamed intelligence official - expressing concern about a phone call that took place on July 25, 2019 between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The incident spurring these charges was Trump’s use of his power and resources to ask for a foreign country’s interference in the 2020 U.S. election by investigating one of his main domestic political rivals, Joe Biden. The July 25 phone call came shortly after Trump placed a block on the release of a multi-million dollar US military aid to Ukraine. A senior official later testified that Trump stated the financial aid was conditional on Biden being investigated, though this statement has been denied by the White House. Following months of investigating within committees and litigating in the courts, on Sept. 24, Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) publicly stated that the House of Representatives would be moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. Pelosi quoted in her announcement that “the President must be held accountable, no one is above the law.” (The Guardian, US Politics Live). What can be expected to follow? According to CNN Politics Live, senior aides on the House committee deliberated with Pelosi’s staff to determine the particular charges. They settled on two articles of impeachment; abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. As of Dec. 10, the next step is the articles’ movement through the Judiciary Committee. Pending this, the articles will face a vote on the House floor in mid-December. In the Democrat-controlled House, it is likely the articles of impeachment will pass. Regardless of the final outcome, the decision to move forward with this impeachment is a historic moment in America, and there is still a lot left to unfold in the journey of this political event.
Testimony Timeline info provided by The New Yorker
Nov. 13, 2019
Nov. 13, 2019
Nov. 15, 2019
Nov. 15, 2019
Nov. 19, 2019
Nov. 20, 2019
U.S. Representative Ambassador William Marie Yovanovitch, David Holmes, a Lieutenant Colonel Sondland testified conAdam Schiff testifies, Taylor, acting amformer U.S. Ambassa- Foreign Service officer Alexander Vindman firming Trump’s effort making that arguement bassador to Ukraine, dor to Ukraine, testifies at the U.S. Embassy in testifies explaining why to investigate Joe Biden. that if not held actestifies explaining that to Donald Trump and Kyiv, testifies overhe reported the phone countable, Trump will through the “irregular” Mike Pompeo’s unfair hearing a phone call call between Donald permanently encourage channel of American criticism of her and in which Trump asked Trump and Volodymyr future presidents to act policy towards Ukraine, fellow diplomats. the U.S. Ambassador Zelensky. similarly. hundreds of millions to the European Union, of dollars were used to Gordon Sondland if pressure Ukraine into Volodymyr Zelensky giving Trump political was going to proceed ammunition against Joe with investigations that Biden’s campaign. Trump had demanded.
December 2019, 07
Language of Democracy Student governments essential in schools Written by Kiersten Robbins
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nown political figures such as Ronald Reagan and Hillary Clinton were both involved in their student governments. Student Council and the newly implemented FPL Learner Congress are both forms of student government active within PCHS. These organizations are important to have because they teach kids leadership, and they provide a voice for the student body. Generally when a student has an idea, or something they think could be modified, that idea goes through the student council. Students should be able to have a voice that will be heard and not disregarded, everyone’s opinion matters. To have a student government we need to have actual elections including
debates and a campaign, similar to the ones in FPL. This does not need to be a full-on interpretation of a presidential election, but teaching students about the political parties and a simplified interpretation of how the actual government goes through the voting process, shows them the importance of these. This also allows students to understand the importance of debates in the United States’ elections and be able to discern what is actually happening. Being a part of Student Council looks great on a college resume, and open doors for the future. Colleges look for leadership in a student; someone who is responsible and can take action. Taking part in student government will let these features shine. For
example, public speaking is a common struggle for people. Doing debates and campaigns would be great practice to work on challenges such as these. The student government should be primarily student-led, meaning the adviser or adult should only be helping if necessary. This would be to help their leadership skills and responsibility that could be a useful tool as an adult and as a leader. These student government groups seek to teach students about leadership and responsibility. Without these student-led groups, students would not get a voice in the decision-making process. Whether the student government be for a club or the student council they all play an important role.
SOPHOMORE, RYAN FOSTER
JUNIOR, HAILEY RYERSON
SENIOR, MADDIE SHARP
Photo by Claire Graves
Photo by Claire Graves
Photo by Claire Graves
FPL YEAR ONE PRESIDENT
FPL YEAR TWO, VICE PRESIDENT
FPL YEAR THREE, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
“Campaigning was pretty interesting, I had some moments where I would stress because I was going up against some real competition.”
“I felt that some things needed to be changed, and Rian [Lambert] and I were going to be the ones to change that.”
“My brother is a former FPL student and my sister is going to be a freshman next year, so I want to make sure that they have a good base, I’m the big sister I have to take care of them.”
08, Opinion
GEN Zinger
Danger behind adolescent fascination with offensive, self-deprecating humor
After finishing his school work, senior DJ Hernandez pulls out his phone to make use of his free time. Hernandez said dark humor can be okay if a person is joking in private with their close friends. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Written by Charisma Root
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his generation of adolescence is a breathing oxymoron. We are regarded as the ‘snowflake’ generation, a group highly accredited for progressive thinking and acceptance, yet we have a reputation for finding humor in overly offensive and self-deprecating jokes and behaviors. A clear barrier has always seemed to exist between older and younger generations when it comes to humor. In recent years, the younger generations has widened this gap, even creating the term “OK, boomer,” to further establish a barrier. An issue has begun to arise from
this though, birthing a whole new predicament; the blurred lines between “appropriate” and “inappropriate” topics of comedy. Our school specifically has suffered several recent incidents (namely, the Google Doc) that younger individuals have played off as “jokes” despite the clear crossing of an invisible line. It’s easy to brush this all off as “changing times” and “social progression,” but there comes a time when we must stop to reevaluate what actions and remarks slip through the cracks of “meme culture” and land themselves in offensive and non-ironic territory that can be harmful to others.
We have all heard the phrase before, “there is truth behind every joke.” In addition to parents’ favorite stern reminder, this statement is also a scientific truth. According to Thomas E. Ford, a Professor of Social Psychology at Western Carolina University, most prejudiced people conceal their true beliefs when they fear others’ criticism, expressing these hateful ideas only when they feel they have the clear social approval to do so. What some might deem “harmless” statements or “ironic” uses of hate speech are actually fostering discrimination towards targeted groups.
December 2019, 09
8:45am
Information from National Library of Medicine and Association for Psychologyy and Science
HOME HOW DARK HUMOR AFFECTS YOU Dark humor styles are associated with people with lower communication skills, particularly because those who use it usually have a hard time perceiving other people’s emotions. Individuals that have a bad perception of emotions tend to use humor in compromising ways, because they do not interpret the others emotional responses very well.
The Psychology to What you Laugh At Why people may laugh at rough moments can be to reduce negative emotions surrounding a stressful event.
There are multiple possible reasonings as to why “dark” humor resonates with younger individuals despite our seemingly sunnier outlook on difference and inclusivity than previous generations. The most common ideologies being; 1) that we find excitement in the offensive as a form of edgy self expression and teen rebellion or 2) that we lean on these lighthearted interpretations of depressing matters as a form of coping and rationalizing darker subjects. As quoted by Marshall Brian, author and founder of HowStuffWorks “The pre-teen and teenage years are almost universally awkward and tense. Many adolescents and teens laugh at jokes that focus on sex, authority figures and any subject that adults
Waiting for his next class, junior Sean Van Tol watches funny videos on his Chromebook to pass time for his next class. Van Tol said dark humor in social media, politics and real world can get out of hand. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
consider off-limits. It is an insecure time of life, and young people often use humor as a tool to protect themselves or to feel superior.” So this begs the question, if we don’t mean the things we say, and this humor is just a stepping stone in our development as we struggle to understand the world around us, does that make it okay? According to family therapist Phillip Morina, no it does not. Culture is cultivated through humor. Often the jokes of any given demographic represent what people accept at the time. Even if we know that racist remarks are harmful to others and would never actually participate in racist activity, these offensive ‘jokes’ create a culture where laughing at someone because of the color of their skin is acceptable.
Even if you may consider a demeaning or scary concept funny to laugh about, it is still not okay to make jokes that reinforce negative cultural mindsets. Older individuals may never fully understand why teens find humor in the things we do, but maybe in this instance they can serve as a reality check for us who have allowed ourselves to become far too desensitized to prejudice. We must be mindful of what we say and what ideas we are reinforcing in society, if not for the generations before us than for those who will come after, and most importantly for one another right now. We are seen as the bringers of a new era of acceptance and self-expression, let’s not tear down what we have started for a few risky memes.
10, Opinion
SWIPE Left
Rules, regulations imposed by society for modern online dating
Read 12:43
Written by Grace Roggy and Sophia Zimmerman
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he days of making mixtapes, writing love letters and romantically throwing pebbles at your significant other’s window have come to an end. With the rising influence of the internet and social media on modern culture and the dating scene, romance now means receiving a fire and heart emoji from the boy you spoke to once in the hallway. The younger generation has revised the terms, rules and entire concept of “a relationship,” as well as the steps it takes to reach one. Let’s start with perhaps the most definitive change in modern dating; the “talking” stage. The talking stage is when two people are dating without an official label, therefore they are not technically in a “relationship.” During the talking stage, people go on unofficial dates, flirt, text and/or Snapchat in between. It creates an opportunity for people to get to know each other with no strings attached. However, this new phase can be abused when teens “talk” to more than one person at a time, or when they lead someone on with no intention to make the relationship official. Out of 152 responses, 77 percent of respondents said they believed in the talking stage. The talking stage ends when the couple makes the relationship official or one of them “ghosts” the other. Ghosting is when somebody ignores the other person and stops messaging them suddenly. Another previously nonexistent concept of modern dating is ‘leaving someone on read.’ The idea may seem simple, but the younger generations have placed a whole new meaning behind the action. This generation has twisted simple concepts like ignoring someone into a manipulative game to test someone’s feelings. This may not seem like an extremely negative action
to some, but society now deems it the ultimate offense to receive from someone you are interested in. If you leave someone you’re interested in on read, they may decide you are uninterested and move on from the potential relationship. Out of 152 responses, 73 percent of people said they have been left on read by someone they are interested in and 59.9 percent said that being left on read upset them. Each popular social media platform also seems to have its own rules. On Instagram, for example, don’t like another girl or guy’s Instagram pictures. This is seen as a threat or a red flag for many people. Instagram has been turned into a tool to investigate what somebody may look like, be interested in and if they are already in a relationship. Instagram is sort of like a dating app for people who legally can’t have a dating app. The pressure to make sure you look good and seem cool in Instagram pictures has increased in this generation. Snapchat has changed the dating world for not only teens but young adults as well. Many avid users of Snap even revert to checking the status of someone’s Snapscore when left unresponded to for too long, out of distrust they may still be responding to others. Snap is what the majority of teens use to communicate. It is easy to start a conversation on Snap, then over time start talking to that person every day until you are in the talking phase. Double snapping or chatting someone is frowned upon and can make you seem clingy or annoying if done too often. Modern society has switched out note-passing for the internet, and the switch has brought its fair share of baggage. These rules are important in modern dating. Not knowing the rules could cause mild confusion among others online.
A friend emoji is a customizable emoji that appears next to someone’s name based on how you and the other person use Snapchat. If you are talking or dating someone, you want to be their best friend. It is an unspoken expectation.
Graphic made with Canva
December 2019, 11
BALLING WITH A NEW BOSS Lady Pirate basketball team adjusts to new coach, program.
Reviewing the past drill, coach Rebecca Strobbe talks with the varsity girls’ basketball team on Dec. 2. After one year as the JV coach Strobbe took over the varsity coaching job this year. Photo by Jessie Orellana
Written by Grace Roggy
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he Lady Pirate basketball team approaches this season with new head coach Rebecca Strobbe. When she came to PCHS, she began as the JV coach and is now the varsity head coach. One of the program’s newest changes is fundraising. The money raised goes to buy new uniforms and warm-ups for the upcoming season. One of the fundraisers the team participated in included working with PC Nutrition. “We helped make the shakes and teas,” senior Kaylee Dougherty said. ”We washed dishes and wrote orders down on the cups. Everyone has their own job.” Another way the girls raised money was through their Caesey’s pizza fundraiser. The team sold tickets for donuts and large pizzas to friends, family and people around the community. “I enjoyed doing the fundraising as a team because it was a great opportunity for team bonding,” senior Skyla Burney said. “Not only were we raising money, but be were having fun
as a team.” The way practices run under Strobbe's instruction provides another contrast to previous seasons. Organization and communication are important in managing a team. “Strobbe brings a dry erase board,” Burney said. “And it maps out the plan for practice so we always know what we're doing that day and when.” With 21 players on JV and varsity, 10 of whom are freshman, constant communication is important in ensuring everyone is on the same page. A few of the team members play on both the varsity and JV teams. “I haven't played basketball in a few years, and when I found out I would be playing for both teams, I was happy I would be getting more practice and helping out,” Dougherty said. Because of so many new players as well as a new coach, the team wanted to build a trusted community between girls. This way they not only play better, but also have a good time playing the sport they love. “There is a lot of learning going on
and learning to work together to build our new program,” Strobbe said. Strobbe said the end goal for the team is to build a strong foundation for a great program. The goals for this season are creating a bond between the girls and having knowledge of the game as well as playing well. With all the new changes to the program the girls still have goals for this season. Strobbe’s goals for the new season are to build a new program and have plenty of wins. “Over the next few years we hope to compete for conference and district champs,” Strobbe said.
THERE IS A LOT OF LEARNING GOING ON AND LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD OUR NEW PROGRAM REBECCA STROBBE, LADIES BASKETBALL COACH
12, Sports
WINTER Blues
Seasonal Affective Disorder begins with shorter days, less sunlight Written by Audrey McCoy
S
easonal Affective Disorder, commonly referred to as Seasonal depression or just SAD, is believed to be caused by decreased daylight exposure. Research suggests that two specific chemicals in the brain, melatonin and serotonin, impact SAD. These two chemicals help regulate a person’s sleep cycle, energy and mood. Information from HelpGuide.org states that increased production of melatonin can cause a person to feel sleepy and lethargic, and low levels of serotonin are associated with depression. “Seasonal depression can affect anyone,” junior Rolan Fitzgerald said. “Depression rates are high in teenagers right now, so it definitely affects all schools including our own.” TeensHealth.org says seasonal depression is estimated to affect 10 million Americans, and an additional
10-20 percent experience mild SAD. A determining factor in this can be gender. While 3 out of every 4 people suffering from SAD are women, men often experience more severe symptoms. Age is also a contributor as in most cases winter SAD is diagnosed around age 18 and is less likely to occur in older age groups. “You get a little extra tired,” sophomore Alison Baker said. “But it’s not because you did a lot of homework. You’re constantly tired and slow. You will know if you are depressed, and it will affect grades because people don’t have the motivation to do their work.” According to research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, youth may have increased vulnerability to symptoms, potentially making them more susceptible to developing SAD. The seasonal patterns of low self-esteem and concentration seen in teenagers are a concern since the time
Are you experiencing any effects of seasonal depression? *Out of 82 responses
Yes 39.1%
period of the symptoms correspond with the school year and could affect academic abilities and social relationships. “If you think you need help, ask for it,” junior Piper Ruwe said. “Talk to someone you trust, whether it’s a friend or an anonymous online resource. It’s good to find friends who also deal with the same thing so you can relate and talk about it.” Some resources who are available to students who may be feeling this way are the school counselors; Heather Brown, Geoff Heckman, Sandi Ogden and Paige Schillig, or the social workers Missy Falk and Darbi Hines. Outside of school as well there is the option to contact therapists or online resources such as ADAA, an online support group that allows individuals struggling with anxiety or depression to connect with peers experiencing the same struggles.
No 26.8%
Maybe 34.1%
December 2019, 13
Taking care of herself, junior Piper Ruwe puts a face mask on in the bathroom. Self care can help relieve symptoms of seasonal depression. Photo illustration by Jessenia Orellana
“I talk to people,” freshman Callie Spainhour said. “I have close friends that I can express my feelings to, and they listen, and it helps a lot. I’m not scared to open up, and I have trusted adults I know I could talk to if I needed to.” Spainhour said seasonal depression makes people upset, so seeking help is necessary to getting diagnosed and aquiring the resources to get better.
While telling a story, freshman Callie Spainhour laughs with her friend. Spainhour told a story about how her little brother spent his birthday money to buy her food when she was feeling down. Photo illustration by Jessenia Orellana
“Go talk to your counselor,” Baker said. “Instead of trying to figure out what to do by yourself, try talking it out, and a counselor will help you make a plan.” Ruwe recommends talking things out and then taking some time to process thoughts and to clear the mind. “I always take one day out of the week for myself, whether it’s a Sunday or a weeknight,
and I make sure that I don’t have homework or anything else to stress about,” Ruwe said. “I turn on my colored lights and my salt lamp, then I take a hot shower and take off all of my makeup. I listen to really good music, and I will put my phone away for a few hours and just hang out.” “Everyday Health” recommends a few tips to help those experiencing SAD. Time outdoors can be beneficial for improving mood and mindset. Spending time with friends and loved ones who understand can also help by providing personal contact and a sense of connection. Lack of concentration is part of the disorder, so asking for help with homework and other responsibilities will sometimes be necessary. “Whenever winter hits, it’s quiet, and there’s a lot going on,” Ruwe said, “There are finals at school, and we’re on a break a lot so it’s sometimes hard to see people and hard to talk things out. You have to do what’s best for you.”
14, Sports
WRESTLING WITH Weight
Wrestlers must meet specific standards to compete
After being flipped, sophomore Eli Rocha attempts to help junior Grant Stathopoulos up on Dec. 2. Stathopoulos has wrestled for seven years. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Written By Tatianna Tafolla
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restling can be physically and mentally demanding, like any other sport, but with the addition of meeting weight requirements, there is an added set of expectations. Each year when the wrestling season begins, there is a certain weight class that each of the wrestlers must fit into. How they will achieve that though, depends on if they are told to gain or lose weight, and to what extent. “Society now is a lot more under the microscope,” wrestling coach Reggie Burress said. “Now everybody is more aware of what’s going on, and everyone is under the same rules and regulations.” The state of Missouri has a formula that every wrestler must follow, the Missouri Weight Management Program. This program is designed to determine the minimum weight class that a wrestler can participate in throughout the season. “There’s lots of kids that have
to maintain gaining and losing weight to keep their weight class,” Burress said. A wrestler’s minimum weight class is established by the weight management program, which is determined by the athlete’s body fat, remaining at a minimum of 7 percent for male wrestlers and 12 percent for female wrestlers. If the body fat requirements aren’t met for the season, the wrestler is unable to participate. MSHSAA set these standards because of concern for the safety of the athletes who participate in high school wrestling programs. “Now there’s a lot more education about nutrition and what athletes should and shouldn’t do, which has made it easier for them rather than hard now,” Burress said. Times weren’t always like this though. These rules weren’t initially set until around 2015. The new regulations and rules prevent wrestlers from starving and dehydrating themselves to make weight in their lowest possible class.
Pinned down on the mat, senior Jerin Munn and wrestling coach Kiel Giese practice techniques on Dec. 2. To prepare for the season, the wrestlers have to clean up their diet and get into the mentality of being ready for the upcoming season. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Completing a practice match, sophomore Eli Rocha and junior Grant Stathopoulos take a small break before going again on Dec. 2. Rocha wrestles all year round. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
December 2019, 15
Junior Hunter Berge, who has been wrestling since he was 7 years old, has seen the program change throughout the years and said that it is a lot safer than it used to be. “My dad used to wrestle, and he always said he used to have to cut a lot of weight,” Berge said. “I don’t really have to cut a whole lot of weight. You may have to catch a diet or run a little extra.” Berge focuses on meeting his weight class by maintaining a consistent healthy diet throughout the course of the season. Sophomore LJ Scott also tries to stay away from sweets and watch his diet while trying to lose weight. “Our school has salads; I always eat a salad,” Berger said. “We usually
have deer meat, and it’s a really good type of meat. I’ll eat that for breakfast, for dinner my mom makes a good soup that’s really light on you.” Some of the safest ways a wrestler can lose weight is by having a well-planned diet, similar to Berge’s, keeping a good workout routine inside and outside of practices and staying hydrated. Another method that Scott uses is wearing a lot of clothing during practice so that he can sweat it off. “Four pounds in one practice is the fastest I’ve dropped weight,” Scott said. Even with healthy ways of losing weight though, there are always risks some athletes may take to meet their weight class.
“[When people] starve themselves, I don’t see that helping any,” Berge said. “You don’t have any energy for practice or matches.” Burress encourages the wrestlers who have to lose weight to do it in a natural way. With the new regulations in the program that have developed in recent years, this has created more checks and balances for the wrestlers to follow regarding health. This helps deter wrestlers from starving themselves because it may seem as the “easiest” option. The wrestlers can see it is in fact life-altering and could increase risk. “Mentally it’s sometimes challenging because you want to eat but you can’t, so it puts you into a bad mood,” Scott said.
Nutrition According to the Coaches
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The coaches don’t specifically suggest any sort of “blanket” or “uniform” type diets, because of health reasons, but for when parents and the wrestlers have any concerns, it’s suggested to go look to www.choosemyplate.gov as a resource.
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