Tri-Color Times 2019-02

Granger high school

Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression

TRICOLORTIMES.COM

FEBRUARY 2019 LXI-VI

Unrealistic expectations can make dating tricky Opinion by Ivan Padilla TAKING a long walk or looking out of a car window while listening to romantic music is the perfect way to get the old longing machine in the heart running. Personally, some Frank Sinatra really pulls at the old four chamber.

Finding someone to spend the rest of life with is an overwhelming and intimidating thing to think about for some people. For others, it is a practice in wishful thinking that prince charming or the perfect girl will come along at the perfect moment. Well… that’s not really how dating goes down.

There is a lot more uncertainty and chance involved.

Being happy with someone does not mean they are the best.

Happiness is a good measure of a good relationship, but there are levels of happiness. If two people are in a relationship and happy,

that does not mean they could not be happier. If that is true, then how can anyone be sure that their best friend’s girlfriend isn’t the one!?

Well, settling is something we all have to do to an extent. A couple who has never fallen in love before, with another person, statistically, will not be the best match. Now some snooty teen will say that their love is special and unique, and no one can tell them otherwise, and it may be, but it’s probably not. For those who are afraid they will die alone, mathematicians surprisingly have a way of solving this.

It is referred to as the “Sultan’s Dowry Problem.” According to a Washington Post article (When to Stop Dating and Settle Down According to Math), the magic number is 37%. The Sultan’s problem is set up with the knowledge of

how many partners the individual will have, and once the relationship is over, there is no going back.

If an individual is going to have 10 partners, they date the first four with the intention of learning what they want in a relationship. Then, after those four, they settle with the next person who is better than anyone else they have dated.

The problem is that no one knows how many partners they will have. In that case the most reasonable way to solve this problem is by applying that same magic 37% figure to time.

Set a time that the individual wants to be settled down and married, say 28. If they start dating when they are 18, then do a little math (Wow, math is everywhere!), and figure out what 37% of the dating life is and date

around for that time. Finally, after that, settle with the next person better than anyone else. Boom, happy life.

Except that there are caveats to this. Using this method of dating does not guarantee a perfect partner. Just like anything, there is a degree of randomness. What if all the people during the dating around period are duds? Well, it is just a risk undertaken when meddling with the complex thing we call love.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to finding a partner and no one way to go about dating. Some people marry their high school sweetheart and live a happy life. Some people never find a partner. There are many situations that may not be favorable, and some people are just unlucky, but no one deserves anything, so use math to increase the chances.

Love is “commitment and having fun,” Karina said. While Adan thinks it’s all about “keeping it real.”

Learn to love yourself, and you will become mindful Review by Liliana Arreola SELF ESTEEM is the most important kind of love because if one doesn’t love themselves one cannot love anyone. When someone has self love, they are more mindful of things, they are kind to themselves, and they are not harsh on themselves when making mistakes.

It is important to have self love because a person is respecting themselves and knowing who they are. People that surround others notice a lot about that person. When they see how they treat themselves, they will treat that person in the way they treat themselves. When someone feels insecure and negative about them-

selves, others treat them poorly.

According to “8 Powerful Steps to Self-Love”, by Melanie Greenberg, there are eight tips about how to feel better about oneself. The eight steps are: 1- When noticing negative thoughts, stop and tell yourself, “It’s okay to feel like this; it is a difficult moment.”

2- Accept that the feeling is there and don’t push it away.

3- Show compassion about the feeling you are experiencing.

4- Make a commitment to learn from the situation that happened.

5- Know that everybody makes mistakes. People are always changing, and they should

take the process to learn.

6- Find a coping mechanism that can help alleviate the stress of the problem.

7- Encourage yourself, and tell yourself positive words.

8- Lead yourself in a positive direction.

Going through the steps can open up one’s mind about themselves. It helps them better themselves, and they are more content with the things they do. There are other ways someone can develop self love: write in a journal, unplug from electronics and spend more time with friends and family, and don’t compare to yourself to others.

Sometimes people get caught

up on how someone else looks, and they want to look just like them because they find their particular traits attractive and enjoyable. However, it is important to understand that every person has their unique qualities that they should be proud of.

Learning self love helps with self-esteem, one will notice all the good things about themselves, they are not so hard on themselves and they don’t feel the need to compare to others. Everyone could feel happy with themselves, but it takes some time and a lot of practice to learn self love.

Build others up, too. Making them feel welcomed, and comfortable in their own skin

Lancer love for music begins at home & continues in earbuds

By Miguel Acosta WHEN LANCERS walk down the hall in between periods or even at lunch, they can see many students with earbuds or headphones in. This has become one of students’ top priorities on their lists of school supplies.

Music is a big part of today’s high school experience. With new music and artists coming out, there is always something new out there. But when Lancers hear certain songs that make them want to move or dance, what kind of music do lancers listen to and how culture plays a part in what they listen to.

“I love hip-hop. It’s what I listen to all the time, but when corridos or zapateado comes on I just feel like dancing,” Alonzo Miranda (12) said. A big part of Mexican culture is dance music.

“If you wake up on a Saturday morning and you hear Mexican music going on in the house, you know that you’re going to spend the whole day cleaning,” he said.

“My parents are into Mexican band music, and I grew up with them listening to it all the time.

I don’t feel like I’ve been influenced by that. I listen to rap, but when corridos come on it, makes me want to move,” Francisco Montelongo (12) said.

“Music is how we celebrate in our lives and the distinct music that accompanies them, and different countries have festivals and event around music and dance,” according to the contiki.com website. Different festivities for cultures require a diverse select of music and traditional dances.

Lancers might or might not be influenced by where they come from. But many of them are proud of their heritage. “I don’t need to wear or listen to my culture’s music to know what race and culture I come from. I’m happy to be myself and proud of my race, even if I don’t show it,” Johnny Pham (12) said.

“I feel like the household that you grow up in and the traditions that are carried on through your family through music, and dance is most likely going to influence the choices you make,” Joan Mendoza (12) said.

Want to read Tri-Color Times on a device? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.

February 2019, page 2

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

For Hispanic families, dating is a spectator sport Opinion by Stephanie Gutierrez LOVING a Hispanic partner could be more challenging than you might expect. Many Hispanic students tend to have a harsh time dating due to the strict, yet hilarious rules parents give them.

Without following these rules, it may result in an even worse punishment such as not being allowing to date until the age of 40.

Though that is the joke most Hispanic parents make, it will haunt you for the rest of your life.

But despite jokingly threatening that you will not be allowed to date until the age of 40, at every family gathering there will be that one family member who will bring up the fact that you are still single. Though these make for memorable events, we can all admit that love is always the worst thing to talk about at family gatherings.

Hispanic families love to have a great tea to sip. It is guaranteed that bringing a potential girlfriend or boyfriend to a family gathering will be talked about for a long time.

The way your potential dates present themselves in front of

your family will determine how they are perceived for the rest of their lives. All the aunts and uncles will either hate you or love you; there will be no in-between.

Simply the way you dress or act will affect how your significant other’s parents view you. Although this might not be the case for all Lancers because some parents realize that a first encounter with family can be nerve-wracking, Hispanic parents disagree and do not follow that polite restraint.

Knowing that you have the family’s approval, you are all set from there. Not only will they bring you into the family, but they will jokingly and kindly make fun of your relationship.

However, don’t be concerned. If you are liked, the Hispanic family is simply trying to poke fun in an endearing and sincere way that is meant to make you laugh.

Having your parents’ approval is one of the most important things while dating someone. Naturally, this can make you very concerned about what your parents think about your significant other. You can either take their warnings and advice or ignore their concerns

and go with what you want. However, it can be pretty hard to be in a relationship that your parents do not approve of, for both people involved in the pair.

When you plan on going out with your Hispanic partner, please make plans days in advance. Hispanic boys and girls take a long time to get ready, and it is very hard for us to show up on time.

I hardly ever show up on time to wherever it is that I am invited. It might be common to have a Hispanic partner tell you ‘I am five minutes away,’ but in reality, he or she just jumped into the shower. So, I’d say, if you are dating a Hispanic boy or girl, tell them an earlier time in order to get them to show up on time for real.

If an event begins at 6:00 p.m., tell them it starts at 3:00 p.m.

There is such thing as a good lie.

Lying to get your boyfriend or girlfriend to get them to a date on time is one of them.

However, despite all of the dos and don’ts of dating a Hispanic boy or girl, remember that your relationship will also be full of love and laughter, not just for you and your partner but for family members as well.

“I helped Francisco on an assignment, and we hit it off. We’re coming up on our tenth month,” Itzel Montes (12) said.

Advice for crushes and the crushed Opinion by Mariah Valle An ongoing stereotype for many generations is that boys have to ask out girls. This stereotype is very misogynistic. Obviously, girls can ask out boys, as well.

Fear of rejection is common, but there is no need to be shy. No one needs to be afraid when it comes to admitting your feelings to someone.

Playing hard to get is not attractive because there is no winning in playing this game. You easily make yourself look arrogant, which is never an attractive characteristic. Just tell your crush that you like them. There is no need to cause added tension.

Rather than making the situation suspenseful, just tell them how you feel.

I understand that a person cannot automatically be told to ask a person out. Taking your time can be OK. A way for a guy or girl to ease into a relationship is by offering to be friends first and then asking them out later. Although it

takes longer, it will be worth it because you will have such a close bond with each other.

There are girls that are fearless and can easily walk up to a crush and simply talk to them. However, other girls are not as lucky.

Instead, they fear that their crush will not reciprocate their feelings, but there is an important thing that needs to be realized. The rejection can temporarily hurt, but it will eventually go away.

Time heals many things, and with patience, the right partner will come along. Keep your options open. You are not committed to marrying the person you date. If the relationship is not working out, stop forcing it.

There is other advice that can be given besides being straight forward with your feelings. Do not give mixed signals to the person you like. Flirting with them at one moment and then not talking to them the next day can lead to much confusion. This can ultimately lead someone to back

away from you because they are not 100% sure how you feel.

If a girl makes the first move in telling you that she likes you, be respectful. If you don’t feel the same way, tell her how you feel but do so politely. This will allow her to no longer waste her time on you and move on, but do not break her heart by being rude and degrading in your comments and reasoning.

If you are really good friends with someone but don’t have reciprocated crush-worthy feelings, realize that your friendship does not have to end. What you had as friends was beautiful and should not be tarnished by a lack of mutual feelings of romance.

So, the next time your stomach starts fluttering and your heart starts racing at the sight and presence of a particular person, do not let anything stop you from admitting your feelings. Regardless of your gender, approach your crush. You never know where it might lead you.

Show more love for LMC students

Opinion by Jelena Dragicevic AS WE THINK of love during the month of February, we should also think of what groups of people could use more love, time, and effort. It might not be that romantic, but teachers, administrators, and government officials should recognize that lower middle-class students need more love.

America may be the wealthiest country in the world, but its education system falls behind many other nations, such as Finland and Japan. This has become a commonly referenced fact by people trying to persuade U.S. policy makers that the education system must face serious reform. However, this change has not yet occurred, and it is possibly a result of looking at this problem from an incorrect angle.

The past solutions that have been posed include: increasing teacher’s wages, shortening the school day, and decreasing homework. Although these cases carry some merit, there seems to be a solution that has been overlooked: increasing accessibility of higher education for lower middle-class students.

In-state and out-of-state public and private colleges typically offer full-tuition for students whose parents make less than $65,000 a year. However, for students whose parents make slightly more than that, this is not the case. Instead, they must seek other alternatives to pay for their education, such as: FAFSA, CSS, merit-based scholarships, and private scholarships.

With so many options, many are inclined to say that it is unnecessary to make higher education more affordable because scholarships can cover expenses, and it is up to the student to work hard to get them. In truth, a deeper reality is being missed.

Many merit-based awards and selective admission spots are disproportionately given to wealthier students. Richard Reeves, author of the book Dream Hoarders, explains that, “High-income students can afford test prep courses to improve their scores, volunteer opportunities in developing countries, published research experiments, and better schools.” Federal aid and other support, contrary to what some may believe, does not adequately provide lower-income students with these same advantages.

According to former Education Secretary Arne Duncan, much of federal support for state schools goes towards free-andreduced lunch. Furthermore, Title 1 funding does not adequately close the gap between socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged students.

Title 1 funds are subject to a school’s discretion, which can be ineffective if the school does not appropriately fund competitive resources. Not to mention that providing for opportunities at school does not fully compensate poorer students for other personal distractions and difficulties out-

side of school.

Other school funding is decided by local districts, naturally dividing those with higher and lower property tax. Thus, there is not much aid going towards better guidance counselors, prep classes, and extracurriculars to lower-income schools that particularly need them. This makes it harder for lower middle-class students to compete for selective admission spots and merit-based scholarships.

Furthermore, FAFSA and CSS do not adequately provide, nor measure, the aid given to its applicants. The required forms are extensive and long, making it hard to follow and fill out for parents, students, and advisors of any kind. Despite its breadth, there are factors that are not considered, particularly the fact that schools require tax-reforms from two previous years.

Naturally, this hardly takes into consideration a family who may have had expenses and losses. Ultimately, the end result is what would seem to be an arbitrary number dictating to the students how much their family is expected to contribute to their education. Students whose parents make slightly more than the cut-off of $65,000 a year typically have expected family contributions upwards of $14,000, according to the studenomics. com website.

The situation is worse for students who live with parents who will not pay for their education.

Obviously, in these circumstances a student should be given more aid to pay expenses, but they are often not because FAFSA and CSS only consider such an application under the condition that their parents are deceased or that they have been officially emancipated.

So, what this nation has in turn created is a convoluted system that does not support the ‘American Dream’ but rather destroys it.

Lower middle-class students are not disadvantaged enough to get full-ride scholarships, not wellequipped to compete for selective admission spots and merit-based school/private awards, and inappropriately provided for by federal agencies.

This has caused some students to not pursue higher-education at all, decline or be rejected from prestigious universities, or go into specializations that leave other jobs vacant (like teaching) to be able to pay off student debt. Perhaps if we start paying more attention to the accessibility of higher education for lower, middle-class students, we will establish a system where students feel they are welcomed and recognized for their efforts.

The struggle of lower, middleclass students does not deny that other socio-economic groups experience their own struggles that should be addressed, too, but there is only so much justice a single article can demand.

February 2019, page 3

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

Love is many things, but it really just sucks

Opinion by Emma Pratt LOVE IS everywhere. It’s in movies, books, music, and more.

However, love is commercialized and overrated. There is even an entire day dedicated to love, Valentine’s Day. Everyone seems to know about love and how perfect it is. However, love is not always as perfect as people think it is.

Love has the ability to make people do stupid things. “When you have just become involved in a romantic relationship, you’ll probably find it harder to focus on other things because you spend a large part of your cognitive resources on thinking of your beloved one,” as stated by Dr. Henk van Steenbergen in his article, Reduced cognitive control in passionate lovers.

Doing things while unfocused can result in harmful outcomes.

So, why do people want to be in love?

Studies also show that when someone falls in love, the same part of the brain connected to drug addiction is activated. “You can feel intense elation when you’re in love. You can feel intense elation when you’re high on cocaine,” Dr. Lucy Brown, a neurology and neuroscience professor said.

This intense elation can result in many people doing things “in the name of love.” This study also shows that someone who has been rejected by their partner, but is still in love, activates the part of the brain associated with pain and distress. That’s why breakups are so painful. Breakups are similar to a withdrawal from a drug.

For those who are single, the pain can be similar. That yearning for love can be so overwhelming that it hurts, especially when one

is third-wheeling. When someone is third-wheeling with a couple who is very in love, it can hurt.

They want to feel the same happiness that the couple does. Wanting love can be just as painful as being in love.

Love is a messy pool of emotions and feelings.

“Emotions are a physical phenomenon. They are just your body taking in information about

later. People fall in and out of love all the time, and the reason is simple. Remember those chemicals and hormones mentioned earlier? They’re the reason.

These chemicals and hormones run through the body, creating the feeling of love. However, once they stop running through the body, the feeling stops with it. That is why relationships can get “boring.” That is why some relationships lose their spark. The adrenaline dies out; therefore, so does the feeling of love. Then, it repeats.

Love is a roller coaster. It goes up and down, up and down. Happy one minute, broken hearted the next. Love causes so much stress. They worry constantly about their partner cheating, yet they want to have complete trust in them. They are afraid of losing them, yet they believe the relationship will last forever.

Love is a feeling that can cause happiness and pain. When someone goes through a breakup, they hurt emotionally. “But emotional pain has been a kind of second-class citizen. I think we take physical pain a bit more seriously.

Our work suggests that we should think seriously about the impact of emotional pain, too,” Naomi Eisenberger said.

Love is complicated. Love is tough. However, people keep going back to it. They get their hearts broken, tape it back up, and jump right into it again. Over and over, they go through this routine, all in the name of love. Love makes people do so many stupid things. It makes people feel awful yet exhilarated. It hurts, then fixes them. It makes people a messy pool of emotions. Therefore, love sucks.

Why do people want to be in love? what’s going on in the world and preparing you to react appropriately,” Geoff MacDonald, a psychology professor at Toronto University, said. Emotions can change constantly, which is why they are unreliable.

“Instead of being driven by our body’s reactions, we can see them as just hormones flowing through our bodies,” Melissa A. Fabello said. While one is in love, their body pumps them full of different chemicals and hormones, like adrenaline and norepinephrine. These hormones can cause mania, appetite loss, fear, and sleeplessness. Therefore, all those sleepless nights someone has, thinking about their partner, is related to the fear of losing them.

Love is also very unreliable.

People put so much time, energy, emotion, trust, and more into a relationship. Some might even end up being the only one putting effort into the relationship, only to get their hearts broken a week

Relationships are hard

Opinion by Angela Cortez IT IS FEBRUARY, and it is time to show love for other people and yourself. Many people will unfortunately be lonely this month, but there is advice that can be given for people interested in having a possible relationship.

Relationships are hard. It is challenging to keep someone in your life, and it requires much time and effort. It is particularly hard for people who get quickly attached to their significant other.

I had three relationships before I met my current boyfriend, who I have been with for a year now.

Despite my previous relationships being rocky, there are many lessons I learned from my mistakes.

The first thing that I learned is that giving a relationship too much hope can ruin it. It is common to fall into the traps of nice compliments and gifts that you overlook the negatives of your relationship. Some people will boast that their significant other makes them happier than ever yet turn around and fail at other aspects of the relationship, such as loyalty, commitment, and honesty. It is very common for people to stay in such negative relationships because they have the hope that the person will “turn around and improve” because they know their partner would “never do anything to deliberately hurt them.” Don’t let nice compliments and the hope for a better future stop you from getting out of a bad relationship.

The best way to ease into a relationship is to start out as friends.

By doing this, a strong foundation of trust can be built before moving on to further commitment that a lust/love relationship would require. It is very common to get involved in a relationship really

quickly, perhaps giving in to the pressures of wanting to be loved and admired or even just falling head-over-heels for someone. Remember, it is OK to take it slow and patiently.

When you finally feel ready to be in a relationship with someone, do not be afraid to approach the person you are attracted to.

There is a stigma that guys have to make the first move, but that is not the case. Girls can make a first move, too. Whether you are a boy or girl, realize that making the first move should not consist of dropping hard-to-catch hints.

If you are not open and direct with your feelings, it will be hard for your potential significant other to get a sense that you like them. The fear of rejection holds many people back. Realize that relationships are fun, but there is nothing wrong with being independent and single, either.

If you are currently involved in a relationship, there are certain things you should keep in mind to make your partner feel happy.

Giving words of reassurance is very comforting. However, do not simply say words without being sincere. It is very easy to spot an insincere, “fake” response.

When you tell your significant other to “not worry because you are there for them,” show it.

Finally, realize that sometimes the best things in life come when they are least expected. Many people spend much of their time chasing love but never find it. If you are constantly caught up in trying to love others without investing in yourself, the relationships you enter will be built on shaky grounds full of personal insecurities and disorganization that can get in the way.

Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Jelena Dragicevic

Social Media Editor Jocelyn Roberts

Reporters Miguel Acosta Liliana Arreola Landon Burton Erik Carranza Mirella Chamorro Nevaeh Chavez Tyler Danh Angelica Dwight Paola Estrada Elena Flores Ariana Gomez Axel Gonzalez Nia Johansson Stephanie Gutierrez Karla Landeros

Reporters Alexis McArthur Jennifer Melendez Analicia Montoya Nancy Otuafi Ivan Padilla Lina Philip Emma Pratt Adan Puerta Jessica Reyes Carlos Salinas Ivan Siete Mo Sonasi Daniel Staples Leilani Tima Karina Zavala

The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression.

The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length, and liability.

Tri-Color Times c/o Granger High 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320

February 2019, page 4

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

Granger High’s 2018-2019 Sterling Scholars

Zackary Christensen Science

Marian Figueroa World Languages

Leila Mujic Speech/Theatre Arts/Forensics

Chloe Topacio Vocal Performance

Mary N Eng

Omar S Skilled and Technical

Sarai Per Visua

February 2019, page 5

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

Newton glish

Sanchez l Sciences Education

rez Rosas al Arts

Sarah Reynolds Mathematics

Jelena Dragicevic Social Science

Mariana Garcia Family and Consumer Sciences

Eduardo Flores Business and Marketing

Harrison Wynn Instrumental Music

Anjelus Lettig Dance

February 2019, page 6

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

Love can influence students’ prioritization of education

By Leilani Tima PEOPLE have different perspectives and point of views on the topic love. There are many things that love can affect. For high school students, the most obvi-

ous thing that love could affect is commitment to education. In school, there are a lot of Lancers that carry love with them, and their peers can see that. Students can find love as a distraction from

getting their school work done.

“Yeah, I feel as if love kind of does cause a distraction in your education because you would want to put the commitment and effort in each other rather than education,” Junior Kinere (10) said.

Kinere was explaining how love should come after your education and that it should not be the first priority when it comes to your future.

Some students would agree with Kinere, others do not view love the same way.

“Well, I think all successful stu“The motivation and emotion [love] creates determines how one acts anywhere,” Marcy Sound (11) said. dents have

a good support system,” Isabel Charles (11) said. For Charles, being good at school does not necessarily mean not being in love, but having a good support system allows one to focus on school, as well. Charles was not succeeding at school until a teacher spotted her and encouraged her.

Yet, the effect love can have on one’s overall behavior cannot be denied. “Whether you think you’re in love or not, the motivation and emotion it creates determines how one acts anywhere,” Marcy Sound (11) said. If one is in a good, happy, and healthy relationship, and are what is commonly called a power couple, they feel more motivated to do well in other aspects of their lives.

However, if the relationship is unhealthy, this is not the case. An unhealthy relationship can even consist of someone being overly attached and demanding and not letting their partner focus on other priorities, including school.

Although there are people that do feel like love can bring happiness and motivation, there are also some who think that love is

too much here.

“I feel as if love at Granger is overrated,” Zerin Tatafu (10) said. There are people that feel that love is given more attention and priority than it should be given. Many people feel that they need to prioritize love and relationships over education, which does not do them any good for the future. Love can push a student to make inappropriate decisions that can automatically affect college resumes, vocations, etc.

“I think that love can affect education because love can sometimes make you do dumb things, like skip class,” Tuah Asiata (10) said. Love is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be when it negatively influences our behaviors.

If anything can be taken from Granger Lancers’ experiences with love, it is that it is often improperly balanced with education. One should not avoid relationships, but Lancers should definitely learn to balance between their studies and love lives because that will create a sound future and a content emotional and psychological state.

Anime passion: a blend of imagination and fantasy

By Tyler Danh EVERYONE has a passion. For many, that passion is anime. Anime really stands out because it’s imaginative and creative. Anime is created from the human mind to show what viewers wish to have in reality. Anime can consist of action, love, knowledge, and anything a human mind can think of.

“I love the action of anime,” Mechelle Rodriguez (12) said.

Rodriguez watched The Seven Deadly Sins. It is an anime full of action and romance. Rodriguez loves how the protagonist portrays himself and how the protagonist does anything for Elizabeth. Rodriguez is willing to explore more anime and hopes to find another anime that she will be interested in. Rodriguez recommended The Seven Deadly Sins because it is full of action and humor.

“I love the meaning behind the anime,” Oscar Garcia (11) said.

Garcia’s favorite anime is the Boy and the Beast. The anime is about a kid who runs away and travels to another world. It was in that universe that the main character was raised by goats. Fourteen

years go by, and the main character comes back to Earth and realizes they should have stayed. Towards the end of the anime, there is a big war between the animals.

“I love anime because of its storylines,” Enrique Tavares (11) said. Tavares loves anime about action and adventure. Hajime no Ippo is Tavares’ favorite anime. It is about boxing and the adventure of a weak guy. There is a kid who gets picked on and wants to be stronger, so the main character boxes. Ippo becomes stronger and becomes a pro boxer.

Tavares recommends this anime for viewers who are particularly interested in boxing.

Another favorite anime is Dragon Ball Super. Super is about the protagonist getting stronger and rising to new heights. “Anime is dope, and it is inspirational,” Tavares said. It inspires anime viewers to never stop working hard and to reach for the stars.

“Anime shows that our imaginations are limitless,” Brayam Correa (11) said. Correa’s favorite anime is Hunter x Hunter. It is about a boy who is in search of

the protagonist’s father and wants to become strong. Throughout the anime, Gon encounters strong people that try to kill him. Gon wants to become a Hunter, so Gon joins the Hunter exam.

Gon’s father is one of the 12 zodiac signs. Gon’s father is the boar and is very powerful. Gon’s dad travels and vanishes a lot, so Gon keeps on searching for the boar of the zodiac. “I love this anime because it is an emotional ride that consists of action and family,” Correa said.

“Pain is weakness leaving the body,” Eduardo Flores (12) said. Flores quoted this from his favorite anime, Dragon Ball Z. This anime story is about a character named Goku who achieves great power by doing his best every day. Goku wants to eliminate evil and believes everyone should have good in them. “I love this anime because it shows you should never give up even when someone is stronger,” Flores said.

So, it is no wonder why many people love anime. Its lessons of perseverance, strength, and imagination are invaluable to the people that enjoy it.

Mechelle recommends The Seven Deadly Sins because it is full of action and humor.

Being single may be an advantage Opinion by Karla Landeros VALENTINE’S Day is known to be a very romantic holiday for couples. On February 14, there are many students involved in romantic relationships. Single students not involved in a romantic relationship most time may find this particular day very uncomfortable. Regardless, there are other ways to enjoy February 14 without wasting money, having relationship drama, or experiencing disappointments.

Staying single is the preference of what some people just prefer. It saves them drama, time, and money. Relationship drama is probably one of the biggest reasons out of the three because it can be a push factor for both time and money. Relationship drama can also be harmful to grades, emotions, and sometimes even result in physical injury. Most of the time, students just avoid relationships for that simple reason.

Sometimes family can also be a reason to avoid relationships, and the reason why people prefer being single. Sometimes parents don’t approve of certain relationships and so they don’t allow their children to date until certain age. These children grow up saying they really don’t need a relationship.

People may also have experienced something that changed their mind about romantic love.

They might have been hurt in a past relationship and decide to put it off until they feel ready.

Letting relationships until ready is fine and there is nothing against it. Sometimes the positive thought of being single is

best when recovering from a break up.

Students may have goals to accomplish and that may be the reason why they prefer not dating. School, home, future, and personal goals most of the time are more important to students rather than dating. Sometimes even the fact that becoming a better person plays a role in the life of a student.

Other reasons why people don’t usually date is because Valentine’s Day is not only about couples, but about love in general. People usually tend to think of love as in a romantic relationship, when actually love can also be between thinking of someone or something dearly rather than romantically. There are always other people to love in other kind of ways, in any time of the year.

Family and friendships are a great example of love. Growing up with family there might be discussions, but there is always that comfort of love. Families or friends tend to unconditionally love each other no matter of the issues in between. Parents distribute their love between their children, so no one is loved more than the other. In the end, there is no reason to spend Valentine’s Day alone.

It can be beneficial to be either single or in a relationship.

When in a relationship, love can be expressed in other ways rather than family or friends are loved.

When single there’s less to worry about, although when single, there is plenty to worry about already. Single or currently in a happy relationship, anyone can find someone to love on Feb. 14.

February 2019, page 7

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 7

When he runs, Kevin enjoys the adrenaline rushing through his body and the fire in his legs.

Lancers passionate about cars, rap, and math

By Ivan Siete EVERYONE has a passion for something they love doing. It is something that builds over time.

Passions can change or last a lifetime, but they ultimately create a strong emotion for an individual.

In a school as large as Granger, there are an array of Lancers full of differing passions.

Bryan Ramos (12) has a passion for math. Ramos has been doing math his entire life. Math is a subject that is taught as early as kindergarten. Ramos loves how anyone can explain anything with math. “It’s in everyday life,” Ramos said. Ramos plans to make a career out of his passion and wants to become a math or physics teacher.

Other passions consist of nonacademic subjects, such as cars, sports, and music.

Brandon Centurion (12) has a passion for cars and soccer. Centurion’s friend Tyler got him into cars in the 7th grade, and Centurion’s dad got him into soccer and supported him from a young age. Centurion loves how cars look and work. People see him as a “car guy”. In the future, he wants to become a mechanic.

Some people might have a passion that is very common and that makes it fun because it could start a friendship based on two people’s passions. It is very nice

when you find someone with the same passion as yourself.

Eric Antonio (‘18) has a passion for wrestling. Antonio started wrestling out of curiosity with his older brother Angel. Antonio started wrestling in 7th grade and has been doing it for seven years. Antonio fell in love with the feeling of winning. Wrestling has given Antonio the chance to progress at home, with himself, and the sport itself. Antonio is an assistant coach for Granger High School and head coach of Granger’s little league team. Antonio plans on becoming a Spanish teacher and a head coach at a high school one day. “Wrestling is not easy. It is the hardest thing I have done, but it has paid off because it has built me as a student and overall person,” Antonio said.

Victor Landeros (11) has a passion for east coast rap. Landeros fell in love with its beats and melodies. Landeros’s older brother introduced him to east coast rap. When Landeros is older, he will try to get involved with the rap scene. east coast rap influences his style, talk, and who he hangs out with, too. Landeros encourages people to listen to the lyrics of rap because they are quite relatable.

Kevin Alcantar (12) has a passion for running. Alcantar loves the feeling of the wind and

how his bad thoughts go away for a moment. Alcantar loves the adrenaline rushing through his body and the fire in his legs. Alcantar does not plan on stopping anytime soon and wants to start running marathons in the future.

Alcantar has loved running since he was 15 years old and does it competitively to test his limits.

Alcantar advises to start off slow and not rush. “You won’t want to do it if you start hard,” Alcantar said.

Do not be scared of trying something new. Yes, it will be scary, but it never hurts to try because it can sometimes come out to be your passion.

Mr. Johansson has a passion for stories. When Johansson was 10 years old, he and his cousins started to write their own stories.

What inspired them was a fantasy movie called Willow. Mr. Johansson loves the idea that anyone could live through and experience things that would never happen in real life. He still writes stories and plans to keep on doing it. People who have read his stories think of him as a reader and a creative writer. “You need to find a story you love. Once you figure it out, it is all easy after that; you’re set,” Mr. Johansson said.

Finding what brings you much joy requires self-reflection and experimentation.

Lancers shouldn’t dwell on their insecurities Opinion by Carlos Salinas IT IS EASY to tell Lancers to love their insecurities. However, there is more to the story than just that. It’s Monday, Maria just got up from bed and realized her hair is a mess. Maria’s feels upset by how it looks.

Maria shouldn’t be upset, but she shouldn’t accept or love the mess that her hair is, either. Instead, she should get her Suave shampoo that was gifted to her on Christmas and fix her hair. She should only love her insecurities if there’s truly nothing she can do about them.

Learn to love the mole that’s a little too noticeable on James’s chin, but don’t love the yellow rotten teeth James has from not brushing his teeth.

Let’s face it, we are all insecure about one thing or maybe even more. “Fifty-six percent of women say they are dissatisfied with their overall appearance,” as stated on the psychologytoday.com website. That’s not just women either; men feel insecure all the time, too.

Weight is a touchy subject for all of us. The moment this subject

is on the table, most of us tend to shut down because of our own insecurities. When it comes to weight, don’t just tell someone to lose it. Weight is often one of the long-term insecurities. This is where the tables turn.

There’s no clear answer like telling someone to run on a treadmill. Long term insecurities are up to whoever possesses them.

One thing’s for sure, though.

Lancers have to be comfortable in their own skin, even if they don’t think it’s the supermodel look that all the boys want, which isn’t true, by the way.

Social media likes to promote the idea of a specific body type.

This may not seem like such a horrible thing on the surface, but even more insecurities pop up with the concept of ‘if you don’t look like this, there is something wrong with you.’

“These studies examined exposure to media forms and body image to show that there may be a link between viewing images of thin bodies and personal body dissatisfaction,” as stated on the in-mind.org website. Don’t let social media influence what’s right

and what’s wrong.

Realize that body image is like an art project, personal, creative, but also full of hard work.

James has to put in the work to make himself look the way how he wants it to, not what others say he should be. James should analyze the aspects of his life that he is insecure about and can fix, and he should go about doing that the way he deems fit. For the stuff about himself that he cannot change, he should come to accept who he is.

Each and every one of us are so unique and are on our separate journeys of life that we have to come to learn to take people’s advice but also do what we ultimately so desire. We should not be telling people to come to love their insecurities because that gets rid of the incentive to fix problematic areas in one’s life. If a problem has a solution, apply the fix. However, you should be the one to decide what needs fixing in your life and how that can be achieved.

Lancers should do their best to adjust their insecurities, whatever they may be.

Leave players on the field Gaslighting, neglect, cheating, and jealousy are just a few of the problems that come when dating a player.

Opinion by Leila Mujic It has been scientifically proven that for every nine single girls, there is one boy who will be there for all of them, flirting until the end of time, in sickness and in good health, when he has a girlfriend and when he doesn’t. This statistic is obviously not true, but through observing the halls of Granger for the past four years, it certainly can feel that way sometimes.

This issue is all about love, from how to acquire it to how to make it lasting, but the truth is that every relationship we have is a love relationship of some sort. Yes, the love one may show varies from siblings to friends to mentors, but we are constantly surrounded by people who care about us, and likewise we care about them.

As high schoolers, however, we also tend to search for romantic partners that make us feel complete, and it’s perfectly normal according to Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development, we’re just barely reaching a stage where we search for intimacy in fear of isolation.

Many teens do end up with significant others, but for those of us who don’t, who perhaps aren’t as lucky or pretty or popular, watching our friends get to experience the rollercoaster ride that comes with a high school relationship can fill us with envy and longing.

This leads us to the player.

We’ve all seen them: girls crowding around a mysteriously popular guy, most likely tall with luscious locks and eyes like dynamite. He has one girl on the crook of his arm and another talking him to death, both absolutely smitten with this mirage of a perfect man.

Everybody knows about the

reputation of these players: how they treat their current significant others as if they aren’t so significant, cheating on them, gaslighting them to portray jealousy, and sliding a new side piece into place when the relationship fails for rebound after rebound. Why is it, then, that we still fall for these kinds of people?

Part of it is due to their own inferiority complexes blowing up their charisma and manipulation tactics to draw their ‘bait’ in, so to speak, but a large part is also because we refuse to let ourselves have better.

Sometimes just knowing that we have someone to flirt with, even when we know that it’s not real, is better than being alone, especially during this difficult time of year when seasonal depression is hitting hardest.

And yet, this is exactly what we don’t need. We’re only keeping ourselves from getting close to people that might actually care about us, who love us for the way that we are and not simply because we happen to be in the player’s vicinity.

Even though it might feel like one will never find love again from not letting a flirt get through to them anymore, they are actually helping themselves: some of the best relationships have come out of a realization that a person deserved so much better than to be taken advantage of.

And even if we don’t get into a romantic relationship for a while after we break it off with a player, we should recognize that we are surrounded by people who love us. Every relationship is a love relationship: the sooner we embrace the people who truly care about us, the faster we get rid of the negative consequences that surround those who don’t.

February 2019, page 8

Tri-Color Times VOL. LXI Issue 6

Mr. Beck and Lancers offer teen love advice

Bryana likes that fitness activities always put her in a good mood.

Lots to love about exercise

By Alexis McArthur FOR SOME people fitness is an escape and can help them relieve stress. Exercise and other physical activities produce endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Endorphins also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. All these benefits of physical activity make a lot of people fall in love with fitness.

High school is very stressful but thankfully there are a lot of opportunities to take part in physical activity. “I love fitness, because after a good workout, I feel really good about myself, and it makes me feel more confident,” Julian Paredes (12) said.

Parades added that music also helps him feel more motivated to work out and when he feels like he needs to get his mind off something he turns to fitness. “I like lifting more than cardio, but I play basketball so it requires a lot of cardio,” “Exercise has helped me overcome a lot of things in my life like breakups and hard times,” Linda Tran (12) said. Tran also said that if she wasn’t into fitness and sports, she wouldn’t be in as good of shape as she is now. Tran has been a cheerleader for four years—both in high school and outside in competitive cheer. “Fitness in general has been a huge stress reliever for me, because it’s something I think I’m good at,” In a recent poll done by the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), seven

out of ten adults experience stress daily. The poll was to see how they manage their stress, and it found that 14 percent of adults listen to music and another 14 percent exercise. Being that exercise and music go hand in hand that’s nearly 30 percent of people surveyed that say they exercise to relieve stress.

Alyssa Martinez (11) said that she likes fitness a lot and she encourages all her friends to be more active. “I play softball and soccer, and when I exercise it makes me happy,” Martinez said. She also said that exercise is the main way she relieves stress.

“After an intense workout, I feel really tired and sore, but it makes me feel so good about myself that I feel motivated to do more,” Martinez added that a lot of her friends have started doing sports and exercise because she recommended it to them.

“When I’m having a bad day, I like to go running because it helps get my mind off of things and clear my head,” Bryana Tavai (12) said. Tavai has been playing volleyball since she was five years old, for fun and also competitively. Her experience with sports is how she knows that exercise is her main stress reliever.

“Fitness has always been a big part of my life and there are so many benefits to it as well,” Tavai said. She also said that she loves fitness because it helps with her physical appearance and it always puts her in a good mood when she wasn’t already.

By Lina Philip lah Junaid (12) said. High school that come with high school relaMany adults think that teenagers has always been a different tran- tionships, sometimes they make are still learning and growing, and sition to many students growing poor decisions and live in a world that teenagers don’t know what older, it becomes that one step to full of drama,” Beck said. On the love is. “Teenage love is other hand, if relationusually chemistry high ships are healthy and and clarity low.” This handled respectfully, it means that hormones could possibly be a good take over logical thinkthing. If students were ing. “I think that there is a able to handle conflicts different level of maturity and a good level of matuthat takes place for everyrity, relationships would body,” Mr. Beck said. be different than what is Teenagers are at the going on today. stage of being young “Love develops over adults, and intimate retime and strengthens,” lationships may be imLina Tagaloa (12) said. portant to others and less Time may be different acimportant to some. “Teencording to different peoagers experience game ple, but time is certainly where they play a game a long-term goal. Goals of experiencing others are something to be comfor fun,” Ana Finau (12) mitted to, and it becomes said. As young adults, hudifficult and overwhelmmans are still maturing, ing for most teenagers, so and as people get older, it tends to fail in the end. they start noticing what “I think that there is no they personally value point of being in a serious and what they need to put relationship.

Focusing Margret won’t let romance distract her from education. more effort and time into. on school is way more “Love strengthens through having different cliques or groups important in our teenage years hard times and commitment. Of- to get noticed. than anything else. Get your edutentimes this generation has more “You can always balance out cation, buy your house, and then to do with looks and gift giving. school and relationships depend- think about someone—love can Spending money isn’t love,” ing on the person. My brother wait,” Margret Wako (10) said.

Beck said. Everyone finds out graduates with a degree this year There are many different types the true definition of love once and is in a serious relationship,” of love outside relationships, they find it, and it happens at any Junaid said. Not all students but some relationships may help place, time, and anywhere—not know what love is, some adults people cope with what they’re just at school. don’t either, but anyone can be dealing with. “Many teenagers Some teenagers are looking capable of balancing out relation- are just dating because they like for love while others are serious ships and academics—it’s just each other not because they’re in about it and still have relation- a matter of what you personally love,” Junaid said. ships past high school. “A lot of value more.

Time runs differently in everyteenagers also get into relation“I don’t think teenagers are one’s lives, but love will always ships just to get noticed,” Abdul- able to handle all the hormones be there when it’s time.