28 minute read
The Radish
from 2022-04-21
The contents of this series are entirely satirical and should not be regarded as fact.
For two bonus radishes, visit wsspaper.com.
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BY CAROLINE MASCARDO & ROSEMARY TIMMER-HACKERT
STUDENTS SHARE AP TEST-STUDYING STRATEGIES
PAID PROMOTION ENTERS PUBLIC CLASSROOMS
West High will administer the 2022 AP tests over the first two weeks of May. With these high-pressure exams on the horizon, many test-takers have implemented various studying strategies to prepare, some more unique than others.
“I’ve been sleeping with a textbook under my pillow since spring break ended — Mondays and Wednesdays AP Human Geography, Tuesdays and Fridays AP Biology, and weekends AP Spanish,” said Dormir Hawkins ’24. “I’m hoping I can soak up all the information I missed sleeping through class in time for the tests.”
Other students have opted to avoid sleeping altogether. According to a recent survey of West High students enrolled in AP courses, 76% reported sleeping 5 hours or less since AP Crunch Time (more commonly referred to as April) began.
“I don’t remember the last time I got 8 hours of rest,” said Kay Oss ’23. “With seven exams to study for, the only time I can review is when I should be sleeping.”
Although most AP test-takers spend the majority of April reviewing in hopes of receiving a score of 4 or 5, some believe there are alternative methods to attain high exam scores. Current AP U.S. History student Jack Pott ’24 plans to leave his Venmo username — @a-rad-ish-guy — on the DBQ portion of the exam for his test grader.
“The Gilded Age? The Great Depression? I honestly couldn’t tell you anything about either of those things — I haven’t paid attention in APUSH all year,” Pott said. “I’m a lost cause at this point. My only hope for a passing score is to get whoever is grading my exam to request as much cash as they want in exchange for a good score.
Earlier this month, some furious students began the Destroy College Board campaign, citing the corporation’s monopolization of education as a key reason for West High students’ general sleeplessness and decline of well-being.
“AP test-takers, please don’t let a single-digit number define your self-worth. After you finish applying to colleges, that number literally doesn’t matter anymore, I assure you,” said Principal Mitch Gross in the latest Monday Message. “Please get some sleep and take care of yourselves.”
28 ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 21, 2022
Nectar, Rectangleroom, Talenttrade: West High students have become familiar with these brand names and more as the number of paid promotions in teachers’ lessons grows.
“I thought I was dreaming the first time I heard a pitch,” said Willow Taylor-Frank ’25. “My teacher had just told us what the math homework was and then suggested we get some extra practice using Intelligent. That was strange enough, but then she talked about it for at least two minutes.”
The idea spread throughout the staff, with the average student now encountering two sponsorships per day. Younger teachers have been especially likely to put sponsored content in their lessons. Monet Ghetter, who started teaching this year, was the first teacher to include paid promotion in their classes.
“The salary I get paid as a new teacher isn’t quite enough, so I asked an influencer friend of mine to put me in contact with the brands she’s worked with. I told them I had a loyal audience of 120 teenagers that watch me five days a week, and one of the brands offered me $40 for five days of promotion,” said Ghetter.
While the administration expressed disapproval of sponsorships and made attempts to stop them, teachers defended the practice by claiming they are just personal recommendations. Teachers also argued that the use of brands like Syntaxly, Interest Stream and Intelligent could be beneficial for students.
“While I’m against sponsored lessons, I could name a few students off the top of my head that could use a subscription to Bill Hygiene Group,” said mathematics teacher Pat Ryan. “Personally, I give students the option to sponsor my lessons themselves through the classroom’s Patreon page.”
The administration finally settled on forcing teachers to disclose any sponsored content in their lessons.
“It’s not ideal. I’d rather school be used for learning the curriculum than learning about brands,” said Principal Mitch Gross. “But, it was clear that wasn’t going to happen. At least now students know when a lesson is sponsored, which will allow them to make better decisions concerning the brand mentioned.”
KIM REYNOLDS TAKES ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS
ICCSD ADMINISTRATORS DECREE MASKS OFF, CLOTHES OFF
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2426 into law Tuesday, prohibiting girls six feet tall and up from participating in women’s sports. While many see this as harmful and unnecessary, Reynolds stated that the bill is essential for protecting women’s sports.
“The average woman is 5 foot 4 inches tall, and 99% of women in America are under 6 feet. These women deserve to see their effort and training pay off, but women over 6 feet have too much of an inherent physical advantage,” Reynolds said.
The Short Girls Association, who have been lobbying for this law for over five years, attended the signing of the bill.
“We don’t hate tall girls. I love competing against taller girls, but it’s not really a competition if they always win,” said Tina Peterson, a member of the organization. “I’m glad someone is finally taking steps to let women be able to play sports in a fair environment.”
It is unknown how many athletes this bill will affect, but many women are already coming out and sharing their stories.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was in sixth grade. I love it. I love my team. And suddenly I don’t get to play anymore?” said Tahlia Williams. “I know the state is supposedly making the sport more fair, but isn’t this unfair to me?”
Opponents of the bill are arguing that Reynolds is addressing a problem that doesn’t exist.
“Everyone’s genetic makeup is different. We all have advantages that we work with and disadvantages that we work to overcome,” said women’s rights activist Fenna Nest. “It is ridiculous for a woman to be banned from her sport because of her biology.”
If you have been feeling stressed about how lame your outfits are, fear no more. Not only has the mask mandate been lifted, but ICCSD administrators have also decided students are no longer required to wear clothes while on school property. After nearly a year of uncertainty regarding the district dress code, administrators have finally provided some clarity.
“Ultimately, this is the more equitable option. What if some students can’t afford clothes? The district will not provide any support. Instead, we’re laying a clean slate, so students no longer have to worry,” one administrator said.
The student response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m personally really grateful for the removal of the clothes mandate,” said Shirley Ukare ’25. “Now I don’t have to spend an hour every morning trying to pick out what to wear.”
Unsurprisingly, there was an awkward transition period during the initial days of the clothing mandate being dropped.
“It was sort of weird at first, seeing some of my classmates and teachers walking around buck-naked,” Ukare said. “But after getting used to it and taking off my clothes myself, I think this measure should have been implemented earlier. I feel like it’s only natural we stay the way we came into the world — I’ve discovered nudity is a social construct.”
Although most have grown accustomed to the sight of several West High students and staff naked all over campus, there has been particularly significant pushback from the school nurses and janitorial staff.
“There is fecal matter all over the place and so many messes to clean up,” said West High custodian Ivana Cry. “Please, I don’t care what you do at home, but cover yourselves properly at school.”
ART & DESIGN BY ATHENA WU
APRIL 21, 2022 ENTERTAINMENT 29
SHOE GAME SHOE GAME SHOE GAME SHOE GAME SHOE GAME Sports and fashion have created a long-lasting culture around sneakers that have made a mark at West High.
BY KRISHA KAPOOR & LILY PROCHASKA
T To some, shoes are just another accessory, something to wear to protect your feet. For others, collecting shoes is a fun hobby, and their footwear brings out a sense of pride. From Yeezys to Crocs, shoes of all types can be seen in the hallways of West High.
English teacher Amari Nasafi’s interest in shoes began at a young age. Most of his early sneaker inspiration came from top athletes and celebrities.
“Like any kid who came of age in the 90s, I was obsessed with Michael Jordan,” Nasafi said. “My high school bedroom [had] lots of Michael Jordan posters that were quintessential 90s stuff.”
Jordan shoes were some of the first to create a culture around shoes — Michael Jordan debuted his Nike Air Force Sneaker in 1985 for performance on the basketball court. Now, Nike has released a total of 35 Jordan editions.
Sneakers were first made in the mid-1800s for athletes who needed durable footwear. Unlike other shoes, sneakers were made of rubber soles and prioritized flexibility and comfort. In the 1920s, American basketball player Chuck Taylor pioneered the trend around sneakers with his Chuck Taylor All-Stars. The primary audience of the shoe was basketball players and fans.
“I’d say basketball for sure is a staple for shoes,” said basketball player Jack McCaffery ’25. “I’ve always seen my favorite NBA and college players wearing them, and it’s a big thing in basketball.”
Since the NBA predominantly consists of Black players, sneaker culture has naturally been interconnected with Black culture and fashion.
“When Black players began to come into the NBA in large numbers, they changed the style of the game. That aesthetic — the emphasis on improvisation, boldness and sometimes, exag-
-AMAN REDDY ‘23
30 SPORTS APRIL 21, 2022 geration — shows up in sneaker culture, too,” Nasafi said. “I see sneaker culture as a sub-genre that has its roots in predominantly Black cultural milieus, somewhere near the intersection of basketball and hip-hop fashion.”
However, athletes alone do not influence all of sneaker culture. Celebrities not affiliated with sports often release shoes of their own, like Kanye West with his shoe brand Yeezy.
Grey Genkinger ’23 primarily got into sneakers that matched her style. She believes it is simpler to wear sneakers for fashion purposes.
“If you have a passion for clothes, it’s easier because in sports, you’re using them [to] get use out of them,” Genkinger said. “With clothing, you’re just wearing them to look good.”
Similarly, Aman Reddy ’23 started wearing sneakers because of their appearance. With a growing shoe collection, Reddy has noticed his shoes influence his clothing style. “My clothes are dictated by my shoes. I’ll get a pair of shoes, and then I’ll eventually buy clothes and a wardrobe around that pair of shoes,” Reddy said. According to Reddy, increased social media use during the pandemic has increased interest in fashion and shoes. “It’s growing especially during Covid because everyone is on their phone, and social media is blowing up with TikTok. There’s a lot of people in general right now who are probably more conscious about their fashion choices than they were pre-Covid,” Reddy said. “If you’re really into sneaker culture, social media may not have that big of an influence. But for people on the periphery of that area, it’s a gateway to getting sneakers.” As a teacher, Nasafi has observed different trends develop through the hallways, such as Yeezys. “I think generationally, a divider for me is when Kanye signed with Adidas, and Yeezy started proliferating,” Nasafi said. “To me, there is nothing aesthetically appealing about them at all, but I can see them on younger
-AMARI NASAFI, ENGLISH TEACHER
people like, ‘Oh, okay, that’s your thing; that’s your generation.’”
Nasafi appreciates the changes in trends that he has noticed.
“I value them because it’s nice to have those sorts of distinctions within a culture, whatever kind of art form,” Nasafi said.
Another significant development in sneaker culture is the process of reselling shoes online. Companies like StockX and GOAT buy trending shoes in bulk on the release date and then sell the shoes for a high price or put the shoes up for bidding. Nasafi believes the reselling business of sneakers has taken some of the experience out of collecting shoes.
“Sneaker culture has become even more commodified with the advent of reselling. It used to be a thing where it wasn’t just about how much money you had because you had to be willing to camp out and wait for releases to come out,” Nasafi said. “That used to narrow down the people who [were] really into it and who weren’t. Now, it’s kind of like if you have a credit card — you just have to bid the highest.”
Online stores, however, make purchasing sneakers more accessible to McCaffery.
“I mostly go online to StockX, GOAT or Fight Club. Since I wear a size 15, I struggle to find cool shoes in my size in stores, so I just go around on sites looking for shoes,” McCaffery said.
Although reselling platforms have made some shoes hard to access for a reasonable price, Reddy believes most shoe companies have the right intentions.
“Companies will do a lot of drops, and they’ll make sure people who want the shoes can get them, so as long as you’re not sleeping on what you want, there’s a pretty good opportunity to get shoes,” Reddy said.
As access to shoes becomes more convenient
SNEAKER TRENDS
through technology, Nasafi believes getting into shoes is more common. “[Sneaker culture] was more niche … and now it’s gotten to be such a part of the broad mainstream culture that it’s diluted a little bit,” Nasafi said. Nasafi says that it is increasingly difficult for brands and people to create distinctive shoe designs as time goes on. “So much has already been done with sneakers. It’s kind of hard to be original and do something new. I think about this obsession with remakes and remixes of films that have already been done,” Nasafi said. “I think we’re kind of getting stuck in that with sneakers too. There’s only so many colorways we can do.” However, as shoe game influencers come and go, their shoe choices and trends do so with them. Every day, new athletes and celebrities come out with new collaborations and start trends in sneaker collections.
“Shoes are a big deal within sports, and it’s expanding all over multiple sports,” McCaffery said. “There are a lot of new people getting their signature shoes, not only in basketball.”
Additionally, Reddy believes that sneaker culture will continue to develop.
“[Sneaker culture] will grow because people are more conscious about their style due to the ever-growing impact of social media,” Reddy said. “People are more likely to be exposed to shoes they may like or be intrigued to buy.”
PHOTOS BY SACHIKO GOTO & COURTESY OF STOCKX DESIGN BY EVA JORDAN
Chuck Taylor All-Stars Adidas Superstar Nike Air Force Air Jordan One Yeezy
1922 1969 1982 1985 2015
SPORTS
APRIL 21, 2022
31
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO ARAB CULTURE
WSS Intern Reem Kirja ’25 explains Arab culture and contributions.
BY REEM KIRJA
ART & DESIGN BY SACHIKO GOTO
It’s a humid April morning, and sounds of people getting ready for the day engulf the atmosphere. I wake up around 7 a.m., drink a cup of milk tea and head out. Most people rush to school or work, thinking it’s an ordinary April morning. Others spend their time counting down the days to their upcoming AP exam. Little do they know, this is a special month for a particular group of people — April is Arab Culture and Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Arab culture and commemorate contributions by Arab people to the development of society.
The hearths of Arab culture are North Africa and the Middle East — two regions full of exotic spices and vast oil reserves. The Middle East is a vernacular region, so the countries included are typically debated among geographers. Now, Arab culture has spread beyond its origins, with Arabs inhabiting every continent.
Arab culture is an umbrella term used to describe the shared religion, language and ethnicity between Arabs in different countries. However, it’s important to note that practices in each area differ from one another. In most cases, the qualities of generosity, respect and loyalty are shared among the various regions. Although diversity is present in practiced religions, 93 percent of Arabs identify as Muslim. For that reason, Arab culture and Islam are closely intertwined, making it hard for outsiders to distinguish between them.
In many cultures and religions, food is considered important, and Arab culture is no different. Arabs believe that food brings people together. For example, during Ramadan, many families invite close comrades and prepare a food spread that includes staple dishes like falafel, ful meddamas and shawarma. Food is also incorporated into traditional gatherings, such as weddings, birthday parties and school celebrations.
Another important aspect of Arab culture is clothing style, which uniquely ties back to each country’s history. For example, Sudanese women who are elderly or married wear a toub, a long piece of decorated cloth wrapped around the body in a specific manner. Many women choose to wear the toub to represent their culture, but others opt for a more Western look. In Algeria, cultural clothing typically consists of differently styled dresses depending on the wealth of the individual. Like the Sudanese, Algerians alternate between Western and traditional clothing depending on the event.
Arab culture is an intricate and vast topic, but it barely gets talked about in the mainstream media and schools. Arabs have long been victims of underrepresentation. In the standard American education curriculum, Arab heroes are neither included nor talked about, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any contributors from the ethnicity. To put this into perspective, printers and most electronic devices wouldn’t exist due to their use of algebra, a mathematical theory invented by Arabs. Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī (780 CE - 850 CE) was a Muslim astronomer and mathematician who introduced the concept of algebra. Famous names, such as Albert Einstein and Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, used al-Khwārizmī’s discoveries to achieve their work. Other notable Arab inventions include paper, ink, cosmetics, toothbrush and toothpaste, plumbing systems, and medical therapies such as cupping and acupuncture. Evidence of most of these inventions can be found in Egyptian records, ancient relics and the Quran. Many credit Arab inventions to the ancient Greeks or the Chinese, but in reality, these inventions were first made by Arabs and later improved by different ancient civilizations to a certain degree.
Misinformation about Arab culture affects Arab women in a particular way. The media and government propaganda typically portray Arab women as weak, oppressed or unintelligent. A consequence of these stereotypes is lack of employment and trust. For example, Muslim women are 65 percent less likely to be employed than Christian women in the United Kingdom. This leads to Muslim communities having economic disadvantages, such as lower-grade education and less access to services due to being classified as low-income. Additionally, hate crimes and racial profiling are currently at an all-time high, leading to unstable safety in primarily Muslim and Arab communities. Another effect of these stereotypes is the justification of “liberation” bills and government targeting, such as the hijab ban in France, which bans the wearing of any hijab type. As an Arab Muslim, my hijab is part of my identity, and the same goes for many other Muslim women. We don’t wear the hijab because we’re forced to — it’s a way to express our religion, culture and identity.
Even though Arabs significantly contribute to society every day, many still degrade them. The Middle East and North Africa are excellent examples of areas with cultural and geographic diversity. Nonetheless, most representation in the media is that of conflicts and civil wars. If the truth isn’t explicitly presented to us, we need to educate ourselves on it. As students, we don’t have a lot of power, but we can use resources available to educate ourselves and others. We can use the internet to advocate for Arab rights and to ask questions, such as what a hijab is and the similarities and differences between Arab culture and Islam. Recognizing Arab Culture and Heritage Month is the first step toward change. School districts and other administrations should do more to support Arabs, such as revising their education plans to include Arab history. Through proper representation of and education on Arabs, we will not only decrease rates of hate crimes and discrimination, but we’re opening the door for proper representation of other marginalized groups as well.
32 OPINION APRIL 21, 2022
ARAB NATIONS: A QUICK GUIDE
Arab is generally accepted to be an ethnicity. The term “Arab” is not to be confused with the term “Middle East,” which encompasses non-Arab nations. The Arab world is made up of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. There are currently 22 countries generally accepted to be Arab countries. These countries are: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Source: New World Encyclopedia, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
HELEN’S HOT TAKES: PROBLEMATIC TY
POSITIVI
Columns Editor Helen Zhang ’22 discusses the importance of recognizing toxic positivity and how to avoid it.
BY HELEN ZHANG
ART & DESIGN BY ZOEY GUO
Our society often portrays optimism as a virtuous trait for people to possess. We admire those who can see the bright side of every situation and stay positive through extreme struggles.
However, there is a difference between being optimistic and having an excessively positive attitude. In fact, there are instances where positivity becomes toxic. According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, people display toxic positivity when they respond to a situation with false reassurances instead of being empathetic about someone’s negative feelings.
One example of toxic positivity in action is a response to the ongoing pandemic. Flowery, aesthetic social media posts that spew messages, such as “Just stay positive and keep going!” are tone-deaf and likely come from a place of privilege. Those who have lost their jobs or loved ones or face mental and physical health challenges have every right to be less-than-positive about their situation. Simply trying to be positive won’t erase their struggles, and it’s ignorant to belittle their experiences.
In a TEDx talk about toxic positivity, speaker Mahmoud Khedr stated, “Our language is so important.” The words we choose in response to someone’s suffering determines how validated and supported they feel. Instead of suggesting to your friend to stop being negative, you should remind them it’s normal to feel unpleasant emotions. You can be honest about being unsure of what to say, but just let them know you are here for them.
Additionally, Khedr said that when we or someone we know is struggling, we shouldn’t mention that there is always someone who has it worse. It’s not wrong to be grateful, but telling yourself that you don’t have the right to be upset because another person out there is struggling more than you is damaging.
The issue with toxic positivity is viewing negativity as a choice and something to be fixed. It can delegitimize mental health conditions such as depression, in which one cannot simply choose to be positive. When someone is physically injured, we wouldn’t tell them to just “feel better,” so the same should go for mental health struggles. Getting professional help is something to encourage when someone is struggling with their mental health, just like when someone is sick.
According to a YouTube video by psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Marks, the thought-stopping that toxic positivity promotes is ineffective. Trying to not think about something actually makes you think about it more. Also, Healthline says masking your feelings may put a strain on your relationships as others feel they don’t know who you truly are. Thus, it’s best to be honest with yourself and those around you about your feelings, even if they’re not on the happy side.
Having diverse feelings is what makes us human and it’s okay to admit that something makes you feel bad. In fact, affective labeling, or naming the emotion you’re experiencing, can be beneficial. Furthermore, Scientific American reports, “Unpleasant feelings are just as crucial as the enjoyable ones in helping you make sense of life’s ups and downs.” Accepting our low moments allows us to better recognize our high ones.
In addition to using considerate language for others, you can avoid expressing toxic positivity toward yourself through resilience, which means accepting and working through your struggle while recognizing you don’t enjoy it. It’s also necessary to be clear about your intentions when you decide to open up to someone. Let the other person know if you want advice or simply a listening ear. On the other end, as the person listening, make sure you know what they need from you so you can be supportive in the best way possible.
Toxic positivity usually comes from a place of good intentions; we want to help someone feel less upset and remind them to strive for happiness. However, it’s important to live honestly and not suppress the more difficult parts of the human experience. No matter what disturbs your mental health, it is always worth taking seriously. Recognizing and accepting when you are not okay are the first steps toward health and healing.
- HELEN ZHANG ‘22
OPINION APRIL 21, 2022 33
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
School staff and students should take more proactive steps to ensure the mental well-being of students and disband the stigmas surrounding mental health.
Any young lives lost is too many. Within a year, the ICCSD suffered losses of students, including due to suicide. The grief and hurt caused by these events are impossible to forget and necessitate change. Informing students of available resources and setting up spaces to talk for one day is not enough. The district, school staff and students need to take more proactive measures to ensure the mental well-being of students and disband mental health stigmas.
The culture around mental health in schools is filled with institutional, public and internal stigmas. In a place where students are encouraged to “achieve excellence,” there is a distinct built-in pressure to continue to push yourself, regardless of your well-being. When students struggle, they should not feel obligated to “power through.” Some teachers add to this culture by leading students to prioritize assignments over their self-care, rewarding unhealthy academic habits. It is more important for students to stay alive than finish their homework.
Another detrimental part of the stigmas surrounding mental health issues is who are perceived to have them. Even if a person appears healthy on the outside, they can be fighting their own battles on the inside. The stigmas are especially harmful to men. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men took their own life 3.88 times more than women in 2020. Men are hurt by traditional gender roles — how are men supposed to feel comfortable speaking up and seeking help when they are struggling if they are constantly supposed to appear “strong” and “dominant”? Research also suggests that men are less likely to recognize symptoms of mental illness in themselves and accept help.
The ICCSD Social-Emotional Learning attempts to address ignorance. However, the SEL lessons during AFT are not functioning as intended, because there is a disconnect between students and teachers, with many students feeling forced to participate. Students who do not want to participate joke around and brush off the lessons, rendering them ineffective. This problem is amplified because teachers are not is using appropriate terminology to normalize discussing mental health and remove negative connotations. Words truly matter.
As a student body, it is paramount to look out for each other by checking in with people, even if you do not know them well, and helping them find resources and support. It is also crucial to encourage others and remind them to take breaks to prioritize well-being. Maintaining mental health should come before grades and pushing yourself too far. However, the responsibility of maintaining peers’ mental health should not fall solely on the students. Teachers and administration should be understanding of students’ mental struggles and create a community that is open and honest about students’ well-being — at all times. Teachers must follow through with administrative actions, like the SEL lessons and community-building exercises, for them to be effective, and they must be taught with the same seriousness as their lesson plans.
Instead of the current SEL format, consistently having optional circles for students would help build community and create an atmosphere where students truly feel safe and comfortable expressing their emotions. The circles should be based on sharing and listening rather than lecturing, like SEL. While optional circles were held March 24, more circles are needed for topics other than grief. Only 11 students attended these circles, likely because of the lack of accessibility. For many people, these circles were only communicated to them through emails and it was hard for students to justify missing class. These community-building efforts should be accessible to everyone during school hours and gradually increased. West High administration has also proposed having a NESTT as a space for students to navigate their emotions and calm down, an initiative requiring district staffing and funding. Having a NESTT is an important resource the district needs to support. To have effective, proactive steps that help students who are struggling, we must form a supportive community where everyone works to destigmatize mental health.
TERMINOLOGY
Instead of “mentally ill,” use “has a mental illness” instead. “Mentally ill” implies the person is defined by this condition.
Instead of “suffering from a mental illness,” use “living with mental illness” instead. “Suffering from a mental illness” victimizes the person.
Instead of “committed suicide,” use “took their own life” or “was lost to suicide” instead. “Committed suicide” insinuates a crime and puts blame on the person.
Avoid using mental health terms for minor inconveniences in your life such as “I’m so OCD.”
Sources: Health Partners & Psychology Today
licensed mental health professionals and often want to get through the lesson. Teachers already have enough on their plates — trying to coordinate and get kids involved in another kind of lesson only adds extra pressure. The SEL environment is not friendly or inviting enough for students, as many are with unfamiliar classmates. This takes away the safety that students should feel when trying to be genuinely vulnerable and heard.
While the importance of mental health should be taught and normalized from a young age, we, as a community, must do our best to break down stigmas now. A noteworthy aspect of this
ART & DESIGN BY ZOEY GUO
This is an editorial. An editorial, like news reporting, is based on objective facts. However, its purpose is to share conclusions and opinions that have been derived by our editorial board and are not associated with the news staff.
34 OPINION APRIL 21, 2022
BY SILA DURAN & ATHENA WU
Cut out the square patterns below and follow 10 easy steps to make your own fun spring origami.
ART & DESIGN BY SILA DURAN
Fold paper diagonally twice and across twice as shown above. Pinch two corners and bring them together. Make sure the side with open flaps faces down. Fold both right and left sides to the center crease on the front and back. Fold the top down both ways.
Unfold the past two steps. Take the top flap (cited in step 2) and pull it to and fold on step 4’s crease and press down along guides made in step 3. Repeat on the other side. Fold the right and left flap so their sides align with the vertical center. Fold the right flap over the left on both sides. Fold both bottom flaps up as high as they can go.
Pull the flaps in the center outward and bend them down. Fold one tip down and you are done.
For video instructions and an extra tutorial, scan the QR code.
Repeat the process of step 7.
