Feb. 19, 2020 Image Magazine by Lafayette High School

theimagemagazine Lafayette High School • Wildwood, Missouri • Feb. 19, 2020 • vol. 51, issue 4

The Power of Love in Every Form • illustration by DELANEY STULCE

Opening

FROM US ... TO YOU This issue features several stories that illustrate student individuality. As new staff members to student publications, we feel as though it is important to not only recognize all voices in the Lafayette community, but how we can represent them with the most accuracy. In an effort to do so, we assisted in preparing pages primarily focusing on student expression, specifically in respect to love and entrepreneurship. While this issue focuses on several of the unique attributes of the Lafayette community, there are also an array of interesting stories that further illustrate important events and activities that have recently

transpired at Lafayette. As a whole, the stories collectively aim to represent the student body in a manner that appreciates the way in which the diversity shapes the community. Joining the Image staff has been a huge change in our daily life, adding new priorities, opportunities, ways of adapting to change and many other challenges we wouldn’t experience anywhere else. Being a new staff member has its challenges; it feels like jumping onto a running treadmill, but with the help from our editors, our teacher and our team, we’ve come to find confidence in what we do and realize there’s always help when we need it.

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Behind the cover

Editor-in-Chief DELANEY STULCE recreates the image of holding hands to represent all different kinds of love, such as romantic, platonic and familial. • photo by KAYLA CARPENTER

Stay Connected • The Lancer Feed • @thelancerfeed • @thelancerfeed (Counterclockwise) Juli Mejia, Aliyah Studt, Sophia Wasson, Caiomhe Farris, Reggie Brown, Alex Vancil and Laura Barratt Staff Reporters

Web

• lancerfeed.press

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Opening

Feb. 19, 2020

• In This Issue •

• Image Staff • Editors-in-Chief:

Kayla Carpenter Delaney Stulce Sports Editor:

Web Editor: Chloe Baker Assistant: Makayla Archambeault News Editor: Hayden Cottrell Assistant: Corren Tipton

Opinions Editor: Alex Rozar Lifestyles Editor: Grace Kirtley

Assistant: Hannah Fitts

Morgan Vehige

Social Media Editor: Jack Weaver

Artist:

Alex Vancil

Reporters:

Caoimhe Farris Sarah Locke Maya Manor Sophia Scheller Abby Stebner Vijay Viswanathan Sophia Wasson Kennedy Willhite

• Digital Media Staff • Digital Media Editor Jack Weaver

Staff:

Abdi Abdalla Chloe Baker Alli Bishop Micah Bounds Emily Budde Sam Knutson

Jack McDonald Sophia Scheller Colin Swan Ryan Swan Kevin Vera Joey Weaver

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Opinions 4 6 7

News

SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING

Teens seem to rely on adults to protect them from consequences of social media, but they must learn to be more careful about what they post online.

PROBLEMS WITH HAYDEN’S RECTANGLE

Gun violence has been a significant problem in St. Louis; however, the city’s efforts have been focused on the wrong issues.

TAINTED LOVE

From movies to books to social media, every portrayal of love is dramatically unrealistic, and this hurts everyone who consumes it.

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NO LATE PENALTIES The St. Louis Public and County Libraries have eliminated current and future late fees for overdue books, but the LHS Library still enforces their fines.

SNUFF AND STUFF

The Great American Spit Out is on Feb. 20 to reduce chewing tobacco use, which is a growing problem especially among young men.

IS IT WORTH THE COST?

With the increasing cost of a college degree and rise of alternative education options, is a bachelor’s degree worth the time and money?

LANCER ENTREPRENEURS

From programming to beauty programs to clothing, several students have initiated their own businesses.

• Publications Adviser • Nancy Y. Smith, MJE

• General Information • The Image is produced by students in the News Production class. Free copies are distributed on campus. Subscriptions are also available for $40 per year. Rockwood student publications are the official student-produced media of news and information published/produced by Rockwood students and have been established by both policy and practice as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. Publications will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Because school officials do not engage in prior

review and the content of all Rockwood student publications is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editors and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. A full listing of all the policies followed by student publications staff members can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About tab. The Image is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and received First Class rating with two Marks of Distinction. The Image is also a member of Quill and Scroll, journalismSTL and MJEA.

• Our Gold Sponsors •

Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the journalism program. The Baker Family The Kirtley Family The Carpenter Family The Johns Family The Archambeault Family Steve Martinez–State Farm Agent

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Lifestyles 14 18 20 22 24

LOVE EVERYWHERE

Philia, Pragma, Philautia and Eros: wherever one turns, there are countless different forms of love evident between all kinds of people.

GENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Although these students initially went to senior living centers to obtain volunteer hours, their experience has had a much larger impact.

TEXT-ISMS

Texting has contributed to the rise of new vernacular, but what’s the exact connotation of the different texts?

TASTE TESTER: CUPCAKES

Image staff members tried different types of cupcakes from various establishments to let you know which one can satisfy your sweet tooth.

HAIR OF THE PAST & FUTURE

Every iconic hairstyle is associated with a specific decade. Take a look at some iconic styles and what the future of hair looks like.

Sports 27 28 30

CONCUSSED STUDENTS

Concussions are a common head injury in contact sports, but what are concussions and why are they so serious?

JOHNSON MAKES A MOVE

Sophomore Patrick Johnson has played a vital role in the success of the LHS hockey team, but after signing with an NAHL team, he will miss next season.

THE REAL COST

Although LHS attempts to make athletics accessible to all students, the prices of fees and equipment may hinder some Lancers.

• OPINIONS •

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Opinions

Memories will fade, but

social media remembers it all. (That’s not always a good thing)

In a time where technology, specifically social media, is inescapable, teenagers and adults alike are in a position to very easily impact their lives in very permanent ways. Although there are cases where people use social media in a positive, uplifting way, more often than not, people post first and think later — and the results are often negative. There are many different ways posting on social media can hurt you and hurt others. What you may think is just a joke between you and your friends, may become widely circulated and cause pain to others, and cause some real consequences for you. In January, a Snapchat post circulated at Eureka High School that pictured two girls wearing black charcoal facial masks captioned with the N-word. The girls did not only receive repercussions from the school, but also got the attention of the local news media and a lot of attention from community Facebook groups. Despite the fact that this incident happened off school grounds, the district has the right to intervene when it impacts students at school during school hours, which this incident did. “School officials are authorized to hold students accountable for misconduct away from school or in non-school activities which negatively affects the educational environment to the extent allowed by law,” the Rockwood School District Student Handbook states. Some students believe, despite the fact that students have to sign a form acknowledging they have read and understood all rules, that the school should not have the right to intervene in issues that occur off school grounds. The frustration is understandable. It should be the parents’ responsibility to monitor their kids outside of school. Or, ultimately, high school students should be smart enough to not post hurtful, inappropriate or offensive things online. But that self-regulation isn’t happening, and when poor decisions outside of school impact the environment at school, it is the job of the school to step in. In fact, some school groups have strict guidelines about their members’ use of social media to ensure their reputations stay clean and that they aren’t posting anything that could be used to harm them or the group’s reputation. It seems silly, but clearly having someone look illustration by DELANEY STULCE

out for us may not be the worst idea until we learn to look out for ourselves. Although social media may seem like a harmless, fun way to express yourself and share with others, posting everything you are doing or sharing all of your personal opinions online may not be the smartest thing to do. The truth is those posts follow you forever. The first thing colleges and future potential employers will do is search to see how you have presented yourself online, particularly looking for reasons that could make you a potential liability for them down the road. When you cross that stage and throw up your cap, you will no longer have a school district, mentor or parent telling you what and what not to post. Rather than complain about you or your peers getting in trouble from something that was posted, maybe it’s time to thank them for ultimately protecting your reputation while you still have a support system watching out for your best interests. Social media is a powerful entity, which is why it is important that teens begin to put themselves out there in a respectful and responsible way, because every single thing you post now could greatly change your life in the future.

Staff Editorial

Students need to be cautious when dealing with social media. Irresponsible use may lead to trouble at school, and consequences in the future. Staff Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Image staff.

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Opinions

LANCER’S LOT

STARS

ALEX ROZAR Opinions Editor

Stars & Gripes is a satirical column written collectively by the Image staff.

Feb. 19, 2020

Exaggerated city crime stats led to wasteful use of limited resources

Lafayette student and 2019 graduate were shot and injured within Hayden’s Rectangle, one of n 2017, police chief John Hayden introduced whom is still recovering from serious injuries. a simple strategy to fight crime. Outlining an In November, The Lancer Feed profiled area in North County seven square miles long sophomore Seraphina Blackmon, who lives and bounded by four streets, he proclaimed a within Hayden’s Rectangle. startling two-thirds of St. Louis’ homicides “I can hear gunshots every and one-half of violent crimes occurred night, but it isn’t as bad on within “Hayden’s Rectangle” and my street,” Blackmon ordered more police officers and said. “[Violence] is resources to be sent there. usually at nighttime, There is clearly a problem at Reducing crime is, of course, so I personally don’t hand. But it’s crucial that we a valiant goal, and many see it. I can hear it local activist groups and city address it with due diligence. all the time, but I administrators praised Hayden just go to sleep.” Continuing to base police for what seemed to be a wellThere is clearly decisions on incorrect researched solution to a very a problem. But statistics is imprudent. difficult problem. Here’s the it’s crucial that we issue, though: Hayden’s numbers address it with due weren’t close to accurate. diligence. Reporting in the St. Louis PostContinuing to base Dispatch shows the initial statistics were police decisions on vastly overblown. At most, they concluded, only incorrect statistics is imprudent. one-third of homicides and one-fifth of violent There is, unmistakably, a crime problem in crimes could be traced to the area—nowhere St. Louis—which is why it’s essential that our city near the majority Hayden asserted. leaders handle it accurately and appropriately. The result: police are being used ineffectively Disappointingly, city leaders have continued throughout the St. Louis area, wasting already to defend their error. strained city resources. On St. Louis Public Radio, Hayden The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department characterized the report as merely over “whether (SLMPD) has been underfunded and or not Hayden’s Rectangle is fine-tuned enough,” understaffed for years. It’s currently short by 150 and mayor Lyda Krewson took aim at the Postofficers, according to a recent report by KSDK. Dispatch on KSDK, calling the paper a “Monday With these infrastructure issues in mind, it morning quarterback.” is quintessential the SLMPD uses its resources Their words mean little. Their deflection, sparingly. In that regard, launching an illhowever, speaks volumes. founded crusade is grossly irresponsible of the We don’t know how the mistake was made. department. But it’s time to nip it in the bud until an accurate These issues affect us. On Christmas, a solution is brought forth.

“

•India’s largest city is testing traffic lights that stay red for longer if drivers honk their horns. We’re in favor of similar technology being implemented on Lafayette’s parking lot.

•A salamander stayed still for seven years straight, scientists recently observed. The animal only felt compelled to move after a researcher started recording TikTok videos on his iPhone.

•Wily NHL mascot Gritty shut down nuns in a game of pickup basketball in a visit to a Catholic school. After he says a few Hail Marys, he should try out for the NBA Draft.

•A photo of a Tennessee lawmaker drinking out of a Hershey’s chocolate syrup bottle in the state legislature went viral. Gordon Ramsay has moved to have the representative impeached.

•House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up a copy of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, which we definitely plan on emulating the next time we get back an essay in language arts.

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Opinions

Feb. 19, 2020

Media alters teenagers’ perception of relationships

The Monthly Joust

I open Instagram, disappointment. greeted by We are constantly countless photos comparing and of what seems to contrasting, it is the same cookiepart of how we cutter couple. Both CHLOE BAKER learn about the attractive, radiant world around Web Editor and seemingly us. We live in perfect. I turn on the TV a world where we are only to be met by countless constantly consume media movies and shows depicting and by portraying such a impeccable relationship glamorized image of what stories. a relationship looks like it This idealized depiction is hard to do anything but of relationships overwhelms compare. modern media, negatively Music is another way we influencing teens are fed this idea, they paint perception of relationships. a rosy picture of what love The romanticizing of looks like, but it is simply not relationships stretches all reality. the way from social media Even from a young age, to books and fosters a this concept is fed to us. false comprehension of Disney movies and TV shows relationships. depict the classic “boy meets Media is our only real girl“ scenario and the same source to interpret what the “happily ever after“ endings. diameters of what a true These depictions lend the relationship look like other way for people to develop than what we see at home. high expectations that hurt Often times these two us in reality since we expect pictures look very different, this but it doesn’t happen. simply because one is Even if we know this, it still realistic and the other is not. subconsciously happens. Social media highlights Don’t get me wrong, I’m the “happiest” moments all for relationships, I think of relationships, it depicts they are healthy and hold when people when they are such special value, the issue at their best. We don’t see that occurs is when we photos of couples in their let media consume reality. weak moments or even Relationships are not full of their average moments. sunshine and rainbows, they This sets the common, are about living life together, uninformed teenager for handling the good and bad. •President Donald Trump lauded the “Great State of Kansas” for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. We bet rather than fess up, he’ll just write an executive order making Missouri’s population a lot smaller.

•The 58-year-old Rolling Stones will go on another tour, which includes a stop in St. Louis. We anticipate they will gather no moss.

•A group of California students staged a protest demanding more homework. Rest assured, Rockwood administrators— that is not a concern we will raise anytime soon.

GRIPES

•Burger King gave •Florida cops out free Whoppers found narcotics in in exchange for a pouch labeled pictures of exes on “Bag Full of Drugs.” Valentine’s Day— And who said instantly giving the criminals are fast-food chain the dishonest? largest scumbag rogues gallery on the planet.

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theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

• NEWS •

Public library drops fines

No change coming to Lafayette as funds collected provide extra revenue to facility

Read Up On Some Library Facts

SOPHIA SCHELLER • Staff Reporter•

hile local public libraries will no longer be charging fines for overdue books, students will still have to fork over their coins if they keep LHS books out past the due date. On Jan. 1, 2020, a new St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) and St. Louis County Library policy went into effect, effectively eliminating any cardholders’ remaining fines and any future fines a cardholder may get. The decision was approved in November 2019, which gave the libraries enough time to train staff and update the needed software. “Charging fines does not advance [our] mission, but detracts from it by preventing individuals and families from using computers and checking out materials because they have balances on their cards,” Jen Hatton, a spokesperson for SLPL, said. Although the fines were officially removed from both public libraries, patrons will still be charged for a book if it is missing from the library for a prolonged period of time. “In the case of the public library, it may have removed that barrier to access, but from their situation, if the books are overdue past a certain time, you either have to pay for the book or you are not allowed to check out anything new. We do not have such barriers in our library, so it doesn’t matter how many fines you have or how much you owe, we will continue to check out materials to you,” Librarian Nicole Ballard-Long said.

Sophomore Trey Trapani is an avid book lover and patron of both libraries. “[I had] around $35 in [library] fines. I read a book and forget [about returning] it. I think fines can help hold people accountable,” Trapani said. Though fines bring in extra revenue, it is only a small amount of the annual budget for both libraries, with both reporting the fines bring in 2% or less of their annual budgets. “The amount we expect to forgo in 2020 is about $31,000, or about half of one percent of our budget,” Hatton said. “The fine money was not allocated for anything in particular; it was just part of our total revenue. To us, the cost was more than worth it to welcome back people who haven’t been able to use their library because of fines.” For Lafayette students, a book fine costs five cents a day with a built-in five day grace period. That money is used for a variety of things. “That money goes into book clubs and other activities we do, like things we give away to students, like prizes. We have [also] used it for furniture in the library,” Ballard-Long said. One thing that the libraries do share in common, though, is providing knowledge to the public in plenty of forms. “Libraries are excellent resources for the public,” Hatton said. “We offer everything from pleasure reading to research collections, from theater to computer classes, WiFi, movie streaming, telescopes, a music recording studio and so much more. No matter your station in life, we’ve got something for everyone.”

LHS Library’s Annual Budget from the District: $27, 156 90.4% Spent On: Books, web fees and magazine subscriptions 9.57% Spent On: Supplies such as pencils and all other office needs

Top 4 Books Checked Out From LHS Library

How The Library’s Budget Money Is Spent

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News

Feb. 19, 2020

• photo by CHLOE BAKER

THAT’S E-SNUFF Great American Spit Out addresses concerns

over increase in teen use of smokeless tobacco KENNEDY WILLHITE • Staff Reporter •

Schools educate and warn students of the dangers of drugs and alcohol from a very early age. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program begins in 5th grade. Students are warned about cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and more extreme drugs, such as heroin and barbiturates. But it seems that schools have left out another drug that is becoming more common among teens, especially males, around the country and at LHS: chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco is a smokeless tobacco that is packed into the mouth to be held or chewed which absorbs more nicotine than a regular cigarette. Chewing tobacco can also be called snuff or snus. Dip, which is a type of chewing tobacco, is different from normal chewing tobacco because the dip is placed in a different area of the mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against using smokeless tobacco. According to the CDC website, “Using smokeless products can cause serious health problems. Protect your health;

don’t start. If you do use them, quit.” Because chewing is smokeless, it is not a cause of lung cancer, but it causes many oral cancers in the tongue, throat and mouth. Not only does it increase a user’s risk of cancer by 50 times compared to a non-user, it also runs the risk of oral infections, addiction and oral lesions. On Feb. 20, the American Cancer Society will sponsor the Great American Spit Out (GASpO). The GASpO is a weekend in which smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to stop using the drug. It is meant to raise awareness for the harmful health effects and dangers of using smokeless tobacco. Students at LHS have begun using smokeless tobacco more recently than in past years. In many cases, students copy the actions of the people around them. Smokeless tobacco use has traditionally been associated especially with the sport of baseball. John* has been chewing for about four months. He started doing it at long club baseball practices and because he saw a lot of people around him doing it. “My dad dips, so that is how I got introduced to [chewing tobacco products]. I had an assistant coach who did it as well. [He] claimed it made

practices go by quicker, and [dip] makes [practice] a little more fun and relaxing,” John said. But, Head Baseball Coach Boyd Manne, does not see it as a problem with members of the LHS baseball team. But because of the popularity of chewing within the sport, he does take the time to warn his team and talk to them about the dangers of smokeless tobacco. “[The negative effects] are taught through the health classes, but it’s one of the things that we want to reiterate with our kids that it’s not good for them, and that we don’t want it here,” Manne said. While there are LHS students who chew, it does not seem to be an outstanding problem, as no students have been caught with it on school grounds. “I have noticed a decline in kids doing it, in my own experiences. Most kids are vaping,” School Resource Officer Jim McDonald said. Students use the tobacco as a way to pass time or to get a burst of energy. “No one needs to chew, and, personally, I’m not addicted. I find it hard to get addicted to. It’s disgusting. No one wants to chew—it’s just a boost of energy when you need it most,” John said. * Name changed to protect identity

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News

Feb. 19, 2020

A battle of college decisions Degrees lead students to higher salaries, debt CORREN TIPTON • Asst. News Editor •

Along with the start of a new decade, the chaos of scheduling and planning for the future has ensued. Lafayette counselors are filling up their schedules with appointments with students looking for guidance for their college and future career plans. The College and Career Counselors use two different programs called YouScience and Scoir to help students determine a career path. YouScience walks students through a series of questions and brain games that take into account their strengths and abilities in order to suggest careers that match their interests. Scoir is also designed to help with the college admissions process, but uses different techniques to give students options. Picking a major is an important step of choosing a career path, but it can also be costly. Even though it’s been recently debated, some research shows that college is worth the cost. “There is a clear economic edge for those who earn bachelor’s degrees over those with a high school diploma. And the research shows that the rate of return on the investment of paying for college is high enough to make the decision to go to college a wise one for most students,” Inside Higher ED said. Bachelor’s degrees cost more due to the increased number of classes a person takes in order to earn the degree. As compared to an associate’s degree, however, this two-year college plan can move students through college and into their career field faster than those trying to earn a bachelor’s degree. In Colorado, Texas and Virginia, those with a technical associate’s degree were paid more than those with a bachelor’s degree for the first year of their job. Additionally, statistics show the average student who graduated high school was at a $33,000 disadvantage compared to those who graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree. Student debt is another issue that college-goers face. As of last year, the student loan debt is about $1.6 trillion. “I’ll be going to community college for free and working as a real estate agent.

The benefits are that I am saving so much money because I’m doing the A Plus Program, so I don’t have to pay for my first two years at a community college. All I’ll really be paying for is books. It saves a lot of money, like thousands upon thousands of dollars,” senior Breeze Bonderer said. Another option for students to start working towards a college degree is the South Tech programs. Senior Taji IsraelCazembe takes the Culinary Arts class to help her prepare her for a career. “An admissions representative came to Lafayette [my] sophomore year and told us to apply on our phones,” she said. Compared to Lafayette classes, South Tech has smaller classes in their careerfocused subjects. “I enjoy how casual, yet rigorous South Tech is. The classwork we do is more intensive than a FACS class at Lafayette,” Israel-Cazembe said. “There are only six kids in the senior class for Culinary Arts

there, so I’m allowed to be me without having to worry about how [my] other classmates view me.” Israel-Cazembe is planning to earn an associate’s degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. “[South Tech] prepares me for college life because I know how a culinary class is run in an academic setting. Next school year, hopefully, won’t be a foreign experience for me,” Israel-Cazembe said. Ranken Technical College is another degree-focused school in Missouri. “Tech schools give you the training and skills you need to land the job you want – and many Ranken grads land jobs within six months,” Ranken’s website said. As for salaries, technical careers start off at around $60,000 a year. “‘While the rising cost of college has eroded the return to a bachelor’s degree to some extent, our analysis suggests that college remains a good investment,’” Inside Higher ED said.

theimagemagazine

News

Feb. 19, 2020

Young entrepreneurs cash in on their passions, talents Not just your average Amazon shopper SARAH LOCKE • Staff Reporter •

Junior Fawwaz Ashraf started selling his own software in November 2019. Ashraf’s business, Zenyscripts, grew out of his own frustration with the difficulty of purchasing limited edition items. Once Ashraf learned how to code, he was able to begin developing this software. “A while ago I started making e-commerce automation software, which allows you to purchase stuff faster than a human can,” Ashraf said. “I was showing it to one of my friends when he [mentioned] that I could make some money off of this, [so] I made it a public software and • photo by JACK WEAVER

Blowing up his future LAURA BARRATT • Staff Reporter •

Alex Luter, junior, started his balloon-making business, AA Party Art, in the 6th grade. While he had always enjoyed making balloon animals in his free time, Luter realized his hobby could be a business. “I was making so many [balloon animals] around the house that my mom suggested I could actually make money off of it,” Luter said. “My first job I worked was for Babler Elementary at

the bowling alley.” Luter occasionally works alongside his dad who paints faces. “My dad does face painting, so sometimes we are a duo at the same event,” Luter said. Luter sets his schedule up for individual opportunities. “I [am hired at] birthday parties and elementary school events, mostly, and sometimes business events.” Luter said. “I don’t work that often, [probably] once a week, [but] I enjoy doing it, so that makes it all worth it.” • photo by JACK WEAVER

people can buy it now.” His customers utilize the software to purchase various items. Examples of products customers frequently buy include shoes, clothing and other softwares. “You install it into your Chrome browser, and whenever you enter a website that releases limited edition items, if you have it enabled, it’ll add it to the cart for you and start filling out your information,” Ashraf said. Zenyscripts has taken off since its creation. The company has gained popularity. Its Twitter has about 9,000 followers and the software has 500 active users. According to the Zenyscripts website, the software costs $20 a month.

theimagemagazine

News

Feb. 19, 2020

Bath bombs, soaps and scrubs, oh my! LAURA BARRATT • Staff Reporter •

Sophomore Alyssa Pick has been selling bath bombs, bath soaps, sugars and scrubs since 8th grade. Pick’s interest in starting her own business started when she realized others her age had a business. It drove her research behind choosing products she felt as though others would be interested in buying. “I started doing some research on businesses I could start, and I saw candle making. I got the idea from that to make bath bombs” Pick said. The process of making bath bombs is not easy and takes a lot of time. “I start with a base of baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, and Epsom salt. Then I’ll add colorant and essential oil. I mix the ingredients together, and then I use a mold to form the bath bomb. I then let the mix dry overnight,” Pick said. Pick sells her products year round, and her sales predominantly peak in the summer.

“During the summer, I sell at farmers markets, and during the winter I will do craft fairs. A lot of holiday shoppers like to go to craft fairs. I did the one here at Lafayette this year,” Pick said. In addition to the wide variety of products she sells, Pick features two different sized bath bombs. “I have two sizes to offer a variety for the customers based off of what they may prefer,” Pick said. “A regular size bath bomb I sell for $5, and a mini one I will sell for $1.” Even though her products aren’t easy to make, Pick aims to sell them at a low price in comparison to retail stores. “I like to make my products a little bit cheaper not because it’s a cheap product but to make it more affordable. I know other brands can get really expensive, and I wanted to be able to still provide a quality product but make it affordable for most people to be able to purchase it,” Pick said. • photo by JACK WEAVER

The ‘art’ of business SARAH LOCKE • Staff Reporter •

From an early age, junior Randle Smith developed a love for art and design. Since then, he has gained new skills with his artistic talents a central source of his success. “From drawing, I’ve moved to the computer and from 2D graphics, I’ve become interested in doing videos. Now I also try to do special effects like 3D and computer generated imagery,” Smith said. Smith developed his • photo by JACK WEAVER

passion into a business in which he sells graphic designs, videos and websites. “I’m working on a music video right now for Andrew Spacey,” Smith said. “I also designed an album cover for Cole Wilkson.” In addition, Smith is in the process of developing his own clothing brand called Blyndspot. “I like being versatile [and] doing multiple things to get all I can from this life,” Smith said. “I like the art of clothing, and how you can express yourself with what you wear.”

Lifestyles

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Arranged marriage impacts students despite Western culture, family history CHLOE BAKER • Web Editor • “I think a common stereotype toward arranged marriages is that they’re all forced against the will of the bride and groom, which is so so untrue,” senior Sara Parikh said. Arranged marriages, often misconceived as forced marriages, play an important role in Indian culture. Assistant Principal Kirti Mehrotra grew up in India, surrounded by a culture that practices arranged marriage. Her parents have one, and she watched both of her sisters have one. “Families, when the children are grown up, they inform all their relatives and friends that their kids are at the age to get married and if they know somebody who would match with the way we brought up our daughter or son with the education and everything else let us know so that we can introduce them. It’s not where you are told that you are going to get married to this person. That is not what it is at all,” Mehrotra said. Once Mehrotra turned 21 years old and had finished her undergraduate studies, her parents started to think about marriage for her. Her aunt suggested a boy from a family she was close to. They met for the first time for a mere 45 minutes after her aunt’s suggestion. “Really in those 45 minutes, I made the decision that ‘yes I would get married to him’. I guess it was a good decision because here 36 years later we have a very happy marriage,” Mehrotra said. After those brief 45 minutes, their two families made the decision they should be engaged. Mehrotra’s husband already had a job in the United States and had to go back soon after their engagement. Rather than waiting six months to get married and then another 12 months for a spousal visa to go through, they decided to get married as soon as possible. “We got engaged, and then we got married 17 days later. And some people say that it takes a whole year to plan a wedding, but it really doesn’t if you want to plan it because our reception had 1,500 people and my wedding dress we bought in half an hour,” Mehrotra said. Mehrotra’s family had known her husband’s family for years, one of her

cousins had also married into that family. Mehrotra didn’t expect to get married to the first boy she met, and she definitely didn’t expect to be married only three weeks after meeting him. “It was like a whirlwind actually, when I had gone to this thing that was set up by my aunt then the family we met, at that time I really was not thinking about getting married, in my mind, I was like ‘oh let's go meet him and see what happens,’ he was the first boy I had really met, I had not dated anyone at that point or anything,” Mehrotra said. Most arranged marriages have a time period where they get to know one another or are engaged before they actually get married, making Mehrotra’s case unique. Despite Mehrotra’s case she still believes that you should feel a universal connection. “Whenever you meet somebody whether you're dating, whether you've been introduced by a friend, whatever that might be, when you meet that person I think something should happen in your heart, there should be something within you that tells you there is some kind of connection,” Mehrotra said. Family is important in Indian culture, and it also plays a significant role in arranged marriages. “You don’t marry just the person, you're marrying the family and the expectation is that you are going to love that family like you love your own,” Mehrotra said. Arranged marriages are not just a thing of the past, they still play a big role in modern teenage relationships. Senior Sara Parikh’s parents have an arranged marriage, they both grew up in Mumbai, India about ten minutes from one another but had never met until a marriage was arranged. “I see arranged marriages like a parent managed dating site. My mom and dad pick the guys for me, and I eliminate or not after dating them for a while. Indians just don’t use the term ‘dating’ while arranging a marriage,” Parikh said. While Parikh’s parents are not expecting her to have an arranged marriage she views it as an option for the future. “If I don’t find a guy they approve of, then yeah, an arranged marriage would be the next step. I 100% support

arranged marriages,” Parikh said. “I think the reason I have such a positive outlook on arranged marriages is because my parents’ marriage is so successful.” Despite growing up in western society Parikh and her family hold great importance to keeping their Indian culture alive. Individuals have traditionally been paired together based on the caste system, language or family familiarity. Parikh is fluent in English and Gujarati and proficient in Hindi, and she wants her future children to know Gujarati as well. “I feel an arranged marriage can help keep my culture alive,” Parikh said. “If I were to meet and marry a guy who didn’t speak my language and share my culture, I’d have a hard time passing this to the next generation. I want my kids to grow up and celebrate Hindu festivals the Gujarati way and make the same food at home the way I do with my family.” Senior Nisha Ravikumar, however, has a different perspective on arranged marriages. “My opinion on arranged marriages is that I think they just should not happen. How are two people who barely know each other supposed to live together for the rest of their lives?” Ravikumar said. She feels as though the tradition impedes an individual's independence. “I think they should not exist because arranged marriages are still like your parents picking the guy you are going to marry,” Ravikumar said. “This is limiting your freedom since you might like a different type of guy, but you’ll never know since you let your parents choose for you.” For Senior Rahul Suresh Kanna, he has also grown up with parents who have an arranged marriage, they have been married for 23 years. “I wouldn’t know if they were arranged or not if they didn’t tell me,” Suresh Kanna said Rahul’s future in marriage is unknown. “Because we were like the first ones from our family to move to America, the impact of western culture has been real. I’m sure that my parents would like to play a role in finding who I’d marry but the extent at which they have influence is still yet to be known. I’m 100% confident that it’s not going to be a traditional arranged marriage though,” Rahul said.

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Lifestyles

Frazier, Kingston remain friends despite distance SOPHIA WASSON • Staff Reporter • After developing a strong friendship for the past four years, junior Addison Kingston and senior Samantha Frazier work to keep their friendship alive across the country. Frazier moved for her senior year to Utah. This distance has not truly changed the extent of their friendship. They have many ways to stay in touch, and the two girls still talk daily. However, the distance has made some aspects of friendship a little harder. “Samantha and I saw each other a lot because we went to church together and school together, and I had to get used to not seeing her there,” Kingston said. “I would always go to her basketball games, and when basketball season rolled around and she wasn’t there it was hard. I had to get used to not seeing her at our normal [activities]. It’s really hard not being able to talk to her in person anymore.” It wasn’t easy for Kingston when she was told the news that Frazier was moving. “I was really sad because she was one of my best friends, especially at my church, everyone just loved her and she just made everyone super happy, so it was really sad to hear that she wouldn’t be there,” Kingston said. Although this friendship hasn’t been separated until this move, Frazier has experience with moving throughout her life. “The hardest thing about moving is the anxiety that comes from making new friends and enjoying your new

school. When I found out, I of course was very sad and cried but we moved around pretty constantly, so I wasn’t too surprised. I wanted to take a couple days to wrap my head around it first before I told any of my friends,” Fraizer said. Fraizer pulled Kingston aside at church and told her, so she wouldn’t have to hear it from the other people she told. Kingston and Fraizer both say that they stay in touch through texting and checking up on each other regularly. They talk a lot about sports and what is going on in school. Kingston also goes out and visits Utah sometimes and gets to see her best friend. The girls are going to see each other over spring break, but they usually see each other about once a year. Kingston plans to go out to college in Utah and hopes to see Frazier there. “I think it is important to stay in touch with people that you appreciate and mean a lot to you, especially with moving because that can be hard getting new connections. The good ones are people who you can be friends with for life and you will always have their support. It is so good and meaningful to have,” Kingston said. Both of the girls have a similar outlook on the type of love that friendship creates. They explain how having a best friend is so important. “Friendship love is very important because it allows you to feel like there is always someone there for you who has your back and supports you,” Frazier. Despite the 1,300 miles, Frazier and Kingston decided their friendship was important enough to keep alive and thriving.

• illustration by DELANEY STULCE

Lifestyles

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Intimacy plays significant role in teen relationships, personal development DELANEY STULCE • Editor-in-Chief •

High school is a very influential time in a teenager’s life, particularly in the areas of friendship, political beliefs and personal aspirations. One aspect that is commonly explored is sexuality and intimacy. How students choose to explore this part of their lives may differ greatly. Some students may choose a more casual approach, becoming sexually active during their high school years. In a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 42% of females and 44% of males were sexually active by age 18. Lafayette students have many perspectives on sexual activity in high school. One of these students is Mary*, who became sexually active after dating her at-the-time boyfriend of five months. She believes taking the next step in her relationship made the connection much stronger and created a closer bond. “We still had the same emotions for each other, but I guess scientifically when you look into it, I became a little bit more attached to that person because we had done that, and it was like ‘Oh this is my person now,’” Mary said. “It definitely took me to the next level of the relationship.” Not only did she feel her emotional bond was strengthened, but her overall confidence increased. “I feel like we became more comfortable with each other, like I could change in front of him, and it would be fine. We definitely started to do more of that kind of stuff more often rather than just hang out,” Mary said. The most important change to her had less to do with her partner and more to do with herself. “I definitely felt more confident after that point because I could do something that a woman does. It made me feel more womanly rather than like a little girl,” Mary said. “It’s also an insecure thing to be doing because you’re completely vulnerable.” Although she admitted after taking this next step, sex became a larger part of her time with her partner, she believes it was not exclusively centered around the physical. “Having intimate relationships with people, you can be open about that kind of stuff, but it also leads to being open about things that aren’t physical or sexual. Just

because you’re closer with them,” she said. Becoming sexually active also led her to be more conscious of her health. “I became more cautious of certain health aspects, whether it was about birth control, general sexual health or even possibly taking a pregnancy test,” Mary said. Mary has no regrets becoming sexually active in high school and encourages people to explore this part of their lives if they’re ready for it. “I think sex is fun, and sex is good for you. I think if you’re doing everything safe and taking precautions, people should be having sex if they feel comfortable,” she said. On the other end of the debate are students who believe high school relationships should focus more on the emotional and intellectual connection instead. Susan* and the boyfriend she has had throughout high school have focused their relationship around their religious beliefs. “For us, we try to base our relationship around God. Normally we do [focus on religion] in our lives, so it wasn’t very different,” Susan said. Susan wants to use this time in high school to get close to her significant other and save other steps for later in their lives. “We strive to be a certain type of way. We know we want to get married, and we know things after marriage we’re excited for. We know that’s in the future,” Susan said. “So, we try to dig deep on each other and our souls and what we want. When that does happen, we have a little of everything.” Though she understands the draw of common high school relationships, she didn’t want her relationship to be casual. “I feel like a lot of teenagers in relationships have fun and then they leave. For us it’s a little different,” she said. Susan believes her relationship has been as healthy as it is due to her and her boyfriend’s similar perspectives. “We both went into the relationship wanting the same things,” she said. They both use their bond as a way to uplift and support each other. “We want to be somewhat best friends and build each other up with our goals but also have a loving aspect. I think it has made it a lot stronger,” Susan said. *Names changed to protect identity

illustration by DELANEY STULCE

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Feb. 19, 2020

Betancourt discovers importance of self-image KAYLA CARPENTER • Editor-in-Chief •

“Self-love is important for high schoolers, because I feel like high school is where everything bad happens because there’s bullying, depression and anxiety. If you start loving and accepting yourself because of who you are, then you’ll feel amazing. There are some people who don’t think that way, and they fake their happiness for other people. That’s just not something you have to do. You first have to find yourself and make yourself happy, and after you do that, you can help others too. You always have to find yourself first,” sophomore Gina Betancourt said. Betancourt knows a great deal about self-love and acceptance. Over the past two years she has experienced immense growth in those areas. When she was in eighth grade, Betancourt came out as gay. “My mom picked me up early from school, and we were talking, and I was telling her about this new girl because we were getting close and stuff. And [my mom] looks at me, and says ‘So this girl. It sounds way different than your other friends.’ We started talking, and then I told her, and I started crying because I was really emotional. She hugged me and told me no matter what I am, she will always love me,” Betancourt said. “That really helped me because I come from a religious family, and I’m Hispanic, so I was scared of what my parents would say, but they were welcoming. They still love me.” Coming out had a significant impact on both Betancourt’s life and the way she viewed herself. “Before I came out, I really wasn’t happy. I wasn’t loving myself because I thought it was wrong, me being gay or bisexual. I thought my friends would not accept me, but after I came out, I started loving myself more because that’s who I am, and I can’t change that,” Betancourt

said. “I was finally me, and I was finally happy with it.” Yaitza Diaz, Betancourt’s mother, has seen Betancourt’s growth over the past two years but also notices her daughter’s internal challenges that many people are not aware of. “When she was in middle school, she was afraid of what people would think. Now that she is in high school, she knows everyone is different, and everyone has the right to think differently. She is very clear on who she is and what she wants. She won’t ever let others see her struggles because she has a very strong character and personality, but inside of her there is a heart that often feels hurt. Society can be cruel, but I am doing my best to prepare her for the future,” Diaz said. Betancourt is well aware of such cruelty. She was bullied throughout middle school and is still often mis-gendered. “After I came out, [the bullying] got a bit worse in school. My family didn’t really know about it because I didn’t like to talk about it. I just don’t talk about my feelings sometimes, so I just kind of dealt with it myself,” Betancourt said. “As time went on, my parents started noticing that there was something up with me because I wasn’t talking, I was acting different. I had to get help from a therapist and all that because me not talking about it was making it worse, and I just had to let it all out.” In addition to being bullied, Betancourt also lost friends when she came out, but those losses provided her with valuable knowledge. “I’ve learned there will be people who hate on me for [being gay], and I will lose friends and probably family members. I lost one of my really close friends because she’s really religious,” she said. “There are people who have their beliefs and their thoughts,

and I have my own beliefs and thoughts. I think that no matter who you are and what you are, there will always be a place for you. There will always be someone who loves you for the way you are and not judge you for it,” she said. Betancourt, however, has risen above her hardships. She’s not afraid to display her true personality, dress in her style or participate in the activities she enjoys. “Whenever people [bully me], it’s because they’re jealous because I’m actually happy with who I am. They’re just trying to get me down because they haven’t gotten there yet, so I don’t have to listen to them because if I do, then I know I’ll go back to middle school, not happy with who I am and scared of talking about it and being who I am,” Betancourt said. Betancourt’s journey to selflove was a challenge, but for her and those around her, it was a vital step. “Loving yourself and being positive is the most important factor in everyone’s life,” Diaz said. “We need to learn how to love others no matter what and help people to have good mental health and know that there is someone that will always be willing to help you when you are dealing with a hard situation.” photo by JACK WEAVER

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Feb. 19, 2020

Older, wiser, better at games

Autumn View opportunities create unlikely relationships GRACE KIRTLEY • Lifestyles Editor •

Autumn View resident MYRIAM HAWKINS watches as LHS volunteers work on a puzzle. Hawkins enjoys telling the students about her past, “I always caused trouble when I was younger and I still do. It’s the story of my life. It’s more fun doing that than sitting pretty. People come up and say ‘Oh I love that dress on her’ but they really don’t. We used to have a lot of fun behind the scenes laughing,” Hawkins said. • photo by JACK WEAVER

ALEX VANCIL • Cartoonist •

he five of them sit at the small faux-wood table, two senior members and three Lafayette students. The puzzle sits in front of them, and the students work to finish it as Jackie and Muriel talk about how many children they’ve had— four the fourth time they’ve discussed this already. Muriel enjoyed talking about the kids that would hang out at her house and notably make a mess. “They thought I was one of the kids. We would play board games, and if you had to go to the bathroom, we had a whistle and you had to whistle all the way to the bathroom and all the way back. If you didn’t you had to stay in the bathroom,” Muriel said. “It was a lot of fun, and the kids liked it. They were good kids, but crazy. I fit right in.” Stories and interactions like these are common at Autumn View, a local senior center. For clubs National Honor Society (NHS) and Key Club, volunteering at Autumn View, a senior living community in Ellisville, Missouri, is a popular option for students. NHS sponsor Brian Fish finds that the opportunity to volunteer with the senior citizens is great for those who try it out. “We believe it’s a great opportunity for students to interact with people of different age groups, different backgrounds, different experiences,” Fish said. “We have a lot of students who are repeat volunteers. They really enjoy that, they really feel called to work at Autumn View.” One junior in particular, Peyten Jubela, has enjoyed volunteering at Autumn View since her first time visiting. “I love building relationships with them, they sometimes remember what’s going on in your life and ask questions and try to stay updated. They crack jokes and give endless advice and are always so sweet,” Jubela said. Jubela volunteered so frequently that she was offered a job from Autumn View. “They said not a lot of high school students come, and they asked if we wouldn’t mind spending weekly hours. I was working two jobs at the time, but I’m decreasing my hours at work so I can spend more time volunteering,” Jubela said. Although Jubela loves to spend time at Autumn View, she finds that the state of the senior citizens make interactions difficult sometimes. Memory loss and hearing issues are two factors that complicate relationships. “The hardest part is definitely sitting there knowing that you’ve met one of them before and had a really good time with them, and then going back and they don’t remember you. It’s like I have to remember for them,” Jubela said. “I was there this Thursday and Friday and there were at least two or three on Friday that didn’t remember me from the day before.” Despite the obstacles of communication, Jubela recommends for everyone to try volunteering at a local senior center. “It can be hard to be there and watch sometimes, but the ones who remember you and the relationships you build are totally worth it. They really appreciate when high school students come because their families don’t come often at all, so [the volunteers] always try to make sure they get someone to come see them.”

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Lifestyles

Jackie Dial, a resident at Autumn View pictured here with sophomore Jaxon Khanna, said about the Game Night events, “Did you ever think recently that we would be hanging out with a bunch of teenagers?” Another resident, Myriam Hawkins said she has had game nights with teens throughout her life. “[Teenagers always] thought I was one of the kids. It was a lot of fun, and the kids liked it,” she said. Hawkins attends Game Night every week at Autumn View.

Junior Peyten Jubela, above, has volunteered at Autumn View and bonded with the senior citizens she sees each week. Autumn View seeks out high schoolers to spend more time at the home. “When I first started getting into [volunteering, Autumn View] offered me a job. They said not a lot of high schoolers come, and they asked if I wouldn’t mind [working] weekly hours. I was working two jobs at the time but I’m decreasing my hours at work so I can spend more time volunteering,” Jubela said. Myriam Hawkins, (left) a resident at Autumn View, plays Jenga with sophomore Ian Santoso. “I only play Game Night once a week. The teenagers aren’t annoying. I lived with them. I had five kids as a single mom, and they had all their friends come to Mama Hawkins’ house. They were good kids though. That was a hundred years ago.” Volunteer Peyten Jubela visits with Hawkins every week and has formed a special bond with her. • photos by JACK WEAVER

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Feb. 19, 2020

Sending mixed messages

Differing viewpoints offer varying meanings to texts MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT • Asst. Web Editor •

“The first one, without a period is just kind of a casual ‘okay.’ Okay with a period might be a little bit more strict, probably sent by a boss or something. ‘K’ with a period can also mean maybe casual but also very well could be passive-aggressive if they commonly use the first two.” — Davis Dunn, 10

Okay

Okay. K.

“The first one just means like ‘okay,’ the second one means they’re kind of mad at me but it’s okay, and then the last one means they’re gonna kill me. ‘K.’ just really gives me bad vibes.” — Solana Cariello, 11 “‘Okay.’ is ending the conversation and then ‘K.’ is just like quick, you’re just trying to get out of the conversation or just make it quick.” — Jacob Kranawetter, 9 “I would really be surprised if anyone ever texted me the full words, ‘just kidding,’ that would feel oddly emphatic, and I would expect anyone who wanted me to know that they weren’t serious to just use the abbreviation.” — John Deken, history

jk, jk

“If they use, like, multiple ‘jks,’ they probably said something offensive.” — Jonah Rosenbaum, 10

“The first one is kinda just casual, maybe a little mean joke, the second one means the person might actually get mad, so you have to say it twice, and the third one is your mom. They have to spell it out.” — Chris McMahon, 11

just kidding

“Saying ‘Hi’ to someone is like meeting a stranger or maybe someone you barely talk to, but saying ‘Hello’ to someone is just weird. It’s never seen.” — Ashleigh Howard, 10

Hello

“‘Hi’ is very casual, ‘Hello’ is more formal, and then ‘Heyyyyy’ is more to a good friend.” — Solana Cariello, 11

Heyyyyyyyy

“The ‘Heyyyyy’ is them flirting with you, they want you.” —Chris McMahon, 11

“They’re dismissing what you’ve said, they’re being passive-aggressive and saying it doesn’t matter and that they don’t care.” — Davis Dunn, 10

Whatever.

“I feel like they’re either mad at me or being funny. I feel like that’s pretty aggressive if you’re not joking.” — Emily Benner, art “That one hurts a little bit. That’s an ‘I completely disagree with you, but I have no energy to fight with you.’” — Caroline Foster, 12 “Goodnight is just with your friends when you’re just saying ‘goodnight, bye’ and then goodnight with an emoji means they’re thinking a little bit more about you.” — Abby Perzan, 10 “Goodnight without an emoji is kind of like ‘gee, thanks for the word,’ so I think it needs an emoji. It’s much nicer.” — Emily Benner, art

Goodnight

“With an emoji, I feel like it’s more meaningful.” — Jacob Kranawetter, 9 “Mostly I don’t care one way or the other unless it interferes with clarity. Neglecting capitalization or punctuation when it’s still clear doesn’t matter to me. Although as a sender, I’m generally inclined to use traditional prescriptive rules.” — John Deken, history “When they’re putting in the grammar, they’re putting more time in and caring about what they are saying.” — Jonah Rosenbaum, 10

hey whats up

Hey. What’s up?

“The first one is pretty casual, the other one is probably your mom worrying about where you are.” — Chris McMahon, 11

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Spoiler alert:

Lifestyles

Secrets revealed, childhood legends ruined VIJAY VISWANATHAN • Staff Reporter •

Characters such as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy can be cornerstones of childhood. But every year, children have their hopes dashed when they find their legends aren’t what they seem. “I woke up in the middle of the night because my dad had his hand under my pillow. I asked him ‘So does this mean the Tooth Fairy isn’t real?’ He shouted, ‘NO!’ and ran off.” Eric Allison, 12

“I went to the bathroom at three in the morning and I saw my mom stuffing my stockings.” Cameron Eltoft, 9 “When I was younger, I had no idea that Santa Claus wasn’t real until I woke up one morning and my mom walked in, and I saw her moving the Elf on the Shelf, but she didn’t know I was awake, so I knew that my mom was moving the Elf on the Shelf and that Santa Claus wasn’t real.” Lindsey Lohr, 10 “I have an older brother that ruined it for me. As soon as he found out that Santa Claus wasn’t real, he told me that Santa wasn’t real. I think I was 4 years old at the time.” Tracy Gladden, language arts teacher “When I was maybe 5 or 6, my Dad played Santa Claus at my church, but I just accepted that he was merely playing the role because the real Santa was busy at the North Pole. I remember being in bed on Christmas Eve was, and I heard my parents putting gifts underneath the tree.” Jennifer Ingram, language arts teacher

“

Ava Dean, 9

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Brad Balog, teacher

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Erin Thorley, 11

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Geoff Ladue, 12

I found out Santa wasn’t real when one year I put my phone in a grocery bag to hide it and I cut out a slit for the camera. I put the phone on the charger and deleted almost every photo, aimed the camera toward the living room and tree and started a video right before I went to bed. [I said] ‘Let’s see who he really is.’ My parents were like, ‘What do you mean?’ And they took my phone and rewatched the video and deleted it, so I just assumed they were Santa because they were so protective of the video.”

I was in 5th grade. I lived in Dallas, and I remember sitting around in my house, and I was just joking around with my mom, like, ‘Yeah! Santa Claus isn’t real! There’s no way Santa Claus is real!’ But I still totally believed. I was being a smart-Aleck, and my mom goes, ‘Yeah, you’re right. He doesn’t.’ I went, ‘Wait, wait, what?’ And I had this feeling of total shock and dismay because she just decided at that moment, so it just shocked the living daylights out of me when I found out. It rocked my world because I was being a smart-Aleck 5th-grader and then found out Santa wasn’t real.”

I was in 3rd or 4th grade, and I was pretty sure the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real. But I am such a believer it killed me to think that I was letting down the Tooth Fairy if I stopped believing. So I made a plan. I called it my Tooth Fairy trap. The next time my tooth fell out, I told my parents and had a normal level of celebration, but I didn’t put it under my pillow. I told my parents I was going to wait a few days to see if the Tooth Fairy would remember me. Then I put it off and put it off and three weeks later, the Tooth Fairy didn’t come, and my tooth was still under my pillow. I finally knew she wasn’t real because no Tooth Fairy would ever forget a child. Coincidentally, this was the last tooth I ever lost.”

I was in the car and reasoned that if one person didn’t believe in Santa, then he couldn’t exist. I asked my dad, and all he said was ‘Santa Claus is the spirit of Christmas.’ He neither confirmed it nor denied it. So I hold out hope that he still may exist.”

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Feb. 19, 2020

Cupcake

Edition TASTE TESTER In this issue, two Image staff reporters sampled four different cupcakes from Sarah’s Cake Shop, Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe, Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery and Russell’s Cafe and Bakery to find out who sells the best cupcake in St. Louis. The earliest description of a cupcake appeared in 1796 in the US in a recipe written by Amelia Simmons. Before cupcakes, a similar treat was called the 1234 cakes, named after the ingredients; 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour and 4 eggs Cupcakes are perfect for a small treat to celebrate holidays and birthdays today. This is what our staffers thought.

ALIYAH STUDT • Staff Reporter •

CAOIMHE FARRIS • Staff Reporter •

• illustration by HANNAH FITTS

Jilly’s

Russell’s Cafe

Open 6 a.m.- 11 p.m. 7 minute drive from LHS

Open 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. 13 minute drive from LHS

8.5/10

8/10

7/10

9/10

8.5/10

9/10

7/10

10/10

2460 Taylor Rd.

Icing

Price

14888 Clayton Rd.

Icing

Price

Cake Flavor Appearance

This cupcake lived up to expectations that the store’s win on Cupcake Wars gave it. Its cake was the most moist and flavorful. The thick icing tied it together with the cake to give it an overall rich taste. The thoughtful presentation also added to its appeal. It is the most costly out of the four cupcakes we tried, but it is worth its cost.

Russell’s immediately stood out to us as the best looking out of all the cupcakes, with not only frosting, but with melted fudge and a strawberry to top it off. The flavor was close to tying with Jilly’s, too. Russell’s was a bit much, price wise for a cupcake, but it made up for the price with the flavor, the fudge and the rich icing.

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles 23 We Asked You Answered Where’s your go-to for cupcakes?

Feb. 19, 2020

“My favorite would probably be Walmart. Is it cheap? Yeah, but it’s a good kind of cheap.” Dani Shelnutt • 9

Sarah’s

Smallcakes

Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 10 minute drive from LHS

Open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. 14 minute drive from LHS

14888 Clayton Rd.

5/10 Icing

4/10

9/10 Price

6/10

1721 Clarkson Rd.

6/10 Icing

8.5/10

7/10 Price

8/10

Cake Flavor Appearance

Sarah’s was a bit of a disappointment. Compared to the others, this cupcake had the driest cake and an underwhelming flavor. The presentation was overall okay but more thought could have been put into it. They are a worthy option, though, if you are looking for something cheap.

Smallcakes looked adorable and the packaging was just as cute. The cake flavor was rich and sweet, but the icing was not the best. It was a little underwhelming for how pretty they made it look, but overall, it was a pretty good cupcake. However, it was not worth the $4 we paid for it.

“My favorite would be either Schnucks or Dierbergs, but I like Betty Crocker because I like to make my own cakes sometimes.” Garrett McGowan • 12

“Mine would be McArthur’s because they’re super tasty and have a really nice environment.” Natasha Gulzlar • 10

“I love any kind of cupcake, unless you can taste the egg in it.” Nathaniel Mahone • 11

Lifestyles

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

20th Century

Hey, the called . . . it wants its hair back HAYDEN COTTRELL

JULI MEJIA

• News Editor •

ALEX VANCIL

• Staff Reporter•

• Cartoonist •

Staffers sport throwback ‘dos

1 • Assistant Principal Tim Jones wears the bowl cut, a look worn by the members of the Beatles and popularized in the 1980s. The Beatles decided to wear their hair like this after spending time in Germany. 2 • Principal Karen Calcaterra rocks the iconic double buns that Princess Leia wore in the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode VI-A New Hope. Star Wars creator George Lucas said the buns were inspired by the women of Mexico during the Revolutionary Era. 3 • Spanish teacher Christine Kozlowski wears Marilyn Monroe’s infamous 1950’s hairstyle which consisted of big, soft curls on shoulder length hair. Marilyn Monroe was known as the ‘Blonde Bombshell’ because of her signature hairstyle. 4 • The “Rachel Green”, used by Jennifer Aniston in the 1994 show Friends, comes alive on vocal music teacher Christy Shaffer. According to Reel Rundown, Aniston told Allure magazine she considered it one of the ugliest hairstyles she’s ever seen. 5 • Social studies teacher Douglas Ell features Justin Bieber’s iconic swooped hairstyle, popular in the early 2010s. Bieber once auctioned a piece of his hair for $12,000. 6 • The mullet, worn by Billy Hargrove in the Netflix original series Stranger Things, is worn by social studies teacher Matthew Warren. The actor who plays Hargrove actually wears a mullet wig that is so lifelike that it fooled his co-stars.

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Lifestyles 25

Students model trendy, futuristic looks Cosmic Siren • modeled by JULI MEJIA • hair and makeup by PAUL MITCHELL THE SCHOOL ST. LOUIS • photos by CHLOE BAKER

“I wanded her hair all over to create soft waves and curls and added a basket weave braid on the top half. I pulled up and parted the end on the braid into two space buns,“ Onawa Brown, the hair stylist for ‘Cosmic Siren,’ said. “I chose space buns since they are coming into style hardcore. I think it’s a look that’s in style right now. I’ve been seeing it come back more and more through influences on Instagram and through the music [festival scene].” “For the makeup, I was planning on doing a lot of color on the eyeshadow because that’s really a big thing. So a lot of color, more of a blownout eye shadow look and just nice heavy blush, highlight and just everything like that. Just really focus on the color eyeshadow, and the detail with that,” Brianna Umstead, the makeup artist for ‘Cosmic Siren,’ said. “That’s definitely what the new upcoming styles are. Neutrals, again, are kind of bleeding out and colors are coming in.”

All Dolled Up & Nowhere To Go

• modeled by CAIOMHE FARRIS • hair and makeup by PAUL MITCHELL THE SCHOOL ST. LOUIS • photos by CHLOE BAKER

“[Popular styles include] the little ponytails on top that are woven into more ponytails. We’re going to do that, and then we’re going to curl the rest of the hair into little beach waves,” Kayden Harris, the hairstylist for ‘All Dolled Up and Nowhere to Go,’ said. “What made me choose this look was how short her hair was. It fit the style really well. It made the curls pop, and then the color of her hair also made the curls look so good.” “We’re going for the E-Girl look, the really heavy blush, probably like stars or hearts or something on the cheeks. Just very extra but also very simple,” Alex Olin, the makeup artist for ‘All Dolled Up and Nowhere to Go,’ said. “It’s become really popular. I can only see it growing in popularity. That’s just kind of the whole inspiration that’s popping up on my explore page on Instagram. It’s everywhere.” *Thank you to Paul Mitchell The School St. Louis for doing the hair and makeup looks for this page. Visit lancerfeed.press to see a behind-the-scene video of the hair and makeup looks being created.

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27 • SPORTS • Concussion effects linger in athletes

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

REGGIE BROWN • Staff Reporter •

cause an athlete to question their future athletic activities. Sophomore Drew Fick did no such thing. He suffered two concussions at a young age, but he still plays football, basketball and baseball. “The first concussion I had I was going down a hill riding my bike. A kid ran into me and my bike went into the forest. I flew over the handlebars and landed on my helmet. The helmet broke, and I was knocked out for about 30 seconds. My second concussion, I dove into a pool and hit my head on the bottom,” Fick said. Senior Parker Ockerhausen has suffered multiple concussions, but he continues to participate in sports. “It was 6th grade when I played football. It was our final game. As I was tackling a guy, we had a head-on-head collision, and I just got rocked to the ground. Immediately after when I got up, my head was spinning, and I could barely walk. I had to get carried off the field,” Ockerhausen said. “We made the decision to sit out the rest of the game and see how I felt. After that, we went to the hospital, and I was diagnosed with a concussion.” In October 2019, Ockerhausen participated in Male Escadrille and suffered another concussion during a performance. “We had to throw a kid up in the air, and he kicked another guy in the face who then rocked back into me and hit my head,” he said Ockerhausen is a pitcher for both the Lafayette baseball team and an outside club team meaning there’s an increased chance of getting hit in the head by a ball hit back at him. Because pitchers do not wear protective headgear, the concussions he’s suffered put him on edge when he’s on the mound. “I’ve almost gotten hit in the head, and I’ve been lucky I haven’t. I’ve seen people that have, and it’s not good,” Ockerhausen said.

In contact sports, injuries are nearly inevitable. One of the most common injuries is a concussion. A concussion doesn’t necessarily occur from any blow to the head. It’s when the brain jolts in a whiplash motion and hits the inside of the skull. Lafayette trainer Eric Doherty handles all athletes’ injuries, and he uses many tools to diagnose concussions. “People always think if you get hit hard, you’re going to get a concussion, and that’s not true. That’s not necessarily true all the time either,” Doherty said. While concussions are classified as minor traumatic brain injuries, Doherty doesn’t like to call any concussion minor. If an athlete experiences another concussion while they’re already suffering from one, they can get Second Impact Syndrome which can be deadly to the patient. To diagnose concussions, Doherty first checks the cranial nerves for neurological damage and uses a Sports Concussion Assessment tool to find red flags. The assessment to diagnose concussions is the Standard Concussion Assessment Test (SCAT5). The assessment shows red flags to look for, signs to observe and multiple tests necessary to diagnose a concussion. “If the athlete is suffering from neurological damage, they may not be able to smell, lose consciousness or develop anterograde amnesia where they can’t form memories,’’ Doherty said. Doherty is a former athlete himself. He played rugby and had a concussion in his playing days. “When I played rugby, I was picked up and dropped on my head multiple times. When I got my concussion, I was knocked out cold, but I had barely gotten tapped,” Doherty said. Doherty will send athletes to the Emergency Room if no progress is being made or if a headache persists hours after the concussion. Concussion specialist Brian Mahaffey said things like ADHD, migraine headaches and amnesia can all be factors that prolong the athlete’s recovery. Mahaffey also said once the athlete is no longer showing symptoms, they become cleared to begin their Return to Play progression (RTP). “While it’s true the standardized RTP progression we follow takes seven days for a high school athlete, if a person younger suffers a concussion, their recovery time is longer and usually up to 10 days. If the person is over 18, their RTP progression will take less time,” Mahaffey said. After the RTP, the athlete will be cleared for controlled contact activity before they can be completely cleared. Athletes can return to school quickly, but their school and athletic activity will be modified. When the athlete is first cleared to return to their sport, they will also have practices modified to accommodate their injury. The athlete may start with walkthroughs then no contact then light contact before fully returning to their sport. One concussion may be hard • illustration by HANNAH FITTS enough to deal with, but having two can

Sports

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

After the Lancers won the Wickenheiser Cup last season, sophomore PATRICK JOHNSON was named the game’s Most Valuable Player • photo by JACK WEAVER

After finding local success, Johnson signs with NAHL team MORGAN VEHIGE • Sports Editor •

ABBY STEBNER • Staff Reporter •

Former Wickenheiser Cup Most Valuable Player sophomore Patrick Johnson was signed to a one-year tender with the National American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Bismarck Bobcats. The NAHL has been around for 44 seasons and is a junior hockey club that spans all across America. It is the only Tier II hockey league to be recognized by USA Hockey, and serves as an alternate Tier I with the United States Hockey League (USHL), another premier junior league. Johnson traveled to North Dakota on New Year’s Day to practice and debut in a game with the Bobcats, and after brief consideration, he signed a contract that will allow him to play with the team for one year. Hockey has been in Johnson’s blood for as long as he can remember. “All of my cousins, I have around 10 older boy cousins, all played growing up and all of our dads played growing up too,” Johnson said. Although he began playing with his family, his love for the game and quickly developing skills led him to play on multiple club teams, including Lafayette hockey and the Springfield AAA Jr. Blues. “I think it’s a fun sport, and it’s fun to be with the boys all of the time. You get to meet a lot of new people too, and it exposes you to a whole new variety of people,” Johnson said. “It also exposes you to a lot of life lessons as well like hard-work, perseverance and responsibility.” The experience of traveling to play hockey isn’t foreign to

Johnson. He did a similar thing when he played in a U14 Division in New York in his 8th grade school year. His experience in North Dakota will be similar to the one he had in New York. In his time in New York, he stayed with a host family who was originally from St. Louis. However, when he goes to North Dakota, Johnson expects a different experience than what playing in New York was like. “They have a group of families that host two or three guys per house and you provide transportation for yourself. It’s going to be a bit of a different experience for me,” Johnson said. Sophomore Kate Johnson has always known that her brother was a good hockey player, but when he first started traveling for long periods of time for the sport, she realized how important it was to him. “He always has had such a hard work ethic, and I know he always pushes himself to become a better person and player. Our family will go visit him as often as we can even though my parents will go see him more than my siblings and I because we have our sports, too,” Kate said. She also recognizes how her brother has pushed himself to the level that he is at and how he will continue to grow in the best environment possible for him. “We are very happy and proud of our brother. It will be a change again, but we want him to do what is best for him and what makes him happy,” Kate said. Johnson is continually grateful for his family’s continued support as he chases his goal to rise to the highest possible level in hockey. “I know they’re going to miss me,” he said. “But I think they know that this is what I want to do and this is what’s best for me, so they support me through the whole thing. It’s a huge help to have a great, supportive family by my side through all of this.” His mother, Michelle Johnson, has been through this all

theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020

Sports

In the Wickenheiser Cup match, sophomore PATRICK JOHNSON looks to pass the puck to one of his teammates as he skates down the ice. • photo by JACK WEAVER

before, but she isn’t quite ready for him to leave again. “It will be a bit more quiet. Since we went through this with him in eighth grade, we kind of know what to expect. We all will for sure miss having him around, but we also know this is what he wants,” Michelle said. It wasn’t an easy process getting his parents to agree for him to go off again for a whole year, especially with junior year right around the corner. However, Johnson rose to the challenge and proved he was able to handle it all. “Knowing that this is what he wants so badly makes it feel like the right decision,” Michelle said “He has proven to us that he is responsible and mature enough for this opportunity, and we are so happy for him.” Not only will Patrick be leaving his family and friends at Lafayette behind, but he’ll also be leaving the Lancer’s hockey team for a season or so. One of the key players on the team, Johnson’s rookie year was strong enough to earn him the Wickenheiser Cup MVP award in 2019. This season, Johnson has continued being one of the top players on the ice, scoring 13 goals and assisting in six. Head Coach of the Lafayette ice hockey team, Jim Carrico, has valued Johnson’s work from the first moment he played for the Lancers. “Patrick plays the game the right way,” Carrico said. “He is the ultimate leader and teammate. He doesn’t trash talk the other team. You never see him pouting or complaining. He just goes out and plays. He works as hard as he can each time he hits the ice. He never gives up.” When Carrico learned of Johnson’s tender with the Bobcats, he wasn’t surprised to hear it. He knew Johnson would play the best hockey he could, whether it be with the Lancers, the NAHL

or Division I college hockey. “Players like him don’t come along often. He has earned this chance. He will do well and the NAHL will be just another stepping stone to move on to the next level,” Carrico said. “He will be missed next year. In the meantime, we will enjoy his remaining time with our Lafayette Ice Hockey Team.” Sophomore teammate James Vermeersch has known Johnson for a long time, and is excited for his friend to get the opportunity of a lifetime. “I talked to him a few days before he left for Bismarck. I kind of knew in my head he was going to sign that weekend but didn’t know for sure,” Vermeersch said. “I saw him play and saw him score on his first shot, which was pretty cool. He texted me the next day and told me he signed that night before he came home.” Not only has Johnson proved to his coach that his leadership skills are to be missed, he has proven it to his teammates as well by being a leader both on the ice and in the locker room. “He’s got a lot of skills and a great attitude,” Vermeersch said. “We’ve become really close these last few years, with going to the same school and playing on two different hockey teams together. I will miss playing hockey with him and hanging out with him outside of that.” Johnson remains optimistic to return to Lafayette in his junior year, and reunite with all of his friends from the team. When he arrives in North Dakota in August of 2020, he’ll attend Century High School and take courses that will transfer to Lafayette for his return in either April or May of 2021. “We have a great group here, and we all go to this great school,” Johnson said. “One of the hardest parts about leaving Lafayette hockey is that I’m going to miss the boys a lot, but I know they’ll be supporting me here while I’m gone.”

theimagemagazine

Sports

Feb. 19, 2020

Pay To Play? Sports participation creates big bills for athletes ALIYAH STUDT • Staff Reporter •

Although the school covers the costs of many team expenses such as tournaments and officials, individual athletes still often have major expenses associated with their sport. For example, getting to the level of a varsity athlete often requires years of play outside of school on youth and club teams. Families are having to pay for participation, equipment, travel, coaching, lessons and other expenses. Over the years, that can add up. Once in high school, there are still costs associated with sports participation. Due to the costs, some students may not be able to play the school sport they want. Although there is no cost to actually tryout and participate in a school team, there are still some associated costs with each sport including the expense of some necessary equipment. Lafayette recognizes this, and makes an effort to lower costs in order to make in-school sports a possibility for as many students as possible. “Each activity is alloted a number of coaching stipends that are set by the Rockwood School District each year,” Activities Director Jonathon Sumner said. “The Activities Office at each school is also given a budget each year to pay for officials fees, tournament fees, bus expenses, equipment and more.” Once the dust settles and all of those funds have been paid, there are still outside costs for the athletes. The coaches in those sports do this best to help alleviate the stress. Escadrille Coach April Ehrhardt said she splits up Nationals payments for the varsity team which can total up to $1,000. “In the two years I’ve been here I have split their payments into three, so that it’s not paying a huge amount all at once,” Ehrhardt said. In addition to this, many sports do fundraisers throughout their season to help lower costs for parents. For instance, Escadrille fund-raised this

year through their Winter Clinic, concession stand earnings and collaborations with Kendra Scott. When successful, these events can lower Nationals costs for dancers. The money goes to costumes, rhinestones and other things needed for Nationals. Nonetheless, it can help tremendously. “Last year, the third nationals payment was supposed to be around $300, but after fundraising, they only had to pay about $40-50,” Ehrhardt said. Sumner also helps LHS sports teams to be fully equipped with all their essentials. This includes new game costumes for Escadrille, swim meet entry fees and various other costs throughout the sport’s seasons. Regardless of the assistance, parents of student-athletes are still responsible for many fees. This varies based on the activity, fees charged for games, the amount of students on a team, equipment costs, traveling fees and more. Specifically, swimmers and divers pay for their own swimsuits and apparel, which can be $100-200 on the low end. Many girls tech suits can total up to $500, according to boys and girls swim and dive Coach Todd Gabel. Senior Paige Daws is a swimmer on the team and sees how the funds she’s spent have been worth it, even her $400 kneeskin swimsuit. But, she said the expense is worth it. “Swimming has taught me many life lessons other than just how to swim fast,” Daws said. “It’s taught me discipline, time management, how to respect coaches.” Outdoor sports that often take place in other locations, sports like softball and soccer, often have fees associated with them that indoor sports don’t have. Senior Lucas Nickerson once spent $325 on a pair of outdoor soccer cleats. “I believe the amount of money my family has spent was worth it,” Nickerson said. “The lessons you earn and the memories you make don’t have a price tag. Soccer has always been fun for me,

“

[LHS is] lucky to have many hard working coaches, students and community members that go above and beyond in many ways to create more opportunities for our student-athletes..” JONATHAN SUMNER • ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

so I wouldn’t ask for a refund if I had the opportunity.” However, there are still student athletes who don’t play sports that are sponsored by Lafayette, such as the ice hockey team who won the Wickenheiser Cup in 2019. “Hockey is not a school-sponsored activity, so it is not overseen or controlled by the Activities Office,” Sumner said. “We do not pay for its expenses. This means all of the funding associated with it is controlled by another organization.” Head Coach Jim Carrico has realized over the years how hockey can be stressful for the players even though it’s an outside of school activity. “Ice hockey roughly costs around $1,500 to play each year. It covers two practices a week and all the games played,” Carrico said. It is both an effort between the coaches and the team in order to pay for the many fees and expenses. Some situations require more discussions than others, but athletes are encouraged to talk to their coaches about any financial issues they may have. Sumner said there are many people who help with sport accessibility at LHS. He said, “[LHS is] lucky to have many hard working coaches, students and community members that go above and beyond in many ways to create more opportunities for our student-athletes.”

theimagemagazine

Sports

Feb. 19, 2020

Is the sport worth the cost?

$250 shoes

“No because in the long run I’m not going to play in the NBA or in college, so all that money could’ve gone somewhere else.” KD Diaby, 12 Basketball

Athletes reveal their most expensive equipment purchase

$425 bat

$120 cleats

“My family and I have put so much time and effort into me getting better, so I can play at the college level. Since I have been offered a few scholarships to play, it has all been worth it.” Cassie Owens, 12 Softball

“For sure. I made the best memories of my life, so you can’t really put a price on that.” Jake Nelson, 12 Football

$400 knee-skin

“Yes because swim has taught me many life lessons other than just swimming fast- discipline, time management and respecting coaches.” Paige Daws, 12

$200 shoes

“Yes b getti ecause I’m ng fo ur ye of fre a Mar y e college rs ville a t Uni for m y bas versity ketb all.” Ryan Camp b e l l, 1 Baske tball 2

Swim

We Love The Lafayette Lancer Community!

Competing For The Cup

Ice hockey team advances to Semis in Challenge Cup While playing Kirkwood on Jan. 6 at the Maryville Hockey Center, senior Jakub Matus focuses on the ice. Matus has scored two goals and has one assist on the season, but the hockey team lost to the Pioneers 2-1 on Jan. 6. The Lancers could potentially take on Kirkwood again in their quest for the Challenge Cup. The Lancers defeated Marquette 7-2 on Feb. 7 and clinched the Quarterfinal series win over the Mustangs 2-2 on Feb. 10, advancing to the Semifinals against Vianney for a two-game series on Feb. 22 and Feb. 29 at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

â&#x20AC;˘ photo by AUDREY SAMPLES

Feb. 19, 2020 Image Magazine

Articles inside

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