Feb. 22, 2013 by Lafayette High School

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Lafayette High School

17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011

See pages 8-9

Volume 44, No. 6 / Feb. 22, 2013 / lhsimage.com

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misc. / 02 Feb. 22, 2013

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[5/contents[ table OF

Effects of brain injuries

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Since March is Brain Injury Awareness month, senior Katte Wagner shares her story about the injury she suffered sophomore year that continues to affect her today.

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7/ Seeing Stars

Photoofthe month

BUILDING IT UP FROM THE GROUND/ Junior Ben Lawrence performs basic maintenance on “Clank Clusseau,” Lafayette’s competition robot for the FIRST Robotics State Competition in Rolla on Feb. 23, from Lafayette Robotic’s team Fermion. “This is Fermion’s second chance at State, but the first time with an actual chance of winning,” Lawrence said. (photo by Megan Landauer)

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upcoming events

Here are some important dates to plug into your calendar app or pencil into your planners.

Feb. 25/ PLC Late Start Day / Yearbook Group Pics Feb. 25/ Taste of West County at 5:30 p.m. in the Commons and Gyms March 2/ Battle of the Bands March 7/ Spring sports photos after school on the Track March 8/ Movie Night at 7 p.m. in the Commons, Gym, Theatre March 9/ Mother/Son Brunch and Father/Daughter Dance

image staff / policies Editors:

Grace Bueckendorf.......................................................................Editor in Chief Paige Antolik..................................................................................... News Editor Gabby McDaris................................................. Opinion/Entertainment Editor Katie Blackstone.......................................................................... Features Editor Dylan Corbet. ..................................................................................Sports Editor Arianna Demos...................................................................... Asst. Sports Editor McKayla Treat..................................................................................... Webmaster Karre Wagner..............................................................................Asst. Webmaster Kelly Carpenter .......................................................................Business Manager Rebecca Ferman...............................................................Social Media Director Veronica Knysh / Dakota Shaw........................................................ Cartoonists Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ......................................................................................Adviser

Staff:

Emily Altic, Jessica Brown, Avery Cantor, Eric Deters, McKinzie Duesenberg, Delaney Eyerman, Jalyn Henderson, Abby Howard, Alex LaMar, Hannah Marshall, Garrett McBay, Maggie McDaniel, Hannah Meuret, Lucas Meyrer, Kelly Panzitta, Amber Park, Emily Pascoe, Ben Rachell, Jack Rogan, Zoe Scala , Dakota Shaw and Grace Yun.

Senior Sarah Wilson discusses her journey as a part of the award winning drum corps, The Blue Stars. Detailing the struggles of life on the road and dedication it takes to be a Blue Star.

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Eat this, not that

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Athletes to watch

When counting calories, eating out can be difficult. Here’s a guide to help you make healthier choices while dining at your local favorites.

Freshman Maria Johnson and junior Nate Messer are dominating the courts this season. They will be headlining in this issue’s Athletes to Watch.

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What’s your Pin-spiration?

It’s easy to notice when walking through the hallway, “that outfit looks like something on Pinterest.” Teachers and students describe which of the many subjects they enjoy on Pinterest.

Information:

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2011-2012 Image received a rating of All-American with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction. The 2011-2012 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

Philosophy Statement:

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.

Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

Policies:

A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

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Students, staff have mixed opinions towards replacement of Half Days next school year Emily Altic / reporter

tarting next year, the Staff Development Days that used to occur once a month will be completely eliminated in Rockwood high schools. They will be replaced by revised Late Start Days. On these days, teachers will have a Professional Learning Community (PLC), or a gathering between teachers of the same subject to discuss curriculum and strategies to assist in classroom success. “The ability for teachers to get together and work together is what’s important,” Todd Decker, science teacher, said. The reason for the end of the early release Staff Development Day program is to increase the regularity of PLC meetings, said Associate Principal Nisha Patel. “Frequency and consistency is key. Now the teachers will be able to meet every other week instead of only once a month and collaborate on their best practices,” Patel said. She added,“Teachers now have a consistent time that they meet and work together in a team setting.” Instead of the current Late Start Day starting time of 8:40 a.m., next year’s Late Start Days will begin at 9:45 a.m. and occur every other week during the 2013-2014 school year. Some students are happy about this adjustment and look forward to the extra sleep. “I like it because now I can sleep in a whole extra hour and get coffee before school. The half days are pretty pointless. Late Starts seem more beneficial,” junior Gabby Breiten said. Other students would prefer to stick to the traditional Staff Development schedule rather than the new Late Start days. “I would prefer the half days because it gives

me something to look forward to each month,” junior Tommy Forness said. Many students enjoy the benefits of getting out early with shortened class periods, favoring the early release over the extra hour of sleep. “I like half days better because you can go hang out with friends. Late Starts just don’t do much for me,” sophomore Colby Patterson said. Becky Hayes, math teacher, said she likes the fact that the PLC meetings are more frequent; however, she wishes they would take place at a more convenient time. “It would be better to take place on a different morning or after school. Mondays are always tough,” Hayes said. Of course, with all things, this new adjustment will come at a price. Rockwood’s Executive Director of Secondary Education James Wipke said the total cost of adding Late Start days will come to an estimated $70,000. That money is primarily for re-routing the bus schedules on those days. Wipke said he believes the program is definitely worth the cost. “Anytime we can look at ways to improve student achievement and their learning the district has a responsibility to look at all options,” Wipke said. He said the benefits of Late Start days include allowing staff the time to pace out curriculum, assisting teachers in becoming consistent in grading practice and providing teachers time to collaborate in creating common formative and summative assessments connected to essential skills in the content area. “It is amazing to think of what they [teachers] can do when given the time and opportunity to put their best thinking together to help our students learn,” Wipke said.

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news / 03 Feb. 22, 2013

image Superintendent asks Bruce Borchers Q: What is the main reason for converting the old Staff Development Days to the new Late Start Days? A: Most teachers feel that meeting once a month wasn’t

sufficient. We’ve been trying to find more time to meet. This current year we did the best we could with finding some time for our teachers, but in true PLC, you should be meeting much more than once a month. You meet more frequently for a longer period of time.

Q: What is the purpose for having students absent during PLC time? A: When the students aren’t in the building it allows the

administrators to get around to some of these PLCs and work with teachers.

Q: What are the benefits of replacing the Staff Development Days with the Late Start Days? A: It gives more frequent meetings with teachers and a longer

time period for them to meet, so they can get into some deeper conversations. Teachers could meet for 45 minutes in one content area and 45 minutes in somewhere else. The ability for teachers to get together and work together is what we need.

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news / 04 Feb. 22, 2013

BREAKING GROUND

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shopping STRIP MALL/

A collection of normal stores all in an outdoor setting; normally one large, “anchor store,” surrounded by smaller branches of “chain stores” stores. Ex: Chesterfield Valley

SHOPPING MALL/

Developments move closer to opening, bringing outlet malls closer to home

utlet malls: America’s number one accessory when it comes to shopping, are coming a little closer to home. While it is normally a 30 minute drive to the nearest outlet mall, come August the drive will only be 10 minutes with the construction of two new outlet malls in the Chesterfield area. St. Louis Premium Outlets and Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield are battling it out on Highway 40/64 for major grand openings in August to bring major outlet malls close to St. Louis shoppers. St. Louis Premium Outlets, the smaller of the two, has an opening date planned for Aug. 22. Located on the south side of Highway 40/64, the development “will be a beautiful village setting that will be enjoyable for area residents and visitors,” Michele Rothstein, Senior Vice President Marketing of Simon, said. Regarding the location, Rothstein said, “The location allows us to well serve area visitors and residents. Outlet centers are destinations and this location provides us with good visibility and easy access.” However, competition will be fierce with Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield as they

glossary

PREVIEW / St. Louis Premium Outlets computer generated a preview of the east entry of the development scheduled to open in August. (photo by Michele Rothstein)

Karre Wagner / assistant webmaster

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have an earlier opening date and a larger size. Taubman’s tentative opening date is Aug. 2, 20 days before St. Louis Premium. Taubman will offer the public some unique amenities such as a dog friendly mall; it will also have food options throughout. “Considering so many St. Louisans have dogs, it’s another way we can make the shopping experience both fun and different,” Colleen O’Neill, General Manager of Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield, said. The location of the new outlet malls will also be beneficial to the community. O’Neill said, “Chesterfield really is an ideal location. We feel Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield is easily accessible right off highway 64/40 and with our specific site it is so visible. Most of the residents of the city and county of St. Louis are within a 2030 minute drive of the project. In addition, the complimentary retail offers the shopper so many choices, making the area a true destination.” Senior Kelsey Keithly thinks the outlet malls will benefit the community. She believes students will be excited to shop when coming home from college and it also gives teenagers more job opportunities and places to shop locally.

However, Keithly thinks it’s a bummer that the outlet malls open right before she and fellow seniors leave for college. She also thinks it might close down neighboring businesses. “I think it might end up closing down Chesterfield Mall because I think a lot of more people are going to be interested in going to the new outlets versus going to the mall where the people have been for years when this is all new and fresh,” Keithly said. Another student, Abbey Steinhoff, junior, believes these developments shouldn’t even be going up in the first place. “I feel like it should have stayed farm land because we have enough malls. I can’t really think of why they would need to add that there. The Valley is right there and the Chesterfield Mall is just a little bit upward,” Steinhoff said. The opening of the new outlet developments will not only bring an influx of jobs, but a positive feel to the whole Chesterfield Valley. Dean Wolfe, owner of Wolfe Properties who negotiated the deal with St. Louis Premium, said, “Seeing the completed development and the uniform prairie style of architecture will be unique to the entire St. Louis area.”

A large building forming a complex of shops; indoor version of the strip mall, usually forms a large circle and has many levels. Ex: Chesterfield Mall, West County Mall, St. Louis Galleria Mall

OUTLET MALL/

A store where manufactures sell their goods directly to the public. In modern times outlet stores offer goods to the public that are out of season or slightly damaged therefore at a lower or discounted price. Ex: Osage Beach Premium Outlets, St. Louis Outlet Mall

For links to the outlet malls’ websites, visit www.lhsimage.com

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keep it in

news / 05 Feb. 22, 2013

mind

Hannah Marshall / reporter

arch, is that time of the year to raise awareness for an injury that is prevalent in our society. It is Brain Injury Awareness Month. A brain injury can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. According to the Brain Injury Association, 1.7 million Americans sustain a brain injury each year. Whether it’s from sports, car crashes, tragic accidents or a simple fall, brain injuries are on the rise. A mild to moderate TBI is usually called a concussion, and healthcare providers use the two terms interchangeably. A moderate to severe TBI includes structural damage to the brain with more severe, persistant symptoms. People with the most severe TBI can stay unconscious for weeks, even months. There are two major types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) which cover a wide range of injuries to the head. One type is a penetrating injury. This is where a foreign object like a bullet enters the brain and causes damage to specific brain parts along the route the object has traveled. The second type of injury is a closed head injury. This is where damage is caused by a blow to the head like in a car accident when the head hits something such as a window. With both penetrating and closed head injuries, there can be primary brain damage like fracturing of the skull, contusions or bruises, blood clots occurring between the skull and brain or just inside the brain itself and nerve damage. Damage that evolves over time after the trauma, or secondary brain damage, may include swelling of the brain, increased pressure inside the skull, epilepsy, fever, low or high blood pressure, anemia, cardiac or lung changes and nutritional changes. Senior Katte Wagner suffered a closed head

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Senior Katte Wagner shares her experience with a brain injury that occured during her sophomore year that continues to linger through her high school career and how it has impacted her daily routine.

injury sophomore year. has to take daily medication for. “I was in language arts class and we had The thyroid is one of the main hormone broken up into groups to recite Shakespeare’s secreting organs in your body located in your A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I was standing neck. The hormones released from the thyroid against the wall and reading my parts when all influence metabolism, growth and developthe sudden my vision just stopped. The next ment and body temperature. thing I know, I’m waking up on the ground Wagner’s medication helps her maintain a with Shamara Wilson holding my hair back normal body temperature throughout the day. because my nose was bleeding all over the “If I don’t take the medication, I will sit in carpet.” class and just Wagner’s dad sweat, and I’m picked her up not a sweater at from school all, or I will be where they met freezing and it her mother at will take forever home and drove to warm up,” to the ER. Wagner said. “The doctor Before the told me I might injury, Wagner kattewagner / 12 have a mild played socconcussion and cer through to just follow sophomore year. up with my regular doctor in a couple of days, When she took the mandatory concussion test, but the next day my mom could tell something she scored in the high 80th and 90th percentile. wasn’t right at all,” she said. After the diagnosis, Wagner was in the less According to the Centers for Disease Control than the first percentile on everything. and Prevention (CDC), a concussion is a Before playing any contact sports in high type of TBI that can change the way the brain school, like soccer, players have to be cleared normally works. Even though doctors may defrom a mandatory concussion test. This makes scribe concussions as a mild brain injury, their sure that it is safe for athletes to play. effects can be serious. When Wagner was unable to meet the reIn fact, Wagner is still suffering the consequirements for the concussion test, she was not quences from the accident sophomore year. allowed to play. “With concussions, you can get Post-Con“I didn’t know a head injury could be this cussion Syndrome which can last two to three bad, but living it, you don’t realize how much years or longer,” Wagner said. “The chemical you use your brain until you can’t,” Wagner balance in your brain doesn’t fix itself, so you’re said. “You really don’t.” still stuck with concussion symptoms.” After suffering any type of TBI, there can be Wagner’s injury surpasses just a mild concus- many types of problems physically. sion. Her injury will be with her for most, if not Physical problems may include hearing loss, the rest of her life. headaches, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision “My doctors believe the hit was so hard and and/or reduced strength and coordination in in just the right spot to mess up my brainstem,” the body, arms and legs. Wagner said. Wagner said, “When I was first injured, I was Wagner now suffers thyroid issues that she very light sensitive.”

[ ] “You don’t realize how much you use your brain until you can’t.”

Someone suffering with a TBI might also have trouble communicating. Depending on the location injury, a person may have trouble finding the words they need to express an idea or explain themselves through speaking and writing. Spelling, writing and reading may be difficult as well. Wagner is unable to write essays in class. “My thought process goes in a continuous circle and doesn’t make sense, so having to transfer my thoughts to paper doesn’t come out right because I can’t get my point across.” Social communication can also be an issue. “When I’m in a conversation, I tend to repeat myself a lot, and not necessarily on the same day. It can be several days later and I will say it again,” Wagner said. Cognitive, or thinking, difficulties are also common among people with a TBI. Cognitive thinking skills include awareness of one’s surroundings, attention to tasks, memory, reasoning, problem solving and executive functioning. Wagner says memorization was difficult, but it’s getting better. Depending on where the injuriy is located, individuals with a TBI may also have trouble with their emotions. Wagner says she is still dealing with this emotionally. “Before the concussion, I had no emotion problems at all,” she said. “Now, when I get angry, I can get off the charts angry.” It’s important that if one has experienced some sort of head injury, even a simple bump, to get it checked out. Easy as it is to blow off dizziness or nausea, the symptoms could be the result of something more serious that isn’t seen on the surface. “If you do get a concussion, sit out and don’t complain, because there are kids who never recover from this injury,” Wagner said. “Don’t complain about the little things and be thankful for what you have,” she said.

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features / 06 Feb. 22, 2013

image

Seeing Double

Over the years, 3-D films have become wildly popular, amazing audiences with three dimensional images. However, not everyone enjoys the dramatic effects. Emily Pascoe / reporter

he days of black and white static projecting on screen are over, and the days of three-dimensional images and effects dazzling the audience are here. 3-D movies are here to stay, with mixed reactions from die-hard movie-goers. Dr. Stephen Menzel, a specialist from Clarkson Eyecare, said 3-D effects are achieved when two synchronized images are projected on a screen, then the ever fashionable polarized 3-D glasses filter out different colors in each eye. This allows the eye to see a different image, resulting in a three-dimensional effect. 3-D movies have received a wide array of reactions from the movie-watching population. Some love the glasses and the real-life experience associated with 3-D movies, while others only associate 3-D movies with headaches and steep prices. Sophomore Jessica Burleski would rather see a movie in 3-D than 2-D any day. She is even willing to wear the 3-D glasses over her everyday eyeglasses if she forgets to put her contacts in. “I like 3-D movies because I feel like the ef-

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image asks

fects are coming at me and I feel like I’m really in the movie,” Burleski said. Some major movie buffs, including senior Emmy Alicea, are neutral when it comes to their preference of 2-D or 3-D movies. As the vice president of the Film Club and visiting the theater on a regular basis, Alicea has developed her own opinion about the difference between two and three dimensional films. “For your standard movie, I would say I like 2-D better. 3-D works best when it’s movies that have a very intricate setting. [Movies like] Life of Pie and Avatar were basically made for 3-D because it makes you feel like you’re there. “The special effects are laid out and worked on so that it would be silly not to make these types of movies in 3-D. It just makes you feel more in the moment with the characters. It really depends on the movie,” Alicea said. There are others who find it difficult to watch movies in 3-D. Jodie Shead, social studies teacher, thinks it is challenging to concentrate on the screen while watching a 3-D film. “I don’t like 3-D movies because they hurt my eyes and I feel like the picture is shaky and blurry. I just want to take the glasses off but then it looks even worse. Overall, it makes me

feel dizzy and disoriented,” Shead said. Menzel provides his insight on 3-D movies and his experience with 3-D related eye issues. “I have worked in this profession for 19 years, and I have personally never had a patient come in and complain about any side effects from watching a 3-D movie,” Menzel said. Many people feel this way because of the lack of binocular vision in their eyes. Binocular vision is the ability for the eye to combine both images projected on a screen into one picture. “From what we understand, these movies and films are relatively safe. These movies work due to the fact that most people who have the full function of both eyes see in stereo (binocularity) or depth. By manipulating a 2-D image a certain way and using special glasses, a person’s brain can be fooled into seeing that same depth or 3-D. If an individual’s muscles in their eyes do not work well together they may experience eye strain trying to view the film which can cause headaches or dizziness and, if sensitive enough, nausea,” Menzel said. Like it or not, 3-D films are becoming more popular.Different advancements in technology are attempting to take audiences into a whole new world of special effects.

25%

1890s - William Friese-Greene

created the first 3-D movie process. The viewer looks through a stereoscope to see a 3-D effect.

1922 - The Power of Love, the

first 3-D film confirmed to be shown to an audience, was released. The 3-D version of this silent film is considered lost.

1952 - The 3-D film Bwana

Devil is a hit and launches “The Golden Era” for 3-D movies.

1955 - 3-D movies became too expensive to produce and “The Golden Era” ends.

2009 - Avatar was released

Do you prefer 3-D or 2-D movies?

3-D

Time Line of 3-D/

3-D movies have been around for almost as long as movies have existed.

in digital 3-D and not only becomes the highest grossing 3-D film, but also the highest grossing film in history. Since then, more movies have been produced in 3-D.

2-D

75% *Survey out of 107 students

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features / 07 Feb. 22, 2013

stars S Seeing

enior helps pave way for greatness in competitions with the Blue Stars, while forming a new foundation for her personal goals and values.

Jalyn Henderson / reporter

Wake up, eat, rehearse, eat, rehearse, eat, perform, repeat. The life of a national-awardwinning Blue Star consists of dedication, perseverance and commitment. Senior Sarah Wilson entered into her Blue Stars audition last November possessing all of these qualities and has gained several more traits through her experiences touring the country as a part of the Blue Stars. The Blue Stars is a competitive band that travels to separate Drums Corps International (DCI) competitions all throughout the United States. The Stars perform during the months of June through August, with rigorous training beginning in May. The band, which originated in Wisconsin, travels to several states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin in order to win a DCI Division championship. “Last year we were in the Top 12 Corps since 2008, it was our time to win again,” Wilson said. Wilson has played the trumpet throughout her high school career and was inspired to become part of a regiment by former Lafayette students Rob Esrock and Tate Hermann, members of opposing regimes, the Phantom Regiment and Madison Corps. Compelled by their experiences, Wilson auditioned and made the brass and percussioncentered band, ending her junior year a week early to attend a summer of sleepless nights on

buses and gym floors of various schools on the road to competition. “It’s hard for people to understand, but the positive experiences outweigh the negative,” Wilson said. During spring training, members endure 12-hour ong rehearsals, learning the music and choreography for the show. “Spring training brought shin splints, and has left Sarah with chronic foot issues, but she has the resolve, determination and sheer guts to work through these issues,” Sue Wilson, Wilson’s mother, said. However, Wilson’s rigorous hours of hard work don’t go unnoticed. It’s all worth it once the band performs in front of thousands of kids who dream of one day becoming a part of a drum corps. Last year, The Blue Stars started competition season on June 15 in Akron, OH. Wilson, along with 200 other members toured the country until the DCI Preliminaries arrived in Indianapolis,. As the 12th band of the Top 12 Band Corps, Blue Stars members knew that mandating their position would be difficult, but with their advanced choreography they foresaw a victory. Unfortunately, during semifinals, The Blue Stars lost to the Crossmen, a drum corps from San Antonio, by three tenths of a point. “When I got on the bus, I just knew,” Wilson said. After the competition, members held an “Age Out Circle” for the members who could no longer march due to age restrictions.

PLAYING HER HEART OUT / Wilson playing the trumpet during a performance, accompanied by fellow Blue Stars in a competition last summer. (photo by Sue Wilson) “They were passing something down, the character and traditions of the core, what it means to be a Blue Star,” Wilson said. Although the Blue Stars weren’t successful at their last competition, its experiences have brought on a new way of thinking for Wilson. “It changed the way I look at things. I learned that nothing is impossible,” Wilson said. Wilson’s mother has also noticed a dramatic change in Wilson’s behavior. “Her self-confidence increased as well as her independence,” Sue said. Although members came from all across the world to become a part of the corps, they were all able to blend and form a family-like bond within the short time playing together. The life for a Blue Stars parent isn’t any less stressful. “You are moral support, a cheerleader and a sympathetic ear,” Sue said. The parents of the band members also undergo a series of emotional changes due to the rapid lifestyle that touring brings.

Last summer Sue joined the Blue Stars on tour for two weeks, cooking four meals a day for the 200 plus member of the band. “It was wonderful to see the progress in the show and be a part of this huge machine,” Sue said. Wilson’s involvement in the great machine of the Blue Stars also affects how her close friends see her. “She’s inspiring, she gives her life away to work towards such a huge goal,” senior Caitlin Weible said. Wilson has the drive and passion to do things Weible has never thought of doing. “Because of Blue Stars she’s more confident, driven and hard-working,” Weible said. Due to the expenses of traveling with the Blue Stars, Wilson encourages donations through the Blue Stars website. It’s possible to make donations by purchasing merchandise as well as donating money directly to Wilson.

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cover story / 08

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cover story / 09

Feb. 22, 2013

CAL: 963 FAT: 60 g

Avery Cantor / reporter

Alex LaMar / reporter

farmers

SOD: 1209 mg

Jack Rogan / reporter

Going out to eat while dieting or trying to eat healthier can be difficult when many restaurants are serving huge portions loaded with extra calories and fat. However, people can still enjoy dining out if they select healthier meal options using the nutrition information found on the websites of many different restaurants. The Image compared meal options at four popular restaurants in Chesterfield Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; one for each meal of the day.

Asian Chopped Salad 229 calories 63 g fat 403 mg sodium

CAL: 830 FAT: 45 g

Petite Seafood Fettuccine

SOD: 255 mg

635 calories 41 g fat 2333 mg sodium

Classic Burger

781 calories 49 g fat 1398 mg sodium

CAL: 1008 FAT: 45 g

Strawberry Smoothie

SOD: 2645 mg

470 calories 1 g fat 5 mg sodium

Brownie Ala Mode Pie 510 calories 24 g fat 255 mg sodium

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

CAL: 420 FAT: 20 g SOD: 720 mg

510 calories 14 g fat 1380 mg sodium

Super Fruit Oatmeal 290 calories 3.5 g fat 5 mg sodium

Two-Egg Breakfast 350 calories 8 g fat 710 mg sodium

CAL: 569 FAT: 24 g SOD: 991 mg

CAL: 1020 FAT: 78 g SOD: 2090 mg

CAL: 1002 FAT: 66g SOD: 1757 mg

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

409 calories 7 g fat 993 mg sodium

Caesarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chicken Wrap

779 calories 43 g fat 1827 mg sodium

Grilled Chicken Salad

454 calories 17 g fat 789 mg sodium

Cookie Dough Frostbite 230 calories 9 g fat 190 mg sodium

CAL: 1250 FAT: 77 g SOD: 455 mg

[the]

sports / 10 Feb. 22, 2013

[

Athletes to

watch

Kelly Panzitta & Ben Rachell/ reporters

s the final weeks of basketball season hang in the balance, these two Lancer athletes rise up and excel in game play. Junior Nate Messer and freshman Maria Johnson are February’s Athletes to Watch.

Maria Johnson/

New to the Lady Lancers basketball program, Maria Johnson has become a huge asset to the junior varsity team. As a freshman playing on junior varsity, there is certainly pressure to perform. However, she handles it well. Coach Ashley Lewis said, “There is always pressure on players to perform well no matter what age, but it is how she handles the pressure that is impressive.” Johnson doesn’t let her age get in the way, as she is one of

Messer, Johnson continue to shine on basketball court

the team’s top scorers. The team also looks to her to get a lot of rebounds on both the offensive and defensive ends. Not only is she a strong team player, but she is also an extremely focused individual and aggressive player on the court. Standing tall at 6 plus feet, she is a tough defensive presence in the paint. While her height gives her an advantage, she also has speed, skill and ability— something you don’t find in most centers. As the season ends, the junior varsity girls basketball team looks to do well in their final tournament. The team believes they can knock out a few of the teams they lost to in the regular season. Personally, Johnson hopes to be able to attain a better shooting percentage. Johnson said that if she’s learned anything from the program, it’s that “Nothing is more important than teamwork.”

Nate Messer/

When asked what he expects from junior basketball playerNate Messer each game, Head Coach Scott Allen responded with, “he’s got to lead and be able to utilize his game experience to pull others along.” Having been a part of the varsity team since his sophomore year, Messer offers experience, teamwork and aggression. As a

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result of these qualities, he won January’s student athlete of the month. His three older brothers have pushed him to succeed well on the court. Some would say having older brothers that thrived on the court would apply pressure, but Messer’s love for the game has allowed him to practice and come through. Allen said, “Nate loves to play. Basketball is a game that requires a lot of individual time to be good and he’s constantly trying to get better.” When Messer is not showing off his skills on the courts at Lafayette, he’s always trying to better himself elsewhere. Nate is viewed as a role model for younger players who hope to elevate their skills both on and off the court. “I think Nate does things the right way. My hope is that other younger players see that and do the same,” Allen said.

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sports / 11 Feb. 22, 2013

xcelling in a sport used to simply involve daily practice. Now, staying ahead of the competition involves much more and the costs add up for year-round play, club team equipment, private lessons and more. Dylan Corbet & Arianna Demos/ sports editor & assistant sports editor

Baseball/ Sports seem to always be a huge part of a kid’s life these days, but what you really don’t thinktoo much about is the immense cost of being a multiple sport athlete. Baseball, a common sport among young athletes, is just another costly expense if they have the aspirations to become successful. Junior Nick Oliff participates on both the Lancer baseball team and the Rawlings Prospects in the summer. In order for the players to continue improving and keep up with such a fast-pace game, they are obligated to have several pieces of quality equipment. “You need a glove, maybe multiple gloves depending on the position, an aluminum bat, possibly a wooden bat, batting gloves, a helmet and a baseball bag,” Oliff said. Senior Evan Aliano also competes with a club team in the summer, the St. Louis Gamers, and the Lafayette team in the spring. In order to remain on top of their game, both Oliff and Aliano keep up with their skills in the off season and practice daily in the spring. “To play for my club, it is $3,500 up front. A good glove can cost $220 or more, while a quality bat costs at

least $330,” Aliano said. When parents are selecting sports for their young children, baseball seems to be a prominent choice. The expense as their athlete grows older, though, is unknown to many. It could possibly turn away a passionate and talented player who simply cannot afford it.

Basketball/ With basketball, it’s basically the same story, to go somewhere in basketball, you’re going to have to spend a lot of money. Buying top notch shoes, all the Nike and Under Armour undershirts and compression shorts and, of course, paying the cost of an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team in the spring and summer are all necessities. “Outside of school, I play from March until August and I’d probably say it costs $3,000-$4,000 a year,” junior Evan Scales said. Paying for all the traveling and entering tournaments certainly adds up to a lot when you’re competing for two out of the four seasons. However, it doesn’t come much cheaper for the high school season. Each varsity player is required to pay for a pair of team shoes and travel

gear which, despite the good deal LHS provides, can run up close to $250.

Lacrosse/ Lacrosse has also proven to be a popular sport that requires a bundle of money to stay involved with. Purchasing all the necessary equipment, paying to play for an AAU team in the off season and all of the traveling associated with that adds up to thousands of dollars a year just for one sport for one child. Boys at LHS have to pay even more just to play for the school team because it’s not school sponsored. The players have to pay, not only for their own equipment, but also for field time and officials for games. Junior Tim Slocum has participated on the varsity lacrosse squad since his freshman year and also plays in the fall, winter and summer for his select team. “It can cost $500-$3,000 a year, depending on traveling to tournaments,” Slocum said. In addition, there is a good amount of equipment you need to purchase before even thinking about joining lacrosse. Slocum said, “You have to have a stick which has a head and a shaft on it, a helmet, gloves, elbow pads and

shoulder pads.” The cost of playing lacrosse is already pretty steep, but the fact that you also have to pay for referees and fields to play for Lafayette’s club team may turn away some kids from even trying out due to the cost. “Lafayette lacrosse will always let you play even if you can’t afford it. There are other ways of paying the cost like selling ads for the program,” Slocum said. Lafayette does a good job at focusing on the sport rather than the cost of it. But, lacrosse isn’t the only sport that can rack up a bill.

Hockey/ Hockey is another non-school sponsored sport at LHS that is even more of a costly sport than lacrosse for someone who plays year-round. Sophomore Drew Schweitz competes on both the Lancer hockey team and Chesterfield Falcons club team. During the high school season, Schweitz will practice hockey seven to eight times a week between both teams. “There are nine main items for hockey equipment ranging from $100-$300 each, skates being the most expensive,” Schweitz said. Equipment is only the beginning

as dollar amounts sky rocket when it comes to joining club teams which you have to pay for traveling and tournaments. To become a top athlete, investing in club teams and quality equipment is necessary, but may be unrealistic to many families. Schweitz said, “For the Falcons, it is about $5,000 a year when you include all of the traveling, hotels, and tournament fees.”

Competitive Cheer/ While the bill adds up to make an impact in hockey, competitive cheerleaders are facing some of the same financial challenges. With the reputation of a top cheerleading club in St. Louis, Cheer Legendz has attracted athletes of all ages to travel the country and compete. When sophomore Bailey Roccia joined Cheer Legendz, it came with many financial obligations. “We pay for the uniform, shoes, and practice clothes. After adding up the costs, including traveling, it is about $5,000 a year”, Roccia said. Even LHS cheerleaders have substantial costs that also adds up quickly. The athletes must purchase every clothing option and attend a summer camp.

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sports / 12 Feb. 22, 2013

Fly on the Wall

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Yusman takes wrestling fandom to the next level

Lucas Meyrer / reporter

oing unnoticed is nothing new for Dr. Barry Yusman. Yusman thrives as fly on the wall, an inconspicuous spectator, a shadow. A mild-mannered dentist practicing in St. Peters, Yusman is omnipresent at most local St. Louis wrestling meets. If asked, he could tell anyone the weight classes, records and statistics of almost all of Lafayette’s varsity wrestlers, yet the Lancers’ head wrestling coach has never heard of him. Yusman has seen underclassmen with potential become stars, stars become coaches, and the sons of coaches embark upon the same cycle. The story of Yusman can be defined in many ways, but above all else is his unparalleled passion for wrestling. At a young age, Yusman was entranced by wrestling. “I wrestled in 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade. In junior high I was our champion in 7th and 8th grade and I thought, ‘Hey, this is pretty easy!’ but all of a sudden you get up to the big boys and they were better than I was,” Yusman said. A track and cross country runner, he stopped wrestling personally as an upperclassman at University City High School and fell out of contact with the sport as an undergraduate at University of Missouri (Mizzou). “When I went to Mizzou, I didn’t go to any wrestling meets at all. I just studied and went to college and forgot about everything,” said Yusman. In fact, Yusman did not do anything with wrestling during college except for “watch the stuff on TV, which is entertainment but not really wrestling,” he said.

Yusman’s re-exposure to the sport was through his daughter, Lisa, who was a cheerleader at Parkway West. “My daughter was a high school wrestling cheerleader, so that’s how I got back into it. You have to go see your kids, right?” he said. Yusman said that soon after he got back into the gym to support his daughter, he was immediately captivated by the sport again. “I got hooked. And I haven’t stopped,” he said. Since that fateful day, Yusman truly did get hooked. He has been attending wrestling meets either with friends or simply by himself as a not-so-casual fan for 22 years. “I think it’s a great sport, I just love it. It’s a tough sport, it takes discipline. You have to really watch your time studying and wrestling, and God forbid having a girlfriend somewhere in there too,” he said. Yusman’s connection to Lafayette can be traced back all the way to when the current Lancer coaches wrestled in high school. “I remember seeing Coach [Jonathan] Sumner when he wrestled at Eureka,” Yusman said. Ironically enough, Yusman also graduated from University City High School in the same class as Assistant Wrestling Coach Joseph Weir’s mother-in-law. Yusman now has the opportunity to see Weir’s son and Lafayette freshman, Alex,compete, as well as senior Nick Olejnik, who “without a doubt,” according to Yusman is the best wrestler at Lafayette. Olejnik, who recently broke the school record for wins with 180, is just one of great high school wrestlers Yusman has silently supported from the stands. Yusman has high praise for LHS’ program. “Sumner does a great job; Coach Wier will

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help him out a lot,” Yusman said. “I see some of the kids who used to wrestle in high school and now they’re coaches, so my Lord I’m getting older now, it’s horrible!” he said. Yusman perpetually stressed the social aspects of wrestling meets, and in his experiences he found it very easy to befriend other avid wrestling fans. He used to attend weekend tournaments with three friends he met by happenstance at wrestling meets, all doing the same thing he was. “We had great fun, we used to talk to other people, get to know parents, coaches, and referees. It’s kind of a big social thing. Wrestling is a really tight-knit community.” The four attended high school and collegiate meets across the Midwest for nearly 20 years together, meeting up and simply enjoying the matches. However, tragedy struck as one of the group members, Randy, passed away last year. “He’d always joke around, be a jerk, but he was just a playful guy and I liked him a lot, we had a lot of fun together,” Yusman said. “I miss Randy. A lot of the referees didn’t like him because he was always aggravating them, but he did it in fun. He loved the sport as much as any of them,” Yusman added. In the past year, another one of the group fell ill with cancer, and Yusman has lost contact with the third member over the years as numerous factors have seen the friends drift away from the once-weekly tournaments they used to attend together. However, Yusman is still going strong, remaining very involved in the wrestling community. “I volunteer to keep score at the Lindenwood meet; I’ve kept score when Mizzou has had

NOT-SO-CASUAL FAN/ Dr. Barry Yusman watches matches at the Lafayette Varsity Invitational on Jan. 19. Yusman ‘s tournament of choice that weekend saw the Lancers go 4-0 in dual meets for the day. (photo by Lauren Hakmiller) their open. I just like being around wrestling people, and I think it’s just a great sport. I just love it,” Yusman said. Despite his age and physical limitations, the steadfast and phenomenally passionate “I just don’t see [a stopping point for tournament attendance.] You always think when you see high school meets that this guy is graduating and there’s not going to be anything to watch, but there are always good kids coming up, always,” Yusman said. “When I can’t drive, I’ll tell my wife to drive me. I’ll say ‘drop me off at 9 a.m., pick me up at 6 p.m. when it’s over,’” he joked.

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opinions / 13 Feb. 22, 2013

American two party system limits choices for [Staff Ed] Individuals must speak up for what they Opinions expressed on the editorial pages do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed, columns, blogs, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.

believe in, in order to make a difference There have been many activists throughout history, making their mark and creating a difference in their path. A majority of the Image’s reporters have at one time heard from their friends or peers a suggestion about the paper. These suggestions usually include a story idea or someone we should talk to, but sometimes there are complaints about what was written. What is off putting about these complaints is not that someone disagrees with what we wrote. We understand that sometimes we mess up and that our viewpoints are different than others. We encourage others to speak out about the paper, since our main goal is to keep students informed and

talking. But, instead of complaining about something you disagree with, why not do something about it? Complaints are often made, but instead of acting on these grievances and writing a letter to the editor, reporters are given a verbal complaint. When the very rare chance occurs where someone mentions that they may be interested in writing a letter to the editor, a request is made to not have the writers name published. As reporters, our names are at the top of every story we write. And when our regular columnists publish their views, they proudly display their name and picture with what they have written.

The adage could be made of “you can walk the walk but you can’t talk the talk.” This in a way is the same thing. Complaining about something will not solve the problem. Acting out and stating what must be done, will however be a start. In early October a 15-year-old girl from Pakistan was shot by the Taliban for advocating for women’s education. After a successful surgery, she survived and is continuing to speak out about what she believes in. If a 15-year-old girl is brave enough to stand up to a known terrorist group, a high schooler from West County should be brave enough to stand up for whatever he or she believes in.

When someone takes the time and makes an effort to stand up for what they believe in, it shows how much they care. As columnists our way of speaking out to the public is not by complaining to a couple of friends about the subject, but writing a column or a story. We put in countless hours of work and effort into each paper, all for the ability of letting the voices of students and staff members be heard. We live in a society where an impact can be made through a few hundred words. By not taking advantage of this opportunity and sitting on the sidelines, we are restricting our own voices.

Current generation has chance to make history Every couple of decades a new branch of advocators for human rights steps up and makes their voices heard. In the 1860s activists against slavery stood their ground for four years in one of the most gruesome wars in American history. In the early 20th century, women across the nation fought for suffrage and in 1920 the 19th Amendment granted them the right to vote. In the 1950s to the 1960s African Americans once again had to fight for greater equality, leading to the Civil Rights Act passing in 1964. The 21st century now has their own fight for equality and it doesn’t involve ethnicity or gender. It involves marriage equality. Across the country gays and lesbians are fighting daily for the right to marry their loved ones. Each day rallies are held across the nation,

much like those held in the fifties and sixties. Last year while standing in line at a NOH8 photo shoot with my mom and sister it occurred to me that those standing with us were going to be remembered in history as the 21st century’s civil rights visionaries. Our generation now has the chance to become a part of something that could change our country for the better. Those before us who successfully fought for equality are now remembered in history as visionaries and heroes. Several countries including Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, France, England and Argentina have already legalized gay marriage. If South Africa, a country that has had multiple problems with segregation, can legalize gay marriage, then one of the most free countries in the world should be able to do the same.

With how things are currently going, there is no denying that change is happening and will eventually completely take hold. Although it may not be by next year, I have complete confidence that in the coming years America as a whole will have marriage equality. There are already other countries a step ahead of us, which is disappointing when thinking about what America was built on. Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower were responsible for a push for racial equality, during times when the possibility of having an African American President was unthinkable. And here we are today with a African American President, becoming the first president to back gay marriage, where twenty years ago the very idea was once again laughable. We are a generation of change, and we have been given the opportunity to become a part of

Outside The Box Gabby McDaris, Opinions Editor history books for years to come, if we stand up for what we believe in. What our generation fails to realize is how important our input is to society. We have the chance to be mentioned in history books in years to come, for what we stood up for.

Dakota Shaw

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opinions / 14 Feb. 22, 2013

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Behind-the-scenes work adds up to success If you asked me what I wanted to be when I was 4, I would have eagerly replied, “A unicorn, and maybe, someday, the President.” Of course, I eventually realized that becoming a fictitious animal would be a little harder than I had once anticipated. Nevertheless, I still thought that at some point in my life, I would automatically become all the things I dreamed myself of being— a well-known author of a best-selling series, curer of cancer, life-changing teacher. As ridiculous as those dreams may have been, at some point, we all dream of something along those lines. An Olympic gymnast. CEO of Pixar. Inventor of the hovercraft. Or something equally as crazy. I am not saying, of course that no one attains these goals. Barack Obama seemed to have done a pretty good job of actualizing HIS goal of becoming president. And Gabby Douglas can now hang her gold medal on her wall with pride. But, these don’t

Gracefully Said

Grace Bueckendorf, Editor in Chief

come along for everyone. And it isn’t luck. We, as Americans, eating our potato chips in front of the TV during the Olympics, didn’t get to see the countless hours spent in the gym perfecting that beam routine. Unlike my previous self, I have now learned that success doesn’t automatically happen. I will not miraculously receive a doctorate, or become more diligent, and the list goes on. Within the Lafayette community, the ques-

tion isn’t if you’re going to college, but where you’re going to college. With such opportunities, Lafayette students expect greatness, failing to realize the work it takes. It isn’t enough to be lucky and born into a affluent community; anyone who became anyone worked for it as well. For mathematicians, you’re old news by the time you’re 25, so the clock’s ticking if you want to make a major contribution there. F. Scott Fitzgerald had brought his beloved Gatsby to greatness by the age of 29. This is not to say that greatness cannot happen later in life, but that the time to act on your dreams is now. Greatness is actualized in different ways. For some, it’s building a strong family that stands up for one another, for other’s it’s working as an engineer and watching things be built. But no matter what it means to you, it will take work. Whether you want to own your own car shop or become a teacher or graduate from Harvard Law, your choices matter, and it will take work.

[My Turn Now]

Crossing the color barrier

Jalyn Henderson / reporter

I’ve been accustomed to phrases like “County Brownie,” “Oreo” and “she’s a white girl stuck in a black girl’s body” since a young age. Before high school, I had no problem being associated with such references; I took it as a sense of pride, entitlement even. In spite of this, I have recently realized that by supporting these terms, I’m allowing others to put me under a specific type of label or box; quite frankly, I am not willing to abide by that. It has come to my attention that I am, as well as other African American students, within this school have been judged prior to any type of interaction. It’s a common fact that everyone judges each other based on their appearance. However, what aggravates me is the fact that people automatically associate me with “loud,” “ignorant” and “pregnancy-prone” due to the color of my skin, or where I live. I’m not ignoring that a large percentage of black teens are at higher risk for pregnancy, or that many are associated with questionable behavior in comparison to their White, Asian, Indian and Hispanic peers.

Yet as an educated black woman, I refuse to allow that to define what I can and cannot do to make my mark on the world. In my first few months of Lafayette as a sophomore, both sides of the black and white spectrum rejected me. Initially, I acted too “white” to completely fit in with my black peers, but among my white classmates I was still, “the black girl.” It seemed that if I didn’t fit into a certain box, I wouldn’t be able to make friends and have a “typical” high school life. Earlier this year, I began to stand on a fence between blacks and whites attempting to blend the two groups. But I quickly learned that chances of that happening were little to none due to the excessive racial profiling that was occurring within the school based upon stereotypes. These stereotypes are still living within the school. In the hallways I overhear conversations about my friends who receive Rockwood School District sponsored transportation. Common words associated with them such as “ghetto” and “*****” don’t only affect my feelings toward the person, but how other people perceive their presence within our school.

The terms used to describe “different” people put them into a box that is nearly impossible for them to get out of. The disheartening aspect is that the people judging them haven’t even met them yet, nor do they ever plan to. People are refusing to acknowledge that the school is not their own and others have a right to come to school without their social fate being pre-determined by people who haven’t taken the time to get to know them. In my year and a half at Lafayette, I’ve realized that many people aren’t able to see the underlying problems that our school faces with diversity issues. Honestly, I don’t expect them to. But my job as a reporter is to make the public aware of the issues that are going on in my community. In order to loosen the influence of stereotypes that thrive within the school, it is essential for blacks, as well as other minority groups, to gain self-pride and dignity within their community. The change within the community would change the mind-set of the school for the better.

stars & gripes Stars To:

• Mumford and Sons taking home the Grammy for Album of the Year, for their album Babel. #andthebanjotakeshomethewin • Banana Joe, a Westminster, named Top Dog in show, the five year old won the highest award the Westminster Kennel gives out. #whatdidyouwinatfive •Beyoncé’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl. #beyoncéblewlightsandbrains • Lafayette alum and Fighting Illini basketball player Tyler Griffey for making the game winning shot against number one Indiana. #lancerpride

Gripes To:

• The Pope resigning after eight years in office. His announcement comes at the beginning of the Lent season, famous for its renouncing nature. #hegaveupthepapacyforlent • Wrestling will no longer be an Olympic sport, as of the 2020 games. In its place, rugby as well as golf will be added. #atleastthere’snomorestaph • North Korea’s Feb. 12 “earthquake” was the third of a series of underground nuclear tests. The test is in lieu of the late Kim Jong Il’s birthday, which was Feb. 16. #happybirthdaydadigotyouradiation • Heart Attack Grill’s top patron, John Alleman, dies of a heart attack. Heart Attack Grill, as the name suggest, is famous for its outrageously unhealthy food. #ohtheirony • Harvard, in the largest cheating scandal in recent years, sends numerous students home after cheating on a take home exam. The exam they cheated on was an Intro to Congress class. #weknewpoliticianscheatedbut...

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Picks of the Month

entertainment / 15 Feb. 22, 2013

Reporter Alex LaMar chooses the entertainment picks for the month of February.

Movie/

Video Game/

Album/

TV Show/

In the fifth installment of the Die Hard series, action hero John McClane travels to Russia to free his estranged son from prison. Once reunited, the two get down to doing what they do best: jumping through windows, spewing tasteless one-liners, shooting advanced semiautomatic assault weapons and punching Russian terrorists in the face. Though it may not be anywhere close to cinematic genius, A Good Day to Die Hard is the perfect movie for those who just want to kick back, relax and watch Bruce Willis blow up things with other things.

After half a decade, Nintendo finally decided to release a new installment of this widely renowned strategy/RPG series for the 3DS. Fire Emblem: Awakening tells the story of Chrom, Prince of Ylisse. When neighboring nations launch an assault, Chrom and his knights, the Shepards, take to the battlefield to uncover a sinister plot and the supposed return of the fabled hero Marth. Awakening not only meets the standards of past games, but also improves on the formula by introducing a customizable protagonist and excellent StreetPass features.

Since Oct. 30, 2012, alternative rock band My Chemical Romance has released two songs every month available for online download or on 7 inch vinyl as part of a special collection titled Conventional Weapons. The songs were originally recorded before the release of their 2009 album Danger Days. While most of the songs sound like a glorious nod to Danger Days, others are more reminiscent of the band’s darker tone from the past. Now that all five installments have been released, a five-disk collection will be available on the band’s online store.

Though originally pitched as an adult animated sitcom, Regular Show somehow found its way onto Cartoon Network’s Monday night line-up. Each episode chronicles another misadventure for Mordecai and Rigby, the blue jay and raccoon comedy duo who face over-the-top versions of everyday experiences. The show’s hilarious character dynamics and surreal alteration of the real world make it the perfect combination of Adventure Time and Beavis and Butthead. Regular Show is not for everyone, but for the right crowd, it’s comedy gold.

A Good Day to Die Hard

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Conventional Weapons

Regular Show

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entertainment / 16 Feb. 22, 2013

rom baking pies to planning weddings, Pinterest not only lets you organize your ideas and plans online, but it also adds inspiration to your goals. Whether it’s making a healthy but delicious meal or utilizing crafts as a cheaper alternative for personalizing your home, Pinterest is basically capable of… everything. But these ideas don’t even have to be your own. On Pinterest, users or “pinners” can inspire others and share their interests with the exciting newfound love they’ve just discovered; a pin. Your social scrapbook describes who you are as an individual to the rest of the internet. It’s social networking in a whole new way.

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Eureka High Scho... Marquette High S... Rockwood Summ...

Amber Park / reporter

your

what’s Crafts/

We’ve all seen those adorable trinkets and décor pieces sold in stores such as Anthropologie or Etsy… but the glass shatters once you see that price tag. No way should a simple handmade bracelet cost $50. However, Pinterest offers the alternative: make it yourself and save money. These are the beginnings of crafters and decorators such as Erin Hagglund, FACS teacher. “I love seeing all the knockoffs,” Hagglund said. “Ways to achieve a desired look either in fashion or in the home for less. The best part is doing it yourself.” It’s always nice to personalize your home and make goods that you can be proud to say you’ve made all by yourself, but it’s even better if you’ve stayed within your means. “I really enjoy figuring out ways to decorate my home on a budget. I will look for inspiration, make a list of items to look for at the thrift store and visit Value Village on the last Wednesday of the month for the 50 percent off sale,” Hagglund said. “My whole house is thrifted.” On Pinterest, there’s a whole world of crafts to explore. From turning mason jars into flower pots and vintage spoons into rings, the power of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects have never been more evident.

Baking/

Although consuming cakes and cookies can be a guilty pleasure for most girls, with Pinterest, recipes can go from fattening to slimming. “I love all kinds of baking, mostly desserts,” senior Nikki Frazer said. “I have recipes for a diet, baking and gluten free board.” Thanks to Pinterest, it’s possible to actually make these scrumptious treats and experience the finished product for yourself. You can observe thousands of recipes to fuel your baking rampage and prompt the determination to create that perfect looking dessert. “I like cake decorating and how you can create something that looks good and tastes good,” Frazer said. “I was pretty late into the Pinterest game but [senior] Hannah Meuret introduced me to it. Once I got into it, I pinned about 700 pins in a week.” Such is the Pinterest frenzy. With overwhelming images that are all so appealing, it’s a struggle not to hoard every pin you see. Frazer said, “It gives you access to all the things you like and keeps it together in your board.” Frazer was even inspired by Pinterest to create her table’s theme for trivia night--nerds. She used numerous little ketchup cups to make 112 mini cupcakes and represented each cupcake as an element of the periodic table. Ultimately, Frazer’s inspired little project won first place in table decorations.

-spiration?

Fashion/

Mixing patterns and prints into an outfit can be tricky, especially when there’s only five minutes left that morning to decide what you want to wear. Junior Diana Lee said, “Fashion is a creative process; sometimes you get in a rut and you need inspiration." However, in that process, Lee uses Pinterest to her advantage as a way to further develop her tastes in style. “Everything is categorized. You can view a lot of subjects on that certain topic,” Lee said. Another advantage that comes with Pinterest is not only posting certain outfits and clothing, but also being able to see other’s pins that share the same style. “It helps me see what’s trending now,” Lee said. “I like to take certain aspects of an outfit I like and alter it to my own personality and tastes. You can tell a lot about a person by the things they wear.” The same goes with Pinterest. Depending on the things you pin and the boards you create, you describe and explain what your style is to the entire social media. Lee describes her style as the, “edgy, grunge look, the boho look and the simplistic look because it’s comfy and casual yet cute,” and likes to find things with, “vintage charm.”

Education/

Whoa. This is not okay with any language arts teacher, particularly Dawn Indelicato-Faw who displays her scholarly opinion and grammar quirks on Pinterest. “I like to pin funny things related to teaching and language arts,” she said. That’s the beauty of the Pinterest world. Even with your own personal quirks, you can still depend on Pinterest to have images that uphold your peculiar tastes and humor. It’s like Pinterest knows exactly what you’re looking for. In addition to this, Indelicato-Faw said, “I like the variety of things; things I don’t have the time to think about other people have already thought about and I can just look at their ideas.” To sum it up, Pinterest is essentially a visual bulletin board for the web. Instead of the rigid structure of a timeline or words on a stark white background, the user is welcomed by thousands of quality images relating to their certain interests. “I really like the visual aspect of it,” Indelicato-Faw said. “The best part is to be able to see what the final product is, whether it’s a recipe or a craft.”

Humor/

What would any social network be without memes? Those clever little subtitles can make any ordinary picture into something hilarious. These can be contagious among humorous pinners such as junior Libby Zohner. “I use Pinterest for humor when I feel like I need a nice laugh,” she said, “If it makes you laugh, I’ll pin it.” And even though Zohner gets a good laugh out of these pins, the art of a social network is being able to share these pins and spread the amusement. “Since I thought they were funny I felt other people should laugh at it too,” Zohner said.