THE
FLASH Mind Matter Rocklin High School | Vol No. 25 Issue 1 | January 2018
the
Staff Naeirika Neev Maria Hudson
Jimmy Murphy Alex Ragan Lacey Richardson Josue Sanchez Janae Schmidt Emma Conway Hayden Essley Anne Fey Emily Hioco Kailyn J Beily Julia Lynn Nik McClaughry Casey Miller Alexia Najera Taylor Olivas Jenna Reis Darian Skultety Alex Verhaag Caitlin Caffery Miranda DaVoulas Max Diven Justin Angellar Nikki Bhatia
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n the spiraling world of students at Rocklin High School, behind the AP classes, sports, visual and performing arts and college apps, lies obstacles that almost all teens go through. Due to the changing biology of the teenage brain and the added pressure of excelling at academics and exploring early adulthood, depression and anxiety may become gray clouds constantly looming above. Mental health is one of the most prominent aspects of human life, and unfortunately, also one of the most neglected. And that is why as a new generation we need to build a future where people are educated about mental health and are not afraid to ask for help. Just because you can't see these problems like you may see a broken bone, it does not mean they’ll go away if you ignore them. Here at Rocklin we have witnessed and undergone the crushing weight of anxiety and are familiar with the impact it can leave. In this issue we present to you the stories of those who have struggled with psychological difficulties like anxiety and depression, and also ways to get help. Anxiety is the one elephant in the room often ignored, and it is time that as a united student body and staff we start to make a change to have healthier mind to help ourselves and others. Another lingering fog on the RHS campus these days is grief after the loss of members of the student body. Some students were more affected by these tragedies more than others, but grief can be difficult to handle.
Abbey Connell Grace Gaumer Audrey Mayer Advisor: Casey Nichols
The Flash is a student media production of Rocklin High School. It is created under the policies published on the school website under the media. The advanced journalism class is responsible for all content and the Flash is a public. It is created for students, by students, about students. For inquiries contact the staff at RocklinHSFlash@rocklinusd.org.
The FLASH | January 2018
Table of Contents Brother
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Ask . . . or Else You'll Never Know
4
Intrapersonal Battles
5
Therapy for All
6
Childhood Depression
7
Reducing Stress at School
8
Fighting the Unknown
9
Rocklin Uncovered
11
Mental Health in Music
12
Balancing Act
13
Athletes and Stress
15
Head Drama
17
Neighbors in Need
19
1
Brother
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ne of my favorite memories of my brother is when we went on our last bike ride together to the store, we got candy and soda and sat on the curb watching the airplanes fly over us. On April 1st, 2015 my brother, Kenneth Cross, committed suicide at the age of 23 years-old.
When Kenny was a junior in high school, about 16 years-old, he started using drugs. The drugs affected his mental health as the years went on. His experience began with pot and eventually he turned to meth. Around the age of 18, he sought help for his addiction, and he was sober for about a year and a half. As he started using again, he began to pay the price for his years of drug use. When Kenny took his life my mom took it especially hard. “The hardest thing about him being gone
How a loss became a wake up call
was the phone call that they found him, and that he was gone. Saying goodbye to him was the hardest.” My mom was overwhelmed with fear and shock She was confused, and she wondered why her son felt so hopeless and alone that committing suicide became his only answer. “The saddest thing is that’s what he thought his greatest contribution to life was. To not be here,” my mom said. “Mental health, depression, drugs can all have an impact. Letting kids and adults know the danger of drugs [is important] . . . depression is real. If you're not being heard then reach out, because you are loved,” said my mom. Teens need to understand how dangerous drugs are and how important it is to be educated about them, because the lack of proper knowledge about the effects and consequences of drugs can lead to suicide
Kenny (left) with his brother, Shawn (right)
By Jenna Reis and serious mental health issues. By building a support system of friends and family and by using rehabilitation programs, therapy, or sponsored programs within hospitals it is possible to get better. Kenny’s life was just as important as anyone else’s but he did not realize it. You must realize that your life matters, and if it does not to you, it still does to someone else. If you are struggling in life continue to hold on because leaving is not worth it. Think of all the things the world has yet to offer you and all that you have the potential to become.
Scan here for the full interview between Jenna and her mom.
Connecting physical and mental health By Grace Gaumer and Emily Hioco ne suffered a debilitating injury, the other was diagnosed with a health challenge. Both young women have seen how physical health impacts mental health. Meet sophomore Emily Hioco and junior Grace Gaumer.
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Emily: After getting a concussion you have to be cleared to do anything and I won't be cleared for quite a while I think that because of that I will never play sports again. Grace: I can definitely say that, my illness also destroyed my sports career. The summer after freshmen year I got really ick so when it came time for tryouts I didn’t make the cut so I didn’t make the team. That was really hard for me to hear. Emily: Sports are a routine and it’s hard to imagine how to deal with not having sports. Grace: It’s hard going from playing sports every weekend to having nothing at all, not only were my sports ruined, my schooling was impacted. I was out for multiple weeks my sophomore year. Emily: I can relate, I was out for 2 months and trying to get caught up takes a lot of grit, but I did it. Emily: It’s like you look physically better but you are not mentally better.
The FLASH | January 2018
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Mind + Body Grace: the hardest part for me is feeling like no one else really knows exactly how I am feeling or the issues that I have. Emily: With my concussion I got hit on the side of my head and that caused all of my problems and it was hard seeing all these other girls getting cleared in 2 weeks while I was stuck going to different doctors and still struggling. It brought on a lot of different problems.
my accommodations are no different than yours are. Grace: The school made it sound like your illness needs to be a lot more extreme for you to be eligible, but a student health is way more important.
Grace: Back when I was really sick last year my teachers were very understanding and they were there to support me and help me catch up which helped alot. Emily: I agree, all of my teachers were aso willing to work with me and I was able to make it through the year. Grace: Last year my mom found something called a 504 plan that helps put in accommodations for kids with disabilities or illnesses, but at first the schools staff was reluctant to give me one. A lot of things that happen to me are embarrassing and I don’t want anyone to know what’s going on so all of my accommodations help in keeping school as manageable as possible. Emily: Right now my doctors are trying to get me the 504 and it’s interesting how tricky it is to get one, I have been trying to get one put in place since last January and
It was only a couple weeks into the 2017-2018 school year when Rocklin High School lost a student and a friend. Christian Louis’ sudden passing was as shocking to the student body as it was to the family he left behind. A few months later, Christian’s mother was invited to share some insight amidst the aftermath of the loss. What would you say to teenagers who are going through similar experiences as Christian? “Definitely talk to somebody, and I know a teenager said to me they just assumed their friend would get over it but unfortunately if you know somebody who is thinking these thoughts and you don’t say something then it's not helping them. If you’re somebody who is thinking these thoughts then talk to somebody that can help you because seriously this is the most devastating thing I’ve gone through in my entire life.” What would you wanna say to Christian if he was here right now? “Probably the same thing I say to him everyday, just that I love him and I miss him and I think about him every second of everyday, I just wish he was here with us.”
Scan here for the full interview between Grace and Emily.
Ask...
...or else you'll never know
By Janae Schmidt and Josue Sanchez
What makes the unseen seen
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veryone has some sort of insecurity, worry, doubt or stress factor. We are trained, as a society, to hide our emotions and push away feelings that make us less perfect. It’s hard to really see what’s causing peers, friends and family all these horrible feelings until you ask. Every student had something to share. Their problems ranged from minor to major issues, but nonetheless they were there.Many believe they are the only ones facing their problems, which is simply not the case.. Everyone understands to some extent. Aren't we all, as students of RHS, pressured to get good grades and be perfect? About fitting in and looking good? To balance everything going on in our lives? We all have our battles. We all have our struggles. You are not alone.
My name is Whitney Dundas, I'm a senior here at Rocklin, and I struggle with finding a good balance between all of my many activities. “Feeling overloaded with schoolwork, my job, church responsibilities and my family, my plate always seems to be full.” Sometimes it's hard to cope. I find it hard just to to show up to work, or my church youth council meetings sometimes, let alone be positive and productive while I'm there. Within my church, I am in charge of planning events and bringing people together for fun activities. I don’t have enough time to do everything I need and want to, and the weight of disappointment from not completing tasks is hard. I constantly feel like my to-do list is looming over me, reminding me of all I haven't done yet. I know I should spend more time with my family, but I can't when I have hours of homework. When I’m at a low in my life like this, I make a priority list to figure out what's the most important to me. I watch movies to distract myself and help calm myself down also.
I am Jeffrey Martinez, a sophomore here at Rocklin, and I am diagnosed with clinical depression. Most people believe depression is the same as the emotion of sadness, but that is not the case. “Depression is different from sadness.” My depression stays with me all the time, it never leaves. It’s something you can’t get away from. It becomes worse for no reason. During my flare ups, when my depression is the worst, it’s impossible to focus on anything, especially school. Horrible thoughts consume my mind, and I am engulfed in the abyss of contemplation. When those darkest moments occur, I have to distract myself from that horrible state of mind. I listen to music, and try to have positive, healthy insights for my future. I regularly go see a therapist. This helps tremendously because the therapist understands what is going on with me. Everyone’s depression is different, but it always feels better to talk about it to someone.
My name is Lexy Rice, I'm a junior at Rocklin, and my biggest struggle in life is my self esteem. “I don't think very highly of myself.” I always worry about my appearance and body image. Anything can tear it down, and barely anything can build it up. When I feel really bad about myself, I cry. Alot. In the past few months I have cried everyday. It's gotten better with therapy, but it sucks never having any self confidence. It sucks always feeling like the worst, feeling like i'm not pretty enough, and feeling like I never measure up. I don't believe in myself. I push myself to get good grades and to live up to my parents standards and my own standards. When I don't meet these standards, I feel even worse about myself. The competitive environment of our society and school doesn't help. Because my self-esteem is so low and I can never seem to escape my state of self doubt and self pity, I have to see a therapist and a doctor. They talk me through my problems. My doctor told me I'm not allowed to listen to sad music anymore. All it does is make me feel worse. The best way to cope, other than therapy, is talking with my friends and family. Having someone to talk to is the best thing for me. When someone I love shows they care about me and shows they want to help.
The FLASH | January 2018
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Head Drama How concussions impact education
By Nik McClaughry and Max Devin
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ootball, rugby, and wrestling, are all sports that people tend to believe produce the vast majority of concussions that athletes are diagnosed with. Although this may be true, there are a wide variety of activities that can unfortunately lead to a concussion. One of these sports that many tend to overlook when it comes to concussion protocol is baseball. One victim of this unfortunate injury is senior Alex Schroeder, who was diagnosed with a concussion while playing baseball at Rocklin High School. Due to the high velocities that pitchers produce, foul balls can cause serious damage to catchers. Alex, a catcher on the varsity baseball team, suffered his concussion due to a foul ball that struck his facemask. “When you are catching it is hard to predict how the batter may swing or foul a ball off, so many times you do not see the hit coming,” said Alex. When playing football or rugby a person may be able to foresee a hit coming and react in ways to protect from being blindsided, but this is not the case for catchers. Due to the severity of the injury,
Alex was forced to miss up to two weeks of any baseball related activities. Not only do these concussions provide the patient with extreme pain, they are directly correlated with symptoms of mental illness including depression and anxiety. Due to the overlap in symptoms, concussions lead to many of the same effects that patients with depression exhibit. patients can experience Post Concussion Syndrome, that lead to signs of depression. These signs could include vomiting, mood swings, general sadness, and concentration issues. With this in mind many scientists have tried to understand how these overlapping diagnosis can affect each other. One study found that concussion and skull injuries can increase the risk of developing a mental disorder by 400 percent. Fortunately, Alex did not experience signs of mental disorders, but he could not be exposed to bright lights and therefore was told to remain at home and to lay in dark rooms to decrease pain.
These extreme head injuries are unfortunately common around the sports world and some athletes on the Rocklin High campus have experienced the same symptoms that Alex has dealt with.
"I got a concussion this year from a soccer tournament in San Diego, when I was taking a header out of the air. I’m on the Varsity soccer team, and I had to take two weeks off from practices and games. I was out of school for two days. I couldn’t use the computers, and I had to get extensions on a few assignments. I had to wear sunglasses. My teachers were really supportive and did a lot of little things to make life easier, but my concussion would make me really tired, especially around the end of the day. It was hard to focus. I was very stressed from all the homework and assignments I had to makeup." Lexi Watson
THERAPY FOR ALL Why mental health counseling should be the new norm. By Emma Conway and Jenna Reis
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ental illness, a growing epidemic in the world, can be treated through many forms of therapy. With roughly 18.2 percent of Americans affected by mental health issues,it’s prominence in everyday society is undeniable.. “Research shows that verbalizing feelings can have a significant therapeutic effect on the brain,” an article on Huffington Post said. Not only does it feel good to get your thoughts out, but it can also help to get a new perspective on whatever it troubling you. A survey by the American Psychological Association showed that 48 percent of people polled had visited a mental health counselor and 91 percent said they would recommend it. “I really feel that therapy is something that everyone should do. It helped me a lot,” says Rocklin High School senior. Even if you are not affected by mental illness, it can still be extremely helpful to talk to someone. However, talking to a professional for an hour every week can get pricey. Most people can not afford this. There are many cheaper alternatives that can produce the same effects. One way to get mental aid from home is therapy animals. Dogs and cats are the most commonly trained for this but any animal could be helpful. Some therapy pets range from a rabbit to a llama. Animals are helpful because they can improve social, emotional, or even cognitive function. Experts even say that petting a dog can be therapeutic. It is a good way to have companionship when you do not want
to be alone.Another reason animals can be effective is because it forces you to get out of the house and care for the animal, while providing a distraction from your problems. If you do not want a dog, there are unlimited online resources. These websites are easily accessible as well as free. They are also anonymous which may be helpful for a lot of people. However, most people online are not licensed professionals. They are everyday people who want to help people with difficulties. There are also many numbers you can call for help. Anxiety hotlines, panic attack hotlines and suicide hotline for extreme situations are some available resources. Another form of therapy is through meditation. Meditation therapy does not require you to leave the house and it is really easy to do. Meditation breaks down the wall between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. By doing this it can help you in ways you would never know. Meditation therapy can be done through breathing exercises such as focusing on breathing slowly in and out.
Having emotional support can yield benefits, such as having Another type of therapy is “SandPlay”. SandPlay involves using a container filled a support system in with sand from the store or maybe an important location. Then you just play with case of panic attacks the sand, you can add toys or tools to make it more amusing. Playing with the sand can and other difficulties. help ease worries and help someone to relax. Being with a dog There are countless other resources can lower stress and available at any given time. Therapy should be a regular activity for all, even those not provide company when affected by mental illness. Whether it is cuddling a dog, talking to a professional, feeling lonely. or meditating, therapy can be beneficial to everyone.
The FLASH | January 2018
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How illness shaped childhood early life of sophomore DEPRESSION T By Julia Lynn and Alex Verhaag
ina Mclaughlin sat alone on her bed while her unsuspecting mother lounged in the other room. She had only one thing on her mind. I want to die. She needed to escape the harsh reality of her life and the overwhelming ostracism she felt. She needed to die.
try to numb myself through school work, and I ended up putting so much pressure on myself to make it perfect,” Tina said.
This coping mechanism failed to fix Tina’s depression; instead it had the opposite effect. The added pressure she
Without friends or family who understood the inner turmoils she was facing, ending her life seemed like the only option. She had hit rock bottom at the ripe young age of eight.
“I [kept thinking] that ‘no one liked me’ or ‘I was stupid.’ I went to church and summer camps and found friends and learned that those things I was telling myself were lies.” It was still a constant battle for Tina, but the tides had shifted. It was now a battle she could win.
“I always felt left out when I was little, which really affected my inner self and what I thought of myself.” Tina said. “People treated me like crap.”
Now, almost five years after finding peace through God, she strolls through the halls of RHS with an infectious laugh and smile that exudes joyful goofiness. Her presence is one that cannot be easily dismissed, despite her petite frame. It’s a difficult transformation to fathom, but the tragedy of her past is undeniable.
Former friends deserted her, prompted by their ignorance of the ongoing war waged within her. Ultimately, she dove deeper into the depths of depression without realizing.
Overwhelmed, she lived in a constant state of distress, one that she couldn’t quite fathom. In an effort to combat this enveloping feeling, she devoted her energy completely to schoolwork. “I was really hard on myself. I would
A moment of intense relief washed over her. It was a feeling that had been absent from her life for so long. It was a moment that shaped the rest of her life and saved her from the dreadful fate that had loomed so near for so long. Through religion and the support she found within the religious community, she was able to overcome her depression, but the struggle to return to a untainted existence was an arduous task.
Depression was a staple in the early life of Tina Mclaughlin, who is now a sophomore at RHS. After being diagnosed with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, Tina saw the stark contrasts between her and the other children she knew. These contrasts only deepened the divide that had already begun to form between her and a normal childhood.
“I would have tantrums because I didn't understand what was wrong with me,” Tina said. “I would wake up everyday and think ‘Why do I have this deep sadness?’ It really affected how I acted and how happy I should have been when I wasn’t.”
all this pain that I’ve felt for so long,” Tina said. “That second, I couldn’t stop crying because I was so happy.”
put on herself worsened her depression. It wasn’t until she visited a life coach at the age of eleven, that she found a refuge from the overwhelming pain that had become a staple in her life. At the recommendation of her life coach, she decided to devote herself to faith. She prayed for her healing. “Later that night I went home and said to God ‘heal me from
She uses her experiences to look for others who are in the same position she had been stuck in for so long and to let them know that they are not alone. She has one piece of advice for anyone going through the same struggles she faced: “Everyone goes through those stages. Do not give up. There is a place for you. You are loved by God.”
Becoming
Mindful
The new positive psychology class
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s high school students and teenagers, it is commonly known that everyone experiences great deals of stress; whether it be tests, too much homework, applying for colleges or everything in between. For people in general, striving for pleasure and happiness fuels everyone’s daily lives. Positive Psychology is a brand new course available for Rocklin High School students of all grade levels, as of this year. Shockingly, the Rocklin High School course is only one of two high schools in the nation that even provide the new course as an option for students. Taught by
Eric Sturgeon, this class studies all things positive pertaining to life in general. It covers positive relationships, experiences, characteristics and how they are brought up. Daily meditations are conducted to help relieve stress, and to help the mind calm down. Mindfulness, a mental state accomplished by focusing on the present moment while still acknowledging one’s feelings and thoughts, is a part of the lesson everyday to tackle what causes stress. Some of the practices, like meditation, thinking positively, Tai Chi, and meditative
drawing, have been helping students bring positivity and stress relief into their lives. By teaching students how to focus on the present, it helps to relieve stress about the past or future.. Thinking positively helps with boosting confidence and reducing a negative outlook on a situation. Tai Chi is a meditative exercise that integrates the mind with the body. This year, students in the class have been following step-by-step instructional videos to learn how to perform Tai Chi, in order to release tension from the mind and body. The class teaches meditative drawing to improve concentration, patience, and clearing the mind. During the drawing time, everyone in the class is taught to ignore the person’s paper next to them, in order to diminish comparison to others. “Even in the early weeks of the class, I learned how to meditate and how to bring positivity into my life. I meditated and thought about the law of attraction and a few things while taking the SAT and it really made me feel more comfortable and less nervous while taking it.” Morgan Waltman, a senior, said. Rocklin High also offers regular and AP Psychology, which goes further into the science of the brain, providing information about behavioral and mental processes of the human mind. When it comes to high school, large amounts of stress and dealing with teenage pressure is a struggle for many. In the Positive Psychology classroom, bringing little bits of positivity into students’ lives has already had a huge impact to relieve these conflicts in a short amount of time. By Abbey Connell and Lacey Richardson
The FLASH | January 2018
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Battling unknown the
NAMI club makes difference in fight for mental wellness By Casey Miller, Hayden Essley and Darian Skultety
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rom posters to speeches to videos, Rocklin High has tried to resolve in almost every way imaginable the spreading epidemic of mental illness. it’s an abundant topic, with the somewhat recent advent of social media and cyberbullying coming into the mix. But potentially the most impactful attempt to stifle this growing crisis is the NAMI club.
NAMI NEWS The NAMI organization is petitioning the CEO of Netflix to include information on how to receive help dealing with mental issues on one of Netflix’s recently big hits, "13 Reasons Why." According to the NAMI website, a 23 year old man has already imitated the main charcter's suicide scene. The show’s popularity has led to a 26 percent increase in Internet searches on how to commit suicide. NAMI plans to include information, like phone numbers and their website, throughout season two of the show.
NAMI, which stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a nationwide organization devoted to spreading awareness about mental health and trying to make a difference in the community, and it has been at Rocklin High for a good amount of time now. NAMI club president, Jane Lee, said. “One of the main purposes of the club is to de-stigmatize the black and white notion of mental illness.” “People tend to believe that one is either crazy or normal, however this is not the case. There is a wide range in between and it can be treated. The NAMI club is an organization in which we are trying to spread awareness for the issue with mental health, and ever since Christian Louis passed away we are trying to help people even more from doing something that can be resolved easily.” The NAMI club’s purpose is not strictly to just talk about mental illness. The club has numerous plans in action to actively make a difference. The club made appearances at football games wearing all green to support mental health and lime green ribbons will be distributed around campus to spread awareness. The largest problem facing the club is the lack of new members. People are not joining because they are scared to get help. Students don’t want to let others know they have a mental illness
because they don’t want to be harassed or bothered about their difficulties. “I was raised in a home that I had to be independent from a very young age and I’ve just been really self reliant. That translates over to my mental health and I feel like I can’t get any help unless I’m doing it wrong,” said senior Isabella Euan. She struggled with depression but chose not to receive help from others. This method of not getting help, however, personally benefited her. “I really want to make sure I’m not telling people don’t get help, because I definitely think that people should get help, but personally not getting help and dealing with it myself has made me much more of a spiritual and strong person” she explains. “I had to go deep into myself and figure it out for myself. I just really had to know myself and get comfortable with myself and I know that I can take care of myself without somebody spoon feeding me.” This club is one of the positive offsets to mental illness on campus and with all the activities and plans in the future for the NAMI club, they have the opportunity to make a huge impact.
Rocklin Uncovered The "Secret" Dress Code
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few weeks ago, Sydney Stauts was dress coded for rips in her shorts that revealed no skin underneath. Sydney suffers from anxiety and depression, so when she as one of the 60-70 girls that were dresscoded that day, she could not handle the embarrassment so she was taken out of school for the day and went home. Besides the obvious issue with how the dress code affects girls in the educational
Our school has a “Secret Dress Code,” as Mr. Lowell from the Board of Trustee’s puts it. As students, we are expected to come to school knowing what our rules are. With this “secret dress code,” it is completely ridiculous to even dress code people for violations. If the rules of dress code cannot simply be written down and made easily accessible to the student body, then there should be no time wasted in dress coding those students. By carefully reading up on our dress code rules, it is clear that our school cannot rewrite the said dress code. The issue is how they enforce it. Whitney High School, our sister school is SUPPOSED to have the exact same dress code as Rocklin since they are in the same school district. However, of the two schools, Rocklin is more strict.
environment, the outrageous number of dress codes a day, and the rules that are being prioritized over other rules, it is just plain unfair. Sydney and I went to our Senior Vice Principal, Mr. Pappas, to discuss her anxiety, and further question the dress code. When Sydney asked Mr. Pappas where the district dress code stated that holes in shorts were not allowed, it took him approximately two minutes to come to the conclusion that they were implied by simply relating holes in shorts to “fishnet,” yes you heard me right. Fishnet stockings. At that point, Sydney and I both realized we have found the story in this.
In a interview with Vice Principal Mrs. Cottrell, we discussed this division between sister schools, she stated that the two schools are still working to “get a more cohesive secondary program, and we will get to a point in where both policies are consistent, but that just hasn’t been a priority.” Further along in the interview, this issues with rule consistency between Rocklin and Whitney was said to be due to both schools having new principals. Our principal of 3 years is still considered a “new hire,” and Mr. Cutt’s at Whitney as of this year. This gap should have been mended BEFORE this year. Our new principals should not be the scapegoat for the lack of communication between schools. Going back to the conversation with Mr. Pappas, we continued to question certain
aspects of our “secret dress code,” and started the conversation of razorbacks. I brought up the point, of wearing razorbacks to a job interview, and since bras are evolving, it was very appropriate. Razorbacks are not present on our district dress code, and are continually enforced, no matter how conservative the piece of clothing actually is. The picture shown is appropriate in most environments, and to give her a detention for something that minor, that modest, and not even an “official” school rule appals me. This point I brought up in my discussion with Pappas was dismissed by repeating a lighthearted, “Well, that is your opinion.” Not only is dress code not being enforced fairly, but it is also extremely gender biased. One guy dress coded on a day that 60-70 girls were also dresscoded does not make it fair. Our dress code is not fairly enforced. Ask any girl, ask any guy. This school knows that guys will rarely be dress coded. If a guy has pants that are sagging, they are told to “pull them up.” Whereas if a girl’s
shorts are riding up, she is immediately sent to receive a new pair of gym shorts, and now has to serve a detention.
The FLASH | January 2018
"Sch ool administration g ets so caug ht u p in w hat peo ple wear that it in hibits s ch ool priorities," Maria Hudson
"Dress code is a form of body shaming," Julia Lynn
Mr. Lowell is the President of the Board of Trustees, and is in charge of Rocklin Unified School district's dress code. Talking for about an hour and purely discussed this issue it was to my surprise that Mr. Lowell is on the same page. “How can a school expect its students to know what and what cannot be dresscoded?” said Mr. Lowell. I firmly believe that the district dress code, the one in all of our student handbooks, is fair. It is written and designed to be fair. But that dress code in our handbook is not what is being enforced on campus. “The school should make it clear to students about what they are permitted to wear. They cannot all be expected to know the ‘secret dress code,’ it’s outrageous.” To solve the issue of not knowing what is school-appropriate, Mr. Pappas suggested “showing our Disciplinary Techs a photo the day before you wear that outfit.”
"Girls should feel free to express themselves" Audrey Mayer
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That means you would have to plan your outfit the day before you even plan on showing one of our disciplinary techs the photo. . . and that is the day before you even wear the outfit to school! With school stress, NOBODY had time to plan a simple casual outfit that far in advance! Mr. Lowell stated that that is just “too much to ask of high school students. With AP classes and homework, that is completely unreasonable to ask of them.” Our short term solution to this issue is to make it CLEAR to all students what the dress code is. And to eradicate rules that have simply grown too old to keep within our every growing fashion culture, and trends of the now. Razorbacks have no inappropriate use and should only be dresscoded if something is being revealed (i.e. a bra strap). Since our Disciplinary Techs always carry a clipboard with them, they should have the district dress code, and clear images of what IS and IS NOT appropriate for school on that clip board at all times.
THIS YEAR, there is no reason for not at least letting our student body know what is and is not allowed on our campus. Times are changing, and the school’s personal dress code must change as well. When the rules are not clear and girls are still punished for them, it seriously affects students mental health. Stressing over outfits is not OK. Being anxious about walking past disciplinary techs is not okay. Bending rules is not okay. Make the rules fair and clear, we are tired of this. By Kailyn J'Beily
There is no excuse for a “secret dresscode,” our student handbook was updated earlier
"Dress code can sometimes be too excessive," Josue Sanchez
"Nineteen percent of the 7,800 students surveyed in middle and high schools across the country said they were prevented from wearing clothing deemed "inappropriate" based on their gender," CNN
Melody
How mental health influences music
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usic has been one of the greatest catalysts of emotion throughout history. Instrumental music by itself has a significant impact on chemicals in the brain that dictate mood, which last even after you finish listening. Coupled with lyrics, music is an artform that has a profound effect on mental health for both listeners and artists.
that really got the ball rolling on personal artistic discussion of these issues comes from the grunge movement of the early 90’s.
Lyrics in era-defining music typically reflect what the youth of the generation are concerned about. The 1960’s may be the most clear example of this, the remembered music reflects the political and cultural unrest of the times. If these are the issues that yesterday's youth faced in their music, what challenges do our new generations face?
Unfortunately, two pioneers in this directional shift recently took their lives over the summer, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Cornell often dealt with mental health in his music, and Bennington's Linkin Park may have tackled these issues more famously than any other band in recent memory.
Mental health is a growing issue that has impacted today's youth in ways no generation before has been affected, and our music has grown to reflect that. Logic’s “1-800-2738255” may be one of the crowning achievements of this movement, and could be an indicator of the future of pop music’s subject material in general. Logic isn’t necessarily in new territory however, the song is a landmark of a larger cultural movement in music that has been tossing and turning for many decades. Many artists have preceded Logic in helping dissolve stigmas against mental health through their artform. Though depression and similar illnesses have been subjects in music since the blues roots in the 1930’s, the most recent musical movement
In the midst of this new musical movement, grunge poster boy Kurt Cobain of Nirvana took his own life after struggling with his newfound fame. In the wake of his death, the direction of rock was forever altered in a more sensitive and emotionally aware direction.
As rock moved in the mentally aware direction with the rise of the alternative and indie genres, hip hop gradually became the dominant force in popular music during the mid-2000’s. Up until this point, rap was still an extremely masculine genre with no room for introspection or sensitivity, until it had it’s own directional shift. Kanye Wests’ debut album “The College Dropout,” and subsequent albums opened up the genre for genuine emotional discussion and introspection. This era of hip hop helped open the door to emotionally conscious rappers today, most popular being Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Logic as previously mentioned. As society faces new challenges, art will typically follow suit and center around those issues. Mental health is the leading struggle of the new generation, and though it took time, our music is beginning to reflect that. By Justin Angellar & Alex Ragan
The FLASH | January 2018
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BALANCING act
Seniors struggle to balance college applications, homework and extracurriculars
F
or most students at RHS, October is a time to get excited about Homecoming and the holiday season, but for seniors it is one of the most stressful months of their high school career. With most college applications due in November, students are scrambling to finish up their essays and add the finishing touches on their applications. The college application process is difficult in itself, but when paired with the stress of homework and extracurriculars it becomes even more daunting. Seniors are trying to keep their grades up but know they cannot neglect their futures, making it difficult to prioritize. This turns a process full of opportunity into one of excessive stress and dread. Veda Lelchook, Marissa Cassayre, and Drew Harris are a few of the many seniors who have struggled with the stresses of college applications. Veda, who is applying to 12 colleges, is taking two classes at Sierra College, is a peer tutor, and is currently dedicating 20 hours a week to yoga teacher training. “I’m putting college on the back burner right now when I know I definitely should not be, but I don't really have any other option.” Veda aspires to attend an Ivy League
next fall, and she knows how vital her applications are to her future. However, the demands of the present do not allow her enough time to completely focus on applications. The lack of time Veda has to focus on her applications is not uncommon amongst her fellow seniors. Like Veda, Marissa Cassayre shares a similar dilemma. Marissa, who is applying to nine colleges, is a four year ASB student and four year dance team member. Homecoming, which is one of the most stressful times for ASB and dance team alike, has left Marissa with little time to spare. “It’s so difficult to find time to work on my applications, when I still get to bed after midnight [whether I work on them or not].” Marissa is forced to choose between finishing her applications and getting at least some sleep every day, which has left her feeling more stressed than ever. Besides the struggle to find time to dedicate to college, seniors find it difficult to find motivation. Drew Harris, who plays soccer and is a member of ASB and Mock Trial, describes how “senioritis” has affected his college application process.
“Although I have a lot of time on my hands, it's hard to find the motivation to sit down and start writing.” After three years of hard work, seniors feel burnt out and like they have very little left to give. Every test and assignment has led up to this process, which is an overwhelming thought for most students. In addition to busy schedules and lack of motivation, seniors describe stress associated with how close going to college really is. When students begin high school, they are aware that their four years will end in a graduation and the beginning of the rest of their lives. They are told that the next four years will fly by, but they do not realize it until they are sitting at their computers writing personal statements. “College still seems very abstract to me. Even though I know it is coming, it feels so far away,” says Veda. While the prospects of the future are exciting, the college application process often leaves seniors feeling less than excited about the months to come and trapped in a balancing act of expectations and priorities that have been built through their past three years at RHS. By Audrey Mayer
Running out of
Do sports increase student athletes' stress levels?
Time
A
mong the newest generations, almost all children grew up playing some sport or another. Whether it was basketball, football, gymnastics, tennis or cheer, most kids did something to stay active. As these young kids grew up, however, they had to make a decision on whether they would continue with this sport into their later years. For those who chose to keep playing, there was an added risk of a higher than normal stress level into their daily lives. Many factors play into why athletes tend to be more stressed out than those who don’t play sports. According to Dr. Andrew Coutts on Sports Illustrated.com, “It has been suggested that team sports...place more stress on the brain than any other activity.” Playing a sport adds mental fatigue to student athletes, which makes them unable
76 percent of
people said that the most stress in their lives comes from school.
44 percent felt
homework caused them the most stress.
By Nikki Bhatia and Miranda DaVoulas to focus during the day and leads to students falling behind in their schoolwork; it all works together like a snowball effect. Most students don’t just participate in sports and school. They have extracurricular activities that also play into their stress. Alec Pitts, a junior runner on the cross country team, stresses about sports and all of his activities outside of school, but he finds that sports also tend to help decrease his stress. “The competitions [of cross country] cause stress for me, but just doing the sport relaxes me. I do a program called EDGE through my church in which I am a teen mentor for a group of middle schoolers, which causes me to be stressed. I am involved in mock trial, which is a club at Rocklin, and we meet on Thursday nights. I also do Thunder Galleria which takes up my time outside of school. I would say overall cross country decreases my stress because I can just run and blow off some steam.” Sophomore basketball player, Kayana Trimmer, finds herself getting stressed because she has a hard time finding time for both school and sports.
In 2016/17, there were 932 student athletes at Rocklin High School.
sports both increase and decrease her stress.
“Balancing school and sports is a major stressor, but my stress is usually decreased during practices and games. I do AAU basketball, and I’m going to start taking piano classes. I get stressed a lot, and what helps me calm down is running.
“On a scale of 1 to 10, I am at a 7 level of stress due to homework, soccer, and work. Sports help me relieve my stress by keeping my mind off things and allowing me to have fun as well as getting exercise, but sports get stressful as schoolwork increases due to my lack of time. Outside of school, I play for a competitive soccer team, which is almost everyday of soccer, and I also work.”
Allie Lister, a junior on the soccer team, sides with both Alec and Kayana in that
Although there seems to be a recurring theme in all of these student athletes’ stories
The FLASH | January 2018
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PC Caleb McDonald of stress, weights teacher and girls varsity soccer coach, Mr. Grant Depue, finds that athletes are not more stressed than those who choose to stray from sports.
who are going through the same things as they are. Physical exercise is proven to relieve stress: stretching, breathing, moving, etc. Athletes get this benefit as well.”
“I don't think athletes are more stressed than anybody else. In fact, I think that athletes are better equipped to handle stress than other students. Athletes have learned time management techniques; they have learned to perform when it's ‘game time, test time, interview time,’ whatever. They have learned to exercise as stress relief, and they have a built in support system to talk to, listen to, and study with their teammates
Although the added difficulties of sports tend to increase stress and fatigue levels among student athletes, their chosen activity has also given them an entertaining outlet to de-stress and cope with the pressure the way they want.
40 percent
of RHS students agreed that sports are increasing their stress levels in a negative way.
Neighbors need in
A
Rocklin famlily supports Santa Rosa evacuees
round 1:00 a.m. on Oct. 8, junior Meghan Field, a Maria Carrillo High School student, awoke with only 15 minutes to pack before evacuating her Santa Rosa home, escaping what would become the most destructive fire in California history. Meghan and her family had no way of anticipating such a catastrophe; their only warning was the strange and unusual winds that Meghan remembers noting that night.
homes, the California Psychological Association reached out to 13,000 licensed psychologists with a request to volunteer their services.
Santa Rosa’s Tubbs Fire is just one of an outbreak of fires that raced across California’s wine country in mid-October. Affected areas have included not only Santa Rosa, but Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties.
“Disbelief starts to wear out, and [then] we have a lot of stress and anxiety and grief and worry,” Peggy Ledner-Spaulding said.
Evacuees fled to evacuation centers and to homes of family and friends, in the Field family’s case, to the home of former neighbors: RHS family the O’Briens. While in Rocklin, the Fields anxiously awaited word on the safety of their home. Meghan and her brother Logan plodded through homework, and they joined sophomores Sydney and Matt O’Brien at RHS cross-country practices.
Residents of areas affected by fires have begun to face an entirely new set of emotional challenges. Loss has replaced the initial adrenaline-filled panic, and people returning to their old lives are now realizing the impact of the trauma.
Ledner-Spaulding leads outpatient behavioral health services at St. Joseph’s hospital in Santa Rosa, where the demand for mental health care has been rising. Similarly, phone calls to the Sonoma County mental health department have doubled, as new patients have been reaching out for help, according to Michael Kennedy, the
Fortunately, the fire left their house intact, and they have now returned home, along with an estimated 75,000 other evacuees. But the fire’s story is far from over. Though the fires have been contained for about a month, new challenges have arisen, particularly mental health challenges, as evacuees return to their homes, or in some cases, as evacuees realize they have no home to which they can return. Eighty-four thousand homes and buildings have been destroyed in the fires, displacing an estimated 100,000 people, according to authorities. Twenty-one lives have been lost. With the devastation of lost lives and
An aeriel view of a Santa Rosa neighborhood, taken by a National Guardsman in a helicopter (pictured at right)
mental health director. Some residents face survivor’s guilt, if their house stood and neighbors’ houses did not. One man from Sonoma struggled with PTSD as he fled, reminded of experiences in Vietnam. The most prevalent issue is stress, as displaced people navigate insurance claims, and as families try to figure out where they are going to rent amidst spiking real estate prices. Nine thousand employees now find themselves out of work, as businesses like the Fountaingrove Inn and the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel have been destroyed. “There’s still so much stress associated with the fires,” Nicole Miller, a Santa Rosa agent with Aslan Insurance said. “Even though people are trying to rebuild, it’s something they’ve never gone through before, so they don’t know, should we use the government assistance programs to clear the property?
The FLASH | January 2018
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Coach Greg Fogg and his family barely go out in time before the fire destroyed their house. (pictured at left)
Should we hire our own? Do we have enough coverage on our insurance?”
other through the stress with their positive attitudes.
Californians face difficult questions, the most difficult of which may be, why?
“[Fogg] is so optimistic... and right after the fire burned his house down, he was already figuring out how to rebuild,” Meghan said. “He still comes to all of our practices, and helps the kids whose houses burned down. We as a running community have been helping in every way we can, donating clothes for his young daughters [and] offering advice.”
According to Lt. Col. Jason Hioco, state and local agencies are still trying to determine this, still trying to determine the source of the fires. Hioco, an RHS parent and a California National Guard coordinator, worked during the fires to deploy resources for firefighting and installing evacuation centers. “The speed and destructiveness of the fires were due to very high winds and lot of dry vegetation,” Hioco said. “Many people had only minutes to evacuate their homes as the fire advanced into their neighborhoods.” This was the case for Meghan’s and Logan’s cross-country coach, Coach Greg Fogg. “He was asleep with his daughters and wife,” Meghan said. “My mom texted, and he barely made it out of his house in time. He only grabbed valuables and a couple of clothes.” When Fogg and his family lost their house, the team rallied to support the family. Despite his loss, he has continued supporting the athletes too, coaching and organizing practices during the fray. Together, the team has been carrying each
Miller has observed a similar spirit just by visiting her local Wal-Mart, where strangers realized they weren’t alone. “I was picking up some things, and you can see that people are buying t-shirts and underwear and socks, the basics,” she said. “And people are talking to each other, [saying] that they lost their home too, and they’re crying, and hugging.” Despite displacement and loss, people affected by the fires display optimism. “The whole community’s going to try to come together and help rebuild Santa Rosa,” Meghan said. For now, the Rocklin community can only do its best to support its Northern California neighbors as they are faced with the aftermath of the fire’s destruction. The road
to recovery will continue to be long and arduous, and Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino need all the help that they can get. But if the support that families like the O’Briens, teams like Maria Carillo’s crosscountry team, and even strangers in a store have shown is any indication, families and individuals affected by fires will be travelling that road with the help of their neighbors-both in town, and hours away. By Anne Fey and Emily Hioco
Donate to these organizations:
The Sonoma County Fire Relief Redwood Empire Food Bank Tipping Point Community: Emergency Relief Fund Marin Humane Society
Help is out there. Depression Hotline: (630) 482-9696 Suicie Hotline: (800) 273-8255 Rape and Sexual Assault: (800) 656-4673 Domestic Violence: (800) 799-7233 Teen Dating Violence: (866) 331-9474 Trevor Lifeline: (866) 488-7386 LGBT Sexualiy Support: (800) 246-7743 Eating Disorders: (630) 577-1330 Grief Counseling Hotline: (415) 499-1195 Runaway Safe Line: (800) 789-2929 Planned Parenthood: (800) 230-7526