THE
FLASH
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FIND DIY TUTORIALS, CREATIVE SPOTLIGHTS AND HOW TO GUIDES INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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CONTENTS 02 03 04 05 06 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20
DANCING DIRECTORS THE CREW BEHIND THE CAMERA HOW TO BE A 3 SPORT ATHLETE MANAGING YOUR MONEY SPACIOUS LIVING FATAL FASHION THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL KATE JOHNSON PINTEREST ADDICT HANDMADE FROM THE HEART RAINY DAYS HOW TO TIDY UP HOW TO CHILL OUT GETTING A'S CONQUERING YOUR FEARS PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE BLACK HISTORY ALIVE
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 tab. The advanced journalism class is responsible for all content. The Flash is a public forum. It is created for students, by students, about students. For inquiries, contact the staff at RocklinHSFlash@rocklinusd.org. All images are either copyright free or property of Rocklin High School.
PROVIDED BY SANI MATINLASSI
PROVIDED BY KAYLA PODUSKA
PROVIDED BY KARINE NGUYEN
editorial
Creation.
It’s the age old struggle of man. To create something that matters, and in the process, create the person you want to become. At this point in our lives, every decision we make shapes our future. Everyday, the clothes we wear, the words we speak, the activities we do define our story. There’s so much pressure to make that story a good one. It can seem paralyzing at times, the decisions we make and the weight of those decisions. In creating your identity, you create the world around you. It’s where you spend your time — doing the things that light you up — that impact the world. Whether it be singing your heart out on stage, writing horror stories, basket weaving or something completely different, your impact is shaped by the ways you express yourself — however uncertain the definition of “you” may be. It is the value of what you put into the world that determines your own value. The things you create should be a manifestation of the best parts of who you are. How you spend your time, whether is be physically or abstractly creating something, determines your quality. It’s the idea of creating consciously. With the added stress of shaping who we want to be and determining what we will create in the future, this process can be overwhelming. At the end of the day, what matters isn’t how many AP classes you are taking, if you get into the Ivy league of your dreams, or if the cute guy in math class finally asks you out. What matters is who you are and who you want to be, and what you do to become that person.
FLASH STAFF ALLISON MCCRARY JANAE SCHMIDT JULIA LYNN EMMA CONWAY LAUREN MILLARD CASEY MILLER LEAH MAYER POLINA PUDOVA ANDREW WOODWARD LUKE BEZANSON ALEJANDRO GONZALES EMMA MORALES ELLIE STOUT HALEY BRADBURY GABBY BARNES HAYDEN ESSLEY DARIAN SKULTETEY RACHEL PATTERSON ANYA TOM CAITLYN CAFFERY MIRANDA DAVOULAS JENNA REIS ADVISOR: CASEY NICHOLS
(LEFT TO RIGHT) COVER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAITLYN KAN, ALLY MARANTA, KRISTY BAPTISTA, RACHEL KLUESSENDORF, SUSANNA WULLSCHLEGAR, JACK GOODMAN, KARINE NGUYEN
PROVIDED BY CAITLYN KAN
STUDENTS TEACH STUDENTS DANCE ROUTINES THROUGH THE STUDENT DIRECTOR PROGRAM
DANCING DIRECTORS W
e have all seen or heard about our Rocklin High School dance program. For those of us who have seen the shows, we are constantly blown away by the talent and dedication of our dancers. Every show, our RHS dancers perform amazing choreography, but what most people do not know is that over half the dances are choreographed by the classes’ students directors. A student director is an advanced dancer that teaches fellow dance students at a lower level. They apply in the beginning of spring and figure out what class they will be directing near the end of the academic school year.
Towle. Even though it’s a stressful job, it definitely pays off at the end of the year. “Knowing that you inspire some people [is the best part]. They look up to me and it makes me feel happy,” says Stephanie Zhang. Without these student directors, class would be much different.
“When I was in Dance 2 partners, I always really looked up to my student directors. They were what I aspired to be, and I really liked their choreography. Just the thought of being able to make my own dance and have that in the show and be able to inspire people [made me want] to do that,” says Stephanie Zhang. Make no mistake, student directors do not have it easy. Not only do they help others learn choreography, but they also demonstrate and give feedback for across the floor exercises. In addition to that, they also have a day that they teach their own choreography by themselves, and they each choreograph a dance show number.
"Being a student director is really rewarding. You get to see, over the course of a year, how many students progress. It makes me so happy to be able to teach them," says Emily Smith.
“The most stressful part of being a student director is choreographing for the show because I’m always doubting myself [about whether or not] my choreography is too hard or too easy or just isn’t good. I want to always present my best work, so that can be stressful sometimes,” says Makenzie
PROVIDED BY NICK CABRAL
“In class each day, our student directors function as leaders and assistant teachers, but their most important role is to lead by example and create a positive atmosphere that encourages our students to reach their potential. Our goal is to have every single student get personal one-on-one feedback every single day from the instructor and the student directors. Student Directors are vital to our program, because they allow us to connect with everyone, and it’s wonderful to see their leadership and teaching abilities grow so much. These advanced students also have a wide variety of dance backgrounds. We encourage them to introduce new choreography and ideas to our dancers to keep our program fresh and innovative. They have a huge impact on the growth of our dance students, and we have had many student directors go on to teach and dance in college and professionally over the years,” syas Mrs. Abby Huber. Dance students are also very grateful for their student directors. “They’re all really sweet. Their constant support and advice has been really helpful. They make Dance 1 feel even more like a family,” says Anjali Suthahar. “When Mrs. Blankenship or Mrs. Huber aren’t there, it’s like they’re never really gone when [the student directors] teach the class,” says Riley Whitelaw.
"I love bonding with the students and getting them excited about dance," says Makenzie Towle.
“The student directors motivate all the students in class to be better dancers and push themselves forward. They take the initiative to help the students that struggle and be another figure of encouragement. They bring lots of joy to the class and do their best to make every class day productive and welcoming for the dancers,” says Christene Lee.
This is a first experience for many student directors. Many of them, such as Makenzie Towle, plan on doing it again next year. “I 100 percent plan on being a student director next year, because so far it’s been a really rewarding experience that I’ll never forget. [It] has taught me leadership skills, communication skills and how to be a good role model. Time in class is also very fun and I cherish every moment of it! Student directing is more fun than I could have ever imagined, and I would be so grateful to do it again next year.”
PROVIDED BY NICK CABRAL
With all of this good stigma around being a student director, many current dance students are planning on applying to take on the role next year. “I want to be a student director, because they were a big inspiration to me last year in Dance 3. I’d love to help support the dance program in another way” says Chloe Sellarole. The student director program is ultimately a great way for dancers to connect, as well as for student directors to express themselves through teaching and choreographing. The Rocklin High dance program would not be the same without them. By: Rachel Patterson
MEET YOUR STUDENT DIRECTORS
PROVIDED BY NICK CABRAL
• • • • • • • • •
Ellara Pineda Megan Davidson Caitlyn Kan Leah Mayer Taylor Molloy Selah Penny Mackenzie Towle Marissa Valencia Stephanie Zhang
DANCE 2
• Emily Smith • Sydney Goodwin • Liz Lester
DANCE 3
• Ally Wilhelm • Kaitlyn Baur • Gabriella Lowell
The Flash
DANCE 1
PROVIDED BY CAITLYN KAN
02
THE CREW BEHIND THE CAMERA
THE ASB VIDEO PRODUCTION COMMITTEE PUTS A CREATIVE SPIN ON DOCUMENTING STUDENT LIFE
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hink back to the first week of school, more specifically the Welcome Back assembly. Try and remember what Mr. Stewart, or Mr. Thompson, or anyone said in their New Year speech. Coming up short on memory? You’re probably not alone. Back at that assembly, there was a video that played that not only got lots of reaction out of Rocklin High students, but established more of a lasting memory. This video was simply an accumulation of clips that captured the vibrant energy and the culture of Rocklin High School. Whether it be the Welcome Back video, the Link Day video, Homecoming, Quarry Bowl, theater, tennis, or Spirit Week video, it is clear that RHS has no shortage of, well, videos. But who are the creators mass producing these films? Led by commissioner Grace Conway, a junior, the ASB video production committee is the behind the scenes producers for all these creative video projects. This is the first year of this new ASB sub committee that works on improving the quality and quantity
Grace shares her delight with this new committee by saying, “I like getting to do what I love and knowing that I worked for a year in order to make that possible. I like getting to share a bunch of videos about what’s going on with the rest of the campus.” Grace says that on average, three to four videos a month are being produced. Some of these videos made include “The Life and Times of Rocklin High School,” a series of videos released periodically that showcase what is happening with the school. Mr. Thompson sends a text via the Remind app to the whole school with links to these videos, or at least, everyone signed up on the app. Be sure to take a few minutes the next time you see this text to witness the talent of these producers. The second member of this three person committee, junior Ethan Arguedas, explains that these videos are made for more than fun; they actually make students want to participate in school activities.
TAKE THE
PERFECT SHOT with ethan arguedas PROVIDED BY RILEY MCCLAUGHRY
“I like being able to show the school through my eyes and be able to try and create a video to motivate students to want to be more involved in campus,” he says.
of Rocklin video media.
“Since this is the first year of the committee, we still have a lot of bases to cover and we need to set certain things in stone for the years to come. By taking in underclassmen and showing them what to do, we can keep this committee running.” It just so happens that there are already underclassmen planning on joining this team of outstanding creatives as of next year. Freshmen Nolan Ekberg and Ryan Miller, previously recognized for their award winning short films, are 2019 ASB hopefuls. “We love making films and we think we have something to say and talents we can share. We would love to be a part of it,” Nolan said of the committee. “We can contribute with our experience of films that we’ve made and films that we are going to make.”
SCAN HERE FOR VIDEOS OF THE LIFE AND TIMES AT RHS SERIES.
"For me, there are only two times in the day that are best to take a picture: sunrise and sunset. It makes the shot more special, because you either have to stay out late or wake up early for these chances at a shot. You have to have everything lined up perfectly in order for it to work out. I'll go on a trip and take near a thousand pictures, but sometimes I only like two of them. If it's the right time of day with the right content, you'll have a good shot."
The third member in the committee, junior Rochelle Odnoralov, says “everyone in video production committee is very productive, fun, and we have good teamwork. I love working with them. They are really nice and easy to work with.” Whether you’ve known it or not, you’ve probably seen the work of these three talented students. And that will not change; the video production committee is and will continue to be hard at work throughout this year and years to come. By: Casey Miller
PROVIDED BY FRANK SHIELDS
THE GRIND NEVER STOPS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES
HOW TO BE A SPORT ATHLETE A GUIDE TO STAYING FIT E veryone has to attend school. With so many tests, homework assignments, projects and quizzes constantly being thrown at us, it is a grind by itself. However, three sport athletes have a whole second calendar full of games and practices. After one season ends, another starts. Its continuous cycle of school and sports.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the number of high school students participating in sports has increased for the 29th consecutive year. The 17-18 school year had the most athletes ever at 7,980,886. This number is drastic when there are 15.1 million students (according to the National Center for Education Statistics). Meaning, in schools, more than half of students are involved with a sport. Sports have always been popular, but three sport athletes are not as common as they once were. School is tougher, and sports are longer, making the number of multiple sport athletes diminish. We hear about three sport athletes with good grades, but how do they do it? With added hours of long practices, conditioning and games, it seems as though there are not enough hours in the day to be productive. Being a multiple sport athlete is difficult, but can be handled through a few techniques that pay off even after high school. Time is much more limited with a long and full schedule, so developing time management skills has to happen. Even if the student doesn’t plan to pursue the
By: Darian Skultety
sport after high school, time management is an important life skill. Team sports also help build teamwork, since everyone has to come together to solve each problem. This can help everywhere, especially in the workplace as an adult.
Solo sports teach how to become selfdependent, and the only way to get better is to push yourself. This is important as an adult, as you will most likely have to rely on only yourself. Each sport teaches great life values that help with life, so by doing more now, it helps in the long run. Being a three sport athlete, a student must be consistent with grades. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a social life, but it means making sure your work is done first. Sports push students to excel not only on the field, but in life. Student athletes have to stay on top of their grades in hopes of making it to a good college or staying eligible to continue playing sports. According to a study done on 35,000 students in Los Angeles school districts, students who played sports achieved on average .55 to .7 higher GPAs compared to those who did not play sports. In the same study, student athletes also averaged two more weeks of school attended. Whether a student plays no sports or three, high school comes down to how much hard work they are willing to put in.
PROVIDED BY ABBY DIXON
Being physically fit is one of the most essential parts to maintaining a healthy and happy life. A huge role in retaining a healthy lifestyle is routine when it comes to exercising, eating and drinking your way to a healthier life. One of the most important things to know when working out is what the limit is. Push yourself to where there's a difference in how you look and feel, but don't go too far. Exercise is only half the battle when maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A huge role in working for a healthier mind and body is diet. Sugar, fat, and sodium intake is proven to clog arteries and vessels in the body. Blocked vessels going to vital parts of the body, such as the brain or heart, can lead to stroke, heart attack, and in some cases, even death. Avoiding greasy and sugary foods or drinks makes all the difference in your body, skin and even moods. A diet rich in vegetables and fruits is proven to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer and also have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check. Staying physically fit when it comes to the body and mind is one of the most vital things in life, and it is often looked past.
By: Ellie Stout
The Flash
PROVIDED BY NICK CABRAL
04
THE BRAINS BEHIND ONE SENIOR'S BUISNESS WHICH HAS MADE ANOTHER MAN'S THOUSANDS
TREASURE
By: Casey Miller and Leah Mayer
Leah Mayer: “Tell us about your business.”
PREPARE FOR THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS OF ADULT LIFE THROUGH THESE SMART SAVING TIPS
Spencer Pease: "I buy products for super cheap, and then I advertise them and sell them for higher prices.” LM: “What type of products?” SP: “It can really be anything. In the past, I did shirts and stuff like that. Recently, I’ve been doing hair products, like a hair trimmer.” Casey Miller: “Where do you buy the products?” SP: “Well, the shirts are from all different places. Some of them come from China, and then you turn around and sell them for more. But shirts and stuff like that you can just get here.” CM: “How much would you estimate you have made from this?” SP: “Revenue would probably be upwards of 200,000.” CM: “So what do you do with it? Do you save it?” SP: “I’ve been doing this for a couple years. I used to spend it all but now I’ve been saving. I’ve been reinvesting it into the business.” CM: “What did you spend it on in the beginning?” SP: “Well I bought a car. I also bought a watch. Just random stuff.” CM: “How do you work out how much to sell things for?” SP: “It depends on the product. It can be a percentage raise or a dollar amount. So right now I’m selling something that cost me 9$ and I’m selling it for $30. So I have a $20 margin.” CM: “When did you start thinking of doing this?” SP: “Well I was doing other stuff, and then I literally just saw how to make money online. I just learned it over time. I’ve also lost a lot of money. I’ve tried a lot of things, not just this. I did Bitcoins. I lost like $3000 in Bitcoin.”
MANAGING
F
MONEY
or young people with a lot going on in life, managing money can be difficult. Some people may look to parents or adults for help, but with these techniques you can start saving on your own at a rapid rate.
To see where you can improve your current spending, evaluate your budget. By doing this, you can recognize patterns that, over time, take up a lot of your funds, such as going to the movies every week or getting Dutch Bros every morning. From this point, make a conscious effort to eliminate these cash-draining actions. “My friends and I get Dutch or Starbucks at least three times a week. If I stopped going out to get Starbucks and stuff. It's crazy how much money I could save,” said senior Taylor Sorenson. Carry over this newfound awareness of your spending by being conscious in your daily life of how much you’re spending on everything. Take the time to compare prices always, even when out at a restaurant. By being aware, you can save little amounts overtime that add up into big savings. By adopting a frugal and conscious lifestyle, you will begin to easily recognize opportunities for improvement on your spending. One of the easiest ones is to avoid eating out. Instead of grabbing lunch, make plans with friends that do not involve spending money. “I started spending a lot of money right after I got my license just on random stores and going out places. I started tracking how much I spent and that helped me save a lot, just realizing all the stuff I was buying that I didn’t need,” said Junior Maddy Gomez. After you have entirely transformed your spending habits, money should begin to accumulate, setting the foundation for a steady savings account system. Open up a savings account, and make an effort to put in as much as possible. An easy way to get yourself to save is by putting fifty percent of your funds into savings. Challenging yourself to only use half the money you have can teach you frugal habits that last a lifetime.
CM: “So if your revenue is a couple hundred thousand, how much is your profit?”
Cutting down on spending can seem stressful and impossible to do alone, however with these easy steps you can do it yourself with ease.
SP: “With everything I’ve done I’d say around $150,000."
By: Miranda DaVoulas
SPACIOUS LIVING veryone has run into the problem where they have no space to put anything. Everything is just a cluttered mess. Is trying to keep your room clean every week too hard?
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By: Anya Tom A big thing in having an organized room is having a minimalist mindset. Think “less is more” when arranging your room. It allows for more space to work with.
We all know the struggle of not having enough time to get everything together. It is all a process. You have to make a plan and take one thing at a time.
Decorations like lights, posters and pictures can help lighten your room. Go with what you prefer.
Take a day during a break or long weekend to catch up. If there is not a time during a weekend, do it on a day where you don’t have a lot of homework or activities.
Other decorations that have a positive effect in your room are plants. If you can’t remember to water your plants, get fake ones, they still give off a good vibe and require no responsibility.
To start, disinfect furniture, like the night stand, dresser and desk. Do a big laundry day of washing clothes, sheets, comforters, blankets and pillow cases. After cleaning, put your clean clothes in the closet or dresser. A way to allow for extra storage is to have racks on the wall, where you can put coats, purses and backpacks. Space underneath the bed is very useful. You can put old blankets, off season clothing, or whatever you don’t use daily in bins. That way you keep underneath your bed clean and clear space for more items you use daily. Try to have a set place for everything and put personal items in drawers or boxes. Books, yearbooks and old school supplies could be stored in drawers, but aesthetically pleasing books could be used as tabletop decorations. Also, make use of the walls, putting up shelves can be used as storage and decoration. Different shelves serve different purposes; short ones store knick knacks, longer ones could hold books or artwork. There are also shelves to hang jewelry. The closet is a very good place to hide things for whatever reason. The hamper and shoes should go into the closet to leave your room clear, and people won’t see a basket full of dirty clothes. Reorganizing furniture helps to make your room seem bigger than it is.
To give some more ideas I decorated and tailored my room to my lifestyle. I give myself a time to declutter and organize about once a month. For decorations, I have lights everywhere. I have them on my windows, and there are star lights on the wall next to my bed and lights on my tapestry. I have fake succulents on my dresser, along with a candle, light up sign and an elephant ornament. I moved my dresser, desk and bed multiple times to get it to an arrangement that works for me. I have found a good system to organize my things in my space. It might take a couple of tries to get a system that works, but once you have it, make sure to use it because it can really help in the long run. All that is important is to tailor your room arrangement to your life, making sure you can function in it and keep it tidy.
The Flash
You should allow a time to declutter and revive your room. Get rid of things you don’t need.
THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF MINIMALIST LIVING IN YOUR HOME
06
FATAL FASHION
STYLE AND SUSTAINABILITY CAN GO HAND IN HAND IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
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n average person produces around 4.6 pounds of garbage a day. Whether it is throwing away plastic or not picking up the garbage you dropped on the ground, there are many ways a person can reduce their carbon footprint. Fast fashion is the quick paced industry that involves manufacturing clothes at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the trends.
way to buy used clothes that are trendy, and since you are buying directly from other people, it is easy to find someone close to your size that you can buy from. This form of online thrifting makes it easier to find what you want, as you can search for certain styles and sizes.
Fashion is responsible for 92 million pounds of waste dumped into landfills each year. One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to not contribute to these companies.
Fashion is an industry that is constantly evolving, and with that, comes consequences for not only the environment, but for consumers as a whole. Clothing is getting more expensive, and for certain brands, you are paying them to pollute the Earth.
Thrifting is a cost efficient way to reduce your contribution to fast fashion. There are several local places that you can thrift at such as GoodWill, Ecothrift and Crossroads.
In order to preserve our environment, it is important to think about where your clothing is coming from, and how you can keep up with fashion trends while also reducing your carbon footprint.
“I really like thrifting because it is fun to see what you can find. It is a really cool activity to do with friends too,” says Junior Selah Penny. While thrifting is not always ideal for finding what you want, many clothing brands have started environmentally friendly clothing lines. H&M is one of these companies, launching sustainable fashion in an attempt to reduce their waste. There are a lot of other companies that have been making efforts to be more sustainable, such as Reformation and Patagonia. Some of these brands can get pricey so if thrifting is not for you or your wallet can not keep up with the sustainable brands, there are other ways to find fashionable clothing. One problem with thrifting is that most of the clothes are oversized, so they require some kind of alteration. Apps, such as Depop, are a good
By: Emma Conway Former Rocklin High Student and Fashion Club President Kristy Baptista, made the decision to transfer to a charter school in order to dedicate most of her time to her true passion; fashion. She now spends her days hand dying linen with the mission of “consciously creating” environmentally friendly clothing that can be purchased via Etsy. Using organic materials, such as Cochineal, Madder root and indigo, she has created a variety of linen garments. Follow her on Instagram and Etsy @flushedinflora
" THE PROCESS
"It all begins with sourcing the garment. I find secondhand linens or I sew an original, and then I scour the fabric in hot water and soda ash, which takes all the oils and waxes present in the fiber to allow it to dye evenly. I next mordant the scoured fabric in aluminum acetate and a wheat bran after bath to ensure that the color will remain as colorfast as possible. Then, the best part is dyeing it with plants or extracts from around the world and watching as the color transforms the piece. "My process is slow, and mindful. Each piece is made with sustainable fabric, non-toxic dyes and low waste practices. The end result is something truly special and unique. Imagine cloaking yourself in a piece of nature, wearing marigolds, eucalyptus or goldenrod on your back. Feeling proud as you tell the story behind the item. I picture you looking radiant, and absolutely Flushed in Flora. "After the fun stuff I market the creations on Instagram and create visuals that tell my story. Right now, I’m in the process of making patterns for signature styles and doing custom orders based on those styles. After it is sold, packaged and shipped, it lives a new life with a cool person. I love seeing people wearing my makes. It’s so fulfilling. "I see expanding my business to farmers' markets and craft fairs to connect and network with locals and enrich my community. Collaborating with sustainable businesses could give Flushed in Flora a larger audience and deepen its roots in my community and online. I envision having a line of clothing, accessories, and home goods in a wide range of plant colors like indigo, marigold, madder and cochineal.
The Flash
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KRISTY BAPTISTA
"To generate a viable source of income outside of making clothing, I have ideas to host workshops, do wholesale orders, sell my own extracts and write an ebook. If I were to support myself on this small business, then I would need to actively be looking for ways to grow my business. These ideas would give me a great start."
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THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL Y SUGAR, SPICE EVERYTHING NICE By: Allison McCrary
THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL HAS BECOME THE MOST FORGOTTEN
ou wake up to the sound of your alarm booming in your ear. Snooze. Another blaring jingle or horn begins to go off. Snooze again. After a long series of snoozes, you finally look at your phone and see that you’re meant to leave in five minutes. Jumping out of bed, you throw on the first outfit you can find, grab your backpack and run down the stairs. As you’re grabbing the last minute items for lunch, such as notebooks, water bottles, snacks and more. In the rush of the moment, you walk out the door without eating breakfast, the most important meal of the day. The next morning you wake up, and out of habit, you leave without breakfast. With late nights of homework, studying, video games, Netflix watching or doing absolutely nothing, it is easy to wake up late and skip this extremely important meal. According to “School of Public Health,” by University of Minnesota, 60 percent of high school students skip breakfast on school days, while16 percent skip breakfast on a daily basis. Although eating breakfast may just seem like a way to keep your stomach from loudly growling in the middle of class, in reality, it is vital to a healthy and productive life. Eating breakfast balances your meals out for the rest of the day. When you skip breakfast, the balance of how much you eat is offset, causing you to overindulge during lunch and dinner. Also, studies have proven that people who lose weight -- and keep it off -- eat breakfast every day. Another reason to eat breakfast is it helps to keep your energy up throughout the school day so you can more easily focus. So what can we do on late mornings or every morning to ensure that we receive the nutrients and energy that we need from breakfast? Luckily, there are countless easy, on-the-go breakfast options for students who do not have time to sit down and have a whole buffet or even a bowl of cereal. At the store, options include yogurt cups, Eggo waffles, hot chocolate packets, bagels, english muffins, bread for toast, oatmeal packages, Belvita breakfast bars and any fruit, such as bananas, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. Do it yourself! Get an on-thego breakfast so you don't miss the most important meal of the day. To spice up these breakfast options, add granola to the yogurt or things such as avocado or jam to the toast. Now people are more likely to have a second dinner rather than breakfast. What once used to be breakfast is now becoming breakfast for dinner. The most important meal of the day, is now the most forgotten.
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lot of people have a lot of different and unique passions, but sophomore Kayce Anderson loves to cook. It all started with her mom asking her to cook dinner a few times. Kayce went from occasionally cooking, to being the main cook in the house. “I find cooking really fun, and I really like that I can just do what I like and help out my mom at the same time,” Kayce said. This is her second year taking culinary at Rocklin High. It helps her sometimes, but most of her experience and knowledge came from cooking at home. It started with her just cooking some basic meals, like rice and chicken, but now she can follow almost any recipe. “Sometimes recipes don’t end up the way they’re supposed [to], and it can be really frustrating, but with a little effort, it should end up perfect” she says. Besides cooking dinners, she makes desserts and cakes for her family. She really likes to decorate cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Kayce really enjoys art, so when it comes to decorating desserts, she is really creative about it. She takes decorating to another level. “My favorite time of the year is probably Christmas, because I get to make and decorate cookies and the gingerbread house,” Kayce said. Ever since she started cooking, her family made a new tradition; Kayce is the one to cook the Thanksgiving dinner. She says that’s the dinner she looks forward to the whole year. It makes her happy to see the whole family getting together and enjoying the meal that she prepared. “For me, it’s really exciting to cook the Thanksgiving dinner, because it’s one of the most important dinners of the year,” she adds. It’s nice to see that Rocklin High has students with so many diverse and interesting passions. These interests range from drawing to culinary. Kayce Anderson is only one of those many examples. By: Polina Pudova
THE CREATIVES:
KATE JOHNSON By: Janae Schmidt
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ate Johnson, a senior at Rocklin, has an amazing talent for styling hair. She can do any braid, fishtail or updo you can imagine. She started styling hair the summer before sixth grade. Her cousin came to visit and always had the most beautiful hair. This inspired Kate. "I wanted to be like her, so I had her teach me how to braid hair, but I was terrible. After that, I practiced doing hair every night,” said Kate. After years of practice, doing hair has become second nature to Kate. She has even started her own business. “I started my business, because its always been a goal of mine to go into cosmetology school. People asked me if I would start one, so I decided I would start doing hair for dances like homecoming and
prom,” said Kate. To broadcast her business she texted her friends to let them know she would be styling hair for relatively cheap prices. Her friends started referring her. Now, Kate has a lot of clients that use her for every special occasion. “I've had Kate do my hair for Junior Prom and Senior Ball, and she's really talented. I've never seen anyone be able to do hair like that before,” said senior Taylor Sorenson. Kate is amazing at doing her hair on both herself, and others. I have had her do my hair for two homecomings, and for senior ball. To test her abilities, I attempted doing her hair, and she did mine. On me, she did a french fishtail which turned out amazing. I have very little hair experience and had no idea how to do a french fishtail did my best, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although mine was not as good as hers and it took me twice the time, it still turned out well.
HOW TO FISHTAIL BRAID
Start by seperating your hair into two neat, even sections.
Take a small portion of hair from the outside portion of one section and cross it over to the inside of the other section.
Cross a piece of hair Repeat these steps from the outside of until you reach the the opposite section to end of the braid. the inside of the other section.
The Flash
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HALEY BRADBURY
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interest
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HOW STUDENTS DISCOVERED THE WONDERS OF PINTEREST
ADDICT
eed a DIY project? Go to Pinterest. Need help on an essay? Use Pinterest. Redecorating your room? Find it on Pinterest. Crafts, decor, recipes, stories, etc., all can be found in one app. Pinterest is an app of inspiration in anything you’re looking for. Three girls from Rocklin High School, Mikayla Ognissanti (senior), Shaunna McDermott (junior), and Annelise Licata (sophomore) all fall into the category of people who love and use Pinterest.
Becoming more inspired through new ideas because [her] mom always likes the hand on Pinterest she said, “eventually, I got fully made stuff.” addicted to the app.” She started adding More inspirations would pop up on more “pins” (which are the ideas she saves) Pinterest including “motivational quotes” and used and “photography." it for many Shaunna realized that PROVIDED BY LAUREN inspirations MILLARD this app has multiple including functions she enjoys. her “dream Enjoying Pinterest more wedding,” and more, she says she “pura vida uses it “on the daily.” bracelets,” and “room Using Pinterest since decor.” middle school, Mikayla Ognissanti says she gets inspiration for “projects,” “homecomings or any type of dances for hair and makeup,” and “helping with presents.” Creative ideas flow through Pinterest, so instead of doing a “standard present” Shaunna Mikayla tries to make it McDermott “creative and colorful.” didn’t go straight into using Pinterest, but when she Relating to Shaunna, she uses it daily to looked ideas up on the internet, it would become more and more inspired and use it always lead her back to Pinterest. Deciding for what she would make “in the future.” to make an account, she used it for “dinner recipes” and “DIY Christmas presents By: Leah Mayer
"[Pinterest] is beneficial to me to help with new ideas, like prom dresses or dying my hair." -Jordyn Mendoza When Annelise Licata was in 7th grade, she downloaded the app and started to use Pinterest. Annelise is a dancer, so she wanted inspiration and found Pinterest. Later into the process of using the app she started, “really getting into DIY type of stuff like bracelets and little room decor things.”
However, as high schoolers age and begin to get a taste of economic independence, looking for hidden treasures and bargains has become a popular activity. Thrifting and shopping for fashion “dupes” is something many teens are partaking in, even deciding to take a do-it-yourself approach. This has become especially apparent in the re-emergence of friendship bracelets. Most teenagers can remember an earlier time in their childhood when making woven bracelets to share with friends was all the rage. Ranging in different patterns, colors, and intricacy, these bracelets could be considered a form of self-expression. The trend is back and high school students are loving it. “Making your own bracelets is sort of the best. You can pick the design and any color you want, and it costs you a fraction of what
Handmade from the
some stores will charge,” junior Katie Elliott said. Students are returning to their elementary selves and having fun doing it. “Not only is the product rewarding, but just the process of making the bracelets with friends is a fun thing to do,” said junior Sophia Campagna. Some students are even taking an entrepreneurial approach, making the bracelets and selling them to students, as companies prove that students will pay for these homemade type bracelets. Companies are taking advantage of this trend and have helped popularize the handcrafted look. One popular company, known as “Pura Vida,” sells bracelets
PROVIDED BY LAUREN MILLARD
PROVIDED BY RACHEL KLUSSENDORF
Heart
A BELOVED CHILDHOOD TREND MAKES A COMEBACK handmade in Costa Rica.
“‘Pura Vida’ means ‘pure life’ in Spanish, a Costa Rican philosophy that encourages the appreciation of life’s simple treasures. Slowing things down, celebrating good fortune, and refusing to take anything for granted embodies this laid back lifestyle.” quoted from Pura Vida’s mission page on their website. People seem to be gravitating to these types of unique bracelets, as they are one of a kind, and personalized to you. An idea that designer brands are not able to hone in on, and an idea that doesn’t require endless amounts of money to fulfill. By: Lauren Millard
PROVIDED BY RACHEL KLUSSENDORF
The Flash
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rends often lean toward what the name brands are putting out. It’s usually all about where you bought it and how much you paid for it.
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WAYS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS EVEN IN STORMY WEATHER
RAINY DAYS PROVIDED BY JULIA LYNN
G
oodbye sunny skies, hello cloudy days. It is that time of year again when we break out the sweaters, jackets, fuzzy socks and beanies. Many people believe when it starts raining they cannot have fun outside. They tend to stay indoors because they don't want to get wet and cold. However, there are plenty of ways to embrace this frightful weather.
Taking a walk: Sometimes the best way to clear out your head is to go for a walk. The rain certainly helps with clearing out any thoughts with the white noise of the rain dropping on the ground. Although it can rain, putting on a rain jacket or umbrella prevents you from getting wet.
Go for a jog: Similar to walking in the rain, exercising in the rain feels great. You don’t have to worry about overheating because the rain will wash the sweat off. It feels great running with the wind on your face. Make sure to wear good running shoes, because running in the rain can be dangerous. Playing in the rain: Even though it seems childish and wet, playing and splashing in the puddles can be entertaining. Something about jumping into puddles and seeing the water splash everywhere can be oddly satisfying. Just make sure you have somewhere to dry the sopping wet clothes afterwards.
Go up to the mountains: Some of the best weather to
have fun in is snow. Skiing, snowboarding or making snowmen can be exhilarating. If you don’t know how to ski or snowboard, having a snowball fight is a great way to enjoy the weather. Another thing to do while up in the mountains is to make a bonfire. Find some dry wood, and burn it up. The warmth from the fire feels great while outside. Additionally, sitting around a fire is a great way to connect or have a conversation with friends and family.
Play a sport: Playing a sport
in the rain can be great due to the change in scenery. Normally, playing football or soccer when it’s sunny can be great, but playing it while it's raining is amazing. It gets slippery and muddy making the game even more challenging.
Overall, people do not have to stay shut in whle it's raining. Just finding something to do outside can be a great alternative to playing video games or watching movies when its raining. There are plenty of things to do outside that can be enjoyable. Just go outside next time it’s raining and see for yourself. By: Andrew Woodward
HOW TO
TIDY UP A
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR KEEPING YOUR LIFE NEAT AND ORGANIZED
s teenagers, we are constantly loaded up with homework, studying, extracurriculars, jobs and trying to maintain somewhat of a social life. Having the weight of all of these things can cause overwhelming amounts of unwanted stress. With these few organizational tips, surviving high school is about to become a whole lot easier.
Do not procrastinate! Waiting to complete your homework or other tasks will force you to rush through it, causing you to miss important information. Having a Silver/Blue schedule at Rocklin High School allows you to complete your homework the day you get it and eliminates procrastination, if you take advantage of it. “This year I’ve been trying to get my work done while I’m at school and it’s honestly helped eliminate so much stress because I don’t have to rush through assignments anymore or worry about accidentally forgetting to do something while I’m at home,” senior Lauren Gerber said. assignments, due dates, upcoming tests and other important information will allow you to prepare in advance and eliminate the risk of forgetting to do something.
No loose papers! Using a binder, notebook, or
folder to hold your work in an organized way will prevent lost papers, wrinkled papers and will radiate a sense of organization and cleanliness.
Take notes! Taking notes during lectures or lessons allows you to have access to the information learned in class outside of school. This will come in handy when completing homework assignments or while studying for an assessment. While taking notes, only write down the key information and try to simplify what you are writing to save time; otherwise you may miss out on other information being said.
“I always try to take notes when we are learning something because if I’m just listening to the teacher talk, I’ll forget the information,” senior Kayla Baker said.
Manage your time wisely! As teenagers, we sometimes feel like having a social life is more important than our school work. This mindset will result in missing assignments and failed classes; work comes first, fun comes later. Completing your school work before participating in other activities allows you to focus more on what you’re doing and you won’t end up rushing through it. Trying to balance assignments, studying and other important tasks for up to eight different classes can be frustrating and challenging. Taking these five small steps towards better organizational skills will help improve your mindset while taking on your daily schoolwork. By: Caitlyn Caffery
The Flash
Use a planner! Keeping track of your homework
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TIPS ON RELAXING WHEN YOU START TO FEEL OVERWHELMED
HOW TO: RELAX? "I go on a run or hang out with friends," says Abby Mangelsdorf
"I usually listen to music, but sometimes I lay down on my bed for a long time to think through my problem and organize my emotions,"says Hailey Jang
"I watch youtube, wrestle, and do Taekwando," says Guru Yalakanti
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Getting organized can increase productivity and reduce your stress. Heidi Hanna, author of Stressaholic, says “When we have chaotic surroundings or a fragmented mindset, the brain can perceive this as a sign that there is more demand for energy than our current capacity, which triggers the stress response.�
Keeping things organized will make your surroundings more peaceful, therefore reducing your stress. For example, taking time to organize your backpack will make you feel prepared and ready for the next day of school. Try making a list of all the assignments you need to get done that day for school and tackle each assignment one at a time, doing things step by step.
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Exercising boosts endorphins and gets your blood pumping. When your body releases endorphins (the brains feel-good neurotransmitters), it acts as a natural painkiller- improving your ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.
Even just doing five minutes of exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects. Go on a quick walk before starting your tasks for the day to clear your mind and boost your endorphins.
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Lowell
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says Emelyn Dizon
By: Haley Bradbury
Mediation can be a great way to calm your body and eliminate the many thoughts that are clouding your brain and making you feel stressed. Go to a clean, quiet setting, find a comfortable position and begin the meditation process. Meditation can include things like yoga, breathing exercises, and focused attention.
"I take a nap, then I like to spend time with my family. Currently, I love reading a good book and making hot cocoa to destress,"says Gabby "I immediately eat when I get home and sometimes take a nap,"
CHILL OUT
Nutrients from healthy foods can reduce the level of stress hormones in your body and increase blood flow. Foods like fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and folate which produce dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical, keeping you calm. There are also certain comfort foods that can calm your body and reduce your stress levels. If you are looking for something sweet to cheer you up, then indulge in some dark chocolate. Dark chocolate can reduce stress hormones, and the antioxidants in the cocoa can lower blood pressure. Here are some other tips to help you reduce your stress levels from school: Turn off your phone, take a short nap, or listen to soothing music. Watch a funny video that will make you laugh, hang out with your friends for a little bit, or do a craft. Being around plants can induce you relaxation response, so buy a succulent!
chool today can be, and often is, a stressful place or even a stressful thought. Most students have various different homework assignments due by tomorrow and three different tests to study for that most still feel underprepared and doubtful that they’ll pass, etc. Tests and exams can often be one of the largest causes of school stress, with students fearing a NM might totally knock them out of the class and drop their G.P.A., especially with AP classes and final exams. Many of these students who stress over these tests don’t know how to properly study or contain these stresses. These can often result in a failing grade because they’re too worried about their grade and forget all of the content on the exam. However, this guide will help those who are taken over by these stresses during tests shouldn’t worry, this guide will get you from NM’s to A’s faster than you can call for help. The first step is to study efficiently and effectively the days or weeks leading up to the test. Studying the material means you fully understand the material, rather than just giving it a quick glance through. If you don’t understand the material, seek help from your friends, teacher, or even outside help, like a tutor. The College and Career Center offers free peer tutoring services after school for about an hour, Monday through Thursdays.
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Preferably, you should study lightly a week or two before the test so that way you can start to understand the content better. It is even also good to look over your material the night before or just before the test, it’ll be still fresh in your mind. Second, take a deep breath. Relaxation and breathing during a test can actually do more than you think. It frees your mind of the extra worries and helps you to focus better focus on your test. Through relaxed and breathing exercises, messages will be sent to your brain to relax and calm down. Those messages will be passed onto your body, reducing things like fast heart rate and high blood pressure. Third and final, have faith in yourself. Having faith and confidence in yourself provides the positive energy you need to push through and to not get hung up on problems that deep down you know you can solve. Stress can really block out the vital information you need in order to crush that test, making you focus on the questions at hand. Even if you start to struggle on a question, having faith can bring those spirits and confidence levels back up. Using these three simple steps, you’ll be able to efficiently keep your calm and stay focused on the task of getting A’s on your tests. Through studying you can fully understand the material at hand, through breathing you can keep your calm and through faith in yourself you can have that motivation to keep going forward. Now get out there and bring home that 4.0! By: Hayden Essley
hether being done for academic or creative purposes, writing is an important skill. Like every other activity, it requires practice and patience. In order to be successful, this story will give some helpful tips to make the process easier.
MASTERING THE
WRITTEN WORD
The first step of becoming a better writer is understanding it is a process which will take years and never truly end. It is about improving, not becoming perfect. One must be humble in order to make progress. Reading is essential. If one is unaware of the difference between good and bad writing from reading it, they will similarly be unaware when they are writing something of poor quality. It also helps one avoid cliches (an overused things in stories such as horror characters tripping) within the genre they are writing. Common cliches which are universal across genres are insta love and Mary Sues. (Characters with no chemistry falling in love and characters with no traits,
respectively). The phrase “don’t be afraid to write garbage” is commonly quoted as a solution for writer’s block. While this can be the case, it is more appropriately used as advice for novice writers. Everything a beginning writer creates is going to be of poor quality. Accepting this and grinding through is the only way to make progress. Having beta readers look over one’s work before it goes out to the world is important for ensuring the writer learns how the reader perceives their work. They can then work on adding or removing exposition and other necessary elements of a story. Writing is a difficult activity to learn, albeit not in the same way as something more physically straining activity such as basketball. With a lot of patience, anyone can become a proficient and even good writer. By: Alejandro Gonzales
The Flash
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GETTING 'S S
MAINTAINING ACADEMICS THROUGH SMART STUDYING
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CONQUERING FEARS
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FEAR DOESN'T HAVE TO RULE YOUR LIFE
e all have something we are afraid of, whether it is drowning, heights, water, spiders and more. No matter how hard we try to avoid confrontation, we are occasionally forced to flee or face our fears. With so many things to be afraid of today, everybody’s afraid of something. There can be external fears, which deal with things that are physical, some examples being fear of spiders (arachnophobia) or a fear of animals (zoophobia). Although this type of fear deals with physical objects, they can have an effect on a person physically and mentally.
sweating and more. When dealing with internal fears things become more complicated. The impacts of these internal fears are more specific to the fear. People with the fear of getting sick can always be paranoid. People who have social anxieties can struggle with doing everyday tasks.
So you may be thinking, how do I get over these fears? According to NHS. com “Most anxiety and fear comes from anticipation, not the activity itself...Negative visualization is basically thinking to yourself: What's the worst that can happen?”
“Most anxiety and fear comes from anticipation, not the activity itself .”
The second kind of fear are internal fears. These are in response to a scenario or experience involving danger or the presence of an object or person. For example, hypochondria, which is the fear of getting sick. Or agoraphobia, which is basically social anxieties.
Negative visualization is when a person visualizes or thinks about the worst possible outcome. This can be one of the main reasons people get freaked out over things. Thinking positively and living in the moment instead of thinking about what could happen could help erase those scary thoughts.
No matter the types of fears you have, confronting your fears is never easy.
For example, if you're afraid of heights and you’re about to get on a roller coaster, try taking a few deep breaths and think about enjoying the time with your friends or family. While on the roller coaster you can scream or yell, which will help you calm down and release fear. Or try closing your eyes and visualizing happy things to help cope.
Physical effects include abnormal breathing, chest pains or tightness,
By: Gabby Barnes
YOUR
Strangers 10% Blood/Needles 18% Zombies 9% Flying 14% Claustrophobia 17% Drowning 19% Clowns 8%
BIGGEST Heights 24% FEARS
Public Speaking 26%
Bugs, Snakes, Other Animals 22% Ghosts 7%
THE ROADS TO THE FUTURE CAN BE SCARY, BUT NOT IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PREPARE FOR IT
PREPARING FOR By: Luke Bezanson
SUCCESS
Is college not for you? Well, good news. You might not have to spend the next 20 years asking hangry customers if they want fries with that. There are lots of alternate paths to a career that don’t involve spending the first years of your adult life at a traditional 4 year university.
The Gap Year. If you aren’t sure yet
Choose Classes That Make Sense: If you have a clearly defined career path, then pick classes that fit that career path. If you want to be a journalist, then pcik jorunalism and other commmunication classes such as boradcasting. If you want to be a professional chef, then chose culinary. It helps to pick the proper classes earlier in high school, such as in the freshman year. This way you are not struggling to take the correct number of math or science classes in your junior or senior year. By taking the proper classes in high school, you are correctly prepared to take the correct classes in college and be set on your career path. There is a program at Rocklin called CTE, which stands for Computing, Technology, and Engineering. Students take classes such as EST, IT Essentials, or Computer Scineces to be prepared for jobs such as coding and engineering. Some people, though, do not have a clearly defined career path in high school. That is ok, these people should
experiment with different classes, trying to find which one will set them on a good career path. A career path is recommend to be established by college so money does not go to waste.
Choose Good Extracurricular Activiities: For people who are not interested in what school has to offer, there are always extracurricular activities. Some kids chose to get jobs at places such as McDonalds or Carl's Jr. for work experience and money. There is a place called Origin Coffee & Tea on Sunsset Blvd. that offers work for community service hours. It allows workers to gain work experience and obtain awards at Rocklin for reaching 150 community service hours. Many Rocklin High students work here, learning how to make coffee or leading teams of workers. There are under the radar sports that are offered outside of Rocklin. Sports such as rowing are offfered in West Sacramento at the River City Rowing Club, if anyone's interested in joining it.
Make Smart Financial Choices: For people who are financially able to go to college, it is important to make smart financial choices. People could keep track of how they use their money and make sure not to make dumb purchases. They should not spend thousands of dollars on useless video games.
what lights you up, consider taking a gap year to explore your interests and save up some money for college later on. Or take a year to explore the world, learn about different cultures, meet new people, and expand your horizons beyond the walls of Rocklin High School. Whatever you choose to do with your gap year, it’s an opportunity to learn more about who you are and what you love.
Join the Workforce. Maybe you
already know your passion, but you like to learn through experience. If that’s the case, you may want to jump straight into the workforce. If you are an artist you could sell your art through online platforms, like Etsy. If your dream is to win an Oscar, you could star in productions at your local theater or audition for commercials or small productions to start off your career. Maybe you want to be the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates and start your own business. Learning on the job can be just as valuable as learning in classrooms and lectures.
Volunteer. Maybe you want to give back to the world before you join the adult world. Consider volunteering. There are programs, like the Peace Corps, that can give you the resources to volunteer in communities across the world and help save the sea turtles from climate change, or teach underprivileged children in Africa and India, or build houses and schools in undeveloped communities. Join the Military. If you can’t afford college, but still want the education universities offer, consider joining the military. Through your service, various branches of the military offer to pay for your tuition after enlistment, and even programs that can help pay for your kids tuition, too. By: Julia Lynn
The Flash
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hat college should I attend? What will my life look like in 10 years? These are stressful questions that teenagers have to ask themselves in order to be prepared ofr the future. The future does not have to be frightening, though. Here are some easy steps to help you prepare for the future.
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BLACK HISTORY
CHANGING THE CULTURE ONE STEP AT A TIME
A
ALIVE
fter the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) designated Rocklin High School as undeniably “racist,” the underlying problematic culture of RHS was brought into the limelight, and through the efforts of students, like Rachel Jackson, Rocklin’s putting its privilege in check, starting with celebrating Black History Month.
February to honoring and celebrating black history on a national scale. Each year since, the President of the U.S. has declared each February to be Black History Month.
Black History Month originated from “Negro History Week” — the brainchild of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History founder, Carter G. Woodson, also known as “the father of black history.” The celebration, beginning in 1926, fell on a week in February, which housed both Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) and Frederick Douglass’s birthday (February 14th). Woodson intended to bring awareness to the struggles of African American heroes in history and to change the way school curriculum taught the legacies of these individuals.
A new student on campus this year, Rachel had just moved from her high school in Castro Valley, near the Bay Area, after having previously moved from Virginia. Rachel’s frequent moves opened her eyes to the different high school cultures across America, so, it was easy for her to recognize the bubble that is RHS.
It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s that the month long celebration developed. After the most popular U.S. history textbook at the time mentioned only two black individuals, college and high school campuses began acknowledging and teaching black history for a month, instead of a week, to bring awareness to the obvious gap in education.
Now, Rocklin High is honoring the unspoken heroes of Black history thanks to the efforts of Rachel Jackson and Cheyenne Anderson
“I thought Black History Month would help not only incorporate more awareness to different racial cultures, but also kind of bring our culture as Rocklin High School students together and kind of help us, so people begin to realize that we aren’t only in this Rocklin bubble,” says Rachel. It wasn’t until, sitting alone in her home on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, that she realized she could do something to change this. “Usually, we have more time off at the other high schools I’ve been to [because of Black History Month]. I realized here they didn’t do anything for Black History Month,” says Rachel.
Finally, in 1976, President Gerald Ford dedicated the month of
THE HISTORY OF STEP PLANTATION OWNERS FEARED THAT ALLOWING AFRICAN CULTURAL PRACTICES TO CONTINUE WOULD CREATE CONFLICT, AND AS A RESULT, MANY SLAVES USED STEP DANCING TO COMMUNICATE NEWS ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND RAISE ONE ANOTHER'S SPIRITS.
STEP DANCE ORIGINATED FROM THE GUMBOOT DANCE PRACTICED IN AFRICAN CULTURE. THE DANCE WAS USED TO COMMUNICATE IN THE MINES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DRUMMING, WHICH WAS BANNED BY AUTHORITIES.
STEP DANCING EVOLVED WITH THE FOUNDATION OF THE PANHELLENIC COUNCIL, A FORMATION OF NINE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGIATE ORGANIZATIONS. THE LOUD CHANTING AND POWERFUL MOVEMENTS POPULATED GREEK LIFE IN COLLEGES WHERE THE DANCE NOT ONLY ENTERTAINED, BUT DEVELOPED AS AN EXPRESSION OF PRIDE.
DURING THE HARLEM RENNAISSANCE, A FEELING OF BLACK PRIDE SWEPT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, AND STEP DANCING INFLUENCED MANY POPULAR DANCES OF THE PERIOD, INCLUDING THE CAKEWALK, WHICH POKED FUN AT WHITES WHO HARRASSED AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE.
She asked her friends to help, and with the help of Cheyenne, they hosted a weekly segment that highlighted important figures, like Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to hold a pilot’s license. They taught the origin story of Black History Month and how dance has evolved over time as a reflection of African American culture. She organized a performance by the Thunder Steppers, with the help of Mrs. Abby Huber, that showcased Step dance, a type of dance that uses powerful steps, rhythmic movements, and loud chanting that is popular in black culture on college campuses. “We were like, ‘Hey, look at all these people that want to see us, so even if we mess up it doesn't really matter how we messed up, but why we did it in the first place,’” says Rachel. Their dance was choreographed and researched by Mrs. Huber, who taught the team the routine over a series of 3 practices during February. Over 30 students attended their first practice. “There was one part at the end of the dance where we chanted “B. H. M. Pride.” and the steps we incorporated in that part were from my old school, because we had a step group that would perform,” says Rachel. With the month of February officially over, and with it, the BHM events on campus, Rachel hopes to continue to bring awareness to the racial problems at RHS. With the support she received from students, Rachel is hoping to start a club on campus dedicated to filling in educational gaps in African American history. Though, she hasn’t settled on a direction for the club, her mission is clear. “We want to invite as many people as possible from any culture to learn about different peoples’ cultures. That’s the main thing — to learn something new,” says Rachel. Even though Black History Month has officially ended, Rachels' efforts to change the culture isn’t over yet. By: Julia Lynn
JACOB LAWRENCE
1917 - 2000
Jacob Lawrence was a Black painter, whose work captured the complexity of African American life during the 20th century. His Migration series details the mass movement of African Americans fleeing North to escape the economic, political, and social hardships they faced in the South. The migration gained momentum as the Southern economy was desecrated by various factors. Propelled by testimonials of a better life in the North, many flocked to urban cities with hope. Yet, they found the same racial prejudice and economic hardship they had tried to escape. In a series of 60 paintings, Jacob Lawrence gave a new voice to the struggle of Blacks in America and captured the community’s eternal hope in the face of oppression.
ERYKAH BADU
1971 - PRESENT
Erica Abi Wright is a neo-soul singer. Her life as a performer began as she attended a performing arts magnet school and freesytled on a local radio station as “DJ Apples.” After leaving school to pursue her music career, she recorded “Your Precious Love” alongside D’Angelo. As her career continued to flourish, her role as a Black icon grew. Her luxurious jelwery, flowing dresses, and vivid headwraps added to her ghetto, yet regal demanor, and her messages of love and sexuality communicated through new age sounds has turned her into a cultural icon. Her work honors her African roots and the evolvement of Black culture in America overtime.
GORDON PARKS
1912- 2006
Gordon Parks was a jack-of-all-trades, who found great success in the creative fields of producing, directing, writing, composing, and most notably photography. One of his most famous works, the American Gothic, is a satirical portrait that mimics Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting. His photo depicts a Government charwomen, holding a broom and mop, with a blurred American flag overlooking the scene. The photograph captures the limited opportunities for African Americans in the U.S. and the racial prejudice they experience daily, but also the hypocrisy of the American Dream, as the foundational belief that “all men are created equal” directly conflicted the status of racial oppression in American society. The Flash
Inspired, Rachel got to work. She contacted Mr. Ryan O’Donnell about starting a segment on the We Are Rocklin show where she could educate students about Black history. She organized a trivia game, where she questioned students and awarded prizes, like dance tickets, if they answered the questions correctly.
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THE FLASH @rocklinyearbook rocklinhsflash.net
Join us next year in M5 as a member of our Journalism staff.
REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE.
If you find yourself about to throw me in a trash can, stop. Reconsider. Instead, hand me to a friend or throw me in with the nearest paper recylcing.