The North Star, Volume 37, Issue 5

THE NORTH STAR BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 5

MISDIAGNOSING MENTAL ILLNESS LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES ON PGS. 14-17

CONTENTS NEWS

4,5 Advise or Compromise? ------------------------------------- Ella Shafer

FEATURE

17 Katherine Koplik talks to

students about mental health. Read more about the issues with mental health misdiagnoses on pages 14-17.

6,7 Order on the Court -------------------------------------- Addison DeVore 8,9 Finding Funds --------------------------------------------- Ruby Bierman 10,11 Falling Into the Rabbit Hole --------------------------- Emmett Abar 12,13 The Influencer Effect --------------------------------- Anna Sandage 14-17 Misdiagnosing Mental Illnesses ------------------- Audrey Kohnen 18,19 Reviews to Revenue -------------------------------- Jessica Assafeen 20,21 Controversy on the Catwalk ---------------------- Kelsey Chellberg 22,23 Big Sonia’s Big Impact ------------------------------------ Stella Ain 24,25 Off Season ---------------------------------------------- Madi Garrelts 26,27 Inter-ing the Workforce ----------------------- Anjali Kambhampati 28,29 Untraditional Families in Media ---------------- Madisyn Stogsdill

EDITORIAL 30 Last Minute Change of Schedule -------------------- Alegria Aguilera

ARTS & LEISURE 22 Sonia Warshawski stands with

her relatives. Read more about the Holocaust survivor’s impact and how Kansas City is resisting antisemetism on pages 22 and 23.

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31 Crossword --------------------------------- Lexi Newsom, Arshiya Pant

ONLINE

Cold vs. Clothes ------------------------------------------------- Lauren Austin STUCO Peer Review ---------------------------------------------- Sejin Hahn BVN Cheerleaders Head to Nationals BVN Dance Team Nationals ------------------------------------ Calla Jordan Senioritis ---------------------------------------------------------- Aanya Kabra Student Run Businesses -------------------------------- Anjali Kambhampati Baseball Soapbox: Spring Training 2023 Will Kansas Go Green? --------------------------------------- Bennett Palmer Abi’s Closet: Winter to Spring Fashion ---------------------- Abi Patterson The Future of Diversity at North Badge Security at BVN --------------------------------------- Alex Robertson A Student’s Look at the New KC Airport --------------------- Ella Thomas

THE NORTH STAR STAFF STAFF WRITERS Stella Ain Alegria Aguilera Jessica Assafeen Kelsey Chellberg Addison DeVore Madi Garrelts Aanya Kabra Anjali Kambhampati Audrey Kohnen Abi Patterson Alex Robertson Madisyn Stogsdill

SOCIALS

WEBSITE

PODCAST

@bvnnews

bvnnews.com

North Star Podcast

COPY EDITORS Emmett Abar Lauren Austin Ruby Bierman Bennett Palmer DESIGN EDITOR Ella Shafer EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Lexi Newsom Arshiya Pant

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Anna Sandage Ella Thomas WEB EDITORS Sejin Hahn Calla Jordan PODCAST HOSTS Calla Jordan Abi Patterson

LETTER FROM THE STAFF

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eniors are burned out and hyperfocused on their futures. Juniors anxiously balance standardized tests and growing college lists.

Freshmen and sophomores apprehensively prepare for the coming years. Whether caused by typical high school experiences, effects of the pandemic or other circumstances, mental health issues are phenomena strongly present in high school students. The natural consequence is that such phenomena have become a regular subject of conversation. In an era of unprecedented openness about these struggles, something grounded in science is highly influenced by subjective fact: everyone has an opinion.

Commentary has largely sorted itself into a spectrum, with one extreme stigmatizing mental health issues and the other, popularizing them to a fault.

De-stigmatization has largely taken priority, which is absolutely great for many students with sincere issues. Historically, many who have suffered through severe mental disorders have been those most severely lacking access to any service or care. Today, therapy, medicine and much-needed support have become more accessible. Online resources have allowed

people who can’t afford a professional diagnosis to validate their struggle.

Unfortunately, even conversations grounded in good intentions can have negative side effects — including the often hand-in-hand issues of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. Phrases like, ‘I definitely have ADHD’ have become casual remarks because mental health has become normalized to a point where it can unfortunately be used as a quick band-aid, failing to address the real issue.

Both misdiagnoses and overdiagnoses are made in an effort to treat a condition, sometimes without actually understanding what said condition is.

Although many neurodivergent disorders share symptoms, how they are treated greatly varies. Improper medicines or counseling techniques may worsen a person’s condition while they try to survive in a society that judges their struggles as imaginary or not what the condition ‘should look like.’ Overdiagnosing similarly clouds effective treatment, complicating already-nuanced issues.

Some attribute this issue to media development or social contagion while others attribute it to a larger holistic cultural change occurring in society. While

many agree that varying extents of these factors may impact the issue, dismissing this phenomenon as a mere byproduct of just one root cause is ignorant of many nuances — the same ignorance that has tainted diagnostic practices and clouded the efficiency of mental health treatment.

The centerfold of this issue explores the dangers of misdiagnosing and overdiagnosing, on both scientific and emotional levels. We understand that there are many conversations to be had surrounding mental health, but we hope to further inform our readers about just one of the many complex aspects in hopes of fostering a culture at BVN that is open about mental health without glorifying or haphazardly treating a genuine struggle that many in our community face.

Sincerely, The North Star Staff

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 3

NEWS

ADVISE OR

COMPROMISE?

Teachers and students discuss the efficiency of Advisory and improvements that can be made.

By Ella Shafer

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How Beneficial is Advisory?

From @bvnnews Instagram poll of 173 people “How beneficial is Advisory?”

67% 33%

Not Beneficial

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Bolla added that lessons that promote engagement get a positive reaction, and allow mentors to interact with students and get more out of the designated time.

“On the days that we have lessons where we are actually able to teach them and they go as planned, it’s rewarding in a way,” Bolla said. “There’s some personal

Very Beneficial

or 30 minutes every even day, “Freshman year, I feel like [Advisory] underclassmen make their way was a lot more hands-on, for Gifted at to assigned Advisory classes least, and the mentors were a lot more where they are mentored by dedicated to the lessons,” Bolla said. upperclassmen. While juniors and seniors “Now, it’s more like a causal ‘oh, if also engage in this time, the mentor you really want to do homework you program specifically provides lessons and can,’ even though we’re supposed to be activities to underclassmen. following the lessons and teaching people According to Ryan how to be better McCoy, one of the humans.” freshmen Advisory When teachers, this allotted discussing her I think it’s just a little class time serves the experiences more frustrating purpose of teaching with mentoring than I thought it life lessons as well throughout as forming a school her junior and would [be] in trying community. senior year, to get engagement, “[Advisory] is a Bolla mentioned but that’s a journey place for students to that students’ feel like they have attention spans that we’re making. a place on campus, require a - Supriya especially if they’re stronger work not in a sport or ethic.

Bolla other activity, where “Being a students feel like they mentor you can connect with realize how hard other students and teachers,” McCoy said. it is to get everyone to listen and use that Sophomore Adam Wang said that time effectively,” Bolla said. “I think it’s most students have grown to like Advisory just a little more frustrating than I thought and participate due to its social aspect. it would [be] in trying to get engagement, “I feel like Advisory is a beneficial time but that’s a journey that we’re making.” to talk with friends that I enjoy spending According to McCoy, students’ and my time with when I don’t usually talk to teachers’ willingness to participate directly them in the school day,” Wang said. relates to the effectiveness of Advisory.

Advisory has undergone many shifts “It’s been a challenge with freshmen along with other schedule changes at to get them to participate,” McCoy said.

BVN. Senior Supriya Bolla has been a “But with the help of the mentors and me mentor since her junior year and said the being engaged, when we have an activity, atmosphere of Advisory has changed over generally speaking, the students will jump time. in and participate.”

satisfaction in making sure they don’t are kind of a waste of time,” Wang said. make the same mistakes I did.”

Regarding the preparedness of Bolla said Advisory lessons prepare mentors, Bolla believes there is room for students for the future improvement and by teaching them wishes there was to use Naviance, more collaboration understand job among [Advisory] is a place interviews, create upperclassmen for students to feel resumes and explore from different like they have a careers. classes.

“We’re able to “[Mentors] place on campus ... talk about what we’ve are complaining [and] connect with done in the past, internally about other students and what worked and a class that’s not what didn’t and how responsive, but they teachers. they can be prepared don’t know how to – Ryan for the future,” Bolla get a response out McCoy said. “With some of the kids,” Bolla [lessons], we were said. “I wish there actually able to tell was a chance for the kids, ‘You have all mentors from other the resources you need to be successful.’” classes [to] get together and talk about According to Wang, some of the ways to get their classes to engage more.”

Advisory lessons could be improved or McCoy agreed that there are replaced with more relevant topics. opportunities to get more out of each “We’ve done lessons about online lesson. presence and cyberbullying, but I think “I feel like the upperclassmen could do those are pretty self-explanatory, so they a really nice job with the lessons, however,

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I feel like the amount of time that they’re given to prep the lessons and the time spent preparing and planning a semesterlong curriculum is not there yet,” McCoy said.

According to McCoy, a class for mentors would be useful in improving the productivity and depth of lessons.

“I came from a school that had a really strong mentor program where there was a leadership class connected to mentors,” McCoy said. “Students would have a class in their day where they were practicing leadership and how to teach each lesson.”

Bolla mentioned that having upperclassmen whom students can look to for advice is one of the biggest benefits of Advisory. She said seniority is found in places all around BVN, which directly translates to Advisory classrooms.

“A lot of seniors have the mindset of ‘this is my domain,’ but being in mentoring and Advisory and being able to connect with these underclassmen allows us to see that this is the next group of kids that are going to make BVN their home,” Bolla said. “You get to help them create a culture at BVN.”

Students collaborate while working on their S.M.A.R.T goals during Advisory. Photo by Ruby Bierman

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 5

FEATURE

ORDER ON THE NORTH

NORTH

COURT

As basketball season comes to a close, players and coaches reflect on what makes the girls and boys teams successful.

By Addison DeVore

Season averages for the three basketball players interviewed, according to KC High School Hoops.

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ilence spreads across the court.

“What I enjoy most about playing A few dribbles echo. Players sit basketball is the bonds that you make anxiously on the bench. She gets with your teammates and learning how to into position for the winning shot. communicate with other people,” Davis She shoots. She scores! As the crowd goes said. wild, players envelope her to celebrate There are many similarities between winning yet another game. the boys and girls basketball teams. The The girls basketball team is ranked boys team also has a winning record of number one in Kansas, according to 17-3, as its coach, Ryan Phifer continues MaxPreps. Coach Ann Fritz led the to prioritize improvement. Phifer is often team in a successful season, where they inspired by basketball experts such as currently sit at 18-4, as recorded by KC college-level coaches and the NBA. High School Hoops. She has coached at “You just stay on top of new things BVN for 27 years and is constantly trying that could work,” Phifer said. “We have to improve. a lot of different players every year.

“I coach totally different than I Sometimes we have height, sometimes we coached 20 years ago, and I think you don’t, sometimes we have good guard play, have to be flexible to change in our everso we have to improvise a little bit [and] changing world,” Fritz said. we have to adapt our system according to With the coaches always adapting, [where] our players’ strengths are.” players must work to Senior Blake improve as well.

Garrett has This development been on I’ve coached girls takes place both on the varsity programs that and off the court, team since with students such sophomore year were ranked in the as senior Sumner and works both state and nobody Dowdy noticing that in practices would come watch, basketball has helped and during them grow in more the summer to but then the boys ways than one. improve in any team would not “I feel like playing way he can. He be ranked and basketball and said the four improving yourself days of practice everybody goes to isn’t just about your each week bring those games. game. I feel like it’s the players learning how to deal together.

– Kelli with difficult things “I love Kurle through ups and getting to downs,” Dowdy said. hang out with Player improvement teammates, play also revolves around with my friends and team bonds. The friendships that the just getting to build friendships that’ll last coaches develop with their players has an forever,” Garrett said. impact that extends beyond the end of Although they have several similarities, each season. Fritz is still in contact with there are noticeable differences between players she taught several years ago. the girls and boys basketball teams.

“It’s just been great and even when Associate Principal Kelli Kurle noticed the I first started, I was still keeping contact gap in fan support between the girls and with a lot of families [from] 25 years ago boys teams from several schools, including and the kids,” Fritz said. “A lot of those at BVN. girls are married and have kids and some “I’ve coached girls programs that were of them live in our district.” ranked in the state and nobody would Sophomore Jaliya Davis has been come watch, but then the boys team on the varsity team since freshman year. would not be ranked and everybody goes She has played basketball since second to those games,” Kurle said. grade and is motivated by the chance COVID-19 also limited fan of winning and seeing how much she’s participation at all games. The pandemic improved through the years. She also prevented fans from supporting both mentioned how much she values the team teams and put a halt to the idea of a more relationships. equal student section.

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Girls’ Varsity Basketball player Jaliya Davis, No. 24 “When I was here pre-COVID we had a ton of participation in basketball games.

Then there was COVID, when we had no participation because they couldn’t come,” Kurle said. “Now I feel like we’re getting back to where it was. We’re still not quite [at where we were] pre-COVID, but I think that we’re definitely making strides and getting kids back into stands.”

While the pandemic did have an impact on participation, it wasn’t the main cause. The lack of participation for women’s basketball stems far beyond COVID-19.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a new issue by any means. It just happens that we tend to get more fans at our games than girls,” Phifer said. “It’d be nice to have more fans there to support the girls game before ours and everything because they’re having a great season too.”

Coach Fritz recognizes how far women’s sports have come, but still wishes there was more fan support.

“The boys teams draw a lot more of a crowd, [and] the girls don’t have as much support,” Fritz said. “That’s bothersome just because the girls put in just as much time as the guys and have just as much passion for the sport as the guys.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 7

FEATURE

Finding Funds A look into where BVN clubs, activites and department funds come from.

By Ruby Bierman

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ar washes, restaurant nights, Hen House bagging and dance ticket sales — all are ways students and clubs at BVN fundraise to support their activities throughout the year. Fundraising is a vital part in running student activities and school-wide events, allowing students to get the most out of their clubs.

A major player in fundraising at BVN is StuCo. According to senior and StuCo Treasurer Aarjo Roy, the organization pays for nearly all school events.

“StuCo pays for pretty much all school events, so we have to have a very large amount of money … [to] keep up with … events like homecoming and school dances,” Roy said. “We do a lot of fundraisers throughout the year. The majority of our funds come through dance tickets because we do have a focus on school dances. Other fundraisers that we’ve done include restaurant fundraisers, which were really popular last year, and this year, we reach[ed] out to nonprofits that we can partner with.”

Though school donors make a portion of funds available for school use, Roy said this isn’t a large source of club money.

“We have some donors who donate some money as well, but that really doesn’t take up the majority of our funds. The majority of our funds were all raised through high school dance tickets,” Roy said. “That’s why StuCo places such a high priority on sweetheart, homecoming [and] prom. We just raise all that money, so we can collect it and then distribute it for assemblies and other school events.”

School dances are a major reason why fundraisers are necessary, but other clubs

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receive portions of StuCo fundraising as happened yet. But towards the end of the well. year, we are looking to implement that sort “We do place a priority on school of system.” dances, so a lot of those funds go towards Student activities also have their own future school dances. Some of those funds fundraising strategies. The BVN music [are given] to some of the clubs, you know, programs are raising money for their trip so they can start their own fundraisers, as to Spain, according to junior Eddie Mu. sort of seed money,” Roy said. “But when “They just announced [the trip] a it comes to deciding what happens with couple of months ago, so we haven’t really the money itself, we really have to think started doing any big fundraising projects. about our main priority as to who needs it But in the future, there’s going to be a car now … and how we can use it to benefit wash,’’ Mu said. “[The money is] going one’s community.” towards Spain too. There’s going to be a According to mattress sale, and then Roy, StuCo has we might partner with given thought corporations to get to how they can sponsorships.”

But when it comes help other clubs The band holds to deciding what raise the money fundraisers like the happens with the they need to annual car wash participate in throughout the year. money itself, we activities.

“The car wash really have to think “The seed is a very visible one. about our main money idea that I think it was in the we have is that yearbook. We basically priority as to who StuCo would wash people’s cars needs it now … and have sort of a for free and then ask how we can use loan repayment them if they want to program, where donate. Usually they it to benefit one’s we would give say yes,” Mu said. “We community certain clubs who [also] volunteer at Hen need it a grant House. That’s unpaid, – Aarjo of like $100, that but if people want to Roy they’d have to donate [to the trip], pay back through they can do so.” another program.

Mu said fundraising That $100 could go towards … advocacy for the band trip is not just about covering for whatever group or thing that they’re costs, but also helping those going on the a part of,’’ Roy said. “That was a really trip. big thing that we talked about this year “It’s important because basically, we and wanted to implement, but it hasn’t fundraise for two different reasons. First is

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The Mustang Band washes a car as part of its annual fundraiser earlier this year. Photo provided by @ bvnmustangband on Instagram. to decrease the overall cost for everybody, and going to Spain is pretty costly,” Mu said. “But second is for people who can’t make the trip. There is a separate pool for them to help them get the aid they need to go on the trip.”

According to Mu, fundraising also helps activities such as Scholars Bowl. “[Fundraising] helps us run our like logistical day to day things. It helps us buy things that we need for the club,” Mu said. “For example, like Scholars Bowl, we used the money to buy new buzzers because our old ones were really bad [and] broken.”

Academic departments find funds in other ways, filing for grants rather than fundraising according to Sue Butler, the Budget Manager for the district.

“They can apply for grants. There’s a gift fund that the school that the PTO can see and then a department may get money that way,” Butler said. “So that’s kind of their avenue, but there wouldn’t be student fundraising going in for any of the department academic departmental work.”

In contrast to school and activity funds, academic departments receive funding directly from the state, according to Jeremy McFadden, the distExecutive Director of Finance.

“The funding that school districts get from the state of Kansas. It’s really state aid. And there’s an allocation that the district does every year to determine how much of that state funding that we get is allocated towards buildings,” McFadden said. “Where the building principal, building leadership, administrative team can then take that allocation from the

school district and then by a department level, provide them funding from the state money so it’s kind of like a decision tree really.”

Not all this money goes directly to school departments, but some is distributed to chosen departments.

“So we get money ... from the state of Kansas, obviously, most of that goes to salary and benefits for our staff, or teachers, custodians or educators, etc.

But that smaller portion then does get allocated to buildings and then the building leadership team has an allocation that they go through where they give it to a department,” McFadden said. “But I think on the whole, there’s probably similar allocations throughout the district.”

If teachers are still in need of funds following this allocation, different routes are available to them.

“There’s a few things they have grant wise. We do have the Blue Valley Educational Foundation that teachers are encouraged every year to write grants for, and they’re awarded in the fall. They often supplement their specific things that teachers want to accomplish, and they give up an excess of $200,000 every fall to our teaching staff directly to our staff,” Butler said. “Then there are external grants that they can apply for. Many of those that are special-interest type things and they have the option to apply for those. Then I think most schools also have the ability in some way to apply for a grant to their PTO.” When it comes to transparency Blue Valley must publish where things such as class fees are used.

“The fees that come in from the parents I know are definitely listed on our

website and how those are allocated and what we use it for. And we are really held on that,” Butler said. “The state actually says if you take fees from students, there is a specific way in which you have to use them.”

Roy said he thinks StuCo could be more transparent with distribution of funds.

“I think we as Student Council could do a little bit of a better job of telling the student body how those funds are used.

I think we could do a better job of using those funds in general. But the main reason why we’re not telling students what those funds are being used for, is because they’re not telling us what they want those funds to be used for,” Roy said. “Yes, certain departments need funding, but they have to approach us in order to come up with solutions … We have to know why [they need the money], and we have to know when they need it.”

Roy said finding funds can be difficult, but clubs and activities that are in need of funding can find help from StuCo. “I think the best way to go about [finding funding] is to reach out to the Student Council because our sponsors … [are] very heavily intertwined with our school’s administration, so they could find solutions for those clubs that require funding,” Roy said. “But if [the] administration does not listen to those clubs, then the Student Council would be more than willing to hear them out, and we would be willing to help you in any way you see fit.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 9

FEATURE

Falling Down the Rabbi t

Hole

In recent years, negative media has increased stress and mental health issues through ‘doomscrolling’ in teens, and has become a common problem faced by many students.

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By Emmett Abar ocial platforms provide streams of information in the form of stories, videos and pictures. The content can be stress-inducing, causing people to eventually spiral into a rabbit hole of negative information that becomes detrimental to viewers’ mental health. This neverending loop is commonly known as “doomscrolling,” and is a phenomenon that has become a more frequent issue among those actively online.

Doomscrolling started to become a more prevalent issue during COVID-19, when students were forced to have free time while also experiencing general anxiety about global issues. Senior Leah Helfer-Ross noticed a spike in anxiety correlating with her intake of news during her sophomore year in quarantine.

“It probably contributed pretty heavily to my anxiety levels because I wasn’t just anxious about my personal circumstances, it was also about larger global issues,” Helfer-Ross said.

Helfer-Ross found herself following the same routine of getting interested in a topic at the beginning of her day, and

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becoming re-interested at night. When Helfer-Ross has created boundaries going deeper into the subject at night, to help keep her from following past she’d scroll for hours at a time. tendencies and hopefully, avoid the “[Doomscrolling] was really bad late subsequent anxiety. at night because I would hear about “One of the things I try to do is not something early be on my phone or in the day, and I computer super late I’ll find one really would come back at night because that niche topic thinking about the was removing my things,” Helfer-Ross access. That was a and then find said. “I’d just be pretty big step for myself hours trying to learn to me,” Helfer-Ross later like ‘I was be educated and said. “I don’t really informed, but I’d be watch the news just researching up for hours.” anymore. It just somehting totally This cycle feels like terrible unrelated’. affected Helferthing after terrible Ross’s energy levels, thing, and I can’t – Caroline which also had a anymore.”

Massman negative impact on Social media her friendships. has such easy “I had a really access to both hard time just having the energy to do negative and positive information, that other things that weren’t worrying about Helfer-Ross has created strategies on how things because I’d spend all my energy,” to specifically stop herself if she finds Helfer-Ross said. “I was too anxious to ask social media to be stressful. my friends to hang out or do things that “If you catch yourself in that loop of were fun.” negative Tik Toks … then just close it

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Do you Catch Yourself ‘Doomscrolling?’

Doomscrolling According to “Merriam-Webster”

N 32%

Doomscrolling or Doomsurfing: “Doomscrolling and doomsurfing are new terms referring to the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing.”

(23 people)

Y 68%

(48 people)

Of 71 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram. for a second,” Helfer-Ross said. “Go do news sources. This lowers the number something else. Go take a walk around of negative stories and focuses more on your house … [and] just get your mind on higher quality stories, while still keeping something else for a little bit.” her informed.

Other students like sophomore “If I’m scrolling through Instagram, Caroline Massman face this problem I’m getting New York Times when researching for debate topics, as notifications,” Massman said. “So I kind negative or dramatic news stories often of naturally filter through information, become catalysts for doomscrolling. depending on the news websites I follow “I think the news definitely has more or I subscribe to.” negative things because that’s what catches Despite having safeguards in place the reader, and a lot of times us, the to limit her from falling into negative readers, like to know about situations in rabbit holes, Massman has a difficult time reality,” Massman said. avoiding them and still gets distracted by Massman believes that even though media that can be distressing. some subjects covered by hard news can “I definitely set a lot of boundaries seem overbearing just so I can be more and intense, she productive because it’s also thinks not really easy to just scroll One of the things all hard news and then lose track I try to do is not is exclusively of time, especially on be on my phone negative and apps like Tik Tok,” finding the right Massman said. or computer stories can be When researching super late at fulfilling. debate topics Massman night because “In the said it’s difficult to find news it’s more positive information to that removed my prevalent prevent herself from access. That was a that we face doomscrolling. pretty big step for more negative “I do a lot of information, research … so I me. but I think face a lot of these – Leah going out of [negative] topics really Helfer-Ross your way to find frequently,” Massman positive stories said. “I’d say it affects and positive my learning because information can sometimes I’ll be help you even that out,” Massman said. scrolling or I’ll be finding information, and Massman has attempted to create you kind of go down a rabbit hole.” failsafes and prevent herself from seeing Massman believes that while personal exclusively negative information by interests may attract general users to selecting a smaller number of reputable ‘doomscrolling’, she believes that most

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of the time, common human interest is enough to send people spiraling down the rabbit hole.

“I think when it comes down to rabbit holes, usually it’s really random stuff,” Massman said. “I’ll find one really niche topic and then find myself hours later like, ‘Okay, I was just researching something totally unrelated’ … So I think humans are just naturally attracted to knowing or learning about drama.”

Some students find that hard news isn’t the only media that can lead to ‘doomscrolling’. Students such as senior Archer Nolen have found this across social media.

“Whenever I’m bored at home and I have nothing to do, I’ll just get onto TikTok, Instagram or Twitter. And I’ll just scroll and scroll and scroll until I eventually find myself down a rabbit hole,” Nolen said. “I find myself in a rabbit hole and I can’t really get out until I close the app.”

For Nolen, doomscrolling has become a daily routine, and he knows friends who have the same problem.

“It doesn’t let me get as much done just because I’m scrolling so much,” Nolen said. “I know [some friends] who just scroll on Instagram or other social media for hours.”

Despite trying to limit his intake on social media, Nolen still finds himself falling into the same habit.

“I’ll say I’m gonna get on for ten minutes and then that I’ll get off and that would be it,” Nolen said. “But sometimes I’ll set boundaries for myself, let’s say 15 minutes, and then 45 minutes to an hour later or so, I’m still on it.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 11

FEATURE

the

INFLUENCER EFFECT With social media platforms and their influencers rising in popularity, consumer culture is changing. How does this affect the way BVN students shop?

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onsumer culture is changing in an era where Instagram dictates fashion and TikTok controls fads. Phrases like ‘I use this product everyday’ and ‘this item changed my life’ have gained credibility as a result of social media.

Influencers’ recommendations have changed the way students shop and which products they purchase.

According to senior Maia Sol, one of the most popular types of products selling out due to “TikTokers” are beauty tools.

Whether it’s blush sticks or hair oils, Sol said social media has changed the way consumers approach beauty products. “[TikTok influencers] give me inspiration makeup-wise,” Sol said. “Their videos make me

By Anna Sandage

want to buy products so that I As stated by junior Asher am able to try new things.”

Ginden, oftentimes other It’s not just influencers’ influencers, such as athletes, opinions that persuade people will persuade fans to make to buy certain purchases. products. “[Trent According McDuffie, Teenagers’ to junior SJ cornerback mindsets are very Squire, the way for the KC trendy, so people products look Chiefs,] did will kind of go out on influencers a promotion of the way of what causes where he they actually like in consumers to got his Nike order to fit in. want to recreate Dunks – Asher those looks. turned into Ginden “I buy the cleats for products a game to because they look good on the support cancer awareness,” person using it,” Squire said.

Ginden said. “I saw them and “[When I see that] I think, was like, ‘I don’t play football ‘Maybe I could do that or add but I still want that pair of that to my makeup routine.’” shoes,’ so I got online and This phenomenon doesn’t bought them.” just include the beauty industry.

There are two main ways

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trend setters

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influencers increase a product’s popularity: they recommend it on their own behalf or are paid to make a post highlighting a certain product. According to Squire, she is more likely to purchase a product when she knows the influencer genuinely likes it rather than being paid to showcase it.

“You can obviously tell when it is a paid promotion, so I don’t necessarily buy from those posts,” Squire said. “I would rather buy from an influencer actually saying they like the product. [Paid promotions] could be fake since they are being paid to review.”

These influencers have such a grasp on their supporters that their recommendations go a long way. According to Ginden, this is because of the notoriety and star status of influencers.

“People want the cool thing that is going around,” Ginden said. “For example, if all these famous singers are buying the same brand of jacket, that jacket is naturally going to be popular because people are like, ‘OMG Harry Styles is wearing that, I want that,’ and then it’s sold out.”

Once a product is suggested and posted about on social media by popular influencers, it becomes a hot commodity.

As Squire mentioned, once an influencer reveals they like a product, it becomes hard to find.

“Everything is sold out, especially in the makeup sections,” Squire said. “If one person posts about it, then other people like it, so then they will post about it, so everyone wants to get it and it is sold out.”

According to Ginden, influencers have changed the way people shop. This can be attributed to the fact that people nowadays are easily influenced and willing to spend extra money if it means they are “on trend” with their favorite influencers.

“An influencer is someone whom you don’t necessarily want to be, but you want to be like them,” Ginden said.

“Teenagers’ mindsets are very trendy, so people will kind of go out of the way of what they actually like in order to fit in.”

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MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 13

FEATURE

M

isdiagnosing ental Illnesses

14 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

By Audrey Kohnen

A

ccording to the CDC, children are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder than adults. Many mental illnesses have similar symptoms, which is why a specific disorder can be so hard to pinpoint and cause individuals to struggle with diagnostic processes. A study done by the University of Michigan found that about 7.7 million children in the U.S. have at least one mental diagnosis.

But almost one million children are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) alone, which is mainly due to their young age.

ADHD symptoms overlap with a variety of other conditions, including Bipolar disorder, General Anxiety disorder and Depression, which is why 20% of children are likely misdiagnosed. While doctors are usually correct in their diagnosis of ADHD, awareness about high rates of misdiagnoses is starting to spread, allowing people to be more cautious when accepting a professional diagnosis.

Senior Katherine Koplik is the president of Sources of Strength, a club dedicated to spreading awareness, creating a community, helping those struggling with mental illness and promoting youth suicide prevention to create healthy norms

in youth culture. She shared her personal used to treat those with misdiagnosed experiences with misdiagnosis.

ADHD. If levels of dopamine, “Misdiagnoses happen all the time. norepinephrine and serotonin are normal I had all the symptoms of Manic in the brain, using ADHD medication Depression or Bipolar Disorder, but would lower levels of these natural that’s not what I have,” Koplik said. neurotransmitters. Since the body starts “And the reality is to rely on the drugs that the way that to raise one’s those two things neurotransmitter I think people impact your life levels, if the patient and the way that stops using the started looking they get treated drug at any time, for answers to is completely their levels greatly questions about different. So that’s decline. This why you have to eventually puts themselves that be careful with the patient at risk they didn’t realize self-diagnosing, for various health they had. and that’s why you problems. The have to be careful study concluded – Evie with just a quick that further research Freed diagnosis from a is still needed to doctor. Sometimes learn more about it takes a lot of trial the various ways and error.” that ADHD is Self-diagnosis is the process of misdiagnosed and the range of its future diagnosing oneself with a medical effects. condition without the opinion of a Junior Anna Pearson said overdiagnosis medical professional. In a study done by can stem from ignoring the nuances of Michigan State University, researchers issues children may be experiencing. started seeing the harmful long-term “I think there is a problem of effects of the psychoactive drugs being overdiagnosing children. I think there’s

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Sources of Strength visits a group event together during Club Day. All photos by Audrey Kohnen.

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 15

also some misdiagnosis of disorders like Depression.

ADHD, as in it’s not actually ADHD …

“For the longest time they thought [it It’s easier to diagnose that than go deeper was] Major Depressive disorder, then it into the problem,” Pearson said. “I think was maybe Bipolar, and then it actually we’re almost handing out Depression turns out that I have what’s called PMDD, and Anxiety diagnoses because we don’t which is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. want to go deeper and see what the real So based on where I am in my menstrual problem is. Like schools overworking cycle, it’s extreme PMS, if you think of it students, they’d rather just diagnose that way,” Koplik said. “A lot of women students with anxiety and depression than struggle with it. Your progesterone dips get to the real root of the problem.” quickly and your brain kind of struggles According to to recover [and] Pearson, the lack of produces too consistency across many chemicals. states could be a It causes a lot of You have to be contributing factor women to feel careful with just a in overdiagnosing very suicidal and quick diagnosis from children. Many out of control, schools do not almost like a doctor. Sometimes screen students manic or severe it takes a lot of trial for mental health Depression during and error. issues, and the that time, which is regulation of why I was labeled – Katherine schools performing with Bipolar Koplik tests/screenings Disorder, but varies widely across that’s not what I states. Even if struggle with.” students are correctly In a 2021 identified, districts may lack the mental CDC study, nearly half of Americans health treatment options that would be reported having recent symptoms of an needed to help them. anxiety or depressive disorder. Many The National Institute of Mental say the rates of anxiety and depression Health (NIH) found that only 38% have increased since the beginning of of youth with mood disorders such as the pandemic. People may use online Depression and Bipolar Disorder receive resources to research symptoms or other treatment services. Koplik discussed her medical signs that may point to a certain long mental health and diagnostic journey, diagnosis. This leads them to want to as she doesn’t have standard Anxiety and identify under a certain diagnosis without

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a medical opinion or tests. Research prior to the pandemic indicated over a third of adults in the U.S. routinely used the internet to help diagnose their illness, and since the pandemic, that statistic has risen.

However, results from online searches can lead to confusing or inaccurate information. Koplik began participating in Sources of Strength her freshman year and values speaking to others about mental health and removing stigma.

“I find it very frustrating, especially on forms like TikTok where people will fight to claim these diagnoses or they’re self-diagnosed,” Koplik said. “It’s kind of unfortunate because the reality is that it’s awesome to be able to talk about [mental illnesses], but it’s also really tough because we’ve normalized it to a point where some people think it’s kind of invalidating when people are self-diagnosing online, and I think also it’s frustrating when it gets used as an excuse to be hurtful to others.”

A 2020 study from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) showed that the increase in self-diagnoses may have occurred because of the effort to de-stigmatize mental health. Destigmatization makes mental health a more common topic of conversation, instead of a taboo subject.

Koplik said that there are both positive and negative aspects of self-diagnosing, but it can be risky because people aren’t experts and don’t know how to get the help they need. She said she has been very pleased with the way mental health stigma has changed, but acknowledged

Do you have an experience with an inaccurate mental health diagnosis?

27% 73% *Of 86 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

16 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

Yes No

the negatives of the de-stigmatization of mental health, especially online.

“You just have to be a little cautious of people claiming to have a diagnosis when they might just be going through a rough patch, and [it] can be frustrating since it is medical information. It sort of plays down what it really means to have severe mental illness and could be disrespectful to someone who actually is medically diagnosed,” Koplik said.

A survey from the NIH recorded 89% of participants having an increase in screen time during the lockdown. During the pandemic, various studies have found that young people in particular are struggling. 61% of young adults ranging in age from 19 to 25 reported feeling high levels of frequent loneliness during the pandemic. They reported feeling symptoms of Anxiety and Depression, which suggested that it was partially due to the additional stress people were experiencing while trying to adapt to online education. Sophomore Evie Freed went through online school in eighth grade and talked about her obstacles with mental health.

“I think there has been a little bit of a spike [since COVID-19]. I think people started looking for answers to questions about themselves that they didn’t realize they had,” Freed said. “I think social media is the biggest factor though, especially with self- diagnosis. There isn’t anything wrong with self-diagnosis if you’re doing proper research, but I think a lot of people were getting their information from people who didn’t know enough about these topics or were unqualified to give this advice to other people.”

As each year passes by in the United States, medical debt rises exponentially.

This means that the expense of seeing a medical professional and receiving a formal diagnosis, may not fit in one’s budget, especially if it is low-income.

Pearson said that they never want to self diagnose as it could be invading, but is trying to push for some sort of nuerodivergency test.

“I have a lot of friends who are autistic and a lot who have ADHD also. I don’t relate to them exactly which is why I don’t want to say I have it, but I relate to them more than most people,” Pearson said.

Pearson and many other people experience not having a sure diagnosis.

Katherine Koplik makes announcements at a Sources of Strength meeting.

Although they haven’t been checked by a doctor, they don’t need a diagnosis to tell them what they’re experiencing is real. One can find billions of resources to help with mental health, even without a concrete diagnosis. Yet overusing them may be harmful. Abundant cases of both overdiagnosis and misdiagnosis could lead to misunderstanding or misrepresentation of mental health disorders across every part of society.

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 17

R EV I EWS

FEATURE

to

By Jessica Assafeen

R EV ENUE

mall businesses are everywhere.

Whether the consumer realizes it or not, some of the local restaurants, clothing shops and websites they shop at are small companies. Small business owners work to make enough products, advertise their merchandise and handle the finances of their business. Consumers often see lesser-known companies showcasing their goods out in public, on commercials or through social media. Recently, TikTok has become an outlet for small businesses to display their ideas and products to large audiences in hopes that they’ll have higher sales.

Some public figures help these businesses attract attention. One social media star in particular, Keith Lee, has taken over the food-reviewing side of TikTok by posting about local restaurants in Las Vegas. Lee was best known for being a professional mixed martial arts fighter before he entered the social media scene. According to Dextero, he started his TikTok account to combat social anxiety and become more comfortable doing press interviews. He didn’t intend to create food review content until he built a small following from sharing his wife’s pregnancy cravings and appearing on the “People vs Food” YouTube channel.

According to Socialblade, Lee didn’t post his food reviews on TikTok until late 2022, when he quickly gained five million followers in a little over a month. Since then, Lee has changed the lives of multiple business owners in Las Vegas through promoting their food, and continues to review a variety of restaurants on social media. Lee made a noticeable change for

one restaurant owner in particular and is recognized on social media for saving the business.

Towards the end of July 2022, Frank Steele accomplished one of his biggest goals and opened a pizza restaurant called Frankensons in Las Vegas. Although he received outstanding reviews about his food and customer service, Steele struggled to advertise his restaurant to the public.

“It’s been my dream for about 30 years to open this restaurant … Everything was right on point … I just wasn’t getting the foot traffic coming into my restaurant. We were probably three weeks from closing down,” Steele said.

Steele’s life changed when his daughter-in-law reached out to Lee in hopes that he’d help Frankensons receive some publicity. After a few hours, they became discouraged because they didn’t hear anything back. The same night, Steele answered a call from a customer who ordered tons of different menu items, not recognizing that the customer was Lee. “I took an order and a guy ordered a bunch of stuff, [so I said] it’ll be ready in 25 minutes,” Steele said. “An hour went by … The guy never showed up for the order … [I called him and he said he’ll] be up there in about five minutes … 20 minutes later he [showed] up.”

Lee didn’t initially mention that he was a reviewer because he wanted the food to be made the same way they’d make it for any customer. This way, Lee could conduct an honest review. When he came to pick up the order, Lee told Steele that he was going to tell his viewers the truth

How can social media help small businesses overcome their hardships?

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18 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

about Frankensons.

“He said, ‘I’m here to review your food and let people know on TikTok and my social media how the food is. I’ll rate your food from one to ten … I’m going to tell [them] if it’s good [or not],’” Steele said.

In early January, on the same night he tried the food, Lee posted a review of the restaurant. He tasted pizza, sandwiches and chicken wings, and gave nearly every dish an almost-perfect score. Shortly after posting the TikTok, Frankensons received a drastic increase in customers.

“That night … the phone [wouldn’t] stop ringing … I rushed back to call my family to help out and we ended up leaving at [midnight] that night,” Steele said. “[The next morning,] we started getting people in line … We [opened] the door and the line went all the way down the sidewalk.”

Lee’s single TikTok video changed Steele’s life and allowed him to continue pursuing his dream.

“We went from about $300-$500 in sales a day to over $9,000 each day,” Steele said.

Lee didn’t stop there though, as he continues to purchase and rave about Frankensons restaurant as well as others in the Las Vegas area. Lee has used his platform to help both owners and the general public.

“He came back a couple days after that and bought 45 large pizzas from me and fed all the homeless in downtown Las Vegas … And he bought [food for] about 60 people in line,” Steele said.

Lee has not only affected the lives of the people in Las Vegas, but also those of other countries. Steele now serves people

from all over the world at his restaurant. that advertising is a bit of a struggle.

“They’re getting off the plane and this He said he does his best to expose the is their first stop … They’re towing their shop to his peers at school to avoid being luggage behind them … before they even overshadowed by more popular coffee go to a hotel to check in,” Steele said. shops.

Locally, some BVN students have their “No one’s ever been to a Seven own experiences with starting companies Brew around here. So it takes a lot more or helping others with theirs. Sophomore advertising to get it to pass up a Starbucks Hampton Stites spent much of his time or Scooters,” Stites said. “I wear the outside of school to assist his family’s shirts as much as possible … [and my preparation for the Seven Brew opening cousin and I] have been posting on our day on Feb. 13.

[Snapchat] stories all the Opening their time.” own business Stites witnessed each had been a part of starting a business We went from goal for the as his parents were about $300-$500 family, which making it happen. Along in sales a day to decided to help the way, he learned about franchise when the professional side of over $9,000 each Stites’s uncle running a company and day bought the gave advice for those – Frank Seven Brew aspiring to create their company. own businesses one day.

Steele “My “[I recommend to] uncle bought have a backup plan … the whole My dad has a job that company … We’ve always wanted to start gets him enough money … So if this our own business, so [my parents] talked doesn’t work, [he’s] not just completely to my uncle about franchising … We just bankrupt,” Stites said. “But if [his] got permission from my uncle and then business takes off, he wants to get to the bought the rights to have five stores that point where he can open enough stores to are supposed to open in the next five quit his other job and just be able to run years,” Stites said. the store for a living.”

Since not many people in the area are Although the Stites’s company is being familiar with Seven Brew, Stites believes expanded to different states, other students

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have experience with smaller-scale businesses that they run almost completely on their own. Leah Helfer-Ross, for example, sold clothing pieces at the river market over the summer.

“My mom had a friend who [owned] Ditto … She would give extra inventory to me and I would sell everything for $3 …

[It was called] Leah’s $3 Threads,” HelferRoss said.

Helfer-Ross always aspired to start her own business. This pushed her to quickly take the opportunity when she was given the chance in middle school.

“I’ve always been looking for ways to make money because I like the independence [of having] my own money,” Helfer-Ross said.

After receiving some exposure and gaining business experience, Helfer-Ross believes having your own small business is something that anyone with a passion can accomplish.

“Just go for it … I had zero business experience … I still had that idea and wanted to do it … Find something like the River Market where the stakes aren’t super high,” Helfer-Ross said. “And if it takes off, start some advertising, build a brand around it and then, maybe settle into something a little bit more permanent.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 19

FEATURE

Con t on rov the er sy

A look into BVN’s opinions on Balenciaga’s scandal.

By Kelsey Chellberg

O

n Nov. 16, 2022, Balenciaga posted a campaign named Gift Shop, featuring images of children holding Balenciaga handbags that looked like teddy bears in explicit outfits. Many people were outraged by the use of children in this campaign and Balenciaga was accused of condoning child exploitation.

Shortly after, on Nov. 24, Balenciaga posted the following apology on Instagram: “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”

Additionally, in a later statement, Balenciaga stated that they “strongly condemn abuse of children in any form [and] stand for children’s safety and wellbeing.”

Hoffman International is a modeling agency that represents local models

Cat

wal k

including young children. The president and owner, Kim Hoffman, said parents would have known the specifications and guidelines of campaigns like Balenciaga’s Gift Shop before the photos were taken.

“Those children and those parents, because they’re minors, would have known what they were doing ahead of time.

There were no surprises,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman elaborated on the technical aspects of the booking process.

“The runway model … [is] going to know about [details] in advance before they accept the booking. They’re not an employee, they’re an independent contractor. Because they are an independent contractor and not an employee, they are not bound to accept something that is against their religion or their personal beliefs,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman continued to explain that boundaries are communicated by her agency to represent children and tell designers what their models are or are not

comfortable with in a photoshoot.

“I am the one who says that [the model] won’t do … smoking, or they won’t wear furs, or they won’t do nudes. I’m the one that controls that for them, so that the parents don’t have to be the ones to get involved,” Hoffman said. “So, [photographers or designers] know from the very beginning what the parents’ wishes are.”

Along with knowing the parents’ guidelines for their child, Hoffman said modeling agencies should have a thorough understanding of the details of photoshoots beforehand.

“Even here in Kansas City, they are very explicit [about] what the model is going to be doing, what the actor is going

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20 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

to be saying [and] if she’s going to have to say something crude and profane,” Hoffman said. “We know everything ahead of time. A good agency knows everything ahead of time and asks a lot of questions so that there are no surprises.”

According to Hoffman, as the owner of Hoffman International, children look to her as an agent that will respect their boundaries as models. Hoffman said she would have struggled to find clients if she was involved with controversial campaigns like Gift Shop.

“If I would have taken one job like [Gift Shop], my reputation would have been ruined. Parents would have never trusted me with their kids – that’s why your reputation is everything,” Hoffman said.

Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, has been in the spotlight of controversy for his design choices before. The more notorious examples of these choices include putting heels on crocs, dressing Kim Kardashian in a head-totoe black body stocking for the Met Gala and a runway look with models holding trash bags made of leather. Hoffman discussed why controversial choices might be made by designers in the

fashion industry.

“That’s what puts some people on the map for certain clients. And sometimes people try to be way out there in order to get attention, even though it might be negative attention,” Hoffman said.

In addition to getting attention, Hoffman said designers and models in the industry tend to be risk takers.

“Some people are risk takers,” Hoffman said. “They think, ‘Well, I’m not getting anywhere so why don’t I just go all out and do something completely insane?’”

While Balenciaga’s campaign was a risk, junior and student model Jacob Lemire stated that brands can make statements with their choices and vocalize their beliefs, whether they are positive or negative.

“I think [the audience] could definitely get the wrong idea from a runway look, but it could have a positive impact too,” Lemire said.

Lemire has been a model for companies including Target and Columbia. Additionally, he was a part of a program called The Fashion Honors Autism. According to Lemire, the program, which shows children with Autism how to model and interact with professionals in the industry, is one example of positive choices made in the fashion industry.

“My work with the Fashion Honors Autism is a positive look and it’s a very positive runway,” Lemire said.

Navigating everything from publicity to integrity, runways across the country are used by models and designers to create looks and release campaigns that vocalize their beliefs.

Do You Like The Look?

Blake Lively 2022 Met Gala

“I felt like her outfit didn’t really fit the theme, [Gilded Glamor] but it was really cool how it was reversible and how she pressed something on her dress and it changed.”

-Chloe Costa, ’26

Doja Cat Schiaparelli Show

“I really like her outfit because it was very unique and camp, which I really liked because I think it can get really boring and repetitive to see the same kinds of looks from celebrities so I liked that she did something different.”

-Caitlyn Choal, ’23

Kid Cudi 2022 Met Gala

“I like this outift. I don’t know about the interior of the cape, the flowers throw me off. I think the cape really makes the outfit when it comes to the theme, [Gilded Glamour].”

-Austin Boulton, ’24

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 21

FEATURE

BIG SONIA’S BIG IMPACT

Sonia Warshawski’s story spreads influence and wisdom throughout the Kansas City community while working against antisemetism. By Stella Ain

S

tanding at 4 feet 8 inches, Sonia Warshawski, aka Big Sonia, is a local celebrity. As one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors in Kansas City, Sonia uses her platform to share her story and educate the youth about the Holocaust.

Sonia Warshawski lived in Międzyrzec, Poland and at only 17 years old, was sent to the Majdanek death camp. She was then transported to the AuschwitzBirkenau and Bergen-Belsen camps, the latter of which was liberated by the British on April 15, 1945. In 1948, Sonia and her husband, John, moved to Kansas City.

The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE) Historian and Director of Education, Shelly Cline, met Warshawski while she was a graduate student at KU and interning for MCHE. The two were introduced during an event hosted by the organization, and Cline was immediately taken by Warshawski’s story.

“She was actually the first [Holocaust] survivor that I met. So I listened to her story. I knew she was going to be at this event, and so, I went up and introduced myself to her and she was really lovely,” Cline said. “She grabbed my hand and she looked at me, and she thanked me

22 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

for what I did and for people like me, Cline gave advice on how to approach historians who were interested in her hate and antisemitism in today’s society. story. And that, to me, was just really “When you see things like this happen, meaningful because of course, I found her they can be jarring, right? It reminds story so powerful.” you that racism and homophobia and As the director of education, Cline antisemitism are still really present among works towards helping the center promote us. I think that the biggest thing we can Holocaust education do is try and have through programs and empathy towards implementation in history one another, I think people curricula. and be good “We focus on helping allies,” Cline need to be more teachers learn more said. “When you sympathetic, about the Holocaust are one of the that’s the bottom and giving them more targeted groups, tools to then use in their it’s sometimes line. classrooms. What we’re hard to speak out – Sydney trying to do is balance the for yourself. It Kort commemorative portion can sometimes be because commemoration easier for people is really important, [with] in positions of using education to learn privilege to use those lessons from the past to impact that privilege for good, to stand with positive change in our world now and in those that were targeted. I think there’s the future,” Cline said. “It isn’t just ‘oh, a really powerful message when people this one thing happened,’ but ‘what can stand together. It tells those who are doing we learn from this event and those who the targeting that their opinion is in the suffered?’ and ‘how [can] this event [be minority.” taught] to look at our world today and Freshman Sydney Kort is Warshawski’s learn about other genocides as well?’” great-granddaughter. According to Kort,

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Left Page: Sonia Warshawski smiles in a picture with her greatgrandchild, Rachel Black (left), and her daughter, Regina Kort (right).

Top: The image shows a thank you note given to Sonia by a student.

her great-grandmother’s stories have given her new perspectives.

“I think it’s important for young people to become more educated about the Holocaust so history doesn’t repeat itself.

Sonia always tells me and my brother to read and become more educated about history,” Kort said. “My greatgrandmother’s story inspires me in my everyday life because whenever I have an issue or problem that I think is really huge, I think about what she had to go through, and it puts all of my issues into perspective.”

Kort is inspired by Warshawski’s positivity and love.

“Another thing that inspires me about Sonia is that she refuses to hate people.

She says she doesn’t even hate the Nazis.

She teaches everyone around her to forgive – not forget, but to forgive,” Kort

Bottom: Sonia Warshawski sits in a photo with her two children, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

said. “Sonia perseveres and that’s a trait that really inspires me, and actually for my Bat Mitzvah, I wrote a speech called a ‘Dvar Torah,’ and I wrote about her perseverance and how she refuses to give in to negativity. Even now, there are people that are antisemitic, and she doesn’t give in to that. She stays on the positive side.”

While Kort is filled with gratitude and love for great-grandmother, she said there are struggles with being Warshawski’s great-granddaughter. “[Sonia] has a great family now. I’m [a part of] the third generation and if she didn’t survive, none of us would be here, so that’s inspiring for me,” Kort said. “To be her granddaughter is a blessing and a curse. Of course I’m grateful, I could not be more grateful to be able to teach my kids and other people about what my

On their wedding night, Sonia Warshawski dances with her husband, John. All photos provided by Sydney Kort

great-grandma went through. But I feel like there’s a high expectation for me to spread her story, and I feel like if I don’t exceed that expectation, I’m disappointing my family.”

Kort hopes to continue to spread awareness and educate fellow young people about the Holocaust.

“I think young people in general should be more sympathetic to people that survived the Holocaust. I don’t think many people understand how hard it was for Jewish people, and I feel like it’s hard for young people to be really sympathetic to something because the story sounds so unrealistic,” Kort said. “For young people to spread the story and to spread awareness, I think people need to be more sympathetic, that’s the bottom line, and get more knowledge on the subject.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 23

FEATURE

Off Season For many students, sports don’t stop at the end of a season.

What is their sport like throughout the year, and how does playing a sport year-round impact a student?

By Madi Garrelts

F

or some students, as the leaves You also get to go to school with them and start to fall or the flowers begin to see them all the time, so it becomes more bloom, their sport season comes of a family dynamic,” Bundy said. “For to a close and cleats get thrown club track, it becomes less of a team thing into the closet while rackets are hung up. and more individual.”

But for many BVN students, this isn’t the Sophomore soccer player Cael Verzani case. agreed.

Junior Anna Bundy’s track season “[Sports are] more fun at school doesn’t end in the spring. Instead, Bundy because you get to be with all your friends said she’s busy all year round. and it’s much more relaxed,” Verzani said.

“During school season, we practice Verzani said even with the positive Monday through atmosphere, Friday and we’ll there is an added have meets on level of pressure On days when weekdays. Then in his sport. we have before off-season, I’ll “There’s a lot practice Monday more pressure and after school through Thursday for high school practices, I can be with meets on the soccer because here for up to 12 weekends,” Bundy everyone expects said. you to win,” hours at a time.

Despite playing Verzani said.

- Emma a continuous sport “For club, it’s just Gaebler throughout the team practice year, Bundy said and during the school and club summer, it’s seasons are largely individual practice, so different. there’s more pressure for school.”

“For school, you create a bond with On the other hand, Bundy said due to your fellow teammates because you the school team’s atmosphere, the pressure practice with them everyday, and you get becomes more prevalent during the to practice a lot more rather than club. postseason.

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24 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

“There’s a lot more pressure for club meets because they are way bigger, and you’re competing against people from all other states,” Bundy said. “With school track, it’s much more local, so you know your competition, which makes it much easier for me.”

However, some students say they struggle with keeping up with their sport during the postseason. Senior swimmer Emma Gaebler said she’s found herself stuck in this position this year.

“It’s a lot more competitive and there’s a strict schedule [during school season].

When it comes to off-season, it’s really how much you want to be committed to your sport,” Gaebler said. “Personally I just haven’t been swimming much this year.”

According to Gaebler, she has a packed schedule during the school season.

“One of the cons [of the school season] is trying to figure out how to balance the schedules with your schoolwork. A lot of the practices are either before or after school, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for going to talk to teachers if you need outside help,” Gaebler said. “On days when we have before and after school practices, I can be here for up to 12 hours at a time.”

However, Gaebler said she still enjoys

winning, it gives you a good opportunity to find people like you,” Bundy said.

Like Bundy, Gaebler said there are many benefits of playing year-round.

“I would 100% recommend playing a sport year-round,” Gaebler said. “It’s something that keeps you active, takes up a lot of time so you’re not just sitting around bored and overall, just gives you something to be passionate about.”

(Above) Verzani at a soccer game Photo provied by Cael Verzani (Top left) Bundy at a track meet Photo provied by Anna Bundy (Top right) Gaebler at a swim meet Photo provied by Emma Gaebler

Post Season

School Season

the school environment due to the school spirit and the friendships she’s made.

“There’s a lot of school spirit that comes with [swimming]. There’s a lot of hype, and we use the mustang [mascot] a lot,” said Gaebler. “[Swim] is really great for meeting people in different grades. One of my best friends on the swim team is a year below, and I probably wouldn’t have met her if we didn’t swim together.”

Even though each student has a different schedule, they recommend playing a sport year-round.

“Playing year-round gives you a built-in friend group, it gives you people to be with and somewhere to go [and] it keeps you active. If you have a competitive spirit and you enjoy competing against people and

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 25

FEATURE

Inter-ing The Workforce Some students at BVN participate in internships. How does this benefit their future?

By Anjali Kambhampati

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tudents often strive to participate in activities that will benefit their aspirations. High school, for many students, is an effort to do the best they can to stand apart from others. For this reason and many more, students enroll in internships to gain more experience in their fields of interest.

Internships are temporary jobs that ideally benefit one’s career interests.

There are also many different types of internships that will assist students in their career of choice, ranging from educational to medical. Entrepreneurship and medicine are two types of internships that senior Rima Chavali has participated in. According to Chavali, in the past few years, students have faced more obstacles when it comes to getting involved in internships.

“A lot of [internships] were virtual because of COVID, so a lot more virtual opportunities opened up. I found [internship opportunities] through school and upperclassmen,” Chavali said.

Despite COVID-19 being an obstacle for students participating in internships, Chavali said that her work environments were engaging.

“Even though we had that virtual barrier, people were so interested in getting youth across the Kansas City Metro together and innovating in a time when we couldn’t really do anything else,” Chavali said. “I thought it was pretty wellconnected and it gave me something to do when we were in isolation.”

Chavali also stated that internships have benefitted her plans for the future. “[Internships] don’t necessarily give me

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an exact idea of what the workforce would that’s [career choice] something you look like, but [it’s] definitely as close as a would want to do, or if you would want high schooler could get [to the experience] to go into a more creative field and do despite the young age,” Chavali said. something else. It gives you a taste of what Real-world experience isn’t always work would look like in a professional something high school students have environment,” Thummel said. the chance to experience, according Internships come with many obstacles, to Chavali. She also expressed that if especially for high school students with students aren’t pushing busy lives. themselves to go out “The of their comfort zones obstacles [Internships] don’t and see what’s out depend on your there, then it’s harder internship, but necessarily give me to make a decision your bosses can an exact idea of about what to study in definitely be what the workforce college. tough on you,” “I would Thummel said. would look like, but definitely recommend “They definitely [it’s] definintely internships, and even treat you like as close as a high if you decide you adults sometimes hate the internship and give you schooler could get once you have it, at very strict [to the experience] least you had the deadlines, and despite the young experience so you even if you have know what you won’t problems or age. like in the future,” things that come – Rima Chavali Chavali said. up, they’re not as Another student sympathetic as at BVN who has a teacher might experience with be. You have to interning is senior Joe Thummel. make sure that you’re planning your time Thummel participated in an internship wisely.” during the summer of 2022 at Despite the struggles, Thummel Community America Credit Union, a explained that internships are both financial institution based in Kansas City. valuable and fun.

When it comes to the experience gained “They are good for resumes and your from internships, Thummel said that his own personal experience. I would 100% internship gave him a taste of what a fullrecommend internships.” fledged job might be like.

“Internships help you decide whether

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Tips on Applying for an Internship 1. Do research on different internships and locations

2. Build a resume or CV

3. Get letters of recommendation 4. Apply for multiple internships ahead of time

5. Be prepared for interviews

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 27

FEATURE

Untraditional Families in Media

Students discuss the recent surge in media that features diverse types of families, and why consumers are drawn towards it.

By Madisyn Stogsdill

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hifting away from the white picket fences and family structures of the past, new generations are changing what the typical family looks like.

People rely on technology to communicate and share their ideas. Recent films and series such as “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” and “Ginny and Georgia” feature families navigating situations that wouldn’t be deemed ideal by the majority of viewers. Younger audiences have demanded storylines that they can actually relate to, rather than dream of.

Junior Tisya Yhamida has watched this content for years and commented on how it has developed.

“I’m really happy that these movies and shows are coming out. As an immigrant, it’s really refreshing to see actual portrayals of what I’ve gone through and to also see those actors win awards,” Yhamida said. “It’s important to deconstruct typical families in the media and inspire people like me. The biggest example … would be obviously ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’.

I’ve watched that movie three times; I love it. It’s definitely very emotional but worth a watch.”

By featuring the generational and cultural issues faced, the movie portrays a perspective common throughout history but rarely seen in media. Featuring a middle-aged Chinese immigrant, several cultural and social issues intertwine with the film’s storyline. The depiction of generational trauma is revealed

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through the mother’s journey into a Although junior Sam Lozaw isn’t an avid multidimensional timeline with the motive watcher of the entertainment itself, he’s of saving her daughter from destroying the noticed the uptick in media showcasing all world. Other types of family dynamics are types of family dynamics. displayed through the protagonist’s marital “Personally, I haven’t seen enough issues and acceptance of her daughter’s that I’ve encountered [atypical family sexuality. dynamics] naturally and Yhamida ended up watching describes like a full show or I do have two moms. how she a movie about it,” relates to the Lozaw said. “I do It’s pretty cool. It’s protagonist’s think there’s good not perfect, but we experiences. representation, if still have somewhat “I connect you are seeking that with it so out. It’s very easy to of a lifestyle like the much because find something that ‘white picket fence’ as someone in could help normalize dream ... Seeing this an immigrant these types of family family, any structures in society.” in the media helps to motherMedia and Pop reassure that. daughter Culture teacher Brian relationships Box analyzed the - Sam are usually shift in trends.

Lozaw very tense, “There’s a and it’s just lot more kind of really nice representation of to see the non-nuclear families characters be at odds with each other and happening that probably wasn’t there for be both wrong and right in their respective quite some time,” Box said. “I also think ways,” Yhamida said. “It’s confusing, but that untraditional structures used to get it is real. I wanted to connect with my portrayed more harmoniously as if life mom and we just had this barrier between was only great. You had the mom, the us because we grew up different, just like dad, the kids and a dog and everything in the movie.” was awesome. But now they’re more Shows such as “Modern Family” willing to show ... that the traditional feature different families including an family structure isn’t necessarily just going LGBTQ+ couple with adopted children. to provide you great a life no matter what

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Above are covers of notable movies and television shows that showcase untraditional families. Titles starting from the top left corner: “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”, “Turning Red”, “Encanto”, “Finding Nemo”, “Modern Family” and “Ginny and Georgia”.

and that perhaps there’s other ways that people can be raised.”

Media is showcasing all types of family structures and dynamics, connecting with more people than those simply part of nuclear families.

Companies such as Netflix and Hulu created more projects catered towards this representation. Yhamida said she is worried that financial gain dilutes the messages of marginalized communities, and cites creations such as “Ginny and Georgia”, which depicts a family with a single mother struggling to open up

with her daughter. Moving to a new state alongside several arguments reveals the stark contrast between instability and what is considered a traditional family, but this doesn’t seem to break many barriers to all audiences.

“Only making these movies for money rather than inspiring people is a big fear of mine. I’m going to be honest, ‘Ginny and Georgia’ is not a very good show,” Yhamida said.

Lozaw said he is similarly worried that the meaning of stories will be diluted by the chasing of money.

“I do think that financial motivation does withdraw a lot from messages people try to make in these movies,” Lozaw said. “However, I still don’t see rainbow capitalism as a bad thing. It’s just not as good as natural progression but it’s still enforcing media that represents a minority part of the population. It’s just not as natural … but it’s better than nothing.”

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 29

EDITORIAL

Last Minute

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE Next year’s schedule change policy looks different. What’s up with that?

I

’ve used the schedule change window for more than half of my semesters at BVN. Whether I used it to adjust the difficulty of my course load or stay in classes with friends, the six-day window for schedule changes was something I really valued.

However, for the 2023-2024 school year, a new system has been implemented for schedule changes. Rather than allowing six days at the beginning of a semester for these types of requests, there will now be three days. Schedule adjustments will only consist of level changes or happen if a student is put into a class not on their original enrollment form.

The new system was intended to allow teachers to hit the ground running in the first week of classes, as well as make sure classes aren’t overfilled. The schedule change window for second semester this year was a test run, and it seemingly worked.

This doesn’t mean that everyone is happy about the new policy. Juniors in particular, who are preparing for their final year of high school, are deeply affected by this new change. Junior Bibi Igbasemokumo had already struggled with enrollment for senior year.

“It’s just not fair. It’s not fair for the students.

We’re all teenagers.

We’re all indecisive,” Igbasemokumo said.

Seniors next year will not have many

28 | THE NORTH STAR | MARCH 2023

By Alegria Aguilera

opportunities to edit their schedule in no one wants? Sure, maybe no one is comparison to seniors before them, doing anything about it now, but when especially since switching electives doesn’t people actually want something different count as a level change. That will affect than when they filled out their enrollment all students, seniors or not. If an elective form – what happens then? is too hard or not what was expected, If this rule lasts, younger will have then according to the to deal with it for policy, a student the rest of their will not be able to high school It’s just not fair. change classes unless experience. For It’s not fair for the they meet certain freshman Mabel incredibly specific Craig, this students. We’re all requirements. could become teenagers. We’re all “I took normalized. indecisive.

Photography II. “I don’t think I really enjoyed it will affect me –Bibi Photography I, but much now,” Igbasemokumo darkrooms are really Craig said. “I difficult. I just don’t don’t know how have that drive,” it will be later, Igbasemokumo said. though.”

“I had a week to try it. It’s really good Maybe we change our schedules too to have that option [to switch classes] much. I can’t imagine having the job that because if you don’t, it’s hurting everyone, counselors have. I understand that the even the teachers who’ve now got a bunch amount of moving that happens at the of students running around complaining beginning of each semester may be too about fun classes.” much. If it’s resulting in classes that are So then who’s gaining anything from too large, or a loss of valuable learning all of these changes? After all, this is a time, then perhaps something does need pretty drastic change to make with no one to be done. benefitting. According to the Feb. 3 North However, this isn’t it. Students want notes, restricting the schedule change the opportunity to try new things without opportunity this past semester “allowed having to worry about whether it may teachers and students to concentrate on not be for them. Even those who aren’t learning on the first school day of the particularly worried about their schedules semester on January 4th.” may want some security that they have the The first day! Sure, during second option to do so. semester teachers may jump into the If this new policy sticks around, maybe content quickly, but during first semester? it does have value. It may just be hard to Maybe a couple classes have anything see until it is in action. Until then, we can productive to do the entire first week. only wait and hope for the best.

Are we sitting here with a new policy

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W CR SS R D

ARTS & LEISURE

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2 3

Say goodbye to Winter and say hello to Spring with our crossword.

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By Lexi Newsom, Arshiya Pant

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ACROSS

DOWN

3. Plants e latine.

4. A flower starting with “z.”

7. The date of the Star Wars holiday.

10. New KS addition for air travel.

11. ____ break, a twelfth-grade tradition.

14. First part in a popular phrase about two consecutive months.

16. Second part in a popular phrase aout two consecutive months.

17. A common spring activity.

1. Fairy from popular children’s TV cartoon and flower verb.

2. Animals e latine.

5. Twigs and leaves and sticks, oh my!

6. Grassy chore.

8. March 20.

9. Casual phrase to describe changing the clocks in spring.

12. A fluffy holiday icon.

13. Landscaping that smells horrible when newly laid.

15. The general class of tiny, buzzing creatures.

MARCH 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 31

@BVNNEWS CONTACT ABOUT US

“The North Star” is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all the students six times a year. This is the March issue of volume 37. This issue of “The North Star” is published digitally through ISSUU and in print by “Record News.” This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

bvnnewspaper@gmail.com for letters to the editors, questions & guest writing opportunities

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