Students and staff at Northwest share experiences and offer insight on FOMO during their summer break.
Summer Summer Summer
Missing Out of of
Beyond the classroom, school clubs offer students a chance to be part of a like-minded community, develop leadership skills, benefit future careers and make lasting connections.
FEATURE Steps Toward the Season
Marching band spends five days at the end of summer learning drills and choreography.
Students and staff at Northwest share experiences and offer insight on FOMO during their summer break.
GET INVOLVED
Happy first week back, Huskies — and yes, we do mean a happy welcoming. This school year is a fresh start, not only for those of you who are moving up from middle school or another district, but also for those coming back for another year at Northwest.
While returning to the same school doesn’t feel like a fresh start, you are wrong. All those speeches we get from our advisory teachers about getting involved are not just for the underclassmen and the new transfers — they are for everyone. It is never too late to get involved at the school, whether it is a sport or club, or if you are a freshman or senior, just join something.
There are 65 clubs, 16 activities and 12 honor societies here at our school, with over 1,000 students to meet kids. We are privileged enough to go to a school that has this many outlets and opportunities, so we might as well take advantage of it. High school is such a special and fleeting period of our lives in which we are supported by the adults around us and are encouraged to try new things and meet new people. We all need to start realizing this, and taking action to utilize these things before we are not high schoolers anymore.
Later in this very issue of The Express, you can read about a small portion of the clubs Northwest has to offer, as well as read about one of the school’s activities. Orientation day has tons of clubs setting up booths just to recruit new members. Flyers are all around the school with club and activity contact information and pitches. Your friendly neighborhood teacher is around the school, willing to answer any questions we ask. There is no excuse to avoid involvement in a community you find interesting, especially in a building where there is something for everyone.
The school year can be dreadful for some.
The early mornings, the boring classes, the horrendous homework, the unfamiliar faces. Coming into the school year with this mindset is only setting the scene for failure and disappointment. Starting the school year means shedding this negative knee-jerk reaction to school and taking it for what it is- a place to make connections and do things you are interested in. Clubs, activities and athletics are a great place to start.
Do not just take this information from us; take it from a Research Gate article, which details the beneficial effects of participating in clubs and chapters. Being involved in these activities helps foster personal growth and connections with other people. If people are improving their social skills in clubs, they will become more bearable to be around, which in turn makes the school year more fun. All the more reason to join a club and encourage others to do the same.
This large mass of a school building is not just here for our learning. Come to learn, but also to make new friends and find new passions, no matter what stage of your time at Northwest you are at. Everyone will benefit, and this school year might even be a little fun.
YOU’RE NO FUN
Written by Sloane Bell, Designed by Ella Rost
“Why would you want to be boring?”
My friend asked me when I said I didn’t want to drink at a party. As a newly turned 15-yearold, the majority of my peers have tried drinking and smoking, with some doing it weekly. I just don’t believe that to have fun, you have to drink or participate in illegal activities.
As I’ve progressed into my high school experience, functions (also known as hangouts) have become more substance-centered. Most teenagers go out on the weekends, attending these functions, not thinking of the consequences, wanting to have a bit of “fun.” That fun can involve drinking various kinds of alcohol, vaping, smoking, drugs and other reckless behaviors. Just a few years ago, I remember my friends and I would go to the mall for a soft pretzel and walk around for fun. I find myself wondering, why is it that going to functions every week to drink and carelessly mess around the only “good” idea of entertainment?
Partying and drinking are most certainly not new things. Although it seems now teenagers’ parents have been more willing to buy alcohol for their kids and their kids’ friends. It’s not necessarily that it has become more common, but it is simply more exposed. Everything is now recorded and posted on social media, which leaves us subject to the judgment of others.
When talking to my mom, she mentioned that when she was a teenager, she would go to parties, but there weren’t phones, cameras, social media, etc. to advertise it to the entire school. Now, everybody
knows what goes on at functions with the help of social media. For example, everyone knows if someone got super sick and ended up in the hospital, crashed their car while drunk or got injured in a fight. This is because the majority of the time, these events are being posted online. Yet, society tends to glorify these functions as something harmless. Students feel obligated to show off and perform to prove that they are having a good time. If you are not posting pictures of yourself with alcohol or yourself under the influence, then you are somehow missing out. The more these activities become exposed at functions and dismissed as “typical Friday night activities,” the more teenagers put themselves in scenarios that can be detrimental to their mental and physical health.
Students don’t realize that attending these functions isn’t just a one-time thing and can interfere with their personal lives as well. According to the National Library of Medicine, these substances can leave your mental state unstable, which can, in turn, affect your grades due to fluctuating moods and lack of focus. The reality of all of it is that the people who drink every week are doing so self-destructively, deteriorating their health.
Yet, society tends to glorify these functions as something harmless. Students feel obligated to show off and perform to prove that they are having a good time. If you are not posting pictures of yourself with alcohol or yourself under the influence, then you are somehow missing out.
Most of the time, people are swayed by a friend, a mutual friend, or a significant other to go out and join in on these risky behaviors.
Many teens have a fear of missing out (FOMO), which makes it harder to avoid these functions. I’ve had friends who don’t usually go out say, “Well, I would rather enjoy my teenage years going out drinking than waste them never drinking.” Some teenagers get the idea that they don’t have all the time in the world.
Being in high school is a confusing time, and most high schoolers feel obligated to try everything introduced to them because their peers are. Something to consider is the cost and damage it can do to your future. Deciding not to go to these functions won’t impact your high school experience, and does not mean you will be seen as “boring” or a “buzzkill.” Teenagers should take time to think about the decision they are about to make to go out, and be informed of the dangers that they might be walking right into.
Most people believe that part of being young is living life to the fullest, but that doesn’t mean you have to drink to do so. For me, it isn’t worth it, and although it is never easy, it is important to stay true to myself. I have chosen, at least for now, to never do something I am uncomfortable with. I enjoy spending my time hanging out with my friends by going to the pool, getting ice cream, playing card games, rather than feeling awkward around large groups of people with loud music, drinking late at night. Remember, never be afraid simply to say “no.” I promise that you are still fun.
Missing Out Summer Summer Summer of of
FOMO impacts anxiety and is amplified by social media platforms.
Written By Shriya Shah and Emily Olm-Shipman, Photographed by Jordyn Johnson,
Designed by Claire Elley
Freaking out on one side of the table at dinner during a recent trip to Austria with the choir department, junior Grayson Coover said he was experiencing serious fear of missing out, FOMO, while the other side of the table was laughing.
“It wasn’t that big of a deal, but just not knowing what was going on and not being a part of it [made me feel left out],” Coover said.
FOMO is the fear of missing out or anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary website.
Coover said this is a recurring feeling.
and wants to be [the] last person to leave,” Coover said.
In contrast, Junior Landry Ingham said she experiences loneliness when she is unable to attend events she is invited to, whether it is because of working or
Photo illustration depicting sophomore Landry Ingram laying in bed while looking over the posted moments she’s missing with her friends. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
extracurricular activities. She also said FOMO can hit her hardest when she has not qualified for an event or competition, but thinks she could have.
“Just knowing the fact that I could be there but can’t… I just have to watch from afar,” Ingham said.
Ingham said this feeling is especially strong when she views social media.
“On Instagram, [people can] really see the highlights of (the event) and [those] emphasize more on what they missed out on,” Ingham said.
attended a musical two nights in a row, going the second time because his friends were attending that night.
Coover also said he has seen conversations or hangouts he missed on Instagram and Snapchat stories.
People are gonna post the best aspect of whatever they’re doing, and it’s not always a true picture of what’s going on.
-ANYSSA WELLS
Coover said he has attended events sometimes just to avoid missing out on an inside joke or funny moment. He also said he
School social worker Anyssa Wells said social media causes people to feel insecure about missing out on activities. They also worry if their own posts will be perceived as cool by their peers, especially in the
summer. She said students may have varying responsibilities in the summer, with people having to take care of siblings, work or attend camps, which can make people
feel negatively about their own summer. Other peers may get to go on vacations overseas and feel compelled to share the fun on social media platforms.
“[TikTok] has created more opportunities for people to put out there what they’re doing,” Wells said.
She said certain platforms put pressure on people to create content when they are doing something “worth sharing.”
“People are gonna post the best aspect of whatever they’re doing, and it’s not always a true picture of what’s going on,” Wells said.
While FOMO makes a person feel lonely or left out, its opposite, JOMO (joy of missing out), involves feeling relieved that you are not participating. According to an article on the Cleveland Clinic website, JOMO is when a person finds joy in not partaking in activities.
As much as Ingham said she experiences FOMO, she also appreciates feelings of JOMO.
“Especially in high school, there’s so much stuff going on all the time, it feels good to not be a part of all of
Sitting apart from his friends in a photo illustration, junior Grayson Coover said he sees the experience of fomo is something that is most often then not felt when in person. (Photo by Anna Hellstern)
it,” Ingham said. “If something bad happened at a party or something, I would be OK that I wasn’t there and that it didn’t happen to me or one of my friends.”
Wells said it is important to be the type of person who is not worried about missing out but understands social media can make that difficult.
“It’d be nice if social media wasn’t always about putting out what you’re [experiencing], but it is important to celebrate the cool experiences that you have as an individual,” Wells said.
According to her, taking a rest from social media is the best thing to do to avoid FOMO feelings. Wells said it is important for students to create a healthy balance between checking social media, seeing others having fun and having their own experiences.
Consequently, Coover said missing out is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. He said he hopes he can become more comfortable with missing out or leaving early.
Similarly, Ingham said it is important to recognize that there will always be other hangouts and that missing one activity won’t mean missing out on all of the fun moments.
A photo illustration of junior Grayson Coover being left out by seniors Lila Spear and Hellen Conner during an intended social setting. (Photo by Anna Hellstern)
“You don’t have to say yes to everything,” Ingham said. “You can just kind of take your time and really think about if you want to do it, or if you just want to be home.”
Explore Your Passions: Which Club Is Right for You?
How you can get more involved in high school through a variety of clubs.
Written by Isla Hartman and Ally Smith, Designed by Lily McCann
Crochet Club
Crochet club is a place for members to bond over the art of crocheting,” Senior and president of the crocheting club Iqra Nadeem said. The biggest part of the club is to sell their projects along with watching tutorials as a group and eating snacks while working during meetings. The club raised
GROUPME
looking for new members to go beyond that this year. As of now, meetings will be on Thursdays.
FBLA
$1,400 for charity last school year and is always
Due to new district policies, GroupMe can only be used by students. Teachers and staff are not to be included in these groups. To stay updated about future platform changes, join the current club GroupMe and wait for further instruction.
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), is a club for students planning on careers in business, management and entrepreneurship, according to senior president Sumlina Alam. Members will do competitions with testing, presentations and more over a range of topics. BVNW also participates in district and state-level competitions.“[It’s] a cool community; we co-
host fun events with DECA like holiday gingerbread contests and ice cream socials,” Alam said.
Badminton Club
Badminton Club was created last school year and is yet to be known throughout the school, according to senior co-president Victoria Heidenreich. However, everyone of all skill levels are welcome to join and participate in the club. You get to be on teams with your friends and have little competitions or free play after school in the Commons. Every once in a while,
tournaments are set up and members can play for a prize.“We focus more on having fun rather than actual competition,” Heidenreich said.
HOSA
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) is an opportunity to explore the different medical fields, according to sophomore member Eliada Siraj. Events, meetings and projects are held during the school year to learn more about healthcare and prepare for a conference with various competitive events against other schools. Members are able to learn about different medical procedures, internship opportunities and colleges.
FCCLA
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) focuses on volunteering, fundraising, team bonding activities and individually learning how to become better leaders, according to junior and president Benya Kitchaiya. They compete in competitions such as STAR where they can compete from regional to national levels. Meetings could include discussing topics and activity days where you do crafts and hang out
“I know some schools require their kids to be sophomores, but at Northwest, they want people of all ages and experiences to be a part of this club,” Siraj said.
Femineers
with the other members. Also, FCCLA members raise money through bake sales. “FCCLA is like one big family and those days are when everybody comes together, bonds and share laughs,” Kitchaiya said.
Femineers is an out-ofschool club for females interested in engineering run by teacher Katherine Stohlmann. “Some examples of projects we do are making robots during our first year, wearable electronics the second year, and a hydraulics project our third year,” junior member Isa Large said. Meetings take place every other Saturday around December and January. Each year, there is a different project to showcase new engineering skills by Spring. Creating robots, electronics and hydraulics are just a few of the projects done throughout Femineers.
GROUPME
GROUPME
NO GROUPME
GROUPME
STEPS TOWARD THE SEASON
The marching band’s summer camp prepares returning members and 51 incoming freshmen for the season ahead.
Written by Danielle Croom and Avery Fletcher, Photographed by Jordyn Johnson and Avery Wald, Designed by Sri Trikona
With the July heat beaming down on the north side of the football field, junior section leader Maya Conkle grips her 30-pound instrument, sweat soaking through her shirt. Alongside more than 150 students, she spends five days marching, learning drills and rehearsing music at the Howlin’ Husky Marching Band summer camp.
After waking up at 6 a.m., Conkle said her routine begins with a balanced breakfast and hydration before walking 10 minutes to BVNW. She said this helps her manage the weight of her sousaphone, which often leaves her shoulders sore.
“It can be very uncomfortable and exhausting to carry my instrument in the heat,” Conkle said.
But despite the pain, she
said she continues to push through because of the joy band brings her.
“Some of my best school memories were made in band, and I want to be able to make more, even when it can be difficult to continue due to the pain,” Conkle said.
It is really early and hot, but it is balanced out by the fact that you’re
surrounded by amazing people all day.
Junior drum major Charlotte Norton said band camp is a week in late July designed to prepare the band for the new season. From 7:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., students spend their mornings outside marching and learning drills, which include practicing where
-CHARLOTTE NORTON
to be on the field and when to move to the music. Band members spend the afternoon inside rehearsing music. According to assistant band director Jonathon Westcott, students are outside for about three hours a day, depending on weather conditions. He said the directors are trained in heat illness prevention and adjust practice if necessary, per Blue Valley District standards. By following these standards, Westcott said no students passed out from the heat last year.
“It is really early and hot,
but it is balanced out by the fact that you’re surrounded by amazing people all day,” Norton said. “Our band is such a family.”
Throughout the week, students participate in spirit days and competitions between sections. Norton said one year, someone dressed up as a cup pong for Greek Life Day.
“We do different themes in our sections, and that just adds to the fun,” Norton said.
Percussion section leader senior Andrew Golden said band camp is essential to preparing the marching band for the year. It allows students to begin working on the sevenminute halftime show they will perform on Sept. 19 at the first home football game.
“I don’t think we’d be a successful program if we didn’t
have that (band camp),” Golden said. “In the summer, the more you get done early, the easier it is to keep your momentum throughout the year.”
With more than 50 freshmen joining the marching band this year, Golden said the week also gives them a chance to form connections before school starts.
“When they walk in on the first day, everyone else is kind of trying to find new friends [but] they already have a really good group,” Golden said. “That’s my goal and all the other section leaders’ goal.”
Walking out of band camp on Aug. 1, Westcott said his main goal is for students to leave with a mindset focused on growth.
“I want everybody to walk out with long-term goals that are progressoriented rather than product-oriented,” Westcott said.
Additionally, he said he wants students to build positive relationships.
“Relationships are number one for me,” Westcott said. “That doesn’t mean everybody is everybody’s best friend, but band is a family.”
During summer band camp senior Andrew Golden waits for his cue to start playing in sync with his fellow percussionists. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS
(Above) Alongside other campgoers at the Nike Basketball Camp, junior Luke Smith takes an easy shot, July 28. “I like the program because there are great coaches and great teammates and its fun. The basketball program teaches accountability and work ethic,” Smith said. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
(Above) After completing a routine, junior Jacqueline Broussard laughs with her teammates during Cheer Camp, July 2. “We aren’t just cheerleaders; we juggle academics, jobs, other competitive sports, personal aspirations, and family responsibilities all while being dependable teammates year-round,” Broussard said. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
(Above) Among other club members, senior Aahana Basak leads the South Asian Student Association (SASA) dance workshop, Aug 1. “I like SASA because it’s such a great way for me to get involved with my school and my culture. We have had (SASA) for a couple of years now and getting to be a part of a bunch of different bollywood dances is so much fun. Also being able to do the different activities with my friends makes it even better,” Basak said. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
(Below) While at the annual Jayhawk Media Workshop, senior Lila Spear and junior Avery Davenport settle a debate with their adviser. “I really enjoyed the Jayhawk Media Workshop, it was a super valuable experience because I got to know the yearbook editors better and I learned so many new skills,” Davenport said. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
(Left) Juniors Ava Pulliam and Waverly Latta attempt to find the right moment to take a shot at each other, July 18. “I think (the wrestling program) makes me a better person because my coach pushes me to be the best of my ability to do hard things,” Latta said. (Photo by Jordyn Johnson)
Test your knowledge by guessing each item based only on emojis. Designed by Iqra Nadeem
ABOUT THE EXPRESS
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: 913-239-3544
Email: BVNWnewspaper@bluevalleyk12.org
RESPONDING TO THE PUBLICATION
Letters to the editor may be submitted electronically on our website at BVNWnews.com. Letters may be published either on BVNWnews.com or in our print edition. Letters may be edited.
ABOUT US
The Express is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the August Issue of Volume 33. The Express is printed by Valley Print Logistics, 160 S Sheridan Ave, Valley Center, KS 67147.
DISCLAIMER
This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified 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.
EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT
BVNW Publications is committed to amplifying the voices of our student body and community, no matter the color of skin, religious belief, financial status, gender or sexuality. We are an independent platform that by practice, and by law, is not a mouthpiece of the school district. We promise to cover all stories with fact and integrity. We stand in solidarity with all people who are fighting for equality. We promise to educate ourselves and represent our entire community to our audience to the best of our ability. For our students, teachers, readers, viewers and families who are struggling for equality, we deplore the injustices you face. We strive to be a unifying platform that celebrates diversity and shares your stories, and we will continue to work toward increasing minority voices internally, as well as externally. We may not always get it right, but we will try, and we will listen and be open to suggestions on how to better tell your stories.
THE EXPRESS STAFF
Editor in Chief
Madison Kraft
Print Editor
Sri Trikona
Managing Editor
Staff
Sloane Bell
Rishitha Bonthu
Alexandra Cazarez
Jacob Corpus
Claire Elley
Adria Heinauer
Anna Hellstern
Jordyn Johnson
Bunu Khanal
Renee Lundy
Aarush Reddy
Ella Rost
Elsa Schalekamp
Shriya Shah
Ally Smith
Tyler Weiss
Addison Welgos
Zoe Weneck
Inaya Zaman
Assistant Adviser
Amanda Ford
Danielle Croom Adviser
Avery Fletcher
Ainsley Gatoff
Isla Hartman
Hailey Heckman
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