The Booster Redux
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Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 97, Issue 5 www.boosterredux.com
Friday, Feb. 28, 2014
@PHSstudentPub
Distorted Reflections Teens battle pressures of society’s interpretations BY KATIE PHALEN AND MORGAN PLANK
@kphalen5 and @momoplank irrors: polished or smooth surfaces that form images by reflection. When someone looks into a mirror, they see an image of themselves, but that image is not always seen clearly. For many, the image that appears in the mirror is everything they do not want to see. Instead of seeing the dimples that appear on their cheeks when they smile, or the way their eyes light up when they laugh, they detect the pimples, muffin top or big feet. They focus on the imperfections. For them, the mirror reflects only the flaws. According to www.heartofleadership.org, more than 90 percent of girls from ages 15 to 17 years want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest. Body image and self-esteem have become major problems for millions of teenagers all across the country. The consequences of poor body image can range anywhere from having low selfesteem to developing severe eating disorders, which can lead to major health complications, or even death. “A lot of teenagers struggle with [body image] at this age, it’s a pretty common problem to have. Realize that it’s going to get better after you’re out of high school,” high school nurse Lisa Schwob said. “Just be happy with yourself.” But in high school, that is sometimes easier said than done. When *Allison Phillips first came into high school, she struggled with depression and low selfesteem which resulted from having body image problems. She attributes the cause of these problems to the pressure society puts on people, specifically young girls, to look a certain way. “Society totally messed me up because I thought I had to be a twig. When I first came into high school, I dropped like 40 pounds. I wasn’t eating, I was depressed,” Phillips said. “If you’re not confident, maybe it’s because you’re basing your view of yourself on society.” For Phillips, the key was positivity. After struggling with confidence issues for so long, she decided it was time for a change. She deleted the negativity from her life and became closer with those of her friends who made her feel good about herself. “Surround yourself with positive people. You want people who push you to be better, but a better version of yourself, not a better version of someone else,” Phillips said. “If you’re going to be surrounded by negative people, you’re going to think negative.” School Based Behavioral Health Therapist Lindsey Moss agrees. She says that building a supportive group of friends is important, but she also says that if someone is unable to identify positive things about themselves, they will have difficulty improving their confidence. “We all have positive things in our lives, we all have posi-
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIRANDA MOORE
SEE BODY IMAGE PAGE 2D
Process behind a difficult decision Superintendent bases choice on cancelling school because of weather on several factors BY REECE BURNS
@reeceburns14 ith the wind, snow and ice threatening the upcoming school day, junior Aliza Benedict snoozes away in her warm bed at 4:00 A.M. Superintendent Destry Brown is awake and leaving the warmth of his home to drive the streets in attempt to gauge the severity of the winter conditions. One thing stands out in his mind while he navigates the potential danger of the trip: safety. When it comes to the fluctuating Kansas winter weather, Brown must make difficult decisions that affect the USD 250 district. “I try to make decisions based on what I think is best and safest for all students,” Brown said. “Most negative feedback I receive is because of an individual situation or inconvenience.” Cancelling school, therefore, is not a decision Brown makes lightly and the process of reaching the decision is often unclear to those whom it affects. “I think it has to deal with how well the roads are and the bus traveling conditions,” senior Nicole Broyles said. “And the conditions of the areas around the school, such as the sidewalks -- if they’re slick.” In reality, many variables come into play during the process.
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“I look at forecasts, temperatures and temperatures that are in the negatives, the I take into consideration the condition of wind making it even worse,” Phifer said. “I the roads,” Brown said. “I drive my normal think when it’s that cold there shouldn’t be vehicle out on the roads and see how it is. If school, because not only do bus riders have I can’t come to a good stop very easily then to stand outside waiting for their buses, but that plays into my decision.” some kids also have to walk to school.” Benedict does not consider herself to be According to Phifer, the buses are never a good driver, and the fact that someone is adequately warm enough once she is on out driving the roads to determine if school board. should be canceled puts her mind at ease. “They try [to keep them warm], but yes, “I don’t like drivit’s too cold for it ing in bad weathto even matter,” er,” Benedict said. Phifer said. I TR TRY TO PUT MYSELF IN “Knowing that USD 250 THE SAME POSITION AS [Mr. Brown] goes Transportation out and drives to Director Fred OAD THE KIDS ON THE ROAD check the roads Andrew shares makes me feel betPhifer’s concerns -DESTRY BROWN ROWN ter about driving regarding low on the snow or ice temperatures. in the mornings.” “Our most important thing is the stuEven more of a challenge is to main- dents waiting at the bus stops for the buses,” tain the safety of students during days with Andrew said. “Wind chills can be detrimenextreme temperatures. Sophomore Kaitlin tal to kids.” Phifer not only worries about her own wellBrown also worries about those who must being while waiting for her bus in the cold, face the elements en-route to school. but she also worries about her two young“I get real concerned when the real temer sisters’ welfare, who are in elementary perature is below zero, not the wind chill,” school. Brown said. “There have been some wind “Some days we have to stand out in tem- chills below zero and they’ve concerned me peratures lower than sixteen degrees and a little but they haven’t been the cause of
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days off.” In search of a resolution to the issue of extreme cold weather, Brown hopes to eventually have a plan that will spare students from the frigid temperatures while waiting on buses in the mornings. The preferred plan would be to provide door-to-door pickup for students. Brown says the district has extra buses that could be utilized. Even with extra buses, he believes that district vans would be required to complete this task. Even then, door-to-door pickup would most likely cause students to be late to classes. Until his proposal is possible, Brown says he will take temperatures into consideration. “If we were below zero on the real temperature I would strongly consider canceling for the day but I don’t like to draw lines in the sand,” Brown said. Brown worries more about high school students who do not take the bus to school. According to Brown and Andrew, the buses can operate without much worry. “A bus is heavier and can track better in snow but not on ice,” Andrew said. But sometimes the snow can be overpowering for those driving normal vehicles. “I worry more about high-school kids driving, and I know how my own son is driving,” Brown said. “I try to put myself in the same position as the kids on the road.”