Eye of the Tiger May 2023 issue

Things Are Up

Eye of the Tiger // Bonanza High School

Table of Contents

News:

3- A new leader of the pack

4- Moving outside for a new inside

Features:

5- Going out in style

6- Summer tours

A&E:

8- Knock harder next time

9- Thirst trap?

10- How to be straightforward

Eye of the Tiger

May 2023 issue

6665 W. Del Rey Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89146 (702) 799-4000

eyeofthetigerbhs@gmail.com

Managing Editor

Elliott Prehm

Editors

Samantha McAlister

Cassandra McCoy

Viktor Salvador

Staff Writers

Leslie Aguilar

Thomas Anderson

Yasmin Salas

Rebecca Valdez Adviser

Ms. Hubbard

Eye of the Tiger is a public forum for the students of Bonanza High School. The staff will publish news, features, editorials, entertainment and sports stories in an unbiased and professional manner.

Editorials are the official opinion of Eye of the Tiger, and in no way reflect the official policy of Bonanza High School, nor the opinions of the administration, faculty or adviser. All content decisions are made by student editors.

Business advertisements are accepted in Eye of the Tiger. However, the news publication reserves the right to deny any ad. Those interested in running advertisements can call (702) 799-4000 ext. 4002.

Letters to the editors and inquiries may be emailed to hubbab2@nv.ccsd.net and must be signed. Identities for those who submit questions will remain anonymous. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to style and policy. Letters to the editor will be published at the discretion of the staff.

Eye of the Tiger is the official student publication that publishes six to eight issues throughout the year.

A NEW LEADER OF THE PACK

By: Cassandra McCoy

The best way to remember how to spell the word “principal,” is to key in the main factor: pal. Luckily for Bonanza High School, new principal Dr. Brian Wiseman not only lives up to this expectation, but he also exceeds it.

Wiseman is a community leader with a mindset of equal respect for all students and staff. As a new addition to Bonanza, Wiseman has made his mark by welcoming all and making an effort to learn about the entire community. Between renovations, general upkeep and adjusting to the new responsibilities, Wiseman has proved to be able to manage it all with a smile.

“We spend too many of these hours at this place to not have fun,” Wiseman said. “My ultimate goal is to have a happy, fun environment; I want people to smile.”

With 24 years of experience, Wiseman is a veteran to the field of education. Twenty one of those years have been in the Clark County School District. He’s originally from Illinois, and moved to Southern California to teach for two years. He eventually made another move, this time to the desert.

With so much education experience, Wiseman had to get his inspiration from somewhere. “I come from a family of educators,” he said. “My dad was a high school calculus teacher and my mom a preschool teacher. My brother is a middle school teacher, and my sister a college professor. So it’s kind of in our blood.”

Wiseman started his career as an educator for the purpose of change. “I always wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids,” he said. “That’s why I chose education. I chose special education because I

wanted to work with the kids who needed the most help - and make a difference in their lives.”

Wiseman was satisfied with staying in the classroom, but a negative experience prompted another purpose of change, but a different kind.

“I never planned on going into administration, but when I moved to Cheyenne High School, I had an administrator who was pretty nasty to me,” Wiseman said. “Teachers were quitting. I thought I had been a decent teacher, and with others leaving and finding work somewhere else, I even almost quit. I didn’t understand why we were treating people so horribly when there’s a teacher shortage. So that was what drove me to get my degree in administration so I could work with teachers and really reinforce the teachers that are doing a great job and support them. They do make a huge difference in kids’ lives.”

Wiseman developed a whole new responsibility as not just a leader of a classroom, but the leader of the environment.

“I think a leader has to listen,” Wiseman said. “I can’t walk in like I know everything because I don’t. So when I got to this school, I spent a deal of time just learning the culture of the school - learning the climate, the people, engaging with the students and staff. So basically it’s a listening tour for me right now.”

Wiseman quickly realized that the staff were eager for someone to listen.

“By having these round tables with staff and ‘Pizza with the Principal’ with students to tell me what is great about our school and what isn’t, I identify what are our strengths and our weaknesses and I

collaborate with the staff to make those changes,” Wiseman said.

Many principals wouldn’t take the time to meet with staff and students, especially coming into a school year already in progress. But to Wiseman, this is a necessary step.

“I think it’s important that everyone feels valued,” he said. “When we do meet to make these changes, I assure everyone has a say so that everyone feels valued in what they do. It doesn’t matter who you are or what role you have in this school; you have a role and it matters.”

One thing is important to Wiseman: Every student should leave high school with a sense of purpose.

“I have a memory from about eight years ago, and I'll never forget it,” he said. “It was graduation, and I sat down next to a boy and I asked him, ‘So, what do you have planned for after here?’ and he replied, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘You’re graduating in half an hour, and real life is coming, what are you going to do?’ And he just said, ‘I don’t know.’ And I knew that we had failed that kid.”

This led to a big turnaround.

“That conversation sparked a lot of change at my old school, every single kid had a path,” he said. “We didn’t tell you that you had to go to college or anything, but we helped make the path for you and the steps to get you there. The biggest thing that I want is to make sure that we are wrapping our arms around the kids that walk through these doors, so that high school isn’t a compliance piece just to move on to get a piece of paper, but that we’re helping set you up with a life of success after.”

By: Leslie Aguilar

Portables. Construction. Layouts. After almost 50 years later, Bonanza High School is finally getting renovated, and with that comes a series of upgrades.

The school board approved a renovation budget of $54 million, and the plan has been a three-year process. But, why Bonanza after all this time? “Our school is slowly falling apart, and it’s old,” assistant principal Ms. Lisa Hungerford said. “We need to keep up with times and make it a safe environment for all students.”

At the beginning of March, teachers in the 100’s hallway started packing up their rooms to prepare to relocate to the portables on the blacktop as part of Phase I of renovations. There were rumors circulating last year about a possible renovation, but nothing concrete was conveyed to students or staff. But, Phase I is currently underway and will last to approximately October.

“We will be working with Phase I all the way through October, which is going to be the 100 area, including the bathrooms,” Hungerford said. “And something I’m most excited about is that we’re going to have mirrors coming back to the

bathrooms, and it is for sure going to happen.” The mirrors were taken down last year while a TikTok trend called Devious Licks persuaded students to destroy and steal school property, particularly in the bathrooms.

The bathrooms and classrooms aren’t the only parts of the school to be updated. According to Hungerford, the halls are going to be color coordinated so that when a student is lost or looking for their classes it is easier for them to find them. “There is going to be a lot that is changing,” she said. “We are getting a whole facelift into the whole school; new flooring, new paint,

some new walls. It is going to be brighter and updated.”

There are several phases in place over a three-year period, which will cause some classes to be moved to the portable while their classrooms are being worked on. “We are blocking off entire sections of the school one at time time and every one of those classrooms will be moved to the portables, so we’ll need to consider the students moving outside the building every day and inside,” Hungerford said. “We probably should re-look at our tardies since the walk is much longer.”

There are some areas in the school that need to change due to security, logistical, or construction reasons. “I would say in the 800's there were many problems,” campus security monitor J. Scott said. “There is also a hidden area that needs to be connected with the school.”

Math teacher Ms. Victoria Calabrese is excited to see her room once it’s finally renovated. “Well my room will change,” she said. “I don't know what it is going to look like, but I think my room will look better. The hallway should look better. I hope everybody feels better at a nice school.”

Portables are set up on the basksetball court for classrooms to rotate into while renovations continue.

Leslie Aguilar // EOTT

“We are getting a whole facelift into the whole school; new flooring, new paint, some new walls.”

-Mrs. Lisa Hungerford, assistant principal

Going out in style

What to wear while you walk the stage

By:

Now’s the season to look back on for years to come, so it's best to pick out an outfit that won't haunt your nightmares in years to come.

The cap and gown colors Bonanza students wear are yellow for standard diplomas, while honors and AP students will graduate in white Not all colors are going to look good with the bright yellow gown, so it's important to consider complimenting colors. Black, grays, whites and light tans are some more neutral shades to complement the gown but if you ' re looking for something more colorful, go for reds, oranges, dark green or dark purple A good way to match your color to your gown is to look on the color wheel and find the complimentary colors of your gown!

Well-fitting tops and dresses are ideal for walking the stage Wearing long sleeves or jackets under your gown isn't the best idea because it may end up giving a bulky look

If you ' re going to wear a dress, keep in mind the length of the graduation gown Shorter dresses may be ideal look-wise, this way the bottom of your dress isn't

sticking out through the bottom

Recently girls have been wearing pants suits to important events and dress up vacations, so graduation would be a great opportunity to rock a pants suit

The white dress is a graduation classic

For years the little white dress had a grip on girls graduating On Pintrest when you search for graduation outfit inspiration, the white dress fills the posts It's simple, classy and it looks good with every color, cap and gown White also symbolizes new beginnings, which is perfect considering graduation is the start into adulthood

Men's graduation outfits don't have to be in suit and tie, just keep it simple with a button-up A good pair of dressy or work wear pants, with a button up or plain shirt is stylish and keeps the attention on you and not the outfit

Graduation is typically described as business or business-casual style clothing

Try to pick out clothing that doesn't have large logos or advertising on it

Bonanza graduates are not allowed to decorate their caps, and everything must be CCSD approved there's still ways to bring personality to your big day's outfit Really making sure that your outfit

matches your personality Clothing from individuals Culture is also highly encouraged Graduation is a perfect time to show off and be proud of your culture

Accessories are also a good way to tie in your personality to your outfit. Try not to wear what's trendy at the time because while the trends won’t carry, the photos from your graduation will last forever A passed down family necklace or your favorite bracelet could be a great example It's a very important day, so don't be shy to get all sentimental

Another important thing to keep in mind is comfortable shoes for graduation day because there's a lot of walking and being on your feet While those heels are cute, you ' re probably not going to love them after having them on for hours If wearing heels is important to you, go for a block heel or wedge. There's also a lot of waiting before you go up and get your diploma, so make sure your outfit isn't super warm or itchy

Years from now your kids could be looking at photos from your graduation, so put together an outfit you won't regret

Elliott Prehm

Elliott Prehm//EOTT

SUMMER TOURS

by: Yasmin Salas

Be a part of bringing on the heat this summer by attending one of the many dates and locations of various popular artists performing for everyone to enjoy

With fabulous Las Vegas being notorious for its tourism, it is relatively instituted into many of the tours. Blessing the city’s locals with countless amazing artists to go watch Drake and 21 Savage kick off the summer touring with their It’s All A Blur Tour starting June 16th, 2023 This caused hysterical fan craze on social media when official dates were dropped following their joint album Her Loss released November of 2022 containing 16 songs. Due to high demand since first pre-sale tickets were released, an additional 14 dates were added, to make sure everyone gets to experience their eminence

If you ’ re more of an old Drake fan, you ’ re still in luck He will perform many classics, including in his show dates for Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena on September first and second of 2023.

Another R&B sensation, Bryson Tiller announced his Back and I’m Better Tour, starting May fourth of 2023 Being his first tour in five years, Tiller adds 25 dates to his agenda Visiting Vegas twice on May sixth, 2023 at the Lovers & Friends Festival and June seventh, 2023 at the Brooklyn Bowl Only dropping a single in October of 2022 since his last Christmas album in December of 2021, this can also ensure hearing many throwback fan favorites such as Exchange, Don’t, Sorry Not Sorry and Right My Wrongs

Much like singer and song-writer Natanael Cano, Eslabon Armado is a hispanic musical group which produces corridos tumbados. Corridos tumbados are a genre of music that attract younger audiences with lyrics commonly about love, money or other inappropriate aspects/pursuits while regular corridos are more traditional and appeal to older generations Being very popular among young listeners recently, Eslabon last performed in Las Vegas April 2022 since their newest album Nostalgia released May 2022, and they are now returning during their currently ongoing Desvelados Tour for another concert June third, 2023 at the Theater at Virgin Hotels The theater provides assigned seats when purchasing tickets comp Vegas at the provided an freely and da

Kali Uchis with her Red newly release

Well-known even if you d everyone gro take on R&B would be Uc April 25, and her last album 2020, which shows

However e tour, she has performance Call Me If Y 2018 and Lif Fortunately, on May 28, 2

Introducing hop/gangsta

Nas also announced their joint tour, which began March 20

Named after a song in Nas’ exemplary album Illmatic, the N.Y. State of Mind

Tour is reaching fans worldwide from Argentina to New Zealand, but most importantly, Vegas baby! Their performance will take place October 21 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Although their tour started before summer and they may not be visiting til fall, it is an experience you don’t want to miss out on. And don’t forget to let your old-school rap fan parents know, hearing the names WuTang and Nas are guaranteed to put a smile on their face

But the shows aren’t over yet, everyone make way for the Queen! Beyonce or notoriously known as Queen Bey is finally

Stadium Tour, the Eras Tour signifies a voyage through the different phases of her music career since the beginning

relatability, commonly about a situation with a love interest such as You Belong With Me, I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Getting Back Together, Enchanted and Right Where You Left Me

Last but not least, reggaeton artist Rauw Alejandro began his Saturno World Tour on April 5 Having worked alongside Bad Bunny, these two artists have mainly the same fan bases and produce a similar style in music

Usually their songs are played in party settings and bring a positive, upbeat spirit to the table no matter the lyrics. Despite the range of locations included, Las Vegas unfortunately will not be hosting an event to Alejandro’s appearance. However, grab some lights, loved ones, a speaker at full volume and some dance moves to improvise the experience.

Money comes and goes, but memories are forever, these tours may be costly but are entirely worth the price to pay Many say you only live once, but you actually live everyday, take advantage and spend one of your blessed days on Earth enjoying these amazing artists bringing on the heat live this summer

ummer tivals

estivals such as Coachella, are very popular considering artists However, for the large a festival may wonder, how e in luck, here’s a guide to festivals, especially for Las sunscreen, believing one day aution and pack some such as skin cancer. At the e your skin’s appearance with ul yourself from harmful UV ow a pair in your bag or even an accessory s, but definitely be sure to g g the event they permit your water, even better considering prices are usually raised For a drink that may usually be $2, expect a festival to upcharge that price by $5 Capturing the moment with technology is very normal these days, as much as you have paid for a festival or concert I am sure you want to be able to relive the experience through videos or photos With this being said, a day full of snapping photos will decrease your battery, probably even before your favorite artist performs Bless the creator of portable chargers, this will keep your phone charged to record all the memories in case you cannot find an outlet

Earplugs are very helpful if you want to be at the front of the stage, or even if you just have sensitive hearing To prevent any hearing loss or ringing post-festival, stay safe and bring earplugs

Bringing a rag or cloth of any type is very useful to wipe away the unpleasant and excessive sweat Many even use colorful bandanas for the eccentric theme of the festivals and incorporate them into their outfit to keep them handy, commonly tied to their pants, styled in their hair or around their arms/legs.

Chapstick is always an essential wherever you go. When screaming your heart out to your favorite song, your lips are guaranteed to get chapped Keep them hydrated with chapstick, one with added SPF is even better

Ladies especially, hair ties are highly recommended Your hair being down may have been a cute vibe for your outfit, but realistically the heat is more bearable when your hair is up You also do not want your hair getting dirty, tangled, or even pulled accidentally

Please do not forget your tickets if they are paper copies You would hate to have to watch the show from someone else's social media post Have them ready close to the entrance, either on your phone to scan or have the physical copies out - this way when it’s your turn to check in the process is easy and quick

Knock harder next time

Shyamalan’s New film falls flat in thrill

By: Cassandra McCoy

Apocalypse. Sacrifice. One family. One cabin. Just how good is the newest apocalyptic thriller?

Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, just released to the big screen on Feb. 3, 2023, and has already created a large hype for itself. It is based off of the original novel, The Cabin at the End of The World, published by author Paul Tremblay. The movie was definitely a mystery, and whether or not it really rattled any bones, the overall plot was the best thing about it.

It begins in a sunny meadow with an adorable 8-year-old girl (Kristen Cui) catching grasshoppers outside of her cabin. She is approached by a very large man (Dave Bautista) who, besides the exterior appearance, is a big softie. He explains that her family must make a decision, and open the door for him and his friends, (friends that are currently heading toward them with various sharp weapons), so that they can have a talk. Because the child was still considerably aware, she ran away and called for her parents, who were about to be faced with a huge predicament. This family was apparently the key to saving the world.

When you watch thriller movies and big mysteries, you usually expect a huge plot twist and some extravagant crazy ending that you never saw coming. But, what about having an inkling that you knew what was going to happen from the start? Shyamalan is more of a technical and logical director rather than one who implements a huge twist or plot change. It’s a difficult idea to grasp for some, but in many ways this technique really helped you to feel the movie. Shyamalan most recently directed Old released in 2021, which was another murderous thriller. In that film, you knew what was going on, but you had no idea why. You probably

still have no idea why. That is the kind of director Shyamalan is, always leaving it up to you to figure out. It can be exhausting if it’s just too confusing, though, which is kind of how that film turned out. Shyamalan did a better job of creating a little less confusion in this film, but that doesn’t say there isn’t any confusion at all. The despair and the yearning for the world to be saved was close to heartwrenching, so you’d most likely appreciate the casting. The main character of this movie, Leonard was played by Dave Bautista who most recently played in Glass Onion; A Knives Out Mystery, which coincidentally was another thriller role, but nothing like this one. This movie held every tone except for humorous; it was anxious, terrifying, stressful and yet angry. Wen’s parents, Andrew and Eric, had adopted her and their family was complete - the same family that was captured for the supposed sake of humanity. It’s not an edge-of-your-seat kind of movie, but it was intriguing. The actors did an enticing job at creating a stressful atmosphere. There are elements of sacrifice in the film and natural disasters that may lead to an end-ofthe-worldphenomenon.

The cinematography helped this tense atmosphere heighten by capturing uncomfortable shots of the actors and their emotions.

The film was somewhat

lacking in the soundtrack; there aren’t any memorable songs from the movie, but it was most likely this way because the atmosphere was silent yet holding high tension - so lyric-less tracks fit the film more appropriately.

Many people don’t understand predictability. This movie was predictable on purpose, and while it was an admirable aspect, it made it forgettable. Overall it was a good theater experience. The acting was compelling, the shooting angles gave a good uncomfortable feeling, and at times just a little jaw dropping, but not that crazy. Despite these positives, the film wouldn’t be considered a rewatch. It’s not a waste of time by any means, and if apocalypse movies are your thing then for sure; yet it just isn’t something you’d be compelled to watch a second time, most likely. So, you may watch it or you may not; either way, a good movie theater experience is never forgettable so if you do go, don’t forget the popcorn to keep you company. If you don’t see it, you’re not really missing out on anything.

Rating: 6/10

A thirst trap?

Which water brand is the most refreshing?

By: Thomas Anderson and Rebecca Valdez

Refreshing. Simple. Water. Everyone drinks water, but have you wondered what water brand you like the most? Well two of our staff members put different types of waters up to the test, and it’s time to decide the ultimate winner.

Thomas Anderson

In this review we will be testing out some popular brands like Body Armor, Alka, Aquafina, ALOE and Members Mark. The first drink we tried was Members Mark had basic plastic packaging, and an okay size at 16.9 oz. This water tasted normal but not good at the same time it was forgettable and easily had an aftertaste with a hint of public fountain water. This brand is easily accessible and has an affordable price at about $0.76 per bottle. These are sold in jumbo packs of forty-five bottles at a sale price of $34.48. Seeing as it is not much of an exciting product yet it is affordable. 6/10.

To be said that Body Armor was better than Members Mark just seeing as it really is the only one down side. You could say it is hard to open the cap which could give you some trouble.But it is refreshing on a hot day, more easy to drink, tastes fresh, has a squirt cap and is

very useful for kids who play sports or on a run. 8/10.

Out of all the ones we tried that were not good, Aquafina was not good at all. It’s a popular brand but it leaves an aftertaste that’s stuck in your mouth. Has a nice fancy bottle but besides that the water makes you feel so thirsty, a little after taste, not good at all. 5/10.

Now Alka water is not bad, but it’s the water you most likely pick up last. It has a big bottle, but because the water contains electrolytes it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste andis hard to drink at times. 6/10. My favorite water was Aloe because it is flavored with pomegranate and a nice aftertaste that leaves you refreshed and you can drink a lot of it . The only downside about the drink is that it is too bubbly and leaves your stomach bloated, which makes you burp. Besides that flaw, it was the best water out of the five that we reviewed. 10/10.

Rebecca Valdez

The first water that was tasted was the purified water by Members Mark. The actual water bottle was thinner than the other water bottle. In my opinion the water is better cold. It’s a generic water brand and the plastic is recycled. Its cost would be around 50 cents a water bottle. 7/10.

The second water that was tasted was

Body Armor, this water is usually for the athletic people that play sports since it has electrolytes. When opening the bottle it was pretty hard to open and the water was filled all the way to the top of the bottle. The water tasted cleaner and was more refreshing than the purified, generic water. The cost of the water was $1.25. Overall this one was my favorite because it had a better taste than every other brand I tried. 9/10.

The third brand I tried was the Alka 65 water, also with electrolytes. This water bottle was bigger than the others, making it a lot more heavy to carry than usual water bottles. Its circumference was also too large for one hand. The cost of the bottle was also $1.25. Drinking the water has an after taste of minerals and feels heavier on your stomach to drink. 4/10.

The fourth water brand that was tried was Aquafina. This water didn’t really get a reaction out of me. I think the more you drink it the more it makes you thirsty. It tasted really thin and had a taste of minerals. 5/10.

The fifth and last water that was tried was the Aloe Vita water with pomegranate flavoring. The color of the bottle was green and the water had a tint of yellow to it. When I smelled the water it smelled like sugar. When I tasted it, it tasted like pure sugar. 2/10.

Sometimes there are those moments where you sit back and realize that there were so many times you wanted to say something to someone, yet for some reason; you didn’t. It suffocated you; the thought that you never spoke up about that something - the feeling would relentlessly claw at your neck. Have you ever covered up your emotions to appease someone else’s in that moment? Well, you’re not alone, and you definitely shouldn’t feel bad for it. You see, there’s this thing called, “being selfless.” Being selfles is quite literally the equivalent of caring too much about everyone else and not enough about yourself. This scenario is unfortunately very common, and while it may have slid then - you are striving to be a different person now. A straightforward person. Here is a personal guide on How to be Straightforward.

There are so many things you are responsible for in life as it is; relationships, work and managing your mental health. People can get so caught up in the ‘flow of things’ that they don’t take time to address how they feel. On that note, let’s start with work.

Work can be anything from school to an office job - either can be extremely stressful. Cranky managers. Deadlines on assignments. Resentful teachers. All possibilities weigh down the average person’s conscience, yet they never ad-

By: Cassandra McCoy

dress these issues. It’s a common belief that letting bad treatment happen in a workplace is okay for the sake of your job, but people tend to fail to realize they are still humans too, who deserve equal respect.

Live by that. “I deserve equal respect.” You will not be walked on for the sake of something not worth saving. Remember this next time you have a nasty encounter with anyone- use your voice, and your strength, to express how you feel in that situation. If you feel uncomfortable simply say, “I’m feeling uncomfortable at this moment, and I’d like to step away.” This one sentence will

Live by that. “I am amazing the way I am.”

help push you toward using your voice and your strength to communicate your emotions.

The next bridge you’ll eventually, (or maybe you’ve already), will cross, is relationships. People sometimes tend to define relationships as only romantic, but there are plenty of different relationships you’ll form along the way. You’ll find yourself feeling love in ways you never thought possible for those different, special people. In order to maintain these relationships, your behavior and your communication will contribute to the progression of it. From the beginning, remember to be yourself. As first impressions go, they will be a key memory in your relationship. Be only your truest self - you are amazing the way you are and do not need to impress anyone.

The most important, crucial, advice to remember - would be to always maintain assertive communication. Assert yourself with confidence when going into a relationship. You’ll form platonic relationships- friends and acquaintances. You’ve most likely already developed your special relationships, the ones you share with family. Lastly, you’ll probably soon find yourself interested in that romantic relationship - one of the most magical things you could experience. Romance has been idolized for centuries to date, so much so it’s become one of our main ideologies in life. It’s a basis. You fall in love, get married, honeymoon, have kids, home…, you get it. Do remember, it doesn’t have to be this way always. You don’t have to force a mentality of picturing a white picket-fence in your future if you don’t envision that kind of life for yourself. Romanticize your life, don’t confine yourself to it. Live by that. “This is my life, I’ll decide for it.”

Stay straightforward in the kind of relationship you are ready for. You don’t have to want commitment. You certainly don’t have to commit because someone else wants to. Consent is key, and without asserting that, you can potentially feel suffocated in your situation. Remember to assert these feelings from the get-go. Casual is okay, and serious is okay too. It’s your life, and the biggest complex of being straightforward is using that to always make your own decisions, and never let there be hesitation in influence from exterior motives... There’s a saying, it goes kinda like this, “Always be a leader, not a follower.” Live by that. “I am a leader.”

Live by that.

“I deserve equal respect.”