The Phoenix, Volume 8, Issue 2

Tastea Review See Page 4

History of Uniforms

self care See Pages 6 & 7

See Page 11

Fremont High School

the

PHOENIX

New FHS schedule by 2022

by Isaac Tiscareno

Staff Writer

If students are short on sleep, they just might be in luck. On Oct. 14, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 328, which mandates an 8:30 AM start time for high schools.

This bill was introduced as an attempt to help students get enough sleep.

This new change in the law is also in accordance with the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ and the Center for Disease Control’s opinion, who all believe that high school should start no earlier

than 8:30 AM for students’ benefit.

Also, according to the National Sleep Foundation, students need eight and a half to nine hours of sleep.

Two-thirds of students reported getting less than seven hours of sleep each night on average.

In 2018, at the Fremont Union High School District’s Student Wellness Council, concerns were brought up with the schools in the district that had 7:30 AM start times, with Fremont High School being one of them.

“One of the concerns that came up through [the District’s Student Wellness

Council] was the 7:30 start time that we had at most of our schools and feeling like that might be too early for students to start school,” FHS Principal Bryan Emmert said.

At the FUHSD, start times were pushed forward to eight AM at the start of the 2018-2019 school year, which is the current schedule. The later start time, though helpful for some, is not convenient for everyone.

“For some people, particularly staff that live far away, the later start time is a bit more of a challenge than getting here early and beating the traffic afterward,” Emmert said.

Hana Duus | The Phoenix

When the Student Wellness Council discussed changing the start times, they looked for a schedule that would start later and end early enough for extracurricular activities. They decided on a schedule that starts at 8:00 AM on most days.

At FHS and Homestead High School, there are seven-period days on Monday and block days the rest of the week. The other newly adapted schedule, which is used at Lynbrook, Monta Vista and Cupertino High Schools, have a sevenperiod day three days a week and two block days.

Having a start time of 8:30 AM could mean that extracurricular activities suffer because school would have to end later as well, due to the fact that there is a minimum number of state-mandated instructional minutes required for all public schools. If the instructional minutes requirements are not met, the schools may lose funding from the state, according to the California Department of Education.

Students would also face other obstacles such as re-working their schedule to still include extracurricular

Vol. 8 Issue No. 2 Nov. 8, 2019

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. We are The Phoenix, Fremont High School’s student-run newspaper. We publish eight issues throughout the school year, around once per month. To continue to support our students and showcase their hard work, we are requesting a one-time, tax deductible donation. This donation will allow us to sustain our Journalism program and allows us to continue to provide The Phoenix to the community for free. Each donor’s name will be featured on every issue of The Phoenix, and a special title, depending on the amount donated, will be given to every donor. If this is something you would be interested in or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com or emer_martin@fuhsd.org.

Thank you, The Phoenix activities, which are very important for students as these extracurricular activities can include caring for younger siblings or financially helping and supporting their own families by having a job.

On the other hand, a study by the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research firm, shows that later start times could, after two years, benefit the economy by 8.6 billion dollars. This increase would partially come about because of lower car crash rates and higher academic achievement.

“Teens who report midday sleepiness tend to show

more anti-social behaviors like fighting, cheating, stealing, and lying,” according to another study conducted by a professor at Richard Perry University and a member of the Criminology and Psychology Department in the School of Arts & Sciences.

This shows the possible benefits of having a later school starting time.

So, in the end, Senate Bill 328 has been passed. Its consequences for students and teachers are unknown probably will not be known until it is enforced in July 2022.

NGSS standards is now introduced in Fremont

by Vivien Su

Editor-in-Chief

Over the past few years, Fremont’s science classes have implemented the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into their curriculums. California’s State Board of Education implemented the NGSS in 2013.

The NGSS is comprised of two major parts: fundamental scientific skills and core topics. According to the California Department of Education, the scientific skills emphasized by the NGSS on the high school level include conducting investigations, drawing models and writing evidencebased explanations. Some of the core high school topics include weather and climate, Earth systems. And properties of matter.

The most notable topic of the core curriculum of the NGSS are the Earth systems and Earth science content, which have greatly altered the science curriculum for all California public high schools. With FHS being no exception.

NGSS emphasize much more hands-on practices compared to the contentheavy material of the old science standards.

“It [the old science curriculum] was so much content, but it wasn’t a lot of science practices. The NGSS have woven content with the cross-cutting concepts that go throughout all science,” Chemistry Honors and Physiology teacher Colleen Carey said. “You should be getting similar science practices across all the levels of science, and then it’s just the content standards that each subject that make them [the courses] different.

The content standards are just one third of the whole thing [the NGSS].”

Part of what contributes to the hands-on experience that the NGSS seeks to promote are skills that they call, “Performance Expectations.”

“That’s [the Performance Expectations] where they [the NGSS] have actually blended the cross-cutting concept, the scienceengineering practices and

the disciplinary core idea [content standard],” Carey said. “Before, it might have said, ‘Students know this...,’ but in the Next Generation Science Standards, it might say, ‘Plan and conduct an experiment to figure out the molecular structure of different things based on their bulk properties.’”

This higher demand for interaction has changed the way in which teachers support their students.

According to Carey, under the NGSS, teachers have to assist with all of the science, engineering, planning and conducting elements of all the scientific explanations.

Although the NGSS was officially implemented

by California back in April 2019, the Fremont Union High School District just recently started making significant strides in working on incorporating the NGSS into all of their high schools’ science curriculums.

“For the last two years, they’ve [the district] have been doing a lot of work to split those up. In the Spring of 2018, we, as a district,

finally decided which standards go where,” said Carey.

“Because bio pretty much got all of life science and because they have to teach sex-ed, they did not get many of the earth science standards.”

This left the earth science standards with the chemistry and physics courses.

“They [the district] tried to break it up so that space went more to physics and earth went to chem because it went with the other physical science standards that were given,” said Carey.

These major changes to the curriculum have posed many challenges for FHS’s science teachers.

“It’s always really challenging when you change what you do, but being a teacher that was new to this school, anyway, it was a good year to blow up the curriculum and then reform it,” said Carey.

Unbeknownst to students, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work when it comes to planning new curriculum.

“Our team [...] made a wish list of where we [planned out] which performance expectations would go in which units,” said Carey.

The earth science curriculum has also new challenges for the students.

“The vocab part of that unit [the earth science unit] is a bit more [intensive] than chem usually is,” said Carey. “Chem is usually here’s some concepts; you can apply those concepts and then extend them.”

Although much of the initial content planning has finished and the new materials have been fully integrated into the chemistry and physics courses, the earth science content will continue to change within the coming years. However,

for now, most of the teachers are concerned with how the content is going to play out this year.

“This year in chemistry, we’re really focusing on the planning and conducting investigations [part of the curriculum], and I think we’re going to get more and more into the human impact part in the second semester, especially when we get into chemical reactions,” said Carey.

Teachers are hopeful that many students will be leaving with skills that will help them in their future science classes.

“Science and engineering practices are the things that you are going to take with you to be successful at the next level,” said Carey.

Graphic courtesy of SERC-Carlton

News

nov. 8, 2019

2

Changes come to the College Board and the ACT

by Quinten Seghers

News Editor

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT), both key aspects of a high school student’s college application process, are now undergoing some significant changes.

The College Board, a non-profit organization, which controls all aspects of the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, are altering how colleges view both exam scores.

For several years, the College Board has been testing out a new adversity index scale, which is now being used by around 50 colleges and universities. It’s designed to not only provide colleges with a student’s AP or SAT exam score, but also to provide adequate context for an applicant’s own socioeconomic advantages or disadvantages that they face. This adversity index

will be made available to all colleges by 2020.

Once a student decides to send their test scores to a college, the college’s admissions officers will be able to access data regarding said applicant’s local neighborhood and their high school, giving colleges another crucial viewpoint of an applicant’s college application. This new adversity index is primarily designed to help colleges gauge the effects that an applicant’s environmental surroundings have on their test scores.

The actual adversity index is out of 100 points, with a higher score indicating a more socioeconomically disadvantaged applicant and vice-versa. The listed adversity index score for an applicant is actually the average of several various categories.

“I think that the intention behind [the adversity

index] is good in the sense that especially for those [disadvantaged] students that fall into those categories that it would shed light into those colleges

comes out of [the adversity index].”

However, the adversity index is not the only major change to come high school students’ way. The ACT is

that they’re applying to,” College and Career Center Advisor Lupita Yanez said.

“I definitely think that it’s a good positive item that

also currently undergoing some major structural development.

The ACT is composed of four major sections:

English, math, reading and science. Usually, if an applicant were to receive high marks on English, reading and science, but receive a poor score on math, they would then have to pay to retake the entire exam if they wished to try and receive a better grade on just the math portion.

Starting in 2020, ACT exam takers can choose to retake a specific section.

Helping save time and money, but not necessarily relieving student stress.

“In my opinion, the ACT super score does relieve some of the stress but I think that the ACT is only doing this for money reasons because these institutions only really care about how much money they get,” junior Aishik Bhattacharyya said.

Alongside being able to retake individual sections, exam takers will be able to choose whether or not

to take the ACT on paper or online. This new online option will become available on the September 2020 exam date.

Providing exam takers with the added benefit of receiving their scores within two days of taking the ACT instead of having to wait weeks.

However, according to Newsweek, a record number of colleges across the country are dropping the ACT and SAT test submission requirement.

“Recently, lots of colleges have been getting rid of the standardized testing options, making it optional,” Bhattacharyya said. “I think that’s a good step [for] the future.”

Whether or not one decides to take the SAT, ACT or AP exams, make sure to review all possible options going forward in the future!

Graphics courtesy of Partnership FCC and Steinmetz College Prep

Senior resource opportunities at Fremont High

by Sonia Wadher and Leann Bast Collaboration

As seniors approach the end of their high school careers, many begin to wonder what lies ahead for them and their futures.

Standardized test scores, GPA, extracurriculars and teacher recommendations are what many start to focus on for their college applications, which is well-known to become overwhelming.

The college application process varies greatly for every different institution, as colleges either have students directly apply to institutions or through alternatives such as the Common Application or the Coalition.

Some schools may also ask for specific records from

your high school such as Secondary School Reports and the College Scholarship Service Profile profiles; the list goes on.

Throughout the entire application process, the guidance team provides dedicated flex times for the entire senior class to discuss general questions and concerns during the application season.

They also give students easy access to financial aid information and create structured time for specific workshops that are intended to help give students resources to a variety of opportunities.

College and career advisor Lupita Yanez works with seniors to make sure that they are ready to move on to their next step in life.

“As seniors prepare to

embark on their chosen careers, the guidance team has made sure to offer their support to seniors,” Yanez said. “Counselors have given presentations for students’ red folders, which is what we use to help with the college application process. We also offer college application workshops that

began in August and will last through November. Also, on December fifth, we are hosting a financial aid night where five to ten financial aid experts will be here to help fill out the FAFSA waivers.”

Other resources that can be used to support

students are the online resources that the school provides. Seniors will be using the Naviance website throughout the first semester to work on college applications, brag sheets for their counselors and teacher recommendations. These research tools also act as a

source to help students pick a college based off their majors and help with the overall college application process.

An additional resource available that seniors who are planning on attending out-of-state colleges may be able to take advantage of is

the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE).

This program allows students to pay 50% of their state’s respective in-state tuition fees when attending out-of-state WUE universities.

There are currently 16 American states and territories participating in the WUE program: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

In each of these states, there are certain two-year and four-year universities that participate, with not all of each state’s colleges offering the WUE. In addition, the requirements for quali-

fying for the WUE program differ from one college to another.

“California is really hard; it’s going to be hard for kids to buy a house here in California [since] they’re so expensive and it’s very competitive, so to be able to get your education and if, later on you want to move back to California, you know you’ll have your degree, you’ll have everything, so if you wanted to move back, you could,” guidance counselor Dan Amezquita said.

Either way, these resources are advantageous for seniors who are still in the process of applying to colleges.

Graphic courtesy of UnderConsideration

Vaping epidemic leading to serious health issues

by Jay Ghate

Staff Writer

Vaping is a public health crisis that is not being taken seriously enough.

According to CNBC, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that vaping has caused nearly 1,500 people to become sick and has killed 33 people since July 2019 in 24 states. As of publication, 26 of the deaths occurred three weeks ago.

Vaping has led to a condition known as product use-associated lung injury.

The CDC has yet to determine what exactly in juul pens is causing people to fall ill.

Those who are currently hospitalized have also been diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which fluid

builds up in the lungs and prevents oxygen from circulating in the bloodstream.

According to Washington Post, patients that have been hospitalized are already relapsing. Patients have already faced an increased risk of illness, due to remaining lung damage and the steroid treatments.

However, unknown substances, such as THC and others contained in black market products, have been long considered the prime suspects of vaping deaths.

The CDC is currently warning people to stay away from using e-cigarettes for now. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently launched several criminal investigations on individuals suspected of having contaminated vaping products.

According to the Washington Post, in response to the reported hospitalizations, government officials are announcing tougher sales restrictions.

Health & Human Services

Washington, Michigan, Rhode Island and New York, have taken initiatives and have already banned flavored vape cartridges.

Massachusetts has even been enforcing

Secretary Alex Azar announced that President Donald Trump and FDA officials are working to ban almost all flavored e-cigarettes.

Many states, such as

a fourmonth halt to all vape products sales.

FDA administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb has threatened to ban flavored vaping liquids un-

less manufacturers, such as Juul Labs, decrease teenage users.

“We’re seeing more and more states exploring what emergency powers they have,” Assistant Vice President for state public policy at the American Lung Association Michael Seilback said.

Many vaping manufacturers have argued that their products have helped people find healthier alternatives to tobacco smoking.

“It’s very scary, and I’m worried about students accessing illegal substances because of the deaths,” Monica Dery said. “I hope for a positive outcome, but I don’t think there will be much change. Cigarettes are bad and deadly, but people still smoke.”

Dean George Bechara believes that education

about the subject is the most effective way to stop vaping in schools.

“For the most part, our goal is to be educational,” Mr. Bechara said.

He added that if a student is caught vaping, that student would receive support in terms of drug counseling, drug classes or the on-campus therapists.

“I’m hoping that the number of students vaping, will go down, but once again, I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” Bechara said.

In the end, the situation can only be controlled by habitual vapers who should consider the dangers and consequences before vaping.

Graphics courtesy of Signs for Safety

News

Nov. 8, 2019

US government worker strikes

by Hannah Azur

Staff Writer

When government workers decide to strike, it affects the entire economy, which not only affects the United States of America but also the entire world.

Strikes are when workers of a specific company unite to collectively pursue higher wages or achieve some change in their workplace environment.

However, according to CBS News, it remains illegal for government workers in California to strike, with the exception of teachers.

Thousands of government workers still defy the government and participate in them anyway.

Worker strikes are not uncommon and have actually been around a lot longer than one may think in countries all over the world.

According to Investopedia, the first strike in US history

was the Great Southwest Railroad Strike in 1886, organized by the Knights of Labor. This strike took place in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Texas. There were over 200 thousand workers organized to protest their low ten cents per hour wages.

Strikes are still common today, with a recent strike happening at Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente is a health care provider; top Kaiser Permanente officials claim that the company prioritizes their patient’s comfort. This strike took place on October 14, with an estimated 80 thousand workers going on strike.

Various sources such as The American Prospect claim that for the October 14 strike, 98 percent of Kaiser workers voted to initiate a strike, which left Kaiser Permanente severely

understaffed.

“If they go forward with a walk out, it would be the largest strike in the US since 1997,” The American Prospect said.

Kaiser Permanente workers decided to strike against the company because of the insufficient benefits and pay. A lot of their workers believe that this high paying company prioritizes monetary gain over their patients.

According to Columbia Broadcasting System the union had four key demands that needed to be met in order for them to stop the protests.

Those demands were worker-management

by Emaan Rao

As the first semester starts creeping to an end, a large number of collegebound high school seniors are flooded with college applications and future, lifedefining decisions.

Balancing life for seniors, from extracurricular activities and homework to their social life and the possibility of a job, is extremely difficult. Almost always, seniors develop a feeling of nonchalance and apathy, leading to a lack of interest in learning and slacking off in school. They begin to choose easier classes instead of rigorous courses that are supposed to prepare them for college life.

Especially during the fall and winter months, seniors experience a burnout, gradually putting less and less effort into their schoolwork and attendance.

Math teacher I-Heng McComb said she believes that this time of year is bound to make seniors have a hard time dealing with school.

“The energy and optimism of the new school year starts to wear off in October

if we don’t deliberately feed them motivation,” McComb said. “Students are more tired, staff are more tired… the days are getting shorter, which adds to the overall feeling.”

Many teachers notice a decline in quality work, with students only doing work for completion scores. All available time, energy and attention is dedicated to college essays, scholarship applications and SAT scores. With all this pressure, school attendance starts to feel optional for seniors.

According to a study

by Vanderbilt University, high levels of dopamine in many regions of the brain are associated with a high work ethic. However, there is a strong negative correlation between dopamine levels and work ethic, which strongly relates to motivation and reward.

Academic focus is lost at school mainly due to the effort put into trying to apply to college. Most colleges don’t put as much emphasis on senior year grades as

Graphic courtesy of Angel Food Organization

slump they do junior year grades, giving students yet another reason to slack off throughout their senior year. Skills that will be useful in college, like avoiding social preoccupation, needing self-discipline and tolerating course rigor, are not as practiced or refined during senior year.

This reported “slump” for seniors is also commonly referred to as senioritis, which is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors, as evidenced by tardiness, absences and lower grades.

Living in a haze of sluggish, apathetic confusion, students mainly demonstrate a lack of studying, repeated absences and a generally dismissive attitude.

Regardless of the carefree lifestyle these seniors have adapted, many do not realize that this will ultimately backfire, since colleges keep a close eye on attendance and grades even after acceptance letters are handed out.

This is a difficult time for teachers as well. Seniors often forget the workload teachers have year-round and that college applications affect them too. They need to be supportive of their senior students, and this can be hard to balance because of the responsibilities teachers have.

“I think teachers struggle most with helping support students and keeping them motivated when we ourselves might be struggling,” McComb said.

“Teachers sometimes forget to take care of themselves because we feel responsible to take care of so many students.”

Even though this time of year can be exhausting for even the best of students, it is important that seniors remember to stay determined, take care of themselves and try to be uplifting for others as well. As unmotivated as one may feel, uniting and supporting others will ultimately spread a general positive feel, which is beneficial to everyone.

Graphics courtesy of Depositphotos and ClipArt Library

World News:

Current Events

by Thomas Poplawski News Editor

- Hong Kong protests continue as protestors work towards getting the Chinese government to accept their demands, according to The Ringer.

- ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by the United States with the help of Iraq and Syrian Democratic Forces, according to CNN. - According to ABC News, the Brexit deadline for the United Kingdom has been postponed again until 2020.

U.S. News:

the

PHOENIX Editor-in-Chief Suryan Bhatia | Vivien Su

News Thomas Poplawski | Quinten Seghers Arts & Entertainment Trixie Rodriguez | Natalie Wolff Sports Kiana Thelma Devera | Emily Wilson Opinion Anahi Ruvalcaba | Sonia Wadher Center Spread Shira Agmon | Diana Piper

Seniors and the Staff Writer

partnership, safe staffing, building the workforce and protecting the middle class jobs. Meaning that people who work for Kaiser can earn enough money to provide for their families without having to work. The result of this strike was a settlement.

“The new four-year labor contract includes annual pay increases and protection of retirement benefits for current and future employees,” the San Francisco Business Times said.

Either way, workers, when united, are able to accomplish a great deal.

3

- Following a request by President Donald Trump to the Ukrainian government to investigate the son of Joe Biden, Democratic leadership has initiated the impeachment process, calling it a major ethical violation by his authority for political gain, according to CNN. - On October 26, a strong armed robbery occurred at Great America, according to Kron4 News.

- According to the New York Times, the House of Representatives has formally recognized the Armenian genocide of 1915.

Online Leann Bast | Michael Wang Copy Editor Lauren Panzer Staff Writers Hannah Azur Steven Bhirdo Caitlyn Chan Charles Chang Sara Chow Hana Duus Maddy Garcia Jay Ghate Chris Guzik Audrey Hambrick J.J. Hernandez Nivi Khatana Dalia Levy Sarah Madden Jeanne Merigot

Abby Mingus Jael Ramirez Serenity Ramon Emaan Rao Yashvi Rawat Alexis Rodriguez Anoushka Samant Asaf Shchory Tori Sheaffer Coral Sheffer Eva Tafoya Isaac Tiscareno Gianna Vargas Perla Verduzco Maya Zuljevic

Fremont High School 575 W Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408)-522-2400 | fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com Advisor | Emer Martin Mission Statement: The Phoenix, protected under the California Education code, is a public forum for the students of Fremont High School. The Phoenix staff will publish features, editorials, news and sports in an unbiased and professional manner. The Phoenix is the official student newspaper and is distributed free of cost to the students. The Phoenix publishes eight issues throughout the school year.

Editorial Policy Editorials are the official opinion of The Phoenix.

Opinions and letters are the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Phoenix. All content decisions are made by the student editors and do not reflect the official policy of Fremont High School, nor the opinions of the administration, faculty, or adviser.

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Arts & Entertainment

Nov. 8, 2019

4

Teens love Broadway, and Broadway loves us back

by Emily Wilson Sports Editor

When many people think of musicals, they picture a completely happy-go lucky show, mainly based on the spectacle rather than the content of the musical.

However, in recent years, the concept of musicals has evolved, now painting a more diverse and interesting picture.

Broadway has always been an essential part of not only New York City culture, but also American culture in general. In recent years, musicals have taken on a new role in society, representing minorities and the youth, among other subcultures.

In today’s day and age, many teenagers wrestle with mental health, and their experiences are reflected in musicals such as Dear Evan Hansen and Next to Normal.

In Dear Evan Hansen, the titular character struggles with social anxiety and depression. In Next to Normal, female lead Diana Goodman experiences bipolar disorder, and the play centers around her hallucinations of her deceased son.

Teenagers can see themselves in these characters, as many teenagers struggle with similar mental health issues.

A popular opinion is that modern Broadway only caters to the coveted “theatre kid” subculture.

Recently many pop stars have either originated or had roles in different musicals. Panic! At The Disco lead vocalist Brendon Urie recently starred in Kinky Boots. Many of his fans flocked to his performance and bombarded him after the musical was over, creating a safety problem

for Urie. Nonetheless, Urie’s involvement in the show increased the exposure for the musical. Sara Bareilles, a prominent singersongwriter, also helped adapt the 2000s indie film, Waitress into a musical. A lot of the musical’s instant popularity has been thanks to Bareilles’ adoring fans, who flooded the box office night after night. Having pop icons act in musicals invites a wider and more diverse audience.

Musicals also have been recently popularized by modern songwriters such as writing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, as well as by Lin-Manuel Miranda, arguably the best

musical songwriter of the modern age. Miranda has quickly become one of the most prominent Broadway creators in the modern era. Boasting a Pulitzer Prize, along with multiple Tony Awards, Miranda is rightfully decorated for his contribution. Popular works from Miranda include the musical In the Heights, which has themes of family and loving where one comes from, and arguably the most popular musical of the modern era, Hamilton.

Pasek and Paul are behind the groundbreaking music in Dear Evan Hansen, as well as movie musicals La La Land

and The Greatest Showman.

The duo won a Tony award for Best Score for their work in Dear Evan Hansen. Their music almost speaks for itself, based on the instant popularity and critical acclaim of not only their Broadway musicals, but also their movie musicals.

Many unoriginal musicals take the spotlight of musicals, which are arguably more creative. Disney musicals such as Frozen and The Little Mermaid are stories and songs that the typical Broadway consumer has already seen or heard.

Yet, these familiar stories still take up Broadway consumers’ time and money.

Musicals like these, including cult classic remakes such as Mean Girls and Heathers, are conceivably less appealing than original musicals because they have been performed many times

in different ways. In fact, the immense popularity of these well-known musicals often overshadows the originality of eccentric musicals such as Hadestown and Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812.

Broadway has always tackled different and popular issues, but more recently, it has catered to the youth. Adolescents can relate to popular characters and can be entertained by interesting stories. Widespread music streaming has also led to teens being able to listen to any and every musical in the comfort of their own homes. This new generation of Broadwaygoers is essential to society, not only so that Broadway can remain relevant, but also so that the magic of live theater can live on.

Graphics courtesy of Tumblr

Sunnyvale boba shop Tastea opens with a bang

by Caitlyn Chan Staff Writer

Tastea’s Sunnyvale location had its grand opening on Oct. 12, 2019. Tastea has had a great reputation for delicious boba, even prior to the Sunnyvale location; freshman Madelyn Ngyuen said that Tastea’s San Jose location was her favorite place to get boba.

On the day of the grand opening, there was an extremely long line span-

ning three blocks. Tastea ran a promotion in which customers received free tea on the day of the grand opening, contributing to the length of the line. There was also a DJ that entertained everyone with music while waiting in line.

Tastea is located in a plaza with many other popular stores for food such as Panera Bread, Pinkberry and Five Guys. The store has a calming atmosphere with wooden furniture. If

there is not enough room to sit inside, there is a lot of available space outside the store, in the plaza. Even with all the chaos, the staff had great service. After the cashiers took the order, the drink was ready not too long afterward. Tastea is unique in that its drinks include green boba, rather than black boba. It was special to see different-colored boba.

The boba was very chewy, which I personally liked.

One of the drinks I

ordered was the Peach Me Sweet tea, a popular variety of theirs. The tea was just the right amount of sweetness; it tasted extremely natural and had strawberries on top. It was also extremely refreshing, and the taste was unique. The drink cost around four dollars and seventy-five cents, which is the average price around the Bay Area for drinks. Considering the size of the pearl teacups, the prices were reasonable. I also ordered

the Strawberry Ecstasy tea.

This one was more bitter than the Peach Me Sweet tea and not as fruity. I would recommend this drink if you like tea with low sweetness.

Lastly, I ordered the Matcha Milk tea. This tea was on the sweeter side, and I could personally only drink it in moderation, but the flavor was enjoyable.

My favorite drink is definitely the Peach Me Sweet tea. The tea was the most refreshing; the fruit

inside it was delicious and it had the perfect amount of sweetness.

Tastea is unique and has a much wider variety of drink flavors compared to other tea shops in the Bay Area. The location is very convenient for many students attending Fremont High School, as it is only 1.2 miles away. Overall, I highly recommend Tastea because of its fast service, friendly environment, flavors, price and convenience.

Why the Fremont art department is important

by Jeanne Merigot & Coral Sheffer Collaboration

In order to graduate, students within the Fremont High School Union District are required to take at least one year of a “fineart.” One of the main ways that students can fulfill this requirement is through the art program at Fremont.

Ceramics, AP Art and 3D design teacher Catherine

Zweig has taught many different classes in her time at Fremont. Zweig has seen first hand the impact that art can have on a student’s life.

Zweig became a teacher 25 years ago. She studied art and education at Bowling Green State University in Toledo, Ohio, and this started her career as an art teacher. From then on, Zweig had found her love for teaching.

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“The art department here at FHS is extremely strong and this is due to the incredible students we have here, they are very dedicated and there is a lot of creativity and depth in their work,” Zweig said.

“Even students who started out in beginning art end up finding strength in their work, and some of it catches them by surprise. They, themselves, just elevate the program.”

Art as a whole, according to Zweig, expands your way of thinking. It also increases observation skills and allows students to better understand art, which further develops empathy.

Empathy is important because it helps students think deeply about the world and form connections.

The students at FHS also share this sentiment.

“I really like art, it lets me be creative, and it is a

break from my hard classes, and it helps me express myself,” a student said.

This further shows the importance of the FHS art department.

It’s vital for high school students to have a place where they feel free to create openly and relieve stress.

“Art is interesting to me because the rest of school is really academically inclined, and it is really hard worrying about your grades all

the time, and so it is nice to have an escape through my art,” another student said.

Ultimately, the art department at Fremont has been fostering creativity, individuality and community for years and continues to do so.

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Arts & Entertainment

Nov. 8, 2019

Teenager Therapy and the rise of podcasts

by Kiana Devera Sports Editor

Whether it is through a car radio, speaker or phone, over the past decade, podcasts have become one of the main sources for modern storytellers. Some people use podcasts as background noise while studying or exercising, without really paying attention to the content. However, many people develop connections with certain podcasts that keep them engaged and wanting more.

Just five years ago, podcasts were still a relatively

small media platform, but today, it has grown into a massive multi-million dollar industry. Celebrities have also began to capitalize on the popularity of podcasts.

David Dobrik, Shaquille O’Neal and Amy Schumer are all examples of celebrities who have dipped their toes in the podcast waters.

Even with all this traction, one podcast stands out the most to many teenagers: Teenager Therapy. Though the title may sound daunting at first, this podcast is simply a group of teenage students talking about any-

thing and everything while managing to be both very inclusive and respectful.

These five friends—Gael, Thomas, Mark, Isaac and Kayla—genuinely want to connect with their audience and create a community outside of the podcast by means of Twitter, Instagram or any other social media platforms.

They believe that many adults all around the world undermine teenagers’ opinions and thoughts because we’re perceived to be uneducated, reckless and careless.

This is especially important

considering the ongoing stigma towards sexuality, confidence, mental health and depression.

To combat this issue, this group of 16-year-olds created the Teenager Therapy podcast in 2018.

They created a platform where they try to reach out and help teenagers that feel like they’re alone. Within the first episode, they make it clear that teens have valid opinions and that they shouldn’t feel the need to keep to themselves.

In every episode, the teenagers try to be consider-

ate of everyone’s situations because they understand that some topics are controversial. All they want is to make a good impact on other people, help them out and make a difference.

They were once in need and received help, and they want to give that back by reaching out through the podcast. Like their slogan, Because we have problems too, teenagers need to understand that they’re not alone and that many others like them are going through the same thing.

While they’re teens just

5

like us, they have a very mature goal and are extremely welcoming and relatable compared to other podcasts such as The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel and Gen Z with Mackenzie.

This group of friends shows the beauty of how podcasts can connect with listeners on an emotional level, which is something that is hard to come by these days.

Graphics courtesy of Tumblr

Fremont choir review Kid star exploitation

by Yashvi Rawat Staff Writer

Fremont High School’s choir held their first concert of the year on October 23 in the Shannon Theater.

The show featured all three choirs directed by the choir teacher Joseph Howard along with piano accompanist Nancy Whitecar.

There were also special performances including a solo act and stunning rendition of Break of Dawn done by a small group of choir members.

The Voce choir, the beginning choir made up of mostly freshmen, started off the concert with a medley of The Lion King. The group was very expressive and created a different atmosphere for each song, taking on an innocent and lighthearted tone for the song I Just Can’t Wait to Be King and transitioning to the more dark, creepy song Be Prepared.

Next to take the stage was the all-girls Aria choir. Their performance highlighted a rendition of everyone’s favorite songs

from Beauty and the Beast, including Gaston and Be Our Guest. The choir members dressed up as various characters from the classic movie, such as Belle and Gaston, which added flavor to the production, making any Disney lover an instant fan of the performance.

Along with Beauty and the Beast, Aria also sang three Irish songs. There was diversity in the song choice, creating contrasting moods for each piece. For instance, the first song was quieter and had almost a haunting tone, while the next was happier and had an innocent feel.

The focal point of the Bella choir’s performances was their emotional depiction of the popular musical Les Miserables. The entire choir was dressed up as peasants to portray the characters in the musical. The group did a successful job of setting context for their performance, making it enjoyable to watch regardless of whether the viewers are fans of Les Miserables. The performance was very mov-

ing, with the choir doing a successful job of conveying different and complex emotions throughout the performance.

Each of the three choirs had their own unique take on the well-known songs they sang, and they added layers to their performances through movement, costumes, and engagement.

The soloists in each performance were powerful and captivated the audience.

The concert was very engaging and it was clear that they were very talented.

However, future concerts cannot take place without funding. Anyone who is a fan of these choir concerts is encouraged to contribute by supporting the choir’s candy fundraiser or donating to their holiday concert auction.

by Lauren Panzer Copy Editor

Movies were one of the greatest mediums of art in the twentieth century. Hollywood, specifically, has seen many creative minds and incredible actors, but has also seen many scandals and conspiracies.

Many know Shirley Temple as the flawless, talented child starlet that brought joy to the United States in the midst of The Great Depression. Her songs entertained generations upon generations.

Temple, born in 1928, was enrolled in dancing school at barely three years old and was scouted by producer Charles Lamont.

Temple went on to star in a series of 8 short films, titled Baby Burlesks, which were parodies of major motion pictures and current events and acted out by children. The Baby Burlesks were filled with sexual overtones, as

Temple and the other children she worked with were dressed in hyper-sexualized clothing.

In the film War Babies, Temple played a prostitute who traded lollipops for kisses and called herself as “expensive”. Of course, the implications were lost on the children because they were just following the orders of the directors.

Temple would later call these films “A cynical exploitation of our childhood innocence,” According to Celebrity Insider.

Temple was also scouted for the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. In an interview on Larry King Live, Temple explained how during casting, MGM producer Arthur Freed exposed himself to her when she was 12 years old.

Shirley Temple wrote her autobiography, Child Star and published it in 1988. In it, she describes several instances of harassment by the hands of Hollywood producers.

Temple is not the only former child star to speak out against exploitation in the movie business. Corey Feldman, an 80’s prodigy, starred in The Goonies, and won himself the “Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Horror Motion Picture” for his performance in The Lost Boys, released in 1987.

Feldman said in an interview that he “Didn’t even know it. It wasn’t until I was old enough to realize what they were, what they wanted, and what they were about, and the types of people who were around me. . . they were like vultures,” According to Celebrity Insider.

Behind the glitz glamour there are people being used. Hollywood is great at covering this up but in order to improve these issues must be acknowledged.

That’s why movements like #MeToo are so important.

When people share their stories they can rewrite the status quo.

A look at upcoming Young-Adult fiction

by Sarah Maden Staff Writer

Every bookworm knows the struggle of having a million books they want to read but not knowing which to choose. Here’s a look at some upcoming novels that are sure to capture your interest.

One of the upcoming books this fall is The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, which will be published on Nov. 19, 2019. It is the finale to The Folk of Air Trilogy.

It is a Young-Adult fantasy series that follows Jude, a

17-year-old human girl as she navigates life in the world of fairies filled with prejudice. The first book in the series is The Cruel Prince, which was published on Jan. 2, 2018. The book was extremely commercially successful. The Wicked King was released early this year on Jan. 8, 2019 and is the second book in the series.

Between these two books was the The Lost Sisters, which is a short story set between the two major novels. It was published on Oct. 2nd, 2018. The Lost Sisters follows a different

structure than other books in the series. The short story is written as a series of letters between the series’ main protagonist Jude and her sister. Fans of The Folk of Air Trilogy might also be interested in Holly Black’s other works like The Spiderwick Chronicles, which was made into a popular movie directed by Mark Waters.

It’s safe to say that Black has mastered the fantasy genre, so The Queen of Nothing is sure to please all the fantasy-fanatics out there.

Another book that is coming out later this year is

Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. It is the second addition to her new series, Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. Children of Blood and Bone, the first novel in the series, was published in 2018, and the Children of Virtue and Vengeance will be published Dec. 3rd, 2019.

Adeyemi is a popular author, having won both the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Debut Goodreads Author and Audie Audiobook of the Year for her first book. The book itself is inspired by West African mythology and the Yoruba cul-

ture and language. It centers on a young girl named Zélie who lives in the kingdom of Orisha, the main setting of the novel. It takes place eleven years after the ruling class Kosidáns’ suppression and attempted eradication of the class of magic, also known as the maji. There are two main conflicting cultures in the books: the maji, who have unique magical abilities, and the elite kosidán, also known as the nobles. The class warfare and magic make for an extremely compelling mix.

It’s a thrilling series perfect

for fans of dystopia and fantasy. It’s important to keep your brain active, and a good book is the perfect way to do so. Plus, what’s more fun than curling up at home in a fluffy, warm pile of blankets and pillows while reading your favorite book?

Nothing. So, go to your local bookstore, and make sure to stay sharp, cozy and warm this winter!

Special Feature

Nov. 8, 2019

6

self-care and soothing senior stress

by Anahi Ruvalcaba It’s senior season!

Finally, the year we’ve all been waiting for: becoming the most spirited class, easy courses, graduation and college applications?

That’s right! The application clock has begun ticking! For some, applications can be due as early as November 1.

From deadlines to deciding what schools to apply to, everything about college apps is stressful.

Applying to colleges can be stressful for many reasons. You have to decide whether or not you would like to attend school outof-state, and sometimes that decision must be made without getting to visit the school beforehand. You also have to remember that each application costs 60 to 80 dollars on average, and FHS recommends you apply to around eight or ten colleges. Apart from the cost to complete and submit the application to each school, there is also an additional 12 dollars to pay to submit your standardized tests scores to colleges if needed. The

financial requirements are heavy and stressful, especially if your family doesn’t have the means to allow you to apply to many schools.

Apart from the financial aspect, you have to make sure you meet the requirements for each application. Most schools publish the average SAT scores of accepted applicants, and if you don’t meet that average, it can make you feel unworthy or not intelligent enough and stress you out. Some schools also don’t holistically view your application, which means all they look at are your test scores and GPA. This prevents students from showcasing the more personal parts of their application.

Aside from all this, you still must manage and complete your schoolwork, and it feels like the stress never ends. However, it’s important to note that this process is not one you can just get done in one sitting; it must be taken in steps.

In the meantime, it’s

important to take a break and care for yourself. First, set deadlines that are manageable, and consider any advice from those who have gone through the process before. It will be less stressful if you break the process into steps. Next, it’s highly important to treat yourself.

You’re working hard, and it’s okay to take a break and go out with friends, attend a football game or take a walk on your own. Whenever you get the chance to relax, use it wisely. Cook your favorite meal, bake some cookies and watch a movie at home. It’s necessary for you to learn that, at times, you need to just breathe and escape anything that can induce chaos in your brain.

Understand that you’re

going to be very busy, but prioritize. If you have the chance in class to do other work, use it! Use free periods and tutorials to your advantage, and try to keep your weekdays busy and weekends free. Although I’m suggesting to prioritize your time wisely, don’t be afraid to let yourself off the hook. Yes, it is important to finish your schoolwork, but sometimes, if you think you need a break for your brain, take it. Remember not to guilt yourself for taking time and space to yourself.

All of this can sound like a lot, but remember this time only comes around once. There are many others currently on this difficult journey; remember that everything will be okay.

by Trixie Rodriguez

Graphics courtesy of Webstock Review, Pinterest, PNG Mart, PNG Images, PNG Clipart, PNG IMG, PNG Pix and Konfest

comfort viewing.

I define comfort viewing as the act of consuming media that provides a level of heart-warming reassurance. Comfort viewing is a sacred experience and comes in many different forms. A teenager re-watching a not-entirelyage-appropriate Disney Channel original movie, a mom settling down on a West-Elm couch preparing for a Hallmark movie marathon and a heartbroken millennial crying into their rocky road ice cream as they re-watch Friends for the eighth time are all examples of individuals partaking in comfort viewing.

Before we continue with this, I think it’s important to recognize that comfort viewing is not a scientific phenomenon. I have absolutely no credentials to claim that. I’m simply a concerned citizen surrounded by high school

girls who have seen all 16 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy several times. So let’s try to provide some reason as to what drives a person to do something like this.

People are driven to comfort viewing for different reasons. Boredom is one of the leading causes.

When there just seems to be nothing else to do, why not bust out another The Office re-watch? It’s easy to turn something familiar on. Often times, the more you watch something the easier it becomes to digest.

Comfort watching is probably a lot easier than that essay you’re putting off, which brings me to another reason why people turn to comfort viewing: stress!

After re-watching a certain movie or show many times, there becomes this melodic, and almost musical, rhythm to it. Good quotes come as naturally as lyrics, and once you get into the flow of a

by Sarah Chow

Fact: High school is har friends and extracurricu a minute for yourself. T week-long list of low eff care, mental recovery a activities.

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Wednesday: Slap on a sheet mask th cerns. For instance, use interested in clearing yo mask for glowing skin o hydration. Sheet masks continue to get stuff do them. So finish that lite glowy and glassy skin.

comfort viewing: an epidemic It’s 9:48 PM on a Wednesday. My APUSH textbook sits on my nightstand, feeling more neglected than Amy Adams during the Oscars. My backpack is sadly slumped over in a corner of my room next to a pile of dirty clothes, filled with homework I have yet to complete. Schoolloop assignments crowd my inbox, desperately trying to remind me that I have things to do.

However, these are not the things I choose to focus on as I sit on my bed, covered by blankets, repeatedly shoveling handfuls of among handfuls of Trader Joe’s cheese puffs into my mouth. My attention is on John Mulaney, as I rewatch Kid Gorgeous, one of his three stand-up specials on Netflix. This scene is not unfamiliar. In fact, I’ve been here countless times before.

If you have ever found yourself in a familiar situation you might be guilty of

a week

show, it’s hard to get out.

This can make comfort viewing dangerous.

In itself, comfort viewing is harmless, but when it becomes a form of procrastination, that’s when things get rough. Now, for some responsible people, this might not be a problem but if you’re like me, then it very much is.

So what’s the solution?

Well, after giving it much thought I have come to the conclusion that comfort viewing is important because it allows people to relax in a world with constantly increasing tension.

However, it is crucial to not let it take over or affect other aspects of life.

Thursday: Play your favorite playli set the mood and atmo makes you feel more ale tration, while upbeat m optimistic and positive calm you down and alle relaxing muscles. Resea sity even stated that “lis be able to change brain extent as medication.”

Friday: Come Friday night, go t to pull an all-nighter on have the whole weeken to sleep early will help i general well-being. Tho are more likely to be ov negative thoughts, acco at Binghamtonj66 Univ turning off the lights be

Saturday: Watch a movie on Satu consuming activity on t Greater Good Magazine that watching happy m happiness in viewers. S see the world through s hours.

Sunday: Summon your inner ba horizontal position, com liquid conditions in a b ment of the womb. Som particular positioning g Add oils to make it silky relax your muscles and

Special Feature

Nov. 8, 2019

7

d relaxation

kly guide

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rd. Between schoolwork, ulars, it’s tough to take To guide you, here is a ffort, but effective, selfand appearance-enhancing

andid cat, spoke for all of e Mondays.” Fight the uning your favorite candle. It rting smells help clear your eatist, studies find that, system’s intimate relationrtain scents influence our us sleepy; florals make us s energize us. Other than e of the flickering candleelaxing way to start or end

chocolate. BBC Science hat chocolate causes the making you feel happy. On get yourself a bar!

hat targets your skin cone a charcoal mask if you’re our pores, a Vitamin C or an aloe vera mask for s are nice because you can one while you are wearing erature essay while getting

ist. Like scents, music helps osphere. Faster-paced music ert and improves concenmusic makes you feel more about life. Slower tempos eviate stress, while also archers at Stanford Universtening to music seems to n functioning to the same

to sleep early. It’s tempting n Fridays because you’ll d to recover, but going improve your mood and ose who go to bed very late verwhelmed with repetitive ording to a study conducted versity. Reduce worries by efore twelve.

rday. This is the most timethis list, but according to e, studies consistently show movies stimulates feelings of o pop some popcorn and someone else’s eyes for two

by by taking a bath. The mbined with the warm, bath, mimics the environme scholars think that this gives us a sense of security. y and scented and salts to bubbles for fun.

tending to emotional needs

by Serenity Ramon and Eva Tafoya Our mental health should always come first because to live our best lives, we must have a happy and healthy mindset.

Toxicity is one issue that can get in the way of our happiness. Toxicity can come from many different sources such as family, significant others or friends.

It happens more often than you think; according to the organization Love is Respect, one out of three teenagers go through toxic relationships. These relationships can cause serious problems to one’s mental health and can lead to uncontrolled substance usage and self-harm.

Even though it is easier said than done, it is possible to leave these toxic relationships. Individuals must realize that what they’re enduring is wrong and reach out to a trusted adult. Love

is Respect reports that only 33 percent of affected teens inform someone that they are in a toxic relationship.

It is crucial to reach out for help.

Anxiety is a big factor after any sort of trauma that arises from toxic relationships. Controlling anxiety takes time, but there are many different ways to go about it. When anything worries you, try to ignore it; instead, take a breath and close your eyes to escape this stressful world. Daily meditation or yoga to help relax the mind and the body are other great ways to combat anxiety. Slowly counting to ten is also one of the best breathing exercises that can quickly reduce anger and anxiety.

Releasing your anger, sadness or anxiety through activities, like sports, art and music, is another great

coping mechanism. Challenging and setting goals for yourself compel your mind to focus on other things, allowing you to recover from the anxiety. Relaxation skills are important to have when recovering from toxic relationships. For example, if you are angry or something triggers a bout of depression, you can use certain practices and mechanisms to help. Identifying what makes you feel that way can help your problems.

Recovering involves more than just physical exercises. One must have a strong mind as well. Putting yourself first, by learning to say “no” and listening to yourself, are the most important thing to do. It is not inherently selfish; it’s a way to take care of your happiness. There are many negative results that arise when you disregard your mental

health, such as eating disorders, drug addiction, self-harm and more, which can affect your feelings, thoughts and everyday routine. If your emotions are all over the place, you aren’t going to make good decisions.

Teens should always try to maintain a good state of mind and stay healthy both emotionally and mentally. Anxiety control, meditation, self-love and goal-setting are all ways individuals can fight the anxiety that comes with toxic relationships. Self-care is often taken for granted, and individuals should try to take care of themselves as much as possible before they are somewhere they don’t want to be in life.

how to treat your body

by Dalia Levy

As students, we often feel stressed because of our homework, extracurriculars or personal lives. Stanford University explains how self-care for students, especially, is crucial and that we must slow down to take care of our individual needs.

During these times, many don’t realize how important it is to take the time, even if it’s just a couple of minutes, to relax and feel good. From meditating to relaxing in a hot bath, there are many different forms of self-care.

One of the most important ways of care for yourself is simple: sleeping. Sleep can have a huge effect on you physically and emotionally. Many teenagers think sleeping is not important because they have too much work to do, but sleep is crucial to feeling good and being attentive at school. Nationwide Children’s Hospital emphasizes that the average amount of sleep a teen is getting ranges approximately seven hours when they should be getting around nine hours of

sleep. Even if you just take a 30-minute nap when you get home, you considerably increase your energy, happiness and motivation.

Another way to practice self-care is to pay attention to your nutrition. An unhappy stomach makes you unhappy. Someone cannot just put burgers and fries into their body and expect lasting energy for the rest of the day. Eating foods with lots of protein, potassium, low sugars and lots of fiber will help you gain some sustainable energy and help your body feel better. NHS Inform, Scotland’s national health information service, explains how maintaining a

healthy weight and eating a balanced meal every day can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and also helps your overall heart health. This should motivate teens and young adults to be more healthy, since there are lots of health benefits and less of a risk of developing a common disease. Personally, some foods or drinks that I like to have when I am trying to stay healthy include bananas, tea, rice and warm soup. Home-cooked meals improve your overall feeling, unlike fried food.

Self-care cannot only be practiced physically; it also must be practiced

emotionally. One way that I practice self-care emotionally is by meditating, which helps me feel more relaxed and tuned in with my body.

Another way to emotionally practice self-care is by taking a warm bath or shower.

Not only will meditating and taking a bath help make you feel better, but they will also help you understand yourself better because you can reflect on what’s making you stressed.

The last way to destress is by taking a moment to reflect on what’s happening in your life on a piece of paper in a notebook. After a couple of these sessions, you will be able to tell if a part of your life is the reason that you are unhappy and see if you can do something about it. Reflection can help you feel more at peace with yourself knowing what happened in your day and how you can improve yourself for the future to try and feel better.

Self-care is more important than most people think, and taking a second for it is more valuable than

Opinion

nov. 8, 2019

8

Clothes do not signify anyone’s consent

by Maddy Garcia Freshman Liason

Rape culture means “a society or environment that normalizes sexual assault and abuse.” However, rape culture means so much more than that, especially to the victims.

In today’s society, it is so easy to neglect exactly what is and isn’t a part of rape culture. Many individ-

uals think they can “help” by showing examples on how to avoid getting raped. To me, it is completely insane that a society would teach this to young students, or think that this is a beneficial way of going about it.

Rape culture is a very broad, encompassing umbrella of terms. Here, I’ll be explaining some of those terms to help those who are unaware of this issue, or those who want to learn more.

A key factor to rape culture is victim-blaming, or accusing the victim of inciting the incident. An example of this would be: “she was asking for it with the way she dressed.” No one asks to get assaulted, especially if they are wearing

something that makes them feel good about themselves.

A common misconception is that only women get sexually assaulted. Although the rate for sexual assault victims is significantly higher for women, it does not mean men do not get sexually assaulted. In fact, according to RAINN, men are the victims of one in ten sexual assaults. Men, women and children of all ages, races, religions and economic classes can be victims.

Many see rape culture as older men assaulting adults or young adults.

However, what many people fail to realize is that rape culture is a big part of today’s high school society and perpetrators can be any

age. Rape culture is often discussed in the context of sexual assaults occurring on a college campus, but societal norms that encourage sexual violence are taught way earlier.

There are multiple high school traditions that support rape culture, like for example, the sexual expectations that come with prom.

For many students, prom is eagerly anticipated, not only for the dance, but also the after-prom occasions. Typically students are expected even pressured into hooking up with their date. Many boys tease their friends by asking if they “got some,” so girls often feel compelled into giving their dates what they want.

There are many more

high school traditions that feed into rape culture: the out-of-control parties, assigning value to male athletes, picking out the “school slut,” sexist dress code, and finally, a lack of consideration for those who come forward with their personal story involving sexual assault. All of this creates a climate that is conducive to rape culture.

Social media has numerous reasons for its toxicity, but rape culture is sort of a grey area when deciding if something is offensive or not. Multiple TV shows and movies display rape scenes for dramatic effect without realizing how damaging this could be.

13 Reasons Why is a book written by Jay Asher,

that has now turned into a Netflix show, which demonstrates the effects of rape culture on high school students. The first season received a lot of backlash since the show seemed like it was supporting rape culture. On the other hand, in the third season, the writers did a very good job of displaying the negative consequences of rape culture.

Although everyone may not be as aware as they should be, rape culture has very dangerous repercussions for vulnerable people in this culture, especially at a high school level. If any of these issues affect you the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-656-4673.

Makeup is not used to disguise yourself

by Alexis Rodriguez Staff Writer

A majority of the time, people are held to a certain expectation that we cannot meet. We are expected to act a certain way and talk a certain way, and all of these things are categorized in the desired faction. The societal expectations of the world seem to be so overwhelming to the point that no one really seems to know how to cope with its insidious ways.

Bodies are labeled as overweight; faces are considered ugly, and every aspect of ourselves is considered not

good enough. In a world like this, it is easier to believe every single bad perception of ourselves rather than the beautiful qualities that we choose to ignore when we look in the mirror. Many people all over the world have worked vigorously to discover a solution to this problem, but all of them seem to require a large amount of money. However, makeup is an affordable way to express ourselves in a matter where we feel that society has no input in what we decide to create.

Beauty seems to be overwhelmed with expectations and the beauty that each and every single human being withholds. Our society has created impossible expectations of beauty, yet we are expected to meet them. As the views of our world have become less close-minded, the world of creativity has opened up to

those who dare to enter. Expression is encouraged and uniqueness is respected.

Makeup, to many people, is frowned upon and is even considered disgusting for reason of ignorance that has not been addressed.

Many people all over the world believe that men and women wear makeup to boost their self-confidence and conceal their insecurities, but this is, in many cases, not the whole truth.

While makeup is a way of concealing our vulnerabilities to the world, it is also an art form in which we show the deepest forms of our creativity. We tell stories through the product that fills our skin; we convey to people how we wish to be seen and how we feel. Makeup is not used just for the simple purpose of enhancing our natural gorgeous features, but it is a way to turn our bodies into

deceptions that we never thought were possible.

3D makeup designs are an excellent example of this as they make human faces unrecognizable, using the designs of a foreign concept on their body. 3D makeup designs are definitely not the only form of makeup in which we use as an art, but it is one of the most significant in its virtues. Art comes in many different forms and concepts that we must learn and appreciate, as this is a skill that we should learn due to our growing and changing world. We should no longer think of our faces as something that contains an immense amount of vulnerabilities that must be concealed, but rather a canvas where we can paint our message to the world.

Photo courtesy of makeupbyjaack on Instagram

Make America great again: dump Trump

by Jael Ramirez Staff Writer

Recently, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats have officially declared a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump for alleged abuse of office and his communications with Ukraine. Recent polls from CNN show that 52 percent of Americans want Trump impeached while the other 48 percent beg to differ. I side with the majority. I have previously discussed how life is for a second-generation immi-

grants living in the United States. In one section of the article, I talked about how things have changed for my family and millions of other immigrants when Trump entered the presidency. He spread his hate for immigrants.

Since the beginning, Trump has associated racism with immigrants. He called immigrant rapists, criminals, drug dealers and so much more. I believe a president should be accepting of all people no matter their backgrounds. Trump, rather than promoting peace and unity, continues to harass almost anyone different than him and promotes hate towards immigrants. Trump has made life difficult for me, my family and all other immigrants.

I used to constantly live in fear of my family being broken apart by Immigration

And Customs Enforcement.

The thought of that would haunt me during the school day; to those quiet yet terrifying nights when your fears sneak into your dreams.

This fear was constantly with me, torturing me relentlessly, creating anxiety; I felt helpless, that I could not protect my family. I no longer have to worry about my family because we are all now citizens, but millions of other immigrants still have that fear daunting them.

Unfortunately, some have already had their fears come to life. Thousands have been deported. Fathers, mothers and children, who have lived in this country for years and have jobs, families, friends and hopes and dreams, and for that to be taken away by a man who has no idea what struggles immigrants go through.

Trump has no sym-

pathy. He stripped away the basic human rights of millions of people. He sent immigrants to deportation camps, which are modernday concentration camps.

Families and many more people are being held in truly cruel conditions; there is a lack of food, water and other necessities like soap, clothing and blankets in these centers, they separate innocent families by deporting the parents, but leaving the children in the camps with no way of ever contacting their parents. This is inhumane and cruel. How can we ever support a president who lacks empathy and has no problem hurting other people?

Some might say that he only hurts immigrants, but he has also hurt citizens of the United States.

We have a delusional, irrational and unfit man as

president. He couldn’t see all the harm he was causing when he declared a government shutdown, which is when all unnecessary government services are shut down, so the employees don’t receive pay. This is problematic because some employees have responsibilities that rely on their next paycheck. Some of these employees are parents who have children they need to provide for, rent they need to pay and electricity and gas bills that they have to attend to. People were so close to being homeless, and unfortunately, some had reached that point. When asked what kind of help he would provide for the unpaid government workers, he constantly avoids the question and just replied that what he was doing was “necessary.” Along with that, he knows that these govern-

ment workers “support him.” JP Morgan estimated that the US economy lost more than 1.5 million dollars for each week of the shutdown. President Trump is so deluded and unreasonable that he has no problem hurting people to get his way. A president is supposed to protect their citizens; he did the complete opposite of that.

As a country, we have made a huge mistake electing an unfit, deluded and irrational man to lead this country. He has hurt this country’s reputation, economy, and people. We cannot erase our mistakes of the past, but we can try to fix them. The only way we can fix this mistake is by impeaching President Donald Trump. This act will be in the best interest of everyone. He has done enough damage.

Opinion Nov. 8, 2019

The struggles that LGBT+ teens face daily

by Natalie Wolff & Yashvi Rawat Collaboration

Middle school and high school years are known to be one of the toughest years of a person’s life. At these times, many people start questioning different aspects within themselves and their surroundings.

Like most people, middle school was a time when I struggled a lot with self-identity. For me, this was largely due to coming to terms with my sexual orientation. Despite having at least some knowledge and

experience with the LGBT+ community, I was confused when I first developed feelings for a girl. At that point in my life, I spent so much time wishing I was straight, trying to suppress my feelings. It wasn’t even the idea of liking the same gender that upset me. Instead, it was the fear that almost all of us have: judgment. I heard too many coming out stories that ended in bullying, disownment or worse, and I didn’t want the additional stress of dealing with all the issues that inevitably come with being a part of the LGBT+ community. One of the biggest fears of all middle school students is standing out, and I was no exception. I felt jealous of my friends who had already come out and were secure and confident in themselves.

I didn’t come out to anyone until just under a year ago because I was so

scared of judgment. To my surprise, most of the friends I came out to acted as if I hadn’t said anything more interesting than simply stating the weather. My fears disappeared as I came out to more and more people and was met with acceptance.

Soon enough, however, a new problem surfaced. Each time I came out to someone, sooner or later, each person would ask me what I identified as. Something about that made me feel stressed.

However well-intentioned it was, I felt like I was being interrogated about something I didn’t have an answer to. It scared me that I didn’t have a label to define my sexual orientation, that I couldn’t find the right word to express how I was feeling. I felt insecure about not belonging to a single group, not knowing if I was lesbian, bisexual, pansexual or something else. If I’m being honest, I still don’t know

what the right label is for me. The difference is that now, I’ve accepted that it’s okay to not know. Emotions and feelings are complex things, and it’s only natural that we won’t always be able to put them in words.

Safe spaces are so crucial for students to feel safe in or feel like they belong somewhere. Although here in the Bay Area most residents are liberal, it is still very necessary to have a place where the LGBT+ community feels welcomed.

LGBT+ youth are three times more likely to contemplate suicide than their heterosexual peers and are five times more likely to attempt suicide according to The Trevor Project. These statistics show the significance in creating a safe environment for them.

Some aspects of having a safe space for LGBT+ people is that if they don’t live in a liberal area, it can

9

be really hard for them to actually open up to others.

Having a special place for them to feel welcome can make them feel a lot better about themselves and also allow them get advice from their peers.

Gra[phic coutersy of roygbiv

The importance of forgiving yourself

by Diana Piper

Centerspread Editor

“Forgiveness is a virtue.”

My mother would repeat this when I was a child.

I would smile giddily, nod and profess my agreement.

She would bore into my eyes, dissecting my disposition.

“Otherwise you must bear another’s mistakes forever.”

I was a combative young woman. I was continually looking for an intellectual fight, to be challenged and to win. As I admit abashedly now, I wanted to feel superior and

righteous. I was not quick to forgive, and my mother understood that. She saw the potential devastation and attempted to prevent it.

She was mostly successful. I learned, albeit apprehensively, to be forgiving, to be understanding, to be, ultimately (after several failures) compassionate.

I wanted to stay close to people, to comprehend them, to learn from them, as the inquisitive aspiring journalist I was. However, where I failed to apply my mother’s sage teachings was to myself; and the subsequent devastation of the continuation in ignorance almost tore me apart.

It culminated in 9th grade. I was a young, sensitive and feeble girl, yet I was hungry. I was so deeply starved, destitute, deprived of connection. Middle school was eternal pandemonium, but I was finally out and could satiate myself

Photos coutersy of ClipArt

with friendship. It’s hard to reminisce upon this time now; all memories are blurs, smudges and marks of this hunger, not much more. I cannot fathom how eager and insecure I must have been, although I still clearly remember my continually oscillating emotions comprised of these two feelings.

I was successful in my quest for companionship. I found a group of friends and settled down. Although this is attested with some level of estimation, I was happy.

My thin facade had not yet been broken. It almost seemed impermeable. But then, the worst thing my freshman self could have manifested happened: a threat arose to my friendship with my best friend. It took the form of a new student arrival; she was almost as young and eager as me, and she desperately wanted to be with my best friend.

Here, I reflect upon this

story with absolute disgust with myself. Instead of articulating my displeasure in a healthy way, I became malicious and filled with hate. I berated the poor new student as if that was going to convince my best friend to stay. It didn’t. And I was ousted, left alone, desperate and hungry once more.

Since then, I have apologized, discovered new friends, lost some of them and found more. I have moved on. Yet a hole had been ingrained in my heart, a perfect mixture of depression and anger. I have always been a self-critical person, but this blunder exacerbated this trait to the point of complete resignation. I was too stubborn, belligerent and disappointed to forgive myself. Thus, whenever I felt the need to admonish myself, I would default to my 9th-grade mistake.

If you already have

self-critical tendencies, you will hold this sort of mistake hostile in your mind, inducing a great amount of guilt and disappointment.

It will hamper your abilities to move on, dull all sense of reality. It produces a greater form of imposter syndrome.

It will make you question: do I deserve to be here?

It took a while for me to transform this warped mindset. Unlike other stories of revolution, there was no conventional catalyst for my renaissance. I had to learn to love again, which was accomplished by the heaps of self-help books I perused and the comforting words of my family. I had to regain balance and perspective in order to forgive myself, and most importantly, a sense of security.

Forgiveness is vital, but not only when extended to others. Forgiving yourself takes arguably more effort and exertion, but it is

Photo coutersy of clip art

crucial. It fosters a sense of resolve within yourself and allows you to be more compassionate and loving as a result. Of course, it is important to remember your follies in order to improve yourself, but it is equally important to remember that it does not taint your worth.

Otherwise, everyone would not be worthy, as no one is infallible. There comes a point where you must let go of the binds of your mistakes and accept your own apology.

Opinion

nov. 8, 2019

10

Common myths about witchcraft debunked

by Hana Duus Staff Writer

OBLIVIATE! WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA! The Witch community is nowhere near the stereotypes people have about us. We cannot make things levitate, turn our younger brothers into frogs or fly on brooms either.

When I tell people I am a witch, they constantly ask me things like that.

Witchcraft is the practice of manipulating energy through various means to produce a desired result. It involves tons of nature. The Earth is essentially a living, breathing entity. I honor the Earth; I connect myself with her cycles and seasons, and I use natural forces and energies in my practices.

When I first got into witchcraft, I was in Massachusetts visiting my relatives. At that time, I wanted to visit Salem. Tarot cards had already sparked

an interest within me. Tarot cards is a form of fortune telling; the cards aren’t always specific, so do not get mad at your reader!

The way tarot cards looked interested me, and I wanted to know what my future would look like. I went to a witch shop and purchased some tarot cards. I had also looked around and found a whole section of Grimoires, which are spell books. I bought one because I thought it would have information on tarot cards.

That’s when it all started. I glanced at the spells and got really into it. I started off with tarot cards and slowly moved onto contacting spirits. Witchcraft involves gems, nature, candles and spirits, and I fell in love with it.

Now there are several divisions of witchcraft, and I’m a mix of one. I’m a Christian witch mixed with a green witch. A Christian witch is basically just a witch who is also a Christian. People keep telling me, “you can’t be a witch and a Christian.” Well, I can, and if I go to hell, I go to hell. And a green witch is a witch that walks the path of herbalists and naturalist, and we are essentially tree huggers, which is ironic considering the fact that

I don’t like to go outside a lot. Lately I’ve been trying to hunt down herbs in my spare time; in the woods, some common plants that can be found and used are rosemary, lavender, yarrow, moss, chamomile, basil and bay leaves.

I use witchcraft often.

It can be used for a lot of things: school, mental health, protection, success and even pets! People say

it’s rubbish, but I don’t care.

Just recently, I made what you would call a spell jar. A spell jar is a jar that is filled with herbs, crystals and, sometimes, candles used for a specific goal. The spell jar I made was to help rid my bedroom of negativity and just give me a more positive month!

I also use magick (it’s spelled that way not “magic,” that’s what magicians

use) to help me financially.

I did a money spell a few months ago and found $20 on the street. Coincidence?

Believe that if you want to.

I also give myself a tarot card reading at least once a week. Usually the tarot card reading is to see how I’m doing, how things are gonna be during the next week, how my friends are gonna be, and if there will be any conflict. And just wearing a gem could be using magick in your daily life.

I would also like to clear up love spells. They aren’t good or bad; it depends on what type of love spell you are doing. Lately on TikTok, I’ve been seeing these VSCO girl witches doing love spells that are targeting their crush. Love spells are bad if you are targeting a certain individual; messing with someone’s emotions is bad, and the energy you send out comes back to bite you three times as hard! Stay safe and don’t mess with people’s emotions.

I tend to only practice magick that sends out good karma, energy and positivity. Throughout history, there has been a negative stereotype about witches.

The negativity has to do with many things, with the main one being sexism.

During the mid-century in Europe, one million women were accused of witchcraft and were murdered. The authorities claimed that the reason they were killed was witchcraft, but what they were actually doing was helping others. These women were doctors and herbalists; these women had power and knowledge that helped others, and that scared the Church and men.

They needed to get rid of women in power, because women who had power scared them.

That’s why I love witchcraft; it’s empowering! The reason why witchcraft has interested so much youth lately is because it respects our dying Mother Earth while promoting gender equality, giving people power and freedom. So go out there and spread the word! Witchcraft is okay! It’s good! Save our dying planet!

Respect it! It could interest you.

Hana Duus | The Phoenix

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sports The interesting history of sports uniforms

11

Nov. 8, 2019

by Audrey Hambrick Staff Writer

Even if one is not an expert on sports, there is no denying that uniforms make the athlete. Whether it is American football, soccer, basketball or any other athletic sport, uniforms have grown and changed, either by following the trends at the time or by setting trends of their own. Initially serving as simple clothes for an athlete, uniforms eventually morphed into dynamic outfits full of creativity and style. For many, uniforms help enhance the game and connect audiences to the flair and individuality of teams. Although they may seem like simple outfits, uniforms signify America’s growing relationship with its multitude of sports, from

the 1800s to today.

When sports were introduced in the United States beginning in the 18th century, uniforms were nonexistent. Football players, for example, wore dark-colored shirts, along with leather headgear that covered the majority of an athlete’s face but were not as protective as today’s football helmets. In the beginning years of basketball, players wore long, baggy trousers and wool undershirts.

Women, on the other hand, were given less practical clothing for their sports.

They wore long dresses as uniforms for sports such as baseball and basketball.

Men’s soccer and baseball uniforms stood out from the crowd, with soccer players wearing colorful scarves and

baseball players adorning bow ties and striped shirts before earning the ridicule of players and fans. Although not much information is available as to why the bow ties and striped shirts did not take off, it can be assumed that the formal bow ties seemed out of place at a sports game.

As sports began to gain popularity in American culture, managers and leagues became inspired to make their teams more individualized. In addition, more measures were taken to make uniforms more suited to play. Soccer players adhered to their fans’ wishes toward the end of the 19th century and became more unified in their uniform design. In addition, they began to wear shin guards.

FHS winter sports Staff Writer

With October coming to an end, the winter sports season at Fremont High School is starting.

This season includes girls basketball, girls soccer, boys basketball, boys soccer and wrestling.

Payam Hajjarian coaches varsity girls soccer.

Hajjarian has been coaching at FHS for seven years. “[Our hopes for this upcoming season are] to be competitive, have a good pre-season and set goals and achieve them,” Hajjarian said. “[I want] to make sure the team is healthy and in shape, especially for girls that do not play club sports.”

Hajjarian’s biggest worry is complacency. He wants to make sure the team sets realistic goals and works to achieve them.

“Last season, I don’t think we did as well as [we] wanted to,” said Hajjarian.

Last year, the team had a really challenging season. Hajjarian said this year, the team is doing things differently, with more conditioning and emphasis on specific target areas. The girls soccer team is looking forward to the winter season and is preparing to the best of their abilities.

Miguel Castillo has been the girls varsity basket-

ball coach for five years. He has been coaching at FHS since 1995. “[My main goal this season is to] teach basketball [and] have [the girls basketball team] improve as much as possible every day,” Castillo said. “[I want to have] each of the players to progress.”

Castillo believes playing basketball helps young people develop character, loyalty and responsibility.

“It’s more than a game; it’s supposed to teach you things about personal growth and work together with other people, not so much about winning,” said Castillo. “I just teach basketball.”

While the girls basketball team is focusing on improvement and learning, the boys basketball team is preparing to compete for league championships.

Tony Kikuta is the coach for boys varsity basketball. He has been coaching for 25 years, and six years at FHS. “I think this group is strong enough that we could compete for the league championship,” Kikuta said.

“I’ve had these seniors for four years, and we won the JV championship when they were sophomores.”

He wants the team to be healthier this season.

of tie-dye for clothing and the rise of broadcasting in color, uniforms evolved to be more eye-catching, using color TV to their advantage.

With the introduction of the American Football League in the 1960s, football uniforms began to use a diverse amount of colors, moving away from just using dark hues. Thanks to the dance exercise craze from the 1970s and the 1980s, basketball players wore leg warmers and headbands to help cool them down while playing.

The basketball uniform took a drastic revamp in 1984, when basketball legend Michael Jordan wore tailor-made baggy shorts after growing tired of tugging on his tight shorts during games. Soon after, many

players wore more loose attire to suit their needs.

Interestingly, for only three games in their 1976 season, the White Sox baseball team wore shorts, rather than their previous pants, earning them mockery from the public. Female tennis superstar Billie Jean King won her 1973 Battle of the Sexes match while wearing a rhinestone-studded outfit, a touch of flair from the usual uniforms for women at the time.

To some, many of today’s uniforms may seem typical, but if it were not for decades of experimentation and revisions, today’s uniforms may not have shown improvements from the past, and we could possibly be stuck with the seemingly garish outfits of yesteryear.

Photos courtesy of Vertically Stripped Socks, The Style Ref, Getty Images, Mile High Card Company and Pinterest

(LEFT to right) early uniforms for baseball, football, women and basketball

by Nivi Khatana

In the 1930s, numbers on baseball jerseys began to appear, so players could be easily identified. Player names were later added in the 1950s. For basketball, league officials coordinated on uniforms for players, with player uniforms being mid-length shorts and jerseys being made of wool from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Women began to wear clothes more similar to their male counterparts, with dresses and skirts moving to the wayside in favor of shorts. This was seen as early as 1939, as members of the England Preston Ladies Football Club wore shorts and striped knee socks during play.

With the US going through a cultural revolution, like the increasing use

Kikuta said that last season was disappointing because many players got injuries.

“We want to be healthier this season,” said Kikuta. ”We lost some starters last year because of some injuries so it was a challenging season.”

Erik Duus has been the FHS wrestling coach for 16 years.

“When I graduated from my teacher education program, Fremont was looking for someone to teach Japanese and P.E. and coach wrestling,” Duus said. “It was the perfect job opportunity for my skill set.”

Duus is preparing to have victories in the upcoming season.

“We have a good mix of veterans and beginners this year,” said Duus “I’m looking forward to continuing to polish our experienced athletes and get them on the award stand at the league, CCS and state championships. In addition, we have a large, promising group of freshmen that are eager to learn and step in as well”.

Last season, the team had CCS champions and finalists for boys and girls.

The team also had boys and girls who won state medalists.

All of the winter sports coaches are looking forward to their successful season.

Student athlete life

by Shira Agmon

Centerspread Editor

From the outside, it seems like student athletes have it all together.

But finding a good balance between academics and practices is a difficult task. According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, nearly eight million high school students in the country play sports, and it is safe to assume that the majority of them struggle to keep up with all of their commitments.

In order to keep track of school work and practices while staying sane in the process, an athlete needs to develop good time management skills as well as a strong willpower. When students are handling multiple responsibilities, they start feeling anxious about their performance as a student and as an athlete. Once people understand how to prioritize their tasks, everything is going to look less overwhelming.

Some students find that playing a sport is their source of stress relief. Sophomore Rakhi Chadalavada, a threeseason athlete who plays basketball, cross country and track and field, gave

her opinion on the matter.

“I think sports is a way for me to cope with stress because while I’m at practice or [doing] something with a sport, I don’t need to worry about school or other things, and it lets me take a break,” Chadalavada said.

However, other students experience more stress when playing a sport and need to find other ways to relax. Junior Anne Hu, a softball and basketball player, shared her insight on the topic.

“To cope with stress, I write down all of [the] homework I need to get done and make sure I track my deadlines,” Hu said.

Both Hu and Chadalavada stated their schoolwork comes before sports, and their limited time forces them to stick to a schedule in order to finish their tasks in a timely manner.

Being a competitive dancer, I used to struggle with these challenges. These are some methods I developed and recommend to try if you are struggling with the same issues as well.

The first one is to learn how to prioritize your tasks and plan ahead. Start by writing down a to-do list and figure out what needs to get done first. Learning what needs more attention and what can be put to the

side goes together with the second method, which is remembering that sometimes you will need to make sacrifices.

For example, if there is a big test coming up that calls for a lot of studying, it might clash with practice, or if there is a big competition coming up that requires a lot of preparation, it might come at the expense of study time, and that is okay.

Another thing to remember is to take breaks.

Sometimes, focusing on improving mental health is the most productive way to spend time.

Giving all of your commitments your full attention one hundred percent of the time is nearly impossible, and sometimes, you might need to cut corners to maintain your personal health.

At the end of the day, it is all about using your time in the most efficient way possible.

Graphic courtesy of Mindwell

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