Mean Guys

IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL | 2901 MELROSE AVE | IOWA CITY, IA 52246 | VOLUME 1

TABLEof CONTENTS meet the staff| 3 books vs movies | 4 summer bucket list | 6 concussion profile | 7

senior college applications | 8 summer gardening | 11 local ice cream places | 12 local pizza places | 13 stress from ap tests | 14

Hello beautiful people!

What a year it has been! I am so excited to share our publication with you. From book and movie reviews to exploring the stress students feel during AP tests, our publication has a plethora of different articles. If you are planning to sit around and be lazy all summer, through those thoughts out the window because on page 6, Ijin Shim has an amazing summer bucket list for you. Make sure you are staying cool this summer, drinking lots of water, and finding a good book to read. A great article you could read is The College Conundrum, on pages 8-10, which explores the hardships many seniors faced this year with college applications. Don’t stress out if you can’t find a good summer playlist! Eleanor Weitz has you covered on page 11 along with some gardening tips for this time of year. These are just some of the treasures you will find when you turn the page. Take care of yourself, and have a great summer!

Peace and Love, Zoe Smith

eleanor weitz

sam rosenthal

zoe smith

ijin shim

luke longmire - math test: thursday & friday - return textbooks - Last day of school friday !!!

summer count down:

:)

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maddie otis

courtney vest

BOOK We found some of the most iconic book to movie adaptations and reviewed them by our personal opinions

8/10 The acting in this film is great, especially considering how young the actors were when filming. Our one criticism that brought the rating down was that the book introduced us to the world of magic so wonderfully and while the movie got the job done, it had some unneeded material.

9.5/10

A film that remains faithful to the book and only keeps the necessary parts of character and story. Have no concern for the child acting, as the child actors deliver fantastic performances along with Gregory Peck. This film is put together very well and needs no large scale to leave a lasting impression on you.

10/10

In this interpretation, there is no unnecessary time wasted.

Practically every scene in this franchise has merit. This series may be a touch lengthy and a bit violent for those under fourteen, but all things considered, a fantastic interpretation that improves on almost everything of the books.

8/10

This movie is a staple for teen romance nowadays. Many were blown away by the romance, humor, and angst involved in the film. The acting is impressive, but some acting from Noah Centineo was questionable. Overall a cheesy movie, but great.

8.5/10

A more recent fantasy than The Lord of the Rings, but arguably more well known around the world. The pacing is good and it is fun to read, especially for the younger generation who grew up with this series. The only issue is that we couldn’t help but compare it to other fantasy classics which brought its score slightly down.

10/10

To Kill a Mockingbird is an absolute classic! It’s a character study of society in the 30’s and devotes all of it’s time to developing its characters and story. It is an emotional rollercoaster that delivers intensity, feelings of adolescence, and rarely loses momentum in its storytelling.

9/10 An epic tale of jewelry crossing the world… just to be burned. All jokes aside, this trilogy is one of the most descriptive series we have ever read. This is both a blessing and a curse, but with so much storytelling comes incredible world building and a compelling plot. that is meant to be read over a few months.

9/10

People flocked to this book for the romance, humor, and amazing characters but less so for the plot. The way it’s written is relatable to teens, particularly teen girls. The character relationships are more developed than in the movie and of course there are scenes that add to the plot that we cut out of the movie adaptation. In the end it’s nothing deep but an enjoyable read for people into cliche teen romances.

s s u i c o n ns o C

With her experience with playing sports and sports injuries, West Side Story intern Zoe Smith shares her personal story with concussions and their effects.

You are playing a normal soccer game. You feel the grass beneath your cleats and the sweat dripping down off your head. The screams of your teammates and coaches and the sight of the crowd excite you as you play the game. Or maybe you are in gym class participating in a normal game of badminton. Or maybe you are at volleyball practice in the gym participating a no contact drill. But then you get hit. The feeling of getting hit extremely hard in the head is one of the most out of body experiences I have had. After getting struck by a ball, a racket, or your teammates hand, you fall to the ground. Laying there helplessly you don't really think many thoughts until you regain some energy and realize, I might have a concussion According to Connecticut Children's hospital, "It's extremely dangerous for a young athlete to continue playing with a concussion, even if it's mild. If they don't recover properly, they could experience longterm issues with focus, attention and coordination – and in the short-term, be at higher risk for a second, serious injury." I would know. I have had many experiences with concussions in my lifetime, totaling up to about 4. It doesn't just happen in a soccer game. I have gotten one at volleyball practice, one at recess, and two at soccer. According to a study done by CNN, girls soccer has the second highest sports-related concussion rate next to football. I had a concussion at soccer practice in November of 2020 that ruined me. I collided with a teammate and hit a concrete wall at our indoor complex for my soccer club. Not only did I go down and blackout for a few seconds, but the only person that saw it happen, my CNN teammate and myself just laughed it off because we thought it was funny. I stood right back up and kept practicing. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t speak properly or hear, it was just a hit on the head that had happened many times before. But after my mom saw me walking around lethargically for a couple days, she took me to the doctor. I was concussed severely and could not go to school for ten days and couldn’t play sports for three weeks. This didn’t just include the omission of soccer but I couldn’t try out for club volleyball due to missing the week all the clubs had tryouts. Owen Smith ‘21 is currently in a similar situation. He was hit on the head during a soccer game and was diagnosed with a concussion and a broken nose. Not only does he have to get nose surgery but he couldn’t participate in the last state qualifying game. When he came off the field to be rushed to the ER he didn’t remember anything that had happened that day. He looked like he was going to throw up as blood poured down his sickly pale bruised face. “I’ve learned that head injuries are annoying because you think you might be fine and you’re not,” said Smith. He hopes to be back to participate in State soccer later this week. Concussions are extremely serious and most people still don’t know their long term effects. It’s extremely scary wondering why you can’t remember anything you ate that day and why you get headaches in the exact spot you were hit everyday. Could that be a long term effect or could it just be me? A collision could happen at any time. It's important to get help and take care of yourself immediately.

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ccording to a study conducted by The Wall Street Journal the United States experienced a seventeen percent increase in college admissions likely as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. Not only do graduates have to face starting college amid a pandemic, but also have to face the application process where thousands of students are heading back or starting college in a new environment. With the end of the year rounding the corner for seniors, we take a closer look at what the seniors think of the current state of colleges.

“I think the college application process was more stressful than any other normal year,” says Ella Rosenthal 21’.

Ella Rosenthal is an online West student who plans on attending Grinnell College next year.

Rosenthal 21’ stated that the admission process was much more difficult than previous years seeing that there isn’t as much service available to choose colleges and apply for them. “I feel like it was hard to talk to people my own age who are also going through it because everyone was in their own bubble, trying to figure out that while handling ten million other things because of COVID.” Rosenthal 21’ also faced other application issues that other seniors likely did not experience. “My app for my applications actually put my country code in as Liberia and it wouldn’t change to the US. I tried putting it in, like, twelve times and I ended up just having to submit an application saying that I was from Liberia.”

Owen Smith, a West High student who attended his first two trimesters in-person thinks that the admissions process was difficult and limiting in its application process.

“The application process is just really long and some schools you have to pay just to apply which limits a lot of people.” said Smith 21’.

However, according to our interviewees, the issue has varied between the population.

“I think it was a lot less selective,” says Alyssa Skala 21’. Alyssa Skala is an in-person West High student who plans on attending the University of Iowa next year. “I know there's a lot of issues with the app that people were like losing progress which was really annoying for them but I didn't personally have any of that experience,” said Skala.

Skala thinks that the admissions process was much easier than usual due to the district’s Pass-Fail quota that began at the end of the previous school year.

The past school year students were able to take a passing grade by completing their high school course or take a passing grade where they were allowed to stop attending high school courses without taking an F. “You could basically cheat the system with a pass or fail grade,” said Skala.

With the discharge of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, colleges are resorting back to their old patterns again. In the past two weeks, Covid rates have decreased 26% and we are slowly returning back to the way we once were. While Covid once brought us farther apart than ever before, it now brings us closer than ever.

Some lovely Anemones in the Rohret Rd. Prairie!

SUMMER GARDENING What to plant this summer for a beautiful garden...

Marigolds are a great choice for any garden. Ths flower is my personal favorite. The vibrant orange and gold blooms are guaranteed to brighten up your garden. They are relatively low maintenance and can survive in half or full sun with a constant watering schedule.

Petunias next! These delicately beautiful flowers are a staple for hanging baskets and flower beds in Iowa. You can get them in almost any color to match your garden's color scheme.

Black eyed Susans are another spectacular addition. The iconic black and yellow of these flowers is a beautiful touch for your garden. These eight-petaled flowers are perennials which means that once you plant them, they’ll grow back every year.

Here's some good summer gardening bops!

We reviewed the most popular local Ice cream and Pizza places throughout the Iowa city area. These are our honest opinions about these places, and which ones you should visit!

9/10 Heyn’s is the place to go if you like hard served ice cream. They have a variety of flavors and different types of products. You can get things like waffle cones, shakes, and a soft serve cone. Overall Heyn’s is a very family friendly place and I would rate my experience a 9/10.

8.5/10

Dane’s is one of the most popular local ice cream shops in Iowa City. Danes is only open during the summer, but it is most definitely worth it. The ice cream was really good and not too overpriced.

Although sometimes Dane's can be quite busy, they did a good job of getting my ice cream to me as fast as they could.

8/10

Not only does Jon's Ice Cream have amazing hard served ice cream, but many unique items such as cheesecake on a stick and the garbage can sundae.

They also have regular food such as your classic Iowa pork tenderloin and burger. Overall I give it an eight out of ten for the family friendly atmosphere, good food, and overall nostalgia.

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8/10 The Airliner The Airliner is one of Iowa City’s most praised pizza joints, so naturally we had to go. Overall the experience deserved an eight out of ten. The environment was nice but a little loud, although the food arrived promptly and the pizza was very good!

8/10 Wig and Pen The pizza is both incredible and incredibly filling, however the wait is about forty five minutes, the place is oddly lit, and the price may be a little steep.

If you’re willing to wait a while and spend a little moolah, then there should be no issues… go for the pizza!

9/10 Maggie's Farm Pizza Given the title of best pizza in Iowa! The traditional neapolitan pizza mixed with the other amazing italian dishes offers a delightful treat you can’t get anywhere else. Overall, amazing food and environment, but it is on the more expensive side.

BY: LUKE LONGMIRE

TEST STRESS A In depth look on stress from the AP tests

THE END OF THE YEAR IS A VERY STRESSFUL TIME FOR ALL STUDENTS WITH END OF YEAR TESTS, FINAL PROJECTS, AND WORST OF ALL AP TESTS. ALTHOUGH AP TESTS ARE OPTIONAL, MANY STUDENTS TAKE THEM AND THIS LEADS TO EXTRA STRESS. THIS STRESS COMES FROM BOTH THE STRESS FROM TAKING THE ACTUAL TEST AND THE HUGE INCREASE IN STUDYING THAT COMES BEFORE THE AP TEST. HERE I WILL INTERVIEW 3 PEOPLE, ONE PERSON HAS NEVER TAKEN AN AP TEST BEFORE BUT IS PREPARING TO, ANOTHER HAS TAKEN THEIR FIRST AP TEST, AND THE LAST HAS TAKEN MULTIPLE AP TESTS. THESE 3 INTERVIEWS WILL GIVE US AN IN DEPTH VIEW OF WHAT THE SOURCE OF STRESS IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO PREPARE AND MITIGATE THIS STRESS. THEY WILL ALSO GIVE US TIPS ON HOW TO HELP WITH THE STRESS YOU MIGHT BE FEELING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

FIRST WE HAVE SAMUEL ROSENTHAL WHO IS TAKING AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AS HIS FIRST AP TEST AND HE WAS INTERVIEWED BEFORE HE HAD TAKEN HIS AP TEST. WHEN ASKED TO RATE HIS STRESS ON A 1-10 SCALE FOR THE UPCOMING AP TEST HE SAID THAT IT WAS AN 8. AS A PERSON TAKING THE AP TESTS FOR THE FIRST TIME HE SAID THAT HIS STUDY TECHNIQUE WAS TO MAKE FLASHCARDS AND DO PRACTICE TESTS AND SAID HE WAS STUDYING 4X THE NORMAL AMOUNT HE WOULD FOR A TEST. SAM SAID “I DO NOT FEEL PREPARED OR NOT PREPARED, IT IS JUST HAPPENING.” AND I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY, THAT IS ALL SAM HAD TO SAY ON THE AP TESTS.

STUDYING TECHNIQUES

NEXT WE HAVE PRANJAL PAUDEL WHO HAS JUST TAKEN HIS FIRST AP TEST WHICH WAS AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. LIKE SAM, PRANJAL SAID THAT ON A SCALE OF 1-10 HIS STRESS LEADING UP TO THE AP TEST WAS AN 8. HIS STUDY TECHNIQUES WERE TO DO KAHOOTS, QUIZLETS, AND PRACTICE TESTS. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS 3X AS STRESSED FOR THE AP TESTS COMPARED TO NORMAL TESTS AND THEN HE FELT A LITTLE PREPARED FOR THE TESTS ON THE TESTING DAY.

LASTLY WE HAVE MATTHEW BEDELL WHO HAS TAKEN 2 AP TESTS THIS YEAR BEING AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AND AP COMPUTER SCIENCE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS STRESS LEADING UP TO THE TESTS HE SAID THAT IT WAS A TEN AND MOSTLY CAUSED BY HIS OTHER CLASSES EATING AWAY AT THE TIME HE COULD HAVE BEEN USING TO STUDY. HE SAID THAT THE STUDYING TECHNIQUES THAT HE USED WERE WATCHING THE VIDEOS ON AP DAILY, USING AN AP PREP BOOK, AND DOING PRACTICE TESTS. MATTHEW SAID THAT THE PREP BOOK IN PARTICULAR WAS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM ACCESS TO MANY ONLINE RESOURCES SUCH AS PRACTICE TESTS WHICH CAN BE HARD TO FIND. LASTLY WHEN ASKED HOW PREPARED HE FELT ON THE DAY OF THE TEST MATTHEW SAID THAT HE FELT PREPARED BEFORE HE STARTED IT BUT THAT ONCE HE STARTED IT HE FELT LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE STUDIED MORE.

-KAHOOTS -QUIZLETS -PRACTICE TESTS -FLASHCARDS -TEST PREP BOOKS

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO STUDY IS TO JUST SIT DOWN AND START -MATTHEW BEDELL

Answer Key: 1-F,62-H, 3-E, 4-A, 5-C,26-D, 7-B, 8-G

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