Clawprint, January and February 2021

Creekview Clawprint

Self Love

January/February 2021

Issue IV

ADD SPACE?/ FEATURE Self-Love For The Orthodox Teen

CREEKVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

CLAWPRINT ISSUE 04|January and February 2021

Editor-in-Chief Meghan Samples

Copy Editor Lexie Holder

Staff Writers Alexis Chandler Anna Donaldson Lexie Holder Jackson Kavanagh Jade Mendes Meghan Samples Nicholas Samples

Staff Picture Written by: Lexie Anne Holder PG: 10 Ad space or related photography

CONTENTS

Issue 04 | 2021

Student Life 3| Body Love 4|Euphoria 5|Self-love from a Different Perspective 6-7|New Year New Me Debunked

Entertainment 8|The Best Accessories for your Setup 9|Self Confidence in Drama Sports 11|Team Love 12|New Opportunities for the New Season

@voiceoftheview

Community 11|The Honey Pot Events 13|A Timeline of Events 13|A Historical Wintry Wonderland Drama

Self-Love For The Orthodox Teen Page 10

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, New year, new publication! This year, 2021, we are focusing on goals. On how to better ourselves, for ourselves. This edition focuses on the most important kind of love: Self-love.

We focused on all aspects of the self. From selfimage, to self-acceptance, from body to soul, from hurt to healing, we covered all corners of the mind, body, and spirit.

This edition was incredibly important to the staff, each one of us wanting to cover a different aspect of the journey to self-love. As teenagers in a major transition stage, we all struggle with parts of ourselves. This publication focuses on normalizing every part of being authentically human and authentically yourself. Since Valentine's Day focuses on loving others, through this publication, we hope to inspire everyone to love themselves, this February and every day after.

Everyone is unique but sometimes we all get lost in what we aren't instead of focusing on the beauty of all the amazing things we are. Love every inch of yourself, for yourself. There is no greater power than being able to look at everything you are and be content. Give yourself that power. We know you can.

As always, we focus on the students and their voices as the unique individuals they are, not just a face in the crowd. We hope that students of all kinds, from all backgrounds, with all different dreams will find something of interest in our publication. We want to hear your stories and put them out there for others to take from and be inspired by. I hope we leave you feeling inspired .

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Student life Body Love Written by: Lexie Holder Look down at your body And whisper

There is no home like you.

•

Rupi Kaur

The simple moment when one recognizes that their body is the only home their soul has is the greatest step in being healthy, both inside and out. One of my most innermost problems is body-comparing. I used to spend so much time loathing my body that my mind could not process compliments. I talked myself into disregarding my goodness and focusing on my bodily insecurities so that I didn’t realize what I was doing to my soul. If a house was on fire, what happens to the objects in the house? They burn as well. Even though every other day the house protects the objects, the destruction of the house brings down whatever is inside as well. The same can be said about the body. If the body is under constant destruction by criticizing itself, the soul it protects becomes destroyed as well. This is still a struggle for me.

Low self-esteem is like driving through life With your hand-break on.

• Maxwell Maltz

In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

• Andrea Dykstra Body love does not mean to forget your insecurities.

Body love is to recognize them as parts of the life the life you have lived. Some of the hardest things to accept about your appearance are the things that you weren’t born with. They are uncontrollable . It’s the insecurities that you have attained over the amount of time you’ve been living. Trauma marks are a familiar strong insecurity because of the memories associated with them.

Some are so deep that the very sight of this scar, burnmark, or loss of an appendage can throw a dark shadow of sadness or anger over a person. It’s tunnel vision. But to embrace what it means to have a body that has lived through some of the darkest places that we as humans can comprehend and made it to the other side is a heroic accomplishment. To have a body that has carried you through the harshest of moments in your personal lives and to still protect you from the outside world is amazing. With that being said, instead of succumbing to that deep, innermost hatred for the marks on your body that have been attained through your time being alive, thank your body for its protection and ability to keep you alive.

The differences of a body are a testament to an existence of a human being and the colorful life they have lived.

One of the slivers of hope I held onto while at my worst was the advice of one of my greatest friends. She told me, while laying on her bed listening to music, that the world is filled with billions of people. She asked for me to imagine a world where everyone looked and acted the same; I did. I pictured Times Square in New York City, but instead of crowds of people, there were long lines of men in business suits and women with the same bodies and faces. Then she asked if I understood; I did. If everyone in the world looked the same, then nobody would be special. Nobody would truly be in love. We would just be another cog in the machine. The things we don’t like about ourselves are the exact thing we need to keep us special. The only reason we don’t like them is because they’re different from other people.

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Student life EUPHORIA Written by: Anna Donaldson -A s tate of intense happiness and self confidence We all experience self-doubt at times when we are feeling insecure about certain aspects of ourselves. But what about self -love? When do we feel happy and content with ourselves and who we are? How do we get to that point? Is it a daily thing or do you find it when you are least expecting to? Being quarantined gave us the ability to really focus on ourselves, to get to know who we really are, and to be comfortable with that.

“To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.” -Robert Morely

“We all have our struggles, but we do have days when we are feeling our absolute best.” -Emma Trowbridge

“The way I dress makes me feel more confident.” -John Alabiso

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“Dress uniquely and confident.” Chloe Cambell

“If you feel confident, it makes you more beautiful.” -Lydia Plamp

“ No matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone does, you are you and that's why people love and care for you" -Luke Schones

Student life Self-Love from a Different Perspective Written by: Jackson Kavanagh Graphic Created by: Jackson Kavanagh

With the social strides we have made in recent history, coupled with a never-ending call for equity, it is undoubtedly true that we live in the most progressive era in our human history. The push for social progress still has a long way to go, and ironically, one of the battles that remains is the battle for the male voice. Throughout history, men have typically been in a place of power. However, this power has been a double-edged sword that sank toxicity into the image of man. Selflove is an essential tool for happiness, but the subject is still taboo for millions of men around the globe. After interviewing a male from each grade, we have come closer to understanding the importance of acknowledging self-love, while simultaneously learning what has kept this conversation in the dark.

Our first interview has come from freshman Colby Streak. While self-love is not too much of an important topic to him, he still had an insightful outlook on the topic: “Self-love is whatever you believe it is, as well as a combination of what others think of you.”

While it is particularly important to not let others to bring you down, it is hard to just ignore the negative things people say. An important aspect of self-love is surrounding yourself with friends and family that love and respect you because it is easier to love yourself when you can see other people care for you. Colby also pointed out certain insecurities that could strain a man's self-image: “A lot of men aspire to be tan, have a good haircut, have no acne, and look physically fit.” While these are all desirable attributes of a man, masculinity is not just defined by these physical traits, and they certainty should not harm your self-worth.

Next, a student from the class of ‘23 had the opportunity to discuss self-love. Spencer Herrin takes positivity to the next level with his loving personality. Without fail, Spencer manages to put smiles on everybody's faces, as he always has something nice to say about others. When asked how he keeps such a positive attitude with everyone, he responded saying “The way that you talk to yourself makes it easier for you to talk to others and be nice to them.”

As Spencer’s positive outlook stems from his re-enforcement of self-love, which he practices by doing things he enjoys, like playing the Wii. Spreading this positivity clearly brings joy to Spencer, as he is always there to lend a hand to anyone in need, whether it be in or out of the classroom.

After Spencer, this discussion was brought to the upperclassmen to see their opinions on self-love. Junior Devin Schulman holds his self-worth high, and with his eccentric personality, it is clear that he is confident with who he is. When asked what he believes harms a male’s ability to practice self-love, Devin had a clear answer: “A lot of men believe that showing emotion or expressing their inner thoughts is considered ‘weak,’ and it’s obvious why this problem exists. Toxic masculinity has done nothing but hurt others, and this includes men. This toxicity has been holding men back from practicing selflove.”

Despite the toxicity that Devin has seen in his life, he does not let any of it affect his self-worth. “I just try to find people that I know I can talk to, usually it’s someone who I am close to and can trust. Having an environment to just talk about it helps so much.”

The final student who discussed this topic of self-love is senior Ethan Vitak, who always has an upbeat attitude towards life. “A part of self-love is knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes and not beating yourself down over it,” said Vitak.

Mistakes are bound to happen in life; the real challenge is whether you are going to let them hold you back. No matter how perfect you strive to be, there will always be flaws you find in yourself, but that is just a part of what makes you special. Ethan goes on to talk about what he does to practice selflove: “One thing that helps me is just taking breaks when I need them. After a long week of work, it feels great to relax over the weekend and take some time to focus on myself.”

Self-love is far from a static force; the definition and meaning seems to be in the eyes of the beholder. Without self-love, it is easy to believe we do not deserve any love at all, but that could not be farther off. Men shouldn’t deny themselves the self-love they deserve, just because it’s seen as an “emotional” topic. Whether or not self-love has been an important part of your life, it is important to remember that you should have time or space to be open and accepting of yourself, as it can open the doors to a happier life.

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Student Life New Year New Me Debunked Written by: Meghan Samples

Weight loss and staying healthy Lose weight quick! Do these two things before you sleep and lose 10 pounds! Get rid of that quarantine weight!

These headlines are damaging. The “new year new me” mentality is that people try too many schemes that end up making it even harder to lose weight and stay healthy. Society's perception of the ideal weight and health are not mutually exclusive entities. Someone who is overweight could be healthier than someone who is stick thin. A large part of society attributes “thinness” to health, when that is not the case. These harmful stigmas allow false information to spread and hurt people who try these diets or plans. Instead of cutting out carbs or sugar, or trying Keto or other fad diets, focus instead on being healthy.

It is unhealthy to obsessively count calories and worry over food. This year, instead of trying internet fads to lose weight, focus on being healthy, both physically and mentally. Last year was difficult; your body went through an unimaginable amount of stress, and it kept you alive.

Instead of tearing yourself down over gaining a few pounds in quarantine, thank your body to keeping you alive and healthy. Eat healthier and notice what you put in your body, but don’t focus on only losing weight.

If you want to stay healthy, do your research on how to balance your diet and exercise from sources based in fact, not fad. Resources such as UCSF Health, can help you to work towards the goal of being healthy.

Even better, focus on loving your body, rather than trying to change it. Body love is a goal that we should all work toward.

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COVID-19 misconceptions and how to stay safe One thing everyone was looking forward to in the new year was the eradication of Covid-19 and being able to go back to how things were before. Even though we have entered a new year, we still must stay safe and protect ourselves and each other. The new year is not a fix-all for the struggles we have had throughout 2020, but it provides a new start to build positivity in our lives and in the lives of others. Especially with teenagers, the misunderstanding is that Covid doesn’t affect you personally. As the next generation, we have a responsibility to work together and make a brighter future for ourselves and those that come after us. As such, we need to listen to science and do our part to help out and make a difference. In order to go on with our lives in a normal way, we need to change our actions now. Here are some ways to stay safe while we work through the pandemic.

1.) Wear your mask. According to the CDC, even though they are uncomfortable, it has been proven that masks slow the spread of Covid. To ensure that we get a normal year, so that seniors can have a prom and graduation and move to college, and that underclassmen learn how to manage high school regularly, we all have to work together to reduce the spread.

2.) Social distance. Do your best to maintain a 6ft distance, as recommended by the CDC guidelines. It is imperative that we stay away from each other to stop the spread.

3.) Stay home when possible. Everyone hated quarantine and not being able to go out. By staying safe now, we can slowly return to normal in the future.

4.) Stay informed. By staying updated and informed, you can help others to do the right thing and help us get back on the right track.

Doing these things will help us as a country to stay safe and healthy so that this goes away like everyone hopes it will. It will take all of us working together to overcome this. Please do your part and help everyone make it through.

Student LIfe New Year New Me Debunked Written by: Anna Donaldson Finding love in high school

Success misconceptions and loving the small things

A lot of people in high school want to get into a new relationship in the new year or set a resolution to find someone to date. Do these resolutions really work though? Is looking for a significant other just because you want to be in a relationship the correct way to do it? The more you try and look for a relationship, the lower your standards can go. Most of the time your standards have been lowered and you wind up unhappy, and the relationship does not work out.

According to HuffPost, statistics show that only 2% of high school relationships wind up in marriage. High schoolers can also not learn good relationship skills, so because of the lack of that their relationship can fail. Below are tips though that can help you and make your relationship better.

-Find someone who is on the same maturity level as you. For example, if you are someone who likes to think about the future and plan ahead, dating someone who just thinks about the next day is probably not a great idea.

Most people in the new year decide to make it “their year,” meaning they want to accomplish every single one of their goals.

From working out to traveling, there is a wide variety of resolutions. Most people let these resolutions fall through, though, because they can't keep up with them or get tired of doing them.

Find someone who has the same interests as you. While opposites attract, it’s easier to build a long-lasting relationship when you start with common ground.

-Don’t let your relationship be completely based on social media. Talk and hang out with them in person, have an actual social connection with them, and it will make communication ten times better.

Doing these things will improve your relationship and can hel p you stay in a relationship for longer than normal, especially in the new year.

Many people also set unrealistic resolutions, like traveling the whole globe in the span of a year, which obviously will fall through.

This year, because of Covid, most people have set resolutions that they can do in the safety of their home. Will they be more reasonable and less unrealistic?

Business Insider reported that less than 8% of people keep up with resolutions in the new year, yet we continue to set them. There are some tips that can help with these resolutions.  



Make sure your resolutions are reasonable and something that you can actually accomplish.

You can also track your progress and see how far you have gotten, which will help you stay on track.

Reward yourself when you carry out certain goals or reach certain milestones. This can give you motivation to keep going with the resolution and can also help you not give up easily.

Following these tips can increase your chance at completing the resolution and not just toss it to the side.

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entertainment The Best Accessories for your Setup Written by: Nicholas Samples Graphic composed by: Nicholas Samples In today’s technological world, especially in the time of Covid-19. More people are staying at home, and they are getting bored. They are looking for something to do so they are buying things for their entertainment needs. This is why it is so important to be informed about the best technology before purchasing any. With that being said, I have listed some nice items to have when it comes to entertainment and gaming.

Hyperx PulseFire Surge – The PulseFire Surge mouse is a fantastic, wired mouse that goes for $40. It uses 360° Red Green Blue (RGB) lighting. It is completely customizable using the Hyperx Ngenuity software. I have been using this mouse for about a month now, and I think it is a fantastic customizable mouse.

The only downside is the loudness of the click on the left mouse button. It can get annoying at times, but it is still a nice mouse, nonetheless.

Astro A10 – The Astro A10 gaming headset is a cool item that goes for about $30-50. Its signature feature is the flip-to-mute microphone; the microphone is not detachable, but when you want to mute, you just flip it up. It is a wired headset with a volume wheel on the cord, the cord is also detachable for portability. I have been using the headset for about 2 years, and it is a decent headset with some good qualities being a flip to mute microphone, a detachable cable, and a volume wheel on the cord.

Raspberry Pi 3 – The Raspberry Pi is a useful device for coding and making robots, and it goes for around $30-45. You can buy a kit for the Pi which usually comes with different types of items. You can build them using the Pi. I have been using the Raspberry Pi for about 4 years, and it is a good option when I want to code or make something in the coding program Scratch.

USB hubs – USB hubs are a must-have if you have a lot of wired peripherals. The price range can be from $10-50, depending on how many ports you need. All you have to do is plug in one USB into your device and it can handle multiple inputs. I personally use a 4-port hub for my mouse, keyboard, microphone, and webcam.

Monitor and phone stands – These stands are another nice thing to have if you need more storage, or if you just want to check your Snapchat without holding your phone. A monitor stand can range from $20-50, and a phone stand can range from $0-20. It can be free if you have a box of miscellaneous Lego parts, you can easily make a DIY phone stand. A monitor stand is nice to have if you are looking for extra storage or hiding your laptop if you don’t use a PC setup. I don’t have a PC, so I use a laptop connected to a monitor through an HDMI cord. To keep my laptop out of the way, I routed my cables through the back of the stand, so I have extra desk space. I have been using a phone and monitor stand for about a month now, and they are definitely worth taking a look at.

These are some of my favorite products; please feel free to contact us with some of your favorites!

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Entertainment Self Confidence in Drama Written by: Jade Mendes and Meghan Samples Photo courtesy of: Maria Chryssopoulus Senior Creekview Drama student, Maria Chryssopoulus, shares her self-love story through her experience with the drama department.

“My drama team is the one that makes me feel better because even though we may be stressed and pitted up against each other, in the end we all really care about each other, and that’s what’s important,” says Chryssopoulus.

Self-love comes in many forms and categories.

Each community and team has their own struggles and joys. Depending on what you do and what you enjoy, your version of self-love may differ. For example, a person who enjoys running may go on a jog to love themselves because it is something they enjoy doing. For another person, self-love may be painting or singing. As for the drama community, it’s all about encouraging each other and finding themselves in the roles they play.

Although Chryssopoulis is a natural on stage, she didn't always know she wanted to be in drama. In fact, she was originally interested in dance, but when she realized it wasn’t her thing, she became interested in drama. “I joined theater because originally I was doing dance and I thought that I was going to go into that, but then I realized that maybe it's not for me, and I found this interest in drama. This interest is what made me want to try it out because if you try it out who knows what will happen?”

“I think my freshman year definitely was where the confidence grew.” Chryssopoulus has been on the drama team since her freshman year, 2017. At first, Maria was nervous to join drama, but she stepped up to the plate and took the initiative. “It may be a bumpy road, but when you love something enough, and it's a passion that you have, it's up to you whether or not you decide to take the brave step into it.”

When Maria had her first theatre experiences, she didn’t always make the lead roles and it took a toll on her confidence. However, with time, she began to love taking minor roles because she could spice them up and make them her own. Each character she played left a small piece of themselves instilled in her. “My freshman year definitely was where the confidence grew because, in a way, you're not playing yourself when you play these people.

You're playing someone else. You embody someone else, and that rubs off on you. In Chicago (a theatre production) I was sassy, murderous, and mischievous and I'm not actually like that, but in a way, it made me be like, ‘Oh ok, I see you.’” Every time she played a character whether it was minor or a lead role, it boosted her confidence because for once, she could be someone else, she could see the world through someone else’s eyes.

Maria has had a life-long battle with self-love and her own confidence. In a society where we are surrounded by snapchat filters, Instagram, what we see on tv, and photoshopped magazines, it is easy to get caught up in it all and compare yourself, especially as a young kid or teen, but it’s always her drama friends who had her back. “I'm not always confident. It's always been a struggle, but something that Tiffany (a graduated friend from the drama department) taught me was that ‘you are your own worst critic.’ That has helped me realize that how I see myself is very different than how other people see me. It helped me to understand that even though there are days that are harder, there are also days that are a little bit brighter and a little bit easier to be more understanding and confident in myself.”

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Self-Love We live in the age of decisions to degrade ourselves on our appearances or to choose to change them at the expense of our natural selves. Our generation has allowed the aesthetically appealing bodies and faces be the front line of fame, everything we see, and everything we praise. The aspect of being a follower or the followee is representative of the distinct social hierarchy among teenagers in this generation. Our ability to be included is decided by a panel of strangers. The unfortunate game of Generation Z is predator and prey.

The unspoken expectation of us as teenagers is to either shine brighter than the rest or to become blended with our surroundings, letting fear of being an outcast demean what we were born to love about ourselves. This is a testament to what it means to love what is inside your mind and outside your body.

Loving yourself after regrets and trauma One of the hardest things to do in human life is recover. There are endless situations that the body can be hurt, but the soul and mind can be disfigured just as painfully. The difference between regrets and trauma, in my opinion is one can be inflicted by surroundings, and the other is inflicted within oneself. Although, there are instances that compel these two to intertwine. Regrets can cause trauma, and trauma can cause regrets. Once one has become engrossed in this wheel of traumaregret-trauma-regret, the person becomes engaged in a war within themselves. One major obstacle faced within the war is selfridicule. Meanwhile, self-love is being diminished. No matter what is said, you can’t blame yourself. Everything will be okay. Please be safe. There is simply nothing with the power to replenish the desire to recover like the admiration for oneself.

Loving yourself independently For the majority of people, mental appearances are less difficult to disguise than physical appearance, though the emotional aspect of self-loving is nothing less than the physical. In order to genuinely receive admiration from one’s own mind, the mirror must be discarded from the equation. Love itself is gravitation. Do you

gravitate toward your own mind? Do your own thoughts intrigue you? If one has trouble with the admiration of their own brain and heart, then the physical aspect is trivial. One simply cannot genuinely love themselves on appearance alone. Appearance, in reality, appeals to the outer image seen by those with judgements within themselves. To love oneself independently is to love oneself emotionally so that our mind has the ability to create admiration 10 for the body.

For The Orthodox Teen The generation of followers Social media began as a way for people to keep in contact over long distances and to share excitements in daily life with whoever wanted to listen or look. As society conformed into relying on validation for happiness, social media changed to feed that hunger. Our need for attention and validation made us susceptible to embrace the unrealistic nature of social media. One of the hardest obstacles we face as a generation engulfed in idealistic appearances is the ability to differentiate between what is authentic and what is simulated. the wholesome causality of social media.

We continue to indulge in other’s lives, but competition of being the most beautiful or most interesting has drawn us to disregard the wholesome causality of social media. This expectation has simply destroyed confidence in people around me. I see it every day. Honestly, it is heartbreaking. Likes on Instagram no longer mean someone really does like the picture or what the caption says. They have become pawns in a game of selfindulgence. This entire process is fabricated in our minds. We have the ability to reclaim social media in the image of self-love and confidence. We can break the cycle of comparison by being a positive presence and taking control of how we view ourselves through self-validation and self-understanding by using social media as a platform for love.

To embrace flaws and advocate for ourselves are simple precedents for recognizing the beautiful potential we have. I have fallen into jealousy. I have fallen into selfdeprecation. I have fallen into becoming so enthralled with the lives of others that I wasn’t living mine at all. There will always be some sort of desire to be something else or to change. This is not always malicious.

We can still love ourselves as we are but still have the drive to unlock more potential. It becomes unhealthy when the thought reverses. Instead of deprecating ourselves because we know we can’t be something we aren’t, we can love ourselves enough to become better for ourselves.

Community Team Love Written by: Alexis Chandler In sports, many teams end up becoming like family. Teams end up becoming like a family because they have been playing that certain sport together for a while. Teammates become closer because they grow bonds, and sometimes after they win a game or a meet the whole team will go out and celebrate winning. Teammates should always help and be there for their teammates if they need assistance. It is already hard for everyone to do sports with everything that is going on. In this time, we all need to stay positive and be nice to everyone.

Teams are also a good source of support. Just like a family supports each other, teams do the same thing. Jack Murrill, a freshman, talks about his experience of being on a basketball team. In asking Jack about his team experience, he explained how it feels to be a part of a team: “To be a part of a team feels good. It’s almost like a family or a brotherhood.”

He really enjoys being in a team because it allows him to feel like a part of something big. The coach is like a leader of the family, giving the team the confidence to win the game. This shows how impactful the support of a team can be.

He continued by telling a story where he felt the team atmosphere was strong: “It was overtime, and the team was down. The coach talked to us and gave us that little bit of energy to make a comeback and win the game.”

Teams make memories and work together. Families know each other well and help each other to overcome weaknesses and show off their strengths. Jack explained what he loved about being on a team, saying the best part "is how close everybody gets and that you learn everybody's strengths and weaknesses.”

Jack’s experience captures what it means to be a part of a team. The teammates work together to lift each other up, show off their strengths, and improve their weaknesses. Working together gives them a sense of unity so they can make fun memories that will last a lifetime.

Photo by: Jackson Kavanagh

By working together, they learn to love each other and help their teammates grow to their full potential.

The Honey Pot Written by: Meghan Samples

In response to the current global situation, Creekview has continually shown how a community can come together to su pport each other. Mr. Mark Vance, one of our school’s assistant principals, has begun the creation of a food pantry to support the parts of our community that are in need.

Vance prioritizes education over everything and explained how things like food and hygiene can affect a student’s education and the importance of giving to the community.

He explained, “The food pantry's vision is to make sure that any students that are at risk have equitable access to food, clothing, and cleaning products so that they don’t have to worry about that side of it. They can focus more on the education.” He emphasized the importance of fitting in and helping students to be comfortable at school: “When students get judged based on their hygiene, that affects their education. When students are sitting in class hungry, that affects thei r education as well. When they have dirty fingernails, the students notice that, and all those things affect education.”

He emphasized the importance of fitting in and helping students to be comfortable at school: “When students get judged based on their hygiene, that affects their education.

When students are sitting in class hungry, that affects their education well. When they have dirty fingernails, the students notice that, and all those things affect education.”

His inspiration came from a very personal experience, which he shared openly. He confided, “It's always kind of been a vision of mine because I was that student that needed help. I was that student that went through some things in my life that gave me the idea that anytime I could ever give ba ck or create something that could give back, that would be something that I wanted to do.”

When asked about who the food pantry will serve, he replied, “So, our vision for this is not only to serve the kids h ere at Creekview, but we are also servicing our middle schools or elementaries and even some of their family members that are not associated with our school.” It is also “run by us is here in house, in the school. That's what kind of gives us the flexibility and freedom in order to serve the kids that are in need and kind of help them and give them what the y need.”

Finally, he shared what kind of items are needed. He recommended “anything food related, anything that is nonperishable, anything clothing related... Socks, shirts, jackets, anything that you can think of that just normal everyday wear, where some of these students can fit in. Also cleaning products, or shampoo, toothbrushes, soap, feminine products, anything that can help these families that can't afford those little items like that.”

The link, which can be accessed through an email via Aspen and Canvas,is available to anyone who wants to donate. Vance explained, “We accept any donations in the front office and then we're utilizing some of our students in order to help stock the pantry and organize it.

My goal is that every Friday we give out a small bag to each student that needs it. If they need more from their family, we can provide more. Then on holidays we can give them even more to take with them over the longer break.” Vance can also send the link directly to anyone who missed the email.

During this time, especially with the cold weather, we implore anyone who can to donate anything they can to help their peers, friends, and their families. Let’s continue to work together to support each other and share kindness and love.

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Sports Stories New Opportunities for the New Season Content and Photos by: Jackson Kavanagh As the new year starts to unfold, the Creekview athletic program shifts its focus onto the many winter sports. One group that is excited to get themselves back onto the field is our Track Team. After Covid-19 shut down our school systems on March 13, 2020, the track season was cut short, and our players were devastated.

Despite the rocky end to last year’s season, the track coaches are ready to move on to bigger and brighter things, and this year, the program is expanding to include a new event. This new event added more competition for our relay racers, as they have the opportunity to compete in a 4- by 800-meter relay race. As many of you may know, the track program consisted of sixteen events last year, including six field events, two hurdle races, six different distance sprints, and two relay races.

Of course, with the new season, comes new players. One of these new players is freshman Isabella Eastabrooks, and with her energized spirit, it is clear she has what it takes to continually improve her newfound abilities. Isabella was eager to join a sport when she got into high school because she wanted to stay physically active, so she joined cross-country as soon as she could. “I really wanted to stay athletic in high school and running just gives you that boost of serotonin.”

On the other hand, a new track season means the end of a chapter for many. Senior Sage Streak has been with our track team for the past three years, and as his last season is ramping up, he has had time to reflect over the years. Since Sage was young, he’s always been told that he’s got what it takes to run: “I had always been told I was fast by my parents, my dad used to always say I should join track.”

After further developing her love for running during the cross-country season, Isabella was left seeking more, and when she learned about the track team, it was a no brainer. After joining, she was quickly captivated by the variety that track had to offer, so she decided to expand from running by considering taking on the high jump and long jump. One thing Isabella missed most about sports was being a part of a team, so she was overjoyed to learn that every member was so kind and accepting: “I really wanted to be a part of a team again... you just meet a lot of people and get to have fun with them.”

In his earlier years, he was involved in football and baseball.

However, Sage was eager to start a new chapter, so he looked towards his natural abilities to see what’s next, and track was the clear answer. When asked if he had any advice for any new runners or people on the fence about joining, Sage had plenty to say: “First of all, don’t let it scare you. You may think it’s just all about running, but there’s so much more. Apart from all the events, the camaraderie on the track team is unmatched.”

With the new season in full force, our track team is ready to give it their all. So, make sure to see them out on the field this February!

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Events A Timeline of Events Written by: Alexis Chandler Composed by: Meghan Samples January 6,1941- President Franklin January 12, 1879Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union In Southern February 17th, 1994.

Harding and Kerrigan shared ice Africa, the address to Congress asking for support for Zulu War started the firstprogram, time since herAllies attack. Kerrigan wears the the British and thefor lend-lease aiding between samethe clothes she wore on the also day of the attack. fighting Axis powers.

Roosevelt the locals of Zululand, at defined four essential freedoms worth last bringing about defending: freedom of speech, freedom of the demolition of the worship, freedom from want, and freedom Zulu Empire. from fear.

January 1, 1958- The EEC (European Economic Community), known as the common market, was shaped by Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands to eliminate exchange hindrances and arrange exchange.

January 10, 1920-The League of Nations formally appeared with the objective of settling global debates, decreasing weapons, and forestalling future wars. More than 20 countries later joined.

February 1, 1960- In Greensboro, North Carolina, four African American students sat down and ordered coffee at a lunch counter inside a Woolworth's store. They were denied service. This continued in the following days, with fights spreading to other southern states, bringing about the arrest of more than 1,600 people for participating in sit-ins.

January 18, 1966- Robert Clifton Weaver was sworn in as the first African American cabinet member in U.S. history, becoming President Lyndon B. Johnson's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

February 15, 1898- In Havana, the U.S. Battleship Maine was blown up while at anchor and quickly sank with 260 crew members lost. The incident inflamed public opinion in the U.S., resulting in a declaration of war against Spain on April 25, 1898.

February 12, 1999The impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in the U.S. Senate ended. With the necessary two-thirds majority not having been achieved, President Clinton was thus acquitted on both charges and served out the remainder of his term of office lasting through January 20, 2001.

February 22, 1956 In Montgomery, Alabama, 80 members in the three-month-old transport blacklist willfully surrendered themselves for arrest.

February 20, 1962 - Astronaut John Glenn became the first American launched into orbit. Going on board the "Kinship 7" space apparatus, Glenn arrived at a height of 162 miles (260 kilometers) and finished three circles in a flight, lasting five hours.

A Historical Wintry Wonderland Drama Written by: Jade Mendes On January 6th, 1994, U.S. ice skating star Nancy Kerrigan was attacked while practicing for the Olympics at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan by her own rival’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. This wild event made headlines worldwide.

Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding had been rivals for years. Harding’s only obstacle preventing her from making it to the Olympics was Kerrigan, until Kerrigan was taken out of the picture altogether. Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, contracted a hitman, Shane Stant, along with Shane’s brother, Derrick Smith. They worked together in a conspiracy to attack an unsuspecting Kerrigan.

The day of the attack, hitman Shane Stant violently took a 21-inch police grade baton to Kerrigan’s knee, following her practice session. Derrick Smith drove the getaway car. The injured figure skater was devastated, and cameras of nearby onlookers caught her initial reaction to the attack.

The agonizing look on her face, taken seconds after the attack, was captured in newspapers everywhere the next day. The papers referred to her attacker as a “maniac” before anyone had any idea of what had conspired.

It was later discovered that Stant and Smith had followed Kerrigan from Massachusetts to Michigan, as they could not find the opportunity for the attack until they were in Detroit. Kerrigan’s attack happened just two days before the U.S championship competitions, and as a result of her injuries, she could not perform. With Kerrigan out of the way, Harding placed first in the competition, receiving the gold medal, with no shame.

However, this glory and fame didn’t last long. Just over a month after the attack, Kerrigan and Harding had to share Olympic ice in a practice session. With allegations already arising, the tension in the air was thick. Kerrigan even told reporters later that she had purposefully worn the same outfit to practice with Harding that she had been wearing the day of her attack because “humor is good, it’s empowering.”

After an FBI investigation, officers found that Kerrigan’s bodyguard had also conspired with Gillooly, Stant, and Smith to take Kerrigan out, and shortly after, when Harding returned to the U.S., she was charged with “conspiracy to hinder prosecution” and was fined a fee of $160,000 and given a three-year probation period. While the FBI could not prove that Harding knew of the conspiracy before the incident, the extent to which she was involved is still unknown. As a result, Harding was banned from the sport for life.

February 17th, 1994. Harding and Kerrigan shared ice for the first time since her attack. Kerrigan wears the same clothes she wore on the day of the attack.

January 6th, 1994. Kerrigan’s face was caught on camera, just moments after the attack when 13 paramedics had arrived on the scene.

Thanks for Reading!

@voiceoftheview