4
PANORAMA
opinions
Staff Editorial
Last student standing
michelle zhou w ARTIST
PDA — stop it because we need to make it to class
(Photo by Zach Weller) cassie BEISHEIM
I
writer
f I ever write an opinions piece that doesn’t mention speech and debate in some way, assume it was ghostwritten. I am a proud member of the Ladue Talking Rams. I attend tournaments most weekends and spend hours giving the same 10-minute speech to walls — looking pretty insane doing it, I might add. To many, this idea is crazy. But to me, it’s exhilarating. Being judged by a room full of intimidating people may sound like a nightmare, but to a “speechie,” it’s a dream. But let’s realize the main trait debate promotes: competitiveness. Competition is healthy and promotes growth. However, it’s all too often that high school students compete mercilessly, often to the detriment of themselves and their peers. With college as the endgame for many high school students, the drive to be unique and appealing is pushed on teens early. Kids take on multiple clubs, extracurriculars and AP courses every year simply to try to make themselves look attractive to schools. While it’s great that teens are starting to find themselves before they rush off to college, this diversifying of one’s schedule can easily cause more hurt than help. The jealousy that competitiveness brings about causes students to subconsciously act with malice. With low acceptance rates and high expectations, many students are willing to do anything to stand out. Some people decide that something is “their thing” and even discourage potential competitors in order to promote their own unique college applications. They get in their head that if they aren’t the best at what they do, they’re not worth it. High school has become an environment where success is put over friendships. We strive for excellence but forget others compete just as intensely. High school students need to realize that passions aren’t fighting grounds. The mindset students get into because of pressure from high school and the college process is toxic, and if they continue to promote this jealousy and competitiveness, the high school experience will never be all it’s hyped up to be. In order to have the “best four years of their lives,” students need to not feel obligated to compete. While I love debate with my entire being, I don’t own it. I have many other teammates who work just as hard as I do every day, and I’d never discourage them from debate. By understanding that I don’t need to compete for some college application, I’ve found joy in my activity more so than ever before. v
I
aleesha shi w ART EDITOR
magine rushing all the way from the trailers to the Black Box. While running out of time to get to your class, you suddenly encounter a roadblock. You’re trapped behind a young couple holding hands and walking at a frustratingly slow pace. Unable to break past the overwhelming power of love, you give up and resign yourself to the Cupid shuffle. Public displays of affection, or PDA, are especially apparent in the halls and classrooms of Ladue, and it’s time for them to stop. Seminar has been invaded with couples cuddling and social media captions are bombarded with heart emojis and “I love you”s. Although PDA may seem perfectly fine to the participants, it is an unnecessary distraction. Not only does it point out the hopeless loneliness in the majority of singles, but it also generates whispers that eventually blow up into a schoolwide gossip circle. More importantly, when a couple holding hands walks in the hallways at .0002 nanometers per hour, it inconveniences everybody in the school, especially the numerous singles who won’t be getting any Valentine chocolates. The people of Ladue should be able to navigate through the halls without hitting an impenetrable human wall and having to wait for an opening to squeeze through and feeling awkward. It is perfectly okay for someone to like showing off their significant other to all of their Instagram follow-
ers, but no one needs to see pictures of the couple kissing or questionable hand placement. Just a simple side-byside looks great, and it can gain more likes than the sea of awkward screenshots that are meant to stay in one’s personal photo gallery. When writing the caption to a wonderfully appropriate side-by-side picture, one should think about what needs to be broadcasted to his or her following. Little inside jokes can be cute, but it is cringeworthy to many viewing if you comment “blessed to be with my best friend” or “happy three-week anniversary.” While it is important for couples to express their love for each other, school is not the appropriate place to do so. If you find each other just so irresistible, nothing is stopping you from sending each other flirty texts — well, besides Yondr pouches, of course. In all seriousness, school is as much a workplace as it is a learning environment. PDA can make people in the vicinity uncomfortable and distracted, and it does not belong in school, where the majority of people care more about how they will get to class on time than witnessing the incredible power of love. Even if you think you’re truly in love, you should be able to wait until after school to express your affections. The feelings between a couple will not diminish in the least if you go an hour without groping each other. And if they do, that's an entirely different problem. v
Student stances
Do you approve of public displays of affection and why? “I approve of PDA to a certain point. There shouldn’t be a rule against kissing your loved one, but you shouldn’t be out here taking it too far for no reason. Leave that stuff at home.”
“No, because it makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s just not really necessary. You can just do that kind of stuff elsewhere. Not at school, but in other places, I see it.”
- Senior BJ Buchannon
- Sophomore Evan Svoboda
“I do up to a point. I don’t think it should be over the top. I think a hug is okay. Making out and disrespecting other people’s privacy [is what’s over the top].”
- Freshman Diora Ton