October Issue

Statesman

O CTOBER 2018

V OL . 53, N O . 2

TABLE

OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

OPEDS

23 NOT ALL HEROES USE VAPES FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

31 GUN VIOLENCE: WHAT CAN WE DO?

20-21 STATESBUDS 26-27 ENGAGE

32 DON’T PRETEND LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW

28-29 THE PALINDROME

17 GUBERNATORIAL RACE

33 WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU

24-25 WHAT MAKES LHS HAPPY

36 THE TITLE OF THIS STORY

38-39 AARON BIETZ

34-35 REDEFINED

SPORTS 12 GIRLS SOCCER

ENTERTAINMENT

13 GIRLS TENNIS

8-9 HOW TO DO FALL

14-15 CROSS COUNTRY

6 “TICKLED”

18-19 WHAT CAN YOU DO IN 60 MINUTES?

16 BOYS GOLF

7

37

4-5

BEST STUDY SPOTS

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

RECYCLING TIPS

S t a t e s m a n The Statesman’s purpose is to inform and entertain with an honest and accurate approach. The opinions of students, staff members and faculty are expressed in a tasteful manner. The Statesman is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and is a winner of the George H. Gallup award for “… distinctive achievements in scholastic journalism.” The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman.

Editors- in-Chief: Gage Gramlick and Hannah Hansen

OP/ED Editor: Katie Osmundson

Photographers: Riley Rasmussen, Anna Dekkenga and Jaida Sorensen

Feature Editor: Taylor Ericson

Meet the Varsity: Chloe Crissman and Somer Luitjens

Sports Editor: Somer Luitjens

Design Editor: Will Howes Staff Writers: Nayeli Ayala, Georgia Conlin, Kate Fehrs, Lily Hiatt, Parker Hibbard, Morgan McDonnel, Margaret Meierhenry, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Maryam Rauuf, Chloe Robinson, Nicole Schmitz, Emily Shank, Kathryn Sweeter, Nyah Thaemert Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Adviser: Katie Kroeze

The real tea: study spots in Sioux Falls

BY MORGAN MCDONNEL & NYAH THAEMERT Sometimes having the perfect study spot can help make the tedious homework process become more productive. With a good cup of coffee and a comforting atmosphere, students can focus and find their homework time a little more enjoyable. The question is, what type of study spot is the best for you?

Josiah's is a good fit for students who need a quiet work environment. There are many different tables and work spaces that will fit your needs or liking. The cafe gives off a warm atmosphere because of the big fireplace and cozy booths. It has an overall rustic and homey vibe, which appeals to many students who are trying to feel comfortable while studying. It is located in downtown Sioux Falls by the Washington Pavilion. It is a good place for right after school or on the weekends because it closes at 5 p.m.

4 STATESMAN

Dunn Brothers is a coffee shop locally owned by two sisters. It is on the east side of town, near the Century Theatres East- Dawley Farms. The atmosphere is mostly quiet, except for the subtle music that plays in the background. The building is small, but there are still booths and various types of tabletops. For students who like a chill atmosphere, this is the study spot for them because of the darker lighting.

You can find a caramel latte and an iced butterscotch latte at Coffea roasterie and espresso.

Coffea is a roasterie and espresso bar that is located towards the west side of town. It offers a vast amount of seating and table area which is perfect for when a student needs to get their work done. When friends plan to meet up, there are large tables that can seat many. When studying alone, little tables and chairs are set up all throughout the cafe. Coffea is filled with many windows, skylights and plants that give it a fresh, peaceful feel. The workers are very friendly as well as the other people there.

PHOTOS BY NYAH THAEMERT AND MORGAN MCDONNEL

FIRST SEEN ONLINE

‘Tickled’: journalistic integrity of docu-thriller

by Timothy Stolp David Farrier, a New Zealand journalist, did not expect to find a dark underbelly of deceit and crime hiding in the world of “competitive endurance tickling” videos he stumbled upon.

Shockingly, however, the story unwound itself to reveal darkness at every turn. In 2016, Farrier and TV producer Dylan Reeve released their documentary, “Tickled,” which chronicles the investigation into this seemingly innocent culture of videos. It is quite possibly one of the most intriguing, courageous acts of investigative journalism in recent years and deserves more recognition for such.

Farrier makes a living by spotlighting the bizarre and quirky; naturally, when he came across this strange sport of “competitive endurance tickling,” he was fascinated. The videos were of young guys tickling each other into laughing fits.

Though slightly disturbing, Farrier believed it to be an amusing story that would entertain readers. Little did he know of how massive this narrative would become.

After emailing Jane O’Brien Media, the company 6 STATESMAN

producing these videos, and attempting contact through Facebook, Farrier received numerous responses with derogatory remarks, strongly suggesting that he not look further into the tickling.

Quickly, the once-goofy topic reared its ugly head.

Farrier, along with his colleague Reeve, decided to press in despite the various legal and physical threats made against themselves. The wormhole they entered into revealed that Jane O’Brien Media was preying on young boys, often underage, and paying them in large quantities of money and goods, sometimes including cars.

Then, as soon as the kids depended on the tickling as a main source of income or if they elected to cut ties, the company released their information on the internet and harassed them with phone calls and emails. And that is just the beginning.

David D’Amato, who lived off trust fund money, was able to control an empire of tickling from his penthouse apartment.

Apparently, while enjoying the power trip he got from taking the reigns over someone’s life and learning disturbing amounts of

personal information about all the boys that appeared in his videos, D’Amato ruined future prospects for employment and harassed those who formerly participated in the tickling with mail, emails and voicemails laced with personal attacks.

Farrier and Reeve persisted in their investigation of “competitive endurance tickling” in order to expose the tricks of an old, hurtful man. Following the movie, the pair have been outspoken about the importance of utilizing one’s voice, especially in the era of fake news, a topic that remains pertinent to them as Jane O’Brien Media continues to pursue legal action against the two.

David D’Amato’s death sent waves through the community of viewers who had seen the documentary.

Farrier and Reeve have released multiple statements on the impact of his death, one responding to the conspiracies surrounding continuation of Jane O’Brien post-D’Amato, another as a statement about D’Amato’s passing.

“Ultimately we’ll never know all the things that made David the man he was,” wrote Farrier and

Reeve in the statement.

“Like all of us, he was complex and complicated.

So we ask you to keep in mind that while David appears to have lived a fairly solitary life, he did have friends and family members.”

The importance of “Tickled” as a documentary is the topics of journalism, truth and the power of money that it explores.

Throughout the film, Farrier and Reeve express their concern not only about certain confrontational situations in order to produce quality content, but their security. While it may seem too ridiculous to be real, the film is essentially a true-crime documentary.

As the documentary enters its conclusion, Farrier offers his final remarks about what “competitive endurance tickling” truly brings about.

“I now think that this was never even about tickling,” said Farrier. “This is about power, control and harassment; about one person’s twistedness and how far that can go; one person who’s managed to shelter himself with money to keep his obsession going. But now it’s his life exposed.”

LAST EENM BY

ARGARET

MINUTE CHEAP HOW TO HALLOWCut out pieces of black paper or fabric in shapes of

random blobs. Then use fabric glue to adhere to shirt.

MEIERHENRY Think big, think moo, think existential crisis.

“Lil’

UNDER THE WEATHER

HOW TO Write ‘weather’ on your white hat. Wear said hat and embody Zeus’s shoes so you're under the god of weather.

“COW/A N

UDDER

HOW TO

“CATS

OUT OF THE

DISAPPOINTMENT TO YOUR PAR -

Cut 8-inch pieces of yarn until you have a sizable amount. Then place on head while holding a little pumpkin. Lastly create a SoundCloud account.

How to Cut out pieces of black paper or fabric in shapes of random blobs. Then use fabric glue to adhere to shirt. Think big, think moo, think existential

How to Put on the ears and tail while holding the bag.

Once dressed tell people your secrets and then

PHOTOS BY LILY BREEMS

CATS OUT OF THE BAG

HOW TO Put on the ears and tail while holding the bag.

Once dressed tell people your secrets and then hiss at them.

BY MARGARET MEIERHENRY

How to How to Write ‘weather’ on your white hat. Wear said hat Cut 8 inch pieces of yarn until you have a sizand embody Zeus’s shoes so you are L under I L the ’ P able UM P Then place on head while holding amount. god of weather. a little pumpkin. Lastly create a SoundCloud

LAST MINUTE COSTUMES

COW/AN UDDER DISAPPOINTMENT TO YOUR PARENTS

FALL

BY CHLOE ROBINSON & EMILY SHANK

C

R

E

S

Peter Nijenhuis CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

ACTIVITIES

“Halloweentown I” “Halloweentown II” “Charlie Brown” “Hocus Pocus” “Casper” “E.T.” “Ghostbusters” “August Rush”

MOVIES

“Dead Poets Society” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” “October Sky” “St. Elmo’s Fire” “Addams Family Values” “Monster House” “Blind Side” “Little Monsters”

Apple picking with a hayride Camp in your backyard Get lost in a corn maze Have a bonfire and roast Visit a pumpkin patch marshmallows Visit your local bookstore Harry Potter movie marathon Jump into a pile of leaves Clean out closet/donate food Bake an apple or a pumpkin pie Make caramel apples Drink a pumpkin spice latte Visit a haunted house Carve pumpkins Scary movie night Bake pumpkin seeds Zombie walk

P L AY L I S T

“33 ‘GOD’”- Bon Iver “Stubborn Love”- The Lumineers “Wake Me Up When September Ends”- Green Day “Going to California”- Led Zeppelin “Flume”- Bon Iver “For Emma”- Bon Iver “Sedona”- Houndmouth “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”- Sleeping at Last “Sleep on the Floor”- The Lumineers “Hot Gates”- Mumford And Sons “Coffee Spoon”- Cold War Kids “Ho Hey”- The Lumineers

STATESMAN 9

STATESMAN 6

SPORTS PHOTO BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

FALL ATHLETES WE ALL NEED TO KNOW...

TABLE OF CONTENTS 12- ANIKA JENSEN 13- AVA LEONARD 14-ANDREW LAUER 15- ANALISE LEVESQUE 17- RYAN NEFF

STATESMAN 11

WHAT WAY? AJ

BY PARKER HIBBARD

A good athlete plays the game; a student athlete becomes the game.

The process of becoming a great athlete is not an easy journey; it is taking the road less traveled. Lots of time and energy are spent perfecting one’s craft. However, physical ability alone is not the only asset of the game; it also requires a strong mental mindset. Leadership, motivation, work ethic and confidence are all equally as crucial as the physical aspect of the game, especially in the game of soccer. Anika Jensen, a senior soccer prodigy, not only possesses the physical aspect of the game but also the tougher to acquire the mental toughness required for the game.

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

Anika Jensen found her love for soccer when she first began playing at the age of five years old. The competitive nature of soccer merged with all the friendships ps she has created along the way is what continues to attract Jensen and drives her to work ork hard to become better than the day before.

“I’ve been playing soccer for 12 years and I couldn’t see myself doing anything hing different. I love the competitiveness of it and also the social aspect,” said Jensen. en.

The ability to learn from one’s mistakes is another important attribute that remarkable ainers is athletes, including Jensen, portray. Growing by learning from coaches and trainers typical, but having the ability to take advice from fellow teammates and implement ement it into what an athlete does is what sets apart the good players from the great ones. nes.

“I look up to Morgan McDonnel even though she is younger than me. Her work ethic and positive attitude on and off the field is something that I strive to achieve,” said Jensen.

HOWWESCORED

Yankton Tea Douglas Spearfish Roosevelt Aberdeen Central Brookings Washington O’Gorman Watertown Brandon Valley Harrisburg 12 STATESMAN

MAKING A RACQUET ON THE COURT

by Nicole Schmitz

“Most days we have practice every day after school or a match. You might catch me grinding in a lesson after that,” said Ava Leonard.

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

Ava Leonard has a big influence on the team when it comes to preparing them for matches and finding time for team bonding.

“Ava is a social leader on the team. She leads by organizing things to do as a team,” said coach Tom Krueger.

Over the years spent playing with LHS, Leonard has evolved as a tennis player in more m ways than one. However, it is her power and ability to make aggressive plays that has made a noticeable difference in her playing.

“Ava has become much more aggressive in her game as she’s matured. She has a powe power that many of her opponents can’t handle,” said coach Krueger.

HOWWESCORED Johana Brower Ava Leonard Elle Dobbs Brita Quello Avery Blackman Emily Einsel

21-3 22-1 17-5 24-0 22-2 17-6 STATESMAN 13

TAKE THE

“I like hanging out with the guys, not only in practice, but outside of cross country as well. We really have a good group of friends we can hang out with all the time.

It’s fun to talk with them on runs during practice,” said Andrew Lauer.

BY KATHRYN SWEETER

Individ ual Sta te

SCENIC ROUTE HOWWESCORED Augie Twilight 1st Place Omaha 1st Place State 2nd

Andrew Lauer was not always as successful as he is now. His skill and leadership have evolved over the three years he has been at LHS. He is viewed as coachable, hardworking and committed by his coach and teammates.

“He’s always coming to practice and has evolved into a team guy.

He is now our top guy that is challenging himself with being one of the better racers,” said coach Eric Pooley.

Although he is quiet, Lauer sets an example for the team that has led them to success.

“He is a leader by example. He’s not necessarily as vocal, but he definitely puts in the work and is very passionate about running,” said Pooley.

14 STATESMAN

Runne r-up

“Our season has been going really well so far.

We’re definitely better than last year and we’ve been working really hard every day,” said Analise Levesque.

Individual S tate Champ ion

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

HOWWESCORED Augie Twilight 7th Place Omaha 6th Place State 1st

Analise Levesque plays a huge role in pumping up the team An and getting g her teammates energized before races. This differs drast drastically from her characteristics freshman year.

“She “Sh was pretty shy and timid coming in freshman year. She’s wante wanted to become a really good runner herself and has invested so much into this sport,” said Pooley.

Throughout Thr the four years she has been running for LHS, Leves Levesque has evolved as a runner in many ways. She has improved her sk skill by researching the sport and letting her passion for cross count country show.

“She’s “Sh really completely submerged herself in this sport. She resea researches the sport like no other. Analise is very interested in runni running at all levels,” said Pooley.

STATESMAN 15

NEFF LEADS THE LHS GOLF TEAM TO A STATE TITLE

BY SOMER LUITJENS

“I train and practice every day in the summer,” said senior Ryan Neff. “I play all 18 holes and try to do better the next day.

Also, bicep curls and calve raises are a must.”

PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

The 2018 season was exactly what Ryan Neff and the rest of the boys golf team were looking for. After a stellar season with only a few losses, the team traveled to Brookings on Oct. 2 and 3 to compete in the state tournament. After the first tournament day, theyy were ranked second behind Rapid City Stevens, but the second day, LHS came out on top taking the state title. Neff was chosen to be a part of the All State Tournament team and finished first making him the overall state champion. Neff and the rest of the team came home with a championship plaque.

“He is just a guy that absolutely has a passion for the game,” said golf coach, Jeffrey Halseth. “Whether it’s in season or out of season the guy is always practicing. He is always finding ways to make himself better. It’s his work ethic that makes him better and makes the team better.”

HOWWESCORED

Willow Run Prairie Green Spring Creek Yankton Brookings Elmwood Lakeview Prarie Green Brandon Valley

1st place 1st place 1st place 7th place 5th place 2nd place 3rd place 1st place 2nd place

Brookings

2nd place

State Tournament

1st place

STATESMAN STATESMAN 17 17

Going for governor FIRST SEEN ONLINE

BY SLATER DIXON

As the race for South Dakota’s newest governor continues, the increasing popularity of Billie Sutton makes the election of a Democratic governor seems increasingly possible.

Sutton and his Republican opponent, Kristi Noem, have a lot in common.

Both are keen to point out their small town origins; the two candidates are both from counties with less than 7,000 people. Both also emphasize family values. Kristi Noem is quick to point out her experience working on her family ranch and owning a small business. Sutton’s campaign website states that “[He] learned South Dakota values: rugged individualism tempered with a heart for community and neighbors, a faith in God, a never-sayquit attitude, with a heart for people.”

However, a quick look at each candidate’s plans for the state shows their differences. Noem, a fourterm member of the U.S. House of Representatives, checks all of the boxes for a Republican voter in South Dakota.

Her platform emphasizes tax reform

and the growth of small businesses.

On the other hand, Sutton’s platform includes health care as a key issue.

He also takes a strong stance against tariffs like those implemented by President Trump, claiming that they hurt farmers and ranchers. However, Sutton’s (mostly) pro-life stance and conservative views on gun regulation could make it easier for Republican voters to cross the aisle. The Democrat also announced a Republican as his running mate. Sutton’s platform is ultimately intended to sway a variety of voters, from staunch Democrats to loyal Trump supporters.

Most of the different criticism between the two candidates has been surrounding Noem’s fundraiser with the President in September and Sutton’s stance on taxes. Noem faced disapproval from her opponent over her donation process which allowed donors to give well above the $4,000 dollar limit by splitting their donation between several organizations, a practice that while not illegal, is

frowned upon by Sutton. “[Noem called] in help from Washington and breaks the campaign promise she made to South Dakota by using a loophole to fund her campaign with big-money contributions most South Dakotans can’t afford,” said Jones Pranger, campaign manager for Sutton.

Sutton has also faced criticism from Noem for his looser stance on tax increases.

“Noem said she wouldn’t propose any new taxes, if elected, and would veto proposals to hike taxes if they reached her desk. Sutton said he wouldn’t propose tax increases, if elected, but wouldn’t commit to vetoing any proposed tax hike measure that reached his desk,” according to the Argus Leader.

Polls either say it is too close to call or favor Noem. Of course, it is impossible to know if Sutton will be able to turn the Mt. Rushmore State blue until election day.

STATESMAN 17

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN

60 MINUTES?

BY BRITA QUELLO & EASTON PLOURDE

In 60 minutes, students at LHS can accomplish multiple unusual tasks, such as...

Pad Baireddy, 12 “I can learn how to sing all of the lyrics to ‘American Pie’ by Don McLean backwards in 60 minutes.”

Dewaun Nesheim, 11 “I can jump and touch the top of the LHS ceiling with my tongue 600 times per hour.”

Reese Decker, 9 “I can crochet a stocking hat in 60 minutes.”

Jack Epling, 12 “I can drink an average of 3,600 water bottles per hour.”

Ella Stich, 10 “I can juggle a soccer ball 200 times in an hour, while eating mac and cheese.”

Aaron Condran, 9 “I can teach a computer how to play Tetris.”

PHOTOS BY JAIDA SORENSEN

STATESBUDS: DONUT EDITION

BY KATE FEHRS & NAYELI AYALA

DESCRIPTION: The plain donut we tried was like tasting air. It had absolutely no flavor, tasting like plain bread. Even the look of the donut was unappealing.

PRICE: $.75 LOCATION: DAYLIGHT DONUTS

DESCRIPTION: The plain donut with a dash of glaze was an upgrade from the plain donut.

The only flavor came from the glaze, it was dry and ordinary.

PRICE: $.75 LOCATION: DAYLIGHT DONUTS

DESCRIPTION: The last donut we tried was a regular donut with normal chocolate glaze. It was nothing fancy but the donut crumbled as soon as we tore it apart. It was far too dry and bland for our liking.

PRICE: $.75 LOCATION: DAYLIGHT DONUTS 20 STATESMAN

DESCRIPTION: The jet fuel joenut is meant for the coffee lover but the coffee flavor is only found on the whipped cream. It is appealing to the eye but not to the palate. It is crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside which evokes a peculiar taste.

PRICE: $2 LOCATION: FLYBOY DONUTS

DESCRIPTION: The pumpkin pie donut is the perfect fall treat. It is meant to taste like pumpkin spice but instead it tastes like carrot cake. The dollop of fresh whipped cream gave it a nice finish. And to top it off, the donut was soft and fluffy.

PRICE: $2 LOCATION: FLYBOY DONUTS

DESCRIPTION: The whipped cream on the cake donut seemed to overpower it. It was very appealing to the eye with its exotic colors. It was the equivalent to a fancy cake donut, but glazed with white cream and sprinkles.

PRICE: $1.50 LOCATION: FLYBOY DONUTS

DESCRIPTION: The chocolate donut from Holiday looked overcooked, dry and flaky. It had absolutely no flavor and tasted the way it looked: old, stale and sad.

PRICE: $.99 LOCATION: HOLIDAY GAS STATION

DESCRIPTION: The chocolate long john with vanilla pudding was a basic donut with chocolate glaze. There was nothing special to the donut. It is a regular gas station treat.

PRICE: $1.29 LOCATION: HOLIDAY GAS STATION

DESCRIPTION: This blueberry donut should be renamed “blueberry with a burst of fresh air.” It is the perfect size and texture with just enough blueberries to not overpower its flavor.

PRICE: $.99 LOCATION: HOLIDAY GAS STATION

DESCRIPTION: The long john had no filling, white glaze and a spongy texture. It was very soft but the only flavor came from the glaze. It was a traditional long john donut.

PRICE: $1 LOCATION: HY-VEE

DESCRIPTION: The donut with cereal as a garnish can be described as a “stale bowl of cereal.” The donut itself was delicious, but the cereal was a turnoff.

PRICE: $1.50 LOCATION: HY-VEE

DESCRIPTION: This sugary delight is a taste of heaven. It was by far the best donut we tried and also very affordable. It had the right amount of powdered sugar with a fluffy texture that stimulated the senses.

PRICE: $1 LOCATION: HY-VEE PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

STATESMAN 21

NOT ALL HEROES USE VAPES Vaping has detrimental effects on people, especially teenagers.

V

BY KATIE KROEZE, STATESMAN ADVISER

aping is the newest trend in school, and everyone should be doing it. There’s nothing cooler than ripping fat clouds in the bathroom during study hall.

Actually, this isn’t true. Vaping is harmful and can be considered as destructive as smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

It’s no secret: Vaping has become popular amongst teenagers, even at LHS. Many students believe that vaping is harmless and not as bad as smoking cigarettes, but this is simply not true. The only way to prove it is to look at the statistics and facts from researchers and top universities that have conducted studies.

For instance, Centers for Disease and Control, states that there are many chemicals in e-cigarettes that cause cancer. These chemicals include formaldehyde, heavy metals and other particles that get stuck in the deepest parts of your lungs.

One of these chemicals is a buttery substances called diacetyl, which is also used by many popcorn companies. These substances have been linked to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, or “popcorn lung.” Since the discovery of this substance, popcorn companies have removed the substance from their products, yet it is still used in many e-cigarette flavors such as cotton candy, blue raspberry and lemonade. It has also been found in fruit and candy flavored e-cigarettes, many that appeal to young adults.

CentralAddiction.org states that vaping leads to negative health consequences such as: damage to the brain, heart and lungs; cancerous tumor development; preterm deliveries and stillborn births in pregnant women; harmful effects on brain development, when use occurs during fetal development or in adolescents (teenagers, that’s you).

In response to this vaping trend, the FDA has rewritten the tobacco handbook to include: e-cigarettes, e-pipes, hookah pens, vape pens and vaporizers. Vaping has effects similar to regular cigarettes, such as: lung cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cancer, leukemia, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Many doctors suggest that smokers vape to help stop their addiction to cigarettes, but those who haven’t smoked cigarettes before and choose to use vapes have a higher chance of getting addicted to nicotine, which can be a gateway drug.

Recently, on Nov. 3, the FDA leaked information from the popular vape company, Juul, according to NPR. The FDA went into the company to search its documents and manufacturing.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb called youth e-cigarette use an “epidemic” last month, saying the practice “shows no

signs of abating.” He also stated that, “The FDA won’t tolerate a whole generation of young people becoming addicted to nicotine.”

A popular vape being used is called the Juul.

This e-cigarette can be charged in a USB port on a computer, and looks like a little flash drive or a pencil lead container. Each Juul pod contains about 200 puffs, which contains the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes, according to Time Magazine. Because these items are uniquely designed and small, they are easy to carry around and to hide from others. This may be part of the reason many students are using them in the restrooms, hallways or even during class.

All of the products listed above are not approved by the FDA, meaning the companies can use whatever marketing they wish. They do not have to list any side effects, and they can entice their users by making candy-like flavors that appeal to a younger crowd.

According to Dr. Linda Richter, this may be why the bathroom smells like cotton candy or pumpkin spice.

There isn’t much long term research on the effects of juuling because it is a new trend. Regardless of this setback, researchers and doctors are still concerned that with the amount of nicotine in each juul, the effects could be detrimental. Also, according to Dr. Richter, using nicotine, regardless of how it is delivered, is extremely addictive.

If this research isn’t enough to convince you of the damages vaping might have , consider these scary statistics from CDC: More than 3 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2015, up from 2.46 million in 2014.

In 2015, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among students in middle and high school for the second straight year. According to NPR, “81 percent of children who ever use tobacco start with a flavored tobacco product.” The sale of vaping supplies to minors is banned across the country but teens have no trouble buying the equipment online; in fact, the FDA believes that the flavors that e-cigarette companies are marking are marketed directly to children.

Also, consider this: Adults are not dumb. They have most likely been through the same peer pressures teens have. Although vaping is a new trend, many adults, especially teachers and administrators, are educated on the topic and can identify when a student is doing it. Don’t risk your future over a silly e-cigarette. Better yet, don’t risk your health over a silly e-cigarette. I know that teenagers often times seek ways to push the limits of adults, but vaping is not a game, it is harmful. is ripping phatty clouds really worth the risk of dying?

What makes LHS

H A P P Y

BY SOMER LUITJENS & PARKER HIBBARD

America was founded on three main principles: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With all the stresses we face in life, it is sometimes tough to find things that make you happy. Here are some of your fellow LHS students to show you their pursuit of happiness: Jersey Olszewski, 9

a m out ble ng pro uri ng Figlengi l cha

Fett u

ccin

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lfre

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Amy Dow, 12

Armen Derhagopian, 11

oke

Bro j Luit ens

Anna Engels, 9

My sister Carson Woods, 10

Sports PHOTOS BY SOMER LUITJENS & PARKER HIBBARD

Carter Ericson, 9

Ma Will x Honn and McDo er, Dyla nne n Sa l lone

Charlie Mickelson, 9

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uds

in th

e ha

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ay

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Ree Baireddy, 10

Emil m’s

stru

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Jackson Hazlett, 9

hbox

lunc

Vacation

Mr. P beaastran rd o’s

Court Anderson, 11 Christian Godfrey, 12

Dogs

Olivia Engels, 12

Open lunch

Caelyn Taylor, 12

Jace Julius

EnGage W

elcome to the eighth installment of EnGage, a column. The goal of EnGage is to entertain, inspire and educate: to engage. as always, please do not sue the Statesman. Thank you.

Be alone.

In an age ostensibly defined by uninhibited, instant connection, we have never felt more alone; according to a survey conducted by Cigna, 54 percent of Americans feel lonely, with young people especially at risk.

Loneliness is not a partnerless plague. Linked to depression, cardiovascular diseases, antisocial behavior and Alzheimer’s disease, loneliness lurks behind our deepest fears. And worse, we’re scared to talk about it. We think people who are lonely are alone. The words “I’m lonely” conjure images of crazy cat ladies and kids who have no table to sit at. And while these archetypes may indeed be lonely, feelings of isolation do not discriminate.

In their book, “Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection,” John T. Cacioppo and William Patrick find no connection between a person’s social adeptness and their loneliness. In fact, some of the most sociable people are the loneliest.

“People who are chronically lonely are disconnected,” Laura Carr, licensed marriage and family therapist, explains.

“They believe that they are flawed in some way. They are looking for connection outside of themselves, but others will ALWAYS fail them because no one can meet that need.

It is unmeetable by others.”

Isolation is an epidemic and if we want genuine connection, we have to flip the script.

We have to be more mindful and talk about our loneliness without shame.

But most importantly, and maybe counterintuitively, we have to spend more time alone.

Carr goes on to say that, in order to feel socially-fullfilled, our sense of self-actualization must come from inside, rather than out; before we can be okay with our relationship with others, we have to be okay with our relationship with ourselves.

The best way to do this? Spend some time alone.

People who struggle with loneliness often compensate with allocating every free minute to friends. They use people as distractions, bandaids, from their actual issues, furloughing self-confrontation rather than fixing their loneliness.

Alone time forces the issue.

Surrounded by only your own thoughts, you can’t help but work through your issues.

There are no distractions. No band-aids. Though it may be painful, it is undoubtedly necessary.

So, let’s confront ourselves preemptively. Cancel your plans this weekend. Sit in your room like a weirdo and listen to music and think about things that don’t need to be thought about. Be alone.

By Gage Gramlick, Editor-in-Chief

THE

BY HANNAH HANSEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

act of living may mean something different: something more powerful than mere existence.

Something much greater.

There is a vital divide between living and existing. But the divide is what you make of it.

You are responsible for separating the two, and you only. The words “living” and “existing” mean something different

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME

You woke up today.

That’s a fact. A valid, irrefutable fact. In simple terms, this makes you alive. You woke up, therefore you’re alive. Therefore you’re living. But are you really living? Sure, you’re breathing. And yes, you’re reading this. But if you occasionally stray from the basic textbook definition of a word, the

the stripped meaning of “living” is being alive, but that’s framed around a picture-perfect definition: depending on how you an elementary concept. perceive their definitions.

This isn’t a fill-in-theThese same definitions blank textbook question are proportional to the from your Scholastic length of the divide you Reader fourth grade give them: to the depth of assignment. This isn’t a the divide you seek.

You could say that

simple yes or no answer.

This is life. Saying that “living” is inaugurated by the word “alive” is equivalent to saying The Beatles’ music was birthed entirely from political discord. Sure, the societal encouragement had great influence, but The Beatles had greater motivation than what society equipped them with. They weren’t just making music because society told them to; they weren’t just feeding off of the uproar. They had a greater arrangement in play: a larger scope of interest in mind.

Change is the greatest common factor in this nonmathematical equation. Implying that existence holds the same

gravity as living does not consider change as a substantial ingredient. If you simply exist, change is not as relevant. It’s not as meaningful. Living, on the other hand, empowers the change. It fuels the advancement. It enables the cause. Just ask McCartney.

I can’t confidently tell you the difference between “living” and “existing,” partly because there is no correct way to differentiate the two terms.

But there is an underlying corruption in the way the difference is perceived. So far, we’ve focused on the concept of living and its outputs being “alive” and having “existence.” But these words, “alive” and

“existence,” have their own matrix of meaning: their own scope of feeling. More often than not, the written definition of a word seizes an insignificant length of emotional connection.

Both the words “alive” and “existence” have their own personal attachment derived from who is perceiving them.

When you think of the word “love,” something immediately comes to mind. This is true with most words. But when we take the time to reflect on why we think of these images, this all starts to fall into place. It all starts to make sense. “Existing” is equally capable of possessing diversified definitions as “living” is.

But your take on the word “existing” will alter your attachment to “living.” It’s a never-ending spiral of perspective. This is why I can’t tell you the difference between the two. That’s up to you.

Maybe you think “living” and “existing” are interchangeable. Maybe you think they couldn’t be farther apart. Regardless, that is your perception.

That is your Beatles movement. This same movement alleviates the generalized standard of the world; we don’t have to be like each other, act like each other or think like each other to understand our place in life. You have this life. Create it. Own it.

Live it.

YOU

The purpose of The Palindrome is to expose the ambiguous angles of life: the angles of which are sheltered from the common eye. There are different ways to interpret life, several directions to look at it from and diverse concepts to challenge because of it. A palindrome involves looking at a word from a different angle of interpretation; life requires you to separate what you see adjacent to the common eye and shift your vision toward the uncommon eye: the foreign, irresistible unknown.

?

GUN VIOLENCE: WHAT CAN WE DO?

BY LILY HIATT Columbine, Sandy Hook and Marjory Stoneman Douglas: all wellknown names in our country. Each of these schools have something in common. They have all experienced the horrors of gun violence.

In the U.S., shootings have become a common occurrence. They happen so often, that we come to expect them.

Gun violence is so prominent in our country that we hardly blink an eye after a shooting. This mindset of normalcy is disturbing.

Gun violence is disrupting the rhythms of daily life. Safe spaces no longer feel safe. Students struggle to concentrate in class and some fear coming to school at all.

“Kids are supposed to be able to come here and get an education and then go out and live their lives, but instead they have to live in fear of some random person coming in and shooting up the place,” said LHS

junior Mak Highstrom.

It is not fair that students are worrying for their lives when they should be worrying about Pre-calc or AP Chemistry. It is important that schools do everything in their power to make the students feel safe.

“Perception is reality. I know that you guys may not like a couple of the changes that have been made [with headphones and school entrances], but they were made with [safety] in mind,” said Principal Robert Grimm.

If someone is doing something in the building they are not supposed to, and I need to get your attention, I need your attention right now; not a second from now. By then, that could cost you your life.”

I feel like it goes without saying that we should not have to worry about these issues, especially in America. At times it feels like we don’t want to fix the situation at all. The two sides fight over how to handle gun violence, but

nothing is really being done to prevent it. How is this helping anyone?

As a child, it is not uncommon to feel as if your voice doesn’t matter.

However, I would argue that the student’s voice matters the most. Gun violence is affecting the students and how they learn. If you have an opinion on this topic, I urge you to speak up.

We tend to get so caught up in the issue that we forget that it affects actual people. Stories are important; they help bring reality to the problem.

If you have ever felt scared coming into school, speak up. If you have ever felt afraid walking through the hallways, speak up. If you fear the worst when you hear someone come on the intercom, speak up. Tell your story and share your opinions, because your voice matters.

Text “resist” to 50409 to get in contact with your senator.

STATESMAN OP/ED 31

Don’t pretend like you don’t know @CHLOECRISSMAN Following

America, 1933. The Dirty Thirties. We had enough to worry about with the Great Depression and our eyes and ears being filled with dust, to worry about foreign struggles. We sat idly by as millions of people were slaughtered and when questioned about it, we said we simply knew nothing about it.

Americans in the 30’s and 40’s claimed that “they had no clue what was going on in Europe,” but how are you oblivious to the death of 6 million Jews across almost an entire continent? Granted, we didn’t get real news outlets until the war in Vietnam, and all we had to go off of was the radio reports, but something could have been done. The U.S. government had to know that something was wrong in Europe when thousands of Jews came flocking to America. But what did we do? We closed our borders to them. We can’t pretend like we had no knowledge of the atrocities being committed on the Jews. According to The Washington Post, “In 1933 there was a huge rally in Madison Square Garden with 20,000 people in attendance to protest the persecution of Jews in Germany. . . . The sad thing is that, given all that publicity, still the Holocaust happened.”

Now we are living in a time when all we do is check our phones. Over 336 million people use Twitter, arguably one of the most used platforms for news and discussion, so many people see the awful events that occur all over the world. I, myself, have just recently watched a video of acid being thrown onto civilians in Iraq. Right now there are five genocides that are still happening today: Rohingya in Myanmar, The Nuer and other ethnic groups in South Sudan, Christians and Yazidis in Iraq and Syria, Christians and Muslims in the Central American Republic and Dafuris in Sudan. We shrug these harsh realities off and pretend like they don’t happen but when will we realize that people are being killed for no reason. Innocent lives are being stripped away because of religious discrimination. Israel and Palestine are at war. The Arabs currently hate the Iranians, ISIS is almost defeated but Asad and Hezbollah are replacing it. We post and claim we want world peace and change to be made, but why aren’t we heading toward that change? Why are we letting evil acts happen and then in 20 years when the current bad thing is over, we’ll ask why nothing was done to stop it? We’ll pretend again that we didn’t know what was happening even though we read and see it while we drink our morning coffee.

How do we create change and stop current and future holocausts/genocides? Stop assuming extremist politician’s views aren’t going to be put into action. Hitler released “Mein Kampf ” and the world turned its head to his hatred for the Jews. Now 6 million deaths later, we take anti-Semitism seriously. Don’t assume that you can predict your own actions in the face of adversity. Nobody knows themselves when put in a position of life or death. Take a stand. Just one person can create a ripple effect. Don’t be quiet, because the more we allow our voices to be muted, the more we allow history to repeat itself.

11:42-October 12,2018

32 OP/ED STATESMAN

What they dont’ tell you.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTIAN JEPSEN

BY MARYAM RAUUF The situation in the Congo can come off as a conspiracy theory, especially to those who aren’t fully aware of the series of events that have plagued the Congolese people for far too many decades.

The Congo, abundant with rich natural resources like rubber and diamonds, was an easy target for the Belgians, who conquered them, killing 10 million people in the process. For years a tired Congo suffered mistreatment and deaths of neighbors, friends and family.

That’s when the U.S. stepped in, a false savior guised in the promise of independence.

For the first time, in over a century of unrest, the Congo

was able to democratically elect their first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. After years of being controlled by Western powers, the Congo was offered a sweet taste of hope. But Lumumba proved too much a threat to the capitalistic way of life the U.S. insisted on imposing. Two months into his term, Lumumba was assassinated by the Belgians, who simply beat the U.S. to the punch. At best, the U.S. was complicit in the deaths of millions of Congolese people; at worst, we are responsible for a genocide.

Yet, we are required to take history classes to idolize a single narrative of U.S. morality, classes that conveniently ignore the U.S.

and the role it played in the Congo.

While the Congolese people try to recover, we reap the benefits of a country we raped of all it could’ve become. Our responsibility lies beyond our curriculum, it is up to us to become more conscious of what our country slays in our name. Despite not being a part of the meeting that decided the fate of Lumumba and ultimately decided the fate of the Congo as a whole, we are all equally at fault. By ignoring the history of U.S. exploitation of the Congo, we are allowing a history so tragic to repeat.

Although our textbooks portray the U.S. in bright lights, it is crucial to remember all of the countries we darkened.

STATESMAN OP/ED 33

At some point in each person’s life, they have a desire to succeed. It’s just human-nature, integrated into our society.

From preschool on we are told to set goals. They start with objectives as small as tying our shoes, or washing our hands after using the bathroom.

Then they grow into desires as large as being accepted into our dream college, or to having the most successful career possible. We are told to set an achievable goal and work towards

it, focusing only on the end result to keep ourselves motivated.

The want to succeed isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s what drives society as we know it, but the focus on the end result can cause unforeseen problems in our daily lives, which is why it’s time to abandon the idea of goals entirely, and move onto a cyclic mindset, discovering the differences between goals and systems.

While goals are a single result, systems are constantly moving processes. As a student, your goal may be to graduate high school.

Your system would be the homework you do, quizzes you take and classes you pass. If you’re an athlete, your goal may be to win the state championship, but your system would be what you do at practice every day. A system focuses on the work you put in to achieve your goal, rather than just the end result.

But without goals, what drives people to achieve?

This is where the mindset shift needs to happen, because if you ignored your goals as a whole, and only focused on your system, would you still be successful?

Most likely, yes.

The system mindset doesn’t work if you aren’t dedicated to finding a productive system, but for those of us who are dedicated, focusing on a system can have major benefits.

The student with the goal of graduating no

give up on your dreams

longer has to grapple with the goal of graduating, a goal that can be years away from completion.

Instead, by focusing on the system it takes to graduate; each paper, assignment and test passed becomes a victory.

The system mindset within a student makes the “small things” a big deal, which ends up positively motivating them to work harder, instead of the threat of not achieving the one goal.

If an athlete views each practice as a place where they can succeed, they end up working harder than they would if they only viewed winning a game as important.

Abandoning goals can make them a better player, and more positive overall, as there are less “make or break” moments and more opportunities to succeed.

Goals increase stress and reduce happiness.

Setting a goal is like telling yourself that you aren’t good enough right now, and the only time when you will be good enough is when you reach your goal. This isn’t only detrimental to your self esteem, but it also puts you into a frame of mind where

happiness is gauged on results. This makes any failure devastating, and preventing “success.”

This definition of success permeates throughout society, and recently has manifested itself at the level of societal change.

According to “Humanity in Action,” a successful social movement follows four basic steps: First: a Spark. Often manifested in the form of a death or an act of violence that sparks outrage. The spark brings up the idea that something is not okay and change needs to take place.

Then: Niche. This is the unification of the outrage. Protesters come together, the movement has a name and a vision.

The most popular stage is Movement. All of the niches join together to fight for a greater cause.

A second wave of protests ensue and people are on the streets. What started as activism turns to advocacy, and they are ready to create change.

The final stage is Mainstream, when the movement has created change. Laws have been passed, tested and enforced. What the movement wanted

when they started has happened and they have achieved success.

Many of the social movements we see, however, never make it past the Niche stage. But does that make them a failure?

Based on how society currently defines success, yes.

This is why it is necessary for everyone to have a radical change in their thought process when it comes to success.

When we stop focusing on the end result, we are able to see that progress is still made, which will fuel more progress.

The March for Our Lives movement focused on gun control reform.

But even after all of the protests, we haven’t seen any meaningful reform within legislation. This protest never made it to the Niche stage.

By definition, it was unsuccessful.

When you look at the March for Our Lives from a large picture view though, you can see that classifying it as a failure is not only wrong, but delegitimizing to the advances that it did make. Instead of focusing on the end goal of the protest, we need to look at the steps that

were made towards gun control. According to the New York Times, at least a dozen companies cut ties with the NRA in response to the protests.

Support for the March became more unified than it ever had been before in response to gun control and forced people to start listening.

The protests were anything but a failure, even though the end goal was not achieved.

Changing our perspective on success provides benefits that will not only change our everyday lives, but also society. When we understand that each day is a step towards success, it reduces the overwhelming stress of reaching a seemingly impossible goal. It gives momentum to the movement, giving each consecutive step more support and increasing achievement.

Everyone has a desire to succeed, but it’s time to change the idea of success as a whole.

Focusing only on the end result creates tunnel vision that discourages continued effort in the face of failure. That’s why it’s time to give up on your goals, and focus on the system.

redefined

BY KATIE OSMUNDSON

The title of this

by Georgia Conlin What were you like as a child? The answer is different for everyone. However, all kids have one aspect in common: their imagination is endless.

If you were to look inside a preschooler’s head, the things you would see could confuse you, make you laugh and maybe even stress you out.

They are constantly thinking of new ideas, then asking questions about them, and I mean a lot of questions.

However, their brains work in a way us “older people” have trouble understanding and in the end, they tend to use the creative side of their brain more often than we do.

I believe that we care too much. Now, I am not saying that to care is a horrible quality. In many circumstances, having compassion and work ethic is essential, especially in your job or in school. But, as young adults, we are in the phase of our lives where routine is key and the habits we learn stick with us. Having a routine can make you feel stable, calm and orderly. It

36 OP/ED STATESMAN

has manyy perks perks, but what we don’t think about are the negatives of having a set schedule, which results in loss of creativity and a gain in self-doubt.

We then end up worrying about what other people think of our ideas. This doubt will also decrease our creativity when we live in fear of saying something that could be considered strange.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge,” Albert Einstein once said. It is how we learn about the world and create our own unique thoughts.

So why do we lose this ability to be creative as we get older? According to Forbes.com, as we get older we figure out our lives, we learn patterns and life styles that work for us. We also begin to effortlessly work around situations we want to avoid, unlike kids who don’t understand how to avoid conflict. We also learn all about what is socially acceptable,

and we tend to stay with the situations we are comfortable with. Most of us are comfortable with who and where we are, so without knowing it we lose some of the imaginative spark we used to have.

New research by UC Berkeley psychologists suggests that creativity reduces as we get older. During their experiments, they tested different age groups from preschoolers to adults.

Each age was given two hypotheses, one with an obvious explanation and one that was more unusual. After the test, they found that more adults choose the obvious hypothesis and younger age groups choose the unusual one. This proves that children are more intrigued with finding out the hard way.

Now don’t get all depressed because we are boring adults. There are many activities you can do to stay away from being a dull

dud. Fastcompany.com states that 72 percent of people have creative thoughts in the shower.

It happens to be good for your creativity by letting the hot water hit you and letting your mind wander. Another option: be by yourself.

Even though a lot of people prefer to work in groups, it turns out our brains work better when we are alone and can think for ourselves.

Lastly, not sticking to your typical daily routine.

Adventuring can greatly improve creative thinking and makes life more interesting!

As adults, we have a greater potential to use our creativity in a way that is useful. Yes, kids can think and behave in a more free-spirited way but all we have to do is work a little extra hard. In the end, kids are always going to be more creative than adults, so just accept the fact that kids will always be funner than you.

Recycling tips

BY WILL HOWES

After the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alarm bells began to ring. The report concluded that if humanity does not fundamentally change how it interacts with the environment, our world will burn and drown at the same time.

Much of the public is nervous about the implications of the report and what the future has in store; some are wondering what they can do to help. The good news is that taking recycling seriously is a great way to start.

Electronics

If you have old electronics (computers, cell phones, microwaves, television, etc.), there are many options. Old devices can often be sold on Craigslist or eBay. For older equipment, stores like Best Buy have in-store recycling programs. Electronic appliances are best brought to the Hazardous Waste Facility, see details below.

Standard items

Contact lenses

The City of Sioux Falls maintains a list of items that typically can and cannot be recycled: • Paper • Cardboard and chipboard, such as cereal boxes (flattened and clean of food grease) • Plastic bottles, tubs and jugs • Tin Cans, steel cans, and aluminum cans • Clean Aluminum Foil and trays • Empty Aerosol Containers • Paper Egg Cartons • Glass Jars and Bottles • Empty plastic Grocery Bags and trash bags- place your plastic grocery bags inside of a clear plastic bag and toss it in the bin.

• ALL disposable batteries are recyclable.

Disposable contact lenses are recyclable, there are just a few extra steps required. Start by collecting all of your blister packs (the plastic containers), tin foil, and contact lenses in a cardboard box. Next, simply Google “Bausch + Lomb contact recycling,” print out a free shipping label and ship your box away for free recycling.

Though the program is sponsored

by Bausch + Lomb, it accepts all contacts, regardless of brand.

Goodwill Goodwill not only accepts items for reuse, it also accepts all forms of textiles for recycling. Instead of throwing away old clothes, drop them off at Goodwill.

For more info Visit https://earth911.com/ and https://www.terracycle.com/

Trees designed by Freepik

Items accepted at Hazardous Waste Facility

* = Limit 5 per year ** = Limit 2 per year

Desktop PCs (CPUs)* Monitors* Keyboards Mice Cords & Cables Televisions* Modems Laptop PCs Main Frames

Scanners Calculators Paper Shredders Telephones Answering Machines Cell Phones/Pagers CBs/Two-Way Radios Record Players Microwaves**

Hard Drives CD ROM/Zip/Tape Drives CD/DVD Players Word Processors Palm Organizers Printers (laser & jet) VCRs/Laser Disc Players Video Game Players Joystick/Game Controls

Cameras Camcorders Speakers Radios Portable CD Players Typewriters Copy Machines Fax Machines Adding Machines

STATESMAN 37

Walking to the Biet of his own drum: the interesting life of Aaron Bietz

BY TAYLOR ERICSON

PHOTO BY RILEY RASMUSSEN

high school because of one class in particular: cardio fitness.

“I like cardio fitness class because it is one of the few physical education classes that I find myself genuinely enjoying,” said Aaron. “I like how it is a very simple premise; you just go out, walk the two miles and you’re done.”

Not only is walking something that Aaron loves, but he excels at it immensely. He is able to walk incredibly fast for long amounts of time, earlier this year, Aaron walked a mile in 11 and a half minutes.

Although Aaron is well above average in terms of his walking capabilities, he never fails to encourage other students around him to excel as well.

“He always is wearing a smile,” said Huber. “He is always upbeat and always sees the glass as half-full versus half-empty. Aaron encourages others to walk a little bit faster; he knows that they may not walk as fast as he does, especially if we do a timed mile on the track.”

Not only does Aaron constantly encourage others, but he is incredibly brave as a result of the surgeries that he has endured.

“Our family does go through stressful periods but we have always had

the belief that he has gone through all of these things to be a normal kid, and that’s how we let him live,” said Aaron’s mom, Tami Bietz.

“When Aaron was facing his second surgery at age 11, I as his mother was very stressed out by it. I asked him how he was doing and his response was, ‘Well the doctors fixed it right once, they will do it again.’”

Aaron is an extremely courageous and kind soul who has experienced tremendous hardships in his life but does not let that stop him from thriving in his everyday life.

“One of the misconceptions is that kids with birth defects need to live life in a bubble.

Granted, there are many children who are not as fortunate as Aaron and our family but we wanted Aaron to live life to the fullest and never let him believe that his heart condition could stop him from doing the things he wanted,” said Tami.

“Aaron, he is completely his own person and he owns that. He doesn’t conform to fit in and is a genuine kind soul. Aaron is often misunderstood and people make judgements about him but he doesn’t let that affect who he is as a person and that is admirable.”

AARON BIETZ AARON BIETZ AARON BIETZ

Marching band, history class and speed walking are just a few of the activities that senior Aaron Bietz enjoys. After reading this list, one may conclude that Aaron is an average high schooler, but he has undergone a lot more challenges than one may be aware of.

Aaron has a heart condition called Pulmonary Atresia; this means that at birth, his Pulmonic valve was completely closed, resulting in two open-heart surgeries by the time Aaron was 11. Instead of having a pessimistic attitude as a result of this condition, Aaron enjoys life and all it has to offer. One activity he particularly loves is speed walking.

“I have had Aaron in cardio fitness one and currently cardio fitness two,” said physical education teacher, Kaaren Huber. “Aaron is a very positive, influential and fast-moving kid that enjoys the walking that we do because the running is a little bit too much for what he can do at this point. But he chooses to walk and he does that very, very fast.”

Aaron’s love for walking started after his eighth grade year when he and his friends would walk together for hours on end.

That interest continued to flourish when he reached

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