May Issue 2022

STATESMAN ISSUE NO. 7 : 2022

MAY ISSUE

shocking truths behind fast fashion AVERY NELSON

a not-so-promising future CLARE HEUPEL

‘defending nature itself ’ KATE MATTHES

THE EARTH IS WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON

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Rubben Johnson: A man of many talents ARIAHNA WELLS

LHS theater presents ‘Noises Off ’SARAH BOMHOFF

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NEWS

SPORTS Professional pretenders -GAGE GOHL How I infiltrated the LHS track team VERONICA ISEMINGER

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‘Defending nature itself ’-KATE MATTHES

FEATURES What’s left behind -LAURA HECKENLAIBLE LHS inked -ELLEN MERKLEY Parents amongst the peers -VANESSA TIMAT

PERSPECTIVES The five stages of grief -DAISY LARSON Mother’s Day without a mom: Year twoJADA SANDVALL What to do for senior skip day -PAIGE GORDON

ENTERTAINMENT Really quick road trips -BROOKS HOUWMAN Summer bucket list -SAMANTHA ZEECK Statesbuds: Ice cream edition -HENRY HAFT & CALEB HIATT College checklist: How to get prepared HANNAH CISAR Capturing confidence -ADRIENNE REVIER Live your best life: On a budget -MARGARET ANN MICKELBERG High school highlights -LEIGHTON FELTMAN

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Batter up boys -JOY BILAL & RAINA MARTY

Expectations vs. reality of high school DELANEY GRAMLICK The Oscars are a joke -REESE DUNCAN A not-so-promising future -CLARE HEUPEL Shocking truths behind fast fashion -AVERY NELSON Juices and water: The two types of drinks -FISHER MEYERINK Making Mental Health Awareness month meaningful EMMA SOUTHWICK Burnout bound -OLIVIA BROST

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Statesman PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Sarah Bomhoff, Morgan Sandness & Jada Sandvall

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Emma Forster & Kate Tollinger

FEATURE EDITORS Anna Anderson & Vanessa Timat

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Delaney Gramlick & Emma Southwick

PERSPECTIVES EDITORS Laura Heckenlaible & Clare Heupel

SPORTS EDITORS Claire Brown & Lucas Hiatt

NEWS EDITORS Reese Duncan & Kate Matthes

STAFF WRITERS

Daniel Bethke, Joy Bilal, Elana Bishop, Olivia Brost, Hannah Cisar, Bella Engebretson, Anna Engels, Ashleigh Ericson, Carter Ericson, Leighton Feltman, Gage Gohl, Paige Gordon, Henry Haft, Caleb Hiatt, Brooks Houwman, Chloe Houwman, Veronica Iseminger, Katie Jensen, Allison Kolling, Daisy Larson, Kate McCartney, Raina Marty, Gabie McConnell, Ellen Merkley, Fisher Meyerink, Margaret Ann Mickelberg, Avery Nelson, Lydia Nelson, Baily Randall, Adrienne Revier, Adyson Sand, Lydia Sarbacker, Taylor Schmitz, Mara Tiede, Vanessa Timat, Thompson Wakefield, Ariahna Wells, Samantha Zeeck

ADVISER

Dr. Katie Kroeze

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‘Defending Nature Itself ’ BY

KATE MATTHES

On April 6, in Los Angeles, California, four protesters, including a NASA scientist, banded together, handcuffing themselves to a JPMorgan Chase bank and demanded climate change action. The protestors Greg Spooner, Allan Chornack, Eric Gill and Peter Kamlus spoke to the public, making emotional speeches and stressing the need for immediate climate action by the government. Behind them a sign reading “We Are Defending Nature Itself ” was on display.

Kalmus, a climate scientist for NASA, told people gathered, “We’ve been trying to warn you guys for so many decades that we are heading towards a ****ing catastrophe… the scientists of the world have been ignored and it’s got to stop. We’re not joking, we’re not lying, we’re not exaggerating.” Kalmus teared up while mentioning his fear of what the future might look like for the planet, and for his sons.

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Chornak, a science teacher, held a megaphone while yelling, “We have tried being silent, we have tried the policy game, we have tried celebrities, we have tried everything!”

The men were eventually arrested and led away from the bank by Los Angeles Police.

The Chase bank found itself the target of this protest due to the hundreds of billions of dollars in funding it donated to fossil fuel industries from 2016 to 2021. These donations, according to Kalmus, essentially helped to fund the destruction of the planet.

Since the industrial revolution, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil have skyrocketed. As a result, massive amounts of gasses have been released into the atmosphere that work to accelerate global warming. Scientists warn that global heating must be kept to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to minimize the effects of climate change.

At the current rate of carbon dioxide production that number is on track to be surpassed in a few decades or less. According to the Scientist Rebellion’s website, a continuation of this pattern would mean

“I’m willing to take a risk for this gorgeous planet, for my sons.”

However, the four Los Angeles protestors were just a small part of an international chain of protests carried out on April 6, 2022. Organized by the Scientist Rebellion Organization, hundreds of scientists in many different countries participated in acts of civil disobedience or peaceful protest. Climate scientists and others risked arrest by blocking bridges, throwing paint and even gluing themselves to buildings, each with the goal of attracting attention to the climate crisis.

an increase in natural disasters, refugees and even water scarcity.

Although these patterns have been apparent for decades, a continued lack of action has frustrated the scientific community.

Kalmus took to social media after the protest where he spoke more about the subject stating that civil disobedience has been the most effective method for him of encouraging climate urgency.

He says that individual efforts to reduce emissions are a good step; however, he believes the effective solution is to switch to renewable energy immediately and end the fossil fuel industry, a goal which will hopefully be reached with help from world leaders. Kalmus states that this is a necessary step in ensuring that global heating does not continue to rapidly increase.

According to Kalmus, this is just the beginning for him, and he believes more people including scientists will join the climate protests. He stresses the fact that there is still time to act saying, “It’s not too late, I hear a lot of people saying that it’s too late and it’s not, we have to fight like hell for every fraction of a degree of global heating.”

DESIGN BY

KATE MATTHES

BY

LAURA HECKENLAIBLE

As the school year comes to a close, seniors’ minds are flooded with excitement and nerves for the future. As they walk across the stage and accept their diploma, the utter joy will be bittersweet. The years spent in high school are some of the toughest that students endure and many are ready to just leave it all behind. Despite all of this, high school is also the place where some of the best memories, experiences and people are found. For seniors, the next chapter of life must be opened and enjoyed. No matter the distance or growth that takes place, all of the good times will not go away.

Each person, memory and experience will not only be missed but will be cherished. Here are a few aspects of the high school experience that seniors at LHS will be missing as they open the next chapter of their lives.

“Getting to play varsity softball with my sister.”- Ashton Dorman

-Marisa Weinzetl

“The routine and structure.”

-Daisy Larson

“I genuinely will miss being a part of the cross country team. LHS provides a great running community and I will take the values and tradition I’ve learned and experienced with me for the rest of my life.” -Dylan Saur

“My underclassman friends.”

-Elliot Barnhardt

“I will definitely miss the choir directors the most. They have made this year so much fun and I can wholeheartedly say that they are one of the main reasons I am continuing choir in college. LHS is extremely lucky to be able to have these two amazing people working here.”

-Gaby Axtman

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LAURA HECKENLAIBLE LAURA HECKENLAIBLE PHOTO PROVIDED BY ASHTON DORMAN DESIGN BY

PHOTOS BY

EY KL Y E Y ER M ERKL KLE N R M E LE EL LEN EN M L

BY EL EL OS Y OT N B BY K PH SIG OR DE TW AR

ELLEN MERKLEY The art of tattoos is one like no other. Once the needle touches your skin, you will forever be marked. So, picking the right tattoo is one of the hardest decisions one may have to make. However, many here at LHS have gone through that picking process, why did they choose the art 1. As a 50th birthday gift to herself, LHS English they chose? teacher Cindy Cummins decided to treat herself and get a tattoo. This was her first and only tattoo, at the moment. On her forearm lies a heart in a pair of hands, with the saying “it is well.” Many speculate that this tattoo means she had heart problems; however, the true meaning is deeper than just the heart that shows on the surface. In the hands is a needle sewing up the heart in a cross pattern shape. At the young age of four, Cummins experienced trauma. Over the years she has been able to come to peace with this tragedy that she went through. Her tattoo symbolizes the culmination of God taking care of her. She knows she will never regret her tattoos because they hold such a deep meaning to her. Cummins hopes to soon add a mother elephant and two baby elephants by her side, symbolizing her and her daughters.

2. Tanner Worthington got his tattoo in December of 2021. This was Worthington’s early Christmas present. The tattoo is across his forearm with the date that Mara Worthington, his cousin, passed away. Since this is such a meaningful piece of art, Worthington knows he will never regret this piece. He plans on adding more to the two he has right now. Another 2. Tanner Worthington tattoo is also on the way for his birthday coming up.

The end goal is to finish with a sleeve.

3. Ali Bainbridge is a junior at LHS. Bainbridge is a part of the Cross Country and Track team. People can always find her getting her miles in. So, one would not be surprised to see the word “run” tattooed on her calf, which she got in January of 2020. Other than the obvious fact that she has a love for running, Bainbridge’s brother passed away when she was younger. She and her family used to put on glow runs in his honor. They all hold running close to their hearts and can always look to it no matter how crazy life gets. Bainbridge may grow out of running but this tattoo will always hold a special meaning, so no regrets will come with it. However, this will be the one and only tattoo for Bainbridge.

1. Cindy Cummins

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3. Ali Bainbridge

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BY

ARIAHNA WELLS

Rubben Johnson is a man of many talents. Not only does he speak seven languages including English, but he leads a life many people only hear about.

Having already overcome some of the greatest obstacles one can face, Johnson is ready to conquer the world.

One of the most daunting requirements of high school is two years of foreign language. To most, the task of merely comprehending a new language is a far reach; however, Johnson has become a pro at mastering the art of foreign languages.

“I speak Hebrew, native Liberian, native Nigerian, a little bit of French, Mandarin, Swathi and English,” said Johnson. “The reason why I know a lot of languages is because my family moved around a lot of times, so you had to adapt and learn the language to be able to communicate with people.”

One might be fooled by the fact that English is Johnson’s latest language to learn as he is very fluent in it after only speaking English since 2018 when Johnson and his family moved to the United States.

“My last language to learn is English because we came to America last, and my first language was Liberian because we lived in Liberia for most of my life,” said Johnson. “It is [Liberian] like English but it’s more broken English.”

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However, moving around a lot, especially to a new country, presents many challenges. Not only does the language barrier provide a struggle, but also being thrown into a new culture full of new norms proves to be a hard obstacle to overcome.

“Getting to know new people and trying to adapt to the new environment [has been the hardest part about moving to a new country],” said Johnson.

Many people can relate to the fact of having someone or themselves move away from all of the relationships that have been built, however, very few can relate to moving away to a new country. Changing the long-distance relationship from hundreds of miles to thousands of miles can be hard.

“I have a lot of family at home and usually they call a lot to check on us,” said Johnson.

“I [also] have a lot of friends back home who I miss a lot too.”

However, Johnson’s long-distance relationship with his friends and family is not solely online-based as he and his family regularly travel back to Nigeria and Liberia.

“We went back to Africa last year to Nigeria, which is my mom’s home country,” said Johnson.

Not only has Johnson fully embraced his new home, but he has become very

involved in his community and also the school. While finding ways to sing throughout his day and planning all of the school’s major activities along with helping the community in Student Council, he is a great friend to everyone he meets.

“I am in track where I run the 200m and the 400m. I am down in E-wing where I help kids who are learning English in a club called Soul Club,” said Johnson. “I help teach bible school to kids at my church, I volunteer at the banquet and I am on Student Council.”

Johnson hopes his future will always involve his history and the place he was raised in. Whether that be regularly going back to visit or moving back to his birthplace, Johnson has no intentions of leaving Liberia behind, in fact, his dreams are the opposite of that.

“In the future, I want to become an anesthesiologist and after that, I want to go back to my home country and run for president,” said Johnson.

Whichever endeavor Johnson chooses to pursue in his future, there is no doubt that he will not only be able to speak any language the job requires, but he has the persistence to achieve anything.

DESIGN BY

ARIAHNA WELLS RUBBEN JOHNSON

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY

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Jackson Klawonn

Camdyn Ernster

Worst thing: “The worst thing is [that] he's right here, so if I ever get in trouble or if I ever get a bad grade, he’s right here for somebody to tell him right away.”

Best thing: “It’s awesome. I get to see my daughter smile every day.”

Worst thing: “When she asks me for lunch money.”

Best thing: "Sometimes I do get a little bit of special treatment from teachers that know her because they like my mom. I get to sometimes see those teachers out of school too, it's kinda fun to do that.”

Worst thing: “If people don’t really like her, then sometimes that can reflect off of me.”

Mark Ernster

Sara Klawonn

Necedah Oros Best thing: “Last year I used to go to her room and steal her lunch all the time. I [would take] all of her chips or whatever.”

Worst thing: “Hearing people talk about her in the hallway. It is just really awkward for me."

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Best thing: “My son went to school here too, I think that one of the best things is that I know who their friends are.”

Worst thing: “Maybe sometimes I know too much.

She can be in classes with my colleagues and that can make it awkward.”

Kristina Oros

Best thing: “Getting to see and interact with him is unique and different.”

Worst thing: “I don’t want him to embarrass me, and I’m sure he doesn’t want me to embarrass him.”

Charli Dlugosh Best thing: “I can just go into his room whenever I want. If I need something printed, he can do it. It's just a lot easier.”

Worst thing: “Everybody knows my dad and that’s a little bit weird. If he gives my friend a bad grade or something, that can be weird.”

Best thing: “It's easy to talk to teachers and make sure that everything is going okay there. Make sure that that stuff is getting done.”

Worst thing: “There really hasn’t been a downside for me.”

Trent Dlugosh

VANESSA TIMAT VANESSA TIMAT PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS STAFF

Best thing: “I would say that it’s nice because if I ever need anything, I can just go get it from him.”

DESIGN BY

VANESSA TIMAT

ARTWORK BY

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There are many teachers at LHS that have the opportunity to work where their kids attend school. Some students have their parent as a teacher while others do not, but this can impact their school lives differently either way.

Here are a few of the students who have a parent that works at LHS.

REALLY QUICK

ROAD TRIPS

by Brooks Houwman

With summer less than a month away, it is time for road trip season. Living in a town with a small population, sometimes your every day, already done before, overdone activities get boring. That is right, I am talking about Thunder Road, Downtown and even your friends’ basements. But guess what? There are things to do surrounding Sioux Falls. Whether it is a day trip or overnight trip, here is a list of close road trip destinations to make your summer a little less perpetual.

Palisades State Park: Near Garretson, Palisades State Park is only a half-hour drive from Sioux Falls. If you are seeking a quick trip or an overnight camping trip, the Palisades can give you both.

The park is known for Split Rock Creek which created a rocky landscape throughout.

Hiking, fishing, biking and wildlife watching are all activities that can be found in the Palisades. Near the Palisades is Devil’s Gulch Park where Jesse James supposedly jumped a ravine after robbing a bank. The park is more than its folklore as it is a great place for a quick hike. Palisades State Park is definitely for the more outdoorsy kind of road tripper.

Make sure to pack your food as there are not very many options in the area.

Sioux City, IA: For the foodies and history buffs, Sioux City, IA is the place to go. It is only an hour’s drive from Sioux Falls with a whole new variety of restaurants and museums. One of the top-rated restaurants in Sioux City is MAIN + ABBY, located in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City.

Though the hotel does not have much for those under 21, MAIN + ABBY has fantastic food. The museums in Sioux City consist of the Sioux City Public Museum, Sergeant Floyd River Museum and the Sioux City Railroad Museum. Famous for creating the Twin Bing, Palmer Candy has a candy-making museum along with a wide variety of candy. Despite the town’s population being smaller than Sioux Falls, Sioux City is a great way to switch it up.

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Lake Madison: There is no life like lake life. Only an hour away, the Lake Madison area has restaurants, campgrounds, hotels, golf, fishing, water sports and more. Few hotels can be found around the lake and for those under 18, Walker’s Point, Jacob’s Landing and Cabana Shores are the campgrounds where you will want to hang out. To fulfill your watersport dreams, there are jetski and boat rentals available around and near the lake. After your grueling and exhausting day on the water, there are a plethora of eating options around the lake. One restaurant is The Broadwater Bar, a locally owned restaurant that has live music every weekend. design by Brooks Houwman artwork by Brooks Houwman

BY

SAMANTHA ZEECK

As we embark upon the last few weeks of the school year, it is time to start looking ahead towards summer. So, when you need a break from studying for AP or semester tests and completing final homework assignments, you can begin planning some exhilarating events for summer. These events will give you motivation to push through the rest of the school year and create excitement for summer.

By creating a summer bucket list, you will avoid any indecision that may occur at the beginning of summer when you are unsure of what to do with all of your free time. Here are some general, enjoyable pastime ideas to get you started on your summer bucket list and make 2022 the best summer yet.

DESIGN BY

SAMANTHA ZEECK

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BY

HENRY HAFT & CALEB HIATT

B&G Milkyway: Sub Zero:

Stensland Family Farms: Stensland Family Farms is a family-owned farm located just outside of Larchwood, IA. They operate a 200 cow dairy farm and the milk produced is used for their freshly bottled milk, aged cheese, cheese curds and ice cream. We tried the chocolate “How Now Brown Cow” and vanilla “Farmhouse Original,” for consistency purposes.

Caleb’s review: As a returning customer to Stensland, I knew I was in for some high-quality ice cream. The texture is unbelievably creamy, despite being a traditional ice cream rather than a soft serve. As I remembered, the chocolate was rich, but not overpowering, still leaving me wanting more.

“How Now Brown Cow” is the best chocolate ice cream I have ever tried. While I have been a fan of Stensland’s chocolate ice cream, I had to try their vanilla for the first time, and now I can say with full confidence that they have the best vanilla ice cream I have ever tasted. The aspect I love about Stensland’s is that they let the ice cream speak for itself, while other places like Sub Zero, Cold Stone and B&G add toppings or mix-ins.

Henry’s review: I am also a returning customer like Caleb. Going in I was very optimistic because I remembered that their ice cream was to die for. The way the dairy is pasteurized and converted into ice cream sets this ice cream apart from other local ice cream dealers. I think that the chocolate ice cream we tried was super rich and creamy but what impressed me was the amount of flavor in just the plain vanilla ice cream dubbed the “Farmhouse Original.”

I finished only wanting more of it and the aftertaste it leaves in the mouth is so refreshing and enticing.

Stensland’s most definitely will be ranked higher on my list.

The ice cream stand that works out of a cargo container opened three years ago on 41st street. The stand makes rolled ice cream, one of the only places in Sioux Falls that do this, on top of serving shaved ice and other frozen treats. We ordered the “Brookie,” which has chocolate ice cream, brownie, chocolate chip cookie and chocolate drizzle and the “Cookie Monster,” which has vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookie, oreo and chocolate drizzle.

Caleb’s Review: As a first-time consumer of Sub Zero, and of rolled ice cream in general, I was pleasantly surprised. After being a loyal Stensland fan for years, I thought they would blow the competition out of the water, but Sub Zero proved me wrong. While I still think the ice cream at Stensland is of higher quality, Sub Zero allows customers to be more creative with their orders and explore more diverse textures.

Henry’s Review: I have had rolled ice cream once before when I was in Omaha, and I enjoyed it, so I was excited to have it again and especially so close to home. I think that Sub Zero is really unique in the way that the ice cream is prepared, and the location is really convenient, but I think that overall Stensland and Cold Stone are superior. It is very difficult to compare this ice cream to the others because it is just so different, but they all have things that are wonderful.

Cold Stone Creamery: The nationwide ice cream chain has one store in Sioux Falls located on the west side of Century Theater. Cold Stone has a wide variety of ice cream, along with toppings that can be mixed into the creation. Cold Stone also has favorites on the menu, with predetermined ice cream flavors and mix-ins. We ordered two of these favorites, the “Chocolate Devotion” and the “Oreo Overload.”

Caleb’s Review: Cold Stone has never been my go-to for ice cream, in fact, I was first introduced to it when a friend of mine got a job there about two years ago. That being said, Cold Stone Creamery has great ice cream, and the mix-ins only elevate the experience. While I do not think the quality of the cream is quite up there with Stenslands, the two shops are very close in overall deliciousness. My favorite of the two was the “Chocolate Devotion.” I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of chocolate elements, from the rich and creamy ice cream to the sweet brownie bites.

Henry’s Review: Going into Cold Stone I already have an extreme bias because I have been a consumer of this ice cream on a somewhat regular basis for the last 15 years. I think that they have some of the best ice creams in Sioux Falls. The texture of the ice cream is thick with a refreshing yet sweet taste and an aftertaste that will not make you feel like you have dragon breath. Cold Stone, unfortunately, is located pretty far from LHS and has a remote location on the south side of Sioux Falls. The ice cream is also pretty expensive which is another factor that is very important when considering which place has the best product for the best price.

A city favorite, known for their frozen treats and clever billboards. B&G is different from the others since their ice cream is soft serve as opposed to traditional hand scooped or hard ice cream. B&G can be found all over the metro area, with five locations in Sioux Falls, one in Brandon and one in Tea. At B&G we ordered an Oreo avalanche and a Brownie avalanche.

Caleb’s Review: B&G has been one of my longtime favorites for ice cream. An avalanche at B&G is similar to a Cold Stone concoction, but with soft-serve ice cream instead. The Brownie avalanche was very scrumptious, but I wish there were bigger chunks of brownie rather than smaller ground-up bits of brownie. Regardless, I still really liked the flavor, the mixed-in fudge takes this delight to the next level.

The Oreo avalanche was also very enjoyable. To be honest, it is hard to order wrong at B&G. Henry’s Review: B&G not only is the cheapest ice cream on the list, but they also have some of the best locations all around Sioux Falls. B&G is good ol’ reliable for ice cream. The Oreo avalanche and the Brownie avalanche are both scrumptious. The ingredients are crunchy and fresh, and the ice cream is cool and refreshing and they always fill it to the top. I think the ice cream at Milkyway is not the best in Sioux Falls, but they definitely offer a viable option that offers the most bang for your buck.

PHOTOS BY

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DESIGN BY

HENRY HAFT & CALEB HIATT HENRY HAFT & CALEB HIATT

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How to get prepared

College checklist:

BY

When heading off to college, there are certain necessities that one must (or must not) consider taking with them to school. Here is a list of all items necessary to providing you with a successful college experience:

comfy clothes a few cute outfits for going out

Bathroom/Toiletries

sneakers

toothbrush and toothpaste

dress shoes

shampoo and conditioner

swimsuit

body wash

undergarments

feminine hygiene products

socks

Dorm Room fan air freshener bed sheets and comforter mini fridge

medications

summer clothing (if going somewhere hot)

microwave

shower caddy

winter clothing (if going somewhere cold)

silverware, cups and plates

makeup and makeup remover

rug noise canceling headphones

Laundry towels

Miscellaneous

sunglasses

laundry detergent

TV

stain remover

iPad or laptop

lint roller dryer sheets quarters

coffee maker

phone and charger

laundry basket and hamper

shower shoes

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Clothing

HANNAH CISAR

multi-plug extension cord

Olivia Netjes, a freshman at Dordt University graduated from Sioux Falls Christian in 2021. Although there were many things she brought to college that she uses every day, there were also some items she has yet to use. Here is a list from Netjes on what not to bring to college.

Extra sheets and towels (it was easy enough just to wash them and they just took up unnecessary space) Shoes (not necessary to bring more than a few pairs)

jewelry

Snow boots (I thought I needed more winter stuff but I never even used my snow boots)

water bottle

Robe for communal showers (never used it; everyone just walks to and from in their towels)

dish soap

Lamp (never used it) DESIGN BY

HANNAH CISAR HANNAH CISAR

ARTWORK BY

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know what they think looks best. Simplicity is key. Tops with excessive logos will only distract from the focal point of the photo, which is you! By picking out simpler outfits, it allows for pieces to appear timeless. It is quite possible these photos will be looked back on for years to come. Timeless and simple pieces will lessen the chances of regretting a certain look. Lastly, bring back ups! It is possible an outfit originally chosen will not capture well on camera or possibly it will work poorly with the weather. Being prepared ensures no last minute scrambling.

In addition to outfits, makeup, hair and even nails come into play when considering appearance. An important tip is to practice looks in advance. Trying a bold hair or makeup look the day of is risky. It is important to feel confident going in. For the guys, getting a haircut up to a week before will allow the hair to relax and appear more natural by the day of shooting. It may seem

and awkward. Practicing in the mirror will ensure more confidence. Another way to increase confidence is to bring someone along. Whether this is a friend or family member, having someone along will help you feel more comfortable. They will be able to make you laugh and uplift you while capturing photos.

If you have any last minute questions, ask!

In addition to talking to your photographer, you could ask around to fellow friends or classmates who have already taken their senior photos.

Last but certainly not least, speak up. If you are not fond of the way your photos look, it is your job to say. The photographer is obviously experienced and is there to provide tips, but at the end of the day, these are your pictures. It is important that you are proud of how you look and feel in them!

APTURING CONFIDENCE BY

ADRIENNE REVIER

As the year winds down, time is additionally inching closer and closer to snapping some beautiful senior photographs.

Senior pictures, although exciting, can also spike anxiety and possibly be fearful for some.

These professional looking photographs are meant to capture an important time in a senior’s life. They should be fun and look natural. Help the process run smoothly and feel comfortable when taking them by following these simple tips!

For starters, here are some style tips. The most important part when deciding what to wear is prioritizing comfortability. This does not mean showing up wearing the most worn-in pair of sweatpants, but rather to make sure the outfit is not restricting. The last thing someone would want is to feel constricted and constantly have to readjust their outfit. Next, when choosing an outfit, try to pick colors that compliment you. Pick a shirt that brings out the color of your eyes or a dress that flatters your skin tone. This could go without being said, but colors will vary from person to person. Experiment with colors beforehand and ask people you

mundane, but your hands will most likely end up in a few of the pictures. Girls, touch up your manicure or even get a fresh one. Pick out a color that goes well with not only your desired outfits, but your location as well. For guys and girls who do not prefer colored nails, make sure the nails are trimmed and decent looking.

In order to personalize the photos, add various accessories and props. Bring along valuable items that pertain to you such as a sports object. As for accessories, include items that pull out your unique personality. Maybe you have a flattering hat; try to coordinate that into an outfit. Another artistic option would be to take a picture using a white sheet backdrop and a stool. There are also many inspirational apps like Pinterest and Instagram. It is important to have an idea of what you want the pictures to look like before taking them. If you need any help, talk to your photographer. It is their job, and they will be happy to help.

This next tip may seem cheesy, but practice posing in a mirror. For a lot of people, posing for pictures is uncomfortable

LAUREN MERKLEY MORGAN SANDNESS

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DESIGN BY

CA

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BY

T

he LHS theater department presented “Noises Off,” a whimsical “play inside of a play,” which kept the audience rolling throughout the entire show.

The storyline of “Noises Off ‘’ began with the preparations for the production “Nothing On,” where the director, Lloyd Dallas, played

by Nicholas Forster, held a dress rehearsal, turning into a train wreck of a rehearsal.

At the beginning of the performance, the curtain opened to Mrs. Clackett, the forgetful housekeeper played by LHS senior Molly Baumeister, talking on the phone in a thick accent, her words nearly incomprehensible to the audience. As she mistakenly took a plate of sardines with her off stage, the director paused the rehearsal to correct Mrs. Clackett’s actions, resulting in an ordeal in which the scene is repeated multiple times, causing frustration for Lloyd. Similar situations repeat themselves throughout the show, sprinkling a bit of the characters’ “off-stage” personalities and quirks into each bit and joke. As for the off-stage drama, several love triangles became apparent

SARAH BOMHOFF

throughout the show. At the beginning of the second act, the entire set was flipped around to show “backstage,” and the behind-the-scenes of the play that the characters are putting on. During the second act, some relationships between characters progress, while other characters begin to bicker with one another, resulting in several mishaps backstage, some of which are also shown on-stage. At the beginning of the third act, the set was flipped back around so the stage was visible to the audience once again.

After a series of flukes behind stage, the characters started the play over again, only to face more issues, including, but not limited to repeated lines, a missing burglar, bloody noses, broken doors and of course, a missing contact lens. The intentionally disastrous tendencies of the cast kept the audience laughing throughout the entire production.

The cast of “Noises Off ” was rather small, with only nine cast members, but many helping hands behind the scenes were necessary for this successful production. The full cast and crew consisted of student directors, stagehands, technicians, costumemakers, set-builders and many other roles that were not visible on stage. In addition to the behind-thescenes roles, each character played multiple roles, one “on-stage” character during the on-stage rehearsals of “Nothing’s On,” and a separate character when

they ‘broke character’ and returned to be the cast themselves. These roles could be deciphered by their different accents, mannerisms and interactions with the other characters.

The role of a student director is to essentially be another set of eyes for the lead director and LHS teacher, Brian Hardie. There were two student directors, Marisa Weinzetl and Ilee Neemeyer and one student stage director, Lillian Kellar. Kellar has been involved in LHS theater for the entirety of her high school career, but for this show she took on a larger leadership role as a student director for the technical department. Student directors came to every rehearsal and assisted the cast in putting on a great show.

“I made a great connection with the people and the art that we put on and the things that aren’t really seen by the audience,” said Kellar. “When I signed up to be a stage director, I really put my effort and my time into leading a really hard working and optimistic group of people.”

As for the show itself, “Noises Off ” is a difficult show to pull off due to each cast member having multiple roles and essentially having two storylines for the audience to follow throughout the show.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY

Hardie chose to bring this show to LHS because of the complexity and talent that it takes to pull off the performance.

“You are not asking your audience to ponder the existential questions of humanity and life, but you are just simply asking the audience to come and to be elevated and lifted by the silliness,” said Hardie. “I love the simplicity of well-constructed comedy and what it seeks to do.”

The simplicity of “Noises Off ” allows its audience to connect with the characters, but even more than that, to enjoy themselves without the distraction of a complex plot or storyline, as the comedy comes from the characters and actors themselves, with the help of a few props.

“In essence, it’s all about doors and sardines. The sardines come on, the sardines go off,” said Hardie.

LILLIAN KELLAR

DESIGN BY

20

PHOTOS BY

SARAH BOMHOFF SARAH BOMHOFF

21

Live your best life: on a budget

How to get money to spend

how to save money as a high school or college student by

Shopping Beware of micro trends Micro trends are defined as fashion trends that pass through the cycle very quickly and only last as trends for a few years. However, there have been many arguments by fashion student bloggers that the rise of social media influencers causes some micro trends to only last through a single season, according to The List, StyleCaster and many other sites. To avoid spending unnecessary money on clothes that will trend out next season, stick to quality basics, develop a personal style and be mindful of your true feelings about a certain trend. Always stick to what feels the most like yourself and what you will wear more than once.

Discount Codes Social media influencers are not all bad when it comes to influencing your purchases. A lot of times they work with brands enough to earn a promo code to post for their followers to use and money off of the store’s merchandise. Be cautious

22

Hit two birds with one stone

Margaret Ann Mickelberg

though, because in order to nominally save money, you must think as though items are not discounted.

Apps There are many apps to save money and get discounts and coupons with no hassle — especially for college students. Apps like UNiDAYS are great for codes and coupons exclusively for college students. There are also saving apps that get great reviews like Acorns, Mint and PocketGuard.

Eating Eat in!

Eating out with friends is a great way to pamper yourselves and have a good time. However, socializing with friends can get a little pricey if every time you are together you eat out. Make eating in as fun as (or more fun than) eating out by setting the table nicely, choosing a new recipe to make and enjoying the process of it all. Groceries are much less expensive than a restaurant meal and most of the time provide more than one or two servings.

Buy in bulk Instead of going to the gas station to buy the same $2-3 energy drink every day, buy a pack in bulk and save around 50 cents a can.

Make your own coffee It will hurt our teenage souls to give up a day or two worth of Starbucks (Starbucks continuously ranks 1st for where teens spend for food, according to Business Insider), but in order to save six dollars a week we need to give up one Starbucks drink. To save $42, we can give up seven Starbucks drinks.

It costs around 17 cents to brew a cup at home according to Business Insider, and 19 cents per ounce of Starbucks brand creamer from the grocery store.

Eat veggies and drink water As simple as it is, water is extremely cheap if not free, and vegetables are a great, cheap snack. Your body and wallet will thank you.

Is your summer goal to save money? whether you are saving for college, travel or just to save, these tips can help.

data provided by

Business Insider

fast facts 30% of teenagers prefer to shop at specialty stores, while only 10% prefer shopping at major chains.

Male teenagers devote 14% of their spending to video games.

After the onset of the pandemic, teenagers spent 50% less on concerts and sporting events in 2021 than they did in 2017.

Regardless of income, teenagers spent 22% of their money on clothing in fall 2021.

One way to squeeze a job into your busy schedule is to get a job doing something you would regularly have to do. Being a private lesson coach for a sport you are good at or being a personal trainer or class instructor not only lets you get a workout in, but also puts some cash in your pocket.

A fantastic way to get quick cash is babysitting.

Parents are willing to pay decent money for you to take a night out of your weekend so they can enjoy themselves child-free.

Depending on the time of night, you can get homework done if the kids go to bed early.

An alternative is to look for jobs with great employee perks that would be genuinely helpful for your lifestyle.

* Stores like Aerie, American Eagle, Gap and Urban Outfitters have good employee discounts if buying clothing is your vise. * Starbucks employees get free drinks when they are on the clock and 30% off all other times. * Many grocery stores or restaurants have an employee discount or even friends and family deals depending on the establishment.

Learn more from people who have done it themselves Listen to podcasts or talk to parents or other adults about how to (and how not to) save, invest and spend your money.

The top rated economic podcasts for saving money by USNews are “How to Money,” “The Financial Confessions” and “ChooseFI.” Get a notebook and a pen out and write what you learn down and treat saving your money just like a class you have a big exam for.

Teenagers spend only 1% of their funds on movies, but they spend more than 200 dollars annually on video games.

52% of teens prefer Amazon as their top shopping website.

data provided by

Taking Stock with Teens

design by

Margaret Ann Mickelberg

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21

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS BY

22

LEIGHTON FELTMAN

The 2021-2022 school year went by in a flash for many students. The year was filled with a return to full student sections, a couple championship appearances and some early wins for a new competitive team.

DECEMBER

AUGUST

26- The last first day of school for the 2022 class, along with being the first day without a “mask expectation” within the Sioux Falls School District.

SEPTEMBER

28- LHS boys win the Sioux Falls Metro Meet at Bakers Crossing Golf Course. The team’s win was led by senior Luke Honner with a 65 along with an impressive performance by senior Bennett Geraets. The LHS boys golf team shot an under 6 overall, breaking the previous state record.

OCTOBER

4- The LHS girls tennis team takes third place at the state tournament (404), behind Rapid City Stevens (470), and Harrisburg (450).

23- The LHS marching band returns from a royally good performance at the Bands of America St Louis Competition.

28- The LHS APES Classes take a dip into the Big Sioux River for the week as a part of their water quality unit.

NOVEMBER

5- The LHS varsity Football team loses to Harrisburg 10-17, placing them in the top four for this year’s season.

23- The CTE Culinary Academy feeds students from the Jane Adams Immersion Center.

4-5- LHS oral interp team wins the state competition taking home superiors in all seven categories and a team excellence award.

JANUARY

29- The LHS winter guard makes their first live competition appearance in Omaha finishing their season on a high note with a first place award.

FEBRUARY

The South Dakota All-State Band selects 42 LHS students, making LHS the largest portion the bands members. LHS students make up 24% of the band with the next closest school only having 12 students selected.

MARCH

14- LHS student Ella Ratliff ’s watercolor art piece places second in the nation and competes in Switzerland at the International Competition.

17-18- 12 LHS students present in the 2022 South Dakota High School Activities Association State Art Show. Seven of the LHS attendees placed between 1st -5th place with all 12 students earning points towards LHS’ placement of 3rd place in the state.

APRIL

7- All three LS jazz bands win their sites at the SDSU Optimist Jazz Festival.

ADMIT ONE 24

design by Leighton Feltman photo provided by the Sioux Falls School District

professional pretenders (a satire) BY

GAGE GOHL

cameron jackson

hannah dumansky

Many know that Stephen Curry recently broke the all-time record for three-point makes, but little know that Cameron Jackson has also broken the record for all-time three-point makes in the history of high school basketball. To compliment their excellent shooting behind the arc, they both have very excellent ball handling skills to blow by defenders. While big boy Jackson was heavily recruited

by Black Hills State for his ability to dominate in the post, there is no doubt that other schools will be missing out on his point guard abilities.

Q: What do you think you and Steph Curry have the most in common?

A: I think everyone knows that me and Steph Curry are just the best three point shooters. I mean together we’ve made over 3,000!

Q: How do you think you and Steph Curry’s body builds help you both in game?

A: Our body builds really help us with several things, [from] blocking shots to getting good boards. Thankfully we’re both really really tall so that helps.

Q: If you had to guess, who do you think would win in a three point and free throw contest right now in the LHS gym?

A: Undoubtedly me.

When people think of Hannah Dumanksy, they think of three things: incredible 100 meter sprinter, rainbow colored hair and lots of tattoos. Whether or not she intends to have so many similarities to sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, the two are two peas in a pod. They often train together for the short distance Olympic events, but due to Richardson’s failed drug test before the games began last season, Dumansky

jack smith

jared jansen

When it comes to the most dominating physiques in all sports right now, 380 pound Trent Brown and Jack Smith are neck and neck for that title. While these two may be dominant on the offensive line blocking for their respective teams, they both tend to lack some speed, running 5.29 40 yard dash times in each of their combines.

Q: How have you modeled your football abilities after Trent Brown on the offensive line?

A: Just being the big guy and getting in the way of everything.

Q: How have you been able to develop the body physique like Trent Brown has?

A: It is a strict diet of Gilbertos burritos and Culver’s ice cream.

Q: Who would win in a race one on one between you and Trent Brown right now?

A: Definitely Trent because of the athletic edge he has on me right now.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS DESIGN BY GAGE GOHL

26

ATHLETES & WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

had to compete in the Olympics for the U.S. without her partner in crime.

Q: How have you looked up to Sha’Carri Richardson?

A: Ever since I watched her break the NCAA 100 meter record I just knew I had to dye my hair.

Q: Have you ever been told that you and Sha’Carri Richardson could be related due to all your similarities both on and off the track?

A: I started noticing our intense similarities back in middle school when one of my homies called me Sha’Carri by accident.

Q: How has your career as a sprinter been influenced by Sha’Carri Richardson?

A: Sha’Carri has heavily influenced my sprinting career in that I now have the confidence to use sprinting blocks. She has even inspired me to shoot for sub-16 seconds in the 100 meter dash!

While there is no official voting system that determines the greatest coaches of all time, it can go without saying that Bill Belichick and Jared Jansen are definitely the two best two ever to step on a football field. With a combined 67.3% win percentage, 17 divisional titles, 12 Super Bowl appearances and eight Super Bowl championships in the NFL, there is no doubt that these coaches are the two greatest to ever do it.

Q: What characteristics have you admired about Bill Belichick?

A: I think the thing that sets coach Belichick apart from everyone else is his fashion sense - “Look good, play good!”

Q: How is it that you and Bill Belichick have won a combined 8 Super Bowls?

A: I think the only thing you can contribute that to is an undying work ethic and an unquenchable thirst to be the best.

Q. Why is it that you and Bill Belichick are so respected as two of the greatest football coaches of all time?

A. Positivity, enthusiasm unwavering support for athletes’ trustworthiness knowledge of the game patience clear communication skills are all traits that have been attributed to me. As for Coach Belichick, I think he’s just lucky.

Having Tom Brady as QB didn’t hurt either.

How I infiltrated the LHS track team.

BY

3

2

1

VERONICA ISEMINGER

Going unnoticed in a sea of athletes when I am nothing more than a silly little writer seemed close to impossible, but I took the challenge upon myself; I was going to infiltrate the LHS track team.

And, I successfully managed to do so… twice.

The last time I tried to run was in 8th grade track, and by no means was I a star at 13, let alone now. Because of this, I had to blend in as seamlessly as possible, so no one would question why my abilities two months into the track season were so awful. Dressing the part was the easiest. I put my bag in an empty locker and walked out to the bleachers as if this had been my normal routine all along.

After I accomplished not getting caught during the before practice chaos, I was feeling spunky and wanted to slowly test my luck. I figured what better way than to go to the middle of the bleachers and sit myself directly beside a group of girls I had never seen before.

They did not notice. Among the crowd was LHS senior Laine Mannes only a few rows over, who has known me for at least six years.

Whether she thought I had been in track all along or if she just happened to glance my way without further thought, she didn’t say a word or seem to question my presence. Four out of the 12 coaches have had me in their classes and yet, not one had a second thought as to what I was doing there or who I was. My key strategy was to follow the lead of those around me and keep to myself. I clapped during the awards, listened intently to summer work-out planning and walked shoulder to shoulder with the herd when we finally went outside.

Making it out to the field was a score in my book. I noticed that everyone knew exactly what to do and being that I did not, I had to think fast, throwing myself onto the track with everyone else. Within my first few steps, I felt the repercussions of not stretching or drinking water. There was an excruciating difference in the strength and stamina of the real athletes and myself, I forced myself to exert as much energy as I could in order to stay in pace with those around me. Despite my efforts, I only reached a third of the way around the track before I started panting and desperately gasping for breath.

In order to save myself any more embarrassment of sounding like Darth Vader I booked it to the grass and pretended that my already double-knotted shoelaces had to be re-tied. It was at that moment when I knew I would get caught if I stayed much longer. Not a single other person was out of breath except me. Though I stayed under the radar and proved that track athletes are oblivious, I have realized that track, respectively, is not and will not be for me.

DESIGN BY

VERONICA ISEMINGER

27

BY JOY

BILAL & RAINA MARTY

Position: Pitcher and second base Years of Experience: 12 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I enjoy LHS baseball and club baseball equally. I have played with [Sioux Falls] East for six years and a little bit with the Cyclones.”

Plans after High School: “I will be going to USD and plan on trying to start the baseball team there.”

Position: All the above/utility Years of Experience: 13 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I play Cyclones and I like that better than LHS baseball because I feel like the coach has more experience with the game.”

Plans after High School: “I am not playing baseball, but I will be attending UNL, majoring in Business.”

Position: Catcher and outfield Years of Experience: 13 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I don’t play club this year, but I enjoyed club more when I did play because my teammates and I took it more seriously.”

Plans after High School: “I will be attending UNL, majoring in Civil Engineering. I will not be playing baseball in college.”

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Position: Left bench Years of Experience: 12 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I like club better because I have a lot more friends on that team from other schools.”

Plans after High School: “I will be playing baseball in Junior College, majoring in Agricultural Business.”

Position: Center field Years of Experience: 13 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I don’t play club baseball, but I enjoy how much fun we have on the LHS baseball team.”

Plans after High School: “This is my last year playing baseball. I will be attending Creighton University.”

Position: Right bench Years of Experience: 15 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I don’t play club baseball. I enjoy LHS baseball because it’s not super serious and I can have fun with my teammates.”

Plans after High School: “I don’t plan to play baseball in college. I’m going to USD to major in Business.”

Position: Outfield and pitcher Years of Experience? 12 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I like club baseball more because I can play catch with Sawyer Tolk.”

Plans after High School: “I’m not going to play baseball in college. I will be majoring in biomedical physics at University of Nebraska-Omaha.”

Position: Left/Center bench Years of Experience: 14 years Club or LHS Baseball?

“When I play club baseball I’m more on the field, but I enjoy LHS baseball a little more because it’s not as serious and is more fun.”

Plans after High School: “I am hoping to play baseball at SDSU and I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering.”

Position: Right field Years of Experience: 12 years Club or LHS Baseball?

“I like playing club baseball more because of the weather.”

Plans after High School: “ I am debating on playing baseball in college. I am going to study Exercise Science or Psychology.

Position: Centerfield Years of Experience: “For since I can remember” Club or LHS Baseball? “I play for [Sioux Falls] East in the summer, and I enjoy that more. It’s more relaxed and enjoyable.”

Plans after High School: “If I play baseball, great. If I don’t, that’s okay too. I will be attending SDSU, studying Law Enforcement.”

Position: Third, second or outfield Years of Experience: 14 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I played [Sioux Falls] East.

I liked LHS baseball better because it feels like family and we have a lot of fun.”

Plans after High School: “I’m not playing baseball in college, but I’ll play intramural ball. I’m going to SDSU to study Exercise Science where I can hopefully do baseball training.”

Position: Shortstop Years of Experience? 12 years Club or LHS Baseball? “I like club baseball more because I enjoy the further traveling side of it instead of just traveling SD.” Plans after High School: “I’m going to play baseball at Iowa Western Community College.

I will be majoring in General Studies.”

Position: Pitcher Only and gets moved around a lot.

Years of Experience: T-ball years Club or LHS baseball? “I used to play club baseball, but I think I’m going to go for the working environment right now. I’m a little too old to be playing club baseball. I mean it’s club baseball. School baseball is more fun. I enjoy playing the game with the guys.”

Plans after High School: “I am going into the business environment at UNL.” PHOTOS BY JOY BILAL ARTWORK BY RAINA MARTY DESIGN BY JOY BILAL & RAINA

MARTY

29

how the death of my parents affected me

The Five Stages of Grief

by Daisy Larson

What is grief ? Why does grief have five different stages? Why does grief, although just a simple five-letter word, mean hours, on days, on months of a non-linear roller coaster of emotions? Grief, as defined by Oxford Languages, is the deep sorrow, especially when caused by someone’s death. Grief has always been my next-door neighbor, something that I have one too many times encountered, yet somehow never get close enough to understand. Unlike the temporary grief that I experienced when my first pet, Lulu the bunny, died, the grief of losing both of my parents was permanent.

DENIAL: the refusal of something requested or desired - the first feeling I had felt after hearing the four words, “Your father has died,” four years shortly after hearing the same about my mother. I ceased to face the overbearing truth that weighed upon me. For months, I had a feeling that they were not actually dead; that this was some sort of sick prank. I even thought that they were hiding somewhere, waiting for me to find them. All of this confusion, denial and pain slowly morphed into one singular and powerful emotion; anger.

ANGER: a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility. All of my blocked off walls finally crumbled down into bricks of fire. Brick after brick, my once benignant self was torn away by the impatience that arose inside of me. The love that was taken away from me had only compelled me to fight back. Each word I was offered gave me nothing but more sappy sorry’s to add to my book. I began to bargain who, what and why others were around me?

BARGAINING: negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction. Could I have saved my parents from their own deaths? If I had been there the night my mother lost to her addiction, or the morning my father had taken his own life, would they still be here?

Everything had shifted into blame, and unfortunately the only person who I resorted to doing so was myself. They tell you that life’s inconsistencies happen for a reason, that all closed doors meant better ones were opening. Was that always going to be the case? How could anything ever replace the spot that my parents had left? With all of the questions I asked myself, nothing could bring them back.

DEPRESSION: a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt. The only way to excuse the sadness I had felt was to consider it a condition beyond the death of a loved one.

Depression had been the obvious answer to the restless nights of unbearable sadness and every emotion known to man, but was it me or the losses? As I looked at myself and trembled at the fragile body I had been left with, I knew there was always going to be a girl named Daisy in there.

ACCEPTANCE: agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion or explanation. As I sit here and look back at the little girl who was never given a map of what to do in a life without parents, I thank her. I thank her for the unknown that she discovered and became. No, my parents will not be at my 18th birthday, my graduation or my first day of college, but I will be. And inside of me is both of my parents- Chris and Janelle. They no longer live in my head, but in my heart, on display for everyone to see. That is the thing about grief; each stage will always be experienced at one point, but it is the last one that makes or breaks it all.

design by Jada Sandvall artwork by Jada Sandvall

30

Mother’s Day Without a Mom

year two

by Jada Sandvall Another year has passed, and I still hate Mother’s Day. Although I have learned to appreciate all the hugs from my friends when I miss her most and the pieces of advice I have accumulated, something has yet to change my opinion. This day is still one I dread every waking second of my life.

It has been 578 days since my mom passed away and frankly it has yet to “get easier” like everyone said it would. Only one year has passed from my last story, and it seems like plenty has changed.

The spare bedroom closet that was once filled with her blouses and skirts is now home to my numerous sweatshirts. I occasionally will spray her perfume on my clothes just for a sense of her presence. I find myself talking to the sky when things go wrong expecting an answer but knowing that is impossible.

Looking back on my time with my mom, I think of the late nights talks we used to have in the summer. I would roll in from my late night shifts at the local ice cream parlor, bleach-stained shirt and all, and I would spend hours talking to her about the future on my couch in the living room that now sits empty where her presence used to be. Whether it had been my 16th birthday or graduation, it is finally setting in that she will never actually get to experience any of those milestones.

I attended my first Prom in April and although no one mentioned it, the gap where my mom should have been was hard to miss. I did not have anyone to tell me when my dress was wrinkled or that my hair was messy. All my friends’ moms stood taking pictures but under my smile I hoped that at least one of them would turn out because, well, my mom was not there taking any pictures.

As cliché as it sounds, life is like a book, and you are the author. I have learned through the passing of many “firsts” that you have to keep taking one step forward. Whether it be a small step or a huge jump, progress is progress. With grief especially, I have developed a new mindset that I did not have when I wrote my first version of this story last year. It is a mindset filled with growth. As the author of my own story, I have learned that you have to take life one page at a time and whether the plot be good or bad, the pages always keep turning.

I have met several new people over the last year, but I no longer dread telling people that my mom is no longer with us. I have learned to take advantage of the opportunity it gives me to tell them about the wonderful, beautiful and intelligent woman who I look up to every day. I still could never put my gratitude for my mom into words, but opportunities like these remind me to keep her legacy alive.

Although Mother’s Day will never be one of my most favorite days, holidays like these are a constant reminder of the importance of appreciation. I said this last year and I still believe it is true: Life is short. Do not forget to tell your loved ones “I love you” or “I appreciate you.” Do not take time for granted. Love those around you and cherish the time you get to spend with them.

design by Jada Sandvall artwork by Jada Sandvall

31

BY

PAIGE GORDON

Senior skip day is a rite of passage for any high schooler but figuring out what to do is always a challenge. And as a graduating senior, I feel it is my duty to leave all you underclassmen with some fun skip days ideas, so take notes! (a satire) If you want to take senior skip day a bit more literally, try skipping around town! It’s a great exercise, makes you move faster and it has the added benefit of confusing every bystander you pass by. Just don’t trip!

Everyone has a sweet tooth, but baking takes a long time and the sweet fumes of pastries can be really intense. But skip day is a good time to bake! Take advantage of having the kitchen to yourself and bake as much as your little heart desires.

Old people and young people have a natural rivalry that has existed for centuries; our existence infuriates them, because they miss their youth. In the spirit of this rivalry, for skip day, be an absolute menace to the elderly.

Go to Perkins at 4p.m. with all your friends and disturb their peace and quiet. Steal all their Werther’s Originals. Sit down without any joint pain and revel in their despair. Go to a nursing home and yell: “The Cars were the worst band to exist!” Annoy them as much as you can (though chances are they’ll be annoyed with you no matter what you are doing).

Skip day is all about rebellion. It’s about sticking it to the man! Telling your principal to go and kick rocks! Telling society to suck it! What better way to be a rebel than to get some fresh new ink or some new face bling?

Just remember, if your parents don’t like it, tell them you were subjected to peer pressure to avoid blame.

Senior skip day is the perfect day to ponder the meaning of life and realize how meaningless it all is. As you come to the realization that in less than a month or so you will officially be what society deems as an “adult,” it can be fun to spiral into an identity crisis. For senior skip day, ask yourself: What am I doing with my life? What is the point of it all? After school, am I bound to chase some useless degree, bury myself in debt and work a crappy day job until I die? The answer to your life questions?

Who knows! You’re an adult now; figure it out on your own or become a complete failure!

A variant of the ‘skip around town’ option but slightly more advanced. Sioux Falls keeps expanding, so there are plenty of undiscovered places to pass by. Find an out of the way bakery. Cruise down 10th street and glance at all the worn out buildings. Get lost on a gravel road and then accidentally trespass on private property. The possibilities are endless!

DESIGN BY

32

PAIGE GORDON

Ah the great outdoors! What an excellent time to go out on a hike and enjoy the gray skies and freezing rain. If you do get a sunny day on senior skip day, go for a walk around Tut Hill like everyone else.

EXPECTATION VS. REALITY OF HIGH SCHOOL

“I felt like it was going to be a lot more homework than it actually is,” said Klawonn.

by

Delaney Gramlick

Contrary to the makers of High School Musicals’ beliefs, high schoolers do not randomly burst out into song and dance (at least, not at LHS).

Peak romance, cafeteria food fit for a castle, musicals in the hallways, promposals via airplanes: they are all things displayed in movies and books as the typical high school experience, leaving kids genuinely expecting this level of magic at their local underfunded high school.

“I thought that the upper classmen were going to be bullies,” said Jackson Klawonn, LHS freshman.

Also depicted in movies is the extreme harassment of underclassmen by older students, which is not true at all. For the most part, all ages of students at LHS get along pretty well.

“The marching band is

a lot better than I thought it would be. I expected it to be a lot of work for no reason, I expected to absolutely hate it and drop out the next year, but it was actually a super cool experience. I would definitely recommend it for people coming in just because it’s a great way to meet people and it’s a great way to become more comfortable with the school. That was probably the best decision I made,” said freshmen Hannah Basel.

Even with only one year at LHS, Basel has found community in the marching band. LHS offers many opportunities, from fine arts to sports and academics, inclusive to everyone.

“The teachers here are really good. The math I thought was going to be a lot harder than it actually is, but so far it’s just been

It is easy to imagine insane amounts of homework in high school, but in reality the amount of work is not terrible.

review from last year along with adding some things,” said Klawonn.

Homework and classwork are exaggerated to seem impossible, but the workload is manageable if devoted the proper time and energy.

“There are so many more opportunities to meet people and connect with people, there’s just so many more people. There’s

so many more friendship possibilities because you’re not limited to the 100 people in your class back in middle school…I love meeting new people and forming relationships. It has been a fun experience as the year progresses to meet people and get closer with them, it’s just fun,” said Basel.

“[I imagined high school to be] a bunch of really tall people. I expected a lot of full-grown beards too,” said Basel.

design by photo by

Delaney Gramlick Delaney Gramlick

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BY

REESE DUNCAN

Everyone has been talking about the Oscar awards this year. Whether it is about the infamous slap or the snubs that some believe took place, this year’s award ceremony was one for the history books. However, conversations about the legitimacy and artistic authority of the awards have been in the talks for years, heightened in recent months because of the event. Outside of the constant mishaps that go along with live award shows, the Oscars have a 94-year-long habit of comparing films that can only be evaluated in a completely subjective manner.

The ostracization of non-English speaking films, vague categories and the neglect of recognition of behindthe-scenes workers all have made the Oscars a mess of Hollywood greed.

In 1956, the Best International Feature film category was introduced to the Oscars. This means almost 100 countries submit films in hopes of getting their country recognized. They are categorized as being “international” if they do not speak English. This implies the idea that non-English films are entirely different and should be thought of as different. Georgia Thomas Parr, a researcher for Global Screen Worlds, states that “The international film category is an Academy Award that, for 60 years (and counting) served to emphasize the norm: that non-English-speaking, non-white films made by nonmen have no place in a critically esteemed mainstream

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circle.” While in recent years there has been more blurring of the lines between Best International Film and other categories due to the best picture win of “Parasite” in 2020 and the nomination of “Drive My Car” in 2022, there is still far more progress to be made. There are still countless films not being considered for the esteem that Best Picture provides because they are not in English.

As “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Yet another problem with the Oscars is the many genres smushed together into the Best Picture category.

Hollywood and many viewers consider Best Picture to be the most impressive award for a film to win. After all, many of the most well-known films of all time won the Oscar for the category. However, films are also known for their rich variety of genres, thus making it increasingly impossible to have only one Best Picture award. The award will often go to that year’s “Oscar bait:” a film whose seemingly whole purpose is to get recognized as Best Picture. A well-known example of a film labeled as this is 2010’s “The King’s Speech.” On top of this, there are biases that have formed over the years that favor specific genres. A study conducted by Brendan Bettinger, using data from IMDb, found that drama is a listed genre of 85% of nominees and 89% of the winners. This exemplifies

that drama films are pushed further into the critical spotlight over the many other categories that make up film history as a whole. As a result of this bias, horror and scifi films are left even further behind with few nominations at all. A true solution to this would be to introduce awards that highlight the best in each genre because it is truly impossible to fairly evaluate films of multiple genres.

A ripple effect of this genre bias is the lack of attention given to independent film companies and starting-out actors, due to the expensive costs of an Oscar campaign.

Alissa Wilkinson, a film critic at Vox, states that “The awards are an expensive (an Oscar campaign can cost upward of $10 million) and grueling exercise…they tend to reflect not the best movies of the year but the movie-est movies.” This cost makes it nearly impossible for up-andcoming film companies to even attempt to get their film recognized, no matter the artistic intelligence of the piece itself. Actors and actresses trying to get awarded for their performances have to embark upon an exhausting journey of publicity plugs and interviews, strengthening the barrier of Hollywood elitism even more. Therefore, the Oscars just continue a vicious cycle of neglecting new waves of talent and companies in the film industry.

A more recent development in Oscar’s history is the shift in awards announced during the live broadcast.

This year the President of the Oscars Academy David Rubin issued his decision to use the commercial breaks to announce the awards for Best Film editing, Makeup/ Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound, Documentary Short, Animated Short and Live-action Short. This faced much criticism from the thousands of behind-the-scenes workers and components needed to produce a film. This decision also pushed down specific storytelling mediums, furthering the highlight of only feature-length films. The justification for this decision was that it would make more time for comedy, film clips and musical numbers. The point of the Oscars is not to be a comedy hour. While comedy may increase viewership and make the awards show more entertaining, not announcing these awards during the broadcast undermines the entire point of the show. This extra time resulted in the repeated cycles of the show having low numbers of young viewers and the notorious and viral slap exchanged by Will Smith to Chris Rock. The Academy may have gotten their wish of having more people talk about the broadcast, but most of the comments were not positive.

Even with all of these problems, film fans still find themselves watching the awards show every year. It still feels good to see excellent performances and quality films get recognized, however, that does not mean that it is perfect. The entire system of comparing hundreds of artistically different films and performances is impossible, thus making the Oscars far less legitimate than they are painted to be.

DESIGN BY

REESE DUNCAN

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• The average temperature of the planet has risen about two degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century.

BY

CLARE HEUPEL

The California wildfires and clouds of ash that the summer of 2021 brought are insignificant compared to what the future of our planet holds if humanity continues on its current path of disregard for the environment.

Most people have come to terms with the fact that climate change is a real thing, and it is a real thing that humans have exacerbated to irreversible lengths. In fact, it has become so bad that research has suggested that parts of the Earth could become uninhabitable by as soon as 2070, as stated by environmental scientist Deanna Conners. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the last decade has already been the hottest recorded in history, with the ones previous to it being close runner-ups. Global warming is one serious effect of climate change that brings numerous problems with it, not only affecting the environment but the health of humans as well. Rising temperatures bring fires, floods, droughts, long winters and temperature spikes which also create new problems of housing displacement on their own. It is not hard to guess what kind of impact this would have on agriculture, food production and the economy of communities ravaged by natural disasters. Additionally, high heat also causes extra stress on the body, resulting in increased heart problems and strokes.

Global warming also contributes to an increased presence of what is called “bad” ozone. This is a type of gas that forms at ground level when air pollutants react with sunlight. Antonio Bento, the director of the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions, suggests that this increased concentration of “bad” ozone in the atmosphere correlates to worse air quality. That means that with increased heat, comes increased ozone, which brings more breathing problems, more lung damage and more deaths. Without the proper intervention, the presence of this gas will continue to escalate and create a future where it may be unsafe to breathe the air outside without precautions.

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One of the most affected ecosystems by climate change is the ocean. By looking at data from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report, experts have predicted that most coral reefs will be completely vanished by 2050 due to bleaching caused by warming temperatures. Quantities of ocean life have plummeted with the rise of overfishing, water pollution and the consequential acidification of ocean water. Additionally, like any other consequence of climate change, humans are affected by the changing oceans as sea levels rise because of arctic heating, which threatens the safety of coastal communities. In order to be proactive, the protection of oceans, and just ecosystems in general, should be prioritized when they threaten the quality of humans’ most necessary resources for survival.

Of course, all hope is not lost. Effects of climate change are not reversible, but they can be curbed. Simple actions such as being mindful of overconsumption or choosing more eco-friendly forms of transportation are ways that individuals can fulfill their desire to contribute to slowing climate change. The most effective way to do this, however, is to grant some accountability to the powers that can create the most change, especially since the effects seem to be growing exponentially. States must pass laws that limit carbon output of businesses, and they should also put more emphasis on research and development of clean energy resources that would aid in cutting carbon use down to zero. Countries must continue to commit to the act of curbing climate change, which can be seen through a previous example of the Paris Climate Agreement. Ultimately, every person, company, country and society have an obligation to do their part in ensuring that the harsh consequences of humanity’s previous ignorance will not be witnessed for generations to come.

CLARE HEUPEL SANDVALL FACTS PROVIDED BY NASA DESIGN BY

ARTWORK BY JADA

• Greenland has lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice each year between 1993 and 2019. Antarctica has also lost an additional 148 billion tons each year.

• Record high and record low temperatures have grown in magnitude, along with other types of extreme weather conditions.

• In the last century, global sea levels rose about eight inches, and are continuing to rise exponentially.

• Between 20% and 30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in recent decades have been absorbed by the ocean, leading to high acidity levels at ocean water surfaces.

• Scientists predict that the intensity of and frequency of hurricanes will continue on their pattern of escalation since the 1980s.

• Due to a reduction of soil moisture and increasing temperatures, what once was a period of extreme drought every 20 years will soon occur every two or three years over the U.S.

BY

Life as we know it is constantly evolving, including trends. Many retailers rush to move clothing items from the catwalk to the stores in an attempt to keep up with the everchanging trends of society. Fast fashion, a term first coined in the 1990s when Zara, a popular Spanish clothing brand, made its way to the shopping centers of the U.S., has been increasingly incorporated into talk surrounding the fashion industry.

Defined as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends,” this term has more behind it than what initially comes to mind.

As humans, we have gotten progressively more selfish when it comes to the environment as time has continued. Wanting to find the most on-trend clothing for the cheapest price, we have all fallen victim to shopping at places like Shein, H&M, Brandy Melville, American Eagle and even Urban Outfitters. Pushed to the side by the seemingly attractive prices are the environmental impacts that stem from each of the worldwide companies. From drying up and polluting water sources to the excessive amount of textiles that end up in dumps every year, fast fashion is only bringing us closer to the inevitable future of an unlivable world. With carbon emissions only rising and fast fashion contributing 10% of all global outpourings, the effects of climate change will only worsen.

“The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” said the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Impacts are already

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observed and are projected to increase with every additional increment of global warming, such as increased wildfires, mass mortality of trees, drying of peatlands, and thawing of permafrost, weakening natural land carbon sinks and increasing releases of greenhouse gasses.”

Making up 36% of the industry’s global effects are the steps of dyeing and finishing, followed by yarn preparation at 28% and fiber production with 15% as stated in the Quantis International 2018 report. Together, these three main effectors have the largest impacts on freshwater withdrawal, ecosystem quality and resource depletion as the laws safeguarding the environment in this industry are not nearly adequate.

Therefore, the macro manufacturers and large corporations continue to pollute the earth as there are no repercussions currently.

“Textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water since the water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams or rivers,” said Rashmila Malti in her article Fast Fashion: Its Detrimental Effect on the Environment.

The said leftover water from the dyeing process is known to contain a toxic blend of chemicals that have been found in over 70% of Asia’s waterways. Causing both public health and ecological crises, it does not stop there. According to an article written by Lydia Noyes on EcoWatch, Xintang, China cannot convince people to take up residence there due to the pressing concerns about the water quality. By being known as the denim capital of the world, one can assume the amount of denim

AVERY NELSON

produced in a given year is extensive, but what piggybacks on that are the heavy metal toxins that poison threefourths of the water testing sites.

A common question has begun to arise more and more frequently as the Earth is hit harder and harder by the fast fashion world: Why do people continue to overlook the detrimental effects of the industry? The sad reality is that most people do not care enough to change. In today’s world, people are drawn to what is easiest and cheapest, which is not always a bad thing… unless fast fashion is what is pulling them in.

“Research shows that shoppers prioritize price over almost any other selling point, and that they are quick to forget when products are made unethically or unsustainable,” said Noyes.

Everyone, including myself, has supported these mass producers in one way or another, whether it be knowingly or unknowingly. With no evidence of them slowing down in the near future and the expeditious nature of social media to circulate trends, it is in the hands of the people to get society back on track. Making efforts toward more sustainable fashion will be slow and will ultimately rest in the hands of the big corporations, but there are ways each individual can help. Shopping secondhand and buying for quality over quantity are two great starting points to reduce the magnitude of textiles and garments that end up in landfills every year. Justifying spending a bit more on a few versatile pieces for your closet will prove to help fight against the fast fashion crisis that is striking our world.

DESIGN BY

AVERY NELSON

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FISHER MEYERINK Let’s just cut to the chase, there are only two types of drinks. The labels of juices and waters easily encapsulate all drinks effectively. With water being any drink created by distilling, soaking or mixing anything with H2O, juices are any liquid that comes directly from a living thing, be it animals, plants, fungi or bacteria. One may argue that all liquid that is created by living things is in itself a form of distillation, but the main difference here is a matter of whether or not each drink is artificial. With all that being said, let’s begin. Here is the complete list of all subgroups of drinks and whether they are a water or a juice.

I’ll start with getting some of the more challenging classifications out of the way, starting with coffee. Although coffee beans come from trees, coffee itself is created by mixing and boiling these beans in H2O, making it a type of water.

This category applies to any drink created from soaking specific ingredients in water while not fully dissolving the ingredient into the water itself. While this classification holds true for black coffee, adding cream, a juice, into the mix makes things a bit more complicated. The general rule of thumb for mixtures of drinks from the water and juice categories depends on the proportion. If the new concoction is more or equal amounts of juice then water, it will be classified as a juice. Besides pure water, all ingredients likely come from living things, tipping the scales in juice’s favor. Other drinks included in the coffee category are kombucha and bath water.

Another subcategory of drinks under water specifically is tea. In this context, any simple mixture of any ingredient and water will be classified as a tea. Thus, the various types of flavored water, such as Gatorade, are teas. Surprisingly, many people will insist upon tea being its own type of drink, but if I spit in a cup of water, that doesn’t mean it’s a brand new drink. The same can be said for dunking some leaves in water.

The type of drink closest to tea is soda, with the basic concept of simple mixtures still applying, BY

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the notable difference being carbonation. Given this definition many may assume coffee to be a tea, but this is not the case as coffee grounds do not fully disintegrate into the water. With that being said, tea bags and the ingredients inside also do not fully disintegrate into water, meaning that tea is a coffee and not a tea.

Going back to juices, the most applicable subgroups in this category are fruit juice, meat juice and milk. Fruit juices are any liquid secreted from plants, including vegetables. Meat juice is any liquid that is secreted through the flesh of animals. Milks are liquid secreted from animals through specific orifices, meaning that plant milks are fruit juice, sweat and blood are a meat juice and spit and urine are milks.

Moving onto a more specific subgroup of drinks on the water side, we have alcoholic beverages. As for alcoholic beverages, the uniquely complicated process of distilling and soaking the ingredients makes it its own category. Note that wine is a fermented fruit juice, not an alcoholic beverage. Given this classification, essential oils are a type of alcoholic beverage, given the complicated process of distillation and their intent on altering brain function.

The final juice categories are chocolate and syrup.

Both these categories are unique among the juices as they are artificially created. Chocolate when in liquid form is created by mixing ingredients separate from water, making it unique. Syrup is created by mixing ingredients with water, but to the point where there are more ingredients that originate in living things than water. When I say syrup, I am not including maple syrup as that comes directly from a tree. I am referring more to substances such as cough syrup, that are used for the purpose of medication, though there are still medications that are classified as alcoholic beverages.

Therefore, the syrup and alcoholic beverages are practically the same, with the deciding factor again being the proportion of juices to water.

Now, these two overall classifications are based only on liquids that I classify as drinks, which I have defined as liquids consumed or used for medical purposes by humanity, which is why medication and oils can also be classified as drinks. If I were to open this up to liquids in general, a third category would need to be incorporated.

I like to call this hypothetical third category as Stupid Idiot Lazy Dumb Ugly Water, or SILDUW for short.

SILDUW is classified as any liquid that contradicts the guidelines for drink and liquid qualifications listed above. Some examples of this are metals that exist naturally in a liquid form.

I hope everyone will be able to use this newfound knowledge going forward and think of the world

J U I C E S

Fruit Juices:

of drinks in a whole new light. So go, spread this ideology throughout the world and share these drink classifications. The “Juice in Waters” philosophy still has many unsolved mysteries surrounding it, so we need generations of free thinkers to continue its legacy. Who knows, maybe you can be the next Michael Jordan of the drink world.

Water:

Fruit Juice Nut Milks Maple Syrup Wine

Pure H2O

Milk:

Tea:

Dairy White Chocolate Hot Chocolate (milk based) Urine Spit

Meat Juice:

Flavored Water Hot Chocolate (water based) Salt Water Lake Water Thick Water

Soda:

Gravy Blood Sweat

Tonic Water Selktzer Pop

Chocolate:

Coffee:

Dark Chocolate Milk Chocolate

Syrup: Chocolate Syrup Cough Syrup Pepto Bismal

Black Coffee Tea Kombucha Bathwater

Alcoholic Beverages: Beer Whiskey Rubbing Alcohol Yager Liquor DESIGN BY

W A T E R S FISHER MEYERINK

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BY

EMMA SOUTHWICK

Mental health issues are something that millions of people across the globe go through, even if symptoms are not visible to others.

Although the number of mental health clinics and resources are growing, many feel reluctant to seek help when they find themselves struggling due to the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

While everyone’s lives and mental health are different, it is important that everyone has access to psychiatric help and equally important that people feel comfortable enough to reach out for help when they need it.

There is an infinite number of different situations and circumstances that can have poor effects on the mental health of any individual of any age, race or gender. Often, life experiences such as divorce, the death of a loved one, discrimination and abuse are the main causes of poor mental health and in severe cases, mental illness.

With that being said, it is important to note that poor mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably but are not the same. Either way, both can have baneful effects on the well-being of the people DESIGN BY

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EMMA SOUTHWICK

who suffer them. According to Mayo Clinic, some of the most prominent effects of having poor mental health are significant tiredness and trouble sleeping, excessive anger, reduced ability to concentrate and extreme feelings of guilt. With that being said, it is crucial for those struggling with their mental health in any way, shape or form to reach out to a professional to receive the help they need.

Unfortunately, many of those dealing with problems concerning their mental health often feel ashamed or embarrassed to admit that they are struggling due to the stigma surrounding poor mental health.

The stereotypes surrounding people who struggle with mental health are very harmful to those who experience them and are often the main reason why people hesitate to admit that they need help. In fact, around 60% of adults with a mental illness do not receive care according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In addition to this, a study of over 90,000 participants worldwide done by researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College revealed that the stigma associated with

mental illness was one of the main reasons why people decided to forgo getting the care they needed. With this brings the importance of ending the negative connotation surrounding poor mental health.

Working together to end the negative societal view of mental health conditions is one of the most beneficial things our society can do to end the stigma and raise awareness about the reality of mental health struggles.

Some of the main ways our society can assist in putting an end to the stigma are by: 1. Educating yourself on mental health: The more that people are informed about how and why poor mental health can impact behaviors and actions, the more people will be able to sympathize with those dealing with problems surrounding their mental health.

2. Being conscious of your words: As everyone already knows, words can hurt. This includes describing someone with a mental illness as a ‘lunatic’ or ‘crazy’ because of a mental illness they may have. These words feed into the harmful stereotypes that contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health

problems and only make it harder for people to come forward about their mental battles.

3. Showing support to those struggling: Often, people feel ashamed about having poor mental health.

Letting the people in your life know that you are there for them through their ups and downs is key to ensuring them that someone has their back. Knowing that someone understands what you are going through can make a huge difference during a rough time.

May is mental health awareness month, but mental health needs to be prioritized every day of all twelve months of the year. While taking care of yourself always comes first, take this month as a reminder that checking in on your loved ones is extremely important. Everyone goes through ups and downs no matter how they portray their emotions, and even just a simple “I’m here for you” could save someone’s life. Although everyone is different and no two people have the same experience, it is important that everyone is able to receive the mental help and support they need regardless of the circumstances.

BY

Burnout bound.

OLIVIA BROST

A

s I sit in my second-period Statesman class, pondering possible story ideas, my mind turns up utterly blank. What used to be a plethora of endless inspiration for story ideas, is now a dwindling spark for the slightest idea.

At the beginning of the year, I would struggle to pick out just one story and anticipate the opportunity to write a new one, but now, my spark feels dulled.

This lack of motivation does not only apply to one class. To my dismay, it has affected the entirety of my school day and daily activities. Math problems have become more mundane than usual, and Government seems

to only drag on and on as the amendments become more muddled. My typical go-getter outlook on the school week has turned into a race to the weekend as I slowly drag myself through the days, awaiting the final, glorious bell on Friday.

As an underclassman, I always looked to people in disbelief when they said they were experiencing ‘burnout.’ I have always been an accelerated and AP student and refused to fall under the array of students who did not give much thought to school. I devoted myself to extracurriculars, taking on leadership roles in various clubs and spending my free time getting ahead in classes. The year started off strong, like it usually does. I arrived at my classes on time, with a clear mind

and an ambitious attitude.

But as the year began to progress, I noticed my energy begin to fade. I came to the realization that there is no doubt that burnout is real, and there was no doubt that I had it.

My attention slowly drifted to the ticking clock in each class I attended as my typically perfect attendance began to fall awry.

Webster’s Dictionary defines burnout as “An exhaustion of physical and emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” Given the circumstances of this school year compared to the shortened ones in years past, I think it is safe to say that I, as well as my classmates, teachers and staff at LHS, are utterly burnt out.

“Burnout has definitely affected me negatively,” said LHS senior, Avery Roth.

“I have always tried to strive to do my best in any situation and constantly feeling like I cannot let people down. With this feeling of burnout in senior year, I have procrastinated things more than I ever have. Along with that, putting work and school first has made me forget to take time for myself and really relax.”

I can only hope my burnout does not get the best of me as the end of the school year shines over the horizon. Soon, I, as well as the rest of my senior class, will be basking in the rays of graduation, with thoughts of due dates, mornings of first-period class at 8:20 a.m. and the monotonous day-to-day bell in the rear view window as we ride into the fresh, new year.

OLIVIA BROST OLIVIA BROST

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