The Mix - Vol. 23, Issue 2

the student voice of Monarch High School

the

MIX

KEEP GOING. Enjoying life, not enduring life

329 Campus Drive Louisville, CO 80027 Volume 23 - Issue 2 January 2021

04

Mix Up

Colorado Burning

08

10

Art Online

12 Club Sports

The Mix

The student voice of Monarch High School

Editors-In-Chief Haley Breit Evie Cuffaro

Editors

Amelia Krueger Kate Muldoon Sam Saliba

Staff Writers

16

Pillars Of the Arts

Rhys Cadwallader Layla East Carolyn Jewett Ty McNeece Ryleigh Selby

Cover Design Lia Farrell

Adviser Ben Reed

Our Vision:

Mohi Media’s vision is to be the source of information in the Monarch community. Our school can count on us to tell the stories that need to be told and to voice the opinions and ideas that need to be heard in an honest and truthful way.

Our Policies:

20 Opinions

Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of Boulder Valley School District Board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Mix is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Monarch High School. The Mix is willing to accept and publish any appropriate articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature.

the

MIX-UP Amanda Selby listens to The Two Princes podcast

THE MISSING KISS The Two Princes is an exceptional podcast worth the listen

By Layla East The Two Princes is a scripted fantasy podcast telling the story of Rupert and Amir’s journey to saving their homelands against their mothers’ wishes. They viewed each other as strictly acquaintances in the beginning but throughout the story they turn out to be much more. What is so exceptional about The Two Princes is that they take a cliche plot and make it into something you’ve never seen before.

The podcast has a perfect blend of romance and action. In most movies involving romance, I feel like the romance aspect takes away from the story, but in The Two Princes it only adds to it. For example, in episode 5 of season 1 “That sinking feeling”, Prince Rupert and Prince Amir stop their quest to swim in a lake that Amir just discovered. Usually I’d immediately groan and wish they would just get on with the quest but this scene turned out to be one of my favorites in the entire series.

The scene makes it feel like Rupert and Amir are the only ones on earth. They stand close to each other in the lake by a beautiful waterfall, and Amir asks Rupert to come close. Rupert moves a bit towards him. Then he asks him to come even closer. Rupert complies, and there’s a pause then Amir dunks him in the water.

They both break out into an impromptu game of tag.

Because they don’t kiss, the scene is more impactful. In many movies involving romance, the love interests kiss too soon causing the beginning of the relationship to be anticlimactic, but in The

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Two Princes they make you wait for it. The absence of the kiss adds to the tension. It makes you want them to confess their love already.

The writers did a fantastic job with the characters and making them have such amazing chemistry that you immediately root for them, and yearn for them to confess to each other. The build up makes the ending satisfying and well worth the wait.

Even though most of the podcast is platonic between the main characters, they supplement that with comedy and drama, making the entire series well rounded and a great experience.

There are multiple characters in the series and they all add comedy or suspense to the story. They all have interesting personalities and amazing voice actors. The characters make reappearances in season 2 and 3 so they aren’t just used for comic relief and thrown away.

Character development is one of the aspects of the podcast I really love. When Rupert first meets Amir he is cold, uncaring, and a bit of a narcissist. But during their journey, Rupert’s carefree playful demeanor rubs off on him and he becomes a much more caring man.

The podcast is a great choice for anyone who enjoys comedy, romance and action. It has accurate LGBTQ+ representation, a brilliant plot, a wonderful cast of characters and suburb voice actors to go with them.

SUS OUT THE

IMPOSTOR

Students expose their strategies to win the game Among Us

“When I’m the Imposter in the beginning, I wait, faking tasks and waiting for an opening to kill someone. After I kill someone, I go find someone else so they can vouch for me not being the Imposter. When a body is found, I don’t try to blame anyone specific because that makes people sus [suspicious] about me. I keep playing the game cautiously until there’s a few people left and I can get that final kill.”

Quinton Orlando ‘22 “For Imposter I usually take it slow, depending on if I have a team or not. I first always look for an alibi, like faking a couple of the common tasks and sticking with one person for a bit... After every kill I try to hide my tracks by calling an emergency meeting across the map or turning off lights and moving away. I mostly just try to play slow and outsmart the friends I play with.”

Santiago Marquez ‘21 “During the rounds, I go with a few people to get an alibi and branch off in the middle to kill someone.

Then, when meetings get called, I try to internally make people suspicious of each other.”

*TREND ALERT*

Whipped Coffee This new take on coffee attracted the attention of all TikTok users earlier this year. By whipping together 2 tablespoons of instant coffee, white sugar, and hot water, you can create a beverage that feels classy and tastes delicious. Simply fill a glass with ice, pour in the milk of your choice, and top it with the mixture above. Finally, give it a nice stir and enjoy!

Celia McNulty ‘22

HOW TO NOT PROCRASTINATE Use these helpful tips from teachers to get your work done

1.

“Bigger projects and assignments can be really daunting and cause you to want to avoid doing them.

To make them more manageable, break them up into individual bits and try to tackle one bit at a time.”

— Science teacher Eric Gordon

2.

“Our family motto is ‘Get your work done first...then go play.’... Better to just suck it up and get it done, and then you can fill your time with what brings you joy.”

— Social studies teacher Kristin Kerr Gannon

3.

“Use class time! Get your work done during class so you don’t have to worry about it later.”

— Art teacher Kelly Kotlinski January 2021 5

Q&A

WITH MRS. GERRISH Librarian answers questions about how to get your books How did coronavirus affect the library?

Daniella Chantra ‘23 wearing rings for her business

IT’S GOT A RING TO IT How one student turned boredom into business

Daniella Chantra ‘23 turned a simple hobby into a money-making opportunity this past summer by creating her own jewelry business.

“I started making rings because my mom gave me the idea of making metal stamped jewelry,” she said.

“I love making and wearing a lot of jewelry so I really liked the idea.”

As great as the idea sounded, cost became a roadblock early on.

“The equipment added up to be a bit expensive and there are only so many pieces I can make for myself, so I decided to try selling customized rings,” said Daniella.

Her artistic hobby grew into something greater as she began experimenting with new designs and types of jewelry.

“It’s a fun hobby and people seem to really like them, so I plan on making an Etsy shop and expanding to more than just rings.”

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We had to completely shut down in March which was really hard- we had (1) hour to close the library up for what turned out to the rest of the school year. That hour was crazy because teachers were coming in and asking for books and equipment, so I just took care of those requests and the rest of the stuff I just shoved onto carts and locked the door. Obviously, this led to a big mess when I came back to the library in August, so it’s taken us awhile to get pretty much everything put back to normal.

Why has the library stayed open?

I feel very strongly that we should continue to serve kids and teachers. Lots of people have asked to check out books and equipment, so it’s important we get those in their hands. Plus, we have many electronic resources for people to use from home, so of course I want to let people know about those- databases, ebooks/audio books, newspapers

How has coronavirus affected reading?

I’ve talked with book club a few times now and asked them why so many of us who have had more time to read this year than in the past (especially in March and April when we literally couldn’t leave our homes) find it harder to sit down with a book and read. None of us have a definitive answer, but what I can tell you from hearing so many stories is that it is about having a harder time focusing in general.

How can a library help people learn about coronavirus?

It’s important we understand the factors that lead to the disease itself and also what led to the way the pandemic has affected us here and around the world. It’s important that we are purchasing books from credible sources because there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there.

HOME BORED? THE BEST TV SHOWS New Girl

Newly single Jess Day moves in with three strangers. They become more than just roomates, they become friends. Each character is quicky and have just the right amount of social awkardness.

THE BEST MOVIES Molly’s Game

Molly Bloom is arrested by the FBI for running illegal poker games. She has more to her story than the media shows, especially when she gets involved with high profile criminals.

THE BEST MUSIC

Black Panther Kendrick Lamar

Here are the best ways to fight boredom

The Society

Outer Banks

When the rest of their town mysteriously dissapears, the senior class at a high school must learn to work together to build their own new society, but not everyone agrees on how to run things.

A group of misfit Pogues look for clues to solve the mysery of his father’s sudden death, they find friendship, love, and secret treasure. Its the perfect binge show for anyone looking for adventure.

Bandersnatch

Chef

This unique movie allows you to interact with the show and choose your own plot as the story follows a young man struggling to cope with life as he develops his own choose-your-own-adventure video game.

A father, son, and a food enthusiast travel across the country in a small, Cuban themed food truck while documenting their journey. Get yourself a snack during the movie, it will make you hungry!

Dreamland Glass Animals

SYRE Jaden Smith

January 2021 7

FIRE ON THE

HORIZON

Smoke rises over the hill near Boulder. On Oct 17, the CalWood fire threatened the home of Lindsey Olson. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Olson.

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Teacher evacuates fire, pets are safe

By Rhys Cadwallader

Smoke billowed in the sky on Oct. 17. Ash rained down from the dark cloud. Language arts and social studies teacher Lindsey Olson and her husband raced home, only to be blocked by the police. They couldn’t go back to their house unless they wanted to risk being caught in the flames of the CalWood fire.

“Being able to see the flames and the smoke behind the house, and that they weren’t going to let me get back and try to help, I was ready to tell the police, ‘Get out of my way. I’ll walk there if I have to,’” she said.

Olson felt motivated with the thoughts of her cat and dog still at home, and she couldn’t forget the books for her 7-month-old daughter.

“I think [the scariest part] was really when the police stopped us at the road and said we couldn’t get through, and I was thinking about my pets possibly dying,” she said.

She evacuated from her home in Boulder when the fire nearly burned it to the ground. She said that’s exactly what happened to her neighbor’s home just two houses down the street. “[The neighbor’s] safe where they kept all their court documents and extra money in burnt. We’re very, very, very, very, very lucky because had [the firefighters] been there five minutes later the house could’ve burned down,” Olson said.

The firefighter’s efforts kept her house from being reduced to ash. The fence posts and trees in front of her house charred, but she estimates a radius of around three feet from her house where the firefighter’s hoses kept the fire at bay after she had retrieved her pets and necessary items from her house.

“It’s interesting in those moments what you think about and what you don’t think about,” Olson said.

“We forgot about a lot of our day-to-day, like we didn’t grab a toothbrush and I was like ‘Oh I need one of those!’ But we grabbed the important stuff and made sure everyone was safe.”

This frightening experience ends on a happy note: everyone in the neighborhood safely evacuated. Every person and pet escaped the fire.

“The neighbors up the street, they had pet bunnies in the backyard and even the bunnies got out,” Olson said.

Photos courtesy of Lindsey Olson

The CalWood Fire Timeline

Started : Oct 17 100% Contained: Nov 14 The fire raged for 29 days

Size

Around 10,100 acres burned

Damage

Over 20 houses burned down

Colorado Fires 2020 Over 15 Wildfires

Photo courtesy of Lindsey Olson

Fires near Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Colorado Springs, and Boulder January 2021 9

THE DIGITAL

DIVIDE

By Evie Cuffaro and Kate Muldoon

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Kotlinski’s Creations Teacher stays positive despite challenges of online learning

I

t’s 8:30am, and the first bell rings. New digital art teacher Kelly Kotlinski sits in her classroom, alone.

She stares at her computer screen, looking at student’s icons on a google meet. She doesn’t see their smiling faces, and she doesn’t hear their voices.

This is Kotlinski’s first year teaching at Monarch, and her first year teaching high school.

With the added challenge of teaching virtually, this year has been different than any other.

As a student, it can be a daunting task to be unmute and talk in front of the whole class, especially when they haven’t had the chance to meet their classmates in person. Her biggest challenge has been getting her students to engage in class.

“That’s definitely been hard just because I feel like I’m teaching by myself,” Kotlinski said. “When no one’s answering me it’s just kind of lonely. Getting to know my students and getting them to

engage is really difficult.”

But not every student hides behind their screen. Over the past few months, she has made some meaningful connections with her students online.

“I’ve definitely made some connections last quarter,” she said. “I feel like I’ve made some really nice relationships in those classes. I had one student who logged on everyday, he was in first period. And he would just chat with me for 10 minutes before class started and he had his camera on. It was so nice.

I feel like when I see him in person now I’ll be able to say hi and I’ll know him,” she said.

Through it all, Kotlinski has stayed positive and has hope for the future.

“My ideal learning situation would be to have everyone back in the classroom so we could be working together, inspiring each other, you know, bouncing ideas off each other.

I want a classroom that’s really comfortable where people can talk and express themselves,” she said.

Ms. Kotlinski worked as an artist for eight years prior to teaching and is still creating art currently. “I try to make time during my week in the evenings to make art and update my website and Instagram. I love being outside. I go hiking. I just get a lot of inspiration for my artwork from being outside,” she said.

January 2021 11

Diving Into

Club

When high school sports don’t exist, student rely on their club teams

By Amelia Krueger and Carolyn Jewett

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Celia Webster races butterfly at a meet in Portland, Oregon in 2019.

January 2021 13

Brae Cole plays for Monarch against Fairview High School in her 2019 season.

A

whistle blows. The crowds around the soccer field chatter with excitement as the players watch the ball like hawks, as they sprint, dodge, and sweat to make a goal.

Brae Cole ‘21, a athlete for Real Colorado has been a part of these games for as long as she can remember.

“My entire family plays soccer. Both my mom and my dad played soccer in college and I grew up in the environment,” Cole said.

She started off at an early age watching her father play in adult leagues, attending the games and watching with wide eyes.

It only seems natural that she would have started playing at the age of four.

Her experience over the years has allowed her the opportunity of trying both a more focused, competitive club sport environment, and a more carefree, though equally as collaborative, school sport environment.

“For school [sports], you are around these people all day and then you go and play soccer with them,” she said. “With club, you’re meeting new people. That’s where I make most of my friends.”

Club sports are programs offered outside of the high school sports season, and are typically more competitive. The seasons are usually longer, with more games, more training, and more opportunities.

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Cole says one of the advantages of club sports is the ability to participate in showcase events to get recruited and scouted by colleges.

“There’s a lot of opportunities,” she said.

“I think we go on about 8 trips a year. We go to showcases in Arizona or California, and last year we went to Florida to get scouted by recruiters.”

Some athletes participating in club sports are looking to get scouted by colleges, and playing club sports gives them more opportunities to build profiles and attend recruitment events. The commitment is larger and more intense than playing with a high school team would be. High school sports gives recruitment opportunities as well, but to a lesser extent.

Katelyn Smith, ‘22, has her foot in both worlds, playing soccer at Monarch High School and at Westminster Soccer Club.

“I think both [high school and club sports] can have benefits because if you’re trying to play for college, it is helpful to play both because college scouts like to look at both of those,” Smith said. “But I kind of enjoy club soccer better because it’s a bit more competitive and more serious than high school soccer is.”

Having the opportunity to train for the whole year is a large advantage for club athletes, and Celia Webster, ‘22, knows exactly what that’s like. She swims for

Flatirons Athletic Club, and practices everyday, all year long.

“You get to swim and do your activity the entire year, unlike high school,” Webster said. “So you never lose progress.” Club sports allow athletes to train year around and build recruitment profiles all year long, whereas high school seasons only build for around 12 weeks.

Through club programs, athletes can train and prepare themselves not only for college, but also as a way to stand out during the school season.

“I’m doing private lessons through Rough Riders Volleyball Club,’’ Maddy Krueger ‘24 said. “These lessons prepare me for high school volleyball and grow my skill level.”

Because Krueger is a freshman, she hasn’t had the opportunity to play on a high school team yet, but hopes to improve her skills to set her apart from her peers.

This season has been difficult, with delayed start for both club and school sports.

“High school sports are definitely a lot more relaxed and not as competitive and serious as club is, I guess,” Cole said.

“We had a huge period of time where we weren’t allowed to do anything, and the rest of our season got canceled [due to COVID] so that kind of set a lot of things back.”

School Sport Benefits

Gives athletes an opportunity to play in front of a student section Athletes can play with classmates, friends, and even siblings

Opportunities to go to state competitions, and break high school records Athletes are able to play their high school rivals and friends from other schools Less pressure on athletes to perform, and the environment is more relaxed

Club Sport Benefits

Celia Webster dives into the pool to start her race in Phoenix, Arizona last year.

Longer seasons with more competitions and a more competitive environment

Athletes can make friends and play with people outside of their school More individual coaching and focus on improving athletes skills Year-round training so athletes are constantly progressing and improving Bigger meets and tournaments, with different teams to compete against

Monarch senior, Brae Cole, plays with her club on her home field in 2019.

January 2021 15

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PILLARS OF THE ARTS

Storytelling is a fundamental part of who we are as human beings. Storytelling is everything from fiction and entertainment to history, experience, and wisdom.

Storytelling moves us forward as a society. Without it, we remember nothing. There are no lessons learned. If no one tells the stories that need to be told, we lose them forever. The following is a collection of stories about those who tell them.

Sam Saliba, Haley Breit and Kate Muldoon

PASSING THE TORCH FORWARD Director Melissa Williams pushes young people to continue the tradition of storytelling through the performing arts, based on her own experience Standing on the risers of an elementary school choir is where Ms. Melissa Williams first discovered her passion for the performing arts. “I vividly remember being in choir in elementary school and a choir director just really tapped into my love of music,” she said.

“He kept encouraging me to try theatre, to try dance.”

Later, in her teenage years, Williams switched high schools. She felt right at home in the performing arts area of her new school.

“I found the community, the acceptance, and the people that I resonated with,” Williams said. “It made me feel like I had a place to express and a place for people to hear my voice, and listen.”

Since high school, Williams has been involved in everything under the sun involving the arts. She started teaching voice and theater at age 22, and at age 28 she began working in arts administration.

Looking back, she wishes she’d begun her journey in arts administration sooner. “I wish I’d had a broader opportunity to explore administration and things like that in the arts, because that’s what I’ve found myself doing in my later years, as opposed to being just a wonderful performer,” she said.

Currently, Williams is a director for CenterStage Theatre Company in Louisville. She puts on productions with an aim to tell stories to the best of her ability. In addition to directing for

CenterStage, she runs South Boulder Vocal Studio as her day job.

In October of 2018, she directed a production of Avenue Q which sold out every night. More recently in March of 2020, she directed Into the Woods, which was equally successful. In November 2019 when she performed in Longmont Theatre Company’s production of Carrie: The Musical, the majority of audience members already knew who she was and were there largely to see her.

Williams strives to pass the tradition of storytelling down to young people. “It’s our responsibility to create full humans, and a full human is someone who values the arts,” she said, “Whether it’s performing, visual, digital, something that taps into the creative side of humans.”

She herself is an adept storyteller, and in being one she is passionate about sharing the craft of it with others. “I think it is very important to, as adults who are involved in the arts in any format, whether you’re a patron, or a teacher, or an artist, to pass that love of the arts down to the next generation,” Williams said.

Without the addition of the arts to a person’s life, Williams feels there would be something missing. “[The arts] gives [young people] a form of expression that completes them,” she said, “and that will guide and be with them and they will find value and beauty in the world around them through the arts,” she said.

January 2021 17

THE INTERSECTION OF STORYTELLING AND TECHNOLOGY As a designer and evangelist of the arts, James “Kit” Beall is both a storyteller and a patron

After hanging a light upon the first electric of his Massachusetts Middle School auditorium, a young Kit Beall pursues his recently sparked passion for production.

“I went from being that middle school kid with nine mechanical dimmers to seeing things that I would call ‘semi-professional,’” Kit said. “It was exciting to continue to do more and learn more and create.”

Kit grew up in a “Fairly arts-aware community.” It was relatively close to New York City, which meant that he grew up around people who were, in some way or another, involved in major Broadway productions. “The shows I was involved with were increasingly professional,” Kit said.

Kit’s interest in lighting developed exponentially. “I like being able to mix the art with the technical aspects of it. To actually be able to connect an idea to the physical delivery of it,” he said.

Many compare lighting to sculpture, as a lighting designer essentially creates a physical thing with a wide variety of tools at their disposal. In the end, the result is what allows us to perceive that which is three-dimensional.

Now, as an adult and a leader in the arts community,

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Kit believes firmly in the value of bringing the technical side of production to younger generations. “To me, there’s no team sport more involved than putting on a show. You have architects, artists, actors, designers, and the director.

All of these people come together, and effectively, act in unison to deliver,” explained Kit. No aspect of this is a solo act for Kit. “Nobody leaves the theatre humming your lighting design. That’s the fun part of it for me, if you do it well, it’s seamless, and it contributes to a compelling experience,” he said.

Putting on a show is “when you give people a purpose and a compelling reason to come together and do something you can create great art, and along the way, you’re teaching.”

Beall continues, “I think our responsibility as educators and leaders in the community is to provide opportunities to kids and young adults to be able to have this opportunity for this form of expression.”

EXPERIENCING THE STORY Actors like Lily and Jack Weisbart live at the heart of storytelling by embodying the characters that convey the story Props lay piled in the corner as makeshift curtains draw closed and the lights dim to darkness. Two young children wait eagerly in their costumes, anticipating the curtains’ reopen.

Another show in the Weisbart family room stage begins.

Lily Weisbart ‘22 and Jack Weisbart ‘24 have always been theatre kids, in every sense of the stereotype. “I think that the arts are kind of the only way we can express ourselves and get our big personalities out. We’ve just been doing it for so long, and now it’s just a part of who we are,” Lily said.

In fifth grade, Lily performed in her first musical, Seussical. At first she was disappointed because she wasn’t familiar with the show. But she soon discovered a more important aspect of performance than the content itself. “It

doesn’t even matter what the show is,” she said, “because honestly, just being on stage is the most amazing part.”

For Jack, “it’s also about the connections that you make with other people.” Being a part of a production is more than just being on stage and performing a few nights a week.

Everything from the relationships formed with peers to the feedback received from directors is integral to the final product.

Actors are the ones who seem to ‘experience’ being in a show more than anyone else. “What’s most rewarding is actually getting on stage and having the rush and being able to perform something for other

people,” Lily said.

A major part in that experience is receiving direction from the show’s leadership. “[A director] was super honest with me, which I think really pushed me to be better than I was,” said Lily. “The honesty you get from everyone who is leading you through the process of doing a show is really the most important thing to help you grow as an actor.”

As with producing and leading a show, acting and performing in one is just as important. While a show could be performed with an empty stage, it’s much harder to convey a compelling story without giving it a mascot.

That’s where actors come in. Tropes and stereotypes aside, passionate individuals like Lily and Jack are how it all starts.

January 2021 19

OPINIONS Party people

The pandemic is not over just because you want it to be

By Amelia Krueger

W

alking down the hallway the school’s social worker, Michael Davidoff, sees students clumped together leaning against their lockers talking about recent drama, homework, and their plans for the weekend. He hears a student jokingly say; ¨Oh my god! I’m so OCD! I guess that’s just what makes me quirky.¨ As a mental health professional, he knows just how serious mental disorders are and has watched in horror at how popular it has become to romanticize them.

In school lunchrooms it’s not uncommon to hear teenage girls applauding their friends for skipping lunch calling them strong for abstaining from food, strong for denying their body a basic need, or to hear kids state they have depression because their boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with them last week.

A few decades ago talking about mental health used to be taboo, and now because people are talking about it so openly it’s caused a whole new equality as bad issue.

There is an ever-growing group of people who are using severe mental illnesses as a charming characteristic, claiming they have a disorder but having never been diagnosed by a professional.

Some people might not view this as an issue, they might even state that this is helping people who are suffering because it’s normalizing it. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I hear it come out in the hallway like, ‘I’m so OCD about this or that,’” Davidoff said. “Well, do you really feel compelled to do something, whenever a thought pops into your mind? Do you have a ritual? Are you stuck in that, or are you just being quirky . . . there’s nothing cute or quirky about it. There’s suffering.”

Glamorizing mental illness makes suffering from an illness seem like a much better experience than it actually is. Because of that twisted view on disorders, it makes people almost want to have a

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disorder.

Suzan Simpson, a marriage and family therapist, thinks that viewing mental illness as something good is horrific.

“To maintain that any kind of illness is cute or quirky is to be very naive to the reality of suffering - like a child believing that a broken leg and having to use crutches is ‘fun.’ They have no idea,” Simpson said.

By playing down someone’s experience of mental illness, it diminishes the struggle they are going through and when the topic of mental illness comes up they don’t even feel a part of the discussion. Glorifying mental illness is causing harm to people suffering and making light of the horrible experiences they go through.

“Romanticizing mental illness is similar to glorifying war - the carnality, the grotesqueness, and especially the loss that is incurred is not beautiful,” Simpson said.

Stop viewing mental illnesses as romantic and quirky and instead realize whoever is going through it is suffering. Be by their side, and don’t make yourself a victim.

Michael Davidoff said, “I would encourage people to keep it real.

There are lots of ways to get somebody’s attention, and there are lots of ways to start a conversation. We don’t have to be a victim to do that. So I would encourage people to try to tap into their strengths and use that as a vehicle to get recognition. Because, you know, it’s hard to address something that is being self-created.”

Everyone can be a part of the discussion of mental health by sympathizing with people suffering and voicing your own struggles, but romanticizing an illness hurts the people who are actually battling with it. It’s an extremely naive and immature way to view something that has ruined so many people’s lives.

We Need To Be Done With...

Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar Goldfish

The Flavor Blasted is WAY too extreme for my taste. Your fingers get all powdery and messy and the fake cheese gets stuck to the roof of your Ripped Jeans mouth. Overall, it’s just not Ripped jeans are a great experience. Regular hardly practical. The Goldfish on the other hand point of jeans is to be have the perfect taste just as sturdy,durable they are. They have the smooth workwear.

Ripping them, outer layer with the satisfying especially around the crunch of the cracker, creating knee, not only makes the ideal combination for them look like they failed a light snack. We have to but also takes away their stop pretending that the Xtra protection. You may as Cheddar are better when well wear a snow jacket regular Goldfish are simply that looks like swiss superior. cheese. The only time -Ryleigh Selby my pants had holes in the knees was when I needed new pants.

— Rhys Cadwallader

In-N-Out Hype

The restaurant is average, and I’ve had much better burgers other places than In-NCancel Culture It seems like everyday someone Out. People wait hours to get food there, and else is canceled on Twitter. sure, the merch they Usually people get canceled give out is cool, and over a controversial photo they I am indeed guilty took 7 years ago or something of buying it, but the that isn’t even true. Sure, food is average at best. some people deserve to get Their milkshakes are canceled, but for the most part mediocre, their fries are it’s just toxic and unnecessary. not salty enough, and As a community we need to their burgers are quite recognize that people can bland. Considering the change and that just because someone did something bad 7 fact that I’ve eaten too many burgers in my years ago, it doesn’t mean they are still the same. We also need life, I can confidently say that In-N-Out is to check to see if something definitely not worth the is true before tweeting hype. #theyareoverparty.

— Layla East

— Carolyn Jewett

Snapchat Streaks

If you would normally talk to someone everyday, then having a streak makes sense. But snapping 50+ people a ceiling picture everyday is pointless and unnecessary. It’s like having pride in being addicted to your phone. Sending random photos over snapchat to people you don’t know is a waste of time for both people involved. And it is weird. Instead, try making a friend and talking to someone in real life.

— Evie Cuffaro

January 2021 21

STAFF EDITORIAL The Missing Piece Getting LGBTQ+ representation in kids shows is much more challenging than you’d think

By Layla Eastt

C

hildren’s shows are the building blocks of a kid’s view of the world around them. Parents trust that the shows their children watch teach them how to share, care for one another, and show them right from wrong.

But a massive gaping hole in children’s shows is representation, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.

Getting even the smallest amount of representation presents challenges. The show Steven Universe paved the way for representation but the path to creating that representation was difficult. The writers on the show wanted a wedding between two female characters. It took a great deal of convincing, but they got to air the episode, but it didn’t come without repercussions. In a Q & A in October 2019 at the NY Barnes and Noble, the creator of the show Rebecca Sugar said that most of the funding for the show came from International, and they were threatening to pull the funding if they went through with the wedding scene.

Because of their decision to air the episode they had to end the show much quicker than planned, leaving many viewers unsatisfied. All because of a wedding scene.

The children’s show Arthur had repercussions as well because of a wedding scene. Arthur’s teacher, Mr. Ratburn, was getting married to another man. In the episode, none of the characters brought up that it was weird or shocking that their teacher was marrying another man.

The show wasn’t shoving it down anyone’s throats; it was simply there. According to an article titled ¨Arthur’ in the Washington Post, the episode showed children a same-

22 the mix

sex wedding. However, Alabama and Arkansas PBS stations refused to air it..

That is absolutely absurd. I understand that people aren’t going to fund a show or air an episode if it is receiving a ton of backlash, but isn’t it their job to produce good shows for kids that everyone can relate to and shows all walks of life?

Even with recent shows the representation is lacking. In the TV show Gravity Falls there is a gay couple, which seems like a big step forward for the community especially since the show was made by Disney, but I disagree.

When I watched that show as a kid I had no idea they were dating. The way they portrayed their relationship was more of a bromance than romance.

It was almost like a joke that they were friendly with each other. It seems like Disney just wanted to appease the LGBTQ+ community, not wanting the character to be gay.

I have found the the little representation we have is either poorly represented or falls victim to queerbaiting, which is a marketing technique where creators hint at, but then don’t actually depict same-sex romance.

For example in Voltron: Legendary Defender, Shiro was revealed to be gay at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con by the shows creators. The announcement was met with support by the fandom. But the only scene between Shiro and his fiance is in a flashback where they have an argument and break up. Later in the show, his exfiance is abruptly killed.

This led plenty of audience members to be rightfully disappointed. The creators

hyped up their relationship to no end, but fell short in delivering an impactful and meaningful relationship between the characters. Shiros’ love interest was displayed as a season selling point at Comic Con, only for the character to be killed off just as quickly as he was introduced.

One of the biggest arguments for parents not wanting LGBTQ+ characters in kids shows is that they would turn their kids gay. That argument has no evidence to prove its factuality and is completely ludicrous. Nothing can turn people gay.

They are born that way.

Another reason that argument falls through is that, would it really be thay horrible if your kid was gay? In reality that “argument” is just disguised homophobia.

If anything the lack of representation is more harmful than a gay character. I know from my own experiences and my friend’s experiences that growing up without seeing characters feeling the same way you do can make you feel like who you are is something to be ashamed of and abnormal.

This causes many teens to spend their middle school and high school years in the closet, not being able to truly be who they are.

Children need a realistic view on the world around them, and kids shows are a great way to introduce them to it. So without representing all types of people, kids can feel abnormal for who they are.

It’s necessary to show kids that there are people different or similar to them so they can grow up to be an understanding, wellrounded person.

Debt and Destruction As a quadruplet, I have no idea how I’m going to pay for college

By Ryleigh Selby

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hirteen-year-old me had only one worry on her mind: braces. Having perfect teeth didn’t seem worth all the pulling and stretching and tugging, paired with the constant jokes about the cost.

“At least it’s not college!” the orthodontist would say with a laugh as he and my mom talked about the expense of braces for me and my quadruplet sisters.

But now, at 17, college is right around the corner for us four. And it hasn’t gotten any cheaper.

The student debt crisis in the United States is one of the biggest issues our country is facing. It is one most Monarch students must endure, considering it’s nearly impossible to have a stable career without some level of higher education.

Student loan debt is now the second highest consumer debt category, right behind mortgage debt, according to the Student Debt Crisis website. Getting an education costs almost as much as owning a house, and the prices just keep going up. The Peterson Foundation states that student debt sat at about $345 billion in 2004. Today, that number has skyrocketed to $1.4 trillion nationwide.

From elementary school through the end of high school, college is the word on everyone’s tongue. “You need to do well on this test to get into a good college!”

“Try taking AP classes to get some college credits!” “Have you started your college applications yet?” Why do they bring the topic up as soon as our education starts?

Because that’s how soon we have to start preparing for it.

Growing up as a quadruplet with one older sister, just thinking about college feels daunting. With one parent working to pay five tuitions, dreaming big feels impossible.

I’ve always wanted to go to a big out of state school and get the true “college experience.” However, with out-of-state tuition being in the $30,000 range, multiplying that by five becomes financially impossible.

With one parent working to pay five tuitions, dreaming big feels impossible.

My sisters and I, like many other high schoolers, work minimum wage jobs a couple days a week. A good amount of that money goes to gas, food, and the occasional shopping spree, yet there’s always that voice chanting in the back of my head: you have to save for college. You need this money for college. You’ll have to pay off your student debt.

The craziest thing about all of this is how much higher the United States’ student debt numbers are compared to other countries around the world. Although the problem isn’t isolated to the United States,

ValueColleges.com explains that the most a university can charge in England comes to around $14,000 and other countries like Australia, Canada, and Chile cost under $10,000. And I can’t forget to mention that in virtually every other college in the world, tuition is a whopping $0.That’s right, you heard me correctly. FREE. How can we expect to have a country full of college-educated people when cost alone makes college out of reach for low and even middle class Americans? Financial aid only goes so far. Scholarships only go so far. You could apply for and write essays for every scholarship in the books, yet it still won’t even come close to being enough.

So what are our options here? We need our government to take action now. USA Today says the new Covid-19 Student Loan Forgiveness plan in the latest stimulus would keep student loan borrowers from making payments until the end of January and put a pause in interest on loans, which is a good first step towards essential, immediate financial relief.

Some members of Congress are urging the newly-inaugurated president Joe Biden to cancel up to $50,000 of student loan debt per person via executive order. This will help us finally move in the right direction to reduce or eliminate college tuition costs, therefore ending student loan debt.

The time for Congress to act is now.

I want to go to college, but I don’t want to bankrupt my parents in the process. This isn’t a choice anyone should have to make.

It’s time to put an end to the destruction of student debt.

January 2021 23

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