The Mix - Volume 24, Issue 4

the

Mix

The Student Voice of Monarch High School

Mask mania?

End of Boulder County’s mandate leads to confusion, conflicting opinions

329 Campus Dr

Louisville, Colorado

Volume 24

Issue 4

April 2022

80027

The Mix The Student Voice of Monarch High School

OUR VISION: MoHi Media’s vision is to be the source of information for 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, truthful way.

OUR POLICIES: 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.

OUR SITES: Instagram: @mohimix

Website: mohimix.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kate Muldoon EDITORS

Maeby Aleo Minh Anh Le STAFF

Arianna Bergman Layla East Zack Frieder Josie Furst Sean Goldy David Maxwell Zoey Perrine Brenna Severson ADVISER

Ben Reed 2

The Mix

Contents The Mix

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Vol. 24, Issue 4

4 The Mix-Up MIX & MATCHES

8 Dreams to reality FEATURES

16

10 Relationships: how to 12 In the zone 16 Mask mania?

MIXED OPINIONS

20 Don’t be sorry 21 Underrated opinions 22 Too numb to speak up 23 Past the masks April 2022

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the

MIX-UP TEACHER’S PET Meet language arts teacher’s massive dog

Name: Thunder Breed: Bull Mastiff Age: 4 years old Weight: 150 pounds Favorite toy: Hard plastic bones “He smashes his head against the fence until he breaks a hole. He’s broken a hole in all three sides of the fence in the backyard just so that he can look at the other dogs.”

— Language arts teacher Sean Duncan

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Every minute counts Monarch schedule changing to meet district requirement

By Josie Furst

O

nce again, the bell schedule is changing.

Monarch will return to a seven-period day for the 2022-23 school year, with most days having 52 minute class periods and a 30-minute lunch based on students’ 4th or 5th period class. The late start on Wednesday will stay along with an additional access time, making classes start at 10:30.

The sudden change is actually not sudden at all. “In the state of Colorado, we have to meet certain parameters of instructional hour,” Principal Neil Anderson said. “[This year] we meet the number of hours required within a year.

We were a little short on the instructional hours during the week.”

This deficit in weekly instructional hours is why the schedule must change, according to Anderson. Even though he and the other BVSD principals were made aware of this requirement fairly recently, Anderson didn’t hesitate to make sure every student has the appropriate amount of learning minutes.

Although there is a justified reason for changing the schedule for the fifth time in five years, the reaction is not what Anderson expected. He ran the new schedule by both students and teachers before releasing it to the entire school, but not everyone loved it. “I wanted a longer lunch,” Kierra Kernan ‘24 said. “I was hoping there would be more access time.”

On the other hand, teacher Melissa Peterson doesn’t have much of an opinion.

“Tell us when to get here and we’ll be here and tell us when to go home,” she said. “Other than that, it doesn’t really matter.”

Despite the change being necessary, Anderson tried to give students as much freedom as possible. “It got to a level that we were looking at passing times to be four minutes, not five,” Anderson said. That idea did not come to pass, as he understands that every minute in the school day counts. His hope is that soon students, parents, and teachers will understand the reasoning and not let this new schedule break their stride into a new year.

CoyoTEA Who should make the first move?

Abriana Velasquez ‘24 “People always expect the guy to make the first move, but it’s very interesting when a girl does.”

Rylen McCauley ‘25

“I feel like girls expect it to be the guys, so they don’t step up as much.”

SMOOTH STREAMING Favorite streaming services at Monarch

Buck Coleman ‘22

“Whichever one is more outgoing.”

Disney+ 9.8%

Netflix

HBO Max

64.5%

14.5%

Leah Buck ‘23 Hulu 11.2%

*Based on a poll on an @mohimix Instagram poll with 214 responses

“I don’t think the guy should make the first move because they always make the first move in literally every single relationship aspect.”

April 2022

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Nibbling on nostalgia Students remember childhood snacks

THE YELP Student reviews of The Batman “I thought it was a very good movie, but it didn’t get five stars because it was a little long and kind of repetitive.” — Will Herzig ‘24

“I personally love Robert Pattinson as the role for Batman. I think he was the best Batman out there. I think Robert Pattinson is the best actor when it comes to brooding and dark scenes. I thought the movie was really interesting and I liked the plot. I also loved the song.” — Sophia Stalter ‘24

“It was really long and I’m not crazy for Batman. I really liked the ending and the music was great but there were little parts that were kind of disturbing.”

— Nate Carasick ‘25

“My favorite childhood snack was apples and peanut butter.”

— Maya Vanvleet ‘25

SCHOOL SECRETS Two truths and a lie about Monarch

“Probably those Ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle.” — Nico Mattoni ‘24

6 The Mix

1 2 3

The building architect left a personal mark (a red square in the upper corner of the entry doors) that could not be removed. The mark was also installed at Monarch PK-8.

There are tunnels that connect Monarch High School and Monarch PK-8. The staff used to be able to move between the two schools when they first opened.

LIE: There are tunnels that connect Monarch High School and Monarch PK-8.

“I used to be really obsessed with goldfish.”

— Liam McKewan ‘22

The original idea for the school mascot was a miner until an incoming student suggested a coyote during the last meeting about the topic.

What’s in your car Random items in student vehicles

?

Toy lizard

Mackenzie Gathright ‘22

Rubber duck

Maggie Merlino ‘22

Rainbow fidget toy

Autumn Blowers ‘23

Popped stress ball

Deveny Andressen ‘22

M&M’s

Christian Mittleman ‘24

Hubcap

Mackenzie Gathright ‘22

Penny board

Skis

Langley Nakari ‘22

Langley Nakari ‘22 April 2022

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Coaching curveball Monarch baseball team hit with changeup this season

By Sean Goldy

IJ

ustin Mosakowski ‘23 was having trouble hitting the baseball in the summer. Then, Coach James Thompson came in to help him out.

“He definitely helped me fix my swing last summer,” Mosakowski said. “I was not making contact at all, but now I’m hitting bombs.”

Mosakowski feels that Thompson is a good fit for the team.

“He’s always there for me and he wants to help everyone get better,” Mosakowski said.

Coach Thompson has been a part of the Monarch baseball program since 2015. This year, he is the head coach of the varsity team.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with the guys and on their goals for the game,” Thompson said. “It’s a great way to give back to the sport, and it’s a great way to stay involved.”

Coach Dave Attkin has been at Monarch for 13 years as the assistant coach for the varsity team. He’s excited to work with Thompson because he feels he’s a great fit for the team.

“He’s been on the program for six or seven years and makes an effort to really get to know the players on an individual level and provides great leadership,” Attkin said.

Thompson strives to connect with his players in order to make them better as people as well as players.

“First and foremost, it goes back to working with players and forming those relationships and working with guys toward their goals,” Thompson said.

Row Tucker ‘24 has started on varsity since his freshman year and is now playing under his second head coach at Monarch.

“I think coach helps a lot with the players and shows his love for the sport by helping us and teaching us to get better everyday,” Tucker said.

The team’s chemistry with Thompson has carried over from previous years in the program.

“There’s a lot of passionate players in the program,” Thompson said, “I think passion outweighs talent every single day.”

Talent with a lack of passion can be difficult to motivate, so Thompson hopes to harness the passion on the team in order to get the players moving in the right direction.

“My biggest goal is to find ourselves playing in districts,” Thompson said. “I want to make sure that our program is back where it belongs, which is in districts every year.”

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Gathright

DREAMS TO REALITY

Sam Riecken ’22 plays in a home game against Heritage High School on March 14.

Monarch lacrosse player recruited to play collegiately

D Photo courtesy of Sophie Taylor

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Coach Dave Thompson talks to Daniel Schenkel ‘22 at Coors Field on March 16.

uring the summer before high school, Sam Riecken ‘22 was cut from his club lacrosse team.

“It was a pretty big setback for me,” Riecken said. “It just kind of motivated me to want to work harder. I just didn’t want to leave it up in the air like that.”

Four years later, Riecken committed to Yale University, one of the best Division I lacrosse teams in the nation.

With a National Championship title in 2018, Yale was always on Riecken’s radar.

“From the start that was my top school, obviously they have historically been a good lacrosse team as well as good in the classroom,” Riecken said. “There’s just a certain culture around the team that I really like.”

By Zack Frieder and Sean Goldy Playing for Yale has always been Riecken’s goal, and getting an offer is a unique accomplishment.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was just at a loss for words,” Riecken said. “It was just a lot of excitement and I was just overcome with emotion, especially because [Yale] is my dream school.”

For the time being, Riecken aims to focus on his final season at Monarch. The Coyote Lacrosse team has reached the playoffs in 14 of the last 15 seasons, so the current players have a big role to fill.

“We want to win the league because we didn’t win last year. So winning the league championship is our number one goal,” Head Coach David Auday said.

mix &

MATCHES A look at Monarch’s teams, athletes, and everything sports

“

Girls Golf

“The tournaments and the weather and just having everyone come together this year is what I’m looking forward to the most.”

— Kaelan Norgard ‘22

“

Track & Field

“I’m always trying to make the most of it because a lot of seniors won’t participate in college. Taking advantage of the opportunities and actually having a full season knowing that a lot of other sports haven’t had a full season.”

— Keiran Singh ‘22

“

Boys Swimming

“I am for sure motivated this season. A lot of us want to get a school record and perform well at conferences.”

— Patrick Vo ‘22

“

Boys Rugby “A big goal for us is winning state, and personally improving my game and getting better just working on my craft, getting back in the lab and getting the work in.”

— Arnaud Agasse ‘23

“

Girls Tennis

“I think my personal and team goal is the same: to keep improving. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the first spot of singles or on JV, we’re all out here to get better.”

— Julia Bethune ‘23

“

Girls Soccer “I’m really excited to bring in new freshmen onto varsity this year and get everyone playing again and have a good team environment.”

— Ava Schuler ‘22

April 2022

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how to........... relationships

By Maeby Aleo, Arianna Bergman, and Kate Muldoon

...MAKE NEW FRIENDS Be confident Be friendly Find things in common with others Share food or snacks Reach out Be kind Have a genuine conversation Be open

...LOSE A FRIEND

Signs it may be time to end a relationship

Being mean Being toxic Being inconsiderate Being self-absorbed Lying and dishonesty Poor communication 10

The Mix

Breaking boundaries

...KEEP A FRIEND Three friends stay close for years

“I

want to be Hermione! No one else can be her!” Sevilla Grider ‘23’s younger self said to her friends.

“But you’re always Hermione,” Taitum Berryhill ‘23 said. “Why can’t one of us be her?”

“Yeah!” Cassidy Colvin ‘23 said. “Why can’t we?”

“I’m always Hermione!” Grider said, swinging her makeshift wand, which was really a stick, high in the air.

Berryhill and Colvin sighed as Grider ran into the trees lining Fireside Elementary School’s property.

Family trips are frequent, and they’ve made countless memories traveling to places such as Utah, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Carter Lake.

“One time Cassidy and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park and we were gonna sneak out in the middle of the night and meet each other,” Grider said.

By being best friends for over ten years, each of them has changed significantly throughout the friendship.

“I feel Cassidy has become a lot more confident. When she was little she would not say one word. Now she’s more confident in herself,” Grider said.

The friendship has lasted so long partially due to their continued support for one another.

“I love that we can talk about everything and there’s no judgment.

And we’re always nice to each other. There’s not really any drama and there’s no judgment,” Grider said.

The girls are confident that their sisterhood will last after high school, and far into the future. They’re not worried that leaving high school will hurt their relationship. They’ve even made plans to stay in touch.

“Taking a girls’ trip once a year, and definitely texting and keeping each other updated,” Berryhill and Colvin said.

Each girl consistently dreams of what their life may look like in the future, or where they could all go if they had the chance.

“If we could go anywhere, maybe Hawaii and get a house on the beach. I definitely think the Greek islands, like in Mamma Mia,” Berryhill and Grider said.

Because the girls think they’ll stay friends for such a long time, they even believe they could be bridesmaids at each other’s weddings.

“I feel like we’re siblings and we never would think that we wouldn’t be friends. Because obviously, we will be,” Grider said.

“Taitum and I met in kindergarten and then she and Cassidy became friends in first grade, and then we all became friends in second grade,” Grider said.

Soccer practice is where their bond started, but off the field, they became best friends.

“We were all on the same team for a long time,” Grider said.

Now, in high school, the group has been so close for so long, their friendship can feel more like a sisterhood.

Just like with sisters, arguments tend to happen, but they never last long.

“I feel like we’ve been friends for so long that it’s kind of more like siblings you can argue with. But, I wouldn’t even think it would cause us to not be friends,” Grider said. “You’ll fight with your siblings, but you’re never not going to love them.”

Sometimes, their “sister relationship” seems even more real because their families are so close. In fact, it’s one of the reasons they’ve stayed friends for so long.

“I feel like our families being friends helps. We can’t really not be friends,” Colvin said. “Even our siblings are friends.”

...GET OVER A BREAKUP

“

Be social and open with friends and family.

” “

— Leah Buck ‘23 “1

It’s important to eat chocolate.

”

— Abi Sjong ‘22 .“1

“

Be the bigger person.

”

— Ella Frusciano ‘22 “1

“

”

Blast music!

— CJ Giesburt ‘23 “1

April 2022

11

the

In zone

By Minh Anh Le, David Maxwell, and Zoey Perrine

MONARCH STUDENTS USE ART AND MUSIC AS A WAY TO COPE WITH STRESS

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Jack Weisbart ‘24 spends free time playing piano.

April 2022

13

Coping Mechanisms: Tips from intervention specialist Karin Dudek

1

Create a schedule for your activities. This way, you can avoid being overwhelmed and prioritize your tasks.

Find a healthy, enjoyable outlet to look forward to. You can use this as a reward for accomplishing tasks.

3

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2

Allow yourself time and space to relax. It may be hard to unplug, but taking breaks can be helpful over time.

Jett Trippy ‘22 works on a sketch before school.

A

s he sits down at his piano with stiff fingers and proper hand positions, Jack Weisbart ‘24 begins to play. Each music note floats through the room, and his tension floats away with them.

At the same time, Jett Trippy ‘22 sits by the mountains. He aimlessly sketches each peak with an old pencil he found at the bottom of his bag. Instead of aiming for a perfect picture, he hopes to find serenity.

They both had a hard day. They both find tranquility in their art.

Trippy describes himself as an angry, aggressive kid who struggled with ADHD and hemophilia A, a bleeding disorder.

“Because of my bleeding disorder I wasn’t really allowed to do sports when I was younger, especially in elementary school where kids are generally rowdy,” Trippy said. “I had pretty bad ADHD. I was an especially rowdy kid.”

Without sports, he turned to fighting.

His emotions were so intense and overwhelming that he didn’t know where to channel them. “I was extremely violent,” Trippy said. “From, like, second to sixth grade I was just fighting and punching people.”

Mental health is a big part of people’s lives as Karin Dudek, an intervention specialist has seen first hand.

“It’s really important to have something that makes a positive impact on your mental health,” she said. “It keeps your perspective positive instead of getting bogged down with the hard things.”

During his sophomore year in high school Trippy found his positive outlet.

“I was never really the type to sit down and create something, but I had a lot of imagination,” he said. “That finally changed when I took Draw and Paint 1 sophomore year.”

When others were painting butterflies and trees, his creations were far darker.

“Doing art sets a new neural pathway in your brain and can kind of reset it a bit,” Dudek said. “When you’re stressed, art can help you pull it back in and focus it on something.”

Art allows Trippy to release his intrusive, violent thoughts and escape chaos. “I put my feelings into art,” he said.

Art teacher Julie Makely knows how helpful art can be. “I think arts, especially in this time of chaos and uncertainty, have been a tremendous outlet for many people,” Makely said.

Almost anything can be a release.

“Even just doodling can be an outlet,” she said. “It can change your state of mind.”

Similar to traditional art, music eases stress.

“Art can put you in the zone, music too, it does the same thing. It changes your whole thought process.” Makely said.

Weisbart uses music the way Trippy uses art.

Weisbart discovered his comfort in music at a young age and it now accompanies him around the clock.

“I’ve been playing piano since I was four,” he said. “I just can’t even remember a time not singing.”

Music is the perfect way for him to destress, especially in the midst of the chaos that is high school.

“If I’m having a stressful day, I just come home and figure something out musically,” Weisbart said.

Weisbart constructs his own realm of comfort through music. The struggles of the day move aside and music takes their place.

“I can just get lost in the focus and intensity of music. I just feel so relaxed,” Weisbart said. “Play something on the guitar or piano. It’s just a big part of relieving stress. It is a huge part of my life.”

With each music note Weisbart’s stress fades away, with each color Trippy’s anger lifts.

But, music and art are not the only ways to deal with stress.

“I always say, give yourself time when you get home to do something you love,” Dudek said. “Anything to take you out of that for a little bit and let your body and brain decompress helps.”

“Art opposed to just being overwhelmingly angry all the time. Art helps me feel emotion in a positive way,” Trippy said.

Viper, Jett Trippy ‘22

“Play something on the guitar or piano. It’s just a big part of relieving stress.”

— Jack Weisbart ‘24

April 2022

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The Mix

Lacy Thompson’s ‘25 insecurities play a part in her decision to wear a mask.

I don’t want to get [COVID] and even if you are vaccinated, you’re at risk.”

— Naiya Washburn ‘23

“Since we’re 9th graders, I haven’t been able to see peoples’ faces, it’s cool to see them now.”

“I want to put the science and vaccine to the test.”

— Mackenzie Gathright ‘22

— Sierra Colven ‘25

“I have a high risk family member, so I wear mine.”

— Grasyn Trobaugh ‘25

“How I feel? Watch this. *Rips mask in half.*” — Nate Carasick ‘25

MASK

“I’m worried cases are gonna pop up...you’re taking away a protection method.”

— CJ Geisburt ‘23

mania?

END OF BOULDER COUNTY’S MASK MANDATE LEADS TO CONFUSION, CONFLICTING OPINIONS

By Josie Furst, Brenna Severson, and Arianna Bergman

April 2022 17

ARE YOU a mask? wearing 46%

Yes No

12%

24%

February 18, 2022

*BASED ON @MOHIMIX INSTAGRAM POLLS WITH 1318 TOTAL RESPONSES

March 4, 2022 54%

March, 28 2022 76%

88%

MASK timeline March 11, 2020: Covid is declared a pandemic.

April 3, 2020: Mask guidelines are released by CDC for the first time.

March 13, 2020: Monarch closes for in-person learning

March 8, 2021: CDC announces vaccinated people can be indoors without masks.

Dec 30, 2020: First variant cases pop up in the U.S.

CDC vs.

Boulder

2022: CDC still reccomends everyone 2+ wears a mask.

July 27, 2021: With Delta, CDC updates masking guidelines.

CONFLICTING RECOMMENDATIONS CAUSE UNCERTAINTY

Centers for Disease Control on Feb. 18:

Boulder County Public Health on Feb. 18:

“CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.”

“Order 2021-08 required all people 2+ to wear a mask in every indoor space. That was repealed on February 18th.”

“Masking is a critical public health too and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.”

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“Boulder County still recommends masking for everyone 2+.”

“All existing state and federal mask requirements remain in place.”

PEER pressure

“Everyone has only seen this part of my face. It’s scary to show the rest.”

— Colby Crean ‘25

CLASSMATES INFLUENCE MASK-WEARING

“I don’t want to be looked at weirdly.”

“I would feel peer pressured to wear a mask.”

-— Lauren Kleinman ‘22

— Lizzie Herrera ‘22

Tori Coleman ‘25 experiences peer pressure for choosing not to wear a mask.

SPLIT decision 2.

1.

WHAT MASK DID you WEAR?

LACY THOMPSON ‘25 WORRIES ABOUT DECISION

“It’s a safety net and more of a self-conscious thing.”

K-95

“Wearing a mask is automatic. Then once I get to school I decide which classes to wear it in.”

3.

25%

cloth

12%

paper

50%

other 13%

“I have a friends who don’t wear their masks anymore. Whatever you feel comfortable with.”

*Based on an @mohimix Instagram poll with 281 responses

SAYgoodbye NOTso fast

1.

2.

3.

JOEY SAWTELLE ‘23 BELIEVES MASKS HAVE GOT TO GO

“A lot of people are vaccinated, and it’s way more comfortable to not wear one.”

“They’re not wearing masks at the White House.’

“I was pretty scared at first because people were getting really hurt from it.”

MINNA MOST ‘23 CHOOSES TO STAY MASKED

1.

2.

3.

“I don’t really have time to get sick.”

“I’m choosing to wear a mask because the CDC still reccomends it at schools.”

“It’s a social responsibility to wear it as much as possible until this is over.”

April 2022 19

Don’t be sorry Sympathy goes beyond one word

G

rowing up, we were all told to be empathetic when someone is grieving.

But we never know what to say.

We fear saying the wrong thing.

And to be completely honest, most of us probably have been saying the wrong thing.

When you say, “I completely understand.”

No, you don’t.

When you say, “I’m so sorry.”

I understand you’re sympathizing. But really, what are you sorry for?

This thought doesn’t come out of nowhere.

It’s something personal to me.

When I tell people about my story, the immediate answer is, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

I’ve been hearing that sentence for the last 15 years on repeat. I can only remember one person who didn’t follow the trend: my middle school choir teacher.

In seventh grade, I joined choir at my school.

On the third or fourth day of school, the teacher asked us to fill out a survey, asking us to share what we did that summer and what our favorite color was. But there was the looming question that always resides at the bottom of those surveys: Is there anything else I should know about you?

I’ve always left this question blank, or just typed out the word “nothing,” but something about my choir teacher made me change my answer.

When I was about a year and a half old, my birth mom died in an accident. I never knew her.

I can’t remember anything about her aside from

20

The Mix

By Maeby Aleo the stories I’ve been told and the photos I’ve seen.

This wasn’t even half of it. I kept writing.

My dad met the woman I’ve come to consider as my mom a few years later. She and my dad got married. But it didn’t last.

When I was five years old, my parents got divorced.

I was put in therapy to talk with someone who wasn’t trying to get me to pick sides.

But I didn’t like talking. I would sit in the corner and color or play with a dollhouse and murmur to myself.

Things only got worse in the next four years.

I still didn’t talk. No matter how many times my dad lashed out at me. No matter how many times he threw away my clothes because my mom and I had gotten them from a thrift store and he didn’t like the idea of “used clothing.”

Again, things got worse.

When I was nine years old, my dad died.

Unexpectedly. My mom said it was because of his mental illness.

This much was true. He was sick. I tried to look past his faults because kids tend to only see the good in people.

But over the years, I’ve pieced things together that I couldn’t understand when I was nine. I eventually found out the truth.

I figured it out in seventh grade health class. They told us about mental illness and how it can affect people’s actions, including causing people to take their own life.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people are victims of suicide every year. In 2014, my dad was one of them.

Sitting in the middle school choir room, I was overthinking. I wasn’t sure if I should hit “submit” on the form. Was I just going to get pulled aside at the end of class and receive yet another “I’m so sorry?”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and hit “submit.”

I was right. The next day, my teacher pulled me aside after class. However, the word I was expecting from him never left his tongue.

Instead, he said, “I’m so glad you shared this with me. I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through, and I have no words to express my condolences. Everything you’ve gone through shouldn’t be something a nine-year-old has to experience.”

This was the answer I’d been waiting for.

To some extent, it still is the answer I need to hear. Maybe not the exact words, but something not including the word “sorry.”

There’s never a good time for me to bring up my parents. Some people pick up that I never mention my dad in conversation.

I don’t have a problem with them asking.

I don’t have a problem answering. I’ll talk now.

My problem is their response.

I understand “I’m sorry” is everyone’s instinctual reply when being empathetic, and I can’t speak for others, but personally, I think it needs to go deeper.

Sometimes all I want is for someone to listen. I don’t even need them to respond. If they choose to, all I ask is it’s well thought out, even if it takes them a while to come up with it.

mixed

OPINIONS Underrated opinions Taylor Swift’s Evermore Jason’s Deli Barbie movies Even at the age of seventeen, Barbie movies still rock.

Like some of my friends, I grew up watching Barbie movies constantly.

It built a connection between me and my sister. Our eyes were constantly glued to the TV, believing it was possible to become a mermaid and swim in the depths of Oceana, or grow fairy wings and help save Ken in Glos Angeles. Sure, they’re silly and super fun to laugh at, but the storylines of each movie are weirdly addictive.

Plus, the songs are great. I have a Spotify playlist just for Barbie movies that occasionally I still listen to. Barbie haters are seriously missing out.

— Arianna Bergman

Jason’s Deli is one of the most underrated restaurants in Superior. I know most people have probably forgotten about this place, but they have a comfortable seating area with retro pictures on the walls and consistently good food. What’s there to hate? They have every sandwich, from Rubens to Mediterraneans, so there’s something for everyone. Don’t want a sandwich? They also have a salad bar and soup, too. Personally, the baked potato soup is my favorite, but they have a wide variety to choose from. And finally, the best part: they have free ice cream for the end of your meal.

— Sean Goldy

Grilled cheese and tomato soup At first, it’s the soft crunch of lightly crisped toast. Then, it’s the gentle tug of warm, melty cheese as your mouth pulls away. The sweet and tangy tomato flavor mixing with the salty sandwich adds a whole other level of deliciousness. There really is nothing like a classic grilled cheese sandwich on a chilly day. I love everything about the savory delight and all of the flavors and textures that come with it. The combination of cheese, bread, and tomato soup is so satisfying, especially when you’ve forgotten about the meal as a whole. Every time I eat a grilled cheese, it’s as if it’s the very first time I’ve had one.

— Maeby Aleo

Long story short, “Evermore” is the most underrated album ever. Taylor Swift truly gives the spotlight to her lyrical skill. People need to stop undermining its magic by comparing it to “Folklore” because this album brings forth an incandescent glow through its excellent imagery, storytelling, literary devices, and perfect bridge. In “champagne problems”, Taylor sings “Your Midas touch on the Chevy door. November flush, and your flannel cure” because in “Daylight”, Taylor describes Joe’s color as golden. Impeccable. Also, it’s relatable.

When she sings, “The more that you say, the less that I know”, that’s literally me to math teachers. The College Board would definitely give it a sophistication point if it was an AP Lang essay. “Evermore” should be celebrated, not simply tolerated.

— Minh Anh Le

Snickerdoodle cookies A warm, freshly baked snickerdoodle cookie is far superior to the overrated chocolate chip cookie. Its basic but familiar recipe gives it its comforting flavor and amazing taste. It’s neither too complicated nor too simple. The star ingredient, cinnamon, is shown all throughout the cookie, giving it a brown complexion against the pale color of the dough. The splendid taste never gets old, unlike its competitors. The fact that snickerdoodles aren’t in every bakery section of every grocery store is repulsive. I’m sick of seeing shelves filled with chocolate chip cookies. I think it’s time we gave the snickerdoodle the praise it deserves.

Arriving fashionably late In my humble opinion, I strongly believe that being late is not a terrible thing. If you show up somewhere unwashed and in shambles, you might as well have stayed home. If you need an extra thirty minutes to unfrazzle yourself before arriving somewhere, take it. The stigma around being late should be erased.

We all have lives and stuff going on, so we should all accept ourselves. There is also the swagger and attention that being late brings. It is a win-win situation.

No one loves being unprepared, so let’s all be late together!

— David Maxwell

— Layla East

April 2022

21

ARE YOU DESENSITIZED TO VIOLENCE? BRODY HUANG ‘23

“Personally, I haven’t experienced much violence because we live in a safe and protected community…so it doesn’t affect me too much.”

RYLAN REAVIS ‘25

“Yes. I’ve grown up around violence…it’s something that goes into my day-to-day life.”

MCKENNA SELBY ‘22

“I’m a person where even if I watch movies with violence, it definitely still affects me.”

EMMA NEIMAN ‘24

“You see it everywhere…it still gets to me sometimes but it’s kind of normal.”

22

The Mix

Too numb to speak up Let’s recognize what we feel, or don’t feel

N

By Josie Furst

etflix’s hit show “Squid Game” was watched a total of 1.6 billion hours in the first 28 days of its release, according to Variety.

Everyone with a Netflix account, from first graders to middle-aged women, was hooked on the show.

I hate the show. Not because of the acting, or the plot, but because it enforces a concept that has been evident across members of Gen Z since we were born.

Its name is desensitization.

Just thinking about it makes my thoughts drift to when I first watched the graphic final scene in the first episode. The piles of dead blocking the door from anyone who tries to escape. The characters’ glazed eyes staring towards the ceiling and blood dripping from their lips into the coarse sand. The bodies bent in unnatural ways as if already in a mass grave.

According to Metro News, “[In Squid Game there are] a total of 454 deaths. That’s not just more than the first season of ‘Game Of Thrones’–but more than the first three seasons combined.”

I was shaken by the violence. I would never watch the show again. That was the end of it.

So I thought.

My sister and I made a bet the next day.

Would my dad, who is a big fan of “Game of Thrones,” like “Squid Game”? We shook on it and watched the first episode again with my dad.

This time, I had a different reaction.

I noticed how fake the blood looked. The dramatic deaths. I thought to myself “this isn’t so bad.” Yet, it was the same gory scene.

This time I wasn’t scared of the show but of

my reaction. How come after only watching it two times, I became numb?

This is the problem.

We watch so many movies with graphic violence starting at a young age that by the time we are teens, police violence doesn’t shock us. We struggle to feel something.

We’ve all heard about people feeling insecure because of social media, but it never crossed my mind to think that what I see numbs the idea of violence in my head.

Swiping past clips of school shootings or watching videos where Tiktokers recreate death. All that senseless scrolling has done nothing but hurt us more.

We can do something. The first step is awareness. There’s no way to go back to feeling something for violence, but we can prevent others from being this way.

We can say something about content like this being made or brought to our doorsteps. Our voice matters. We should also acknowledge the insane amount of small children getting access to this like we did as kids. Children’s restrictions should be revisited.

We can catch ourselves when we go to watch something with a number of mature topics. While we may not feel anything for it anymore, we shouldn’t further the damage we made to our numb nerves.

This has future consequences if we do nothing. We won’t recognize the injustices around us unless they go beyond the extreme. Situations like assault will become commonplace because we’re numb to their effects if they don’t happen to us directly.

We can’t be remembered as the generation who was too numb to speak up.

Staff Editorial Past the masks Vaccinations create safe space, masks unnecessary

I

t’s no question that masks are a touchy subject. There are millions of different perspectives covering every square inch, including Monarch High School.

When Boulder County Public Health dropped the mask mandate on February 18, I was surprised. Like many others, I was excited, but also incredibly nervous.

My family tends to pay attention to the research surrounding Covid. So from the beginning, Covid was a serious issue in my eyes, and not something to be taken lightly.

When Monarch transitioned to online classes two years ago, I stayed at home and tried to limit leaving the house. When I did leave, I made sure to wear a mask wherever I went.

However, I believe many people’s perspectives, including my own, have been altered throughout the pandemic. In March of 2020, I was paranoid, and I immediately believed the rumors around me. The one ringing loudest in my ears was that my body wouldn’t be strong enough to fight Covid if I caught it.

When Monarch went back in person part time, I made the tough decision to stay home. Covid was still a major source of anxiety for me.

Then, vaccines were introduced.

I’ve talked to many people about the vaccine, and I’ve received many contrasting perspectives. I’ve heard everything, including “If you get the vaccine the government will track you,” and, “There’s not enough research yet to prove it’s safe.” Also, “If you

By Arianna Bergman get vaccinated you will be safe from getting Covid.”

I decided to tune in, and listen to my own feelings. I felt that I should lean into the part of me that trusts researchers who have devoted their lives to studying Covid, and doctors who have more experience than I do. So, I got vaccinated. Finally, after a long time, I felt safe.

Returning to Monarch for the 2021-2022 school year was strange. Instead of seeing the

“Finally, after a long time, I felt safe.” smiling faces I remembered from freshman year, now as a junior, I couldn’t see beneath others’ eyes. I couldn’t understand how people felt. I couldn’t tell when people were happy or sad.

For six months, I went to school without seeing anyone’s face. But then, in January of 2022, I got Covid. It wasn’t that bad for me. The worst came with a night or two of a high fever and an extremely sore throat, but that was it.

For others, it’s not the same. Others lost

sense of taste or smell. Others had a raging cough and could hardly breathe. And worst of all, others have been rushed to the hospital and weren’t strong enough to fight it. I’m lucky, but others aren’t so much.

When the Boulder mask mandate expired at 5 P.M. Friday, February 18, I was initially shocked and surprised. Covid was still raging and people were still getting sick.

The decision on whether to wear a mask to school was difficult. I had grown so accustomed to no one seeing my face. Wearing one now felt safe. It felt comfortable. And I noticed when taking it off, I became more insecure than I ever used to.

After days of contemplating what to do, I made the decision not to wear a mask. In hindsight, peer pressure played a role in my choice, but I was also tired of having fabric attached to my face for hours on end.

But, ultimately, I felt safe enough not to wear a mask.

I feel safe because I am vaccinated.

Sure, it’s your choice, but to me, medicine is a no brainer. I’ve been given no reason to mistrust it. And until I do, I choose to trust science. I respect others who choose to wear masks, and if they would like me to wear a mask around them, I will. I also respect others who choose not to wear masks or get vaccinated.

This pandemic has shown me that as human beings, we have many different perspectives, and that’s what makes us so interesting.

April 2022

23

YEARBOOK: $85 Fewer than 100 books remain for 2022