The Viewpoint November/December 2018 EXTRA

i V e h T

t n i o p ew Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2

November | December Eat your way through the holidays by baking these holiday cookies. See pages 11 and 12 for recipes.

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Give-a-Buck

Names with asterisks beside them need to contact Trisha Orndorff to collect their prize!

You can email at orndorfftl@ staffordschools.net, come to room 303 after school, or come to room 311 before school.

Abby Sussman Adriana Keane *Alexandra Steska* Alex Pritchard *Alyssa Endrizzi* Amanda Jackson *Amari Walker* Amy Ellis *Andrew Prickett*

Andrew Watson Anthony Solorzano Ashley Elliot Ashley Jackson Ashleigh Gray Audrey Sun Austin Molina Austin Butcher Avery Shover Ben Carthron Benjamin Boateng Beth Mowry *Bode Lindauer* Bonnie Adkins Brenda Piper Brennan Rhodes Bridget Gargin

e r u t a e F Figure

After saying a heartfelt goodbye to Katie Werner, the new assistant principal, Mrs. Sullivan, was welcomed with open arms. She came to Wildcat country from Rodney Thompson Middle School. Outside of Mountain View, Sullivan is busy with her 15-month-old daughter.

“She is into everything right now so she keeps

me very busy,” Sullivan said.

A few of her favorite hobbies include photography and watching football. She said, “Something weird I like to do is go out and find letters within nature.” She happens to have a picture hanging in her office which says “team” spelled out with letters in nature that she came across.

Coming to MV, Sullivan said she didn’t plan on entering the school with a list of things to change right away.

“There’s already so much to offer here at the View, and my goal isn’t to change it, but there always is room for growth and improvement. There is such a great culture and climate here, and the kids and staff are wonderful. I’m excited to see where I can fit in and where I can help while I’m here.”

According to Sullivan, the students are really important to her, and she always wants the best for them: “it’s important to me that the kids here get the education they need so they can graduate. As long as we support you here that’s all that matters.”

Working at a high school is a new experience for Sullivan.

She previously taught at an elementary school, moved to assistant principal at a middle school, and now she’s beginning her career at high school.

“I love it here. I love the high schoolers and staff here, everyone is so amazing,” Sullivan said. If you happen to see Mrs. Sullivan around school, be sure to give her a huge wildcat welcome!

Bryce Harding Bryce Piper Caitlin Mayer Caleigh Eberhart Callie Knight Carol Kabay Catherine Stumpf Danielle Evans *Cheyenne Barlow* Chris Knight Christina Clemens Claire Cebula Claire Watkins Cliff Davis Continued on page 5

Index

by Javonna Brigham

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Cover Advertisement Index Briefs Advertisement Fall sports recap Fall sports recap Fun facts Advertisement Climate change is...

Postcard pictures Home for the holidays

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13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Home for the holidays Mind maping Grow better More than an athlete More than an athlete ASMR Advertisement Party ideas

The Viewpoint NOVEMBER| DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME XIII ISSUE II Managing Editors Ruby Jackson Chloe Reid Extra Editor Lexi Strawder Social Media Editor Sophie Perez Copy Editor Danielle Piper Bella Roeske Photography Editor Gia Morreale Briefs Editor Selena Obregon Adviser Trisha Orndorff The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published

by Staples. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be submitted to room 303.

Staff Writers Brody Albertson, Javonna Brigham, Matthew D’Lugos, Emilee Holmquist, Lexi Jackson, Caroline Pollock, Victoria Rogers, Aisha Santiago-Burgos, Adam Skoloda, Jules Torrice, Damien Veal

Front Cover Ruby Jackson Chloe Reid

Party ideas Books turned into movies Books turned into movies Oh, Christmas tree

2014-2017 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2016 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper

2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556 index u november | december 2018 u the viewpoint u 03

What‘s Ne w at the Vi ew?

Charity Volleyball

By Sophie Perez

On November 27, Mountain View’s Wildcats Give Back Club held a charity volleyball game in support of breast cancer research.

“I decided to organize the game because it has always been a lot of fun for the students to play and to watch their friends play, but more importantly because it gives our club the opportunity to give back,” said senior Lainey Breland.

The game was a showdown between sixteen senior boys and members of the girls varsity volleyball team. The score was neck-to-neck between the opposing sides for the majority of the game, but the girls were able to secure the first and second matches.

As the third set began one of the announcers, Amari Walker, jokingly declared into the microphone that this set was going to be “winner takes all.” This seemed to give the boys team the extra push that they needed.

Remember Stan Lee

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By Brody Albertson

On November 12, 2018, the world lost a great author living in Los Angeles, California. The founder of Marvel Comics and the creator of some favorite superheroes. Stan Lee left a legacy to remember.

On December 28, 1922, Stanley Martin Lieber was born in New York City to Romanian immigrants Celia and Jack Lieber. Stanley Lieber shortened his last name to “Lee” as a writer and started working for Timely Comics in 1939. Timely Comics eventually turned into Marvel Comics in the 1960s in order to compete with their rival: DC Comics.

With the creation of the Fantastic Four, Stan Lee experienced his first taste of success. He then went on to create blockbuster superheroes, such as the Hulk, Spider-man, and Doctor Strange.

After Marvel Comics received a surge of support from fans, Lee was promoted to editorial director and publisher in 1972. Towards the end of his career, his work inspired the development of films including “Iron Man,” “Thor,” and “The Avengers” series, as he helped with almost all Marvel’s movie releases.

Whilst turning 90, Lee launched a YouTube channel in 2012 titled “Stan Lee’s World of Heroes.” It amassed over 659,000 subscribers.

After losing his wife in July 2017, his final accolade as a publisher was his release of the movie “Black Panther” in February of this year.

Junior Thomas Papsodero said, “It was sad. Actually heartbreaking. Myself and many kids alike grew up watching his comics come to life on screen. To think these stories were made by a normal man is fascinating.”

HOSA Christmas Tree By Aisha Santiago Burgos

On November 20, the Health Occupations of America, or HOSA Club, decorated a Christmas tree with pictures of animals from the Stafford animal shelter. This shelter is a no-kill shelter, so the goal is to help rehabilitate these animals. They are currently accepting donations for $1 or more, and after donating, the person can see exactly which animal will receive help from their money.

HOSA is currently partnered with the SPCA, which stands for Society Prevention Cruelty to Animals.

Medical teacher, Catherine Cherry, and the rest of HOSA enjoy their time helping animals living in the shelter. Cherry said, “It makes me very happy when my students get to see when their hard work pays off.”

Sophomore Rachel Castellon said, “Spreading this awareness and doing something to change the world is an accomplishment everyone should want to achieve in their everyday life. This makes me feel like an example to others to help and increase their participation in the world.”

The tree will be taken down after winter break, so make sure to stop by and put a donation in to help these loving animals during the holidays.

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*The names with astericks beside them should contact Trisha Orndorff to claim their prize! See page 3 for more information* Give-A-Buck continued..

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Keys of a Healthy Lifestyle The five aspects of living and leading a healthy lifestyle by Damien Veal | Artwork by Claire Johnson

Sleep

The body has an internal clock called the circadian rhythm; this is what tells our bodies to be active during the day and drowsy at night. By going to bed at a regular time and waking up around the same time, your body’s sleep schedule will adjust and it will naturally become easier to wake up and to fall asleep. Quality of sleep will drastically impact other aspects of your life from how you perform athletically to how well you can keep your emotions in check. Paula Horton, nurse at MVHS, said that people should strive for six to nine hours of sleep every night. A few tricks on getting a good night’s rest are lowering the room temp, avoiding mid-day naps, having a good half hour of time to relax before falling asleep, and exercising. A person should strive for a regular sleep schedule because quality sleep will improve other areas of life as well.

Fitness

When it comes to fitness it’s often thought that more is better.

Working out 24/7 must result in the perfect body because of how hard it’s being worked right? Well not exactly. exercise is always great, but too much can be harmful to the body. Overstressing muscles can lead from small injuries like pulls to major things such as tears. Elongated periods of working out are not optimal either. By working for hours without break the muscles become overwhelmed which can lead to rhabdomyolysis. This can lead to even bigger problems such as kidney failure. Be sure to space out workouts into one to two hour sessions and have eaten prior too and after. Horton says At least three hours a week are necessary to maintain current health and more than than that to improve. Not everyone’s workout regimen should be the same either. Your exercise circuit depends on your goals and how active you already are. Having not been fit for years and trying to jump into high intensity training isn’t a good idea, start off slowly and at your pace. Rest is just as important for the muscles as it allows them to recover and in turn grow stronger and more functional.

Social

Many people identify themselves as antisocial or an introvert.

But there are many reasons why living alone can be detrimental to not only one’s mental health, but their physical health as well.

According to anxietycanada.com having a better social life will greatly reduce stress and anxiety as friends act as “buffers” from low moods or feelings. Psychologist at MVHS Jodi Longwell says that our friends are our support group and having Few or no friends can lead into depression and feeling not accepted.

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"All five aspects influence each other" - Paula Horton, Nurse

What exactly makes up a healthy lifestyle?

Five of the most important aspects of a person’s life are their physical activity, sleep, mental health, food intake, and social life. These five aspects are interdependent of each other. By having poor sleep quality, it becomes harder to find the energy for exercise; if someone is eating poorly, then exercising will be futile to making changes for someone’s health. By not caring for one area, the others will suffer.

The main goal, of course, is to live life to its Mental health is a very important aspect of our fullest, but try to be healthy while doing so. lives. But as important as it is, it’s difficult to measure Start taking time out of your day to focus on mental health, and it’s subjective, varying from yourself and your well being. This does not person to person. Poor mental health can be caused mean sit in front of the TV and relax all day from other areas of life. Too little or even too much trying to “destress”. sleep can cause lethargy , and make everyday tasks Instead focus on things that could be clutmore difficult to complete. A poor social life will tering your life. Rome was not built in a day, so leave one with no support group to lift them up aftake things step by step. Start with small feasiter having a bad day. No one person’s life is the same ble things. Clean your room and let some light as another, meaning neither is their mindset. Horton in. Start a journal and air out your thoughts. Get said that people often fall into melancholy periods out of the house and spend some time with of life meaning their life seems more dull and they friends. Longwell said that these actions have are more down or sad than usual. This is a normal a “snowball effect.” By starting and achieving thing as long as it does not affect the day-to-day life small goals, you will have more confidence too drastically. “It’s easier for a pessimist to fall into a going forth to make even bigger, more promdepression than it is an optimist,” said Horton. Some inent changes in your life. Things like eating people are just always more reserved and less outhealthier, exercising more often and being going than others, but with more friends comes a more outgoing aren’t easily done. Nevertheless, larger support group to fall upon. These ‘melancholy by building this confidence you will, in fact, be periods’ usually occur during colder seasons due to able to achieve these goals. the outside temperature making it harder for people Living healthier doesn’t mean you shouldn’t to do outside activities. be able to ever have enjoy what you want.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite. by being more physically fit you will have more energy throughout the day. By being more social you will have more friends to rely on through tough situations. Having a better mentality by being Common thought is that there are three main meal more optimistic and having a positive outlook times in a day: breakfast,lunch, and dinner, with some on life. snacks in between. Often people believe that eating less is good for you. In reality you should aim to eat every 2-3 hours . Eating doesn’t mean you have to have a complete meal every two hours but some sort of healthy snack. By only eating three times a day your body automatically will enter a state of “survival” by starving your body and in turn it will create and store fat. By eating more often your body’s metabolism will increase and burn calories quicker than by spacing meals out for hours at a time.

When beginning to diet, people often decide they must cut all sugar or all carbs from their diet., Why? Carbs are a main source of energy; cutting these from your nutrition will leave you tired and confused as to why nothing is changing. Instead of focusing on how many calories you are eating and which foods are fatfree and gluten-free, begin with cutting out the foods you know you shouldn’t be eating: the junk foods, the foods that have no benefit to your health other than filling you up. Sugars are the main enemy of healthy eating, with research from Connecticut College showing that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. However, avoiding all sugars is seemingly impossible. Sodas, juices, desserts, and sweet teas are all holders of empty calories and no real nutritional value. By avoiding these you will dramatically experience a drop in sugar and caloric intake leading to a healthier lifestyle

Mental Health

"Start With small feasible goals to build confidence"- Jodi Longwell Psychologist

Nutrition

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Christmas Movie Reviews

Grab your fuzzy blankets and popcorn, and cozy up in front of the TV as you prepare to watch these Christmas classics by Sophie Perez

E.l.f: Although the holidays are a time meant for cheer and celebration, it can be easy to fall victim to the winter blues.

Whether you’ve got exams to study for or last minute presents to buy, take a break and focus on the funny with the feel good movie ELF. The film follow the adventures of Buddy the elf; an orphaned human who was carried off to the north pole where he gets brought up by actual elves. Fitting in with the elves doesn’t always come easy to buddy, especially where size and toy making abilities are concerned. This eventually leads Buddy on a journey to New York City to find his real dad.

The Bishop’s Wife: If you’re looking for a more classic Christmas story, The Bishop’s wife might be the movie for you. Bishop Henry Brougham is attempting, and failing, to get a cathedral built. Naturally, he prays for a solution and is answered when an angel named Dudley comes to offer him guidance. Henry is skeptical of Dudley at first, and soon becomes annoyed with him as he integrates himself into Henry’s family and business lives. The story reflects a smooth balance of common holiday frustrations and happy endings while incorporating its own twist.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Maybe you’re someone who would choose carving pumpkins over making gingerbread houses anyday. No worries, there’s a movie for you too. The Nightmare Before Christmas dives into the life of Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king whose growing bored with his spooky routine. At just the right time, Jack stumbles upon Christmas Town, and decides that Christmas is his new calling.

As could be expected from someone of Jacks nature, he has some questionable ways about taking over his new holiday of choice.

A Christmas story: Chances are you’ve heard the phrase, “You’ll shoot your eye out kid.” This iconic line comes from the movie A Christmas Story. Nine year old Ralphie Parker deals with the same struggles plenty of movie characters his age face including a doting mother, a sargent like father, and a neighborhood bully.

The way he navigates these struggles and the circumstances he finds himself in along the way however, are humorously unique. Follow along as Ralphie experiences getting his tongue stuck to a frozen pole, a kid brother so bundled up in snow gear he cant move his arms, and a leg lamp all while striving for his dream Christmas present.

The Holiday: Maybe you’re looking for something a little more romantic this holiday season.

If that’s the case, try giving The Holiday a try.

After a rough breakup, England native Iris agrees to swap homes with California native Amanda who is having an equally rough time where love is concerned. Although the goal for these two characters was to get a break from relationships, new romance is exactly what’s waiting for them. Unfortunately, it isn’t all smooth sailing for Amanda, Iris, Miles, and Graham who are their respective love interests this holiday season. Some scenes could get any true romantic teary eyed, but a heartfelt ending saves the day.

The Polar Express: Step back into your childhood with this classic tale of friendship and adventure. At some point in most children’s lives, there comes a point where the question’ “Is Santa Claus actually real?” looms over their head. This is true for the Polar expresses main character anyways. That is until he’s picked up by a mysterious train one night and whisked off to the North Pole, along with others his age. On the train, the children are serenaded with songs about hot chocolate and served by exuberant waiters, but things take a turn for the worst when the mains characters new friend accidentally lets her golden ticket fly out the window.

This ticket is necessary for their adventure, and some risks are necessary to get it back.

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Holiday Cookie Recipes Munch your way to the holidays with these cookie recipes

by Lexi Strawder and Gia Morreale | Photos by Gia Morreale

Gingerbread Cookies

Recipe by Mitzi Sentiff, published on Taste of Home

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/3 cup molasses 1 large egg 2 tablespoons water 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions 1.) Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and water. In another bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients minus frosting; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes.

2.) Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.

3.) Bake until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost as desired.

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Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe by Jill Saunders, published on Allrecipes

Directions

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

"Every other christmas I go to Minnesota to visit my family and we bake like 100 sugar cookies and decorate them together” -Junior Maddy Schossow

1.) In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

2.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3.) Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Royal icing

Recipe by Alton Brown, published on Food Network

Ingredients

3 ounces pasteurized egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions 1.) In large bowl of stand mixer combine the egg whites and vanilla and beat until frothy.

2.) Add confectioners’ sugar gradually and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny. Turn speed up to high and beat until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks. This should take approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

3.) Add food coloring, if desired. For immediate use, transfer icing to pastry bag or heavy duty storage bag and pipe as desired. If using storage bag, clip corner. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

"Every year around Christmas, my family all comes over and we make peanut butter blossom cookies together" - JUNIOR Bella Merendino

Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe published on NYT Cooking

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 4 ounces (1 stick) butter, at room temperature ½ cup smooth peanut butter ½ cup granulated sugar, more for rolling ½ cup light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Nonstick spray or vegetable oil for cookie sheet, optional 5 dozen (one 11-ounce package) Hershey’s Kisses, foil removed

Directions

1.) Sift together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing thoroughly. If the dough is very soft, refrigerate for about 1 hour.

2.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray, oil or line a cookie sheet with nonstick liner and set aside. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. (For a precise number of cookies, divide the dough into 5 pieces, and shape each piece into 12 balls.)

3.) Roll cookies in sugar and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake until very light brown and puffed, 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove sheet from oven and lightly press a candy kiss into center of each cookie, allowing it to crack slightly. Return to oven until light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven, cool completely and store in an airtight container.

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Test Prep Putting down phones and picking up books for better ways to study by Matthew D’Lugos Studying for tests and quizzes starts way before you even know you'll have a test. Good study techniques begin in the classroom as you take notes. Note taking is a way of remembering what you were taught or what you've read about.

Some keys to note taking are to write down facts that a teacher mentions or writes on the board during class. If you miss something, ask your teacher to go over the facts with you after class.

Keep your notes organized by subject and make sure they're easy to read and review. This may mean that you need to recopy some notes at home, or during a free period while the class is still fresh in your mind.

Unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach you how to take notes, but some teachers will help. When it comes to taking good notes, it can take some experimenting to figure out what works. “Learning how to take was difficult especially when we were learning new stuff,” explaims Sophomore Anna Florio When you sit down to study, think about how much time you want to put aside for each topic. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed.

Another study technique is called "chunking" which is breaking large topics down into chunks. This is used so your brain isn’t being overwhelmed with information.

Most people can concentrate for about 45 minutes.

After that, you'll probably want to take a short break. If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things as you study, pull your attention back.

You can remind yourself that when your 45 minutes of studying are up, you can take a 15-minute break Many teachers tell students ahead of time what the format of an exam will be. This can help you figure out how you study for that test. For example, if you know you're going to have multiple-choice questions, you'll know to focus on studying facts and details. But if the exam will contain essay questions, you'll want to think about which topics are most likely to be covered. Then come up with possible essay topics and use your notes and books to figure out how you might answer questions on those topics.

As you study, review your notes and any important information from your textbook. Read things several times if you need to, and write down any phrases or thoughts that will help you remember main ideas. “I sometimes have to go back and re-read because I miss things in class,” says Freshman Emory Harshman.

When trying to memorize dates, names, or other factual information keep in mind that it usually takes a number of tries to remember something correctly.

That's one reason why it's a good idea to start studying ahead of time. Use special memory triggers that the teacher may have suggested or ones that you make up yourself.

In the case of math or science problems or equations, do some practice problems. Pay special attention to anything the teacher seemed to stress in class.

Some people find it helpful to teach what they're

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studying out loud to an imaginary student, or work with a study partner and take turns teaching aloud.

Another study technique is making flashcards that summarize some of the important facts, and you can use these to review for a test. “Flash cards have helped me a lot through high school,” states Sophomore Savana Cole It's tempting to put off studying until the last minute. Unfortunately, by the time students get to high school, there's so much going on that there’s usually no room for procrastination.

If you're a procrastinator, one of the best ways to overcome it is by staying organized. After you've written test dates and other due dates on a calendar, it's hard to ignore them, and sitting down to organize and plan your work shows how much time things take. The organization makes it harder to procrastinate.

Sometimes people put off studying because they feel overwhelmed by the fact that they're behind on things or they just feel really disorganized. Keep your notes organized, stay on top of work, and follow the other study tips mentioned earlier to stay focused and in control. Your teachers will give you plenty of notice on important tests, so you have enough time to study for the type of test you'll be taking.

Don't wait until the last minute to talk to your teachers, or you'll just look like a procrastinator, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Teachers respect students who are thoughtful and interested in learning and doing well.

Sometimes it can be useful to go over things with people who are studying for the same test. You can make sure that your notes are correct and that you understand the subject. Study groups are also helpful because you can work together to come up with ways to remember information.

For some people who are easily distracted, study groups aren’t very good because they get off the topic. When you're with friends or classmates, you may spend more time hanging out than actually studying.

One way to make sure you are quiet and focused when studying with a group is to study in the library.

You'll feel forced to keep things more low key than if you're at someone's house.

In the end, it comes down to what works best for you. If you like to study alone and feel most confident doing it that way, that's great. If you think you'd like to work in a group, try it out just be aware of the things that can go wrong.

When you've finished studying, you should feel like you can approach the test or quiz with confidence, not exactly what you will get 100% on the test, but that you have a good idea what the information on the test is going to be.

Most of all, don't panic if you can't remember some facts the night before the test. Even if you've spent all night studying, the brain needs time to take in all that information.

What your phone says about you Take this quiz to find out more about yourself based on your cell

by Javonna Brigham

What is your most used app?

1.) Snapchat

1.) Less than an hour

2.) Messages

2.) 1-4 hours

3.) Youtube

How do you prefer talking to people?

1.) Facetime

Do you keep your phone on you 24/7?

2.) Nope, what for?

3.) Snapping

1.) Does your phone easily distract you?

1.) Yes all the time

3.) Somestimes, it depends

How long could you go without using your phone?

1.) MAYBE an hour

2.) No, never

2.) A day

3.) Sometimes yes, sometimes no

You are a phone addict!

You’re clearly obsessed with nothing much more than your phone. Social media, music, games, whatever it may be you’re on your phone doing it. According to psychalive.org, cell phone addiction isn’t a diagnosed problem yet, but it does resemble and addiction like gambling.

3.) 5+hours 1.) Yes, duh

2.) Texting

Mostly 1’s

How much time do you spend on your phone?

3.) Easily a week+

Mostly 2’s

You like your phone, but it’s possible that you can live without it. Most of our society is like this nowadays.

Having a phone is fun to you but if you didn’t have it, your life wouldn’t be over. “I love spending time on my phone, but I’m not always on it because I really like to sleep,” says junior Maggie Hanse.

Mostly 3’s

You may have a phone but it’s no necessity. Maybe you use it once in a while when important. This means you’re more social, and your life is not your phone.

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Are you scared yet?

You might be more than just afraid of something. Understand why

by Javonna Brigham | photos by Wiki

Spiders, judgement, and public transportation may have more in common than you might think. An object or situation you dread, and get anxiety simply just thinking about is considered a phobia. According to Medicalnewstoday.com, an estimated 19 million Americans have a phobia. These fears are defined as “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.” There are three categorized types of phobias: specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.

Specific Phobias Spiders, judgement, and public transportation may have more in common than you might think. An object or situation you dread, and get anxiety simply just thinking about is considered a phobia. According to Medicalnewstoday.com, an estimated 19 million Americans have a phobia. These fears are defined as “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.” There are three categorized types of phobias: specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.

Social Phobias Insecurities and the feelings of inferiority have a great abundance within social phobias. This may also be referred to as social anxiety disorder. “I have anxiety, so dealing with people and crowds is always a huge dread for me,” says sophomore Brigette Desotell. Having to deal with this fear can cause great strain on everyday life. It can lead you to avoid even simple interactions with the people you work or go to school with comes with the fear of making a mistake and then being judged by others. With any phobia, you can suffer physical effects when encountering what you’re afraid of. When dealing with social phobias, you may experience panic attacks, lightheadedness, and uncontrollable blushing. Treatment may come in handy if you have serious social phobias. Seeking out a therapist can help lessen, and maybe even cure your social phobias. However, if left untreated, your fears can lower self-esteem and increase isolation, hypersensitivity, and poor social skills.

Agoraphobia Similar to social phobias, agoraphobia is also anxiety-related. With this phobia, you live with dread of an anticipated action. “I have a fear of getting kidnapped,” says junior Angel Nguyen. Basically, it’s being in fear of a situation where escaping could be a difficult task.

It is hard for you to feel comfortable or safe when you’re in public, especially when you are alone. This condition can become so severe that it begins to confine you to your house. You might not have this as bad when you’re out at the store persay. Instead, it could be a situation such as a movie theater, or being on public transportation, aka: more enclosed spaces. Signs and symptoms of agoraphobia are also common within the previously mentioned phobias. Feelings of panic, worry, and fear come with being in these social situations. You may begin to sweat, feel nauseous, or feel lightheaded. This is more common than one might think, many people have a heavy fear of elevators, an agoraphobia in common everyday life.

There are ways to get over these fears, whether it be with the help of a therapist, or a journey one makes on their own. A common piece of advice is to simply “face your fears,” which scientifically is called “self-exposure therapy.” Doing so is definitely a helpful chance at overcoming what you’re fearful of. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come that easily to everyone. The help of a professional may be needed. Then, you may be prescribed medicine, such as antidepressants. If a serious phobia is untreated, it is possible that a life could be affected in a beyond negative way. Sweeping a phobia under the rug could cause mental health to deteriorate.

It is an unfortunate possibility that suicide may occur if a phobia continually takes over one’s life. Phobias are common in the world. Sometimes you grow out of them, other times you may grow into them.

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Cursing in the Halls

Cursing in school is not tolerate but to some students it may just be a way of self expression

by Jules Torrice Photos by Jules Torrice and Wikimedia

Any school official do not like to hear curse words coming from the mouth of middle schoolers, high schoolers, or even college students.

Cursing to student is just a way of expressing a feeling, but one’s English teacher will think a student are being rude by uttering hateful words.

According to The New Republic, curse words originated from languages with a Germanic background. It is believed these came into the English language from the Dutch in the 1500’s. In 2018, the swear words we hear come from parents, television shows, movies, off the streets, and even in books. Kids are supposed to grow by learning fundamentals and understanding their surroundings, so they are most likely going to develop a relationship with swear words. “Yeah, Everyone I know swears. It just comes natural I guess,” Elijah , sophomore.

Personally, I don’t mind swear words; however, there is a limit. School officials, which may include the principals, vice principals, teachers, janitors, and counsellors prefer not to hear swear words. School officials can hear the harsh language in the halls or classrooms. Upon hearing these words, teachers might say “Language please.” If someone is belligerent, a teacher might ask them to politely stop or invite the principal in for a discussion about the choice of words. This is where my opinion reaches its limit.

Deliberate and cursing a student, or worse, a teacher out, that shouldn’t be tolerated. “Excessive swearing in front of teachers is impolite. It is simple to just think of any other word in the English dictionary. If someone were to cuss it would depend on how comfortable they feel, but personally I would never swear in front of a teacher,” Emma Reid, sophomore.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), the policy of swearing intentionally without stopping after a reminder equals in-school

suspension. Swearing repeatedly with intent to upset people, or swearing at a school official could lead to a suspension.

There is a similar policy in schools about what language is acceptable and what language is not according to the administration. Beyond the standards laid out by school policy, some teachers personally demand students in their classroom to stop with the foul language. Recently, I experienced a teacher t enforcing rule to foul language. The student was talking to two of her friends and got overly excited and let a word slip.

It was loud enough for the teacher to hear, so the student was taken to the hall and given a warning. “I shouldn’t be tolerated,” Sharon McCamy, Honors 10 English Teacher.

Overall, it is impolite to swear at any school official, but this shouldn’t mean you can’t swear ever. I believe it is self expression. One can cuss for many reasons, from being in pain, to getting overly excited. Then again, you probably don’t want to get hurt or excited in front of a teacher. For me, it comes naturally because I have grown up in a household where cussing is used as a form of anger and excitement. A few of my friends and I are not really allowed to cuss in front of my parents. I also don’t cuss in front of my teachers because it would get me into trouble. The only time I truly swear is when I get excited around my friends. I’ll let out a few cuss words here or there, and especially when I am either upset or hurt, I will drop the f-bomb under my breathe. It’s just a way of expressing happiness, sadness, and excessive anger. This language shouldn’t be taken away from me because it is perceived as hateful words, but as I said, there are limits.

Cursing in the halls of a school can be tolerated, as long as your intentions are good.

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Superstitions So far, Stafford has used three snow days, limiting the amount left until students are required to make up lost days. There’s also been wintery weather this year already, and the cold is projected to stay until February. The weather is difficult to predict so far in advance, but according to AccuWeather’s 2018-2019 forecast, students and teachers can likely expect a few more snow days after winter break.

Does putting a spoon under your pillow always make it snow the next day or does it actually jinx it? Jinxing is a bad omen, which it has a meaning to subject bad luck, so when you jinx something you’re sending bad luck. According to Grave Haven Tribune, this superstition goes back to early colonial America. As stated in the legend, putting a spoon under your pillow will confuse the snow gods, causing them to send a blanket of snow your way. Families that have done this show their kids and keep the tradition alive. There is no actual scientific proof of this superstition, but it is a well known legend that many people still follow.

Do you flush ice cubes down the toilet? Many people do this superstition because it has worked in their favor in the past so they keep doing it. According to USC Digital Folklore Archives, the more people that flush ice cubes down the toilet the more likely it will cause a snow day the next morning. They say they use ice cubes because since snow freezes and so do ice cubes, they thought it went well together. It is a well known folk belief that is started as a child when you live in a place where snow is common to fall, they use these folk beliefs to see if they can get a day out of school the next day. It is often continued for a few years but then given up on when they stop to believe in those types of superstitions.

Flickr

Pixabay

Pixabay

Jinxing is a bad omen, which it has a meaning to subject bad luck, so when you jinx something you’re sending bad luck. Michelle Stambaugh, history teacher, said, “I would not check the school website because if I checked it, I thought I would jinx it.” A lot of teachers and students who want a snow day say for you to not talk about the snow that could possibly come and to not check the weather or website because you might end up jinxing it. Sophomore Laura Peterson said, “ I don’t think that this is accurate. Weather is very unpredictable, and is not changed due to human actions.”

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u november | december 2018 u feature

Snow DaySeason

Prepare for and enjoy upcoming snow days

by Aisha Santiago Burgos and Danielle Piper

Paint or draw the scenery Finish up any homework or get ahead in class Go for a walk and take cute pictures Build a snowman Cozy up with a hot drink Read a chapter or two Snow days are alright. The snow is not my favorite, but the day off is really nice.

I usually get to sleep in, I go outside in the snow just to see if it’s enjoyable snow, and then I just get some coffee to warm me up.

-Haydn Warren, sophomore I like snow days. I make up from all my sleep deprivation and after I do that, I eat fruit. I love snow, it’s amazing, and I like to play in it.

- Nathan Dawson, junior

I like to bake. I bake a lot of cookies; lots and lots of cookies. I bake, I play with my cat, I don’t change out of my pajamas, and I watch a lot of Netflix; specifically the “Great British Baking Show” and “Bigmouth.” I love snow days!

I stand by snow days. I support them.

I wish we had more of them. I wish I could control the weather and make it snow.

- Beth Mowry, junior

Clean around the house or do any chores Have a snow fight with your family Bake some sweet treats. Check out page ( ) for some holiday cookie recipes feature u november | december 2018 u the viewpoint u 17

Holiday Spirit Common things that family and friends do to show their holiday spirit by Aisha Santiago Burgos

Many people show their holiday spirit in different ways. One very common way families and friends show their spirit is by doing some charity work. This can mean volunteering at a local soup kitchen such as St. Peter’s Community Food Pantry in Stafford. You can also feed the homeless or possibly adopt a family for Christmas and in that way you can support a low-income family and provide them with resources that they need. When you do charity work during the holidays, you can positively affect other people’s lives by making their holidays more cheerful . Helping others during this season is a great way for you to donate your time.

English teacher Sharon McCamy said, “ I always go out and help out get food to people and help deliver food to people who can’t go get any.” For someone who can’t afford to get a meal or buy a gift because they aren’t in a good position financially, they feel happy to just be receiving a warm meal for the holidays. By volunteering during these times, you can really impact a family and help them have a good Christmas.

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A very popular thing to do over the holidays is to decorate your house for Christmas. You can hang lights outside and put your stockings and your tree up. A lot of people show their spirit through decorating because it gives them a chance to celebrate the way they want. Families like to decorate together because it’s a good way for them to spend quality time.

Nilah Williamson, sophomore, said, “We wear ugly sweaters, decorate our house; we have different themes every year, and we DIY a lot of our Christmas stuff.” Showing your spirit can be done in many different ways but decorating is a very common way that people show their holiday spirit.

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Baking

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The cookies are a very important concept during this season. Some people decide to buy them, but many families decorate and bake their own cookies. They create shapes and styles like Santa, a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree, reindeer, and more. There are many different ways you can decorate your cookies, but decorating them like Santa’s helpers Some people bake cookies for their family and friends, and some bake them to put in front of the tree for Santa.

Regarding her holiday traditions, math teacher Stephanie Lyon said, “Decorate after Thanksgiving. Watch Elf, and make cookies [on] Christmas Eve.” Elf is a very well known movie that is played to put people into the holiday spirit and to remind them that Christmas is almost here. The Hallmark channel, gets you going, with all types of Christmas movies ranging from old movies up to new movies that are now coming out.

Baking is an amazing way to have fun and get into the spirit of Christmas.

Open:

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Monday 11AM–11PM Tuesday 11AM–11PM Wednesday 11AM–11PM Thursday 11AM–2AM Friday 11AM–2AM Saturday 11AM–2AM Sunday 9AM–11PM

(540) 370-1820

Address: 4001 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Open: Monday1 10AM–9PM Tuesday 10AM–9PM Wednesday 10AM–9PM Thursday 10AM–9PM Friday 10AM–9PM Saturday 10AM–9PM Sunday 11AM–7PM Number to Call: (540) 786-5090

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Going against the grain Before you go and get that bread, consider the health effects that gluten has to offer

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read, pasta, salad dressing, malt, and food coloring all have one thing in common: they all contain gluten. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, “[is] a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye.” Medical News Today explains that gluten is composed of two major proteins: glutenin and gliadin. But what exactly is gluten responsible for?

Medical News Today said, “When flour is mixed with water, the gluten proteins form a sticky network that has a glue-like consistency.” Gluten allows the dough to have an elastic consistency, as well as rise to its baked form.

People have followed the strict gluten free diet by using alternatives, such as almond and buckwheat flour in their recipes. But how exactly did this become a trend? Aside from making a healthy choice by using gluten free flour, the other majority of people follow this strict diet since their bodies do not tolerate gluten very well.

Senior Meghan Wiley said,

“Gluten is generally hard to break down for everyone, and is 20 u the viewpoint

by Lexi Strawder

put into pretty much everything which makes it hard for people to realize they are eating it and understand that it can be bad.”

As a result to the sensitivity of this protein, people can develop gastrointestinal symptoms, dermatitis herpetiformis, and non-celiac sensitivity.

The most common gluten sensitivity is known as celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the proteins found in foods that contain gluten.

Wiley, who suffers from celiac disease, said, “For me, gluten breaks down the villi in my small intestine making it impossible for my body to absorb any nutrients. This causes me to get really sick and can lead to worse things like cancer or other diseases. The gene can be turned on at any point in your life.

For some people, it’s as soon as they are born, but others, like me, get it later in life. I was 14 when I got it.”

The Mayo Clinic supports Wiley’s explanation of the biological effects that gluten has on the lower intestines: “when the body’s immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the

u november | december 2018 u feature

reaction damages the tiny, hair-like projections (villi) that line the small intestine. Villi absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If your villi are damaged, you can’t get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.”

Even though according to Life Science, “The researchers estimated that 1.76 million people in the U.S. have celiac disease.” This only makes up about one percent of Americans that are clinically diagnosed.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of celiac disease include anemia, osteoporosis, skin rash, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, trouble with digestion, headaches, joint pain, neurological symptoms, or even delayed puberty in teenagers. Long-term risk factors include, “Type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome or Turner syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease, microscopic colitis (lymphocytic or collagenous colitis), Addison’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, malnutrition, loss of bone density, infertility/miscarriage, lactose intolerance, cancer, or other neurological problems.”

Even though the percentage of those affected by celiac disease is fairly small, everyone’s’ small intestine struggles to break down the protein found in gluten. To avoid the possibility of these symptoms associated with celiac disease, attempt a gluten free diet for a healthier lifestyle.