Issuu

MARCH 2022

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WestminsterChristianAcademy

STAFF

MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF MAGGIE LINDSTROM, SENIOR

Students

EDITOR: 800 SPORTING BROOKE HIGHMARK, SENIOR

CONTENT EDITOR EMMA HARRIS, SENIOR

Serving

BROADCAST LEADER IZZY TROST, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ABBY JOHLERT, SENIOR

Students

BROADCAST LEADER TRISTON SCALES, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ANNA FREGENE, SENIOR

FEATURE EDITOR

PAWPRINT LIAISON

ELLIE JONES, SENIOR

HOPE LINAM, SENIOR

Staff Writer

STAFF WRITER

RILEY HEIRONIMUS, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ALEX WITTENAUER, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANNA GRACE LIKES, JUNIOR

SYDNEY BRADLEY, JUNIOR

ALLI BISHOP, JUNIOR

MIA SCHEULEN, JUNIOR

AMILA PIERIS, SOPHO-

DREW CAHILL, SOPHOMORE

EVAN KOHN, SENIOR

JACOB BROWN, SENIOR

ELIJAH SCHMIDT, FRESH-

LUCY KNERR, SOPHO-

WILL DANA, SOPHOMORE

WILLIAM JINKINS,

LUKE RYAN, JUNIOR

SAYVA PHILIPS , SENIOR

NOLAN JONES, SENIOR

MADDOX ROSENBERG, SOPHO-

POPPY MCCAULEY, SOPHOMORE

MEGAN MOREY, SENIOR

LAUREN BORCHELT, SENIOR

CHRISTINA ENGLISH, JUNIOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE

ASKING PEOPLE AGES 6-71 THEIR BEST LIFE ADVICE PG. 6-7 STAND WITH UKRAINE PG. 9 REMEMBERING “LI LAOSHI” PG. 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH GAS PRICES PG. 11 THE EVOLUTION OF STYLE PG. 13 IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS PG. 14-15

OPINION

EMBODYING VULNERABILITY PG. 8 THE PROBLEM WITH FAMILY YOUTUBERS PG. 12

SPORTING

SQUASH- MORE THAN A FOOD PG. 17 DEFINED BY MORE THAN A SCORE PG. 18 KEEP BOYS AND GIRLS SEPERATE PG. 19 GYBORG CATS PG. 20 THE GOLDEN YEAR PG. 21 ENERGY DRINKS GOOD OR BAD? PG. 22 THE GUYS WEARING STRIPES PG. 23

STAFF ED A Time Of Grief Loss falls like a weighted blanket upon a feeble body, smothering it in its wrath. Everywhere the eyes look, the darkness abounds, shielding them from the light outside. It’s the little absences that get you, the little spaces where something should be and it’s simply not anymore. It’s like opening the curtains in the morning expecting the light to ﬂood in only to be met with a pitch black world. The absence can be like the sky, as CS Lewis describes, spread over everything. Where grief sludges its monstrous body along, anger and a plethora of questions are led in a tight tow. The anger springs from the dirt of loss like an invasive species. Why? Why, God? How could you do this? Where have you gone? The questions pester your every day, your every move. They poke and prod, demanding answers they will likely never get. The absence of answers can almost seem as leaden and as noisome as the absence whatever you lost. The grief and anger of loss is heavy, and perhaps they are something that you will never fully recover from. Perhaps they will follow you around until the day you part from the earth and you will never ‘get over it’. But perhaps you shouldn’t futaly try to fully get over it, but allow it to change you for the better, let it make you a more empathetic person. Let the grief soften your heart. You may never be the same as you once were, but such is the nature of life, and perhaps it is for the best. “I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.” But I will

From 800 news

say this: shed the tears you have and forge forward. For there is no end to grief-- it will always be there, if not upon you then waiting around the corner. But love will not let you go into that black night alone. Where there is grief, there is love; where there is a shadow, there must be a light nearby. We must seek out the light as much as we can, we must be able to see the beauty amongst the despair. Take solace, for you will learn to live with the absences, and despite the ever present absence, you will become whole again. The grief may never grow smaller, but you will grow bigger. One day, you will grow strong enough to lift that blanket and let the light stream in. You must have courage and faith.

“Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

STAFF ED

5-75 ANSWER A SIMPLE LIFE QUESTION

People ages 5-75 who are connected to and part of the Westminster community were all asked the very same question--and all of them answered differently.

ANNA GRACE LIKES STAFF WRITER

“What’s your best piece of life advice?” It’s a simple question, but would you know your answer? Based on one’s experiences, this answer changes vastly depending on the person answering it. Everyone has a different childhood, a different family life, different experiences, and a different number of years on this earth. Even though each of these people are in some way tied to the Westminster community, that certainly does not mean they have all had the same relationships, stories, and struggles. Some grew up in a small town, some in a big city, and some have not even fully “grown up.” But whether someone has suffered trials or lived a fairly trouble-free life, each experience from each person offers an opportunity to learn and grow and apply those lessons to one’s own life.

What is your best piece of life advice? Laiyla Roff, 6: “Stay safe by trusting God.” Fisher Knerr, 13: “Don’t care what other people think of you.” Chase Borage, 15: “I would say to stay grounded in the word and surround yourself with people who will lead you in the ways of Christ. Because, if you have God as your rock, what is able to move you?” Natalie Klein, 16: “I like to think that life gets better. Where you are now isn’t where you’re going to be in a year, or even a week. You’re not held to what happens in the past or present, and growth comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You are not your past actions, but who you make yourself.” Sydney Wurdack, 18: “Live one day at a time with everything going on. It can be easy to get down and be stuck in the past but we all gotta keep going.” Brooke Lemp, 22: First things first. It’s important to manage time and prioritize what needs to be done first. Elizabeth Schmidt, 24: “Your time is limited, don’t spend it living someone else’s life.”

Image by: Anna Grace Likes

Aaron Vossen, 28: “BE HONEST. So much of our troubles today can stem back to not being honest. Not being honest with ourselves, with others, and ultimately not being honest with God. Also, some of the deepest wounds come from when others aren’t honest with us.” Allison Pautler, 36: “Spend time every morning in God’s Word and in prayer. It is by far the very best way to start your day! And find good friends who will hold you accountable and help you grow!” Brian Maloy, 36: “Find things to be grateful for every day.” Kyle Roff, 37: “You reap what you sow, you become what you spend your time doing.” Kable Cunningham, 38: “In short, Feed your faith and starve your temptations. In long, set yourself up for lasting success in this life and the life to come. Surround yourself with God’s truth and seek to live God’s truth out in obedience to Him. Dig into a church community, be willing to be vulnerable and share life with others, study God’s Word, listen to the preaching of God’s Word. Pray! Just keep praying! And say no to sin. Run from it, flee! I think all too often we “play with fire”, we forget how serious and deadly sin is and let it hang around us, or keep it around cause it makes us feel good in the moment. But sin is so empty and only and always leads to death and destruction, except for the grace of God.” Dan Burke, 38: Don’t be afraid to embrace responsibility for things that God has deemed to be good. Heather Marsee, 40: “Be fully present -- wherever you are, be all there.”

Ken Wolfe, 52: “a. ‘There are no solutions, there are only trade-offs.’ - Thomas Sowell, American economist. If you’re looking for the perfect solution or panacea to a problem, you must realize that there is no such perfection. When you realize that you must make trade-offs to gain the progress you desire, then it frees you to move forward. Seeking perfection can stump a person. This leads me to the next bit: b. “Everything costs something.” - everything that you seek to do, have, or be has a cost. The cost can simply be time or attention, could be money or resources, might be wear & tear on one’s body, could be the loss of opportunity or experience, might be forsaking a different path of life. For example, ballet dancers create such artistry, but their feet pay a price. Leaders may affect great positive change in the world but they sometimes pay at the expense of personal life/relationships. The pursuit of fame might cost the peace of anonymity and normality. Even if one devotes one’s life to Jesus, then there will be the cost of living differently and possibly withKaren Pollack, 49: “Treat all people as image-bearers of God. out some of what the world promotes as enjoyable. On the Recognizing that all people are made in God’s image impacts other hand, those very ways of living promoted by the world that seem so free in the moment can have a tremendous and all of our relationships. God puts people in our lives for a direly dear cost in the end. No matter what it is one chooses, purpose; it’s often the people who are most different from it will have a cost. Just like the previous bit by Mr. Sowell, if us that we learn from the most. One of my favorite quotes is from C.S. Lewis, ‘There are no ordinary people. You have one understands this then it can make it easier to move forward wisely and to look back on one’s choices without regret never talked to a mere mortal.’” (or, at least, less of it). To that end, ‘Trust God, and floss.’” Jason Wilkins, 42: “Ecclesiastes [1:13-15] says, “All things are full of weariness; a man can not utter it...it is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man...all is vanity and a striving after wind.” Life in this broken world sucks. It sucks so much that there are days you will hardly be able to take it. It’s okay to feel that way. But despair kills. You will either give up on life altogether, or you will find hope somewhere. There are small things that make life worth living, and God says our suffering is not in vain. As cliche as it sounds, figure out what it means when Jesus promises hope and life. Apart from Him, all is meaningless and despair. It won’t be easy. It will be confusing. But, Peter said, “where else will I go? For you alone have the words of life.” Where will you go? Where is life in the midst of this s[...]hole we call earth? One place. In one person. Jesus of Nazarath. God made flesh.

John Sarra, 50: “Don’t ask ‘Can I…?’, ask ‘What if…?’ That question forces you to think, to dream, to anticipate what might come next. And it helps you to take responsibility for it. It’s a good way to take risks and try new things!” Kim Graham, 50: 1. Problems and burdens of any kind always seem more overwhelming in the night when you’re tired. I make it a practice never to text back/email back/call back or make important decisions when it’s late. Let important matters wait until the light of day--when your thinking and perspective are much more clear and your energy fresh. 2. Another piece of guidance I’ve received over the years is the importance of “just showing up”--the value of faithfully committing to a group or an activity. My husband calls this concept, ‘The Rewards of the Faithful.’ You don’t know if a particular church sermon, or optional lecture, or chapel, or concert, or sports event is going to be amazing before you attend. You may not know if it will be ‘worth your time.’ Sometimes it won’t, I suppose, and you’ll think: ‘I could have done x or y.’ But, if you faithfully show up--faithfully attend church, for instance, or FCA or anything else you’ve deemed valuable--you will most certainly reap the rewards of being a part of some amazing experiences that cannot be replicated--experiences no one could have specifically anticipated and or guaranteed in advance would be so life-changing.

Gina Meeks, 57: “Be a person of character trusting fully on Jesus and the Holy Spirit as a guide.” Susie Brown, 63: “Don’t be afraid to try new things. Some of my best experiences were when I stepped outside my comfort zone and tried something new!” Andrew Shaw, 71: “I cannot think of anything better than Luke 10:27...And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’” The best way to get to know someone is to hear their stories. Obviously, it would be quite difficult to fit in even a short story for everyone involved with this study. But the question they were all asked suffices to summarize these peoples’ stories because through the advice they gave, one gets a glimpse into what is most valuable in their life. So, take this advice or leave it. But each person left a piece of their story here, and that piece can connect even the most different of people through common lessons.

*full story with extra interviews can be found on thewildcatroar. Luke Davis, 51: “Never continue dating someone if you get to com the point that you don’t want to marry them.”

EMBODYING VULNERABILITY CHRISTINA ENGLISH STAFF WRITER

Navigating the social aspects of high school is hard. People can make friendships one day, and then break them some days later. People can be peer pressured into making horrible decisions. They can feel left out by others purposely. On top of all of this, people have school and homework to deal with, which is already stressful enough. These different parts of a high schooler’s life can make them feel vulnerable. But is vulnerability really a bad thing? According to merriam-webster.com, the definition of the word vulnerable is to be “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded”. It’s a simple definition, but it holds so much depth to it. No one wants to be physically or emotionally hurt. When someone is, it’s difficult for them to open up to others without thinking that they’re making a fool of themselves. They don’t want to bother other people with their problems or worries. Mark Manson from markmanson. net gave another reason as to why people don’t want to be vulnerable: “[They] haven’t exercised or groomed [themselves] to the extent that [they] could because [they] didn’t want to stand out too much.”

Dan Schawbel from forbes.com had an interview with her, where she explained her thoughts on being vulnerable and her experience with vulnerability. In it, she explained how the fear of vulnerability can mess with peoples’ minds: “When we’re fueled by the fear of what other people think or that gremlin that’s constantly whispering ‘You’re not good enough’ in our ear, it’s tough to show up. We end up hustling for our worthiness rather than standing for it.” However, she later explains how people are tired of hiding from their vulnerability: “...I think people are tired of the hustle—they’re tired of doing it and tired of watching it.” It’s fantastic to see that society’s perspective on being vulnerable is starting to change. Goodtherapy.org mentions another one of Brown’s beliefs that “one’s vulnerability signifies courage and strength rather than weakness.” If someone is vulnerable to others, it shows how strong they are to convey their emotions even when they are terrified to do so.

Lisa Fritscher from verywellmind. com gives a list of the positive When someone is experiencing things that can come about when vulnerability, the idea of standing Being vulnerable is one of the most difficult things to do. people open up to others. They explain that out is their worst nightmare. Standing Illustration by: Christina English being vulnerable can be a “greater strength”, out can bring out someone’s vulnerability it can bring about “stronger relationships”, even more, and this is something that a and it can “improve self-acceptance.” vulnerable person doesn’t want. Mrs. Collison, one of our counselors at Westminster, explained another aspect as to why being vulnerable is really hard, especially with teenagers: “I don’t know that we have a good culture of trust building. People want to be vulnerable [...] but they also watch teenagers interact. They see them talking about things with each other and think, ‘I don’t wanna risk putting myself out there, knowing that that person could use it against me.’” Mrs. Patton, another one of our counselors, adds on to Collisons’ ideas: “It’s risky. Teenagers are still learning and figuring out who they are, so there’s a lot of insecurity in that. Part of the reason why vulnerability is so hard is we may have chosen the wrong person to be vulnerable with, and then we get burned.” A lot of people in society consider the emotions that come with being vulnerable to be bad. They think that talking about emotions and feelings with others is showing weakness which people shouldn’t show to others. But is it a weakness? Brené Brown, an American researcher, doesn’t think like this. She believes that people being vulnerable is good for our mental health.

Collison gave her opinion about ways that people can start to become more vulnerable with others: “You can baby step what you share. You can start off with small things that if you did reveal them then it could help you and the other person, but it might not damage you.” Patton also gave her opinion about the small steps that one can make in order to become more vulnerable with others: “Knowing that you are seen, known, and loved by God is a really important part about being vulnerable.” Patton mentioned that “picking safe people [to share things with] and going slow with sharing are also important steps to becoming more vulnerable.” As Christians, having the idea that God is there to listen and never judge is really helpful with becoming vulnerable with others, and it is something that people sometimes forget. Being vulnerable is hard. Being vulnerable is scary and stressful, especially as a teenager. However, being vulnerable is ok. By being more vulnerable with others, people can change the way society thinks about vulnerability for good.

STAND WITH UKRAINE

ELIJAH SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER

Separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine have claimed land and Russian troops have arrived at Ukraine’s ports in the Black Sea. Through these terrible times the Church has been ever constant and aided those who need their aide.

So far they have transported 3,000 people abroad and have sheltered 4,150. With a team of only 75 volunteers these numbers are insurmountable and inexplicable. UBTS has mobilized so quickly and allied with their Christian convictions in such a compelling way.

For those who have not kept themselves educated on these issues here is a quick summary. Russian forces followed through with an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. They have attacked on force axes of invasion, from the Black Sea, the North Eastern Border, from Belarus, and Crimea. As of right now the actions that have been taken by major world powers such as the United States have remained distanced. Imposed sanctions and bans on Russian imports have been the extent of American involvement. But Christians have done more in the realm of humanitarianism.

In addition to UBTS the organization Save the Children has been aiding refugees in their struggles as well. With child poverty rates going up to 57% in Ukraine it is no doubt their services are desperately needed, just as they have been doing for years. Since 2014 Save the Children has been operating in regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk aiding children in their turmoil. Working to help them overcome the psychological impacts of the conflict and help them cope with everyday life.

To summarize I personally encourage you to donate online to Save the Children and the Ukrainian Baptist One such organization is the Ukrainian Baptist Theologi- Theological Seminary. In these times we need to rally tocal Seminary (UBTS). They have mobilized in such a way gether whether Ukrainian or American, Christian or not, that strikes a chord within the hearts of many. UBTS has we all have a common cause. stopped using its facilities for classes and now they are a humanitarian outpost in the middle of a harsh conflict.

Ukraine is being invaded, but the Church is standing behind them. Image by; Elijah Schmidt

REMEMBERING LI LAOSHI

ANNA GRACE LIKES STAFF WRITER

As the Westminster community grieves the loss of beloved Chinese teacher Dr. Ming Li, classrooms feel a new stillness. On Tuesday, March 22nd, Ming Li lost her short battle with breast cancer. This came as a shock to most, as she was only recently diagnosed and many did not know she was sick.

As her life was celebrated in a chapel ceremony, cards were made to send to her family, and the community commemorated her battle with a pink dress-down day, Westminster began to reflect on the impact of Dr. Li’s life at the school. Whether one got to know her personally or merely passed her in the hallway, she always gave a warm smile or shared a kind word.

Dr. Li’s students gathered around her at a theme park in China to listen to her life story. Photo by: Karen Bowman

“Servant leadership is the word that comes to my mind when I want to describe who she is. She is a true Christ-like servant who displays that didn’t do what we thought it would, and so when she came on, she helped build the program so much. She was such an effecChrist-like humility every day,” said Dani Butler, Head of Student tive teacher and having a teacher in the classroom went far beyond Development and longtime friend of Ming Li. Butler got to know Li after they spent time building the international program at Westmin- what the online course ever could. Now, we have a 5-year program all the way from 8th grade to 5 AP and Mrs. Li taught all of that. ster, and over the past nine years they formed a close friendship. She was, I think, one of the most hardworking teachers in the But, according to Butler, Li’s greatest passion was her students. “She school. She ran the whole program on her own and did it without ever saying a negative thing or complaining,” said Sarah Loyal, would always talk about students and how much she loves them World Languages Dept. Chair. and loves teaching at Westminster,” said Butler. Even on days off, Li was always thinking of ways to better connect to her students, praying with and for them often.

Many who got to know Dr. Li did not just do so in Chinese class, but also through the international and study abroad programs. As This quality was easily understood and reciprocated by her students. someone heavily involved in these programs, Dr. Li worked with international students who came to study abroad at Westminster. As much as she cared about them, they all cared about her in the She connected with them through everything from translating to same way. helping with chemistry homework, as she was a research chemist before she answered her calling to teach Chinese. But she also led “Li Laoshi (how students referred to Ming Li–one’s last name comes the summer trips to China, and that is where she truly connected to before their title in Mandarin, so this means “Li (her last name) exher students. perienced teacher (laoshi)) was one of the friendliest people and one of the strongest members in Christ I have met. She was extremely accomplished as a person[…]She decided to follow Christ and move “One of my favorite memories of her is when we were at a theme to the States and build our Chinese program from the ground up. The park in China–she did not like rides, but she would ride them because her students wanted her to. She would get off the ride amount of trust she had to put into Christ to do this was immense white-faced and terrified, but she would do it anyway,” said Karen and I will always remember her for that,” said Jimmy MacDonald, Bowman, Global Education Coordinator and friend of Dr. Li. “One junior and former student of Li. This respect was felt by all who knew Dr. Li because of the dedication she displayed in all aspects of night when we were finishing up at the theme park[...]she sat down with the students and just started telling them her story: of her career. how she came to America, how she met her husband, and how she became a Christian. The students just showed up and no one left– “She was probably one of the most hardworking and grace-giving they hung onto every word. She took advantage of the time she teachers that I have known. She just taught about how to live life had to just share life. and that, more than anything, is what I have learned from her,” said Lucy Knerr, sophomore and former student of Li. Dr. Li’s loving character continues to seep into the memories of the entire Westminster community. Her absence creates a hole in the And it was not just students who recognized her hard-working language department and the international program, as well as her attitude. Her colleagues in the language department continue to friends, students, and colleagues’ lives. But while the school grieves express amazement in her work to build the Chinese program from this tragic loss, believers can take solace in knowing her deep faith the ground up. and Christ-like character led her to Heaven. “We had done an online [Chinese] course for maybe a year or two

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE GAS PRICES? MADDOX ROSENBERG STAFF WRITER

High School students may be wondering where their money is going every week. The gas prices have been rising over the years anyway, but the national average is $4.244 as of 3/29/2022. There are places in America where the prices are almost $6 per gallon. Lucky for us in Missouri, our prices are $3.785 per gallon as of 3/29/2022. But, what is really going on? What made the gas prices go up so much? GasPrices.com This starts at the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack. According to Wikipedia.org on May 7, 2021, suspected Russian hackers, going by DarkSide, hacked the computerized equipment that manages the pipeline. To get the pipeline back, the company running it paid the ransom of 75 bitcoin to the group of hackers. Bitcoin is an untraceable currency, 75 bitcoin at the time was worth 4.4 million dollars.

The everchanging gas prices of the United States of America. As of 3/29/2022Illustration by: Maddox Rosenberg

But how did this affect Americans and the gas prices? American Airlines changed flight schedules temporarily, and more seriously, fuel shortages were plaguing the states. People were panic buying gas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and they were all reporting fuel shortages. 71% of gas stations ran out of fuel in Charlotte and 87% of gas stations in Washington, D.C. This caused the highest price of gas Americans have seen since 2014, reaching more than $3 per gallon.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is another reason for the rapid rising of gas prices. According to WhiteHouse.gov, the United States imported nearly 700,000 barrels a day of crude oil and refined petroleum from Russia in 2021. A barrel is 42 gallons, which means that 29,400,000 gallons of gas products were imported from Russia everyday. According to eia. gov, a barrel of oil cost $78.51. This means we were spending $54,957,000 on oil everyday. Russia is the largest exporter of natural gas, second largest coal reserves, and sixth largest oil reserves in the world. The United States does not approve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so President Biden created a sanction against Russian oil. Thus, banning purchases of Russian oil for the time being. We did this to deprive Russia of billions of dollars from the oil market.

will not purchase their oil, the pool of oil in the market has shrinked. Less oil going around means the supply is smaller. When supply goes down, the demand for it goes up. According to thehill.com, Russia imports about 3.6 million barrels of crude oil every single day to China. Even though we are not purchasing from Russia for the time being, at $130 per barrel, Russia should be getting around $468 million dollars per day from China. Finally another reason is OPEC. OPEC is an intergovernmental organization consisting of Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Venezuela. These countries are major producers of the world’s oil, but that comes with a great amount of power. Because these countries export their oil, they can control the amount of oil in the market. In layman’s terms, they can create an artificial demand simply by drilling a smaller amount of oil than the year, month, or day before. All in all, our wallets have been draining for now, but with these recent events, our wallets are draining more rapidly. Hopefully the invasion will stop and the gas prices will return to normal. Unfortunately, after this attack, nothing will ever be the same.

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, a barrel of oil has reached a thirteen year high of $130 (CNBC.com). Because the US

CHILD EXPLOITATION & FAMILYYOUTUBE CHANNELS EMMA HARRIS CONTENT EDITOR Family channels-- that is, channels on YouTube that consistently feature the children as well as the adults-are extremely popular on YouTube, with some of them garnering tens of millions of views. However, they are extremely problematic for numerous reasons. While I will give specific examples of family channels going too far, I will not specifically name any of the children in order to protect the privacy their own family does not. I’m not going to direct you to any videos. One problem with family channels is that the parents are under no legal obligation to set some of the money aside for their children. This means they could waste it all on mansions too big to ever need and expensive purses, leaving the child with no money for the things they had to do for the channel. You could argue that the children get paid in a roof over their heads, clothes on their back, and good meals, but that’s a whole problem within itself. Imagine being thirteen and knowing your family relies on you for their house, food, and clothes, and whole income. The pressure that puts on a child is insane. Additionally, that child would feel obligated to be in the videos even if they hate it, knowing that if they aren’t their family will lose money. You may also say that simply being featured in a video isn’t really any work, that these kids simply have to exist and that’s it. But these kids are acting. They are posing for thumbnails, they are being told to ham it up for the camera, they are being told what to do and how to act. These kids hardly get a moment to be just kids. One family talks about how good their child is at putting on an act for the camera with pride. Should you really feel proud of your kid for this? Imagine your whole life being on the internet for thousands, even millions of strangers to see. Imagine getting your first period and having a camera shoved in front of your face to document and talk about it for millions of people to see. This situation might sound absurd, but it isn’t a hypothetical– this exact situation has happened to a young girl on a family channel. I’m not going to direct you to it out of respect for the girl’s privacy. Imagine

Family channels are exploitative and harm children. Illustration by: Emma Harris

having a camera shoved in your face while you’re told your dog is dead and our mom telling you to cry harder for a thumbnail and look distraught, another absurd situation. Imagine your most embarrassing meltdowns as a child being exposed to the world. Imagine every time you were being unreasonable, there’s a comment section to tear you apart on that. Imagine every embarrassing moment you’ve had is put on the internet for people to judge and comment on. No child should ever be on the internet for millions to see and overly criticize. One child said he has no friends at school and that he’s even bullied all because of the YouTube channel, telling the camera he doesn’t want to partake in the videos. Did the parents immediately stop putting him in videos? Nope. He still shows up in their content, clearly not by consent. It’s hard to say how many children are forced to be in their family videos, which is appalling. It’s a huge issue to have kids appear in these videos against their will. It also brings up the problem, what happens when they express their discomfort or refuse to be in the videos? Are they punished? Family channels are problematic for a number of reasons, all boiling down to child exploitation. The parents have no respect for the privacy of their children, and many channels go too far in filming. These are the prob-

THE EVOLUTION OF STYLE ELLIE JONES FEATURES EDITOR

With almost two entire decades past the millenium, it can be strange to think back to any part of the early 2000’s. With shows such as This is Us, continually using flashbacks as part of their story, the first decade of the 20th century is still clearly relevant today. However, unfortunately, there are numerous parts to the early 2000’s in which people have forgotten. This main component being fashion. It is incredibly easy to say that the 2000’s was the rise of fashion itself. Many of styles which were extremely affordable could usually be hunted in department stores such as Macy’s or J. C. Penney. Celebrities themselves were walking fashion symbols, wearing the lastest anytime and anywhere. Though the trends were large, they were also quick to come and go. The looks continued to vary, and never stayed the same for long. Don’t assume the tye-dye t-shirt will work for every occasion, because that is just not the case whatsoever. Two parts of the early 2000’s which had a great influence on fashion were Y2K and technology. Metallic silver and gold were the sign of the time. Some of these trends were worn on the daily, while others would soley preserve these looks for nights out on the town. For women, pleated skirts, leather pants, and mesh tops were the go-to. For men, very chunky shoes and leather jackets were in. If one needed any type of inspiration, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears were always wearing the latest and greatest. Sporty spice began to creep its way into the early 2000’s, as well as all casual clothing in general. Women and men would also turn to this in any occasion: denim. There were so many denim pieces that could be worn. Think denim jackets, hats, and of course, jeans. Jeans and a crop top

The breakdown of style throufghout the decades. Illustration by: Ellie Jones

became the main style for women. Other pieces could include cargo pants, ribbed sweaters, cold-shoulder tops, and “daisy dukes.”

As the decade went on, 2000s fashion began to take cues from 1960s bohemian looks. Yoga pants, low-rise jeans, cowl-neck shirts, peasant tops, capri pants, cropped jackets, and dresses over jeans were popular outfit choices for women. These were often paired with accessories like chunky belts, aviator sunglasses, jelly bracelets, ties worn around the neck or as belts, ballet flats, and platform boots. Tracksuits from Juicy Couture, and purses from Louis Vuitton were a staple in the middle of the decade. These were the “it” items. During the mid-2000’s, hairstyles and colors became a much bigger deal than before. dye-black bangs or white platinum blonde were the two favorites. This is a time where emo fashion crept in. Chokers, vans, black jeans, and anything studded. These were both punk and goth styles mixed together. Tracksuits became a symbol of comfort and travel in the 2000’s. Every single female singer had one in every color and would flaunt them to the paparazzi. There was a tracksuit frenzy at the time. Most of the time, they were worn in bright colors and bedazzled. Let’s jump to 2022: high-waisted mom jeans are back in style. Casual button down shirts for men are most common when going out. Crazy abstract colors and unique prints, mostly on dresses are the name of the game. Hair clips are also newly common in girls in their teens and 20’s, much like the 80’s trend. Just when people thought these styles were retired, they somehow crept their way back into our lives, and probably will not be going anywhere for a while.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

Small joys that make a big impact in WCA students LUCY KNERR STAFF WRITER

As the end of the schooyear closes in, many students within the Westminster community are now just trying to stay ahead of the monotony of each school day. For a majority, this means finding small serotonin givers throughout their day that allow them to survive the taxing job of trying to find motivation to keep up academically. These little joys have become irrevocably important, especially because of the anxiety inducing state of the current world. Each individual may have differences in the things they enjoy, however, many of these mini motivators are very similar from person to person. This is especially clear in Westminster’s academic community. Speaking of said community, it is the friends that many have made within classes, sports, and other extracurricular activities that have become the greatest source of energy for a major amount of the student body: “The real answer for me to that is probably wordle and kahoot but also just the great friends and teachers,” says Audie Bockman, an eighth grader here at Westminster. “I’m an extrovert so I actually feel more energized being around all my friends in class.” Audrie, like many others, finds energy in their interactions with their friends. These small times of laughter and joy can give that small boost of energy that one may need, no matter how tired they may feel.

A list of things that get students through their day image by: Lucy Knerr

Students, teachers, and even those outside of academic culture all need space in a busy work day in order to recuperJust like Audrie, Anne Bendick, a seventh grader, also shares ate and give their minds a rest away from the sometimes the same need for her friends. She expresses her love for overbearing workload. As such, lunchtime has become a them, especially in the interactions she has with them in athlet- major factor in motivation levels within students. This little ics: “What gets me through the day is having sports at the end joy affects not only those like Ruthie, but everyone who of the day. My friends give me motivation because they are has a busy work day in general. always bubbly and happy.” Having friends who are also teammates is uniquely fulfilling for athletes going into the spring Eleventh grader Jenaye Ross also expressed her gratitude athletics season. Excersising while also having fun with friends for her friendships in her busy school day, along with her is one of the best ways to get back that life giving energy that favorite small joys that get her through her day: “What students may lose in the classroom. Whether it be at lunch, in gets me through my day? Honestly, a venti strawberry the hall, or out playing a sport, loving and supportive relation- refresher with peach justice, and my friends [!] my friends ships are one of the best remedies for spring blues. are so positive and they uplift me throughout the day. Ninth grader Ruthie Johnson has similar things to say on the topic of friendship at school: “[I love having lunch with friends. It gives me a break in between classes. I also love going home to sleep and rest].” Being able to go to lunch in the middle of the day and having a safe place to rest, whether rest is playing a game and running around with half the class or just having a quiet talk with a small group of people, is one of the most vital parts to anyone’s day.

[And] 2. ‘What small joys give you motivation when you start to feel burnt out or tired?’ I enjoy it when I am able to be around my friends. Especially because they are able to tell if I am upset. They will ask me if I am okay, and start to comfort me.” Besides the wonderful and also delicious tasting serotonin Starbucks can bring, friendships are incredibly helpful in bringing joy to an individual’s day.

In addition, they are also crucial for everyday support and emotional balance. In order to find the joy that friendships can bring, it is important to feel safe and comfortable within those friendships. Being able to come to friends for support during the moments when one may feel like everything is too much or a workload is too overwhelming is one of the most lifegiving, peace– bringing things that exist, especially in middle and high school. For those graduating this year, it is especially hard. The end is in sight and yet there is still so much left to do, learn, and complete before the end of the school year. Twelfth grader Ellie Jones shares her own experience: “Honestly, lately, it’s been super hard to focus school wise since I’m almost done with high school and I’m thinking about my future, but honestly it’s my friends. I could not get through the school day without them. The laughs and fun times with them definitely make the school day so much easier to get through.”

school experience coming to a close, many may be cherishing these friendships more than ever. Even if separation is a terrifying thing, it also brings those who are separating closer together as a result. Overall, it is obvious that the little things, whether that be friendships, athletics, or pink drinks with peach juice, can be the difference between a tolerable school day and an unbearable one. It is important to find these small joys in everyday life, especially during this “final stretch” of the 2021 - 22 school year. No matter what it is that gives one their own small boost of serotonin, it is incredibly important to remember that if these things get students through their day, it is okay for them to indulge in them (in a healthy way, of course).

Just like many others, Ellie finds comfort and positivity in her friends. For seniors like Ellie, however, these friendships could mean something a little different. With their high

Small motivators get students through their days during the final stretch of the school year. by: Lucy Knerr

Westminster Christian Academy

SQUASH: MORE THAN A FOOD

Missouri Athletic Club hosts the school’s ﬁrst ever squash team.

BROOKE HIGHMARK SPORTING EDITOR

This past winter, the Westminster community was introduced to a unique sport that it had never seen before: squash. Squash, a popular sport internationally, is played within a fourwalled court and involves teams of one or two, each holding a narrow racquet, taking turns hitting a small, hollow rubber ball against the front wall until a player fails to return it. When two squash coaches from Missouri Athletic Club (MAC), Alex Ingham and Tim Engelmeyer, came to the school to promote the new club, many students were very intrigued. “Our team was spread out between like five different schools and ranged from eighth grade to seniors. I would have never even met some of these people without squash,” said Ashley Gordon, senior.

Three of the boys play mini games in practice at the MAC. Photo by: Tim Engelmeyer

When Gordon attended this meeting, there was no doubt that without actually dying or passing out, but squash is so enjoyable, she would join the team, as she had been surrounded by the sport for many years and was already familiar with the coaches. especially with good friends,” said Gordon. “Brendan, my brother, played squash very competitively for years when I was younger. He was out there winning state championships and stuff as I just watched,” said Gordon.

As for the real matches, the Westminster squash team had to face off against tough competitors from MICDS and John Burroughs. Because only three or four of these matches would go on at the same time, the rest of the players had to stand around and watch, anxiously waiting for their turn.

As soon as practices started, which were held at the MAC and consisted of mini matches and tournaments, many of the players Even though the Cats did not always come out on top, it was a fell in love with the sport. formative season that got the ball rolling on a new program and spread interest about the sport. “There aren’t many sports you can play for six hours straight

The team inclueded both middle schoolers and high schoolers from various schools. Photo by: Melissa Gordon

DEFINED BY MORE THAN THE SCORE

After an impressive season and an unfortunate loss, varsity girls basketball has come to a close.

HOPE LINAM STAFF WRITER, PAWPRINT LIAISON

On March 4th, the Cats faced John Burroughs in the District Championship. Throughout the entirety of the first half, the girls played some of the best basketball that they have all season. Specifically, standout Julia Coleman, junior for the Wildcats, scored 26 of the team’s 39 points. Coleman has been dominant all season long, averaging 15.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.93 assist, 3.19 steals, and 1.22 blocks. Unfortunately, due to a poor outside shooting from Westminster and a strong Burroughs defense in the second half, the Cats fell in a 49-39 loss. “Regardless of the loss, I am proud of the effort that we put into the game,” said Reilly Brophy, senior. Heading into the half, the Cats led 26-23 and were determined to continue their momentum into the rest of the game. However, the missed first half shots that were expected to be hit in the second half, specifically Brophy and Carlie Vick, seniors, did not fall. In the final sixteen minutes of the game, the Bombers, who recently won state for Class 4, outscored the Cats 26-13.

Brophy, Coleman, Vick, and Mia Schuelen, sophomore pose for a pre-season photoshoot. Photo by: Mike Rohlfing

“My shots were not falling in the first half, but I knew that I had to keep shooting in order to keep playing my role and leave it all out on the court,” said Vick. Nonetheless, the heart-breaking loss does not define their season. With a record of 19-8 and the adjustment of team chemistry due to the injury-induced loss of Brooke Highmark, senior, the team was still able to obtain great successes. One of these positive memories was dominating Webster Groves, who placed third in state for Class 6. The 55-44 win was a much needed pickme-up for the team after an unprecedented loss against Francis Coleman shoots a fade away against Notre Dame. Howell Central a few days prior. Photo by Adam Lyles “I was very proud of our focus and our energy. We came out very disciplined and stuck to the game plan. Our defense really fueled our offense and we played really well together as a team. It was a great win for us as a team and a collective performance on both ends of the court,” said Coach Kat Martin. From the beginning, the team was loaded with talent. Coleman and Vick, Florida Atlantic University signee, received First Team All-Conference honors, and Brophy received Second Team. For the district, Coleman received Co-MVP All-District with Burroughs’ Allie Turner, sophomore, Vick was named First Team, and Brophy was named Second Team. Coleman and Vick were also voted to the All-District Tournament team and have been nominated for All-State honors. Brophy, Highmark, and Aseanti Boone, senior, were awarded Academic All-State. Seniors listed left to right, Madison Schofield, Carlie Vick, Reilly Brophy, Brooke Highmark, Hope Linam, and Aseanti Boone. Photo by: Mike Rohlfing

KEEP BOYS AND GIRLS SEPARATED ALEX WITTENAUER STAFF WRITER

training their entire lives only to be crushed by a man simply because of their somatic build-up. On February 25, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order which threatened to pull federal funding from schools unless they allowed transgender women to compete on girl’s sports teams. The House passed a bill that would write this policy permanently into law (USA Today).

I, along with many other sports connoisseurs, believe that this is insulting to the women who go to extreme lengths to train only to lose to a biological man. As this becomes more popular “Selina Soule knows that it’s like to lose to male athletes. She experienced and encouraged by President Biden’s extreme measures, many female athletes may quit their sports out of discouragement or unfair competition all 4yrs of highschool.” Via @ChristianaADF on Twitter lose scholarships to colleges, all due to the ‘inclusion” that is felt necessary. A growing controversy has arisen in the past few years, as athletes from the opposite sex have attempted to participate in Even further, Connecticut High school track runner, Selina Soule, sports because of their “sexual identity.” Some see it as an unfair lost the opportunity to compete for a spot at the New England advantage, but others see it as an inclusion to those who want to Regional Championships in the 55-meter dash after missing the continue playing the sport they love. qualifications by one spot, falling behind two male athletes. As a result, Soule was not able to compete in front of college scouts In recent years, this concept of “transitioning athletes” has made and gain the attention necessary to run track in college. a big impact not only in the high school level, but also in the collegiate level, one being a student at the University of Montana. “It’s very frustrating and heartbreaking when us girls are at the start of the race and we already know that these athletes are During the 2019-2020 season, Jonathan Eastwood, an accomgoing to come out and win no matter how hard you try, said plished male distance runner, began competing for the women’s Soule. “They took away the spots of deserving girls, athletes … team after a year of hormone therapy, abiding by NCAA rules. me being included.” Not surprisingly, he won the women’s’ mile race and crushed the competition, leaving the closest competitor behind by a whopping This growing problem has affected more athletes than Selena. 4.5 seconds and missing the women’s world record by only 0.12 Chelsea Mitchell, a talented high school runner from Connecticut, seconds. lost four state championship titles to male athletes. The event soon gained traction from the public and proposed the For the same reasons that there age divisions in any sport, question, “Is this fair to the women on the other teams?” The there should also be divisions by sex, regardless of how many answer is absolutely not. treatments or procedures have been done. An eighteen year old boy is understandably not allowed to compete in a ten year old This topic has gone under lots of investigation recently, and baseball game because his body is far more advanced than every the NCAA has responded to it in a way that does not defend player on the field. In the same way that the grown man is not women’s athletics. The current rule states that “a trans female able to identify as a child, a male should not be able to identi(Male to Female) student-athlete being treated with testosterone fy as a woman and compete in a sport where everyone else is suppression medication for Gender Identity Disorder or gender inherently handicapped compared to him. dysphoria and/or Transsexualism, for the purposes of NCAA competition may continue to compete on a men’s team but may Many people would like to see a different way of including not compete on a women’s team without changing it to a mixed these men into various sports by possibly creating separate team status until completing one calendar year of testosterone heats, handicapping the results, or adding different divisions. A suppression treatment.” more traditional form of separating these athletes could be the athletes showing their birth certificate, or a form of any legal The International Federation of Sports Medicine recently found document with their sex on it. that no matter the amount of surgery or “hormone therapy” done by a person, strength advantages compared to women persist even after three years of hormone therapy. This leaves the NCAA rule unjust, and unfair to the real women who have been

OPINION 19

CYBORG CATS

The Westminster Robotics Team is moving forward and beating competition.

DREW CAHILL STAFF WRITER

petition showing the support and commitment each team member has. Many of the team are missing big tests at the end of the quarter to compete against other teams from different states. They will represent WCA and be one of the only christian schools in the competition.

David Boylan works on the robot before the competion in Oklahoma Photo by: Robotics Team

The team is looking to make nationals this year and finish the season strong. Leader Ben Atkins said that he loves the way the team has grown in size and in talent. He believes this is one of the best teams we have ever had and Atkins has high hopes for what the team can do.

The Cyborg Cats are here and ready for competition. The team has many members this year, both highschool and mid- The team is working hard and is excited that the season has dle school. Leader Ben Atkins said that the team is more of a started. They have many great people and will make Westcommunity. They get together and work together. All of the minster proud. school is unified in robotics and they compete very well. Everyone on the team is focused during practice. Cyborg Cats are split into different groups for practice. Each group is in charge of a different aspect of the robot. The Coding group codes the robot. They are one of the most important groups. “I love doing coding because it is a crucial part of robotics” Kaleb Whitehead. Coding can make or break the robot because they need it to be precise during the competitions. Then there is the Drive group. They are in charge of actually driving the robot and controlling it during the tournament. They need to be skilled with the controller and practice often during practice. The other groups deal with actually building the robot. They make the robot built as strong and fast as they can. They come in over the weekend to help build and test the robot.

Leader Ben Atkins fixes up the electricity on this years robot. Photo by: Robotics Team

The Cyborg Cats recently traveled to Oklahoma for their first competition. This was over the first weekend of Spring Break. The team had a lot of fun, “It was fun to be there with friends and to see our robot compete” Max Burgdorf. The team earned a second place finish in their first competition of the year. They also won the award for the best looking robot. Almost all of the team traveled to Oklahoma for the com-

Gabriel Liu checks on the robot before watching it compete. Gabrial works in the Drive group. Photo by: Robotics Team

THE GOLDEN YEAR MIA SCHEULEN STAFF EDITOR

(Left) Robert Hines, Caleb Thopmson, Nehemiah Oginni, Joseph Anderson, Dami Obanigba Photo by: Mia Scheulen

Spring sports are in full swing, and one team already has a lot of expectations. Last year, the track team’s points mainly came from distance and throws, but this year, the sprints are anticipated to be very successful. at state. Webb placed sixth in the shot put at state. “There’s a great opportunity for both boys and girls to have team success due to the large number of returning athletes and new Tim Shoemaker and Thomas Davidson, juniors, are strong athadditions to the track program,” said Larry Minner, fourth year letes in middle distance and distance, Avery Jones, senior, will head coach. be participating in jumps, and Joseph Anderson, sophomore, will compete in both jumps and hurdles. In the off-season, a number of these returning athletes participated in the indoor track season, something that has never occurred “This season has a lot of potiential due to all the mazing new in Minner’s six years of coaching. and rturning athletes, I can see it being a very good year.” This season, there will be a variety of different events that will all contribute to what is hoped to be a state championship victory.

Senior Sayva Phillips

Madison Schofield, senior sprinter, and Mia Scheulen, sophomore sprinter and jumper, are both returning athletes that qualified for the state track meet last year. Addie Draper, junior, and Hennessy McGowan, sophomore, are both middle distance and distance runners and each were a part of the 4x400 meter relay team that placed second at state last year. Some new additions to this year’s team includes Brooke Moore, senior, who recently signed with the University of Minnesota for track and field, will participate in hurdles and jumps along with Hannah Gray, senior, and Sydney Burdine, junior, in sprints. Tucker Mulick and Robert Hines Jr., seniors, have been some strong state contenders. Hines currently holds the school record in the 100 M, and Mulick placed third in the 200 M at state last season. LJ Minner and Sterling Webb, seniors, are throwers that gain a large amount of points in meets. Minner, the coach’s son, holds the school record in shot put and discus, placing second last year

(Left) Madison Schofield, Hannah gray, Brooke Moore Photo by: Mia Scheulen

ENGERY DRINKS? GOOD OR BAD? SYDNEY BRADLEY STAFF WRITER Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen an energy drink commercial that may have you thinking: energy and sports drinks do it all. More energy, improved performance, better concentration? What could go wrong? In reality, the main ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine, an additive that simulates activity by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. Although caffeine in and of itself isn’t bad, as it can make up for lost energy, too much can negatively affect your health. When you exercise, your body loses electrolytes, which balance the body’s fluid levels, so athletes can safely consume up to 400-600 mg of caffeine after a workout. However, for the average person, who should only be consuming 100-200 mg of caffeine a day, drinking two or more of these sports drinks can be detrimental since these electrolytes are not being lost.

put that into perspective, you would have to drink fourteen regular sized cans of soda to intake the same amount of caffeine. Excessive amounts of caffeine intake for prolonged periods of time can lead to caffeine toxicity. Symptoms include headaches, feeling tired, having trouble concentrating, and feeling grumpy ect. So, what’s the hype of energy drinks? Consider facts. Popular drinks such as Gatorade, Red Bull, and Celsius, are often loaded with sugar and foreign chemicals that ultimately have little to no nutritional value. They add calories, unless stated otherwise. So, if you’re not exercising or doing anything hard enough to cause sweat, these drinks can lead to weight gain and other health problems depending on how much sugar is in them.

Furthermore, the labels on these drinks do not always show the true amount of caffeine within other ingredients, so it can be hard to know how much of it is actually present. A single energy drink can contain as much as 500 mg of caffeine. To

Engery drink consumtion in Amercia is rapidly growing.

THE GUYS WEARING STRIPES

Highschool sports ofﬁcials are fading away and becoming fewer and far between.

NOLAN JONES STAFF WRITER

Even though high school sports officials are always needed, lately it has started to become a bit of a problem. MSHSAA is begging for officials in all sports, and games are becoming increasingly difficult to reschedule as a result of this shortage. This problem started to get real about three to four years ago. It even to the point of schools, like Westminster, having a Thursday night football game because there weren’t enough crews for Friday and Saturday. There are proposals and other ideas in place to keep officials in the game and bring new ones in, such as a higher payment per game, which is on the rise. “It’s hard to pinpoint the problem, I think it’s a mixture of problems,” said Glen Adams of the Westminster athletic office.

From someone who’s been on both sides, officiating and playing, I think the most embarrassing thing is when a coach, especially at the high school level, does not know how to interact with an official. Good coaches know how to treat a referee as if they’ve been in their shoes, and some have been. They know how to interact in a way that gets their point across and makes the official think about it. When a coach respects the officials, the officials return the respect. Meaning, if that coach has a legitimate problem, they will take it into consideration. On the other hand, the coaches who don’t know how to interact with officials always end up hurting their own cause. These coaches are the same ones who would blame officials for the outcome of a game. In baseball, there is a common term called “2 strike hitting,” meaning approaching the plate in a way that protects the umpire from having a chance to ring you up on strike three. This idea is common in old-school baseball, but the reason behind the idea is what matters.

Many organizations struggle to bring in new young officials because the pay simply does not justify the stress that these men The idea is that you are making it harder on and women often go through, so All highschool sports are begging for officails, but in our area the umpire to call you out. No matter what there is no incentive to join. umpires are especially fading in numbers. you say, the umpire can call you when he illustration by Nolan Jones wants. It’s the idea of playing the game with Additionally, the Covid pandemic a mindset of not relying on the referee to call hit many fields of work hard, the game the way you see it. Just play the causing unemployment rates to game and let them do their jobs. If coaches skyrocket. The majority of officials and players alike embody this idea, officiating might be enjoyare older in age, so they are at a higher risk for the disease and able again. do not get paid enough to risk exposure while doing their job. The position of officiating a sport has always been a job that is not made for everyone, not only because of the skill and knowledge required, but also the stress that comes with it. Speaking from experience, even officiating a little league baseball game can be stressful with nothing on the line. Then, you add feedback from coaches, players, parents, and spectators, and the stress multiplies and multiplies. Many people have the attitude of “It’s their job, so you can treat them as you please.” Just as in any field of work, there are certainly officials who lower the standard by their poor example. However, because of these few, people are quick to criticize any and every referee, even the good ones, just because they can. Officials know that they will receive criticism from parents, athletes, and coaches, but when lines of decency and respect are crossed, it’s just not worth the money anymore.

In my third match at the wrestling state championship this year, I tied the match in the last seconds. The referee had an opportunity to make a call that would decide the match, sending one of us home. But, when we stepped back on the line, he leaned in and said something along the lines of, “You guys are deciding the match.” This stuck with me because that statement describes everything you could ever ask for in a referee: someone who knows their role in the competition. They know that the game is not about them and it’s about the athletes. So they call the game fair and try their best to let the athletes battle it out. More officials than we give credit to likely hold this same attitude. They want the athletes to decide the outcome, not themselves. They are only there to make sure the game is being played fairly and in accordance with the rules. If we keep this in mind and learn how to interact with officials in the right way, this shortage may finally end.