January 4, 2022

JANUARY 4, 2022

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Hit the thrift Save the Earth

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Speaking from the heart

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Inside the Metaverse

Fashion influencers are flocking to the thrift store, trying to find vintage clothing, high-end products for cheaper prices, or just trying to find the latest fashion trends. Though thrifting isn’t just a way to find the latest fashion trends, it is also a way to help the environment and aid waste problems. Many people are unaware of the amount of fabric that is wasted during the distribution process of clothing. A study from RoadRunner claimed that nearly 17 million tons of textile fabric was misspent in 2018 due to fabric waste.

Thrifting has become a way to help alleviate waste problems, such as that one.

“A lot of clothes are thrown away…and it’s really nice to have a different option and we could use stuff instead of trashing it off,” stated sophomore Camilla Ragan, who has her closet filled with thrifted clothing.

Thrifting can also help with labor problems throughout the world, such as unregulated factories. The workers at these factories work hard labor for long hours and have very limited wages. These unconditional working conditions are illegal and are not allowed in the United States for the use of child labor and for violating many labor laws. Thrifting has become a great alternative for clothes shopping and is a way to not support certain workplaces and labor violations.

A major importance of clothes shopping is knowing where the clothes come from that are purchased, and thrifting is a great way to help support upcycling and reusing clothing. Being able to turn an old piece of clothing into something new is an effective way to help the environment, but also gives you a fun new clothing option that you created yourself.

“There is no need to waste fabric and clothing material. People are going to wear certain clothes, stow them away, instead of just reselling them or patching them up. Instead they are going to destroy the environment to make the exact same thing you could have made with the exact same material,” stated sophomore Andre LeClairHagen.

Not only does thrifting help with the environment and prevent dangerous working conditions, it is also a way to help build your closet and fill it. Thrifting is a great way to save money while buying a variety of different clothes for more options. It is a way to aid cost management and a way to save money, while still being able to fill your closet. Many clothing stores overcharge for certain pieces, and thrifting is a way to get a similar piece at a lower, and more affordable price.

“Malls always up the charge and then offer discounts like you’re actually saving money, but you know that the items that you’re buying, you know, for less than a yard of clothing, should not be $50.

It should be $20,” stated senior Alicia Williams, an avid thrifter.

Another important factor of thrifting is being able to find places that have good quality clothes with affordable prices. Some thrift stores overcharge for poor quality clothing, so it is important to research thrift stores when going to them to find the best places.

“Goodwill, and Revived, which is a consignment shop. Those are two really good places in Rolla,” stated Williams. “If I want to go out of Rolla, I go to Plato’s Closet, in Sappington, Missouri, but that is also kind of more expensive like Revived, but both of those are really good places.”

Not only is it good to shop local, especially when thrifting, it is a way to feel more connected within the community. The clothes that are available at the local thrift stores are donated by others in the community, and it is a way to make others feel more connected with people in their town.

“I think thrifting is a better way to connect with our community too, because I mean just our small Rolla society, we don’t have any large malls or, reputable places to buy cool clothing, but whenever you thrift you can talk to people that live here or connect with fashion that’s more local,” explained Williams.

Another advantage of thrifting is the ability to have many different options of items and collectibles. Thrift stores offer other items

to look through, like records, art, and jewelry.

“You can find decorations to jazz up your place and jewelry. I think the jewelry sections are so cool,” said Ragan.

It is another way to buy different items for a more affordable price and to find vintage and antique goods that might not be available in stores. Many people have found more retro pieces that are no longer available in stores at certain thrift stores. Some of those items that are found can be very evocative and reminiscent to others, and it is interesting buying those little pieces and being able to have something that is vintage or retro.

“Personally, I don’t like buying shoes in a thrift store, but you can find those there. One thing I really like finding is old CDs. It’s a good way for me to find new music because I have a CD player in my car. Sometimes there’s also art that you can find there, whether it’s just art that was from Walmart or it’s someone’s actual painting and framing,” said Williams. “Something really interesting and always fun to look at is old movies, which are fun, and old video games. I found some old electronics like cameras, which was really fun. I accidentally lost my camera that was from the 90s, but it’s really interesting to find ‘obsolete technology’. I actually think it’s coming back.”

Not only is it a way to find obsolete technology and vintage items, thrifting appeals to many people for various reasons, including finding resources for better prices to make things.

“If you go to the right places, thrift stores, I think in general you can find some really cool stuff. Or even if you’re good with your hands, you can make stuff out of things, like I find parts to make jewelry. I make most of my earrings and chains, and I think it is a good way to save money as well as finding stuff that’s high quality,” said LeClairHagen, who reuses materials to make his own jewelry.

Thrifting for the first time can be a very overwhelming experience, for when you walk in a thrift store there are many shelves packed with different items and pieces.

“If you’re looking for something, like a certain shirt that you just want cheaper, you should make a list, but if you’re doing it just for fun, I would dig through everything,” stated Ragan.

Making lists of items that are a want or need is a good way to find things easier, while others think it is more fun to go into thrift stores and dig through everything. A main factor of fruitful thrifting is the ability to dig through all of the clothes and look for more different pieces and items that you wouldn’t be able to normally find in certain stores.

“I have never tried to make an agenda when thrift shopping. If you are really intending not to spend extra money then you should, but nothing specific like, ‘I want a blue shirt that’s strapped with sequins on it’ because you’re never going to find that,” said Williams. “You’re never going to find something that specific, but if you’re going in like, ‘I really want an outfit, that’s my goal today,’ [that’s good]. It has to be really generalized. I think if you’re going to make an agenda for thrift shopping, just because there’s everything, there’s nothing at the same time.”

Thrifting is a way to help stop filling landfills. Instead, clothes are recycled and donated, helping the community. It is a way to help the community, and get many different pieces for a better cost.

Thrifting has continued to grow, and has become trendy due to Tiktok, Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media outlets. Many different influencers have started the trend of going to thrift stores and now others are searching the racks at their thrift store for different pieces to show off. With social media growing, thrifting will continue to be a trend within many towns and cities, offering others many more fun and different options for their closet, while making a difference for the environment and their community.

“Thrifting helps the environment by preventing excess waste. It’s a good source for upcycling material as well, like not every thrifted item is wearable, but you can always change it and make it into something completely new,” said Williams.

HIT THE THRIFT. SAVE THE EARTH.

BY HANNAH PUETZ

ONE STUDENT DEFINES HIS PERSONAL AESTHETIC

BY CONNOR LAMORA

From content creators to video producers, personal branding is present all over the world in the form of what a person wears and how they express themselves. This form of aesthetics, in which each person determines their own rules and comfort level for their aesthetic, allows people to style their clothing.

The word “aesthetic” relates to the appreciation of beauty or a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of an artist or artistic movement. Aesthetics can be applied to various things other than just clothing fashion-for example, the way an app is set up and the design of its interface can also be determined as its “aesthetic.” While one person’s aesthetic may involve fall colors such as different shades of brown or orange, another’s might involve brighter colors like red and pink.

Aesthetic is a malleable word, bending and changing with each person. Are students at RHS in touch with their own personal aesthetic enough to be able to identify its presence in their lives?

Senior Romel Jocson has his own view on the meaning of aesthetics.

“To me, aesthetics is basically something that you like [and] something that you’re comfortable with wearing.

Something that you want to wear, not what everyone wants you to wear,” explained Jocson.

Time periods can play a big role in individual aesthetics as well. Styles that date back to the late 80’s and 70’s are finding their way back into present individual’s wardrobes.

Vintage themed clothing such as bell bottoms, retro sneakers, and funky prints are prime examples. Even certain hair styles like perms and curly bangs circle back, instilling that 80’s vintage vibe.

However, as time goes on and people grow, so does the variety of aesthetics and new features present in a given person’s wardrobe. The amount of influence social media can have on creativity can unlock the door into the infinite possibilities for new styles.

“I was like everyone else. I was wearing basketball shorts, t-shirts and hoodies, normal stuff like that. And then when COVID started, I just started seeing people on Tik Tok and they’d dress pretty weird. But I thought it was cool.” Jocson stated. “So I was like, ‘I’m gonna experiment and do a little bit of what they [do]. And then I started experimenting with different types of clothing.

Different pants, colors, shoes, and I just started becoming more confident by wearing it.”

However, a primary fear with trying new things in general is the potential of others’ perception being negative.

It can be a struggle to overcome those fears while also trying to maintain confidence enough to wear and do what you like to do.

“I started wearing these Doc Martens that some people called dad shoes. They kept calling them that but at the same time I was just like ‘Oh, I like it and [it] doesn’t really matter.’ I like wearing [them] so at least I’m different, you know? I’m pretty creative with [my style],” explained Jocson. “You can’t be too worried about what other people [are] going to think of you because at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. It’s your style.”

Everyone’s style is different, and sometimes that’s exactly the point. Expressing oneself can be hard and scary, but it can be even more terrifying finding an aesthetic, not knowing how the public will consume it. Despite these fears, Jocson thinks the reward is worth it.

“I like to wear odd clothing just so I [can] feel different.

I find cool clothing that’s really weird, [something] you’d see on a fashion runway. That’s what I like wearing. Something that’s not ‘normal’ or in style usually,” said Jocson.

“I seriously think that fashion or clothing does not have a gender. However you want to express your style I say go for it. If it means doing [your] makeup or painting your nails, [wearing] earrings, or not wearing clothing that is ‘normal’, yeah I say go for it.” Jocson concluded.

CLASS OF ‘44 VETERAN REMINISCES WITH STUDENTS

BY SAMATHA MADDUX

Bill Feeler is a World War II veteran who has lived in Phelps County for all 95 years of his life. He graduated from Rolla High School in 1944. On November 23, he came to visit English teacher Janice Webb’s class to discuss some of his life experiences. He and his wife, Geneva, have been married for 68 years and have raised three children in the Rolla area. Throughout his life, Feeler has seen many changes in Phelps County.

Feeler is not the only member of his family to fight in a World War. His father also served in the military during World War I. “My dad was a blacksmith who shoed horses in World War I, but he never went overseas,” said Feeler.

Feeler has lived through many tough times. During the Great Depression, Feeler’s family farmed and had to save as much food as possible for the winter.

“My mother would can everything she could get her hands on,” said Feeler.

Feeler attended RHS when the town was a lot smaller. Feeler can remember how the town reacted to the war.

“Rolla was 4500 people when I went to high school and we practically knew everybody in town,” said Feeler. “Everybody was for the war effort, even little kids. Now we don’t have flip-top soda cans. We had the caps. They would be out picking up caps for the war effort. You picked up every bit of scrap metal that you could find and that won the war effort.”

Soon after graduating high school, Feeler was drafted into the war.

“And I thought it’ll be over before I have to go, then I turned 18 and graduated from high school,” said Feeler. “I got a letter from Roosevelt saying, ‘Greetings, your friends and neighbors have selected you’ and I thought, ‘they never talked to me about that.’”

Feeler performed many duties during the war that kept him away from the frontlines.

“I had good duty wherever I went. I didn’t have to go to the frontline. I delivered supplies and I delivered food. I did whatever was necessary,” said Feeler.

Feeler was stationed in the Philippines before being sent to Japan for nine months.

“The Philippines was hot, terribly hot. And mosquitoes were terrible. It rained all the time. When we’d sleep we had to put a net over us to keep the mosquitoes from eating us up,” said Feeler.

As soon as he was allowed to, he went straight home.

“They said you’re free to go if you can find a way, and the way I remember is I found this ship that was headed down from Tokyo to Seattle, Washington,” said Feeler.

When Feeler got home from Japan, he went right to work and kept himself very busy.

“I worked for the government for 26 years, including my military service.

And I went over and started driving a school bus…for 28 years,” said Feeler.

Feeler really enjoyed driving a school bus and often would treat the kids on his bus to a special treat for special events.

“There were certain days, about three days a year like maybe Easter and Christmas and the end of the school year that I first started taking them all to Dairy Queen. I’d notify Dairy Queen we were coming and let them get whatever they wanted,” said Feeler.

Bill Feeler has seen a lot in his life, from the Great Depression to World War II to COVID-19. He enjoys sharing his stories with others. He was very kind to the group of students he was speaking to, and even told a few jokes.

There is so much he can teach us.

“There’s things that I remember I wish I could forget, and there’s things I forgot I wish I could remember,” said Feeler.

By Helen Weiss In the chaotic life of a high schooler, volunteering can seem futile. If days of time and effort are put into service activities for only a few hours of an event, why volunteer? For Key Club members, service hours are more than just a line on a college application. Volunteers develop personal connections to an event, want to give back to the community for their support of different sports or activities, or give back to people in need.

Key Club participates in many different events, both national and communal.

They volunteer at the Ozark Community Blood Center, the coat closet through the First Baptist Church, the Rolla Animal Shelter, the Russell House, the Epilepsy Foundation, and the Honoring our Heroes marathon. While these are all great organizations, not everybody is able or wanting to help out. A motivator for volunteering is finding something that you are passionate about. One way students do this is by suggesting things that spark their interest at one of their meetings.

Senior Madison Rogers, Co-President of Key Club, has been involved in the group since her sophomore year. Although she participates in many activities and is often busy, she still finds time to volunteer and finds the experience quite rewarding.

“This community does a lot for me through sports and different things like that,” stated Rogers. “So it’s nice to give back and give to people in need.

I’ve met different people through the club that I probably wouldn’t have and made some new friends.”

Making friends and connections throughout the community aren’t the only good things about Key Club. It’s also a great way to help out those in need and, like with the Honoring our Heroes marathon, cheer on the community. For the ‘Honoring our Heroes’ marathon, Key Club has a water tent and signs with encouraging phrases “I feel like the Heroes’ Marathon that we do every year really brightens [the runners] day. They always give us compliments about how cheerful we are and are always thanking us as they’re running, which is kind of crazy,” stated Rogers. “During the Heroes’ Marathon, we don’t necessarily know everybody in the club well. I feel like spending those four hours out in the cold with the music, yelling and encouraging all the runners, and passing out snacks is a good team building thing. You get to meet everybody and talk to them in the low points when there aren’t many runners coming through and get to know them better.”

Along with the more well known events, like coat drives, court-warming, and can drives, the club does many other projects that take time and effort.

“We typically like to adopt a family for Thanksgiving, but that did not happen this year. We’re gonna adopt a family for Christmas,” stated Rogers.

“We also will normally adopt a couple kids. [Mr. Rodger Bridgeman] sends us things that they’re interested in or clothing sizes for pajamas or different clothes that they need, and then we’ll try to get as much as we can. Usually people volunteer to bring in things.”

Senior Vivian Laprise has been in Key Club since sophomore year. Originally, Laprise wasn’t a part of many clubs, but Key Club was doing many different events which caught her attention. A memorable event for Laprise was the Heroes’ Marathon.

“This year, we were doing the Heroes’ Marathon,” said Laprise, “and an army guy comes and he’s like, decked out and everything. He’s got guns on his hips and a giant rifle in his arms. And he was just walking. He was not caring about what his time was going to be in the race. He was walking along and talking to everybody and he stayed at our tent for about 10 minutes. He talked to us for a while and then just kept on walking and started talking to the next tent.”

When thinking about why she volunteers, Laprise remembers the people and animals she sees around town.

“I see all these homeless people and all these stray dogs and everything and

I just feel terrible for them, since I know that no one really cares,” stated Laprise. “And I mean, I’m sure there are people out there who do care, but they can’t do anything about it. Whenever I drive past someone, like at the Walmart parking lot, if I don’t give them anything, I feel terrible. So I just wanted to do something to help out.”

Christy Green is a math teacher at Rolla High School and the advisor of the Key Club. She recognizes that, as much as others would love to help out with the community, they are unable to because of conflicts like work, school, or homelife.

“You guys have extremely busy schedules, and trying to find something that will fit into your schedules is difficult,” said Green. “Another difficult part is finding something you’re passionate about, finding something that’s close to your heart. For example, looking at the Epilepsy Foundation. That one came about because my husband started having seizures. It felt close to my heart, and I felt a need to give back. When I asked the students and explained, ‘Hey, I feel pretty passionate about this,’ they were 100% on board with me. Coat closets are another example. Back in 2004, I had a student write in a journal that all they wanted for Christmas was a coat, and it broke my heart. Since then, it’s been like, ‘Okay, this is a minor thing we can do. We can collect coats, we can carry them across the street. It’s not a big deal’. So that’s finding something that’s close to your heart, which I think can be a little hard for teenagers to figure out. I suggest trying different things, like if I work at the GRACE food distribution line and that’s just not for me, that’s okay. Maybe then I’ll go see if the library needs help, or the animal shelter if I’m into animals, or some other avenue.”

When participating in community service, some people are looking to get hours for a club or an organization, while others are doing it for their own personal reasons.

“Sometimes [students are] just doing it to get their hours,” said Green.

“And I’ll be quite frank, the people that do that don’t get the hours because they just show up for the event. They don’t show up for the process, like [for the Heroes’ Marathon] they don’t show up to make the posters and go through the excitement of making them…I get to watch [the students who are there for every event and preparation] grow and change and be like ‘okay, what’s our next event?’ because they’re excited to find out what it is. The other thing is, you’re seeing a different side of what may be your normal, cushy life, or vice versa; if you’ve got a hard life, maybe this is a way for you to get some relief and relax. Everybody’s got a different piece they’re going to get out of it.”

With Green organizing so many Key Club events, it’s hard for her to pick a favorite.

“I would honestly have to say that my favorite event is Honoring Our Heroes. I had been able to run the Honoring Our Heroes half-marathon four times, and three of those four times my Key Club kids were standing there ready to cheer me on. We had personally made signs for [Ms. Croft], but she didn’t see the signs till she was past. And she ended up getting a PR, which is awesome, and we’re really proud of her,” said Green.

Key Club made a special sign for Ms. Kylie Croft, a math teacher at Rolla High School, who has run two half-marathons.

“You hit a certain point,” said Croft. “You’re just trudging along, but [the tents] help break up the monotony, and a lot of times you pick up your pace when there’s people around you. I think it definitely helps and it’s nice.”

Key Club has welcomed new members and has given many students opportunities to help provide for their local community.

“Through community service, you are building networks that you don’t know you’re even building at the time,” said Green.

THE ANONYMOUS WRITER IN OUR MIDST

BY MEGHAN WILLIAMS

Rolla High School has a young Edgar Allen Poe hidden in its midst.

A sophomore by the name of Xenon Henson has been writing poems and short stories and uploading them to the internet under many aliases. Henson has reached a hint of fame, averaging around 16,000 views on their profile per month.

“It’s not enough to be called famous or anything, but for something that I just do for a hobby I think it’s pretty cool that I get a ton of attention because that’s not what I wanted to do at first,” said Henson.

Henson didn’t start their career online, but rather the old-fashioned way of scrawling on pen and paper. Their switch to the internet was purely conventional.

“All the time I would write something on a little piece of paper, but it wouldn’t go anywhere,” said Henson. “So I was like, what if I just started shortening my things and just posting it, and then it would be there for me, if I ever wanted to work upon it and make something bigger. So I started doing that and it just blew up. It was surprising. I don’t like bragging about it.”

Blood is thicker than water, and so is ink. Family was a big push in Henson’s writing career.

“My grandparents suggested that I go into writing because my grandpa really liked poetry. He even wrote some poetry for himself and he would put [it] on a website and get awards and stuff,” said Henson. “He always encouraged me to do it, because he really thought that with the creativity I had, in my mind, I could really make work.”

Like most teens these days, the internet played a role in sparking Henson’s passion.

“Whenever I was very young. I got into a role-playing community.

Basically, you use text and you put it into action. You make your text full of action. It’s like stepping out of your shoes and playing as a different character,” said Henson. “I don’t do it anymore, but it was good practice for me because it started off with just writing a few creative lines to eventually making full-body paragraphs.

That’s how I got into writing and going into platforms.”

Henson has mainly experimented with writing poems and short stories.

“I write poems and short little concepts for people to imagine in their brains, maybe give them if they want to write - a little something to start off on,” said Henson. “It usually tends to be tragedy and romance. I usually write something that’s darker. I mean, there have been a couple of my writings that have been more on the positive side and about loving oneself, but usually, it tends to be on the romantic side or very tragic.”

Despite most of Henson’s works being on the shorter side, their short stories allow Henson to add more detail than a poem. This is Henson’s strong suit, thus they enjoy writing short stories more.

“I’m good at putting symbolism in a lot of things. It’s the details and stuff like that. I think I’m really good with that,” said Henson.

Along with the details, Henson also takes pleasure in the writing process.

“The mental process of putting things together is just very fun to me,” said Henson. “It takes a very long time, but I think the way that my mind clicks whenever I’m trying to think of ideas and

putting it into writing is just phenomenal to me. I could be sitting there doing absolutely nothing or watching TV and immediately an idea will pop in my brain. I’m like, I’ve got to write that down.”

Henson still has their struggles, which is why they have yet to venture into writing longer stories.

“What I kind of think I’m not good at would probably be the way I piece things together, like transitional things. I don’t think I do that good with transitions, and I think I move across a lot of my writing a little fast,” said Henson. “If I were to do bigger writing, I think I would probably have somebody with me that would read over it.”

Henson’s stories are, of course, the star of the show, but there are many other factors that led to their internet fame. Henson used to share an account with someone, but after stepping away from that partnership, Henson really began to grow. Henson began making their stories more pleasing to the eye by using covers and adding hashtags to widen outreach. Overall, they just started putting more into editing and formatting their works, which boosted engagement.

“I started actually editing the photos and putting it in more of a better format. That’s when I started to gain more attention,” said Henson. “And I looked into hashtags and what to put and eventually it was like, you’re getting like 300 likes per day on like every post. I’ve got a lot of posts that get over 1000 likes within a week.

Even from people that don’t even follow me. My account overall has like 16,000 views per month.”

Unfortunately, those interested in reading Henson’s stories will have a difficult time tracking them down. The internet has allowed Henson to run under many different aliases and keep their works under lock and key.

“I like being very private about it. I have changed my name online like so many times to hide my identity, and I never post my face,” said Henson. “Some of the stuff I write can be embarrassing and can be maybe a little more mature, not inappropriate, but mature.

Maybe they’re super dark and that’s just something I’d like to keep more personal. If somebody were to find that, I feel like my pride and writing would be a little bit altered or tainted. It wouldn’t be as great as it used to be because then I’d constantly worry about what to write.”

Although, the internet isn’t always working with Henson. In fact, it has brought them a fair amount of stress.

“It can be very, very overwhelming sometimes,” said Henson.

“There are days I don’t want to check in at all. I don’t want to open any of my platforms. I want to sit there, and I want to take a break.”

Despite the dark side, many parts of the online scene have benefitted Henson. It has especially boosted their confidence.

“I wasn’t very confident about my writing at first. I mean, I’m still not as confident, but I definitely have a lot more confidence now. At first, I was just like, ‘Oh, this is stupid,’” said Henson. “Now that it’s more popular, [I] get a lot more feedback with it, and it’s usually positive. It makes me more confident with my writing, and the hate comments, honestly, motivate me a lot, too.”

A looming question hovers over all students throughout their high school career: What will I do after I graduate? Many choose to pursue higher education, specifically 4-year schools. This involves applying and choosing from thousands of different colleges and universities based on a variety of factors. For student athletes, another layer is added to the process with deciding whether or not to continue their athletic career in college.

Senior athlete Hayden Fane wasn’t sure if he would continue playing sports until his football season ended.

“It [Playing sports in college] hasn’t always been my plan,” said Fane. “After football season ended, I realized that I would never put my pads back on, so that opened up the option to maybe try to wrestle in college, so I could keep that alive.”

Fane’s wrestling coach, Marty Hauck, reached out on his behalf to college coaches he knows.

“Coach Hauck played a pivotal role in getting my name out there, and then they [coaches] contacted me about that,” said Fane.

For other athletes, the recruiting process began earlier in their high school career, with junior year typically being considered prime recruiting season for most sports. Junior cross country and track athlete Izzy Frost is currently navigating the process.

“A lot of colleges have been reaching out,” said Frost. “For example, West Point sent an athletic recruitment signup letter to Coach Cook, who gave it to me. I’ve also been filling some questionnaires online and trying to get my name out there.”

While every sports recruitment process involves reaching out to coaches, for more team focused sports, there is more than just filling out quantitative questionnaires “The best way of putting myself out there to get recruited was by playing for a really good and nationally known AAU team (Mis-

souri Phenom),” said senior basketball athlete Savannah Campbell.

“We traveled the country playing in big tournaments and got to play in front of hundreds of college coaches.”

Some of these coaches reached out to Campbell, including Pittsburg State University in Kansas, the school Campbell ended up choosing.

“I chose Pitt because I love the coaching staff, the culture of their program, and how much women’s basketball is supported there,” said Campbell. “They also have really nice facilities.”

While Campbell did find success through playing at regional and national events, these events can cost a pretty penny. USA Today estimates that high level club sports programs can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000. Head baseball and softball coach Kenneth Hohe, a former college athlete, says it’s not a good financial return with most athletes only getting a partial scholarship.

“For every million athletic dollars, there’s a billion academic dollars,” said Hohe. “Many athletes also transfer or take five years to graduate, adding to their college costs.”

However, for most athletes, it’s not just about paying for college. This will likely be their last chance to play the sport they love at a competitive level with fewer than 2% of college athletes going on to compete professionally according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). So while the scholarship is nice, Campbell’s love to compete is what made continuing her basketball career an easy decision.

“I wanted to continue to play basketball in college because I love to compete and want to see what I can do at the next level,” said Campbell. “It’s also a great way to pay for college while doing something that I love.”

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS

PHONE POLICIES ENCOURAGE FOCUS IN CLASSROOMS

BY NATHANIEL JACKSON

Between periods, drones of students flood the halls, robotically following their route to class while eagerly checking their phones. The conversations and steady movements of the students throughout the hall are not bothered by this juggling act; checking their phones is an essential task that is worth the possible disruptions.

According to a Pew Research Center poll in 2012, “While 19% of these teachers say students are not allowed to have these devices in their classrooms, 28% say this is a major issue for them and another 43% say it is a minor issue. The remaining 11% describe the management of students’ use of cell phones and other tech devices in class as “not an issue at all.” So for what reason do teens have to be so attached and connected, and always needing to know what’s going on?

“Honestly, I’d say I’m on my phone a combined 2-3 hours during school…Half of my classes have one task a day, and after I finish, I just get on my phone and use social media or [play] true skate,” said junior Carter Mabe.

Some teachers don’t allow students to use their phones during class and instead ask them to put them away in a box or their backpacks. Other teachers don’t mind phones being used, many allow their use into the classroom with studying games like Gimkit, or Quizzlet. The difference in these classes brings questions as to which is a better standard: phones or no phones?

In general, classes that don’t allow phone usage are classes with a lot of new material everyday which doesn’t leave a lot of free time for the class or the teacher. Those

that allow phone usage are usually classes with longer lessons that stretch throughout the week and have more free time for students to use phones. Classes with phones allow a more comfortable atmosphere at the cost of attention and most likely some procrastination. “[Banning phones] is kind of unnecessary in my opinion, I feel like if you have all your work done in a class you should be able to use your phone,” says Mabe. ”I think they are just as productive as classes with phone usage.”

On the other hand, classes without phones may feel more boring or slow, but bring more attention to the teacher and lesson. “[Having no phones] 100% helps me learn more,” said senior Asia Ellingsworth. “I just feel like classes that allow phones do not allow students to be focused on the material.”

Many students enjoy having their phones for listening to music, and not for other purposes.

“I dislike [no phones in class] not because of me not being able to be on it but just to change songs or to have music in general. Music is how I calm myself down,” said senior Trevor Cox. Teachers and students alike are looking for a new standard for phones in classrooms. Many students love the freedom of having their phones, but is it too much of a distraction or a needed break?

“I think that instead of not having or having phones, there should be little breaks throughout periods to check [phones] and recenter,” said Ellingsworth.

VILLAINIZING VIDEO GAMES: ARE WE RUSHING TO JUDGMENT?

BY HAYLEN JACKSON

More than 214 million people in the United States play video games, and 75% of all households have at least one person who plays them. With this hobby being so prevalent in the United States, it invites the question: is playing video games bad?

Video games can help improve hand-eye coordination, the ability to process information faster, decision making, and attention span length. It also helps with problem solving skills and the use of logic, especially when playing puzzle and strategy games. Playing multiplayer games can even increase the ability to work with people.

Players can also learn from video games. For example, games like Wordscapes, Tetris, 2048 or Big Brain Academy can help with problem solving and completing puzzles. A variety of educational games exist, including Portal, a well-known puzzle-solving game, and Myst, a video game trilogy about mystery and problem solving.

Video games can be beneficial as long as they aren’t played for an excess of time. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that people shouldn’t have more than 2 hours of screen-based entertainment a day. Playing video games too much can lead to addiction, and just like drug addictions, sudden termination of the activity can cause withdrawals.

Prolonged and intense use of video games can also make people lose interest in other activities.

Y X

B A

For sophomore Taite Meggitt, time boundaries help him keep a healthy relationship with gaming.

“Two hours, I feel, is a good time. Any more could be harmful to your body and could hurt your legs. It can also just be bad for your eyes,” Meggitt said.

Meanwhile, a large argument against video games is the violence they may cause. Video games like Doom or Mortal Kombat are stated to increase aggressive thoughts and behavior. These games may increase aggression because they contain guns and violent activities. However, Meggitt disagrees with this idea.

“I feel they don’t increase aggressive thoughts and behavior, because I’ve played a lot worse and seen a lot worse. It doesn’t make people violent like websites state,” Meggitt said.

Many activities have pros and cons, and video games are no different. It is important to remember the amount of time spent playing games determines the severity of negative effects. As long as people play games for a regulated amount of time, all of their cons can be decreased, if not avoided at all. Limiting playtime can even increase the pros of video games. So, are they bad? Not necessarily.

Although video games can bring many negative side effects, these can be avoided by restricting the amount of time spent on the activity.

It is easy to take for granted how seamlessly language blends in with daily life. For four Rolla High School students, they have a uniquely beautiful experience to be connected through two languages rather than only one. Which serves as a link to their culture and history.

Freshman Mohamed Algraiw grew up learning to speak and write Arabic.

“Ever since I could speak, I’ve known how to speak Arabic,” explained Algraiw. “When I was young, I moved away from Libya, but at the time I wasn’t talking. I went back when I was 10 years old for about a month. At that time, I could actually speak Arabic.”

It is estimated that there are over 25 Arabic dialects in the world.

“Typically every single country will have their own dialect, and way of speaking Arabic,” said Algraiw. “There’s the Arabic dialect in the Quran, the holy book, and it is used by all Arab countries. And then the one that I usually speak is the Libyan dialect. The easiest one for me is [the] Libyan [dialect], because I’m from there. The hardest one might be Algerian, because they have French influence. For example, spoon in the Libyan dialect would be Kasik, but in Arabic that is used by all countries, [spoon] would be referred to as mileaqa.”

For Mohammed, speaking Arabic brings him pride.

“I’m from Libya, and I show strong pride for my nation, so I really like Arabic. I also think that it’s a very beautiful language and if you take the time to know it, it just increases your appreciation for it,” said Algraiw. “One of the most beautiful things is that sometimes kids will be like, ‘what’s a cuss word in Arabic?’ but they are surprised when I tell them that there aren’t any.

There are insults, which differ from English ones, but for the most part it’s a

very kind and respectful language.”

Knowing Arabic offers many different advantages.

“I’d say some advantages are that certain languages have certain difficulties learning one from another. English and Arabic are two of the hardest languages to learn if you know one, but don’t know the other, ‘’ said Algraiw.

“So knowing Arabic and knowing English gives you a great understanding of languages, and makes it easier to learn any other language.”

Junior Perla Valley speaks Spanish with her family.

“I learned some of it [Spanish] from my father. He’s from Honduras. He taught me a little bit when I was younger, but I, being young, didn’t want to learn it that much,” said Valley.

Spanish from Honduras differs from other dialects of Spanish.

“It’s [Honduras’s dialect of Spanish] different from Spain since it’s all the way in a different country. It’s different from Mexico in the culture, the holidays, because they don’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo,” said Valley.

Spanish is uniquely different compared to English.

“It’s also interesting because you find words that don’t exist in Spanish, like ‘do’ doesn’t [exist], so they use a question mark instead for it at the beginning [of a sentence]. Which I think is really cool,” said Valley.

Speaking two languages can serve as a kind of access pass to new places and cultures.

“The advantages are that you can talk to more people. You can understand what they’re saying and you can get around. Say you were to go to Mexico or Spain even, you could get around just using your basic knowledge. For disadvantages, you’ll probably get confused with whatever language you’re in.” said

Valley. “Sometimes I’ll be talking, and I’ll just start speaking some Spanish words, and I’m like, ‘wait a minute, That’s not the right language.’ So it’s confusing sometimes because, your brain, it just mixes it up. Sometimes I’ll be speaking English and then go straight to Spanish.”

Anish Jagannathan is a senior who knows how to speak Tamil.

“My native language is English but my secondary language is Tamil,” said Jagannathan. “My parents taught me, and then every time we go to India, my grandparents reinforce it, because that’s the only thing they can speak. So I’m required to speak with them in that native language.”

Tamil is one language of India that has two dialects.

“In Sri Lanka, which is a different country, of course South of India,” said Jagannathan. “They also speak Tamil, but they speak a slightly different dialect because well, they’re Sri Lankans, but those are the only two dialects, just the one in South India and the one in Sri Lanka. Typically at the end of the words in Sri Lanka, they’ll add an ‘e’ sound towards them, while Tamil in South India does not. That’s how you really distinguish between the two.”

Tamil has advantages that English doesn’t.

“I would say flow. In English you have to be really specific on your structure, even if you’re using slang, but slang in Tamil, it’s so much more connected. It’s a lot easier to get your words out. You can get your entire sentence out, in a matter of three words total, but in English, it would take five or six [words]. If I were to say ‘get me water’ or ‘get me a glass of water’ in Tamil, all I have to say is ‘thani irindth va’ which is like two words. So that versus ‘can you get me a glass of water?’ [which is] like eight [words].”

Knowing Tamil allows for more convenient communication.

“Let’s say you’re going around with family that also knows that same language, you don’t have to feel awkward speaking English. [If] you want to say something, you’d have your secondary language to fall back on. So no one else knows what you’re saying, so you can stay private while you’re in public.

You don’t have to worry about keeping your tone low unless you see another Indian family then you have to figure out what they’re speaking. When you’re in public, you don’t have to worry about that. I think the biggest advantage is going out in public and being able to speak freely.”

Tamil is an outlier that allows for more in emotional depth than other regional languages.

“I’ll meet other Indians, and they’ll talk about how Tamil is known in India as the most beautiful language. There’s like over 100 languages in India, and that’s what they’ll say. It is the easiest to speak, it provides the most amount

of emotion. A lot of other languages in India, they say that it’s difficult to provide emotion with their words. In America, we have to use tone a lot of the time to provide our emotion. In Tamil you don’t really have to. There’s specific words that provide that emotion.”

Language is passed down through generations to ultimately become what it is now.

“It means quite a lot [to me]. It’s the oldest language we know of on this planet. And because of that, I’m proud to come from an area like that, that speaks that language. Although the dialects have changed since then, it represents, as soon as someone speaks Tamil, [that] they come from a really long, and rich area, especially with history. It really makes me proud to know that I could speak a secondary language.”

Eyram Dumor, is a high school senior who knows how to speak Twi. “I spent some of my early childhood years in Ghana, so I was speaking Twi with my grandparents, and my aunts, and uncles. My siblings, however, did not have the same opportunity. They came to the United States fairly young, so they don’t really remember,” said Dumor.

Twi is a language spoken in Ghana.

“Depending on where you live in Ghana, you’ll speak a completely different language,” said Dumor. “There’s Twi and then there are certain people who speak Ewe, which really is its own language. Depending on whether you have different ethnic groups living in the same area you’ll find that it has new additional words that you wouldn’t really expect. It’s kind of like Spanish.”

Twi is unique in the fact that it is a rare language.

“I think English [has its advantages], being such a universal language.

Business wise, I think that speaking English is easier,” said Dumor. “However, being able to speak Twi helps me feel more tied into where I’m from. Living in the United States, not always being in Ghana, knowing that I at least have this part of my culture with me. It makes me feel more firm in who I am.”

Language symbolizes something different for each person.

“It definitely does mean a lot about my family where I’m from,” said Dumor.

“To me, it symbolizes keeping the old culture [alive], before colonization, and still maintaining our language. I mean, there are some European words that have been mixed in, but for the most part, it’s still authentically Ghanaian. I feel like now, because in school in Ghana, at least they don’t really teach our languages anymore. It’s really up to us, as children of Ghana, children of Africa, to remember our languages so that they’re not forgotten.”

Inside the metaverse By angela yang Many new terms like crypto and NFTs have entered the public sphere, creating controversy and confusion in all corners of the web. Another concept with potentially huge consequences has recently been added to the mix: the Metaverse. As the Internet expands, the limits of its boundaries and its influence on people’s lives constantly change, and companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) look to this new Metaverse as the digital world’s next variation.

What would a world in the meta truly entail, and how much should we let it influence our lives?

The definition of the Metaverse is rather vague. Generally, a single metaverse describes a world in which people can interact in an augmented, digital world, while the Metaverse as a whole would encompass all of these smaller worlds, allowing users to jump between them instantaneously, analogous to switching tabs on a browser or apps on a phone.

Aspects of the Metaverse already exist in games such as Roblox and Fortnite, which can be played in VR and feature interactive events. Concerts within Fortnite have become well-known, featuring artists like Marshmello and Ariana Grande, while Roblox offers various multiplayer games and activities for people to partake in. Roblox also allows users to sell and buy personalized creations, and has started embracing its association with the meta by advertising events like Metaverse Champions.

Another game that exhibits metaverse-like qualities is VR Chat, which solely exists for people to interact in a three-dimensional, digital space. Users choose or create avatars to represent themselves, then enter virtual rooms where they can meet and talk with strangers and friends.

Junior Oscar Cheng often socializes online. He owns a VR headset and uses VR Chat to meet and interact with others.

“It’s like talking to people in real life, just more virtual. There are worlds that people can join, and it’s kind of like a huge group call,” said Cheng. “I got into it because I saw YouTubers connecting with people around the world who spoke different languages and getting to know them. I’ve seen people actually get into relationships--like they met online, then met in real life and got together, and I think it’s cool how games like VR chat can connect people like that.”

However, he notes that there are also downsides.

“I’d say [my experiences are] more positive, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any negatives. You don’t really know what [people] look like in real life or how they act. It can be kind of dangerous,” said Cheng.

COVD-19 quarantines and social distancing intensified the need for spaces to digitally interact with others in all parts of life. Video call applications like Zoom were highlighted as methods to meet for both work and recreation; however, virtual or mixed reality may provide a more fun and personal way to communicate when in-person options are not available. Microsoft is currently working on Mesh, a mixed-reality extension of their Teams application that focuses on person-to-person collaboration. Two features they plan to incorporate in Mesh are holographic versions of users that can appear in meetings, and interactive virtual models to be used in designing architecture, manufacturing, or planning. Another company, VictoryXR, is trying to increase the quality of online education by creating virtual learning opportunities, such as its own VR university campus that offers classes in all core subjects.

Natasha Green, an English teacher at Rolla High School, has mixed feelings about working online.

“When we were on a hybrid schedule doing [classes] online, it had some

great benefits. I loved working from home and not having to drive an hour to work every day. I felt like I had more time to rest. But it wasn’t the same seeing kids on the screen as it is in the class, where you’re able to actually interact with them one on one.”

Senior Sarah Beetner, who wants to be a highschool teacher, is also skeptical of integrating the Metaverse into education.

“I would be fine working in a business environment online, but I don’t think I’d be comfortable teaching and not having any students come in-person. Even if you were in a virtual classroom and could interact with the kids’ avatars, it wouldn’t be the same. My worry is that the kids would feel less inclined to ask questions, and that the student-teacher interaction would be cut,” said Beetner.

Investors and companies across the world are also taking note of a different aspect of the Metaverse: digital real estate. People buy virtual plots of land in the hopes of developing each area into a storefront where brands can advertise their wares. For example, the company Tokens.com recently paid $1.7 million to acquire part of the metaverse real estate company Metaverse Group.

From there, Tokens.com built a tower in a metaverse called Decentraland, which they plan to lease to other companies and host advertisements. Virtual structures like malls, concert venues, and shopping districts are all available to be bought for high sums of money. All of this is based on the expectation that people will virtually travel through such spaces, looking for items to buy with cryptocurrencies or NFTs. As seen, companies plan to incorporate the Metaverse into a majority of everyday life, which causes concern for many.

Green teaches Science Fiction, a class that often deals with ethics and moral dilemmas concerning technology. She thinks that the Metaverse will cause people to lose their connection with each other and with real life.

“From a personal perspective, I like to see people’s real faces--I just like reality. I think sometimes we’re escaping too much and losing that personal connection. I know the idea [of the Metaverse] is to bring people together, and I think it will to some extent, but I think it will also create more distance if it’s not used properly,” said Green. “I think some people will want to stay in their virtual world all the time because they can get things there that they can’t have in reality, but I think it’s good to unplug and be a part of what is actually around you.”

Senior Trevor Cox also believes that people will spend too much time in the Metaverse in order to escape reality.

“Every once in a while, you just have to touch some grass or go outside.

When people run away from their problems, it seems like that’s all they’re going to do, and they won’t face things head on. They’ll be like, ‘I can just get in this virtual world, not be myself, and make myself better than I actually am,’” said Cox. Meanwhile, Beetner fears that the consequences of people’s use of technology will become more prevalent and severe.

“It’s being debated to qualify technology addiction as a mental health condition on the same level as alcoholism,” said Beetner. “I know people who use their phones an excessive amount. Right now, they have an outlet. What if they had a doorway? It’s just expanding on the problems we already had and making them 10 times bigger, 10 times harder to fix,” said Beetner.

Beetner also thinks that relationships will be negatively affected.

“Imagine if every single connection that you have was based on the Metaverse, and then it shut down. That would crush people’s entire lives.

What if your strongest relationship is with someone halfway across the world? What if you never have a relationship with your siblings?”

Green also stresses the possibility of companies collecting personal data in the Metaverse.

“Everybody wants your data. When you’re getting apps, even if they’re free apps, if you’re not careful, you’re signing away your life. You’re practically letting them peek in and see everything about you. Facebook’s really good at that, and so is Google. So for all the ease and the niceties and the cool sci-fi factor [of the Metaverse], if you’re not careful, you’re giving up a lot to all these companies. There’s not gonna be a whole lot of privacy.”

Beetner, although she acknowledges this lack of privacy, has a different take on the matter.

“I think most of the things that people view as private that would be im-

peded on by the Metaverse have already been impeded on. The idea of privacy is very lax, but it’s also in the realm of the stuff that you decide to put onto a site. You have to take that into account, like you don’t have to give them real information. And that’s the whole point. It’s an entire new reality. You don’t have to be you,” said Beetner.

Another issue with virtual social interactions is the anonymity between strangers, something that is already extremely prevalent. Cox is especially worried for the safety of children.

“If it’s a random person, how are you supposed to know if they’re being truthful? That’s why I wouldn’t let little kids onto the Metaverse, because they’re very susceptible to strangers and stuff like that. Like the stranger can make themselves whatever they want, then coax a kid into meeting up with them, that kind of thing,” said Cox. Finally, it should be noted that the Metaverse will likely be built for profit, which raises questions on how prevalent advertising will be in virtual worlds and how marketing will be used to influence consumers. Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer of Meta, plans to be a large part in building the infrastructure of the Metaverse. He stated in a company earnings call that “Ads are going to continue being an important part of the strategy across the social media parts of what we do, and it will probably be a meaningful part of the Metaverse, too.”

Despite all these concerns, it cannot be denied that an interconnected Metaverse would allow for methods of global communication unlike any other.

The ability to see and meet with people from across the world in an immersive, interactive environment, all while staying home, is an exciting possibility.

“If the Metaverse does evolve and actually become somewhat similar to Ready Player One, I feel like that’d be way cooler, considering you could interact with 100 times more people than in the area you live. With the Metaverse, you can meet people from New Zealand or Denmark, unlike just going around your local town and finding people to talk to,” stated Cheng.

Beetner also believes that the Metaverse could make personal interactions more accessible.

“It could be advantageous to have a virtual world for people who need it, like if they were confined to a bed or couldn’t convince themselves to come out of the house. People with agoraphobia could try and get acclimated to what the real world is like,” said Beetner.

With such intense discussion of the Metaverse, one must wonder if such a structure is even presently feasible. Spoiler: not really. In fact, Beetner believes Zuckerberg rushed to announce his company’s involvement in the Metaverse to save face, and that the concept will likely not come soon.

“Honestly, it seems like [this is] Facebook’s way to save a dying brand.

This is coming from a younger generational person, but it’s mostly Instagram that’s been keeping Facebook alive. Facebook has been getting a lot of negative attention from social media and just media in general, and this rebranding is like a call for help. It seems like a way to get away from their past and try and forge a future, except that future is ethically mixed,” said Beetner.

Cox also believes that VR technology is not advanced enough for the Metaverse.

“I’d say it might happen in like 10 years or so, maybe five with pushing it.

Right now, it’s just that not many people have VR stuff because it’s a new thing,” said Cox. However, even if the infrastructure for the Metaverse was present, should society expand to this next level of the Internet? Beetner doesn’t believe so.

“We dove in head first with cell phones and the Internet, and it’s gotten very out of control very quickly, and now we can’t backpedal. We used ourselves as test mice, and I feel like Facebook is making the first step into the next trap before we can even backpedal the first time,” Beetner said. “Collectively as a society, I hope that we take a step back and ask, ‘Is this really the future that we want?’”

Beetner worries that people will ignore present issues in favor of escaping into the Metaverse.

“If we destroy our air quality and we can’t go outside anymore, I’ll just hop on my headset and go outside [virtually], because who cares? It would make a lot of the things that make everyday life meaningful, meaningless,” said Beetner.

ORDINARY HOMES WELCOME WILD PETS

By QUinn GUFFEy

Along with a stack of homework, some students come home to a scaly man or a furry lady friend. These animals, usually a reptile or a mammal from outside of the United States, often require more care and conscious effort.

Rachel Woods, a senior at Rolla High School, has had many types of animals.

“I’ve had lots of exotic animals. I used to have a chinchilla a couple years ago. I had him for about a year and a half. I don’t remember his name, it was a while ago. My mom has had a lot of bearded dragons, I think about four.

Right now we have two. One is named Remy, like the rat from Ratatouille.

The other is named Covey. We have had those [bearded dragons] for about a year now,” said Wood.

On the other end of the high school spectrum, freshman Jay Smith has also had many exotic pets.

Reptiles require more care than a cat or dog.

“They require heat lamps, which are sometimes hard to find in Rolla. It inspires me to stay warm, they just sit under the heat lamp all day, and I think, ‘Wow, they must have a nice life,’” said Woods.

“I’ve had around 15 animals I think, probably more than that. I had an alligator when I was really young. She had a huge tank with a water area and a land area, and it was all inside. We had three sugar gliders; Rubio, Princess, and Fat-Boy. They would get out of their cages a lot and when we would hold them they’d always try to fly all over us. We had a little sugar glider pouch and that’s how we would carry them around,” said Smith.

Although having unusual pets is fun, finding resources for them in a small town can be challenging.

“Our sugar gliders got really sick at one point. We didn’t really know what to do. We were trying to do our research on what to do about it and find out what was wrong, there just aren’t that many resources here,” says Smith.

With the hardships, having exotic animals also comes with bragging rights.

“I think a pro of having a weird pet is that you’re automatically cooler, and you get to take cool pics with your cool pets. A con is how much care you have to give them. I go on so many Petsmart runs to go buy the little stinky mealworms you have to feed them all the time,” said Woods.

GLOBAL WARMING IS A GLOBAL WARNING

BY LANA SIMPSON

Many people harbor this fantasy: waking up on Christmas morning, and drawing back the curtains to see the ground coated in a thick, white blanket of snow. But, can you remember the last time you actually experienced this? It is a known fact that weather fluctuates, but winter seasons around the world are permanently changing. The climate change crisis is changing winters as we know them, due to increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The word “climate” alludes to the average weather over time which has been relatively stable until recently. Across the world, temperatures are rising at a rapid rate. This means that, although winters can still be frigidly cold, white winters are becoming a rarity in Missouri and surrounding states, as the planet is heating up at an alarming rate.

Climate change has made itself obvious during warmer months, as it brings record-breaking hurricanes and devastating wildfires across the country, but in many regions, winters are actually warming up more rapidly than any other season. Analysis done by Climate Central, an independent research organization, states that winters in the United States have warmed by an average of 3 degrees Fahrenheit over the past half-century. While this may not seem drastic, it is expected to continue to rise with no end in sight. With these warmer temperatures comes more precipitation, because as the planet warms, more water is evaporated. In colder states, this added precipitation is likely to come in the form of heavy snowstorms, but in warmer midwestern states like Missouri, this is likely to cause freezing rain and heavy downpours.

To some, warmer winters seem favorable. Higher temperatures may melt ice from roads, cut heating and electricity costs, and make heavy coats obsolete, but warmer winters come with much more serious costs. Changing winter temperatures can interfere with crop growth, as many fruit trees must go through a “chilling

period” during the winter, during which cold temperatures are a necessity. Rising temperatures also allow disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitos, to creep further into the year. Disease transmission from mosquitoes and other insects need a warm climate.

According to research done by Climate Central, cities across the US are averaging an additional 52 days that allow disease transmission, and the land area most suitable for disease-carrying mosquitoes is projected to increase from 5% to 50% by 2100, which puts many areas at risk of an outbreak.

It is evident that climate change is affecting different areas of the United States in unique ways, but if Missourians plan on staying in the Midwest, they can expect to watch snowfall decline as the seasons become hotter and wetter. This will continue to affect farming, fishing, winter recreation, plant growth, as well as many other things that we may take for granted.

Many nations around the world are fighting against climate change, but change can come from individuals, as well. The most important way that individuals can combat climate change is to become educated and spread awareness. Many people may be left in the dark, not knowing or believing the effects of climate change, so something as simple as talking to others and voicing concerns could help protect the planet. Saving electricity in your household whenever possible, and reducing both water and waste in your household are other, more hands-on, ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint. Although global warming cannot be reversed, it can be slowed and even stopped within the next century, but this can only happen if all nations, and the people within those nations, can cooperate and slow carbon emissions, which is why it is important to know the impact that one can have.