Verdant 22

Verdant 22

Verdant 22 a captain shreve anthology

Verdant 22 is a collection of Captain Shreve’s best student writing and art from the 2021-2022 school year as selected by the Verdant editorial staff. In this collection, you will find essays, narratives, poems, and artwork of various mediums that have received recognition from local, regional, and national awards. Entries are copyright of their respective owners and may be reproduced for personal or educational purposes only.

Special thanks to Michael Scott for creating Verdant in 2016.

Your commitment to teaching and promoting authentic student writing is invaluable.

For more information, contact Brandon Winningham at bwinningham@caddoschools.org or Michael Scott at mrscott@caddoschools.org.

Captain Shreve High School 6115 E. Kings Highway Shreveport, LA 71105 Copyright © Verdant 22 Captain Shreve High School

Verdant Staff Editors Genene Carter ‘22 Simmion Demery ‘22 Sarah Dupree ‘22 Gracie Mullins ‘22 Maci Picou ‘22 Malaja Williams ‘22

Advisors Michael Scott Brandon Winningham

Cover Photography Avery Bryan ‘22

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION

Sarah Dupree and Gracie Mullins, Notes from the Editor.................................... vii

POETRY

Jessica Askew, November........................................................................................ 1 Karrington Brown, Untitled................................................................................. 10 Kennedy Berry, unwanted guest............................................................................ 18 La’Zaron Goodman, Reflection............................................................................ 19 Karrington Coleman, If Only You Were My Sea.................................................... 21 Collin Harner, To Sea or Not to Sea...................................................................... 23 Addie Goins, The Story of My Numbers................................................................ 29 Maci Picou, Shut Up............................................................................................ 30 Akiyah Canada, Transmigration of the Soul.......................................................... 35 Emerson Harris, Check the Box............................................................................. 36 Kiley Rourke, i know how to hold a grudge............................................................ 40 Jasmine Jackson, A Stolen Life.............................................................................. 43 Kirsten Edwards, Pessimistic Colors...................................................................... 44 BraLynn LaCour, Maîtriser the Characters........................................................... 52 Sarah Dupree, Nine-Year-Old Nurse.................................................................... 55 Joshua Lee, Getting Real...................................................................................... 56 Anastasia Thomas, Tomorrow Never Comes.......................................................... 61 Bryce Powell, Open Your Eyes............................................................................... 63 Genene Carter, paper airplanes............................................................................. 64 Grace Schneider, Remember the Times.................................................................. 68 Breyanna Brumfield, Masks of Tragedy and Comedy............................................. 70 Carsyn Fileccia, Skinny Feels Better...................................................................... 73 Kessa Burns, Boredom........................................................................................... 83 Genene Carter, Ever............................................................................................ 84 Chelsea McKinney, My Blackness......................................................................... 88 Wesley Upchurch, Love Keeps.............................................................................. 91 Timyia Washington, I Thought it was Meant to be................................................ 93 Lauren Jones, A Girl Truth Untold....................................................................... 94 Sarah Dupree, For the Thinkers............................................................................. 97 Kiley Rourke, dad’s favorite.................................................................................. 98

PROSE

Treasure Prelow, Mirrors, Feelings, and Acceptance.................................................. 2 Malick Hasan, A Trip to Home............................................................................. 12 Gracie Mullins, Sensitive...................................................................................... 45

ART

Brennan Hurst, “Le Champignon” in Oil Pastels.................................................... 11 John Mark Epp, Untitled..................................................................................... 20 Lance Efferson, “Ocean” in Pointilism................................................................... 22 Avery Bryan, Untitled........................................................................................... 28 Avery Bryan, Fly Away........................................................................................ 34 Avery Bryan, Untitled........................................................................................... 42 Avery Bryan, Untitled........................................................................................... 46 Cameron Dent, A Beauty of Shape........................................................................ 53 Avery Bryan, Untitled........................................................................................... 54 Jaedyn Cothran, Untitled..................................................................................... 62 Avery Bryan, Untitled........................................................................................... 72 Mia James, Untitled.............................................................................................. 87 Kate Vosburg, Untitled......................................................................................... 90

NONFICTION

Konye Brown, Coup D’etat...................................................................................... 5 Josalyn E. Waters, How Antidepressants Alter Your Brain..................................... 14 Michaela Filipek, Art: The Mirror of History......................................................... 24 Kiley Rourke, Fame, Fortune, and the Cracks Under Pressure................................ 31 Ashlyn Davis, America’s School Shootings.............................................................. 37 Georgette Berne, Greek Mythology Connected to Modern Superheroes................... 47 Katie Claire Ferrier, Historical Events and Average BPM of Songs........................ 57 Cooper Wooten, Imperial Religion....................................................................... 74 Sutton Smith, Monopolies in America Through the Ages......................................... 79 Thatcher Ray, Classic Problem............................................................................... 95

Notes From the Editors Dear Reader, Welcome to Verdant 22, an anthology of creative writings, research papers, memoirs, and fiction all gathered from our fellow students here at Captain Shreve.

In this book are words and stories poured from the very hearts of those who have persevered through trial after trial, re-lived countless memories with loved ones and family, survived a pandemic and the regrowth of society, and are currently in the process of discovering what makes them who they are, and who they wish to be. The powerful, ambitious, passionate authors behind these creations are giving a voice to this generation and their works are a testament to what they are capable of, and what Shreve is made of. I am proud to be surrounded by so many people full of such colorful intensity and love for art, creativity, and life. Within these pages, you will find heartbreak, you will find joy; you will find pieces that resonate with a part of yourself you never knew could also be alive in someone else.

Some will bring you goosebumps, some will make you laugh. Many will leave you with an open jaw, like me! In all, I hope that you will be able to draw strength and inspiration from the ideas and vulnerability of these brave individuals laying themselves and their colors onto paper.

New Horizons is not just about what is to come, but also about what we can look at within and discover when we allow our emotions to take control, just once.

Sarah Dupree, Class of 2022 Verdant Editor

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So, We all know these last two years have been a series of trials and tribulations for most. There has been a sense of chaos in dealing with the past, and one of curiosity when pondering the future. Verdant 22 is an encapsulation of the dark clouds thundering behind us, and the harmonious horizons that are to come. This has been a vessel for students to share their darkest thoughts, their hopes, or some of their funniest lines. Being able to help put these incredible pieces into one place makes me unexplainably proud to be a student at Captain Shreve. To see these amazing poems, pieces of art and everything in between fills me with an overwhelming feeling of pride. That pride is not only caused by the ability of the authors and artists represented in this collection, but the messages they convey through their works. Some are heartwarming, some are heartbreaking, but I can say confidently that every one of these pieces is inspiring. Each of them show me in their own unique way that we will be the generation of change. They give me a sense of peace in knowing our future is in good hands. There is hope on the horizon.

Gracie Mullins, Class of 2022 Verdant Editor

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Horizon ho·​ri·zon | \ həˈr ī zən \ Definition of horizon : the limit of a person’s mental perception, experience, or interest.

November JESSICA ASKEW

The vivid blaze of the summer sky drained with the coming of fall, Into a solemn gray which seemed to hold no sign of pity or clemency.

For many this time of the year is when we layer our clothes and make sure the windows are all shut tight.

For me it was different.

This is when you came into my life, a warmth like no other.

You wandered in with some wood and luckily I was holding a match.

I didn’t need a jacket or a hat or pants.

You surrounded me with your comfort and I gave you my heat too.

But just as we shared our ardor, November came again and the chill grew stronger than ever.

The timid leaves softly brushing the ground turned into an attack against the earth, The storm starts, the lake begins to become unstable.

The unforgiving gusts and pelting rain blew our souls apart.

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Mirrors, Feelings, and Acceptance TREASURE PRELOW

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ho would’ve thought I’d be sitting in front of a mirror, all alone saying to myself “....man we have issues!” I’m not saying there’s something wrong with me (or that I have to go to the psych ward) but there are some things that I just have to sit back, think about, and come to terms with.

Ever since I was in middle school I always felt I was different or felt as though I was always in the back like clouds in the sky. People would be rambunctious, and screaming at the top of their lungs with their friends. I would be behind them trying to keep up. They would always come in with the nicest shoes every week and always had new clothes. My family didn’t have as much income back then so I only used the same pair of dingy, dirty, and disturbing Nike Air Force Ones and the grey sweater that my momma and I found at Goodwill.

Because of that I was deemed the “quiet kid” or “the smart girl.” The question that I feel as though younger me would ask me now is What happened to us? Why did we let them win?

Growing up, I was taught to be myself and not let people change who I am.

Like any child trying to be with the crowd in this day in time I didn’t listen now.

Looking back I wish I did.

I’ll be honest. Middle school-specifically 6th grade-was absolute hell. From the popular girls that were only “popular” because they were pretty, the guys that only showed they like someone by completely humiliating them, and the teachers that looked as if they were about to throw in the towel or sneak alcohol in their drinks. The one thing that just made middle school so hard was: my feelings.

Everyone is allowed to have feelings.

Emotions are a part of human nature.

Always put yourself before others.

That’s what they say and guess what? I don’t listen to it or believe it.

My brain is in this capsule that keeps changing the lock every time I try to open up about my feelings. The rubik’s cube has nothing on how my body physically shuts down when talking about how I feel.

Yet I always find myself telling other people to open up and their feelings

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matter- ironic isn’t it- but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

Before entering middle school I had this outgoing personality, always felt confident, and didn’t have a care in the world. Until the upperclassmen said something that I couldn’t even fathom would make such an impact on me today.

Why are you so talkative?

Annoying much?

Never would’ve thought that those simple words would be able to change me into someone I never wanted to be. It was always hard expressing how I felt or being able to not feel like a burden over the simplest things, but that’s just how I am.

Now we’re back to the mirror.

Here.

Alone.

Just me and the person that is a carbon copy.

She was this bright vibrant person, always shined through, and now she hates attention-yet she craves it.

This person that wanted to have so many friends, but ever since she was seen as Only good for so long.

Easy to take advantage of.

A bitch.

She lost all of them. What they don’t know is that they are the main reason she became that. Maybe she was at fault for letting it happen for so long, and that was because- she never said how she felt.

A hollow shell of a person with sunken eyes and a numb expression.

Now, now there were some happy times Good times And the times where I had to take a week to get myself together because I was the “Mom friend”.

Looking back, I realized she No. I didn’t put myself before others, not even once. I never wanted others to feel how I felt. Even when this girl tried to bully me because I stopped having a crush on her boyfriend. Or when my friends came to my birthday party only to ignore me. Not even the boy who broke my heart while he was at military school and cheating on me. (yes military school. He was a jackass-and still is).

I feel as though my parents played a part in the way I am, and I’m not talking about one of those sappy, shitty shows on Disney Channel where the parents are quirky and always try to be “cool parents”.

My parents are nothing like that.

My father was always closed off emotionally so you can’t really know what he’s

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thinking- must be his parents doing.

My mother is too emotional, but she tends to blow her feelings up so that she can feel as though she can be heard- also the doing of her parents.

Do you see the pattern? From generation to generation some type of “emotional baggage” is passed down. One of my siblings got the trait of being emotionally strong from my mother and one got the non-emotional trait from my father.

I’m the middle ground. Either scream my feelings out to where I’ve had enough or take the path of never opening up. I chose to be able to close off my emotions and then be able to open them up when needed.

Thanks Mom and Dad you gave me emotional issues! Love that.

No one deserves to feel like their feelings don’t matter or that they shouldn’t have them.

So here I am today. Putting my foot down.

Sticking up for her.

Hell, now I’m doing the one thing I couldn’t ever do is: value my feelings.

It’s hard, but at least I’m trying.

The “old me” would’ve never been able to do this.

Shutting down, lashing out, and just harboring all these emotions to the point of self destruction. She was able to get pulled out of that dark, desolate, and daunting pit of despair by the “new me.”

She’s able to accept these feelings, and grow with them.

With that being said to this cold, hollow, transparent mirror.

To this person with the light slowly coming back to her eyes.

To the girl that never feels as if she is valued.

I’m sorry.

And I will be back to talk to you again so that you’re never alone.

We’ll walk this path together. Hand in hand.

We’re in this together.

I promise.

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Coup D’etat: A CIA Checklist to Overthrow a Country Konye Brown

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he United States of America has been on the world power stage for upwards of 100 years and you can not achieve this feat without stepping on toes. The Central Intelligence Agency is one of the most powerful organizations in America all for protecting the homeland we all love- or so we think. The CIA has been the head of many political executions all because America feared another country getting in their way or dare to become as powerful.

A prime example of this is Iran in 1953 when Prime Minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, tried nationalizing the oil industries and the CIA sponsored a coup overthrowing the Prime Minister, plunging Iran into chaos. This event sparks the pattern of the CIA-sponsored coups when other countries try to nationalize industries America wants to play its hand in or go against American ideals.

Oil was first discovered in Iran in 1908, In 1909 oil found in Iranian territory came under British control with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. On April 28, 1951, Iran appointed its new and beloved prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh. Mossadegh was be-

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loved by the people of Iran as he implemented many progressive socio-political ideas but most importantly nationalized Iranian oil taking control from Britain (Wu and Lanz). By May 1, 1951, Massadegh officially announced the nationalization of Iranian oil putting the production of oil in the hands of the Iranina government and not Britain. After World War II, the United States established United States (Operation Ajax Undermines a Democratic Iran: 1953).

Initially, Mossadegh was seen as an ally to the United States under the Truman administration. Truman thought very highly of Mossadegh as well as his secretary of state, Dean Acheson, feeling sympathy for the Iranian cause as Massadegh compared their current struggles with Britain to the struggles the United States faced in colonial times. Britain began trying to orchestrate a coup under the name of Operation Boot to overthrow Mohammed Mossadegh and bring the last shah of Iran back to power as he was a corrupt leader and he did not support the nationalization of Iranian oil. Britain still needed assistance to carry out their plan which they looked toward the United States.

Despite the United States’ initial support of Mossadegh, there was a new political climate when the Eisenhower administration came in, a much more conservative administration. Knowing the current relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, Britain convinced the Eisenhower administration Mossadegh would look to the Soviet Union to help stabilize the economy, gaining control of Iran’s oil, supply routes, and other valuable resources (Operation Ajax Undermines a Democratic Iran: 1953). With this, the CIA became involved with British intelligence to overthrow Mossadegh under the name Operation Operation. The plan was to remove Mossadegh from office and replace him with General Fazlollah Zahedi and bring power back to the last shah of Iran.

The CIA first started by taking control of the Iranian press, spreading negative propaganda against Mossadegh. The CIA also recruited members of the Islamic clergy and convinced the shah of Iran that Mossadegh was a threat. The CIA sponsored demonstrations in the streets supporting Zahedi and the Shah. Coordinated by the CIA, the shah’s military and political allies stormed Tehran and captured Mossadegh putting him on trial for treason and effectively putting him on house arrest for the rest of his life. The shah returned to power for the next two decades and had Zahedi as his new prime minister. Under their rule, they restored British control of Iranian oil with most of the profits being split between Great Britain and the United States. The public was outraged upon the news of the coup because it went against American ideals; overthrowing a democratic leader in favor of a monarch all for-profits masked under the prevention of “Soviet influence” (Wu and Lanz).

Set in motion just one year after the Iranian coup, the CIA-sponsored Gua-

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temalan coup of 1954 was all started with the American-owned monopoly, The United Fruit Company. Under the dictatorship of Jorge Ubico Castañeda, 2 percent of the population owned 60 percent of the land in Guatemala with most of it belonging to the United Fruit Company. Ubico’s government collapsed in the 1940s, helping Guatemala push for democracy. United Fruit also had control over the nation’s banana production, utility and railroad industries, Guatemala’s shipping center, and control of one of the biggest ports in the country, Puerto Barrios.

These agreements were made in the 1930s by the former Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. The first elected Guatemalan president, Juan Jose Arevalo, threatened to reverse all of the agreements made and restore industry back to Guatemala. His plans would not be set into motion until Jacóbo Arbenz Guzman was elected in 1951.

Guzman pledged to nationalize all of his country’s arable land that is not cultivated. United Fruit owned forty percent of arable land in Guatemala but only ten percent of which they actually cultivated. Guzman passed Decree 900 in 1954 calling for government seizure of all uncultivated land, snatching up most of the land owned by United Fruit. The Guatemalan government seized about 200,000 acres of land owned by United Fruit. President Eisenhower viewed this maneuver from Guzman as a “discriminatory and unfair seizure,” and was the work of “a puppet manipulated by communists.” The American government continued to try and lavel Guzman as a communist but quickly saw he was trying to implement free-market economic policies so sustaining grounds to orchestrate a coup would be tough. United Fruit had a strong grip hold in Washington D.C. pushing for America to get Guzman out of the office to resume their monopoly and be the major asset to America that it once was. President Eisenhower himself admits in his memoirs that the land Guzman took was not a communists move, further proving America will go as far to overthrow a country to simply protect assets (Mirra Carl).

The CIA would strike once again in the 1964 Brazilian coup. Unlike the Guatemalan and Iranian coups, the Brazilian president, Joao Goulart, was overthrown from the suspicion of creating a communist state in Brazil. The U.S. Ambassador, Lincoln Gordon, stated that Goulart wanted to “make Brazil the China of the 1960s” (Stuster, J. Dana). Goulart started his presidency in 1961 after the resignation of president Janio Quadros (“Joao Goulart”). Some, even within the Brazilian military, did not support Goulart as he just came from a political trip to China.

The military initially wanted to veto his presidency. They felt as if he sympathized with communism too much and also felt as if he had some nationalist tendencies.

These actions would also land him on the US radar as this was still the height of the Cold War. The Rio Grande do Sul Governador Leonal Brizola mobilized

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some of the military to back Goulart so he could become president which worked but forced them to come to an agreement to severely weaken the office of president. Goulart inherited a country in need of growth, stabilization, and crippled by inflation. First off, he would have to restore more power to the office of president which he did in 1963. Goulart’s downfall started at the beginning of 1964 when he announced his plan for Reformas Basicas (Basic Reforms), which had agricultural, financial, electoral, and educational reforms that were meant to benefit the poor. These reforms did not sit well with the conservative military or the many conservatives of the Brazilian public. On March 13, 1964, Goulart held a rally in Rio’s Central do Brasil with his fellow populist Leonel Brizola before a crowd of 150,000 people. In the speech, he announced many more leftist reforms such as, giving voting rights to illiterate people, nationalizing foreign oil industries, and seizure of agricultural land bordering highways and railways. There was outrage from the upper- class as well as the military from the reforms (Green, James).

U.S. involvement goes as far back as 1962 when President Kennedy spoke with his advisor about military options in Brazil.The Kennedy administration feared President Goulart The second action President Kennedy took was sending his brother, Bobby Kennedy, to speak with Goulart to convince him to change the direction of his government. Bobby also spoke with Goulart about the alleged communist, nationalists, and anti- Americans within Goulart’s government. Goulart responded by explaining the bad spot his overall country and political climate was, frustrating Kennedy. In October 1963, Kennedy and his top advisors explored support for the oncoming coup (Pereira, Anthony). After the assaisnation of President Kenndy in November 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson assumed office and started where Kennedy left off.

The Brazilian army made their first move after the outrage of the public. The military coup started on March 31, while Goulart was in Rio (Green, James).

Although the Brazilian military carried out the coup, the CIA worked hard from the side lines. The CIA provided full support of the military, sending fuel and weapons as well as inducing rallies against the government in the streets (Stuster, J. Dana). President Goulart went to Brasilia in a last ditch effort to win the support of the public and still have control of his country but it failed. Goulart fled to Rio Grande do Sul, and his presidency was declared vacant ( James, Green).

The military soon assumed power and ruled the country with an iron fist until 1986. The Brazilian military still continued to fight communist “threats” leaving a bloody trail in its wake. Brazil was a major success for the United States because the overthrowing of Goulart ensured the political influence of America in Brazil.

As seen the CIA has infiltrated countries time and time again to either protect financial acquisitions as well as protecting the American ideology. Iran’s beloved

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Prime Minister was toppled for trying to bring financial control of the country’s most popular resource. Guzman of Guatemala was thrown to the side for trying to stand up to a major American monopoly. Goulart of Brazil pushed over for going against the American ideology of what a government should be. When will we hold the CIA accountable for being political hitmen? *Works Cited page available upon request.

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Untitled KARRINGTON BROWN

Whose music is that? I think I know.

The owner is quite happy though Full of joy like a vivid rainbow I watch her laugh. I cry hello She gives her music a shake And laughs until her belly aches The only other sound’s the break, Of distant waves and birds awake The music is loud, energetic and deep But she has promises to keep After cake and lots of sleep Sweet dreams come to her cheap She rises from her gentle head With thoughts of kittens in her head She eats her jam with lots of bread Ready for the day ahead.

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“Le Champignon” in Oil Pastels, Brennan Hurst

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A Trip to Home MALICK HASAN

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y airpods are in and I’m listening to Ariana Grande. We’re on the way to the JFK national airport, 19 hours away from our destination. We say our last goodbyes to my father and head through security.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in third priority for takeoff, we should depart in a few minutes.” My adrenaline at this point is through the roof of the plane, the only thing on my mind is getting there safely and seeing my family. The lights turn off and my eyelids get heavier. The next thing I knew we had arrived in Jordan.

The first thing I could remember was how nice the airport was compared to the actual country. It’s like going to a really nice restaurant, but with horrible service. Our family is waiting for us at the exit of the airport. We hadn’t seen them in nearly five years. My grandparent’s house is an hour drive away from the airport.

The city was lit up, and the silent breeze threw itself in and out of the car windows.

Memories start to roll in from the previous time we were here. Over the next week I had to adjust to a very different lifestyle.

I’ll start by saying the economy there is horrible. People work long days just to get paid low wages. The average American could probably go there and say it’s easy to live. Although prices are cheap, it matches the conditions of the country.

When I first arrived, everything to me was cheap.

An entire meal at a decent restaurant would cost me about three U.S dollars.

To my friends and family, that was a lot. It is also really hard to find jobs there, and COVID-19 made things worse. The first few weeks I spent a lot of money, because I missed everything - and who doesn’t spend a lot of money on vacation? I began to realize that most times I would go out with my friends and cousins, they didn’t have money to spend. I paid for them every time we would go out, and it didn’t bother me. I felt proud about it.

The majority of people there are poor; there were a lot of charities and beggars.

Fridays are when the streets and stores get the busiest. I had seen a little kid who I saw from the week before. I asked my cousins about him and they told me he had no family, and was always out alone. A kaleidoscope of shifting emotions ran through my heart. I walked over and gave the kid 40 dollars; what was only a few

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hours of work for me would last him nearly a month. He looked astonished. I asked him his name.

“Ibrahim” he said, with the happiest voice.

I was in a hurry, so I told him “Deer balak 3ala halak”* “Allah yes3adak”** After that occurred, I asked myself, what if I was in that kid’s situation? How would I feel? That was one child out of the thousands who are starving and living on the streets. Being surrounded in a place like this could have a major effect on your attitude towards things. Going to my country and just watching the way people live over there taught me a lesson; to always be thankful and grateful for what I have no matter the situation. That day going forward, I told myself that I would always be appreciative of my blessings. The night we came back, I was exhausted and went straight to sleep. Since we just got back, our house was empty. I woke up the next morning, without food in my fridge, and went to work hungry without being bothered. Because all I could think about was Ibrahim. *Take care of yourself **May God bless you

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How Antidepressants Alter Your Brain Josalyn E. Walters

Abstract Antidepressants are commonly used in people dealing with mental health issues. The rise in attention to mental health caused by social media has caused many people to be prescribed antidepressants. SSRIs are the most common type of antidepressant taken.

Due to limited research, the effects of this drug have not really been looked at. This paper using various scientific articles and websites looks at how SSRIs affect individuals at different levels and stages of their lives.

Background Information Antidepressants or specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used for various mental issues including depression, anxiety, PMS, PTSD, among other psychiatric problems. It can also be used to treat nicotine withdrawal, alcoholism, and irritable bowls syndrome. Some advantages include that it doesn’t cause problems with the cardiovascular system, people are unlikely to overdose on it because even at high dosages they pose little risk, and are less likely to cause weight gain. SSRI’s are designed to increase serotonin levels in the brain. To do this by blocking the serotonin

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reabsorption sites on the surface of nerve cells (Alic and Davidson, 2020). Figure 1 shows just exactly how this works (How SSRIs Work, 2018).

Depression in adolescents is also a major problem that scientists are currently trying to solve. Although depression has been around for years, the current age of social media has placed a prominent point on mental health issues. This has led to more scientists trying to find an approach on how to tackle this issue. The adolescent years are the most formative years of one’s life. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death in people aged 10-24. For pediatric patients, it is harder for a doctor to prescribe medication. There is limited evidence of how early use of antidepressants affects developmental issues and how tolerable younger bodies are to it.

Also, the risk of emergent suicide more commonly known as a “black-box” warning, has also led doctors to be wary of this treatment.

With the limited research that has been done, there has been strong evidence to show that SSRIs have been effective in treating anxiety disorders such as OCD and social anxiety in juveniles. This medication combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy had the highest level of improving symptoms.

One reason that there has been such skepticism in prescribing medication has been the difference in effect sizes between industry-sponsored trials and trials ran by the National Institute of Mental Health. In the NIMH-sponsored major trial, SSRIs were shown to be very affective. It also shows that approximately 80% improved over a 9 month period. Industry-sponsored trials had approximately 60% placebo response rates. These inconclusive results have led many to place doubt on all trials.

The limited amount of research that has been done on the effectiveness of antidepressants in juveniles has led many to question whether they are actually effective or not (Dwyer and Bloch, 2019).

Another reason doctors are hesitant to prescribe antidepressants is how has it is to discontinue them. For a multitude of reasons, someone may want to end their antidepressant use. Most Clinicians would recommend discontinuation of medicine for patients who present no or few risk factors for relapse. They would also recommend this upon a patient’s request. Guidelines given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommend gradually tapering to prevent severe symptoms.

Severe symptoms include severe depression, increased suicidal thoughts, and even suicide. Figure 2 describes the consequences of discontinuing specifically SSRIs and what possible mitigation strategies can be used.

Discontinuation symptoms are difficult to fathom due to them not being systematically reported in clinical practice. This also doesn’t include patients who willingly drop out of care. In a recent trial, scientists found that up to 40% of pa-

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tients reported a new set of symptoms when they abruptly quit SSRIs. In the case of SSRI fluoxetine, it was generally well-tolerated, but some case reports included cases of delirium developing. Paroxetine was shown to have the highest amount of discontinuation symptoms.

Some doctors recommend using the mnemonic device “FINISH” to remember the symptoms of discontinuation. FINISH stands for flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, and lastly, hyperarousal. These symptoms only affect about 40% of patients. The other 60% reported no significant symptoms. In more severe cases, discontinuation could affect multiple organ symptoms. Patients become at risk of developing issues when antidepressants have been taken for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Other factors include patients with panic disorders, early development of depression, and those with a history of discontinuation symptoms ( Jha et al., 2018).

Journal Article Summary The point of the experiment was to test if older adults with depression had a link between their use of antidepressants and incident mild cognitive impairment. While there have already been experiments to confirm this, the scientist in this experiment argues that there were a lot of inconsistencies in previous experiments. What they are doing differently is that they are using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazard model. In one group they had people who had used antidepressants and a group that is on a baseline level. The result of this is that with the baseline group there was no difference but with the antidepressants group there was a significant association with them and a lower risk of MCI. With this in mind, in the end, they determined that in future studies there needs to be diverse settings to confirm their findings (Han et al., 2020) Careers, Education & Salary Ranges In order to obtain a doctor of pharmacy degree, a Pharmacist typically needs to attend a four-year program. In saying, this most PharmD programs require students to have prerequisite coursework completed such as biology, physics, statistics, and chemistry. Most pharmacology schools are also looking for two to three years of completed undergraduate coursework. They are also required to take the PCAT (Guide, n.d.).

Working as a Pharmacist at Brookshire Grocery starts at a base salary of 132,300 a year with little experience (Brookshire Grocery Pharmacist Salaries, 2022).

Experienced-level personnel earns about $145,444 a year. Also working with the Brookshires company also includes benefits such as employee discounts, vision/ health/dental insurance, and a retirement plan (Brookshire Grocery Company Pharmacist Salaries in the United States, n.d.).

The commonly accepted educational level required to work in mental health

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care in a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work.

About 37% of the people working in this field have majored in Psychology (Mental Health Worker Educations Requirements, n.d.).

The starting salary of someone working at the Shreveport Behavioral Health Therapist is about $56,903 a year as of March 2022. The salary for someone with higher experience is about $70,492 (Behavioral Health Therapist Salary in Shreveport, Louisiana, n.d.). *Works Cited page and Figures available upon request.

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unwanted guest KENNEDY BERRY

every year when the sun goes away an old friend comes out to play even if you try to ignore him he’ll make his granD appearance anyway darknEss consumes eyes that used to glisten like stars he clouds over dreams creating Permanent mental scars your mind is a volcano unsure when it will eRupt talk to someone thEy say not understanding the wordS are stuck plenty of life on the Surface but It was kept beaten down at the wheels i really wish the sun would cOme back this is going to take a while to heal our good ole friend Never leaves us alone not even as i write this poem if you don’t believe me go back and look watch how he made himself at home you’ll know just who he is he’s worse than the boogie man who scared us when we were kids

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Reflection LA’ZARON GOODMAN

When I look at you all I see is a mirror Because you remind me of me To some that might be strange But to others it’s meant to be But then I start to think And you know how our minds work But my heart tries to calm me down It’s strange how minds work When I look at you all I see is a mirror And sometimes that gets tinted Because if I get angry at the things you do Am I truly in love with my image?

We are the same Because our energy match You fall I fall you hurt I hurt And that the catch When I look at you all I see is a mirror Then I begin to feel deception But I only deceived myself Because this is just a reflection I do the same things you do Not truly meaning any harm That’s why when mistreatment is done One still welcomes back with open arms When I look at you all I see is a mirror It might be bad for my health Because if I question my love for you Do I really love myself ?

It’s difficult to understand But I’m the reason it’s hard

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It’s because of self-doubt But I blame it on the scars When I look at you all I see is a mirror And now it’s coming to me We’re not the same physically But we’re bigger than what we see That’s why I’ll say I love you Before anything negative passes my jaw I love you for what you are Because I accept our flaws When I look at you all I see…

All I see is a being I want to grow old with Learn from each other every day and mold with It’s hard to speak my heart but I can’t hold it You are my heart my soul my world my potion Now I know why I see a mirror And it makes my heart feel better Because I’m you and you’re me Eternally soul tied together.

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Untitled, John Mark Epp

If Only You Were My Sea KARRINGTON COLEMAN

You say you found self love Well good for you In reality I loved you enough for me and you Sad thing is I was the one who forgot to save some for myself Instead of being my sea You became my desert You were my breath of fresh air Now you’re just my smoke You’re steady choking me Can’t stop coughing, you’re my nicotine My drug, I can’t breathe You were never my sun More like a light switch You turn on and off Make up your mind You’re turning on and off I didn’t sail away How can’t you hear me?

How can’t you see me?

I’m screaming, I’m crying I’m begging to be seen

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Don’t smile at me Don’t lock eyes with me Give me space Don’t accidentally brush hands with me Looking at you makes me remember so fondly Looking at you makes me wonder what we could be Looking at you slows my heart beat Looking at you makes all the water in our sea evaporate You were supposed to be my warmth Now you’re the cold sea You illuminate with such darkness Your brown eyes aren’t pools of chocolate anymore Your chocolate eyes make mine water So congrats on your self love I wish I could feel the same I gave it all to you Now I only have myself to blame How do I transfer that love?

How do I take that love from you?

How do I put it into myself ?

Especially since you went and gave it to someone else

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To Sea or Not to Sea COLLIN HARNER

Love is like the sea It’s different with every shore Sometimes stormy and rough But love is tough And smooth waves return Some shores are rocky And hard for the sea to reach But love finds a way to make a beach Each shore its own person You only get three Then you find the one meant to be The Sea is a mystery Unexplained but necessary It’s a living thing That provides offspring

“Ocean” in Pointilism, Lance Efferson

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Art: The Mother of History MICHAELA FILIPEK

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he visual arts are a foundation for understanding the human experience, as they are a reflection of the world and the time in which we live. Art enables us to comprehend history and culture. The history of visual art is built upon immensely different movements, each with a variety of influential factors and ideas. Although every movement is separate in its own way, many have common ideas that impact characteristics such as styles, themes, colors, etc. that are incorporated. The biggest ideas of a time period directly influence the art of that time. Due to the repetition of ideas in history, themes and ideas are therefore repeated in visual art. Impressionism and Expressionism are two major art movements of different times that prove patterns in art occur as a result of similar historical ideas and beliefs. Each of these share some common themes in their artwork as a result of the popular beliefs impacting the world at each time.

Impressionism and Expressionism are two of the world’s most well known historical art movements.

Scholars and professors can argue on how many major art movements there are, however, these two will never

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fail to make the list. Both evolved in Europe during different, but adjacent centuries, and both are seen as significant factors in the development of the artistic movement into modernism (Expressionism). While having their share of differences, Impressionism and Expressionism alike changed the standards of art for the remainder and continuation of art history.

Originating in France in the late 19th century, Impressionism made its first public appearance in the photography studio of Nadar. In 1874, the artists widely known as the “core impressionists” held their first exhibition there in Paris (Impressionism). This exhibit featured the works of thirty artists, including some of the most now-famous names in art, such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, and more. (Impressionism). “The name impressionism was coined by a satirical critic named Louis Leroy following the first impressionist exhibition.” (Rubin). Leroy had been mocking Claude Monet’s painting, Impression: Sunrise, a sketch-like view of the artist’s local harbor. Many critics of that time considered impressionist works as simply unfinished, sloppy, and merely palette scrapings on a canvas (Rubin). They had not yet embraced the free-flowing style used which focused on the effects of constant moving light and color or the modern subjects, as opposed to classical traditions, the impressionists were capturing in their work.

The very beginnings of Expressionism emerged in 1905 when four German architecture students who desired to become painters formed the group Die Brucke, or The Bridge, in the city of Dresden. Later, Expressionism became an all-inclusive movement that brought together painters, sculptors, writers, filmmakers, architects, and musicians. (Expressionism). A major characteristic of expressionist artwork is the style in which it is created. Artists aimed to depict subjective emotions and responses in people rather than objective reality. This was the first movement to put an emphasis on conveying emotion and feeling as opposed to the physical reality of their subjects. The founders of Expressionism became known for their harshness, boldness, and visual intensity (Britannica). “They painted twisted, angular shapes with violent contrasts and pure colors outlined in black…” (Expressionism). Expressionism is considered one of the foremost modernist movements, as it changed the nature and standards of painting, as well the standards of other art forms.

Art gains popularity and recognition when its audience perceives it as relevant.

People want to see things that are pleasing to the eye and that they can relate to on some level. The things we see as relevant and important are also the themes we subsume into our art forms. What we see as important always makes its way into our art without fail.

During the latter half of the 19th century (1860-1886), advances in technology

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and industrialization influenced the lives of many people. The world was changing without a doubt. Modernity. The modern way of thinking. A concept that crossed every inventor’s, painter’s, writer’s, and producer’s mind. The founders of Impressionism were dissatisfied with the academic teachings on how and when to create art. Instead of painting historical or mythological subject matter with perfect forms and light, they created outdoor scenes with small strokes of pure color in order to capture the transient effects of light, tone, and color (Impressionism).

This style was completely unseen before and challenged the idealistic traditions of painting. Impressionists wanted to showcase the beautiful imperfections of our world and the idea that nature and everything around us is incessantly changing.

Through their style, they accomplished this. Claude Monet, the man many today consider the Father of Impressionism, stated “For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at any moment.” The Impressionists’ goal in creating their art was to depict what they saw as representations of the changing and advancing world in which they lived.

Similarly, Expressionism came about due to the big social events impacting Germany at the time. In German history, the period between 1900 and 1925 is mostly associated with rapid industrialization. The quickness of this mechanization and urbanization in the country led to a collapse of values (Expressionism Movement Overview). The expressionists created their artwork as a response to their modern lives and as a representation of their frustration and discontent with how they perceived the present and future. In doing this, they distorted and exaggerated their subject matter while painting with dramatic and vivid colors (Expressionism Movement Overview). “The spontaneous, instinctive, and highly emotional qualities of Expressionism have been shared by several subsequent art movements in the 20th century.” (Britannica). The pronounced self-expression and emotion-laden themes of Expressionism differ from the natural setting of Impressionist art, however, the physical style of painting remains quite similar.

Looking at different examples of artwork from each movement, it is clear that the methodology used to create the work was very alike. The application of paint to a canvas, the noticeably small strokes, the variety of colors. Some of the most notable works of Impressionism include, Monet’s Water Lilies series, Edgar Degas’ The Dance Class, Mary Cassatt’s Child Drinking Milk, and hundreds more. The works mentioned all feature varying subject matter but all display the common physical style and painting techniques used by the impressionists. Although the content featured in expressionist works differs from that of impressionists, the literal application and style of painting is noticeably similar. These similar techniques can be seen in some famous works, such as, Franz Marc’s Blue Horses, Ernst, Ludwig Kirchner’s Berlin Street Scene, and his Moonrise: Soldier and Maiden. The

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Expressionists used smaller strokes and focused less on realism and more on the purpose of their content, similarly to the Impressionists.

Many early critics of both Impressionism and Expressionism claimed that the artwork of both movements lacked detail, the quality so many many people liked about realism (Impressionism vs. Expressionism). In actuality, neither one lacked in detail.

Their detail was just emphasized on different things than audiences had previously seen, hence making them modernists. The Impressionists used their brushstrokes to convey the fleeting moments of movement and light. The Expressionists used theirs to convey their momentary feelings and emotions toward a subject.

This is what they put their attention and detail into. The artists of each movement attended to ensuring the content, or meaning, of their work was comprehensible.

Consistently throughout history, the arts have been our way of documenting the ways we see life and the world around us. From cave paintings, to the Renaissance, to modern art, the visual arts have always had a presence in history and they regularly serve as representations of how people perceive their lives. The repetition of ideas or images in art is a frequent occurrence that is often a result of repeating social ideas and issues transpiring in the world. The basis of patterns, in all contexts and forms, is the occurrence of repetition. Visual art is something that very clearly showcases patterns in history because it is made up of images that we can physically see with our own eyes, making those patterns evident to us.

Because art reflects the world and times we live in, it embodies the ideas we feel are important. Sometimes we, as humans, encounter the same issues we have already dealt with before, and this makes a presence in our art. During the years between 1860-1886 and 1905-1920, people in many countries across the globe, especially the more populous countries in Europe, were dealing with rapid urbanization and industrialization. New ideas and inventions were coming out tirelessly, and the biggest craze was to be as modern as possible. The Impressionists began painting in a new way that had never been seen before in order to be modernists. The Expressionists used Impressionism’s techniques to express their feelings toward the modernized world. The visual art movements of Impressionism and Expressionism emerged in separate, but not too distant, time periods as the result of common worldly influences.

The same ideas and advancements inspired the artists of each movement and played a direct part in the creation of their work. Patterns in art, whether it be visual images, the purpose in its creation, or the content of a work, occur as a result of patterns and repetition in history. When similar ideas are popular or similar events are taking place during different times, it’s always going to make a presence and provide patterns in the art we create.

*Works Cited page available upon request.

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The Story of My Numbers ADDIE GOINS There are years that ask questions and years that answer.

Years that stick out more than others, And the multitude of events that make a whole year, Or make me shudder at the thought of the number.

Endless memories that are quickly forgotten But some that I can’t seem to forget.

The years that define who I am Are a combination of numbers that are nothing more.

Numbers that appear more often than not The ones that surround you even when you don’t realize.

The four digits on my dash that said I was late coming home.

The five houses and towns I’ve lived in.

Countless church members that are glad to see me or sad to see me go.

174 calls my dad gets in the months from January to March that take my breath away, In case it’s a call from the District 5 Superintendent telling my dad he was reappointed.

The tears that have streaked my face, Because we were moving once again.

71118-71111, one digit changed but my entire life was altered, Distance to school, friends’ houses, and dance was doubled.

The total hours I’ve spent in a room counting music 20 hours a week to be on a stage for 2 minutes.

06-21-22 the day the past 14 years of my life become a memory.

16 friends I have lost and gained and those that don’t seem to go away, 6 that alienated me for the distance and choosing those closer to me.

451, the number of likes I get on a post, Because that apparently matters.

15 minutes and 42 seconds, the call with my mom from her work to the site of my wreck.

And the two cars I was sandwiched between.

The 164,572 miles I have driven because I just wanted an escape.

Are just numbers They’ve defined my life from the minute it started 03-04-04 20:42

Untitled, Avery Bryan

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Shut Up

MACI PICOU You bitch You slut You whore Dont say it again Just leave Walk out the door Never come back No one wants you here I am begging I hate you I wish you were dead You ruin everything Please You are nothing You lazy piece of shit You will fail in everything you do Shut up I dont love you Never have and never will Please People want you for your body Nothing else You ugly fuck Stop I would hate to be you Fat ass Pig Dont eat so much Just stop Awe she wont eat You are nothing but bones Go eat a burger Or dont and just fucking die I dont care

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I’m sorry for your loss.

She was an amzing person One of my best friends.

Fame, Fortune, and the Cracks Under Pressure KILEY ROURKE

B

eing in the spotlight and limelight of fame looks exciting (from the outside), it’s everyone’s dream until it comes true. Invasion of privacy, constant paparazzi and stress on every decision made and every word spoken or written can be so stressful that celebrities feel pushed to the only substances that look like the light at the end of the tunnel. Illegal and prescription drugs, as well as alcohol, have become the net under the trapeze artist. After a long day, celebrities turn to and trust drugs to save them and give them a sense of the freedom they once had and long to have again. Throughout history, so many “accidental” deaths have occurred that the line between accidental and suicide blurs constantly, but the continual pattern is completely there. The spotlight has an effect on a person as history has proven time and time again.

We’re all human, in the same fundamental ways, in the sense that we’ve all experienced a lot of pressure on us, but no one can ever truly know what someone else is going through. What would you do if you were on camera almost every waking hour of the day? How would you feel if you were the most sexualized person

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of the time period? What would it be like to have every mistake you ever made written about and posted on social media, in magazines, and on the news? How would you feel if you were the headline of every tabloid in the supermarket? If you really want to know, just step into a celebrities’ shoes.

Hundreds of celebrities over the years have admitted to substance abuse whether that be with illegal drugs or with alcohol - and while some have proven to overcome the pressure and reinvent themselves, others weren’t so lucky. According to Peace Valley Recovery - a group of doctors, therapists, and medical professionals who use their website and their organization to spread awareness and help those in need - some of today’s most famous celebrities, like Avengers star Robert Downey Jr. and rapper Macklemore have both admitted to receiving help and have gotten better (Redwine). However, not every celebrity’s story ends with a happily ever after, like you’ll see, most succumb to the pressure of stardom.

From depression to trouble sleeping, the smallest pill or the tiniest bit of alcohol can be all someone needs to feel relief or to relax for the first time. From Marilyn Monroe to Heath Ledger to Kurt Cobain, the pattern has remained the same. But if we’re going to analyze a pattern like this, we might as well start with one of the most infamous of all. Let’s dive straight into America’s sweetheart, the blonde bombshell herself, known worldwide as Miss Marilyn Monroe. …

The unknown Norma Jeane was now growing into her new, invented household name: Marilyn Monroe. Her picture was in magazines and newspapers all over the country, as she was receiving claim and criticism from critics and fans alike. …Marilyn began showing serious signs of depression and anxiety. Miss Monroe showed increasing “...signs of personal deterioration...her insomnia and addiction to sleeping drugs, her reliance of psychiatric support... the pressures of the studios and the press...” and the toll all of it was beginning to take was becoming more apparent by the day (Dictionary of American Biography). As time grew on and she had filed her third divorce Marilyn was showing signs that the stardom she had once dreamed of and longed for, was beginning to be her downfall. She was becoming hooked, to the point where sleeping pills were a necessity and her lateness to work was slowly killing her reputation.

But let’s take a second to think about Marilyn. The poor woman has spent her childhood in and out of orphanages, been married and divorced three times, has never been able to bare child, her career is struggling by this point, and still she is the headline everyone wants to read. So of course when she sang happy birthday to President Kennedy in her shimmering dress in front of thousands of people while on live television, the press had a field day. And of course there are skeptics and conspiracy theorists that believe the Kennedy’s are the true killers behind

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Miss Monroe’s death, and some who even claim she’s alive to this day. However, people refuse to look past her recurring pattern, they’re consistently looking beyond the fact that Marilyn used “Alcohol and barbiturates…” to “... bolster her confidence.” (Baughman, et al.). Being the most infamous and wanted woman in America has to be exhausting, and the confidence you get from strangers can only take you so far, its the confidence and praise from loved ones that we truly want.

With three divorces and a mother in a mental institution, she never received what she truly wanted and the bright white of barbiturates began to look more and more appetizing.

Inevitably, like many others, Marilyn lost her hard fought battle with herself.

You can’t live if you don’t trust and love yourself. Her mother’s downfall into mental problems caused her to constantly check over her shoulder, desperately looking to see if insanity was following her around as well. For a woman as beloved as she was you would think she would love herself and her body and have the confidence in herself that everyone else seemed to have in her. However, how do you love a body that truly no longer belongs to you? She was consistently left to be put on display for all the newspapers and all of the men of America to see, even in her death.

Being the voice of a generation, a talented, young actor with so much left to accomplish, and being the most sexualized person in America are some of the biggest and most harmful pressures that anyone could ever face. Next time you think to yourself “My god Britney Spears is the craziest celebrity”, think what made her that way. These patterns have to be analyzed. We need to see these patterns in order to prevent them. We are pushing these celebrities to their breaking point as if they are just elephants and lions and clowns at a circus. They aren’t only here to put on a show, we need to appreciate the sacrifices they make before their gone.

Although they’re gone we have to appreciate the fact that they can continually live on through music and film and understand the talent and passion they brought to the world. *Works Cited page available upon request.

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Transmigration of the Soul AKIYAH CANADA Having the same dream for a week straight is a blessing for the broken.

A blueprint for the rebirth of the soul.

Dreams about the monstrous woman with 7 faces and a voice exactly like mine, just trying to break out of the fire consuming the cave.

Longing for the water of the sea to release her from captivity.

How can I become new when the seven headed beast within is holding me back?

So I embark on a journey to the sea and I stand beneath the sky.

Feeling the cleanliness of the water pierce my skin, as I pray to the rising son.

Praying for my soul to become pure, and for the lightest parts of myself to override the dark.

Just hoping for the envy, greed, selfishnes, jealousy, big-headed, arrogant, and cynical parts of myself to drown in the sea.

And reincarnate into an honest and pure version of myself.

Because I am the underdog.

Giving off black and white light, with a spiritual earth mother and a serpent both on my side.

Trying to see which side will take over.

Fly Away, Avery Bryan

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Check the Box EMERSON HARRIS

I used to believe when I was younger…

I used to believe that people were born with their heads cocked since that’s how they always looked at me.

Check box one or, check other. People are unaware.

They don’t make the same furrows between the layers as I do.

They don’t flicker and twitch, making active judgments about what part of me belongs today.

Which component of my personality will offend the least and mix the best, and which will work and succeed and bury the lead like a switchboard of features that determine my fate, and I’ll always be an impostor?

I’m always lost and asking for directions, and people lead me in the right direction like the scarecrow.

As though tornadoes are sweeping me in every direction. Dorothy, on the other hand, does not want to play today. She’s getting ready for the ACT. With the Scantron the box is empty, and it stares at me, challenging me to pick one.

Well, I’m a boxing specialist. It can hold my entire existence, and I’ve got it down to a science.

Because where there are roots, there is power, I can pack my entire identity, yet I’m all topsoil.

My blood is like water and oil that won’t cling together. In secret nooks, I read my father’s old books.

That camera that captures all of my memories in a split second and saves them for when my memory fades.

That was the lighter that lit the fire.

Everything fits into a box and can be moved from door to door. However, that is not the type of box that people ask for.

So many cants and cans, so many lines in the sand.

I can clearly see both realms, and I skip, hop, dance, and fall between them, unseen.

I belong in the spaces between.

Check all that may apply.

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America’s School Shootings ASHLYN DAVIS

Introduction merica has always been deemed as the nation that can make dreams become a reality.

Over the last two decades, this outlook has substantially changed. Today, Americans have begun to realize that those dreams can easily be accompanied by nightmares. One issue that has progressively become detrimental is the depleting mental health of U.S. citizens. Mental illnesses, such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and psychopathy have all risen to power. These illnesses don’t just appear due to bad luck. There are several valid factors that may lead to their development. Early adverse life experiences and feelings of loneliness are great examples.

Despite the public belief that poor mental health can just be “gotten over”, these components have extreme authority over mental stability.

American Mental Health Clinical depression is a mood disorder that causes a loss of interest in life and a tenacious feeling of sadness (Mayo Clinic). Over the years, the development of major depressive disorder has skyrocketed in

A

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America. Depression rates alone have shown a fifty percent increase from 1990 to 2017 (Liu, He, Yang, Feng, Zhao, & Lyu). Since the illness is more common than others, the seriousness of it can be undervalued. When the disorder is not acknowledged, the victims can feel lonesome and pessimistic. Bottled up emotions in poor mental health victims can lead to outbursts that can be threatening to themselves and others. …

Some may believe that mental illnesses only affect the victim of the disorder.

This view is incredibly flawed and needs to be addressed more in research. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, the mentioned disorders can negatively affect the entire nation. The effects can be seen in a very important pattern in history.

Due to the depleted mental health in America, there has become a repetition in American school shootings.

American School Shootings On March 24, 1998, the first well known school shooting occurred in Craighead County, Arkansas. That morning, 11-year-old Andrew Golden and 13-yearold Mitchell Johnson ambushed Westside Middle School students and teachers.

To begin their plan, Golden joined Johnson in a nearby field after activating a fire alarm inside the school. As nine teachers and eighty-seven students rushed out, the two young men fired handguns and rifles. Five victims were killed and ten others were injured in the catastrophe. They weren’t able to be charged as adults, so they were placed in the Department of Youth Services Facility in Saline County until their twenty-first birthdays (Encyclopedia of Arkansas). …

Two major shootings occurred in 2012. The first tragedy was in Oakland, California on April 2. One Goh, a 43-year-old former nursing student, walked into Oikos University to find a female administrator that expelled him earlier that year due to behavioral issues. When he couldn’t find her, he walked into a classroom with a handgun and forced students to stand and form a line. When they didn’t listen to his instructions, he began shooting. After killing classmates, he systematically shot others while exiting the building. He turned himself in to the police two hours after killing seven and injuring three (Gardner, Cooper, & Keneally).

Goh was sentenced to seven years in prison-one for every victim-but died during holding (Kelly).

American Pattern All of the disastrous shootings share a common cause: poor mental health.

Most of the living shooters were not competent enough to even stand trial, and all but two of them showed signs of depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and/ or psychopathy. As mentioned, eight of the twelve shooters committed suicide

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after ambushing the schools. Statistics show that 90 percent of people who die by suicide have shown symptoms of a mental health condition. It’s upsetting to see the repercussions of poor mental stability, and it’s even more upsetting to know that the deaths could have been avoided if mental health needs were properly met.

Mitchell Johnson was one of two shooters that didn’t show any signs of psychological health issues. He did, however, show signs of being traumatized. Growing up, Johnson lived with his abusive father who was described as “explosive” and “mean-tempered.” He was also repeatedly sexually assaulted by an older boy during his childhood (Langman). If those troubles don’t show the importance of a stable childhood, nothing will. Johnson’s accomplice, Andrew Golden, sat stone faced during their trial. Although there is not much published information on his mental health, Golden’s lawyer claimed that his client was incompetent to stand trial and insane at the time of the shooting (Bragg). …

Shooter One Goh’s case may be the strangest and most concerning. As mentioned, Goh began his plan by searching for an administrator in the university.

He wanted revenge because of his expulsion. Along with this craving for revenge came paranoia. The shooter had beliefs that the school administrators planted cameras inside his house, as well as a tracking device inside his car. His lawyer proved him incompetent to stand trial, and he was placed in a mental facility. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered visual and auditory hallucinations.

Afterreceiving treatment, he was finally sentenced to prison (Cohen). If treatment was given years earlier, lives would have been spared.

Conclusion As seen in every shooting case, trauma and poor mental stability have a huge impact on the actions of Americans. Mental illnesses have proven to be incredibly powerful time and time again. Consequences of these conditions not being properly diagnosed and treated include internal and external scars that will last a lifetime. Now, students around the nation have to practice shooting drills with fear that they could be the next victims. As administrators knock on doors around campuses during drills, chills rush through student bodies as they imagine a shooter behind the door. Practice makes perfect, but there shouldn’t have to be a perfected way to protect students. Those wounded in the massacres relive their experiences on a daily basis. It’s so sad to realize other lives were lost due to the problems that a few people faced. Statistics show that one in three children with mental disorders receive treatment (Simon). If three in three children were helped, the violence in America would decrease tremendously. Attention needs to be brought to the importance of the topic to stop future shootings, ultimately making the nation a safer place.

*Works Cited page available upon request.

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I Know How to Hold a Grudge KILEY ROURKE

don’t come back here with your bags in hand. and a shrug on your shoulders and that same damn smirk on your face. you haven’t changed. not one bit. and yet you act all high and mighty on that pedestal where you sit. with friends like you, who needs friends? right? wrong. what you did won’t go away with a simple “i’m sorry”, or a joke, or that same damn smirk on your face. because i know how to hold a grudge. you left. do you hear me?

YOU LEFT! so damnit, just leave me be. you burned the bridge. you never broke bread.

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you walked so far away that i was just a black dot in the distance. and somehow you want to come back? after everything you said to me? after all the doors you slammed closed? and all the lies you spread? it was all my fault, at least, according to you. you were never in the wrong. but i know my truth, there are two sides to every story and you never wanted mine told, so you yelled so fucking loud that only you could be heard. but why now? why after everything you said? about me being a terrible person and the “fakest friend”... why come back now? but i’m not asking you anymore, i’m telling you. don’t come back with your head down, bags in hand, with a shrug ready to come off those shoulders. or that same damn smirk on your face. because i don’t want you to come back in my life ever again. because i know how to hold a grudge.

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A Stolen Life JASMINE JACKSON

months passed and rolled into years. i haven’t seen a bit of daylight since i first got here. trapped, lonely, and cold, locked in this tiny cage. i’ve grew up here, evolved, and died all at the same time. the same four, bland, tasteless walls, staring back at me, counting the days upon my release or death. no food. not even the tiniest crumb. nothing leaves or enters my cell, besides the gas that clambers in the hall.

Heaven seemed like a mighty fine place to go. no future for me. no future for the others, the ones just like me. no family, no friends, just barcodes and serial numbers. i was 13 when it all took place, just 13. no one came. no one noticed, didn’t suspect a thing. when i finally turned 17, i left that sinful place. daylight peered through the cracks, saying goodbye to the sunken place.

Untitled, Avery Bryan

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Pessimistic Colors KIRSTEN EDWARDS

We’re all sisters and brothers shapes, tones, and colors Why can’t we just love one another with the warmth of the summer The rays shine through the clouds showing us that nothing can bring us down the light paved the way opened to what we’ll have to say There are people of every shade that struggle throughout the day and yet we’re all the same So why isn’t there any change?

Is equality that hard to achieve?

For those of you who are like me I don’t want to have to plead But can we just be free but without you and our ‘we’ unity cannot be guaranteed To fight for what’s right No matter the days and the nights until we strive and for once in our lives we’ll finally be alive

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Sensitive GRACIE MULLINS

O

ut of the 171,146 words used in the English language, how could I ever pick just one to describe myself ? Every hair on my head and every heartbeat that pounds in my chest could never be packed into a few syllables.

Growing up I was blessed with a family that didn’t expect perfection from me.

They allowed me to grow into my beliefs regarding political and religious opinions. Now being 17, I am understanding how rare this is. With red and blue being pitted against each other all across our country, my house was painted a beautiful blend of purple.

The narrative switched when I’d go to my best friend’s house. The thick red paint covered every surface of that beautiful, pillared, Southern home. I’d hear colorful language floating around the room as Fox News was preaching in the background. Her dad picked us up from middle school most days, and the building happened to rest in the poverty-ridden part of town. I’d hear scoffs of disgust from him as we rode through the rotting wood and lawn chairs resting in the cracked driveways.

Oh look, this is where our tax dollars are going.

Little snide remarks were made every single day we passed those homes. After hearing them on a loop, it became a song I knew all of the words to. The degrading and privileged lyrics played a bitter melody in my head so much that I believed them to be true.

The N-word was loosely thrown around like it was just another adjective. So that’s what it became to me.

This song didn’t stop until 2020. When the pandemic caused everyone’s world to stop for just a second. It’s like I was finally able to hear over that horrid song that this little redneck town had been playing over and over and over. I was able to truly observe the place that I called home from the comfort of my bedroom.

This was the time that I uncomfortably became the most comfortable version of myself. Through the tears dripping on my laptop, I could see the true diversity of America that Shreveport, Louisiana doesn’t like to accept. The people who love the ones that Leviticus tells them they aren’t supposed to. The ones who continue

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to be oppressed by the flag we salute.

I know the truth of the star student that thinks racial slurs are the punchline in a really bad joke.

I remember the time I heard one of my best friends complain about how sensitive America is today. And that’s when it hit me. The one word I would use to describe myself is sensitive.

I will wholeheartedly accept this word as the most descriptive of me if it means that I want a change.

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Untitled, Avery Bryan

My Hero: Greek Mythology Connected to Modern American Superheroes GEORGETTE BERNE

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odern day American superheroes didn’t come out of thin air - they came in swinging from tower to tower and smashing a missile in a single punch. The pattern of superheroes will continue to evolve and live on for centuries, due to the human nature of needing someone - even if they are fictional - to inspire us to be better. Superheroes teach, when words can not. Similarly, in Ancient Greek mythology the heroes, usually demigods, are representations between the union of god and man.

The heroes being someone greater than a mere human, someone more powerful to look up to. Although science replaced the notion of needing divine blessings to be great, the same patterns exist. A person is now blessed by science to uplift their community, instead of a God blessing someone. However a pattern that has survived over the centuries, is the notion of self sacrifice. Many Superheroes mythologically and modern, sacrifice themselves for a greater cause, hinting towards the famous quote “with great power comes great responsibility.” Self sacrifice doesn’t just include dying for a cause, it includes the sacrificing of giving up free

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time to become an idol to many.

Ancient Greeks were polythesitic, meaning they believed in a multitude of gods and goddesses. The majority of the gods and goddesses lived at Mount Olympus, which is the highest mountain in Greece (U.S. History). Greek mythology is heavily tied into religion, used to explain the phenomenon of everyday life.

Not only were the stories of gods and goddesses told, but the stories of heroes.

Many of the heroes portrayed in Greek myth, were some kind of deity, however somewhere in fact human.

The first time we have seen the pattern of a superhero appear on paper occurred in 1936 as a comic. The Phantom also known as, “The Ghost Who Walks,” was the first heroic character, not the first superhero. Lee Falks, the creator, and Ray Moore, the artist, joined together to bring The Phantom to life in a comic, starting the wave of superhero appearances (“Phantom”). The phantom is a vigilante dressed in all purple, with a hood, eye mask, a skull belt, and most important a skull ring on his left hand. During the day, The Phantom is replaced by his alias Kit Walker. Is this sounding a little familiar? That might be because Batman is a modern retelling of The Phantom. Batman is a human vigilante who fights crime at night, and is a billionaire during the day under the alias of Bruce Wayne (“Superhero Timeline”).

Almost everything about Batman can be traced back to The Phantom. Both have a utility belt dawned on their vigilante outfits, both live in caves, and both protect their human identity when fighting crime. Batman’s utility belt holds batarangs, lock picks, lasers, a fingerprint analysis kit, grenades, and even a small nugget of kryptonite. Racing around in his batmobile, Batman took the streets to fight the ongoing crime that infested Gotham City. The story of Batman was first introduced in 1940 thanks to comic books. In the 1960s a tv show emerged about Batman, however the tv show didn’t follow the dark history of Batman, the tv show was campy and comical, while Batman in actuality was very dark. In 1989 Batman took to the big screens thanks to Warner Bros, with Michael Keaton as Batman (Batman). The trilogy of Batman played by Christian Bale is the first film to show Batman’s darker side, deviating from the camp version that has been portrayed.

The trilogy includes, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Bruce Wayne became Batman, when he witnessed the senseless murder of his paretns when just a young boy. Batman is the retelling of the Greek goddess Artemis, and the Greek god Dionysus (ersuarez). While Batman is not portrayed as a female, he is still a hunter. Batman takes to the night to hunt down the evils that lurk in the shadows, to defend the innocents of Gotham City. Dionysus is the Greek god of festivity, and the grape wine harvest. Dionysus is a party god, which ties closely into the character of Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is a billionaire

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philanthropist who is often hosting and attending many galas (Batman). Dionysus is also the god of theatre and Ekstasis. Ekstasis, root word for ecstasy, is the experience of an emotion to the extreme sense. The experience is feeling something that is outside of yourself, a feeling that is overwhelming and controlling. A mask is an example of this experience, transforming into someone who is not oneself so that the facade can be held up. Batman loves the theatrics, which is ironic seeing as how is parents were brutally murdered in a theatre. The duality mask dawned in the Greek myth of Dionysis can be found in the costume of Batman (Brown).

During the day Bruce Wayne is the party boy philanthropist, happy and content, while at night it’s the complete opposite. The vigilante full of vengeance comes out of the shadows, dawned in an all black costume to blend into the shadows.

In 1938 the first superhero with powers emerged in a comic book called Action Comics. Any guesses to who this might be? Superman (Britannica). Superman is originally from the planet of Krypton which has a red sun, making him mortal. However as a baby, Krypton was destroyed and Kal-El, Superman, was sent down to Earth. Now what’s important to note is that Earth is powered by the yellow sun. In the modern movies the yellow sun is what gives Superman all of his abilities such as flying, laser eyes, x-ray vision, freeze breath, bullet proof, and super strength. Superman during the working hours of the day works at the Daily Planet under the alias, Clark Kent. Clark Kent is your average human. He wears glasses, he’s clumsy, most importantly, he blends in. Part of what makes Superman such a great hero is, he doesn’t need the fame. Sure fame is nice and all, but it isn’t everything. Superman could be Super all the time if he wanted to. Superman could use his powers to get ahead of his co-workers. But he doesn’t. He saves his powers for the evils that face Metropolis every day. This makes him a hero. Someone who doesn’t save others for the benefits of themselves, someone who is willing to go outside and risk their lives, their identity to protect what’s most important; a community (Imdb).

Superman is the modern day Heracles. Superman and Heracles are both adopted kids who fell from the “heavens.” Both boys have extraordinary powers, but were raised on less than extraordinary terms. Heracles was the son of the Greek god Zeus, and Alcmene, Zeus’ consort, causing him to have many enemies before he was even born. As just an infant the Greek goddess Hera, Zeus’ wife, used her powers to prevent Heracles from becoming the ruler of Mycenae. Hera sent two snakes into Heracles’ crib one night to kill him. However Heracles was unusually strong and killed the snakes before they could kill him. Hera continues to torment Heracles for years to come, and one day finally pushes him over the edge. Heracles was faced with an eternity of guilt for things that had happened, and so he sought out the Greek god Apollo, the god of truth and healing. The Greek god Apollo

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ordered Heracles to perform 12 heroic labors to achieve immortality and to finally be guilt free. Heracles completed these tasks, and devoted the rest of his life to saving those who could not save themselves (History.com Editors). In the same way that Superman devoted his life to saving others.

Spiderman is the representation of the golden age of Science Fiction. Peter Parker, the hero under the Spiderman mask, was bitten by a radioactive spider on a field trip. As a result of the spider bite, ordinary Peter Parker gains the powers of super strength, speed, agility, “spider sense” and the ability to climb onto walls.

Spiderman is the first teenage hero to ever make an appearance in comics, that wasn’t a side kick, but instead the main hero of the story. The first spiderman comic came out in 1962, in Marvel’s Comics Amazing Fantasy no. 15. Peter Parker, a science nerd, synthesized web fluid and created his own web shooters that enabled him to swing all across Queens. From the very beginning of his story, it is obvious that he is very different from the past superheroes people have read about. Instead of selflessly dedicating his gifts to the better of society, he instead used his new powers to become a television celebrity. After his first televised appearance Spiderman lets a robber escape, showing he has no care to be an actual hero. A couple days later his uncle, Ben Parker, is killed by the same robber that Peter let get away.

In his last moments Ben tells Peter, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

After Ben’s death, Peter realizes he needs to use his powers for good. He becomes the friendly neighborhood Spiderman, saving those being robbed. He never expected to become a big hero. It doesn’t matter which Spiderman movie you look at, whether it’s Tobey’s, Andrews, or Toms, they all have one major thing in common. They started out as an inexperienced hero doing small heroic actions, and turned into a hero saving their cities, or in Tom’s case the galaxy (“Spider-Man”).

Peter Parker is a quick witted nerd, which connects him to the Greek god Hermes. Hermes is the trickster deity of the gods. Hermes is known for being clever, the same thing Peter Parker is known for (Cartwright, “Hermes”). Hermes in his youth stole several things such as Poseidon’s Trident and Artemis’ arrows.

During the Marvel movie Captain America Civil War, Spiderman was on the side of his mentor Iron Man fighting against Captain America. In this fight Spiderman steals Captain America’s shield, a direct connection to the trickster Hermes.

Another thing that Hermes and Spiderman have in common is their youth. Hermes is the second youngest deity to live at Mount Olympus and to be worshiped (“Hermes”). Spiderman is the youngest member on the Avengers team.

Iron Man differs from the other heroes I have mentioned, he does not have a secret identity. Everyone knows that Tony Stark is Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony Stark is a billionaire industrialist who is best known for inventing new technologies. He has designed many weapons for war through his

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business, Stark Industry. Tony Stark went overseas to an active area of war, to consult with a business on his technologies. During his time overseas he was injured, and kidnapped. This is what caused his inspiration to build the first Iron Man suit.

Tony went on to build hundreds of suits, and use them to fight against evil. He is a part of the hero team known as the Avengers. Dadaeleus is a mythical Greek inventor, architect, and sculptor (Britannica). He is best known for his invention of the Icarus’ Wings. Daedalus and his son Icarus were trapped above the same labyrinth that held the minotaur, to escape, the great inventor Dadealeus invented two sets of wings. The wings made up of melted beeswax and feathers would melt at a high altitude and the feathers if gotten wet at sea level would no longer be able to fly (The Icarus Phenomenon). These wings carried the men out of the labyrinth to safety (Cartwright, “Daedalus”). Iron Man in his captivity used random scrapes around him to build the first model of an Iron Man suit. This suit allowed him to escape from his kidnappers and go home. Once arrived at home, Tony Stark didn’t go back to his normal life. He fixated on the Iron man suit, determined to make it better, determined to make it a success. Both Iron Man and Dadaeleus invented technologies that could be used for the benefits of others and themselves.

The pattern of superheroes will continue to evolve, the only question is how?

Who will be the next superhero to take to the skies? These questions cant be answered right now, but the hope that one day we will be able to is enough. The hope that superheroes will continue to thrive, continue to be role models for the generations to come. Superheroes will always be with us until the end, guiding us on the right path, and guiding us to hope. Hopefully one day the human race can be their own superheroes. Standing up for what is right, giving others hope and support in the dark, taking to the skies swinging from tower to tower. *Works Cited page available upon request.

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Maîtriser the Characters BRALYNN LACOUR

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y mother once told me numbers don’t lie.

At one point I was 8 years old telling her ten minus eight is not two. I always struggled with two. And so now, I have two facts for you.

The first: there are two genders-boy and girl. The second: My first fact is being considerably criticized.

See, my mom told me “Stay away from boys.” I was eight when I started listening. I remember being told I was loved for my thick thighs. I was eight in a khaki skirt when another told me he loved what was between them. Why is it that my skirt or her shirt says the behavior of the male was warranted? I have a fact for you. 55% of men think clothing is justification for perpetration of confidence in women. These are the men who condone Delhi gangrape.

See I was thirteen when I watched The Hate You Give. Being a mulatto I have the “white privilege” everyone boasts about as if 1,874 white men have not lost their lives by police hands compared to the 1,016 african american toll. Watching I realized I cannot compare my life to those who have mocha as their peril. Because black is “ghetto.” Black is “dangerous.” But black is beautiful. Black thriving in another tongue.

See, my mom told me, “You won’t beat statistics.” At fourteen I had my fair share of flings. Of course God, don’t judge me for my naivete, as we have all been there. She wasn’t wrong. Yet, how is it that her generation could maintain an elementary relationship to marriage, when we cower at the thought of a closed cookie jar. At fifteen she told me again, “You won’t beat statistics.” In my highschool stage, only a teen yet those who are thirty plus swear that “Love is Love” only when it pertains to them. How dare you live vicariously and say that the futile 2% of those who prosper cannot grow.

Think about how many women hold management positions. 5%? 10% How about 30%? 40%. Who started the belief women can’t hold the utmost powerful positions. We lack masculinity, but we acquire all revolution.

I have some facts for you. 40% and 49%. That is America’s most educated Afri-

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A Beauty of Shape, Cameron Dent

can American college graduates. The ones who have the hate of the world on one shoulder and the brain of an Einstein descendant on the other.

15.1% of all marriages are racially, ethnically, and sexually different. Frederick Douglass is above proud and beaming.

In 2021, the LGBTQ+ community is thriving with a rise to 5.6% as they finally share their voice with the world. “Being gay is a sin.” “That is never going to last.” Anyone can shake the dust. To the straights, to the bisexuals, to those still considering their path, speak because it can be exceptional.

To the numbers who defy all sense of happiness, you are beaten.

To the ladies and gents who believe the numbers don’t lie, look in the mirror.

If you have black power; If you are a woman to the bone; If you are a man to the death; You can beat the hashtags.

You are one in a 7.9 billion population. So know that your number matters.

Your belief is you. The graphs can be damaged. Deny the race statistic. Deny the “women can’t...” statistic. Deny every statistic because the numbers lie. And they are never fully right.

See, my mother once told me, “You can’t beat the numbers.” I did.

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Nine-Year-Old-Nurse SARAH DUPREE

All my life I’ve been told “Sarah, you’re a natural caretaker” As if a nine-year-old had the qualifications To look after another human life When I could barely take care of my own All my life I’ve been told “Sarah, you’re just like a mother” No I’m not!

How could I be like the warrior in my home Fighting monstrous piles of laundry And braving the leviathan of dirty dishes?

All my life I’ve been told “Sarah, you’re always so gentle” I was raised to be Acting like a mother Even when I’m taking care of mine All my life I’ve been told “You took great care of her” I hope I did.

I hope I did

Untitled, Avery Bryan

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Getting Real JOSHUA LEE

The world around us has fallen, With division everywhere we turn.

And here, I sit simply questioning, Every life lesson I’ve learned.

Violence, crime, and brutality, Our nation’s blood splattered red on the walls.

And here I stand in the midst watching, Wishing I could just ignore it all.

It seems all hell broke loose, A new killing or stealing everyday.

However will this stop I pondered, There has to be some way.

All our true values are shattered, We’re itching to speak how we feel.

So the first step in a new change, Is truly getting real.

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Correlation Between Historical Events and the Average BPM of the Most Popular Songs KATIE CLAIRE FERRIER

I. Introduction usic has been a continuous cycle of trends in genres, or topics throughout history.

Songs often reflect the social changes that are happening during the time period for example during the women’s empowerment movement, music reflected the inequality that women were most frustrated with. This study however is taking a rather numerical approach to music by looking at patterns in beats per minute (BPM) of songs. Usually, songs with a slower BPM are aligned with slower, sad songs while songs with a faster BPM are associated with happy, energetic songs. The methodology will consist of measuring the BPM of the 25 most popular songs of the chosen year and finding the average BPM. This study will find whether this categorizes as a slow, medium, or fast BPM. Once this is collected the major social changes of the year will be considered and proposed as correlations that could explain the reason behind the BPM. The hypothesis is that the year 2020 will have the lowest BPM because of the global pandemic that occurred that year.

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II. Literature Review Correlations in BPM can be seen in numerous other studies, for example an article by Kim Meeri. This article analyzes how music has an influence on mood.

Kim discusses how a neuroscientist developed a mathematical formula to investigate why certain songs make us feel “fuzzy” inside. Meeri Kim works as a science writer who contributes regularly to The Washington Post, Philly Voice, and Oncology Times. She has a Ph.D. and is a member of the National Association of Science Writers and Mentorship Director of the Asian American Journalists Association’s Philadelphia chapter. This article will help connect the correlation between BPM of a song and how this song makes us feel. This will help me better understand the correlation between historical events and the most popular music (Kim).

Another example can be found in “Effects of Sad and Happy Music on Mind-Wandering and the Default Mode Network” by Lilia Taruffi and Corinnia Pehrs.Taruffi and Pehrs argue how music has an effect on our emotional experiences such as happiness and sadness. They found that when listening to sad vs. happy music, people withdraw their attention inwards and engage in spontaneous, self-referential cognitive processes. Taruffi is a lecturer in Music Psychology and Musicology at Durham University. Pehrs is an experienced Postdoctoral Researcher with a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience. This article will prove relevant to my study because it looks at the science behind our brains reacting to music and how that affects our self-referential cognitive process (Taruffi).

Lastly, author Ying Liu covers the basic information behind how a song is categorized based on the BPM in Effects of Musical Tempo on Musicians’ and Non-Musicians. For example, it defines fast tempo, moderate tempo, and slow tempo in terms of numbers. The editor, Laura Verga, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. This article categorizes songs in the three categories listed above based on a numerical BPM, so this will help me when I’m finding the average BPM to categorize them (Liu et al.).

III. Method The method of my research will be a quantitative correlational analysis that first collects the top 20 songs from years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. After finding the average BPM of the most popular songs of each year, I will use a correlational analysis to find a possible correlation between the fast, moderate, or slow tempo songs along with the events that happened in that year in search of a pattern. This method was developed with a few previous research methods in mind.

In order to collect the most accurate data, this study will be using Billboard Music Charts for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2020. The top 100 songs of each year will be displayed on this database, but this study will only be looking at the

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first 20 which will provide an accurate sample size. Each song’s BPM will be recorded and collected, then the 20 BPMs for each year will be added then divided by 20 to essentially find the average. Then in the analysis section of this paper, specific memorable events of each year will be analyzed and correlated to the slow, medium, or fast BPM to reflect trends in emotion during that year.

As stated previously, author Ying Lui defined music into 3 categories. Lui said “fast tempo (>120 bpm), medium tempo (76–120 bpm), and slow tempo (60–76 bpm)”. This study will use the same terms to categorize the average BPM of each year.

One example is author Cecilie Møller who wrote “Beat perception in polyrhythms: Time is structured in binary units”. This source is about how there are patterns in bpm because there are patterns in the way we perceive the emotions of different beats. This is very similar to the research presented here because this study will also be connecting music to emotion, but the gap enlies in the idea that this research will also be connecting the emotion to historical events. Author Cecilie Møller is a researcher at the Aarhus Department of Clinical Medicine and specializes in the Center for Music in the Brain. This source will help develop my method of research by providing a backbone as to how to correlate emotions to music (Møller).

IV. Analysis This analysis will first start with the year 2000. After completing the method listed above, the average BPM was 114 BPM which falls into the category of medium tempo. This was the slowest tempos of all the years studied, which did not match my hypothesis that 2020 would have the slowest tempos because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2005, the average tempo was 116 which still falls into the category of medium tempo, but is slightly higher. In 2010 the average BPM was 118 which is a steady increase. In 2015 the average tempo was 121 which begins to stretch into the fast tempo category, and then in 2020 it goes back down to 116 which shows a decrease. This can be seen in the appendix section (Figure 1).

Upon analysis, there is not a big enough difference between average BPM and year that connecting the music to historical events would prove inadequate.

However, it is important to realize that from the year 2000-2020 we experienced major events like 9/11, the Great Recession, and a global pandemic. While this study will not be able to look at the ways those events impacted music, that is a gap that would be beneficial for other researchers to attend. It is also important to notice that through all of these events, Americans stayed constant with medium to high tempo, upbeat songs which is a conclusion within itself.

A key point to this analysis is to recognize the patterns that do appear. Due to the fact that the BPM never fluxated much, we can conclude that over 20 years

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pop music remained relatively the same when looking at numerics. Arguably more interesting is that even though the topics were diverse, the BPM’s stayed relatively the same which represents a sole pattern of this study.

This analysis is easy to understand upon looking at Figure 2 in the appendix as the line chart does not fluctuate.

V. Conclusion In conclusion, while many events from 2000-2020 have changed the way we think or live, the beats per minute of music has held steady for the past 20 years.

Upon further research, there has been a study conducted by Jacob Jolij, an assistant professor in cognitive psychology and neuroscience at the University of Groningen that appears to back up and conclude the data collected in this study.

Jolij aimed to find a mathematical formula to understand what makes a “feel good song”. He created the FGI (feel good index) that the average feel good pop song had a BPM of 116 ( Jolij). This explains the reason why the BPM’s do not fluctuate and furthers the claim that people often listen to music to feel enlightened or happy.

If this study were to be expanded, I would look at the average BPM of popular songs from 1980-2020. This would either further prove or disprove my claim that numerically, music has stayed relatively steady in regards to BPM. While my hypothesis was disproved, this study still represents a contribution to the overall body of knowledge by providing data that BPM exhibits uninterruptible characteristics when compared to the range of history it has been placed in. *Works Cited page and Figures available upon request.

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Tomorrow Never Comes

ANASTASIA THOMAS

Who knew we would go from reading Dork Diaries to court papers The most unimaginable things in our mind now a reality We used to watch Chicken Little till our eyes hung low, eating Fruit Smiles to replace green beans (Which by the way we love now)

We used to watch mom yell, and never see dad at all We used to go to grandma’s house and have the time of our lives That never changed. except now we live there No mom and dad aren’t dead, you’ll see them tomorrow Before tomorrow comes you’ll trade your Bratz mannequin for box braids and your princess car for a toyota Your “I love you” ’s become nothing and your emotions are meaningless Waiting on tomorrow You’ve lost your friends to their families, and yourself to hope From five to seventeen, you’ve lied awake and wondered What it would take to have a place called home Don’t worry now child, you’ll know tomorrow You blink and time passes From head start to highschool You’re a senior By now you’ve learned None of it meant anything Although it may hurt, please understand Tomorrow never comes

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Open Your Eyes BRYCE POWELL

Open your eyes See what you can Before they close forever Open your eyes To the world around you That is unseemingly flying by See the unseen And find your fate For what seems small Is truly life changing Open your eyes Before they close Before you’re looking back Look at the present Where your future is waiting to be found See the unseen A future Waiting to be influenced A pen Hovering over paper Ready to write a story So open your eyes See the pen Before it dries forever

Untitled, Jaedyn Cothran

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Paper Airplanes GENENE CARTER

you had blue eyes, they said. eyes the color of the sky. you must have gotten them from your daddy because the rest of us have brown. you were a lot like him, I think but maybe not in the ways he wanted. he flew fighter planes in the war while you threw paper airplanes into the sky. you were smart, they said. too smart, maybe. always asking questions no one could answer and wondering about things no one understood.

I bet it made you feel trapped. you never did too well in school.

I’m sure they wondered why.

I bet you sighed when they expected too much from you and turned toward the window instead.

I bet people told you that your head was always in the clouds like it was a bad thing. but boys who were born to fly usually like it too much to come back down.

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I bet you liked the smell of the rain.

I bet it tasted like aching freedom to you. and on summer nights I bet you slipped away by yourself sometimes to skip rocks on the water and watch the sunset.

I bet it made you feel at peace. my dad tells stories of when he was six and you were twelve, stories behind scars from climbing trees and barbed wire fences, sliding down banisters at church, and riding your bikes all over town to the same places he tells me to stay away from now.

I bet if the two of you got together, it’d still be trouble. you were complicated. all of us are, I think. always two things at once, like those pictures that change depending on the angle of the light. do you remember what it felt like to be seventeen? it’s a heavy number to carry, caught somewhere in between wanting to run away and being afraid to leave.

I bet you were wild in high school, always driving too fast and trying things you shouldn’t. and glory days are made for being young but you were a lot less rock and roll and a lot more solo guitar. so you traded in your two-wheeler for a “real” bike, one that could take you far away from this town and up to the colorado mountains where maybe you’d finally feel free. the snap of a finger, the blink of an eye.

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that’s how fast you were gone when you slammed into that boulder. it was quick, like a gunshot. flying.

I wonder if your life flashed before your eyes, the way they say it’s supposed to right before you die. did you have time to think of anything in those last few seconds?

I hope you had no regrets. the news traveled fast back home. your daddy took it the hardest, but your mama was always fragile, and when they let her feel your ashes, I bet she cried at the way they slipped through her fingers. people still walk up to my dad at church sometimes and call him by your name. sometimes he corrects them, other times he brushes it off.

I’m not sure if it’s for their sake or his. maybe it feels good to wear your name for a little bit as if you’re still here. and you live forever in photographs, but mostly in the stories they tell about you and words from love letters and old yearbook pages I piece together like newspaper clippings until I feel like I know you. if you saw what it was like down here these days, I’m sure you’d say that a lot’s changed.

I think you belong in 1988, in your glory days, forever twenty-seven. but sometimes I wish you were still here so you could teach me how to fly because I’m not brave enough.

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maybe we can start with paper. that’s the way most letters begin. fold the sides together, line up the edges. fold in, the edges meet. fold down, make wings. aim toward the sky. maybe one day I’ll throw one high enough.

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Remember the Times GRACE SCHNEIDER

I remember the times when life was simpler, waking up before school to mama making grits and toast.

Waking up and seeing her tangled hair and pale skin, the oversized Mardi Gras shirt and flowered night shorts seemed to swallow her tiny body.

Waking up to only an alarm clock in a peaceful home with no noise, no anger, nothing to be scared of.

And yet, her subtle, “wash your face sweetheart,” haunts my brain, like a depressed entity in an abandoned morgue.

I remember the times when life was simpler When mama made cakes for every birthday, got gifts for every Christmas, went to church every Sunday where she would look the priest dead in the face and her expressions would scream, “HELP ME!” For she struggled and was the most broken in our home, had the lowest income and felt like a horrible mother because she couldn’t give us the world.

Felt as if she lets us down every day because she can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t walk without being in pain, For her to wake up the next day, and take her poisoned candy to have energy for the next house to clean because“Daddy, the coffee pot is broken again!” ...She loved her coffee, until it was no longer keeping her awake like her candy.

I remember the times before worrying about health, Before worrying about drug tests and illnesses and broken bones.

I thought peeing in a cup was something kids just do.

I thought my life was normal.

I thought we were all happy together in a big happy home.

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That we were perfect. That we’d live forever in our big happy home“Teresa, you need a doctor!”

Mama must’ve been sick from all the candy.

I remember the times when mama came home with her feet swelling, feeling weak, and calves as thick as cones.

“Mama, go to the doctor!”

It wasn’t long before these boils began to show, her legs leaking water, laying in a bed where her breathing looked like it stopped Jesus Christ mom, “GO TO THE DOCTOR!” “WAKE UP, MAMA!” …..

I remember that time I stepped foot in that E.R. My vision blurred, my ears went deaf, and I lost feeling in my chest.

They found something eating the muscles in her legs, only 48 hours to live, And the first thing that popped into my childish head was, “It’s all my fault..”, my head began screaming, “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT”. ….

That day was the last day I said a full sentence for months, The last day she was ever home, The last day of my childhood…five years ago.

But now, Mama has a new home.

A home with old, wise ones far from her age, but ….

I’m just happy she lived.

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Masks of Tragedy and Comedy BREYANNA BRUMFIELD

“ You wuz just like de rest” they were wrong. i don’t look like the rest so I’m not The Rest. i don’t act like the rest so I’m not The Rest. i’m not like The Rest. a mind that is painted with different colors to represent the different regions that defines if one is out of their mind. a body marked with scars letting them know that they have obstacles not like The Rest that proves if they are strong enough. a face that determines if you are black, white, mexican, indonesian, chinese or just a face that is either pretty or ugly. eyes that give you the ability to read this poem and see if you are like The Rest. tell me if you are black or white. does it matter? tell me if you fit the beauty standards. does it matter? tell me if you are actually mentally stable. that might matter. i just want to know if im just like The Rest. if that is so then will i get thousands of likes on instagram? if that is so will i fit the beauty standards? if that is so will i get the rights that i had to fight for? if im just like The Rest will i stop crying myself to sleep at night? will i stop looking in the mirror and wishing to be the girls that i hope to be? will i stop masking myself trying to be what i know i’m not? if i’m just like The Rest

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having to switch my masks in and out everyday because they only last so long. using my humor to cover up the tragedy of thoughts that run through my brain every time i look in the mirror and see what brings me pain. trying out new masks to see if it fits the character that i want to be that day. if i’m just like The Rest do we all have masks to cover up what we don’t want the audience to see? do we all experience the destruction of one’s mask because we’ve been that character for so long that they have to find a new person to fill that role? do the masks we have stay happy and sad or confused and mad or frantic and bland or psycho and damned? or do they feel what we feel and wither away as we peel it back to reveal who we truly are? i just wanna know because i’m not like The Rest i don’t have the blonde hair and blue eyes that make you stare a lil while longer i don’t have the perfect body with hips and breasts that catch the eye i don’t have the courage to act the way i want to i don’t have the ability to be ok i don’t have it and probably won’t ever have it but who has it? the brain, the body, the face, the skin, the privilege someone does but i know i won’t and that’s fine because i’m not like The Rest

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Skinny Feels Better CARSYN FILECCIA

I was always told “Skinny feels better than food will ever taste.”

And it seems to be an anthem That I can’t get out of my head.

And I haven’t checked my weight in two years Because I don’t think I can handle triple digits.

And I look at the spaghetti my mom made And turn my head the other way Because skinny feels better.

And I thank God, for when school begins I don’t have to eat for eight hours.

I can finally see my ribcage when I lie down.

My body gets smaller and I couldn’t be happier… I think.

Gravity doesn’t need to work so hard anymore As I continue to get colder.

130lbs, 120lbs, 110lbs, What happens when the numbers end?

The mirror mocks me day by day, Reminding me of the weight I’ve gained.

Was that granola bar too much?

And the girls before me walk with long legs And torsos made of gold.

If I could replace my bones with feathers I would If it meant being skinnier than her.

Why does my waist look bigger than it did yesterday?

Is my body taking up too much space?

Apologizing for my appearance is something That will never cease to end.

Because who wants to look at the girl with no thigh gap?

For now, coffee will suffice, but sooner or later I know I’ll lose this fight I’ll lose sleep, I won’t eat, I feel weak, Does skinny really feel better?

And when I’m satisfied with my body I’ll realize I am nothing but skin and bones.

I will simply be left alone with nothing, Not even myself.

I was picked apart and once I am put back together, Dragged onto my feet, forced to finally eat, Food starts to taste better than I remember.

Untitled, Avery Bryan

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Imperial Religion: A Convenient Justification for Conquest and Expansion COOPER WOOTEN

H

istory is a tale full of conquering empires.

A common factor between the growth of some of these empires was their justification.

Many empires claim their reason is religion; that their god has told them to conquer and expand. This can be shown through the crusades of the Holy Roman Empire, Manifest Destiny of the Americans, and through generally any imperialist nation who sent explorers to “spread their religion.” Throughout history, we can see similarities in how religion has been claimed as a justification, whether or not religion would be the true reason for their expansion. Because they use religion, they are more able to paint the opposing forces as heretical and as apostates rather than just political enemies which may also cause the conquerors to strengthen their own justification for expanding.

The word “crusade” has roots in the Romance languages of French and Spanish. It would translate roughly into “to take up the cross” (“History of the Crusades”). The Crusades consisted of a collection of holy wars that were fought by Christians against the Muslims. Both sides believed that they should have

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control of Jerusalem because they both felt a claim based on their religion. The Crusades can truly be seen as one large war, but it is also split up by historians into seven distinct Crusades. The main focus of these wars was for the Christians to wrest control of the Holy City from the Muslims (“History of the Crusades”).

Prior to the First Crusade, a sermon was held by Pope Urban II to the Christians and French knights in Clermont, France. In this sermon, he painted the Muslims, not as enemies to fight in a war, but as heretics that are a threat to their religion. In doing so, he bolstered their resolve and hatred for the Muslims. He claimed that the “infidels” were desecrating lands that were holy and should belong to the Christians. The response was so strong from the soon to be Crusaders that they had started to chant “God wills it!” in relation to the wars they would soon embark on (“History of the Crusades”).

The First Crusade began in 1096 AD when troops, many French along with some from the German and Italian states, left Europe and headed to Jerusalem.

The Crusaders also entered a somewhat unsteady alliance with the Byzantines, the peoples from the Eastern part of the Roman Empire. They fought a few battles along their route which included the siege of Nicaea. Nicaea surrendered to the Crusaders and they continued their long march (“History of the Crusades”). Their next main target was the city of Antioch. The crusaders laid siege once again, but with higher losses this time. Many died from starvation and many deserted during the seemingly hopeless siege. Crusaders were finally able to make their way in after seven long months, but now an army of Turks was on its way, so the Crusaders were now stuck in the city. They were saved upon “discovering” the Spear of Longinus, or the Holy Lance, which was used against Christ as he was crucified.

The Crusaders felt emboldened by this, so they marched out against the Turks and, miraculously, the Turks fled (“History of the Crusades”).

Despite the losses, the Crusaders believed that they had to continue their sacred mission, and so they continued with “a need to fulfill their Crusader vows; and a lust for Muslim blood, the spoils of war, and territory” (“History of the Crusades”). The Crusaders once again laid siege, but this time to the Egyptian controlled Jerusalem. Jerusalem had only recently been taken from the Turks by the Egyptians, and the Egyptians did not want to lose it so soon. The sultan ordered trees to be cut down and wells to be poisoned in order to weaken the invaders, but another miracle was bestowed upon the Crusaders when they found timbers left abandoned in a cave. They were able to build towers and breach the walls of Jerusalem with this wood. Upon entering, a massacre ensued. The Crusaders took to killing everyone they saw, not excluding women and children (“History of the Crusades”).

In the Second Crusade, Zengi, a Turkish Muslim, led troops to take back a city

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from the Christians. He decided on Edessa as it was already weak from infighting.

After a roughly four week siege, he captured the city and slaughtered many people, also including women and children. Word of Zengi’s triumph soon reached the ears of the Christians and they saw this as a golden opportunity to shed more blood. The Crusaders also decided to take control of a city in return for the loss of Edessa. They decided on Damascus which was the only Muslim city that was at least partly friendly toward the French people. In attacking, they pushed away a potential ally (“History of the Crusades”).

During the Third Crusade, led by Saladin, the son of Zengi, the Muslim troops attacked the Christians and took back control of Jerusalem (“History of the Crusades”). During the Fourth, Constantinople fell to the Crusaders (“Crusades”).

The Crusaders would not accept the new emperor because they saw him as one without a claim to the throne (“History of the Crusades”). A few more Crusades were fought but the final Crusades did not target Muslims so much as any people who were “enemies” of the church (“Crusades”).

Throughout the Crusades, both the Christians and the Muslims used their own religion to justify their actions. Their claims to the shared Holy Land led them to fight bloody wars against each other. The wars may have started as a war for their respective religions, but they devolved into fighting without mercy for different cities and lands. Despite the Crusades becoming bloody grabs for land and power, they still claimed it was for God that they fought.

The Crusades were not the only time that religion was used by empires throughout history as a means to justify their actions. Another example would be Manifest Destiny. The belief of Manifest Destiny was that Americans were destined to spread westward across the now United States of America by God (“Manifest Destiny”). They believed this strongly and used this to justify westward expansion and their displacement of the indigenous peoples along the way. “Manifest Destiny,” as a phrase, was first used by a journalist in 1845 who supported the annexation of Texas. Following this, it was used to justify and to further bolster expansionist goals of the Americans since they started to believe even more that they were superior and had to spread their influence, including religion (“Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion”).

While claiming manifest destiny, Texas was annexed into America and the Mexican American war began in 1846 (“Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion”). From this war, many people died and plenty of land was gained. Roughly 12,500 Americans lost their lives during this land grab and the result was California and New Mexico being gained from Mexico (“Mexican War”). After the Mexican-American War, America kept expanding westward. They gained the states Kansas and Nebraska but the decision on whether the states should be slave states

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or free states was highly dividing. It was so dividing in fact, a conflict was born between the two sides that became known as “Bloody Kansas” (“Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion”). President Lincoln also passed a law to further encourage the people to expand and fulfill their manifest destiny. This law was the Homestead Act. It allowed adults to claim a large plot of land in the West. The only price being that they had to live on and work the land that they received for five years. It not only worked as encouragement, but as a catalyst, speeding up the westward movement (“Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion”).

Throughout American history, but specifically in westward expansion, Americans have been using religion as an excuse for justification. Even when British colonists first sailed to North America, many people had left England in search of religious freedom. While feeling justified by their religion, they did not care about the displacement of the indigenous peoples that were already occupying America.

When they decided to expand westward, they claimed God as a reason yet again.

They truly believed that they were sent by God to expand and to spread their beliefs to the people that they found (Lansford).

Lansford talks about how nations in the past expanded for reasons such as spreading language or their cultural beliefs, but later on, countries began to start grasping for a claim that would justify their conquest and expansion. They had started by claiming that they were just in their claim of lands because they were the first people to discover the area, but there were many areas that already had people living there. Instead, many early imperialist nations justified their actions by saying that they had to “spread the gospel… and improve their barbaric way of life” (“Imperialism, Cultural”). The people that they declared “barbaric” were only so because they did not fit the European values that the conquerors imposed. Even so, the imperialists continued on (Lansford).

As countries colonized more land, they had to change the culture of the people that they colonized in order to establish dominance and replace the current culture with their own. They implemented their own cultures by spreading their cultural ideals, but also by proselytizing. They believed that by spreading their culture and religion, they could make the colonies more productive and also more stable. Following the Treaty of Tordesillas, which split the colonial new world between the imperialist nations of Spain and Portugal, the two nations claimed that they were obligated to evangelize in these colonies, but instead were trying to make money in the new lands (Lansford).

In the history of religion, we have seen multiple reformations. The protestant reformation, for example, began because Martin Luther had seen corruption in the Catholic faith and he wanted to see reforms made. Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses sparked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Among other corruptions

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in the church, he argued against the church’s use of indulgences. Indulgences were bought from the church in exchange for time off of someone’s sentence in purgatory. Because he spoke out against the Catholic church and therefore the Pope, he was excommunicated after being accused of heresy. The beliefs that were laid out in his theses became the foundation for the Lutheran denomination (Nauert).

Inspired by Luther, others soon followed and began to spread their beliefs.

Some such beliefs are Calvinism and Anabaptism. Many, however, disagreed with at least some of his beliefs. Huldrych Zwingli is one such example; Zwingli and Luther disagreed on the sacrament of communion, also known as the Eucharist.

This reformation, the disagreement between Zwingli and Luther, and subsequent divisions, resulted in the permanent splintering of Christianity, specifically in Europe, into different sects. Many of these were different enough to warrant struggles for supremacy of denomination (Nauert). The different beliefs and the different nations holding these beliefs competed against each other to spread their denomination to new people. Lansford gives the example of how missionaries traveled to Dutch colonies in order to see the people converted (“Imperialism, Cultural”).

As seen in various historical events such as the many Crusades, America’s claim of “manifest destiny,” imperialist nations with their colonization, and the Protestant Reformation lending to more competition for the spread of religion all show how religion has been repeatedly used, truly or otherwise, as a justification for the expansion of empires or the conquest of nations and peoples. In the Crusades, the Muslims were painted as heretical rather than just enemies on the field as to strengthen the zeal and conviction of the crusaders. America claimed manifest destiny when expanding because it made them feel more justified and were able to see the wiping out of the native cultures in exchange for Christianity as a good thing because they felt like they were improving the people they spread their religion to. Similarly, with the imperialist nations, religion was used to justify expansion because they saw themselves as “saviors” for spreading the “better” European ideals and religion. Seeing objectives in a holy light makes them easier to achieve because one believes it is for God that you act rather than for more personal gain. *Works Cited page available upon request.

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Monopolies in America Through the Ages SUTTON SMITH

S

ince the men who greatly expanded the country with railroads, steel, and oil, there have been many people and companies that have taken over large portions of the American economy. Over time, many of these companies have been broken up or their power has faded away. With the increase in technology, our current empires such as Google, Tesla, and Amazon have more power and influence over Americans than ever before. However, while these companies directly impact more people, the older monopolies have had a more direct impact on the country’s economy.

The breaking up of Carnegie Steel and AT&T also seems to continue to have an impact with these modern top businesses, as they try to avoid being separated.

I have looked at the formation of these businesses and their leaders, as well as compared the monopolies we see today to those when America was first becoming industrialized.

One of the first monopolies in this country began with the rise of the railroad system. Cornelius Vanderbilt, later nicknamed “the Commodore’’, began his career by using money loaned to him to buy a boat. Over the next few years, he ferried passengers across New York City, and was able to keep reinvesting until he obtained a small fleet of ships. Vanderbilt was always looking to expand, and despite dropping out of school at 11, had an unbelievable business mind (Schneider).

Cornelius always focused on the movement of people, first by his various water transportation businesses that soon began to expand across the country.

However, in the 1850’s with the start of the railroad

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industry, Vanderbilt saw exponential opportunities. He invested heavily into the New York and Harlem Railroad, so much so that by 1863 he owned the entire line. By the time he completely shifted to railroads, he had amassed a net worth of over 30 million (“Cornelius Vanderbilt - Industry”). He continued to buy out smaller railroad companies by strategically shutting off certain lines and running competitors out of business.

While his acts were not always moral, his business-focused mind led him to own nearly all of the main railroad tracks across the country. Over his time in business, Vanderbilt was able to standardize procedures and train stops, as well as vastly improve shipping times, creating a much better and more efficient economy. Vanderbilt’s reign would eventually come to an end as he passed away, but he left behind over $100 million dollars, as well as his famous Biltmore Estate (“Cornelius Vanderbilt - Biography”).

Another key figure in the days of the Industrial Revolution was Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was able to change the way Americans lived their lives through the steel he sold with his business: Carnegie Steel Corporation. Carnegie started as an emigrant who came to America and worked his way up from nothing. Starting when he was just 13, he was put to work from sun up to sun down, earning a measly $1.20 per week. Eventually, he landed a job at the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was then promoted to superintendent (Carnegie). Carnegie began to start his own railroad ventures, but soon became fascinated in the ever-growing steel economy.

Carnegie was able to start a steel manufacturing plant, and grew it to become the largest in the nation. He used the business strategy of vertical integration to achieve this. This process involved him not only making the steel, but also owning the mines and transportation as well.

This helped to minimize the work he sourced, which led to cheaper costs and being able to maximize profits (“Andrew Carnegie - HISTORY”). Because of this, he was able to prevail over his competition, and soon became the one main source for all steel goods.

Over Carnegie’s life, he was able to amass hundreds of million of dollars, an equivalent to around 75 billion in today’s money. Without Carnegie, infrastructure wouldn’t be what it is today. In 1901, J.P. Morgan bought Carnegie Steel for $480 million, allowing Carnegie to distribute his fortune and do much good with it. He had libraries, churches, and several non profits established, and truly was one of America’s great economic heroes (“Andrew Carnegie”).

In comparison to today’s monopolies, we also see a select few individuals towering among the rest. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos stand out as some of the richest and most influential business figures in the world. These American entrepreneurs have taken different paths than their predecessors, but still have an enormous im-

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pact with the companies they have created. There are also many similarities in the way they built their businesses, leading to the same type of patterns throughout history.

Elon Musk is one of America’s most notorious billionaires, creating several successful companies, and introducing technology never before seen. Musk is a South African-born American that started the developments of PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla, among other companies such as his internet service, Starlink (Gregersen). For Musk, growing up in South Africa with divorced parents was anything but ideal. On top of that, he also had to live with an abusive father. Because of this, Elon had a hard time making friends in school, and found himself using books to keep him company. Even though he faced much adversity, he started developing video games at 10 years old, and ended up moving to Canada to avoid serving in the South African military. Musk used this technological mind to build many successful technology-centered businesses. Specifically with Tesla, he has created the largest electronic car company, and is developing the capabilities to have full self driving vehicles. His mission statement is that he wishes to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”, according to Tesla.com (“About Tesla”).

Jeff Bezos has changed the lives of nearly every American with his development of Amazon. Today, nearly everyone relies on Amazon to get common goods quickly to their home. Bezos had a more standard upbringing and was an exceptional student; after being the valedictorian of his high school class, he was able to obtain two degrees from Princeton University. He went on to work at various firms on Wall Street, but found his interests in the Internet, and decided to create an online shopping platform for books (Clarine). Bezos was able to turn his business from selling books out of his garage into the largest ecommerce store on the planet. Today, Bezos has an estimated net worth of 171 billion dollars, and has changed the way the world buys goods (“Jeff Bezos - Space, Wife & Amazon”).

I have found that with many of the wealthiest individuals, many of them are self-made and have had innovative ideas and an outstanding work ethic. While there are many wealthy individuals that have had money passed down through generations, these tycoons truly show that the American dream is still alive and well today. In the past, these top individuals have focused mainly on the physical needs and resources of the American people. While today billionaires also improve the daily life of individuals, they usually do so more with the technology they create and provide, rather than by mass amounts of a single physical good. However, companies like Amazon have been able to combine these two approaches by selling thousands of goods through an online platform.

From the Industrial Revolution to today, there have been countless individuals that have emerged to be the wealthiest in the world. These people have created

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monopolies in their respective fields, and this has allowed them to obtain mass growth and adoption. While these companies are great for individuals’ lives, they also demote competition due to their massive size, and could violate rules that the United States has against monopolies in certain business areas.

In the past, there have been several companies shut down due to their massive size. Because many lawmakers saw the old monopolies take up such immense spheres of the economy, the Sherman Anti-Trust acts were passed in 1890 to help prevent these monopolies from forming. According to economy expert Will Kenton, “the act aimed to promote economic fairness and competitiveness while regulating interstate commerce” (Kenton). From this point forward, big companies like Standard Oil and American Railway Union were legally pressed for their actions. This was the first time monopolies were attempted to be shut down, and these acts have continued to be used today (Kenton).

In more recent times, AT&T was broken up due to these acts. In 1984, the telephone company was broken up into seven separate businesses. The breakup did have a positive benefit for the users, giving them more choices and lower prices for their cell carrier needs (Beattie and Schmitt). These monopolies can be great for the billionaires that own them and to unify people, but they do decrease competition and do not allow for other companies to compete. Many companies such as Facebook and Google face these Trust Acts today, and are battling with the legal system to keep their empires intact (Falcon).

From my findings, I assume that these patterns in history will continue to occur. As our society becomes more advanced, we will likely continue to see billionaires emerge, and new companies form that change the day to day life of the American people. While there are certain businesses that will try to stay on top, with the advancement of the legal system to help ensure a fair economy, I feel that new companies will still be able to form. As our world continues to unify through the advancement in technology, I hope that there are still many companies that we rely on on a day to day basis, instead of just one central business.

Throughout history, various monopolies have emerged from the areas of railroad transportation to computers. There have been continuous patterns that can be seen between these companies, from the leaders that build them to the strategies used to stay on top. However, today, there has never been more pressure on companies to avoid creating complete monopolies and be split up. Today’s top companies strive to be the best in their industry, while still having more fair wages and better working conditions than the monopolies of the past. The pattern of monopolies has been seen for centuries, and is likely to be seen for centuries to come. *Works Cited page available upon request.

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Boredom KESSA BURNS My head is on fire! the confines of boredom of which I so tire.

My mind is ablaze.

I hate this maze that leaves me in a monstrous daze.

Boredom is a devil that festers in my soul that takes on shapes and forms, Beyond my control, A cage with a bird that has nothing to say.

Oh sick entity of boredom won’t you please go away.

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Ever GENENE CARTER

This time of the night tastes like pink.

If I close my eyes and breathe it in, I’m back.

Back to when all I knew of the world was surrounded by pink walls.

You painted them yourself in your favorite color because colors tell stories.

So once upon a time, pink was safe and comfortable like whispered bedtime stories, full of princesses and magic lamps and seashells with songs trapped inside.

But it turns out pink was just pretend, because the doctor’s office is white, and the gown they make you wear is not like Sleeping Beauty’s.

Out of the blue, pink is a fight, armed with matching t-shirts and baseball caps, spelled “race for the cure,” and measured in bracelets and ribbons and dollar bills.

Then finally, finally, pink tastes like victory, like the strawberry popsicles we made ourselves on that rose-gold summer night when we celebrated the beautiful words cancer-free.

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But somehow anything beautiful and perfect melts fast, and the magic wand that’s supposed to fix everything doesn’t always work.

Pink had become a promise, one I didn’t realize I’d been holding on to so tight.

It was a glass slipper, shattered with words I don’t understand, like recurrence and metastatic and prognosis because pink was a war we lost in the end.

I try to remember that change can be beautiful.

It turns inchworms into butterflies and paints green trees gold.

And autumn leaves are so pretty, even as they fall to the ground.

But there’s nothing beautiful about watching you die.

There’s nothing pretty about staring at the view from your hospital window, when the sun is slipping and so are you.

But you’re smiling with your eyes and telling me it’s not the end, that you’re always here.

I hold your hand and try to believe you while I let the tears fall silently over your gown until your breathing slows and Sleeping Beauty closes her eyes.

All I can taste is salt, cold ocean spray from a breeze too sharp to feel good.

And it seems that wherever you went, you took all the color in the world with you because everywhere feels gray and cold without you.

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Everywhere except here, a place I couldn’t bring myself to go at first, until I noticed the soft rosy light, how it makes everything glow this time of night.

So now I come all the time to talk to you about everything, just like I used to.

And sometimes, I bring the books from my old room and read you whatever feels right.

At first, I feel silly talking to a stone so I look up at the sky instead.

And I find a new ending written there.

It tells me the earth couldn’t hold you.

And now, you’re somewhere I can’t follow.

Up high in the sky, where you belong.

Singing with the angels, dancing on pink clouds, on and on, forever and ever.

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Untitled, Mia James

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My Blackness CHELSEA MCKINNEY

My blackness is yalls madness.

The only color you see that upsets you.

Why is that?

Why should I have to be afraid of someone who’s supposed to protect me?

All I heard growing up was, “DON’T HAVE YOUR WINDOWS TINTED WHEN YOU START DRIVING!” And “DON’T WEAR A HOODIE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE!” But, you know what they didn’t tell me?

They didn’t tell me that I couldn’t buy skittles in the gas station. #We miss you Trayvon.

They didn’t tell me that I couldn’t just sleep peacefully in my own bed. #We miss you Breonna.

They also didn’t tell me that I couldn’t buy something in a store without them thinking my money is fake and calling you. #We miss you George.

You see growing up in a black community, full of strong BLACK MEN and WOMEN. We’re taught not to be afraid of you, but at the same time that’s just a joke.

Because all you do is POKE… POKE… POKE

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Poke at us for walking down the street Poke at us for protesting our rights But, as soon as you scream “ALL LIVES MATTER!” You don’t see how that’s a protest to my protest.

You fail to realize all the intelligent BLACK people who have built all your inventions.

The ones with common sense and good intentions.

But instead you choose to look at us with weird apprehensions.

Look at us and ask absurd questions.

Take our fathers from us, then mock us cause we dont have one Taken from us by the gun That you held, compelled to see our melanin as a weapon.

So yea my blackness is yalls madness, With all the sadness from your emotionless actions Leaving children and mothers crying on their door steps.

And all you can say is “I’m sorry I thought they were somebody else!” or “I’m sorry I thought they were holding a gun!”

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Love Keeps WESLEY UPCHURCH

Love never truly ends, does it?

Even when we take it from the windowsill and hide it in a cupboard.

Even when we drown it, even when it hurts.

Love keeps for a long time, Like the open jar of salsa in the back of the fridge that’s still good.

How on earth is it still good?

I would’ve written us as a romantic story if we were one.

I would’ve have written us as a bloody nonfiction about a battle no one remembers anymore if we were one.

I’d have written us in any other way.

We are a poem about a ship that was encased in ice but is still able to float.

We are a book about what love looks like when it’s frozen but not dead.

Love learns to breathe underwater.

Love is not a selfless thing, I suppose.

It’s not kind, it’s not patient.

It’s desperate and grabbing, It’s not standing stoic on the shore as their boat disappears into the sunset — Love is swallowing the entire ocean For just one more Kiss.

Untitled, Kate Vosburg

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I know the path by instinct even though I haven’t traveled it before.

Left coming up, right after that.

The curtain of trees surrounding the entrance — roots, rocks, branches, Nothing compared to the walls they once locked me behind.

I have conquered stronger than rocks before.

Steps come easier, the universe encouraging me onward.

Somewhere, years away, a small child reads Our story and smiles.

They believe in forever!

I don’t need to know where they are To know how to get To them.

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I Thought it Was Meant to Be TIMYIA WASHINGTON

I saw him when he saw me, my chocolate skin and my hair to my knees, and he had on his fitted cap and his skinny jeans.

He texted me something sweet, or so I thought, Little did I know, we’d soon fall off, all the red flags, I’d brush them away, You’re meant to get hurt in relationships anyway.

He never called me “beautiful,” just “cute” and “fine,” and that’s only because he didn’t look at anything but my behind.

My heart would skip a beat when I saw his name, When I texted him, his third leg popped up because he couldn’t keep it tamed.

You’d think they’re in love, but that’s how they want you to feel, until they get in your pants, that’s what seals the deal.

“Just move on,” they all say, but it’s not that easy when you give your temple away.

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A Girl Truth Unknown LAUREN JONES

Day after day, They try to tell us how to feel.

They try to tell us what to be, or what you should be.

They try to tell us what we should look like, what we should dress like.

They tell us, don’t wear this or that, because men are going to look at you, as if it’s your responsibility for the way someone looks defines your character.

“Don’t wear your shoulders out that looks too grown up!”

They try to tell us how to stand, how to sit.

“Don’t sit like that, I see your pudge. Hold it in.”

They try to tell us,“Suck, it up. It’ll be okay.”as if we aren’t known to have emotions too.

They try to tell us“Stop being so bossy.” as if girls aren’t encouraged to always be submissive.

“They try to tell us, “Act like a lady.” as if we were born in a world that automatically tells us how we should carry ourselves.

They call us “drama queens”, as we express how we feel and our emotions feel that they are invalidated because they’re treated as if no one cares for them.

They continue to tell us, “Don’t wear your hair like that, it’s unprofessional.”

They will always tell us we’re “overreacting” or being “extra” when we genuinely express how we feel.

It’s always them, never us..let our truth be told.

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Classic Problem THATCHER RAY

C

lassical literature is normally recognized through its complex structure and concepts as well as its monotonous high school required reading. Yet these works are not simply read to confuse and bore the student body. When these books were written, the writers used fiction to replicate and convey the issues of their time. Authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, and Harper Lee wrote novels of fiction that are recognized throughout the nation as “classics.” The classical authors’ books touched on economic, social, and political issues plaguing their respective 1920s, 40s, and 60s. Unfortunately, these issues continue to show themselves in the modern day, around 100 years later. The repetition of racial struggles, class structure, and government manipulation continue to show themselves all throughout the world. Through literature, the issues of the past can be analyzed with the purpose of recognizing the pattern of concerns, continually showing themselves into the present day.

Fitzgerald, Lee, and Orwell all were educated and eventually critically acclaimed authors. Fitzgerald

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lived through the Great Depression and World War I and was highly educated, graduating Princeton, as well as spending time in the military. His focus on American culture and themes of idealism makes him a relevant critic for the issues affecting the nation in his day. Harper Lee grew up and spent her life in the highly segregated and racist state, particularly during her lifetime, of Alabama. Witnessing atrocities like those in her first novel make her a perfect spokesperson for the social issues of her time. As for George Orwell, he was an infamous social critic who was incredibly outspoken in his opposition to communism and totalitarianism. His writing was his way of spreading his views, with his novels reflecting the issues of his current day.

In classic literature of many years before, the economic, political, and social issues can be seen from the past into today. In the year 2022, there is still economic division. There is still political conflict and government trepidation. And there is still racial injustice all throughout, not just the United States, but the entire world. In short, the issues of early 20th century life have created a pattern.

A pattern that’s repeating itself. The authors F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, and Harper Lee have written their stories in order to share their beliefs on what took over their societies. Now, new authors will emerge today, to tell their stories, different stories that will contain the same complications afflicting humanity. It’s hard to know whether these issues will repeat again, but so far it’s not looking good. Change is needed. This does not need to be a pattern. The authors of the past may not have known it would come again, but their stories show us that they once existed before, and unfortunately may again. Lots of hope should exist, that maybe the next writings will contain new problems. Time for change has come.

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For the Thinkers SARAH DUPREE

This is for the thinkers Not those of grandeur and illusion But those who settle amongst the shadows Content to rest with the dust bunnies of ideas This is for the thinkers Those who are like a pendulum Endlessly swaying back and forth between reality and fabrication Fueled by the gravity of existentialism This is for the thinkers Those who dance alongside the fears of failure Who twist and turn among the crowd of doubts And commune with the mystery of darkness You’re not alone.

You’re not mad.

Continue being human in this phenomenon of objective materiality This world was made for our dirtying of its surface For our hands to delve into the very bone of existing For we all know it is our duty to reside here But few have the courage to ponder the why This is for the thinkers Those who aren’t always the famous philosophers Or the blessed-handed artists of creation But those who simply question what it is to be alive And if it will all be worth it.

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dad’s favorite KILEY ROURKE

growing up in the shadow of the daughter that came first, i found myself constantly running to catch up to your giant shadow. seven years of memories fill your head. thoughts and experiences of all your extra time with dad before i ever came along. you’re his twin. with his olive skin and dark brown hair, and bright, blue eyes. your beauty, well it’s beyond compare. you’re his duplicate and i’m just the third wheel. you would come to visit off your metal carriage, surrounded by strangers in the sky alone you would fly, but it was worth it. you came and we did everything you wanted to do we did escape rooms i missed birthday parties and sleepovers and ate nasty italian food.

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because you were dad’s favorite. i fought every minute you were gone to win his favor. straight a’s and good test grades, winning soccer games wasn’t enough to take your place. i wanted to be the favorite more than anything i dreamed of being the daughter he loved the most until the minute it happened and suddenly i wished i had wanted anything else. the shock of the phone call took a few days to set in. dad was acting weird and quiet and mean. he stayed by the phone and he and mom whispered your name. but dad looked at me differently more cautious, more careful. i tiptoed around him for weeks, confused on what was going on. wanting to be told but too afraid to ask. you didn’t visit for years. but to make up for it, pleading for forgiveness you or maybe it was mom who decided to surprise me on my birthday. we did everything you wanted to do i mean of course we did, after all it was you.

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after years of no contact, and almost no mention of your name, the constant guessing game of what you did wrong didn’t matter because you were still the favorite. three strikes and you’re out and suddenly you had one. but you came to visit for the first time in years like nothing had ever happened. we pretended to be a happy family. a picture perfect, smiling on the outside, facebook family. but the second you left again a weight was lifted, a sigh was heaved, and suddenly i could breathe. but you were still the favorite. but strike two came along quickly resulting in the truth of what you had done to us. you didn’t come back again not for a while. we needed time to process and lick our wounds. but it hit dad the hardest you were a direct copy of him a piece of him constantly missing. so he took everything you did to heart.

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eventually you came back, begging for redemption, your want for acceptance brought you home. an attempt to rope you in, set you straight, realign you with us failed. three strikes. and you’re out. and suddenly i’m in. but i didn’t want to be. the pressure of being the favorite was now on me but not earned or deserved just merely given. a replacement of you. a constant reminder of who was there before, a spot never meant to be refilled. but finally i was dad’s favorite.

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