Talisman vol. 59 iss. 3 January 27,2022

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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper

From Sheldon Students to Sheldon Staff pages 6 and 7

Should teachers be political? page 9 Sheldon High School 2455 Willakenzie Rd. Eugene, OR 97401

Celebrity obsessions

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vol. 59 - iss. 3 - January 27, 2022

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January 27, 2022

Human Interest

The Talisman

Why are we so obsessed with celebrities?

Shiloh Capiak editor For thousands of years, people have worshipped and idolized others. A long time ago, we worshiped gods and deities. In relatively recent human history, a new phenomenon has evolved: celebrity worship. Pop culture has fascinated people since its emergence.

Most people today have an answer to the question “Who is your favorite celebrity?” - and they often have an explanation to go along with it. Sophomore Faith Merwin said, “My current favorite celebrity is probably Harry Styles. My favorite celebrity varies depending on what my current interests are. I think Harry Styles is one of my favorite celebrities because he’s just such a genuine person and he’s amazing at what he does.”

Sophomore Alexa Burger said, “My favorite celebrity is Lili Reinhart. Lili Reinhart is so down to earth, and is so real about things. She’s extremely positive and just an overall amazing person.”

While many people have a healthy relationship with celebrities and the media, sometimes interest turns into obsession. As with most things, there is no clear cut answer to whether celebrity worship is healthy or not. Sheldon health teacher Ann Hettick said, “I suppose it could range on a spectrum, like many other things: from harmless admiration to creepy, harmful, obsessive behavior. Psychologists actually study celebrity worship. There is a celebrity worship syndrome where the behavior is allconsuming, causing people to cross social boundaries.”

Celebrity worship syndrome is defined as an obsessiveaddictive disorder in which someone displays excessive focus on the details of a celebrity, usually a TV, movie, or pop star.

Researchers Lynn E. McCutcheon and John Maltby first coined the term in their 2003 study of the clinical behaviors associated with celebrity worship syndrome. Both McCutcheon and Maltby acknowledged that idolizing celebrities is an expected part of adolescent development. But when a harmless crush crosses over into obsession, the implications on mental health are numerous.

McCutcheon and Maltby observed various mental health effects, from depression and anxiety symptoms, lower levels of critical thinking, impaired social skills, maladaptive daydreaming, problematic internet use, materialism, narcissism, to higher risk of addictive behaviors. Perhaps the most wellknown effect is body image issues. Hettick said, “I think the negative side is the impact of media and celebrities on body image. It seems that celebrity images have a profound impact on teen body image or appearance. Celebrities can play into this when they document their extreme diets or lifestyles.”

The implications of teenagers comparing themselves with the “perfect” bodies of celebrities presented by the highly-curated photos of celebrities available are dramatic. An additional study

by McCutcheon and Maltby found that girls ages 14-16 who showed severe levels of celebrity worship syndrome were more likely to have poor body image. A similar study found that college students with high levels of celebrity worship syndrome were more likely to get cosmetic surgery.

Another possible implication of celebrity worship is on cognizance. A study published in November of 2021 by a group of Hungarian academics also found that those obsessed with celebrities are more likely to score lower on cognitive tests. The study had 1,763 Hungarian adults complete a couple of cognitive

tests and a survey regarding their attitudes towards celebrities. The study’s findings suggest a direct correlation between celebrity worship and results on cognitive tests.

It is obvious that celebrity worship has negative effects on the human psyche, but how can you tell

if your fascination with Kendall Jenner is just a crush or an obsession? Hettick advised, “With any behavior you have to ask yourself: ‘Is it getting in the way of normal day-to-day functioning?’ If the answer is yes, then there might be a problem.”

photo by Olivia Gilhuber

Mental Health

the Talisman

January 27, 2022

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How does seasonal depression affect students?

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We all feel down every now and then. Like when a friend moves away or a favorite TV show gets canceled. But when that sadness occurs consistently for two weeks or more it could become more than sadness. Every year there are more than three million cases of depression reported in the U.S. alone.

The Mayo Clinic says that depression is, “A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.”

Also, according the Mayo Clinic, possible causes include “a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress.

Increasingly, research suggests these factors may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.”

Since the pandemic started, there has been a significant rise in mental health issues among students everywhere.

The lack of socialization and time outdoors has taken a toll on our ability

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Lili Ledbetter staff writer

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su illustrations by Victoria Wolf

to function efficiently in our professional and personal lives. One common occurrence that can sometimes be a trigger for people is the winter and holiday seasons. During these times our bodies begin to feel slower and more fatigued as the lack of sun deprives people of vitamin D. Since the weather becomes colder and wetter, we also tend to stop moving our bodies and exercising which can lead to a decrease in dopamine levels.

Another thing that can contribute to seasonal depression is the holidays.

We often associate the holidays with fond childhood memories and happy emotions. But when we don’t feel these cheerful feelings while we see others around us having a good time, it can sometimes leave us feeling awkward, out of place and isolated.

The important thing to remember is that help is out there. Take some vitamins.

Call or text a friend. Touch some grass. Just know that you aren’t completely alone in these feelings.

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Driving

January 27, 2022

the Talisman

The value of drivers’ education Callie Lininger Co-Editor-in-Chief As you begin to get older and start to learn how to drive, lots of people consider taking drivers ed. Offered at many locations throughout Eugene including Sheldon High School, this class gives you the opportunity for classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel instruction, and observation. Senior Abby Schnoor said, “We learned about all the driving rules and laws. We also had drives where we were given feedback on how to improve our driving, and quizzes on materials we learned in class.” Taking drivers ed gives you more experience on the road, can boost your confidence when driving, teaches you driving laws and car safety, and can sometimes lower your insurance.

You do have to have your permit to take this class. In Oregon, if you pass drivers ed, you do not have to take the driving test when getting your license which is something that many people find advantageous.

Drivers ed has lots of benefits when learning to drive. Senior Kyle Knapp said, “It definitely made me way more comfortable behind the wheel. Also, learning the little secrets of backing into a parking spot I use everyday of my life.” The skills you learn from this class stick with you forever and help make you an all around better driver.

There is much experience to gain and much to learn from taking drivers ed. Senior Jake Nash said, “I learned how to be a better and more responsible driver.” It’s a good idea for everyone to look into taking this class when beginning their driving career, as it is very beneficial. Drivers ed is a very worthwhile and valuable class and the experiences and people you meet are very impactful. For more information you can visit, https://www.oregondrivertraining.com.

The drivers’ education car.

photo by Sofia El-Shammaa

Dealing with incidents while driving Natalie Kaiser editor It’s just another day. On your way home from school, the same route you drive at least twice a day. Not expecting anything out of the ordinary, but turns out this day ends with you in tears on the side of the road. In my case, I was rear ended, which is a similar situation for many students.

High school is the time when many are learning to drive and becoming more independent than ever before. There’s still a lot to learn, especially when it comes to the roads. I had some idea, but was still very unsure what to do when I got in a crash.

Junior Cadee Hoffman said, “I know in a car accident to pull over, exchange car insurance information and to take pictures of where damage is on your car and their car. Write down their license plate information.” Another important thing to remember is that the insurance company will ask many questions when you report it. So, make note of the road and/or intersection the accident occurred on, take pictures of the cars and damage, license plates, license and registration and insurance information of the other party as it will be needed later. If there were any witnesses, make sure

to get their contact information just in case. Make sure to call the police if somebody is injured and there is always the option of calling the nonemergency line. This can be a lot to keep track of and Hoffman, who took Driver’s Ed, said, “I believe they should teach more about what to do in a car accident. I didn’t really learn anything, only what to do when there’s a malfunction while driving.”

Another option to keep the roads more safe is having a required class through the DMV about what to do in any case along these lines. Sophomore Grace Bock said, “I think it should be a requirement because accidents happen, big or small they do, and if they happen, knowing what to do will help you and others involved.”

Whether or not these options are put into place, you can always speak to people who have more experience driving and who can give you tips and tricks. It never hurts to hear other experiences. Assistant Principal Wes Flinn said, “When at school, remember, your car weighs a few thousand pounds so SLOW DOWN! One mistake

can seriously injure a pedestrian. You never have to be in a hurry. I hear students say that sometimes they speed because they are late for school, but often going the speed limit will only get you to your destination.” It can really be a challenge to be on time, especially when it’s early in the morning trying to get to school, but speeding and possibly causing an accident will only delay your arrival. Another thing to remember is you can always be more educated on your car. Do you know how to jump start your car or change a tire? Flinn said, “Also, if trouble lights come on on your instrument panel, don’t continue to drive!”

Driving is a learning curve and most of it comes from firsthand experience. There is always more to learn, no matter how long you have been driving. I know for me, the biggest thing I learned was that you should take pictures of everything and the importance of keeping yourself safe, whether that means pulling over in a well-lit and populated area or staying in your car until you feel safe enough to get out.

Improvements

the Talisman

January 27, 2022

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New Year’s resolutions Kendall Smith editor

With the New Year comes new resolutions. When thinking about resolutions, most people come up with the obvious ones like working out at the gym, deep cleaning their house, and starting a new diet. For many people their resolutions are about things that they feel like they need to improve on. For many, after a few weeks or even days, their resolutions end up not working out for a multitude of reasons. The website DiscoverHappyHabits states: “According to a 2016 study, of the 41% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, by the end of the year only 9% feel they are successful in keeping them.”

For some, resolutions are a temporary thing, but for others they are more of a lifelong thing. Senior Keira Collier said,“I tend to stick with my resolutions even after the year, because why should you only do something for a year. It should keep going and improve your life.” Collier tries to make sure her resolutions are about things that she deems are worthy of her time and energy.

Math teacher Lynn Hellwege described his resolutions: “To not be so tubby, exercise, and eat healthier.” He has been making time to hike Mt.Pisgah to keep active, but said that it has been harder to keep up with eating healthy. He likes to hike with a friend of his and also sparks up conversations with other people that are on the trails.

Like Mr. Hellwege, freshman Morgan Lininger has some people who are supportive of her resolution. She said, “My resolution is to practice driving with my permit as much as possible, so both of my parents are super supportive of that.”

Morgan’s older sister, senior Callie Lininger, has had her license for a few years and has given her a few tips which she has found helpful.

graphs by Sofia El-Shammaa

resolution?

163 Sheldon students surveyed

Why schools should teach more sex-ed.

Delaney Iddings staff writer The Sex Education curriculum has evolved a lot since it was first taught to students.

Sex Education has always been a big topic to tackle with students, and it’s extremely important to talk about and discuss with every student at Sheldon.

Health teacher Anne Hettick talked about her experience with Sexual Education when she was a student: “When I was in school they separated us by sex, taught the females all about periods, but I have no idea what the males learned. That was it. In my high school career, that was all the sex education that I was taught.” She also talked about her experiences teaching Sex Ed. to students and stated that, “I actually think students

take it more seriously than most adults. Gen Z students are more open and accepting and that allows for great learning and discussion to take place.””

Former Health and Sex Education teacher, Delia Wenrich also talked about her experience teaching Sex Ed. at school. Mrs. Wenrich believes that our school should offer contraceptives: “They definitely should be available and everyone should be able to get them.” She also believes that Sex Ed. is an important part of our curriculum. She stated, “It’s apart of life, we need as much ability and access to have healthy and happy relationships and be able to have open conversations about their needs.”

Sex Ed. is one of the most important subjects that should be taught in school. This subject should be a core aspect in our curriculum here at Sheldon. There should be more access to contraceptives at school. There should be more discussion on non-heterosexual relationships. Although the Sex Ed. curriculum is taught, there is a call for more discussion on the topic for students’ safety.

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Staff Spotlight

January 27, 2022

From Sheldon student

Victoria edito

Megan Perdue, choir/theater

Jill Fogelstrom, track (finance office)

Tyler Martell, athletic director

Megan Perdue, soccer

Sports have always been a big part of Sheldon, starting when the scho aspect of student’s lives. Athletic statistics show 75% of students at She pursue sports after high school, the experience and community are what include teachers that work at Sheldon, who played a sport during their h Every year, more than 1000 students choose to participate in a school faculty members played a sport back in high school. Football coach and when he played football. “I just always grew up playing and being surro time when I first started playing.” Johnson played as a prolific quarterba college football for the Montana Grizzlies. Even after his football career course sports are a little different now than they were then, but most cha has been the focus of athletes. Sheldon’s Athletic Director, Tyler Martell We used to have people who would play more than one sport at a time; i do more than one sport at a time, it’s more common to play a certain spo negative; we should have our kids doing more things. They think, ‘if I fo in reality, the more you play, the better your skills will be.” Martell play both football and baseball here while going to college at University of O department. Martell encourages students to play as much as they can wh athletes.”

Now sports are not always a hot topic for everyone. So what if you’re maybe you’re asking yourself if you are experienced enough to participa afraid to be bad. When I played soccer, I thought I was mediocre, but I r matter my status. Starting can be hard, but the process is valuable.” Ms. Girls’ Soccer team until she got hurt her freshman year. Although sports cheerleader, encouraging all her students to do their best!

There might be the question of what if I’m not experienced enough or Isaac Sanderson shared his thoughts on starting anew: “If you want to p Sanderson played football and lacrosse all through high school, graduate you are unsure or just don’t know what to expect when participating in s The experiences that sports provide in high school have and will conti years, many students have competed and found a passion for a sport tha changed, the changes have been for the better. Students may find that sp a strong, supportive community and diverse players. Sports are for every exception.

Cristal Diaz, front office

Tyler Martell, football

Scott Wright, math

Scott Wright, football

Staff Spotlight

January 27, 2022

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ts to Sheldon staff

Wolf or

ool opened in 1963. Since then, sports have been a key eldon are involved in a sport each season. Although not all t leave lasting effects on graduated students. Many of which high school years and have their own stories to tell. sport. Among students who play sports, many of Sheldon’s d math teacher Jordan Johnson talked about his experience ounded by it. My dad and uncle were coaches here at the ack from 2006-2010 at Sheldon and later went on to play r, he continued on to coaching and now teaches math. Of anges have been positive to players. The biggest change l stated, “We have more kids specializing in what they do. it’s becoming more rare now.” Even though some students ort at a specific time of the year. Martell commented, “It’s ocus on one thing it will make me a better player’, when yed football at Sheldon and graduated in 2008. He coached Oregon and later returned after getting a job in the math hile keeping on top of their studies: “Students first before

Shiloh Jackson, cheerleading

Alex Baker, physics

Shiloh Jackson, college and career Alex Baker, volleyball

looking to do sports at Sheldon, but are nervous? Or ate. Sheldon’s choir teacher Megan Perdue said, “Don’t be realized the sense of community; I felt like I belonged, no . Perdue graduated in 2003 from Sheldon and played on the s are not her main focus now, she is her students’ very own

r what will my teammates think of me? Biology teacher play, try. There will always be the ‘what if’ if you don’t.” ed in ‘87 and continued sports into his college life. Whether sports at Sheldon, trying is never failing. inue to leave a lasting impression on students. Over the at they love. Although Sheldon’s athletic program has ports are not initially what they were expecting; they offer yone at Sheldon and our teachers show that nobody is an

Ike Sanderson (not a Sheldon grad), lacrosse Les Philipo, football

Les Philipo, business/marketing

Les Philipo, football

Jordan Johnson, math

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Food

January, 27, 2022

the Talisman

The inside scoop on ice cream Audrey Bivens editor

During the winter season, not many people would reach for ice cream when they’re in the mood for a dessert. They usually opt for something on the warmer side, like brownies or cookies.

Despite the snowy seasons and the cold, junior Brooke Hubbard said, “No matter what mood I’m in, ice cream is always the first dessert that I reach for, regardless of the temperature outside.”

Hubbard described eating ice cream in the snow this past winter season as a great, but chilly, experience.

Many of the ice cream places in Eugene have been replaced with frozen yogurt. For example, around seven years ago, the Coldstone Creamery closed at Oakway and was replaced with a DickieYo’s. Frozen yogurt was very popular for a few years, though true ice cream is returning. Senior Maddie Wingert is excited for the opening of Salt and Straw; it’s her “favorite ice cream spot in Portland.” It will be the first and so far only Salt and Straw in town.

Handels, in the Fifth Street Alley, is another new Eugene ice cream company. Handels has grown in popularity for some of their unique flavors, such as Key Lime Pie, Oree-Dough, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. When the weather is warmer, Handels usually has a line out the door of people eager to get a cool treat. Though in the past few winter months, they haven’t had such intense lines. Junior Bela Flores said “Handels is my new favorite ice cream place in town,” because of the cool location and the neighboring shops. Overall, ice cream is a great yearly treat that is enjoyed by most, and with the additions of new ice cream shops in the Eugene area, it is sure to remain a popular dessert.

Photo by Brooke Hubbard

A Coldstone Cremery employee scoops ice cream.

Rules vary on eating in class Tennen Balikian staff writer A lot of people wish they could eat in class. When you are just sitting there waiting for the class to be over, it’s easy to get hungry so why can’t we eat? “Sometimes I’ve tried to eat a snack in class but the teacher stopped me and told me I’m not allowed to,” said Sophomore India Mohiuddin. Many students at Sheldon High School agree with India about wanting to eat, but the teacher stops you. Part of the reason teachers stop you is because now we are all required to wear face masks due to the worldwide pandemic. So when you go to eat you must temporarily remove your face mask to eat the food. Some teachers don’t want you to remove your face mask to eat which is why they might stop you from eating while other teachers don’t mind if you have a snack in their class.

Another reason why some teachers don’t allow students to eat food in class is because they might think it’s disruptive or a distraction. Sophomore Landyn Bryant said, “One

time I remember this one teacher told me to stop eating because the food I was eating was making too much noise and was disrupting the class.’’ This happens quite often when students try to eat a more noisy type of food such as chips. It is understandable why some teachers don’t allow food because it disrupts the class if the student is eating loudly or drawing attention to the food the student is eating.

Though if the student is just quietly eating they should be allowed to eat.

As Freshman Tate Rempleman said, “Sometimes I’ll bring back a drink from the coffee cart to my class and the teacher won’t even allow me to drink it.” People have had the same issue as Templeman when purchasing a drink from the coffee cart, but not being allowed to drink it due to the teacher’s rule of no food or drinks in class. If you buy a drink from the coffee cart you should be able to have it, because the coffee cart is mainly open while students are in class.

There are multiple teachers that allow students to eat in class while other teachers may not allow it, but you still must follow your teachers rules and if one of their rules is not eating in class you must respect that.

Education

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January 27, 2022

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Which do you prefer: Canvas or on paper?

Liam Zamora-Fields editor Over the last few years we have had several formats of school. The first two thirds of the 2019-2020 school year was on paper, then transitioned to the Google Classroom format. This phase of school didn’t really make an impression. The trimester was cut shorter than a normal term and teachers scrambled to get assignments made and posted them online in classrooms.

The next year was a little more robust, with the addition of Canvas. The platform has been easier to navigate with more support for uploading answers and creating assignments. Finally this year we have a bit of a mix of Canvas and in-person learning.

Some students do not like the mix, while others prefer it.

With all assignments online, it’s a lot easier to stay organized and be able to find all the things that are needed. It’s also very convenient to know due dates and any details about the assignments. On the other hand, physically writing things down can help you retain information.

Senior Jessica Scialfa likes working on Canvas because of the ease of organizing and fairly instant grading on short assignments or multiple choice tests and quizzes. Others agree with Scialfa. This is a real advantage of Canvas.

Scialfa however also likes writing on paper for note taking and informational assignments because it helps her stay focused and retain information. Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA Los Angeles conducted a study that revealed how physically writing can help with learning.

Some people have issues with keeping their computer fully charged.

They need to be charging in class or borrowing a charger. Senior Spencer White, doesn’t have this issue: “I find that if I just plug my computer in before bed each night, charging isn’t much of a problem.” Just a simple

trick like that can save you a lot of hassle with simple problems people run into with their computers. Overall, Spencer prefers Canvas because of general ease of use and grades and such all in one place.

Senior Daniel White likes Canvas overall over paper for several reasons. “I think I like Canvas more because it’s easy to stay organized and also makes missing assignments easier at home.” There are clear advantages to Canvas over paperwork. Any cons of note taking being worse over the keyboard can be easily corrected by simply having a notebook and submitting pictures to Canvas. Many students think Canvas is a really nice addition to in person learning that helps students stay on top of work.

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Should teachers be political at school?

Sofia El-Shammaa editor As time marches on, it seems to many that America’s political divide is growing. According to the Pew Research Centre, conservatives feel cold towards Democrats (rating party members an average of 19.25/100) and liberals feel cold toward Republicans (similarly rating party members 19.5/100). So, if the political environment is getting more and more split, how does that affect the educational environment, especially high schools? ⅔ of Sheldon surveyed students think that high school teachers should be, at minimum,‘a little bit’ open about their personal political beliefs in a classroom setting, according to a Talisman poll. One such student is junior Chazifer Mills, who said, “I’m someone who thinks that some things can be addressed, but there’s a very fine line… if you’ve got a black student in your classroom, and the teacher’s being openly racist, then that’s just so unacceptable on so many levels.” Mills referenced the Student Harassment Form, which students can fill out about both students and teachers. Many classrooms them available to students.

Similarly to Mills, junior Lillian Fitzpatrick said that, “I don’t think there’s anything [you shouldn’t talk about], because even if it’s something negative, it can still be valuable to learn about.” Fitzpatrick specifically cited Beloved by Toni Morrison, which both IHS and AP Literature students are reading this year. Beloved has been banned by five schools nationwide. Its first banning was

“With something like January 6th, I can’t just not talk in 2007, at Eastern High School in Louisville, Kentucky, about it.” On the other hand, she believes that she has a after two parents complained about, among other things, responsibility as a teacher to create a friendly environment its brutal depictions of slavery. The book was taken off the for all students. Albrich said, “I’m always cautious of AP English reading list. Fitzpatrick said, “I don’t think it’s making sure that students know that they’re welcome in pleasant to read, like, at all, but I think it’s super important my class, that they can have a different voice.” to learn about. Y’know, [slavery] was brutal.”

Parents complaining over content their children learn is nothing new, but should their complaints be entertained, as they were in 2007? “I think that there are a lot of parents who misjudge the maturity of their children and misjudge their ability to learn,” said Mills; “There are some things that students deserve to learn about their world.”

But, in the end, the classrooms are the teachers’. Banning books and limiting their content affects them as much as their students. So, from a teacher’s perspective, how should they work with politics?

Spanish teacher Lisa Albrich has used politicized content in her classes before. Currently, her Spanish 5B class is doing a unit on climate change. Albrich did differentiate between politics 163 Sheldon students surveyed for graphs on this page and political events, saying,

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Fast Food and Plastic Packaging

January 27, 2022

the Talisman

Consuming less plastic packaging Molly Dahlager editor Since the spread of COVID began, online sales have skyrocketed. Because of this, the amount of plastic waste has also increased. The majority of brands use plastic bags, packaging, etc when shipping their products. There are very few companies that consistently make an attempt to limit plastic waste. So, since many people have been staying home, they’ve opted to shop online- most people don’t even notice what packaging their items arrive in, or are unaware of its effect on the environment.

Sophomore Abbie Lee said, “To be honest I don’t really pay attention to what my packages arrive in, because I am too excited about the things I purchased to think about what it comes in. Sometimes if too much bubble wrap or unnecessary packaging is included for the size of my item, I do think about it sometimes.” Plastic packaging causes an excessive amount of waste, and is bad for the environment. However, it isn’t easily avoidable. It is so normalized that most don’t think twice when online orders come in plastic. Lee also said, “I have started to order a lot more online since COVID because going outside and purchasing things is a risk to my safety.” Sustainable packaging should be more prioritized by brands, on a regular basis, but especially with COVID. Since plastic is very cheap, companies use it out of convenience. Sophomore Julian Eclarinal said, “I think plastic packaging is common because it’s a convenient material for companies to use, as it’s flexible so it can shape to fit a variety of products. Plastic is also a fairly cheap material, therefore companies would much rather continue to use plastic to save them money and not go out of their way to be environmentally friendly.” Many brands who do make an effort to be environmentally friendly are more expensive, causing the majority to shop wherever is cheapest.

While many brands use packaging that is damaging to our planet, there are certain companies that put the effort in for sustainability. Sophomore Finley Olsen said, “One store I shop from online is called Princess Polly. The bags that each article of clothing is in are made with recyclable or compostable material. Another store I shop from is Glossier; they use mostly cardboard packaging and they use reusable plastic bags to put their merchandise in.” These are two examples of stores that are environmentally friendly, and pretty popular ones, too. Making an effort to sustainably purchase items may be a challenge, but it is well worth it for the sake of our environment.

photo by Molly Dahlager

Fast food recommendations Olivia Wagner staff writer So we all love fast food, right? Well if you don’t that’s fine. But to most, fast food gives good smiles and feeds well. There are plenty of fast food restaurants to try from, but most adore the most popular fast food. In the end, the unwilling and eager will have to admit that above all, fast food is something to enjoy.

We all know that fast food is something that brings us all together as a country. Most of the time students at high schools love it. During lunch period most of the students will drive out to go get fast food! What type of fast food they get is interesting to think about. This doesn’t change the fact that everyone can enjoy fast food.

For instance, sophomore Liv Dudley said her favorite fast food place is In-N-Out Burger. Dudley said her favorite things to get at this fast food place are “fries and a burger.” She then explained that what she likes about the restaurant is “The aesthetic of the restaurant inside; it’s like 50s themed” What she dislikes about the restaurant

is the “wait time; it takes a long time to wait.” This is especially true now that some restaurants are not very packed with working employees which can cause long wait times.

Dudley said she has another favorite restaurant, Subway, because it is a “good change from burgers and Sonic because it has a drive in” These restaurants are very good choices and very diverse from each other which provides a grateful change into something fun yet tasty. If Dudley would at any point think of changing anything about these restaurants, she said, “I would change the bathrooms.” Also, Dudley would add to the menu “more vegan options.” This would be good for fast food places to add because we don’t ever see any fast food restaurants with vegan options and many people are vegan, and going to fast food restaurants and seeing there isn’t much to pick from can be disheartening.

Dudley said the fast food restaurants with a healthy food variation are “Subway and Panda Express, although it does depend.”

Fast food is very popular, and although opinions vary on what is best, most believe fast food is something to enjoy.

Extracurriculars

the Talisman

January 27, 2022

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Cow Club: Sheldon’s newest club Beatrice Walton editor The Cow Club seemed to have popped up out of nowhere, with many students joining and having fun in the club. However, exactly what Cow Club is and what it means to be a part of Cow Club is a mystery.

President and founder of the club, senior Emily Mitchell described how Cow Club came to be and her goals for the club: “I wanted to start Cow Club because I wanted to create a club that was a place for people from every corner of the school to come together and build a community that may seem silly, but is just a lot of fun. It started out as a joke during the summer, but I soon realized that it could become something super fun for everyone to enjoy, and thus, Cow Club was born.”

Although this may seem unimportant and silly, Cow Club has actually been a really positive and welcoming place for many students during this stressful year.

When it comes to the actual activities in the club, members can be found talking about cows, eating cow/ dairy related products, and doing activities involving cows like coloring sheets and cow puns. Senior Lillian Aves, vice president of Cow Club, said her favorite memory of Cow Club is, “Our December meeting as the members had a great time and it was very successful with the activities. We had the Dubliners come in and perform and we had a fun slideshow to present.” Aves, like Mitchell, explained the main purpose of the club is to create a fun community space for members. Aves has loved the variety of people from different corners of the school that have come together to have fun and enjoy all that Cow Club has to offer.

Members of the club typically enjoy being a part of this community and celebrating the cow species.

Senior Aiden Stitt stated his opinion on the club: “It’s a thing; I joined for cows around the world.” It’s clear Cow Club has a distinct culture that is influencing total school spirit and making a positive influence on the atmosphere at Sheldon.

photos by Emily Mitchell

Student athletes juggle school and sports Jay Gelsomino staff writer As a student athlete, you are expected to juggle a home life, school, sports and practices. It can be a pretty drastic change to your everyday life. Most sports at Sheldon are at the highest level of competition at the high school level, therefore practices and games are not taken lightly. To give you a better understanding of how committed student athletes are at Sheldon, senior Daniel White said, “My sports impact my home life a ton; it is my home life.”

Freshman Beck Marshall also stated, “I do practice at home and it takes up a lot of time.” All student athletes are

required to maintain a passing grade in at least four classes, so they are also required to perform well academically. Not accounting for the amount of time high school sports takes up, you also subject yourself to the possibility of injury as well.

Of course every student athlete knows what they are getting themselves into when signing up, but the risk is still there. When asked if he gets injured, White who plays tennis (@sheldontennisofficial) proceeded to say, “Yes I have; mostly cuts and bruises from diving.” Marshall, a student who plays a contact sport such as football stated, “I bruised my bone and almost broke my arm.” This shows how dangerous being a student athlete can be, though despite these risks, there are many benefits.

The life skills you pick up during your time playing the sport are immeasurably useful when you graduate. White stated, “Sports have taught me accountability, endurance, and how to work well under stress.” All these skills can easily be used beyond high school and into adulthood. Not only do sports help with life skills beyond high school, but sports have been known to help academically as well. When asked if basketball helped her academically, senior Danika Starr said, “Yes, my sport motivates me to maintain my grades.”

Run by students, for students.

Frontpage Editor ................................. Callie Lininger Staff Writers Human Interest pg. 2 Editor ................ Shiloh Capiak Tennen Balikian Mental Health pg.3 Editor .................... Sofia El-Shammaa Jay Gelsomino Driving pg. 4 Editor ............................ Kendall Smith Delaney Iddings Improvements pg. 5 Editor .................. Natilie Kaiser Lili Ledbetter Staff Grads 6-7 Editor ......................... Beatrice Walton & Callie Cory Mango Lininger Bree Skelton Food pg.8 Editor ................................. Audery Bivens Ana Villagomez-Lopez Education pg.9 Editor .......................... Liam Zamora-Fields Olivia Wagner Food/Plastic pg.10 Editor .................... Molly Dahlager Extracurriculars pg.11 Editor ................ Victoria Wolf Backpage Editor ................................. Beatrice Walton Co editors-in-Chief ............................... Beatrice Walton Victoria Wolf & Callie Lininger Staff Adviser ........................................ Greg Cantwell Beatrice Walton

Liam Zamora-Fields

Shiloh Capiak

Sofia El-Shammaa

Kendall Smith

Natilie Kaiser

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Molly Dahlager

Callie Lininger

cover photo by Callie Lininger backpage photo by Kendall Smith

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