SONDER Issue No. 3

EVERYONE HAS A STORY.

ISSUE No.3

SONDER

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SONDER n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

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SON DER ISSUE NO. 3 Cover Photo

by Emelia Sherman

Rebecca Durbin

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STAFF

Editors-In-Chief

KATE BAKKEN

LILIANA HERNANDEZ

EMELIA SHERMAN Copy Editors

GABRIEL COOPER

ELIJAH DAPKUS Feature Editor

ESSENCE ROY Sports Editor

BLAKE GARCIA Staff Writers

CAMERON BRANCH

JADZIA ENGLE

HALIE FAULDS

CALEB IRVIN

DYMON JACKSON

TANNER KLYM

DANIEL PEREZ-HERNANDEZ

ANA ORTIZ

KINDRA ROY

SARAH WEIDA Creative Directors

REBECCA DURBIN

DAWN HARRISON Designers

GLORIA ALVEREZ SANDERS

GAVIN CLINE

JASON LUCE

AUDREY VALDEZ Photographers

TIA DIOSZEGHY

IAN KERR MINE Shack Designer

CHEYANNE KESTER Public Relations Director

BRYLEIGH O’NEIL Social Media Director

JASMINE AGUILAR PR/ Grant Writer

ZOE KENNEDY Contributors

SARAH CASTEEL

THOMAS FELTON

DONAIZZA MATTES Adviser

IVAN MILLER

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CONTENTS 12 the last day on earth Elijah Dapkus and friends live life to the fullest.

22 street style

Springfield students express individuality through street fashion.

30 wonder boy Matthew Michaels thrives as a 13-year old sophomore at Springfield High School.

34 guidAnce through a deck of cards Sarah Weida consults Jill Sager about tarot reading.

42 tackling stigma

A high-school quarterback adapts to life with Type I Diabetes.

50 life of a hometown hero

Justin Herbert rules the field, and the classroom.

56 can’t catch a break

Niamh Houston finds strength through surfing.

Sonder is a publication produced by MINE at Springfield High School in Springfield, OR. Follow us on Social Media: @millernature @mine.journalMineJournalism

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MAKING SONDER: Editor’s Note Kate Bakken

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s I layed on a massage table on December 4, back open to the drafty, lamplit room at Yen Wellness Acupuncture and Massage Center, I felt my body tense up, my mind preparing for the worst. I couldn’t help but feel nervous. I was about to voluntarily have needles placed in my back, and all for an 800-word story in Sonder magazine. My muscles slowly contracted at the initial puncture, and gradually released as licensed acupuncturist Mary Fraser added more needles.

Suddenly, I was alone, mind free to wander, facing the stress I oppress daily. My muscles immediately tried to tighten, but the needles rebutted their efforts. I finally relaxed, and reflected on my educational journey in the Miller Integrated Nature Experience (MINE).

I pitched my first story idea in September. After watching an University of Oregon (UO) football game, commentators gushed over the skill and demeanor of Eugene native Justin Herbert. I just figured he fit the college football stereotype, talented on the field but lacking the drive in the classroom.

Once I discovered he had a 4.08 GPA as a biology major I decided to try to profile him. After five emails, I got through to the University of Oregon athletic communications director. He said Herbert was unavailable for interviews. Undeterred, I later discovered he was willing to sit down after the season, and soon after found my way into a group interview at the Casanova Center.

The day after my phone call, I hopped in my 1990 Chevy Pickup, borrowed a $3,000 DSLR camera I had no experience using, scribbled down five questions on a Post-It, and headed over to the University of Oregon football facility. I waited awkwardly with UO students, KVAL news anchors dressed in suits, and professionals with special journalism badges—everyone wielding

multiple cameras, tripods, and microphones. Once the players walked off the field, I spotted who I assumed was Herbert (I had only seen him in photos) and fired questions at him whenever another journalist took a pause. It was at that moment I began to truly feel like a journalist.

While waiting for my interview, I decided to observe Herbert playing football. After emailing a newfound UO contact, I was directed to an online form asking me to input information for two sideline media passes.

Because reporters are not allowed on the field, I told the university that I was a photographer, and scored sideline passes. With the same $3,000 DSLR camera, I walked into Autzen Stadium on a brisk November afternoon, picked up a media vest from the press box, and found myself ten feet away from the players on the field. Frantically, I ran endzone to endzone when Herbert was on the field, attempting to learn the correct way to use the camera on the fly.

Before the second duck game, MINE adviser Ivan Miller approached me about mentoring a group of sophomores who interviewed local The Register-Guard photographer Andrew Nelson. I formed an outline for the article and offered advice on how to write the assignment. Realizing the story had potential, I decided to take it on for Sonder, and found myself interviewing him at the next football game.

I was exposed to another side of journalism.

Photography can capture excitement, melancholy, love, and many other emotions, all of which Nelson has experienced. “I really enjoy the creative process and trying to solve the problem of taking a picture that will tell a story,” said Nelson. “All people deserve to have their story told.” This is exactly what the folks creating Sonder try to do. Watching Nelson carefully line up each shot, and run around the stadium toting three cameras gave me a newfound appreciation for what it takes to produce great journalism.

Each person in the third period journalism class has taken a different route since the beginning, covering stories ranging from surfing to local date night spots.

However, it all started with one major project, interviewing University of Oregon President Michael Schill. Before the interview, the class first started working together in teams. The editorial team formed a list of twenty questions, the art team brainstormed design ideas, and the public relations team planned the best way to depict our journalistic process on social media. This was the Kate Bakken makes the most of her interview with University of Oregon star athlete Justin Herbert.

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Miller Integrated Nature Experience journalism students work hard to create the third issue of SONDER. first time we came together to accomplish a collaborative project.

Eventually, it was time to prove ourselves as individuals and live up to our self-pitched journalism roles. Staff writer Dymon Jackson completed the first profile, writing about wonder boy Matthew Michaels. She set the tone, and soon after, the editorial and design team found themselves with over 20 profiles to sort through.

I wasn’t the only one to quickly jump into the world of journalism. Emelia Sherman sat down with legendary Oregon track and field coach Robert Johnson, and Jason Luce transformed into a journalistic powerhouse, designing multiple stories as well as playing tennis with Shweta Sangwan, a high ranked UO player. Photographer Tia Dioszeghy, who began the year fearful of her role, became a staple in the class. She wrote a stellar profile on junior Gretchen Hoffman and took on multiple photo shoots a week. Embracing the spirit of MINE, Ian Kerr adventured to Smith Rock on a weekend climbing trip, and landed an interview with arguably the best climber in the world, Adam Ondra.

As the year progressed everything began to connect, and each person found a different story. Not bad for a bunch of students with no experience in journalism.

Before joining journalism, the idea of writing about an experience like acupuncture for a grade would have baffled me. The idea of no real guidelines seemed daunting after growing up with five-paragraph essays and structured writing prompts my entire educational career. However, this atmosphere is the best way to become a better writer, for it creates a deeper awareness of self. This freedom

exposed my true writing style and unlocked my voice.

It not only allowed me to do as much research I found necessary on the topic at hand, but forced me into the community, to actually converse with people I might never have had the courage to speak to before. The class also brought me closer to people I have shared classes with for four years.

Typically, the idea of having someone else read a story you scribed is horrifying. In journalism, every single person in the class has some connection to your story. Whether it be editing, fact-checking, photography, design, or simply being part of a deeper support system, lines blur, and each person becomes engulfed in one another’s work.

This experience allowed me to discover what others are interested in, learn different writing styles, and learn about topics that I never would have on my own.

The stress that MINE caused me was thrilling. Unlike the panic of remembering formulas or reading a textbook, I wrote stories of my choosing. I learned to work with other people, and I finally felt a sense of urgency. Producing a magazine is a team effort. While not each member of the team necessarily contributes the same amount or type of work, a magazine cannot be created the night before it is due, or by one person. The magazine is not returned with red marks and a letter grade. Instead, it is distributed to the community it was created for.

The uncertainty and risk needed to successfully complete a magazine might turn some people away, but those that took the plunge have learned invaluable lessons, including the necessity of perseverance, how to learn from failure, and how to work as a team, even if that means working solo on a project.  SON DER

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Jadzia Engle comes face-to-face with technology.

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WIRED

T THE SCREEN Jadzia Engle

Ian Kerr

Feeling trapped and tied to technology, Jadzia Engle examines our relationships with our devices.

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am seated in a grey leather chair adjacent to a desk. I deeply inhale the scent of sterile plastic and equipment of a doctor’s office. A general practitioner from Springfield Family Physicians gazes at me through her glasses, temporarily disregarding her clipboard as straight, brown hair cascades down to her shoulders.

“How much time do you spend on digital devices daily?

Less than two hours?” she inquires.

I pause before answering. My eyes flit to the examining bed wrapped with white paper, to the otoscope mounted to the wall, then back to her, all the while considering the question that I do not know the answer to.

“About two hours,” I unknowingly lie. My futile attempt at considering the question quickly comes to an end as I blurt out an answer that will not diminish my appearance too much. I exit the doctor’s office feeling slightly guilty. I think I was untruthful in my answer: straining my mind in thought, I cannot comprehend the actual time I spend on devices.

The reality of the numbers frightened me. Installing a usage tracking app on my phone provided insight into my actual screen activity. As my usage is tracked and plotted, the time spent over my set limitation of two hours and 55 minutes dominates over the days that I am under the

already high limit. My acquired tendency to dismiss the time notifications as nothing more than an insignificant inconvenience to swipe away, and continue into the seventh hour on my phone, adds to the unsettling feeling that has been bubbling up. Currently, I am averaging four hours and 13 minutes per day, which I never would have known if I did not actively seek it out.

As my true screen time came to light, I started to wonder, how many others are experiencing the same thing? And why can’t I put my phone down?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum screen time for teens of less than two hours per day, outside of devices used for homework. Reflecting on my own statistics, I exceed the constraints of the advice. Unfortunately, the data of my peers is not any more promising.

On average, American teenagers spend nine hours using electronics for entertainment media every day, excluding all time on devices for school, as stated in a 2015 study conducted by Common Sense. Allowing for six to eight hours of sleep, that means half or more of the time spent awake by teens is being consumed by screens.

This technology outweighs the time spent with parents, in school, or partaking in any other activity.

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Although two-thirds of Americans believe they can successfully multitask while doing homework, all it does is disrupt concentration and the ability to process and produce information well. In fact, Harvard Business Review contributor David Rock says that an “overabundance of dopamine” results from these technological interactions, and further contributes to distracting from the task at hand.

School work is not the only facet of life that can suffer. Real life interactions are no longer required for someone to receive the instant gratification of an organic compliment, friendly smile, or display of affection from a partner. Instead, people derive that satisfaction from likes on their Instagram posts, or by vicariously living through their favorite TV character. As James Steyer, founder of Common Sense, puts it: “when you are constantly on your phone or texting people in an anonymous or very impersonal way, it’s a very different [interaction] and studies show that that can impact intimacy, empathy, and

Some time outside gives Jadzia Engle a chance to clear her head.

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some of the basic elements of human communication.”

Stimulating the brain every minute of the day provides no break for the people already overloaded with an abundance of stimuli in their un-digital life. My own data reads that I am currently averaging 120 notifications per day, and 110 pickups. So, 120 times a day there is a text message, Snapchat, email, phone call, or other notification screaming for my attention to lock back into the entrancing artificial light, and only 10 times do I resist it.

When seeking breaks from work or school settings technology-free environments, working out, or meditating effectively reduces stress and improve overall health for those participating in the activities at the correct times and frequencies.

These conventional ways to improve health are presented to us, yet phone usage and its negative effects do not diminish, and mental health issues continue to grow. From a 2013 ScienceDirect study, 80 percent of students even agreed that their concentration was worse

if they had a mobile phone in class. Yet, 92 percent of college students disclosed their willing phone usage during lessons.

Treating technology as if it were a drug denotes an appropriate reaction based on the addictive properties that are displayed in the users. Just as any activity that people find pleasure in, using technology provides stimulation to the brain that many refer to as “a rush,” or a temporary state of complete euphoria.

Just like a hard drug, when you stop using it you experience withdrawal symptoms. The brain literally tricks itself into overdosing on dopamine, overflowing with instant gratification and faux happiness every time it receives positive screen stimuli. The addiction can take hold fast because of just how much stimuli is available.

Repeated behavior causes individuals to feel as if they’re losing control, which greatly increases susceptibility to depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Gaining perspective on my own screen time has

opened my eyes to just how hooked I am. I have felt helpless to the urges of my brain demanding that I pick up my phone, and I succumb even when actively attempting to avoid it. I can’t ignore it any longer.

To break free from the manipulative grasp of technology, I am beginning to limit my screen time. By entrusting someone else with my limitation password, I expel all temptation as my brain scrounges for its next hit.

No longer will I feel as if I’m not in control of my actions as I impulsively scroll through social media, or be reminded of my failures with each unfortunate screen usage update. Instead, I can focus on escaping back into reality. 

"Gaining the p e r s p e c t i v e o f my ow n s c r e e n t i m e h a s o p e n e d my e y e s t o j u s t h ow h o o k e d I a m ."

- Jadzia engle

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The Last Day On

Earth

Elijah Dapkus and friends spend a day like it’s their last.

Elijah Dapkus

PJ Smith, a talented pogo-sticker, bounces his way through Eugene.

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Thomas Felton

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hat would you do if you had 24 hours left on Earth? What a big existential question. Many teenagers don’t really consider dying as a very real or upcoming possibility. That’s understandable: the average teenager in the United States will live between 55 and 70 more years. On top of that, it just escapes minds. We’re too enamored with day-to-day activities to focus on something that shouldn’t happen until the far future. When we talk to our teachers and counselors about life goals, we hear: “Don’t worry; you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”

Well, toss that out the window. Your whole life is now. So what would you do?

On the first day of school, PJ Smith introduced himself to me as “Pepto Bismol Jones.” PJ for short.

The man takes beginning acting classes, creates memes and gaming videos for his YouTube channel (Rekoot), and hosts his own Discord server, which is set up like a small town. Without a doubt, he’s creative and impromptu, but even that didn’t make it easy for him to find an answer for his ideal 24-hour situation.

After a few hours of deliberation and conversation, I created a list of things that were either on his bucket list or things he had to try, and promised that we would accomplish some of them in a single day. The most important task: traveling to Circle K to purchase some world-famous Polar Pops. “That’s been on my bucket list for a while, and I’ve just never gotten

around to it,” he said, even though it was the first bucket list item he’d ever written down.

I learned that he’d never looked down on the world from the top of a building, and that he missed the sport of pogo-sticking. So we created the perfect itinerary, which was a bit surreal, but we were ready to dedicate a Saturday to an epic adventure. Under the manifesto that “the rules are out the window [on the] last day on Earth,” we set out to do what we could do.

After stopping for a munch at Burger King, Paul Bowlsby, Thomas Felton, Smith, and I traveled to north Eugene to pay the neighborhood Circle K a visit and purchase their signature sodas. Our inspiration arose from the hashtag “#dontbethirsty,” the official catchphrase of the Polar Pop brand and an absolute double entendre. Smith admits he didn’t really know that Polar Pops were just massive fountain drinks.

Despite the lack of knowledge, he thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Before leaving, we posed for a picture with the “NO LOITERING” signage just to stick it to The Man. At around 1:00 p.m., I pulled into a compact parking space on Ferry Street, just west of The 515 Apartments in Eugene. None of us had key cards to The 515, so we had to wait for someone to open the door and let us enter. By an extraordinary stroke of luck, as we walked by the west side of the building, a man strolled out of the side exit. I raised my eyebrows

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in surprise, holding the door open. We walked down to the basement parking garage, where we could access stairs to the roof without a card. The dizzying 14-flight trek to the top took us past uncleaned piles of teriyaki vomit and made our legs ache, but opening the door to the highest view in Eugene vaporized the nastiness.

The atmosphere felt clearer 130 feet up.

On the rooftop of The 515 are a hot tub, a swimming pool, some widescreen televisions, a shower, some lounge chairs, a fireplace with some cushioned seats surrounding it, and a lookout. We busted out of the staircase into the open pool area to the sight of three college students, one with her bra awkwardly pulled down, glaring back at us from the hot tub. We averted our eyes and took a hard turn in the opposite direction.

Wisely, plastic panes extending five feet or higher into the air surround the roof’s lounging area, but they can be looked over by standing atop the fireplace couches.

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wall anymore,” he boasted. Because he introduced me to Tetris, I arranged pieces from the game in a way that resembled the two letters of his name, and gave him the drawing for his wall. “That’s awesome!” he said.

“This day has been like a dream come true.”

I was really happy that I was able to do something fun for Smith. It was the first time I’d ever hung out with him, Thomas, or Paul, and it was an extremely unique experience for us all. It’s not as if any of the things we did were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but it was still a near-perfect day. Not only was it an epic way to spend an afternoon, it satisfied some aspirations.

Going on a journey without much care for our limitations helped us wake up to the world around us.

We’re all guilty of wasting profuse amounts of time, but as soon as we set our distractions aside, we were ready to face anything. Living that way was more fun.

I’ve become quite accustomed to hearing people

Going on a journey without much care for our limitations helped us wake up to the world around us.

-Elijah Dapkus

“This is awesome,” Smith said over and over again, peering at the foggy horizon and crawling vehicles below.

The last stop we made was at a Walmart parking lot, where I surprised Smith with a Razor pogo-stick I borrowed from a friend. “Fun fact: I can pogo-stick like a legend... I can [pogo-stick with] no hands,” he said.

The instrument I handed him was not a particularly professional specimen of pole, but as soon as he got his grip, he was bouncing over the asphalt like a kangaroo.

Before dropping him off at his house, I gave Smith one last token. Whenever Smith receives a drawing, no matter what it is, how much space it fills, or who gives it to him, he always hangs it up on his wall in his room. He calls it the “Wall of Rekunt,” a spoof on his YouTube pseudonym, and he wants to finish it before he leaves his home for college. “I’m not going to stop until the entire wall is covered and you can’t see the

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blabber about idealist values, higher laws, and beautiful landscapes. I don’t know if they have any idea what they’re talking about, but one thing is probably true: presently, many such people are not living in a way that verifies these values. That’s fine, but why have those dreams if you don’t try to make them happen?

We cherish comfortable lifestyles. We are glued to our phones. We avoid unfamiliar people and sometimes company at large. It’s no wonder that we create lists of things we’d do if we had just 24 more hours; we have no time to try any of it because we abuse our time.

Experiences on Earth are limited, and the more time you waste, the truer this becomes.

Consider this a challenge to think critically about how people use their time. Identify one thing that you would want to do if you had 24 hours left on Earth, eliminate distractions, make a plan, and then make it happen. Don’t wait to find the confidence or the time to do something, just follow the dream. 

PJ Smith slurps down his much anticipated Polar Pop with his friend Paul Bowlsby.

Do you ever find yourself stuck in the same old routine?

Do you spend Friday nights endlessly scrolling through movie times and Yelp reviews? The MINE Date Guide provides the perfect activities for any night.

REPORTED BY

Gabriel Cooper, Blake Garcia, Donaizza Mattes, Bryleigh O’Neil, Emelia Sherman

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PHOTOS BY

Tia Dioszeghy, Thomas Felton, Ian Kerr, Bryleigh O’Neil, Emelia Sherman

Late Nigh t SIZZLE PIE PIzZA Sizzle Pie’s motto is “Eat Pizza Every Day.” Although we don’t recommend that, the atmosphere and mouthwatering pizza make us think twice. Pizza by the slice ranges from $3.50 to $4.50, with the option of getting a “cut” (half a slice) for half the price. For a whole pizza, you have the option to choose from their signature creations (which include vegan and gluten-free options), or make your own. Whole pizzas come in sizes of 12” and 18”, and range in price from $16 to $29. Try the Raising Arizona with chicken, bacon, fresh tomatoes, and parmesan peppercorn sauce.

TOWNSHEND’s Eugene Teahouse Townshend’s Eugene Teahouse is your ultimate destination for everything tea. They have 100plus loose leaf teas, great bubble tea (including vegan options), Brew Dr. Kombucha on tap, and delicious pastries from local bakeries to enjoy while lounging on comfy couches and chairs filling ample space. With a little caffeine kick, it makes the perfect place to study, and offers free wifi. We recommend the lavender bubble tea with tapioca pearls ($4 for a small) and the oatmeal cookie ($2).

VOODOO doughnut Voodoo Doughnut is a rad option. Voodoo’s open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and open all day on Friday and Saturday. There’s a multitude of wacky (but delicious) flavors (including vegan options) to appease the appetite! One can get a classic Maple Bar or The Loop, a raised yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting and Fruit Loops on top. Factor in the arcade games and the funky gorilla statue, and you’ve got the perfect late-night hangout spot for you and the best buds.

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Adventure Date ELevation Bouldering Gym Elevation is an 18,000-square-foot bouldering gym located on Lincoln Street in Eugene. Equipped with a training gym, classes, kids area, lounge, and 9,000 square feet of ever-changing climbing terrain, Elevation has everything you need for a great bouldering experience. Unlike a traditional climbing gym, you’re not roped into a harness, and you don’t need a belayer, so you’re free to climb wherever you like. For a good time (whether you’re a beginner or pro), try a climbing workout (your forearms will be sore for days).

5th Street

Grab a sweet treat and go window shopping at 5th Street Market. Its international food court, various boutiques, and adorable multipurpose shops have something for everyone. Go to Market Ramen and get the Bowl 1 for $12, or go one counter over to Café Glendi Greek Eatery for a healthy, authentic Gyro Salad for $6.95. Then head on over to Provisions and grab a latte and vanilla éclair for $8.50. At Gilt + Gossamer, you can shop for all of the latest styles in clothes such as a new chenille sweater or dainty necklace with your birthstone. On the other hand, if you’re interested in a totally free, fun-filled afternoon, you can simply browse the dozens of stores.

SKinner butte Every adventure needs a mountain to climb, and Skinner’s Butte is in the perfect place. Named after the original founder of Eugene, the view encompasses what his work has become. The Butte itself has many official and unofficial trails, but the hike to the top is about a mile long and can be done in a half hour.

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Game Night Level Up Arcade Open every night until 9 p.m. for minors and 2 a.m. for individuals over 21, Level Up Arcade in downtown Eugene is sure to give you and your date some fun. This vibrant, neon blend of a retro and modern arcade has a multitude of game genres from decades of gaming scattered throughout the facility. Play games like Marvel Super Heroes, Donkey Kong, and Pac-Man. Game prices range from only 25 cents to a dollar per play, and every one is pay as you go, making the arcade a wonderful option that can fit every budget.

Bijou art cinemas Try something new and avoid the clichÊ movie theater date. Bijou Art Cinemas on 13th street in the heart of Eugene is the perfect alternative for a movie outing. Transformed from a former church building, the Bijou offers showings throughout the week while maintaining a 1920’s themed atmosphere. Tickets ranging from $6 matinee to $8 evening showings makes the Bijou a cheaper and far more adventurous option.

Dough Co. The perfect end to a night out is a hot box of fresh, warm cookies. The Dough Co., located on the corner of 13th and Hilyard Street in Eugene, offers delicious calzones, often fresh out of the oven. Open until 3 a.m. seven days a week, The Dough Co. is a great option no matter what time your night of fun ends or begins. Although slightly more expensive in relation to nearby restaurants and bakeries in the area, the average calzone costing $8.25, and regular batch of four cookies costing $6.00, The Dough Co. is sure to not disappoint with quick, friendly service, and unbeatable taste.

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On Campus Hey, Neighbor!

Hey Neighbor Pizza House puts a modern spin on a classic oven baked pizza joint. All pizzas are 12 inches and baked to order, and vary from $6-$14!

You can order a classic like the “Marg,” a variation of a margherita (our personal favorite), or an original creation like the “Funghi” which has a garlic cream base, mozzarella, wood-roasted mushroom blend, parmigiano-reggiano, and thyme. The restaurant has a nice aethstetic, with bright colorful lights throughout and an adorable outside seating area equipped with rainbow stools and open flame patio heaters.

Prince Pucklers Prince Pucklers is a local ice cream parlor that once attracted President Obama during a campaign visit. Offering 40 flavors, from classics like Rocky Road and Mint Chip (President Obama’s choice) to unique blends like Raspberry Truffle or Tiger Stripes, a single scoop is $3.75, a double is $5.95, and the famous Euphoria Ultra Chocolate Single Scoop Sundae is $5.25.

Quite simply, it’s the best ice cream in town.

Hendricks park

Located near both Hey Neighbor Pizza House and Prince Pucklers, Hendricks Park is a beautiful place to enjoy some ice cream while watching the sunset overlooking the city.

Hendricks is Eugene’s oldest park, home to 80 acres of towering trees and lush greenery. It also has ample space for picnics, as well as plenty of benches scattered about the trails. In the spring, enjoy the blooming rhododendrons, and wait out the showers under the large covered area.

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JUNE 23–28, 2019 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON CAMPUS sojc.co/NextGenUO

A SUMMER RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

NW-inspired menu Brunch 9-2 weekends Happy hour food specials

@NextGenUO

Family friendly Great for groups Burger & Brew Monday

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STREET S

treet style is fashion based on the individual.

It combines personal style with current trends to create a type of fashion that is unique and ever-changing. It is not the type of fashion you see on runways, it is the type of fashion you see the models wearing to the runways. This type of style is available to anyone. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on designer clothes to look stylish. Most of the current popular styles include a mixture of some athleisure, grunge, urban, or 90’s fashion, but street style is far from limited to those trends. Street style embraces many distinct fashion trends, and is inclusive to all cultures and people .

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STYLE 2019

Jasmine Aguilar, Dymon Jackson, Bryleigh O’Neil, Emelia Sherman Tia Dioszeghy & Emelia Sherman

SHOES

“Retro” and “Throwback” are the key words for shoes this year. In fact, raiding your parents closets for the kicks they wore in high school will probably reveal the same shoes on the streets today. “Dad sneakers” are the most noteworthy new trend, as it’s almost impossible to go a day without seeing a pair of these distinctive shoes. They can be paired with everything, from dresses to joggers, and add a bold element to any outfit. They are most popular in white and in multi-colored patterns, and the most prominent brands are Nike, Fila, and Adidas. Young celebrities love this trend; icons like Bella and Gigi Hadid rock it on the regular. Chunky boots are another old trend gaining traction, the heavier the better. Dr. Martens and Timberlands are favorites, and are suited for Oregon weather, as both are completely waterproof. Vans are making a huge comeback, and it seems like everyone has a pair of slip-ons or old skools. The classic checkered pattern is beloved by many, but there are tons of wild looks to choose from, including a custom option that allows you to upload your own artwork and photos to create a shoe that encapsulates your personal style.

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Our models, Niyale Moseby (top left and bottom right), Neviah Lee (top right and bottom left), Albrina Jorkan (bottom left), and Nainoa Ramirez (bottom right and top left) pose aroud various spots in Eugene and Springfield.

INNER LAYER Most of the current popular styles include a mixture of some athleisure, grunge, urban, or 90’s fashion.

Graphics are all the rage and depict everything from bands to nostalgic cartoon characters. Almost every outfit has layers, and plain white or striped tops are worn under pieces like slip dresses or short sleeve t-shirts. Loose pants have replaced skin-tight ones and can be seen in bold prints like camouflage, plaid, and checkered. Most bottoms are high waisted, and old denim fads like wide-leg and mom jeans are back in style. Tops are usually either oversized, or cropped, and fairly basic so that they pair well with more flashy pants and jackets. Tracksuits are back in, and it is common to see models and celebrities hanging around the city in sweats or joggers.

OUTER LAYER The outer-layer has become more than just a way to keep you warm. Even in nice weather, almost all street style looks are equipped with a jacket of some sort. For winter, overly-stuffed puffer jackets are a great choice if you want to look great without sacrificing warmth. Solid colors are the most popular, with the occasional metallic or print. These coats look great cropped or long, and are most often oversized. Another cold-weather option is the “sherpa jacket.” This type of jacket is either lined with, or made entirely of fuzzy, polyester, sherpa material, which gives the impression of sheeps wool. This style is particularly prominent in jean jackets, in which the lining and collar are made of this material. Windbreakers, bombers, corduroy jackets, and long trenches are several other outer-layer trends that you will probably see while traversing the streets, and can be dressed up or down in many different outfits.

HAIR & MAKE UP Who doesn’t want to shine? With these new makeup trends you can look fresh, subtlety glowy, and ultra-confident. With glossy, bold pinks and reds on your lips and eyelids, you are sure to stand apart. Highlighted cheeks and fluffy, full brows lead to a bold yet natural look.

Textured, loose waves, sleek top knots, and exaggerated accessories are the low maintenance hairstyles sure to save you time and make you look Instagram ready. Bedazzled hair clips and statement velvet scrunchies are sure to make a five-minute hairstyles pop. A simple high bun is redesigned with a casual half up half down style, and high volume, messy ponytails are sure to elevate your look. Showcasing natural texture is the big trend, so whether you have tight curls or pin-straight locks, your hair is always in style.

ACCESSORIES No look is complete without accessories.

Whether they’re worn in your hair, on your arm, waist, or even your face, accessories tie your outfit together and give it a little something extra. Sunglasses are a classic option, although the hip style is everchanging. Right now, small, colored glasses worn low on the nose is the most popular, followed by sunnies in wild, stand-out shapes. Belt bags have transitioned from a dorky accessory to cool again, and are worn either on the waist or across the chest. In the jewelry department, layered chokers and nameplate necklaces have taken the forefront, as well as the “stacked” look of wearing multiple rings and bracelets.

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g n i t n a l P f o s d e e s Gretchen Hoffman combats restless high school life with positivity and kindness in her everyday actions.

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Happiness Tia Dioszeghy

Gretchen Hoffman enjoys the warm sun interrupting an autumn afternoon.

Tia Dioszeghy

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Gretchen Hoffman explores the streets of downtown Springfield.

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Rebecca Durbin

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n any given weekday, Gretchen Hoffman joyfully stands with her choir, making sure she has perfect posture for singing—back straight, chin level with the ground, one foot slightly in front of the other, and lungs puffed up with air. She hears the piano play the first chord for warm ups: C, E, and G. The choir begins singing a simple jingle repeatedly in unison, the key raising half a step up after each round. After about 30 seconds the notes exceed some students’ range, making them drop out of the warm up one-byone. Hoffman, unafraid of standing out, continues singing and pushes her voice to its absolute highest.

She draws the attention of the other students as she tests the limits of her range. She tries not to giggle as she meets their glances and smiles. Finally, she grins and relaxes after hitting the very highest note she can reach, and the class excitedly applauds her small

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and with a hectic 12 hours in the books she has just enough time for homework and family.

None of Hoffman’s choir, theatre, and academic accomplishments were simply handed to her. It takes two years of outstanding performance in both beginning and advanced theatre to participate in advanced acting ensemble. “I’ve learned to work under pressure and adapt to problems,” she says. She also had to excel in singing for two years in order to get into the advanced choral ensemble, Kaleidoscope.

These groups require a lot of work, determination, and enthusiasm.

With this kind of schedule and set of expectations, many students might display irritability or discouragement, or potentially isolate themselves from family and friends. Hoffman refuses to give in to any negativity, and rather lifts others with happiness.

Positivity can have a ripple effect on the community around you.

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-Gretchen Hoffman

performance as everyone sits down and pulls out the first piece of music.

Hoffman is an extremely busy individual. She wakes up at 6:00 in the morning for a 30 minute commute to school, where she takes a full schedule of classes. On top of difficult courses such as physics, AP literature, and contemporary math, she also excels in Springfield High School’s top choir and theatre courses. After school, she takes on a higher level of theatre where she manages rehearsals for different productions. She handles props and costumes, assists in rehearsal, and ensures that cast members stay in line for over three hours every day. Her duties vary from helping a cast member get dressed, to yelling weird sound effects as they’re running their lines. She likens it to being a “little mom who does everything the director is unable to.” Afterward on Mondays and Wednesdays, Hoffman instructs children on how to swim at the Willamalane pool until 8:00 p.m. This puts her home at around 8:30,

She says, “positivity can have a ripple effect on the community around you,” and uses this motto everywhere she goes.

The moment she wakes up, she jumps with excitement, ready for the day. Hoffman ensures that she is her best self at all times of day, starting with picking an entire aesthetic in her outfit—maybe a flower child theme with a colorful dress and some sandals, mirroring her bright and quirky personality. No matter what kind of style she chooses, Gretchen’s infectious smile and positive attitude goes with anything and has a huge impact on others. She says, “I try to act like a goofball, and see if I can make anyone smile.”

Hoffman gives all of her time to make others happy.

She exemplifies how far kindness can take people and feeds off of the love from her friends, converting it into more love to give to others who need it. No matter how stressful or busy her day may be, she keeps a positive mentality. It’s not easy surviving high school, but positivity proves infectious and Hoffman tends to make everyone's day a bit brighter. 

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Wonder

b oy Dymon Jackson

Tia Dioszeghy

Matthew Michaels excels in upper level classes as a 13-year old at Springfield High School.

Matthew Michaels enjoys some free time outside of Lincoln City.

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n 2008, the Michaels family sat in the living room watching the evening news. The room was rather quiet, with only the buzz of the TV in the background.

At the time, 3-year-old Matthew Michaels “didn’t talk much,” so it easily came as a shock when he started to shout out numbers: “32, 8,16!”

“It was mind blowing,” says Jan, Michaels’ mom.

“We realized he was reading the weather report.”

Immediately, Jan went into the family’s play room and picked up a book with numbers from 1-100. “I would point to a number and ask, what’s this? and he would tell me.” Looking back on it, Jan now knows that this was the first sure sign of Michaels’ phenomenal talents.

Fast forward a few years, and picture a high school schedule with calculus, physics, chemistry, P.E., two choir courses, and beginning theatre. Dashing from class to class, acting, singing, and dancing in fine arts courses, and then going home to loads of homework.

Throw in performing with Rose Children’s Theatre, and imagine taking it all on as a 13-year-old. Well, Michaels

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worked with him. Some sent him a video for his birthday telling him how he made them feel special and how they viewed him. Parents have also told me how their child has felt more important because Matthew took the time to interact with them and applaud them on how they were doing.”

Though Michaels is humble and calm, that completely disappears when he hits the stage. He says, “before the show, I usually do this routine where I shake out my arms and legs. Each limb eight times, I try my best to shake out the nerves. I also try to get into character before the show. Once I am really into the show and the character, I’m not really that nervous anymore.”

When the curtains roll and the stage lights come on, he transforms into an entirely different person. For Michaels, it all started with a hip-hop class he joined when he was 8 years old. “Someone saw that I really loved it and they recommended that I audition for the Red King Theatre,” he says. “I got one of the parts and I

at a very young age we discovered Matthew had a gift for knowledge.

-Jan Michaels

is gifted. And he does it all at Springfield High School.

Michaels was homeschooled until the age of 12, before enrolling as a part-time student at Springfield, listed now as a sophomore. Jan says, “at a very young age we discovered Matthew had a gift for knowledge.

We knew at the time that he would be in middle school at the age of 8. We did not want him to lose his innocence.”

Michaels’ homeschooling has put him on a different path than most other students. Michaels says, “it definitely helped. My mom didn’t let us have breaks every 30 minutes. Me and my brother were homeschooled for a while, then we came here. She really helped us learn.”

Jan added, “the thing that impresses me the most is how humble he is. He has a way, even with the lead role, of making everyone feel that they are important, and that they also have the lead role.

“Those words came from people who actually

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just really loved it. So I continued doing theatre.”

He has undying love for the fine-arts, always searching for the adrenaline rush. “I just think about the end of the show. You know that feeling when you’re really into the character and the audience is hopefully up on their feet. It’s just really...an awesome feeling,” he says.

With so much to deal with, one may look at the 4.0 student in admiration, wondering how he does it all.

Michaels stays humble, saying “I just try to get my work done, and then I have some fun.”

At his age with a full schedule, AP classes, and involvement in multiple fine-arts programs, Michaels excels. Regarding the future, Michaels hopes to continue his theatre pursuit. He says, “I would like to be on Broadway someday. That is one of my top goals of all time.” Whether he chooses a career stemming from his knowledge or his dreams, Michaels is surely a talent to watch. 

Matthew Michaels gazes down the streets of Springfield in the frigid weather.

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Jill Sager works as a professional tarot reader.

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Guidance Through a Deck of Cards Sarah Weida

Dawn Harrison

Sarah Weida explores the metaphysicalworld of tarot.

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arot attracts me because of its impression of mystery. I knew the basics of tarot, that it was a way to reflect on yourself without speaking or sharing anything about yourself, and that a deck consists of different cards that represent parts of who you are, but I still desired to know more. A simple search for “tarot reader” on Google displays thousands of options. A Yelp search brought me to a page of Eugene’s top readers. There was one in particular that I was drawn to. A small woman with curly black hair named Jill Sager had an aesthetically appealing website. She seemed welcoming and comforting, and I decided to reach out for a reading.

I met Sager at her home. We went into her reading room, which has light wood details atop blue walls with decor of religious statues, posters, and Conga drums spread throughout. We sat down. She handed me her deck of cards and told me to shuffle them while thinking of questions in my head. Once I was done, she said she was going to “tune in,” closing her eyes, praying silently to herself. She received the initial message of who I am. Before she laid down the cards, she said, “[I] got a little message ahead, they said light and life is what you make it and laughter is your guide,” and that “lightness of being is your saving grace.”

The “they” Sager refers to is what she calls “Guidance,” the voices she is in contact with during readings. Sitting shocked, for she had never met me before, she seemed to know everything about me.

Her eerily accurate analysis continued throughout the reading. Each card that laid on the table pinpointed a part of who I am and who I may one day be. The main thing that Sager said that impacted me so greatly was when she asked what my dreams were. I told her about my mundane career goal, which was being a farmer or something in agriculture. Sager saw something more in

me and asked me what my big dream was, so I told her my actual dream— become a film producer or director, anything in that realm. Immediately, she lit up, affirming that film was where I belonged. Sager said I could achieve what I desire and do well for myself. This not only helped me figure out where I should head in life, but it also gave me confidence, because for so much of my life I never thought I would do anything worthwhile. This confidence kept building and what was really an hour of conversation felt like only five minutes, and not once did I question what she was saying— it all felt right.

Much confusion arises among people regarding tarot and its purpose. Tarot has been around for hundreds of years; it is not an exclusive club or something you need higher powers to participate in. The best thing to have while practicing tarot is intuition: gut instincts and strong trust. Intuition is something we are all born with, but it is often lost as we grow older. Sager believes tarot is a great tool to regain or strengthen intuition. It does not perfectly predict the future or connect people with ghosts. Tarot is used for guidance and support. During difficult times, tarot can help to introduce possibilities not yet seen. Sager offers people guidance. Sager describes tarot as “a way to increase self awareness.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sager lived a childhood unlike most. She was born with one leg shorter than the other, by a substantial two and one half inches. At only 9 years old she was hospitalized in an attempt to lengthen her leg, but the procedure failed, and actually worsened her disability. From ages 9 to 12 she received schooling at home and socialized little, but during this time she strengthened her musical skills.

Sager began playing music at the age of 6, beginning with the classical piano. She continued playing into her

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teens, which allowed her to attend the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan. Leaving the Bronx opened Sager up to new things. She says, “going to Manhattan everyday got me out of my comfort zone… growing up in New York is such a privilege because there’s so much culture there and I took advantage of that.”

Sager visited museums, ballets, and plays, while learning to grow on her own. Growing up, Sager had to fend for herself. Oftentimes her parents weren’t there and she had to learn to do things on her own. “I had to deal with a lot of things on my own and I think that helped me realize other people have problems, and that things can change,” says Sager. “I really believe people can change… I was able to carve out a really good life for myself, realizing that any suffering I had was temporary.”

This idea helped form Sager into a change-

own drum school in Eugene. Over the course of ten years, Sager reached out to all kinds of people: children, the elderly, those incarcerated in the prison system, and more. During this time she still performed readings and occasionally used the school to publicize her tarot abilities.

This is the first year tarot will be her prime focus. Starting a new business in any way can be a challenge, but is especially tough in a field that holds so many unknowns. What challenged Sager to start her business most was putting herself out there and being open about reading tarot. “Tarot and who I am are inseparable so I felt vulnerable telling people I read tarot,” says Sager. “I think I was embarrassed. In my own head, I guess I thought people might think I’m weird.”

Eventually, Sager went all in. As a result, Sager realized “how important it is to believe in what you’re

able to carve out a really good life for myself, “ I was realizing any suffering I had was temporary. ” -Jill Sager

oriented person, forever remaining open to life’s changes and well equipped to deal with them. Sager left the Bronx right out of high school and headed to San Francisco, California.

In 1976, a friend in San Francisco gifted 19-yearold Sager her first set of tarot cards. She immediately wanted to learn more. Sager went to the only “metaphysical” bookstore she could find around town, and bought one of the few tarot books written at the time. She started performing readings for those close to her, mostly family and friends. “When you start reading for other people, that’s where you get validation, that does build confidence,” says Sager.

Sager quickly found her way into the world of tarot.

Over the years she read for more and more people, and started charging for readings. She slowly built an independent side business which she hopes will become full-time.

This year she is working part-time, trying to make her tarot talent a larger business. “ I always had a mixed feeling about being a tarot reader, it hasn’t necessarily been easy,” says Sager.

Sager has had multiple careers, originally working in recreational therapy. In 2000, she opened up her

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doing because the passion is what will sustain you when times are hard.”

Guidance has not always been a part of Sager’s tarot. She first heard it after a bad breakup, during a time when she was in need of help. The voice was a stranger to her. “I was sure [it] wasn’t mine because what I was being told was far wiser than my intuition had ever been,” she says. Since then Sager has consulted Guidance during her tarot readings.

Guidance is a difficult thing to explain. Sager says, “my belief is that there is more than we can see. Can I explain what it is? No, but I know I’m not the only one who has sensed it, or can hear it. I just named it Guidance very intuitively.” Intuition is what has helped guide Sager through life, following gut instincts brought her success in tarot and in other parts of her life. Trusting Guidance has led Sager to her purpose in life.

Tarot is not prophetic, but rather a guide, perhaps offering some direction. It is completely up to the individual to take advantage of the advice given.

To Sager, tarot is more than a deck of cards, it is a combination of who you are and where you’re going. 

Jill Sager reads tarot cards in the comfort of her own home in Eugene.

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Paving the

Melissa Palma smiles into the beaming sunlight.

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Path to Success Cameron Branch Emelia Sherman

Principal Melissa Palma and Network Charter School provide an intimate education for students struggling with myriad life challenges.

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ommy steps off the city bus with tired eyes after a 45-minute commute, his sandy blond hair blowing in the cold wind and an obstinate look plastered on his face. He walks through the doors of Network Charter, the last stop in a long line of schools that have previously failed him. Without a family or a home of his own, his education was never a priority, rather it often materialized as a seemingly meaningless endeavor. As a creditdeficient senior, a newfound purpose and dedication to an on-time graduation brought him into Network Charter (a small offshoot of the 4J School District that serves 115 kids) and principal Melissa Palma’s office. Invested in the success of her students, Palma works with students to overcome any academic or personal problems that might stand in the way of their goals.

Public schools are flooded with many students like Tommy who have never lead a secure life, some struggling to secure a bed or meal, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. Oregon students are in crisis, as issues from mental health to poverty envelop thousands of lives.

Over 20,000 students enrolled in Oregon public schools were homeless between 2014 and 2015, 31 percent of all Oregon high school students have reported symptoms of depression, and 34 percent of students in the Eugene 4J School District are eligible for free or reduced lunch. For students forced to put all of their energy into day-to-day survival, succeeding in the traditional school model can be challenging. Some land at Network Charter, where Palma and her staff work to provide a community and strong support system for students who have been left behind.

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a supportive and caring relationship with each of her students, providing mental health counseling, rides, and even taking “some students to the pumpkin patch,” she says. “The job description could never capture everything that I am required to do.” Students suffering from mental and emotional disorders such as depression and PTSD are categorized as 504.

Those with diagnosed learning disabilities are on IEPs (Individualized Educational Plan). Together, these two groups comprise 90 percent of the student population at Network Charter and require a much higher level of care.

Palma has dedicated herself to making her students feel welcome and supported as she works with them through credit recovery plans and GED programs, and so much more. Despite her endless stream of responsibilities, she mentions that “if a teacher or student walks in I drop everything and help support them.” She thrives off of her students’ success, knowing what they have overcome and all that they have accomplished.

mental health barriers many of her students live with, such as anxiety and depression, contribute to attendance problems. She says, “although they might want to come to school, they can’t, and it’s really hard to know what to do.” Palma sometimes struggles to watch students suffer but at the end of the day, leaves all of those problems at work, always ready to come back and help the next day.

No education is a one-size-fits-all. Often the standard educational model offers no real-life implications and is built on a foundation of testing, therefore excluding students tied up “in the now.” Even coming from the best of circumstances, many students excel in a hands-on learning environment or skills-based education. Network and other small charter schools cater to this alternative form of education, offering a variety of physicallyinvolved classes such as street law and urban hiking, which hold more immediate relevance to the students’ lives.

Palma and other administrators work tirelessly to

“The job description could never capture everything that I am required to do.”

-Melissa Palma Significant problems with attendance and mental health care among students pushes Palma to find long-term solutions. With a large portion of the student body coming from backgrounds of abuse, crisis, trauma, and homelessness, her most urgent objective is to attain funding for a staff of professional mental health counselors. Currently, she and the other staff double as counselors and mental health consultants, dropping everything in a moment’s notice for a student in immediate need.

In the short six months she has worked at Network, she has gained an understanding of her students’ past and current situations, allowing her to have valuable input in crisis situations and deepening the perceived urgency for mental health assistance. Mental health, however, is not the only pressing issue. In particular, attendance rates fluctuate but favor lower numbers, effectively lowering graduation rates. Palma recently implemented certain attendance incentives such as raffles and prizes, creating a reward system to counteract a school-wide problem. She knows that

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ensure each student reaches their fullest potential, providing students with optimal support and guiding them to success. In particular, Palma’s work with alternative education is helping implement an innovative system of learning that is more inclusive to students whose needs deviate from what a typical public school can provide. For students like Tommy, a willingness on the part of Network’s staff to draw from all educational resources, such as online classes and mentorship, and to formulate a plan to compensate for any setback is a necessity.

After months of dedicated work through a credit recovery program devised by Palma and her staff, Tommy has placed himself on track to receive all necessary credits and graduate on time. Tommy is a success story that showcases the responsibility the nation holds, but currently disregards, to embrace similar alternative education endeavors in order to pave a path of success for future generations. To achieve this goal we need more administrators like Palma, people committed to thinking outside the academic box. 

Principal Melissa Palma enjoys a

sunsetSat Park.

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Tackling S t i gma

Essence Roy

Tia Dioszeghy

Quarterback Braeden Lowe strives for success despite a diabetic diagnosis.

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t’s the opening game of Springfield High School’s 2018 football season, the sun low and the air humid, as hopeful parents and students pack tightly onto the bleachers. Excitement and energy radiates from the expectant crowd. It is a new season, anything’s possible.

The team runs proudly onto the field as the announcer shouts their arrival over the speakers. On the sideline, a new face warms up, exuding leadership, conversing with coaches and encouraging players. As the clock counts down the final minutes until kickoff, the young man turns his back to the field and takes a shot of insulin, facing the crowded bleachers.

In junior Braeden Lowe’s first game starting as the Miller’s varsity quarterback, he threw for 220 passing yards and three touchdowns. That night, the team pulled out a 51-50 win against North Eugene. Next came Ashland, and again, Lowe lead the way to victory on Silke Field, giving Springfield its most wins in a single season since 2015.

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He was confused and disappointed. “I was going to the weight room twice a day and attending practice every day,” says Lowe. “I thought I wasn’t dedicated enough.”

Then, on December 30, 2017, Lowe found himself at Junction City Urgent Care.

At Urgent Care, they tried giving him IVs with fluids to hydrate him. However, his veins were so small from throwing up violently for several hours prior, that after multiple attempts they sent him to the McKenzie Willamette Emergency Room. There they diagnosed him with Type I diabetes. When they tried to take Lowe’s A1C, a test that measures blood sugar, his glucose levels were so low they could not measure them.

“They explained that they didn’t know how I was still conscious,” says Lowe. His blood sugar had been so bad for the prior three months that Lowe could have landed himself in a life-threatening diabetic coma.

An ambulance rushed Lowe to the Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland. There, doctors closely monitored him. After everything settled down, Lowe estimates that a children’s diabetes educator talked to him for around six

I was going to the weight room twice a day and attending practice every day.

I thought I wasn’t dedicated enough.

-Braeden Lowe

Lowe has always been an athlete. He started playing basketball when he was only 6 years old and joined football in third grade. Over the years, one of the most crucial lessons Lowe learned is there’s a difference between being “hurt” and actual injury.

So, when his sophomore year rolled around, Lowe was frustrated. He was not injured, and yet he experienced an unexplainable roadblock. During the summer, he noticed that he wasn’t moving even half as fast as he had been in prior football practices, and he seemed more tired than ever before. He knew something was wrong, but he dismissed it, chalking everything up to being lazy and not working hard enough. His friends, family, and coaches soon started to notice the inconsistencies. Basketball season arrived and Lowe explains that he felt so tired and weak, a gust of wind could have blown him over. Thus, Lowe, a dependable, key player in his previous season, hardly played at all.

Everything seemed to spiral downhill quickly. Lowe went through a period of time where he blamed himself.

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hours, and even admits to falling asleep at least once.

Later that day, he took his first shot of insulin.

Diabetes is a disease where the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and glucose. There are several different types of diabetes, but the most common are Type I and Type II. While both are treated by insulin, a hormone that turns glucose into energy, there are key differences between them.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas, destroying insulin-producing cells. The exact cause is not known, however, it is believed that genetics and previous viruses play a role. Type II diabetes, on the other hand, is a metabolic condition where the body is either resistant or does not produce enough insulin. The risk of developing type II lays in a combination of factors including weight and diet. A healthy lifestyle can help lower risk of SON DER

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developing type II, however, there is no way to prevent type I. Over 30 million Americans have diabetes, but only about five percent of them have type I. In 2015, the number of Americans with type I diabetes was estimated to be approximately 1.25 million, with less than 200,000 of them, youth under the age of 20.

After the diagnosis, Lowe explains, “the first week and a half I didn’t really care. I didn’t really know what [Type I diabetes] entailed, and I didn’t really care. The weeks after that… I felt like I dealt with it pretty well. It was probably one of the more sad times that I’ve been through. It was just sad that I was going to have to live with this for the rest of my life. That is really the hard part.

“A lot of times people are scared to ask questions about it because they don’t want to offend me. But it’s really not like I am upset or embarrassed about it,” says Lowe.

Lowe offers this simple concept to those struggling with embarrassment attached to their Type I diabetes: “I don’t think anything you can’t control is something you should be embarrassed about. There is no reason to be embarrassed about a disease where you can’t control if you get it or not.”

At North Bend on September 28, Lowe watched from the bench as his team played without him. His high blood sugar had made it hard to see and focus. Yet, he refused to give up. As the coach called plays from the sidelines, Lowe was forced to make educated guesses.

After playing through the entire first half and most of the third quarter Lowe’s body couldn’t handle it anymore. His monitor alerted the coaches of his blood sugar being at dangerous levels and he was pulled. As he had headed to the bench, fans watched as he made a detour to a nearby trash can where he emptied his stomach.

Reflecting on that night, Lowe says that the best thing to come out of that game was the benching. He described being frustrated at his body, doubting his abilities as he watched from the sidelines. Football coach Adam Jones explained that he would rather lose 100 games than have anything happen to him. In that moment, Lowe realized that his team would always have his back and that hardened his determination to continue on. Though the challenge is unknown and Lowe faces daunting obstacles, he has learned that no one should give up on the next game.

Today, Lowe still lives the life of a normal teenager. He continues to strive for excellence in sports, education, and personal health, refusing to let diabetes stop him from achieving his goals. Throughout this journey, Lowe has become more confident in himself. Even when everything seems to fall apart, Lowe finds new determination as he discovers power from within. 

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Braeden Lowe sits on his home turf at Silke Field.

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order on

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serving her the court community The incredible story of Shweta Sangwan who’s tennis skills brought her from the small town of Panipat, India to the U.S. at the age of 11tennis skills brought her from the small town Shweta Sangwan’s of Panipat, India to the U.S. and the University of Oregon.

Jason Luce Jason Luce

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olling out of bed on October 26, I feel butterflies in my stomach. In just a few hours, I will play tennis with Shweta Sangwan, a player whose skills far surpass my own. I have spent the last two months training for the upcoming high school season, but two months of lessons doesn’t come anywhere close to Sangwan’s ten years of hard work and training.

As I arrive at the University of Oregon Student Tennis Center, I see Sangwan walk down the steps with a smile on her face and a racket in her hand. She’s wearing a black Oregon vest and white athletic Duck shorts along with her signature bandana.

Upon walking into the facility I set my backpack on the edge of the court. I jog over to the opposite side of

Dawn Harrison

the net, excited to play someone at such a high level, but in the back of my mind I think, “I’m about to get crushed.” She has a look of concentration as she looks in the ball to deliver her shot power, then plants her feet to prepare for mine which comes in much slower than her’s. She focuses on her play but the smile on her face shows she feels comfortable providing feedback and joking around.

I receive a firsthand experience of her skills. The way she swings her racket, sending the tennis ball flying back at a great speed forcing me to constantly play defense, having to block the shot rather than attack the ball. Her slice, causing the ball to spin backwards, catches me off guard when I expect a

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Sporting her trusty headband, Shweta Sangwan (left) rallies with Designer Jason Luce (right).

topspin fast ball. Sangwan’s ability to switch up her shots and play at the net makes it hard on her opponent to predict where the ball will go. Sangwan shows incredible dedication, and the amount of time she’s put into the game shows in her play. She has put in show.

Sangwan moved halfway across the globe to follow her dream of being a professional tennis player. Sangwan’s father first gave her a tennis racket at the age of 9, however, she only had access to one tennis court in her small hometown of Panipat, India. With no coach, she taught herself the game, watching competitions on television.

Despite limited resources, she practiced for upwards of six hours at a time, returning the tennis ball by repeatedly hitting it against a wall. “It has helped me get through a lot of toughness because everything wasn’t given to me in such a small town, and that’s really helped me to this day,” says Sangwan.

After six months of hard work, her family moved to a larger city to supply her with the resources and competition she needed. She later earned a scholarship to IMG Academy located in Bradenton, Florida at age 11. The academy reserves membership to world class high school athletes to train and improve their play dramatically.

At the time of the offer, she saw this as an opportunity far greater than what she could ever accomplish in India.

“I knew an opportunity like this would never come if I stayed back home, and my tennis would not ever be the same,” says Sangwan.

Upon graduation, Sangwan caught the attention of two coaches from the University of Oregon (UO), head women’s tennis coach Alison Silverio and assistant coach Tony Giannoni. She chose to follow her dream with the Ducks. However, after only one year, Giannoni quit coaching, and Silverio transferred to Notre Dame the following year. Sangwan found herself in search of a mentor and a source of motivation. During Sangwan’s freshman year, she met a tennis player by the name of Daniela “Dani” Nasser, who practiced with Sangwan for four years. Nasser sparked an “inner competition” which fueled them both to improve in every aspect.

Sangwan’s practice routine before a game can come off a bit superstitious. “I have my sunscreen on, my bandana, and I like to prepare the same way pretty much everyday,” says Sangwan. In the pregame, she goes to the locker room three hours early and listens to music. She doesn’t just listen to it, though; she blasts it.

Aside from being a skilled tennis player Sangwan also majors in journalism advertising at UO, which requires her to edit audio and video. This comes with the difficult task of disciplining herself enough to get work done while practicing tennis. “It’s tough, but definitely manageable because you obviously have to know what your priorities are,” she says. “There’s three things that are the main

things in college: academics, being an athlete, and a social life. Most of the time you’re only going to be great at two of the three. You’re not going to be able to be great at all three.”

Sangwan does pretty well at all three. When she isn’t playing tennis or working on school work, she likes to help out in the community. For example, she worked 20 hours in 2017 on an internship teaching other athletes about sexual assault and education. Sangwan also co-directed for Women of Oregon, which discusses the issues around being a female student-athlete. She wants to “be more than an athlete” by giving back to the community that has given so much to her.

With the free time she has after all the work on the court and in her community, she enjoys painting, which she wishes she could do more often. She also attempted to learn to beatbox last year from watching YouTube video tutorials.

She has the goal of playing tennis professionally after college, utilizing the inspiration she has received from her teammates and her favorite pro women’s tennis player, Serena Williams. Sangwan admires Williams’ competitive spirit, something she says she will draw on if professional tennis does not work out. No matter what, she’ll always strive to improve everything she does.

Sangwan believes that tennis is a game that is won or lost in the mind. She uses her maturity and growth that she has gained from her experiences to focus on getting better rather than focusing on the result of a match. “Not always thinking about winning and losing but just thinking about how I can get better… thinking about the process more, rather than the results,” she says.

My body aches and my forehead drips with sweat after an exhausting practice with Sangwan, I see firsthand how much time she has put in the past ten years. Even though Sangwan played someone under her skill level, she still played fundamentally sound tennis from watching the ball to occasionally using aggressive shots with quite a bit of power. She used her mind throughout the rally, lining up shots and switching up her swing by cutting under the ball for backspin or driving up through it for topspin.

After playing tennis, Sangwan went to her next class, although before playing tennis with me she had practice at 6:30 in the morning, which is a daily routine. She has learned throughout her three and a half years of college how to balance her schoolwork and tennis.

Sangwan shows great discipline, and has inspired me to challenge myself. Like Sangwan, I will become increasingly busy, but she has shown me what’s possible, and that the pride that comes with motivation is worth every second. Her journey is inspiring, traveling across the world to play the sport she loves. Now she has the ability to take her tennis playing to the professional level. 

Sarah Casteel

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Life of a

Justin Herbert focuses in on a receiver during the Duck game at Autzen Stadium.

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Contributed by Oregon Communications

Hometown Hero Kate Bakken

University of Oregon quarterback and Eugene native Justin Herbert commits to remaining authentically himself while balancing football and academics.

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efore announcer Don Essig could finish saying “Eugene, Oregon,” over 56,000 Duck football fans erupted into applause for the introduction of Eugene native Justin Herbert as he walked on the field for the Ducks football game with the UCLA Bruins on November 3. My body shook with the collective pounding of feet on the bleachers, and his name echoed in my ears well after the initial announcement. People of all ages littered the crowd, many wearing jerseys with Herbert’s name and number (10) printed in neon green.

After convincing the University of Oregon to provide me with a media pass, and emailing the communications director multiple times, I witnessed Herbert’s talents firsthand from the sidelines.

Following an exhilarating punt return for a touchdown from Ugochukwu Amadi that put them up 7-0, Duck fans were anxious for the next possession. After receiving a punt and ending up on their own 20-yard line, it looked as though the drive would take many plays. Herbert had another plan. After handing the ball off for a twoyard gain, he launched the ball 49 yards, resulting in a completed pass, and immediate ovation from the crowd.

As players celebrated and exchanged high fives, Herbert, always planning ahead, quickly organized teammates for the next play.

The attention Herbert receives from fans is incomparable to that of his teammates, but he still appeared to be the most level-headed player on the field.

During the game, each throw proved deliberate, his eyes scanned the field rapidly, watching for defenders. Each throw was a bullet, aiming for the hands of his chosen receiver. Herbert rarely missed. Duck fans witnessed magic. The former Sheldon High School football standout continued to prove worthy of the NFL.

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At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, Herbert lead the PAC-12 All-American Academic Team with a 4.08-grade point average, and his current GPA is 4.04.

Herbert majors in biology at the University of Oregon.

Despite spending a minimum of three hours a day yearround participating in football engagements, he enjoys taking courses such as cellular biology and chemistry.

Like many kids from the Eugene/Springfield area, he chose to attend the University of Oregon.

Herbert comes from a tight-knit family, who Herbert acknowledges wishes he visited more than he does.

When faced with the decision to play for Montana State, Portland State, or the University of Oregon, it was a no brainer. However, his decision was fueled by more than the proximity to his family. Herbert says, he “grew up a Duck fan and just loved what it was. It was always [his] dream school.”

His grandfather played wide receiver for the school in 1963, and Herbert is proud to keep it in the family. He recalls spending each prior football season “sitting in section 12,” watching with his family every single game. Now, he can look up from the field and see his family cheering him on each game from that same section. He describes Duck fans as “prideful and tough,” and he is honored to be a part of such a passionate community. Herbert transformed from a dedicated fan to the most popular player on the team.

At Sheldon High School, Herbert played football, basketball, and baseball. In 2015, he lead the Irish football team to a 10-2 season, falling in the semifinals of the playoffs to first-ranked Jesuit High School, who eventually won the championship title. In baseball, he had an outstanding .400 batting average despite the fact that he injured his leg during the football season.

He also impressively started as a sophomore on the 6A State Championship runner-up basketball team.

Even with his extensive athletic résumé, Herbert never questioned his desire to play football.

Despite his football success and impending departure to the NFL, there is more to Herbert than sports. He challenges himself in school, taking classes that students who don’t travel across the country on a biweekly basis struggle in. In fact, many science majors dread one of his favorite classes, organic chemistry, due to its rigorous coursework and vexing concepts. Herbert reasons, “it was a tough class and it took a lot of time.

The more you put into it the greater impact it has on your scientific knowledge.”

Clearly, Herbert does not shy away from a challenge.

Athletics require him to maintain a 2.30 GPA, but his 4.04 GPA, and obvious genuine interest in the sciences shows that Herbert understands that there is more to life than football. However, his plans remain unclear, even to him. When asked what he wishes to do with his degree, he blushed and shook his head sheepishly, responding, “I don’t have it figured out yet, I’ll get it

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figured out though, just not yet.” While this answer may sound similar to that of many college juniors, Herbert’s future career options are extraordinary. This is someone who could end up playing in the NFL, a dream for thousands of young men across the country. Even though he turned down a spot in the 2019 NFL draft, his future could still include a professional career after graduating.

Herbert proudly identifies one of his most defining moments as the time he announced he was returning to Eugene for his senior year of college. He considers himself an incredibly loyal person, and he hopes his commitment to the school confirms that among the Duck community. He is overjoyed by the support he receives from Eugene, saying “growing up, Oregon was so special to me, and I want to stick around for as long as I can.”

Herbert emphasizes that “there is so much about the college itself and the college experience that money cannot buy. There is no amount of money that could take me away from that.” Herbert is also excited to play alongside his younger brother, incoming freshman Patrick Herbert, for his final year of college.

If the NFL doesn’t work out for Herbert, he says he would most likely, “follow in the footsteps of [his] older brother and attend medical school.” He has not necessarily thought about any plans regarding medical school because he really hopes “the NFL plan works out.” He has dedicated himself to a life of football, consisting of workouts, practice, healthy meals, and recovery. While this might seem like a walk in the park, it isolates him from the outside world.

Surrounded by schedules, it is difficult for Herbert to find much free time. When he does find himself with downtime, he spends it “watching movies, playing Fortnite with friends, golfing, and doing anything to get his mind off football.” Herbert appreciates golf because

Justin Herbert prepares to pass as the Washington defense pressures the pocket.

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it is difficult to play while stressed, and forces him to relax, something all students can agree is difficult to do.

His greatest challenge is “just getting everything done in one day, and trying to balance football, academics, friends, and family.” As a student-athlete, the school makes sure Herbert is taken care of in all aspects of life. He is under close inspection throughout the day.

He wakes up early in the morning, heads to the football facility for breakfast, a morning lift, run, and then meetings later in the day. Facing this near daily grind, the only “off time” Herbert has are two weeks in January, then, of course, it’s “back to work.”

While Herbert is arguably one of the most popular figures in Eugene, he keeps in mind that “for each person who knows me, there are a million in the world that don’t.”

His goal: be as nice as he can to everyone and just focus on his education like a normal college student. Through the power of perspective and an incredibly humble mindset, Herbert has truly embraced the idea of studentathlete, serving as a positive role model to those wishing to follow his lead.

Even though Herbert does not feel any special treatment from his peers, a walk in Eugene can lead to

multiple greetings from Duck fans. Herbert does not mind the recognition. His talent and perseverance have brought him a life overflowing with practices, meetings, lengthy courses, and less free time than the average college junior. Yet, Herbert embraces it all. His love for his teammates, education, family, and the city of Eugene keep him grounded in a life that could easily prove overwhelming. Herbert’s perspective will allow him to thrive with or without football.

Choosing to return to the UO for his senior year was a defining moment for both Herbert’s career and Duck fans. Obviously, we will have the opportunity to witness the final college season of a certain NFL prospect, but Herbert is special. He represents more than a talented football player. He surpassed all expectations, and is living the story of a “hometown hero.” Herbert made the conscious decision to gain as much experience as possible before taking the unimaginable leap to the pros.

Leaving Eugene with the promise of certain fame and fortune would have been an easy decision for many.

Herbert’s dedication to Eugene and everything it offers him is admirable and allows him to not only represent himself as a star athlete but also as an educated, humble young man who loves the community that raised him. 

Justin Herbert stands proudly outside of Autzen Stadium.

Tia Dioszeghy

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Niamh Houston admires the scenery at Yaquina Bay State Park.

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Emelia Sherman

t ’ n Ca h c t a c k a e r b a Emelia Sherman

Niamh Houston finds power in the ocean as she faces the daunting wave of chronic knee pain.

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B

efore sophomore Niamh Houston and I reached the parking lot to Otter Rock, Bob Houston pulled the truck over and motioned for us to follow him to a spot overlooking the beach. Pointing out to the ocean, he explained that we needed to “read the water” before we could surf. Houston, his daughter, expertly pointed out where the riptide snaked along the side of the bluff and out into the open ocean. Bob explained that if we weren’t careful, we could easily get caught in the riptide and be swept far out into the water, having to swim back to shore, which can take longer than an hour. Surfing on the Oregon coast, where ocean temperatures fluctuate between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, proves especially dangerous. Being exposed to cold water like this reduces coordination and slows movements, and can prove fatal when swimming long distances. As a first-time surfer, I was thoroughly terrified by this explanation. The feeling grew worse when Bob gave his keys to my photographer and told him that if he were mauled by a shark, it was the photographer’s job to drive us home.

As we pulled on our wetsuits and waxed our boards, I tried to quiet my fear. As a self-proclaimed wild child, I pride myself on my fearlessness when it comes to adrenaline-pumping activities, and I have never been one to shy away from danger, however, the thought of deadly predators lurking underneath the surface of the already deadly water sent a slight chill through my body.

We descended the steep wooden steps to the beach and waded into the waves. The water felt frigid, even through the thick layer of neoprene that covered me from neck to toe. At only waist deep, the water sprayed my face and soaked my hair, the cold causing a strange, empty sensation in my sinuses. The waves came fast, and every time I got over one and righted myself another one would crash on top of me. Sometimes I wouldn’t get back in position in time and would be engulfed and washed back to the shore. The power of the ocean overwhelmed me, the riptide tugging at my feet, a lethal pull luring me out to open water. While I was struggling to simply stay in one place, Houston skillfully navigated the swells. I watched her catch a few waves when I wasn’t dodging my own. Deftly balanced on her board and completely focused, she glided

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towards the shore.

About ten minutes in, I caught my first wave. I wasn’t up very long, maybe a few seconds, but I remember it in great detail. As soon as Bob pushed me in front of the wave, I scrambled up to my feet and was surprised to find myself upright, rather than tumbling into the water as I had on my previous tries. The board felt surprisingly stable beneath my feet, the wave a steady force guiding me forward.

I could steer slightly by shifting my weight, and I felt a balance in control between me and the ocean.

Bob told me that for some people surfing is almost like a religious experience, and that their first ride changed their lives. At first, I was confused. I didn’t understand how sloppily riding a few waves could make such a big impact on someone’s life.

After about half an hour in the water, just as I was about to catch a wave, Bob asked me, “now, when was the last time you thought about school?”

This question took me aback, and I realized that for the first time in a long time, I had been totally and completely in the moment. Navigating the ocean provides no time for distraction, rather demanding total concentration on a singular subject, something uncommon in today’s society. For me, surfing was not necessarily a “religious experience,” but I did momentarily escape the constant stress and anxiety that I have felt for so long.

Surfing provides an escape from the utter pandemonium of the information age, forcing the mind away from technology, current events, and other stressors, towards the water. Houston says, “surfing is my little escape from reality. When I’m in the water I leave all the stressors in my life behind and solely focus on the waves.”

Houston has experienced chronic knee pain since she was 11 years old. She was diagnosed with OsgoodSchlatter disease, a self-healing childhood overuse injury that causes painful lumps below the kneecaps. She suffered through this until she was about 13 and in the fall of her eighth-grade year, she felt relief, believing that her knee pain was finally gone. Yet, a week later she felt a new type of knee pain, with a new diagnosis: unknown.

“surfing is my little escape from reality. When I’m in the water I leave all the stressors in my life behind and solely focus on the waves.”

-Niamh Houston

Now a sophomore at Springfield High School, her pain has still not been diagnosed. She describes her day-today pain as an eight out of ten. Houston has seen 14 specialists over the years, and 13 of them have dumped her after a few visits because they could not determine the cause. She has had two unnecessary surgeries, neither of which changed her level of discomfort, and have permanently reduced her range of motion. She’s been to acupuncturists, massage therapists, athletic trainers, and anyone else who would see her. They all left her with the same answer: “I don’t know.”

During her freshman year, she visited an athletic trainer, who believed that her pain lay in the pinching of the fat pad below her knee cap. To test his theory, he taped her knee in a way that would relieve the pinching.

As he soon as he did this, Houston started crying. For the first time in years, she felt relief. Her mom and trainer both joined in her tears, believing the chronic pain was finally over. The next day, when she stepped out of bed, her heart dropped. Her pain was back, exactly like before.

As a surfer, cross country and track athlete, and overall an active person, Houston’s chronic pain threw a wrench into her daily life, and her mental state. With many failed procedures and incorrect diagnoses, it has been easy to lose hope. Activities like running and surfing are already incredibly difficult without the added factor of chronic pain, but Houston could never give them up. As any athlete knows, there is a strong emotional connection between a runner and track, a

surfer and her board.

For Houston, running and surfing have taught her that she is strong enough to overcome any obstacle, to ride any wave. She says, “people ask me why I still run and surf even with the pain. Whether it’s the freezing waters of the Oregon coast or a tempo run, pain is a relatively normal feeling. If I’ve learned anything while doing these sports, it’s that my mind is definitely stronger than my body.”

If someone were to see Houston, they might notice the scars on her knees or the occasional athletic tape through the holes in her jeans, but they are more likely to see myriad ocean-themed jewelry adorning her hands and neck, or the Oregon Coast Aquarium sticker clinging to her water bottle. If they scroll through her Instagram page, they will come across a slew of GoPro pictures of tropical fish, surfing shots, and even a photo of her holding a baby hammerhead shark.

For as long as she can remember, Houston has loved the ocean, and everything in it. She doesn’t remember exactly when the connection started; maybe looking at tide pools with her grandfather, or watching Finding Nemo when she stayed home sick from school. Her passion has only grown over the years. She spends her vacations face down in the water snorkeling, creating quite the sunburn on the back of her legs and back.

On her way back from the U.S. Virgin Islands, her suitcase was packed so full of seashells that she

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had to pay an extra $10 because it weighed more than 50 pounds. Last year, Houston became a volunteer interpreter at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, answering questions about various exhibits, offering behind-the-scenes tours of the aquarium. To get the position, Houston had to do about 50 hours of training over the course of a few months, which required her to make the two-hour drive from Springfield to Newport every Saturday morning. She has now completed over 300 hours of volunteer work at the aquarium, and spends most of her free time studying for the Oregon Coast Aquarium Science Bowl.

In the future, Houston hopes to pursue a career in elasmobranchology, the study of sharks and rays, and

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work at the Bimini Shark Labs in the Bahamas. Aside from the orca, sharks reside at the top of the ocean’s food chain, and Houston believes that in order to improve the conditions of our marine ecosystems, we must understand and protect these rulers of the sea.

The effects of the absence of any marine species in an ecosystem can be drastic, and in the case of sharks, which heavily influence their surroundings, it can cause the ecosystem’s complete collapse. Many species of sharks are facing rapid population decline due to direct threats of commercial shark finning (used for traditional medicine and shark fin soup) and bycatch (the accidental capture of non-target marine life during fishing), as well as indirect threats such as pollution and habitat alteration.

Thomas Felton

Most shark species are considered in danger of extinction, and they are not the only marine species facing crisis.

Our oceans are home to many different ecosystems and species, all threatened with destruction largely due to human actions. Enormous floating islands of trash clog areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which stretches 1.6 million square kilometers across the North Pacific Ocean. In the United States, 1.3 million gallons of oil are spilled into the ocean each year on average, suffocating marine life with dark sludge. Oceans face dire consequences and humans live under the patronage of the ocean. It controls climate, the carbon cycle, even supplies us with 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe.

The ocean gives us life, and as we drain it of its resources and drive it to destruction, we might soon devastate our

livelihood. Houston says, “life started in the ocean, the world we know now is based on the adaptations of things that came from the ocean. Without it, there would be no life on earth.�

Although the delicate ecosystems of the ocean are vulnerable to change, the ocean is incredibly powerful, its strength and influence unrivaled by anything humans can produce. Surfing allows Houston to feel connected to the ocean. Her own problems seem minuscule and insignificant in comparison.

When we walked our boards back up the stairs to the parking lot after surfing, I noticed a change in Houston.

While I felt exhausted, she acted more alert, energized

Niamh Houston heads out to sea, ready to catch her next wave.

Thomas Felton

even. Her eyes were brighter, and she spoke more enthusiastically than she had on the drive there. She looked more comfortable in her wetsuit than she does in her school clothes. Wet, salty hair seemed to suit her better. A sense of calm emanated from her, and I wondered if I had the same aura.

As I lay in bed that night, I thought about surfing, but not about the act of catching waves, rather the feeling I had when I caught them. I found myself scrolling through listings of surfboards and wetsuits, and researching how far the beach was from the college I’ll be attending next year. I wanted to surf again, and often.

Surfing proves exciting. Despite frigid waters and dangerous riptides, I no longer felt fear, and understood why surfers went to such lengths to get the best waves, why they brave hazardous waters for what seems like a few moments of adrenaline. I was reminded by a quote I read by Bethany Hamilton, the surfer famous for losing her arm to a great white shark. She said, “my passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks.”

Just one hour of surfing had changed my whole outlook. I understand now why Houston continued to surf through her knee injury, why she’s spent so many hours driving back and forth to the beach.

To surf is not to conquer and control the ocean, but to co-exist with it and draw inner strength. Surfing teaches us how take the world in stride, how to go with the flow and be flexible in every situation. Rather than hope for a specific outcome, surfers accept whatever conditions appear, and learn from them. They cannot predict the way the waves will break, but they approach that mystery with excitement, not fear. As University of Massachusetts Medical School Founding Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness Jon Kabat-Zinn once said, “you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Surfers like Houston approach every new wave as an opportunity for growth and healing, an opportunity to learn about the world, and themselves. 

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We Would Like To Thank Our Sponsors

SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

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This is a MINE publication, produced at Springfield High School in Springifeld, Oregon

Ian Kerr