The Lake - May 2016

the lake

NAMASTE

&

CHILL

9300 W 104th Avenue | Westminster, CO | 80021 | USA | Planet Earth | Milky Way Volume 27 | Issue 6 May 2016

THE PEOPLE Editors-in-Chief | Esteban Arellano Emily Leo

the lake THE FORMALITIES Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of board policy. The district and its employees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Lake is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Standley Lake High School. The Lake is willing to accept and print any appropriate articles submitted by the students of SLHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to standleylakenewspaper@gmail.com

2 May 2016 | Issue 6

Team Editors | Hannah Jensen Meg Metzger-Seymour Ty Milliken Kayla Pray Patty Sokol Maxin Uhrich Website Editors | Emily Leo Gordon Saur Staff Writers | AJ Ehrhardt Kevin Han Jenna Hines Grace Johnson Hannah Laughlin Gordon Saur Sophia Stimpfl Cartoonist | Anna Nelson Adviser | Lynn Schwartz

SOCIAL @thelakenewsmag facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper @thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag thelakenewsmag.com

ISSUE 6 | CONTENTS

20 10

14 24 29

9

3

Driver’s Education is an important investment – choose wisely!

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9100 W. 100th Ave. B-4 Westminster, CO 80021

www.911drivingschool.com 303-425-0911

Classes available on weekends & school breaks!

NAMASTE, It’s an old wives tale that you always hear when you’ve lost something: change is a good thing. We couldn’t agree more, and in fact, we’ve become really fond of this saying over the past couple of weeks.

We’ve been changing some things up here at The Lake.

We are saying goodbye to Nicolivia and the rest of our Senior friends as they depart on the next step of their life journey. Now there are some new Editors-in-Chief in town: Esteban and Emily, or E² if you please. We’re anxious to bring you some rad new stories about the wonderful lives we all live and the adventures we have through the year.

This air of change went into the year’s final issue.

In high school, it’s easy for us to get into a funk. Day in and day out we get up, go to school, go to a job or sports, do homework, and start it all over again. For our cover story, we wanted to find a way to transition from this bogged-down existence. We followed life-lovers around the school to see what they do to get happy: whether it’s with water, yoga, sunrise hikes (seriously, check out these photos and try telling us you don’t want to go out for yourself), or trips to the neighborhood psychic.

As you hold this magazine, school’s only days away from finishing, and maybe you’ve already checked out from reading. But we hope you take a minute of your day to read a little bit more. Take a minute to understand these words of wisdom and peace and to make a more harmonious life for yourself.

Sure, you don’t necessarily have to break out the crystals and yoga mat, but just take a second to breath. Love yourself and love this beautiful world that we all share.

AU REVOIR,

E

2

A . K. A ESTEBAN AND EM ILY , THE EDITO RS -IN -CHIEF

5

THE RIGHT ANGLE

INTO THE LIGHT EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS BEHIND THE MULTIPLE PERCEPTIONS OF DEATH At one point, everything comes to an end.

Whether it’s the day, the supermarket line, or eventually your life.

The question that floats in the back of everyone’s mind is what happens after you die?

Where do you go?

“Death, clearly death happens.” Eric Hassler ‘17 said. “There is a lot of stuff that has to do with religion on there and I don’t particularly prescribe to any of them that believes there’s a set afterlife, I just think there’s death.”

Religious or not, people wonder what happens when one’s heart stops beating. When everything in your body shuts down, you just stop living. No man has ever experienced death and come back to tell the tale. There is only speculation and fear about death.

“No one knows for certain where you’re going to go.” Lexi Lombardi ‘17 said. “This may be the only time I get to live and I don’t know what comes after this and I may be done after this. Never to think again.”

Religion plays an immense role in people’s speculation about death. The main thought about the afterlife is the belief about heaven and hell.

6 May 2016 | Issue 6

Ryan Biller ‘19, talks about the role of religion in the afterlife. “I think that everyone is scared of death whether they’d like to admit it or not,” Biller said. “But I think that morals and your opinion on the afterlife and religion can play a big part of it, too.”

THIS MAY BE THE ONLY TIME I GET TO LIVE AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT COMES AFTER THIS AND I MAY BE DONE AFTER THIS. NEVER TO THINK AGAIN. -LEXI LOMBARDI ‘17 Liam Skulley ‘17, who personally identifies himself as a Catholic, believes the concept of Heaven is a much stronger possibility than the concept of Hell.

“I do believe that there is some kind of existence after life, and I strongly believe that it would involve some sort of heavenly presence,” Skulley said “I am slightly fuzzier on the concept of Hell as I do not feel many of the doctrines of the church, excepting things like

murder of course, are nearly as big a sin as they are claimed to be.”

Hassler, on the other hand, does not see himself as particularly religious,but he does believe something that happens after death would be interesting. “I believe that people do die, however I think that reincarnation would be really really cool and it’s like everybody would never die,” Hassler said.

Mankind remains constantly in a battle against their own demise. Immortality is a common theme in all sorts of media. There’s the hope that if we research and discover more and more, we’ll solve the puzzle of death. And only time will tell if our hopes are for naught.

Whatever the case, death casts its shadow over everyone’s lives. Death strikes fear within most, if not all human beings. The idea that we all have an expiration date, whether it be tomorrow or 50 years from now is often unthinkable to most.

Death is inevitable, after all. No matter what the technological advances, our expiration dates will only change, not disappear. All we can do is face forward and try to live life to the fullest. | Kevin Han | Jenna Hines | Hannah Jensen | Patty Sokol

SCHEDULE

SHOCK As a student body, we’ve grown accustomed to our daily schedules. Eight hours a day, five days a week, nine months out of the year, we have the same schedule. What happens though when we are suddenly thrown into a new schedule?

Next year, the bell schedule will be shifted so all of the classes will start at a later time. This means we begin at eight and get out at three twenty. Why the sudden change? Why will everything be different?

Mrs. Sarah Roberts, the Vice Principal for the Junior class, is in charge of scheduling.

“Research shows that high schoolers first of all need to come later,” Roberts said. “They just function better. All the research shows that starting school later works better for older kids.”

This study is actually true. According to Time Magazine, puberty may wire teens to stay up later at night, leaving 87% of teens not getting the nine to ten hours of sleep needed. If the start times were pushed back, students would be able to go to bed at the same time and get the right amount of sleep needed in order to function all day.

But how does this affect the athletes or the working kids that now get out later in the afternoon? Roberts states that the school will try and help out students who may be missing periods for games and meets.

Lukas Klarich ‘17 is a student athlete who runs cross country and track. “The practice is put back everyday,” Klarich said. “It takes an hour

Monday, Tuesday, Friday 1st 8:05am-8:50am 8:55am-9:45am 2nd 9:50am-10:35am 3rd 4th 10:40am-11:25am first 5th lunch 11:30am-12pm 5th 12:05pm-12:50pm 5th 11:30am-12:15pm second 5th lunch 12:20pm-12:50pm 6th 12:55pm-1:40pm 7th 1:45pm-2:30pm 2:35pm-3:20pm 8th

THIS IS A STORY ALL ABOUT HOW YOUR SCHOOL LIFE GOT FLIPPED-TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. away from anything I want to do because I won’t get up an hour earlier than I have to.”

Roberts also mentions the biggest priority here, school. “I think the only thing that may be a little bit difficult will be the ones with jobs who might have to go a little bit later,” Roberts said. “We are going to work with those kids who are athletes with the 8th hour as best we can, but school comes first and this is the school’s day and we are hoping to see the benefits of being able to sleep in a little bit and start later,” Roberts said.

Not only does the new schedule benefit the students, Roberts claims, but the teachers as well. “The other reason was that we are doing PLC, which is professional learning communities and the teachers just need that time to meets so adjusting that time in the morning gives them time to meet in that PLC.” Roberts said.

Although the start time is pushed an hour back, Klarich doesn’t think it will make much of a difference to his morning routine.

“It will just be a block day.” Klarich said.

“Wake up everyday, I’ll just move my alarm and still wake up too late for school.”

Other new changes that will be in addition to later start and ending times include gator time every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and the same lunch for everyone on block days. | Hannah Jensen

Wednesday 1st 8:35am-10:05am 3rd 10:10am-11:35am Lunch All 11:40am-12:20pm 5th 12:25pm-1:50pm 7th 1:55pm-3:20pm Thursday 2nd 8:35am-10:05am 4th 10:10am-11:35am Lunch All 11:40am-12:20pm 6th 12:25pm-1:50pm 8th 1:55pm-3:20pm

This is the schedule as of 4/21/2016. Gator times will take place monday, tuesday, and friday from 7:30am-8am

College by the

#’S

According to the Chicago Tribune, “67 percent of the schools admitted to Googling a prospective student, and 86 percent admitted to researching students' social media sites.” We took a survey around Standley Lake and found out how many students actually have private profiles and whether or not colleges should be able to check your profiles.

41%

SAY THEIR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO USE IS

INSTAGRAM

65%

THINK THAT SOCIAL MEDIA SHOULD BE PRIVATE

BUT ONLY HAVE THEIR PROFILES SET ON PRIVATE

29% 59%

SAY IT’S OKAY FOR COLLEGES TO LOOK AT YOUR PROFILES WHEN CONSIDERING ADMISSION *“IF YOU HAVE STUFF LIKE ‘420 BLAZE IT’ WITH A CIGARETTE EMOJI IN YOUR BIO THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO CONSIDER YOU” | Hannah Jensen | Patty Sokol

7

THE RIGHT ANGLE Chief Mountain-Just within Idaho Springs, less than a mile away from Denver, this

place gives you the highest amount of elevation with little to no effort. The trail is a total of 2.8 miles and an elevation of 11,709 ft. and a panoramic view of the Rockies. As an added bonus you can bring your dog with you.

Timberline Falls- Straight out of some fantasy world this surreal place will leave you

Anything But Chatauqua Here's three trails to give you more variety than Chautauqua. | Ty Milliken | Gordy Saur

speechless with some of the best waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and creeks. In Glacier Gorge Trailhead in the Rocky Mountain National Park this semi long trail will take you to several beautiful places just waiting for your artistic photos. But it's not for the faint of heart, because it is a pretty difficult trail, as you will have to climb over some rocks and find the right path to take to find the best spots.

Nederland Trails -

Perfect any time of the year, the town of Nederland, located just west of Boulder, has some of the most beautiful, peaceful and quiet trails in Colorado.

Trails starting from Moffat Tunnel take you up into desolate woodlands, with only the occasional train interrupting your silence, and the historic Caribou Ranch allows for hiking, horseback riding and cross country skiing in the winter with its miles of trails. With so many options in relatively close proximity, Nederland is a fantastic place to explore, not far from Denver.

Deer Creek Canyon- This trail is tucked away in Jefferson County Open Space,

with multiple trials, with a total of 13 miles, this place is perfect for the everyday hiker.

With not just trails, bikers can ride on perfect bike trails that take you through beautiful pine forests and creeks.Just beware of the cougars, bears, and elk since they’ve been know to be around the area.

SECRET MEDIA MOGUL JUNIOR RUNS TWITTER FAMOUS FAN ACCOUNT Social media is a common outlet for people to express certain passions and thoughts.

Through Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, people have the opportunity to voice their opinions and perhaps meet people who share similar ideals. Laura Luttrell ‘17 has taken this concept to a new level by creating a Twitter-famous persona dedicated to British boyband—One Direction.

Luttrell keeps this secret account underwraps from most of her peers. Having one personal account and one fan account, Luttrell observes social media through two different lenses.

“My personal account is more for me to keep up with my friends at school,” Luttrell said.

“My fan account is definitely more for me to talk about my own interests with other people who feel the same.”

8 May 2016 | Issue 6

After creating her 1D account in September 2012, Luttrell has since racked up more than 10,500 Twitter followers. In addition, she has also created fan accounts on Tumblr and Vine to further express herself.

were about One Direction, and about how they’re going on break and that the fans need to stick together. At that time, a lot of fans were having issues and the fandom as a whole really needed some support.”

“I had found the members of One Direction’s Twitters,” Luttrell said. “I noticed that they were following all these fans so I decided to change from personal to a fan account.”

Luttrell has gained the opportunity to meet new people, and even form friendships, around the world through the connections she has made through this account. The unknown account has provided Luttrell with an outlet and an alternate persona to share certain opinions and interests. Only certain individuals have had the privilege to get to know the true girl behind the screen.

The account mostly revolves around One Direction, yet has also changed as Luttrell’s interests evolved as well. It has transformed into something of a medium for Luttrell to immerse her thoughts into. In fact, Luttrell was asked to channel those thoughts to compose articles for Celeb Mix, an entertainment website.

“I actually wrote a few articles for the account, Celeb Mix, when they were asking for fan entries which I wouldn’t have found out about without this fan account,” Luttrell said. “They

“It’s my way of escaping from school and stress because I don’t really see any one from school who is on that account,” Luttrell said.

“I’ve definitely gained friends and a lot of confidence about being more open about the things I like.” | Patty Sokol

Meme Myself and I

Here are the top 5 memes you need in your life according to meme queen Stacy Phu ‘17 1. POOT LOVATO “She’s one of the best memes out there because she has a whole story to her. And it just started with someone taking a horrible picture of Demi Lovato and I think that’s really funny.”

2. PEPE THE FROG “Pepe the Frog, I think, came from a cartoon but he is an important meme because he just creates good...good memes. There’s different variations of him obviously because he's a meme but like there’s a Sad Pepe and there’s a Raging Pepe. It’s kind of like emotions and stuff like that.

He just transformed into a lot of cool stuff.”

3 POLITICAL MEMES “Political memes in general because there are some good Bernie and Hillary ones. Ted Cruz has a lot of memes. He’s the Zodiac Killer and he’s also seen as Kevin from The Office.”

4. KANYE WEST “Kanye does many meme worthy things and everything he does is very important. When he tweeted his album cover for The Life of Pablo, that was turned into a meme and it was a very funny meme because everyone was just changing the words.”

5. MINIONS “Those are great because they’re iconic and can be interpreted in many different ways.” | Aj Erhardt | Kevin Han | Patty Sokol

9

THE RIGHT ANGLE

TRACK In the 4A Jeffco relay meet, the boys 4X100 team finished 3rd with a time of 46.27 but fell short for qualifying for state. Hanna Davis ‘17 finished 3rd in 4A Jeffco for triple jump, jumping 30-06.50

GIRLS SOCCER Girls soccer has an overall record of 8-4. The leading for goal scorer for Gators is Tessa Edwards ‘19 with four goals.

GIRLS TENNIS The tennis team concluded their season with a record of 5-5. Rachel Nguyen ‘18 performed well this season and finished with a perfect 10-0 in her singles.

10 May 2016 | Issue 6

BOYS SWIM Thomas Mayer ‘16, Anthony Kaiser ‘16, Kayman Miller ‘16, August Nielsen ‘16, and Bo Grimes ‘17 all qualified for the 4A state meet. The meet will take play on Friday, May, 20th and will take place at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.

GIRLS GOLF Cortney Kauffman ‘16, Jordan Hewitt ‘17, Jazmynn Ruybal ‘17, Miranda Schmidt ‘16, Shaugnhessy Schmidt ‘18 all qualified for regionals. The 4A metro-west regionals will be held on May 9th and will be at Fox Hollow golf course.

No

THE LINE-UP RBI

AVG.

H

#1 K. Muler .286 3

5

#3 J. Worm .154

3

SB

5

5

0

GRADE

Sr.

GET INTO PLAYING SPORTS WHEN YOUNG

Sr.

A sports column:

#5 G. Tafoya-Fernandez .375

5

5

#6 E.Student .111 1

#7 B. Garcia .370 6

#8 C. Guern .400 10

2

Jr.

5

3

So.

5

6

Sr.

5

5

Sr.

5

3

Sr.

#9 W.Morley .200 6

#10 G. Martin .475 12

#14 N.Adams .375 3

5

11

5

3

So.

3

So.

#16 E. McNeave .375 3

5

So.

SO.

#2 Z. Granado 7.00

8

#8 C. Guern 4.75

8

#12 B. Maher 1.67

21

BY MAXIN UHRICH Play sports, it doesn’t matter what age you start.

For me, my parents got me into soccer starting at age 5. If you have goals and dreams to make money for your sport, start at 5. I’ve grown up my entire life playing sports and my time to play organized sports is coming to an end.

They say that if you want to be perfect at something you have to put in over 10,000 hours of doing it. That doesn’t happen by deciding to tryout for high school basketball team because your mom wants you to play a sport in high school.

Playing a sport has taught me lessons, the component of being committed to a certain amount of individuals is something I can carry out throughout a lifetime.

But you don’t always have search for a scholarship when playing your sport. The most fun I ever received from playing a sport was when I was in Little League, I played every game like it didn’t matter because it really didn’t matter.

It was just for fun. When I got to high school, everything got more political and competitive that it took away the fun to play baseball.

Almost all of my closest friends play football and they’d be first ones to say that I love Football. That’s why I’ve decided to play Football with my friends for our last year of High School.

PITCHERS ERA.

‘Ragrets’

IP.

14

Jr.

11

Fr.

23

Sr.

I’m not even an adult and I’m beginning to regret not playing basketball or continuing to play Football. I always thought I wasn’t big enough or stronger than everyone but what I didn’t realize was that I missing out on tons of experiences and memories because of my fear.

I’m trying to limit the amount of regrets that I have through High school and playing football will be something I look back and be proud of.

The best thing about playing a sport is the experiences you share with your friends and teammates and you don’t have to be the “best player” in order to gain memories from that time.

11

GET YOUR

Grub ON:

tHERE ARE MULTIPLE ASPECTS TO FOOD. lEARN TO KNOW WHAT THE TASTIEST SUBSTANCES ARE TO PUT INTO YOUR BODY

| Aj Ernhardt | Hannah Jnesen | Ty Milliken | Gordon Saur | Patty Sokol

Sweets:

WHERE TO FIND THEM: Soda, candy, and butter

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM:

Meats & Protein:

Limited but not cut out of your diet. Fats provide things such as Vitamin E and are essential to your diet. Just don’t over do it!

WHERE TO FIND THEM:

WHERE TO FIND THEM:

Milk, cheese, and yogurt

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM:

Fish, Chicken, and Eggs

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM: 2-3 servings a day. Proteins help make you strong! Vegetarians can get their protein through nuts and beans.

Veggies:

WHERE TO FIND THEM:

2-3 Servings a day. They make your bones strong and not to mention fit in with every meal. Yogurt for breakfast, cheese on your ham sandwich, and a glass of milk with dinner

fruits:

Carrots, broccoli, and squash

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM:

WHERE TO FIND THEM:

Apples, Oranges, and Bananas

3-5 servings a day.

Although they may look green and disgusting, vegetables are essential to your diet. Enjoy that stick of broccoli, it will add fiber to your diet.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM: 2-4 servings a day. Another one of those healthy tricks to your diet. These are tastier than the vegetables and sweeter as well. If you’re craving a piece of candy, satisfy your sweet tooth with a blueberry instead.

Grains:

WHERE TO FIND THEM: Bread, Rice, and Pasta

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EAT THEM: 12 May 2016 | Issue 6

Dairy:

6-11 servings a day. That’s right pasta-fanatics. It’s time to dig into that big bowl of pasta because you need large amounts of grains in your body. If you want to maximize your grain intake, try whole grain instead white flour.

GET

VEG-UCATED Why your diet should become more “vegetarian”

Benefits: REDUCED ALLERGIES INCREASED ENERGY HEALTHY SKIN & NAILS LONGER LIFE IMPROVED DIGESTION HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

21.9%

OF THE WORLD POPULATION IS CONSIDERED VEGETARIAN

Tips: READ FOOD LABELSEliminating gluten from the diet requires avid label reading. Many products are clearly labeled “gluten-free.” However, some products are labeled “wheat free”; this does not necessarily mean that the product is gluten-free. Remember that many ingredients are derived from wheat, barley, and rye—and figuring out what those derivatives are can be tricky.

Visit www.glutenfreediet.ca for one of the most comprehensive lists of foods and ingredients to avoid while going gluten-free.

TRUTH ABOUT SUPERFOODSYou don’t need specific foods for specific ailments. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods, like kale, acai, and salmon, will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer (P.S. Potato chips aren’t on the list)

Right food, Right Situation: Let’s be honest here.

We’ve all been on the couch binge watching Friends while crying over a quart of ice cream because our significant other broke up with us; there’s nothing wrong with that but ice cream is just getting too mainstream. How bout when you were so sick your mom couldn’t find you because you were inside 10 layers of blankets.

We’ve compiled a list of

WHEN YOU’RE UNDER THE WEATHER This one can be tricky because being sick is very broad. Generally though, healthy foods make for a healthy body. Try eating bananas or apples or even just drink some water. Also saltine crackers can help stomachaches. When you’re sick try to avoid unhealthy foods and

WHEN YOUR HEART HURTS Breaking up is hard and we have all been there, well some of us have, and chocolate and ice cream is pretty cliche. So let’s spice it up with something more interesting. First of, bacon, everyone loves bacon and it’s perfect for breaking up. Then there’s pizza, a perfec

WHEN YOU’RE CRAMMING To make the most out of your studying meal, have lots and lots of fruits and veggies. They’ll boost your brainpower and allow you to sink in even more information at 4 AM. It also helps to eat some gum matching the flavor of your meal to better remember the

MAC Attack:

We all have an image in our minds of what the ideal bowl of macaroni and cheese should look and taste like. In order to settle the age-old question of which store-bought Mac and Cheese is the best, we put six to the test, and one came out on top.

CHEF BOYARDEE MICROWAVE MAC- 2/10 The Chef Boyardee Microwave Mac was hands-down majority of the groups’ least favorite.

Aside from one person, the group refused to finish their portion of this Mac and Cheese. There was a very putrid stench, a watery yet, rubbery consistency, and according to one person, it “tasted like tomato soup.”

KRAFT EASY MICROWAVE MAC- 3.25/10 The Chef Boyardee Microwave Mac was hands-down majority of the groups’ least favorite.

Aside from one person, the group refused to finish their portion of this Mac and Cheese. There was a very putrid stench, a watery yet, rubbery consistency, and according to one person, it “tasted like tomato soup.”

GLUTEN FREE MAC- 3.25/10 The Gluten Free Mac and Cheese was… different. Of course, if you already live a gluten-free life you would have grown accustomed to the artificial cheesy taste. For us, common mac and cheese consumers, there was a lingering sense that something was missing. When making this mac and cheese, it was oddly discomforting to pour out the white flour-looking substance onto the barren noodles as a substitute for cheese.

VELVEETA- 6.25/10

The Velveeta mac was a pleasant surprise for most of the tasters. There was no powder cheese this time around. Instead, it was a package of velveeta cheese that came into the mix. It was really cheesy, and a tad gooey, so depending on your preference, this may or may not spark your taste buds.

WHITE CHEDDAR PASTARONI- 7.25/10

The White Cheddar Pasta Roni was a twist on your typical cheddar Mac. The white cheddar taste was a welcomed change for our taste buds. There was a strong, unique flavor and the shell noodles were fairly large, but overall we would gladly eat this Mac and Cheese again.

KRAFT DELUXE MAC AND CHEESE- 8/10

The Kraft Deluxe was the best from the array of Mac and Cheese. It tasted very expensive -- as expensive as a Mac could be. The noodles were the basic macaroni shape, however, they had ridges which may or may not have benefited the taste of this Mac and Cheese. There was a decent amount of cheese, which also came in a “velveeta-like” packaging, and had a very classic flavor.

13

Through this story we discovered a dynamic duo that knew how to de-stress, an eccentric palm reader who told us our futures, the inner balance of one’s chakras, how to determine your personality from the twelve animals of the Eastern Zodiac, and so much more.

We hope you enjoy this hodgepodge of chillaxing info. So kick back, get a (relatively) healthy snack, and turn up the tunes.

14 May 2016 | Issue 6

centering your

Centers

Chakras are the seven central spiritual elements or powers of the human body. The seven chakras focus on a certain parts of the body and connect in some way with your inner spirit.

What they are:

how to balance them:

Sahasrara

Sahasrara

1.

Sahasrara is the connection to spirituality and conscious awareness and is said to be the bridge between physical and nonphysical existence.

2. Ajna

Ajna is the third eye and has to do with extra sensory perception, visualization, intellect, intuitive reasoning, understanding, and insight.

3.

Vishuddha

Vishuda, the throat chakra, focuses on communication, expression, self-knowledge, and honesty..

4. Anahata

The heart chakra, Anahata, has to do with forgiveness, love, and compassion.

5. Manipura

Manipura is behind your abdomen and deals with self-esteem, ego, and personal power.

6. Svadhisthana

Svadhisthana, the sacral chakra, has to do with your creativity, passion, sexuality, and relationships.

7. Muladhara

Muladhara--the root--is located at the base of your spine and focuses on physical stability, independence, safety, and patience.

Explore opinions and ways of life, help others, humble yourself, and connect with what can and cannot be seen.

Ajna

Light indigo candles, eat dark blue fruits, meditate, pay attention at school, and do things to make learning a more positive experience.

Vishuddha

Look up at the blue sky, sing, drink water, and think before you speak.

Listen to others to strengthen your self-knowledge, communication, and expression.

Anahata

Light green candles, go outside, lay in the grass, treat others with kindness, show your love, and be forgiving, as the focus of this chakra is love.

Manipura

Light yellow candles, eat yellow foods. Write three things you like about yourself and three things to improve upon before bed every night to improve self confidence.

Svadhisthana Play like a child, color, and exercise creativity to strengthen this chakra.

Muladhara

Eat red foods, light red candles, connect with nature, and do things that will make you feel more secure and grounded.

15

Peace of Mind Best friends discover their inner peace

Have

Another drink

You need a lot of water. We mean A LOT. You should be drinking sixty-four ounces of water a day. No biggie, right? Not only do you need to drink a lot of water every day, but you should also want to.

“I know people who don’t drink any water, ever, and they drink diabetics like soda or tea or coffee. They think they’re being hydrated, because they’re drinking something, but they’re actually not,” -Kendall Kinnard ‘17

16 May 2016 | Issue 6

Stay hydrated throughout the day by buying a water bottle and filling it whenever it runs low. health authorities say the average person should drink at least sixty-four ounces glasses of water each day; athletes should drink even more.

Most of us wouldn’t consider the life of a high schooler peaceful. Between all the projects, homework, and tests, it’s hard to take care of yourself and find your inner peace and happiness. However, Bre Hurst ‘16 and Cassie Gardner ‘16 have discovered the importance of living a peaceful lifestyle.

“I think a lot of people forget that part of self-care is taking care of your responsibilities no matter how much you really hate to do them, like keeping a clean learning space, and doing your homework, and just not making any extraneous stress for yourself.” Hurst said.

“Your life isn’t going to be peaceful, but you can sure as hell have a peaceful mindset about it.” Hurst said.

Practicing the art of yoga also plays a large factor in the maintenance of their tranquil lives.

Maintaining a limited stress lifestyle is imperative to keeping your body healthy. According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can lead to tension headaches, increased risk of heart problems, and weight gain.

“I found that it works best for me to just practice [yoga] on my own when I’m feeling really well, but if I’m in a funk or I’ve been in a bad mood for several days, yoga is a really good resource,” Gardner said. “I think yoga is really important. And we incorporate it into our lives, almost everyday now, after working out. It’s just really nice.”

Any of these conditions has the ability to hinder a person’s quality of life, as well as the length of their life span.

Recognizing this, Hurst and Gardner take actions to actively to improve their physical health, such as “exercising, getting a lot of sleep, eating clean, [and] drinking a lot of water,” Gardner said.

In addition to improving their physical health, Hurst and Gardner also know the significance in bettering their mental health. “[I do] things that I don’t necessarily want to do—like homework—because it’s easier taking care of myself by doing stuff instead of putting things off I don’t necessarily want to do, and having the stress of procrastinating,” Gardner said.

However, finding one’s inner peace isn’t only limited to the physical and external things. Part of finding that calm within yourself requires a change of mind.

As part of improving themselves, Hurst emphasizes the importance of self care.

“Ultimately, I think you are the center of your universe. Everything in your life comes through you first, and you have to learn how to process [life] that way.” Hurst said. “Focusing on yourself and learning more about yourself helps you to process your emotions and reactions.”

In addition, Hurst also believes responsibility should be more strongly associated with self-care.

However, pursuing a healthy, minimal stress lifestyle does not make the pair consider themselves as “spiritual”.

“I don’t consider myself a spiritual person, I kind of just feel like a human being trying to figure out my way in the world. I’m not religious, but I’m also not opposed to religion,” Gardner said.”I feel like everyone believes in something, and I just kind of believe in myself. I would call that my spirituality, I guess; I just trust that what’s supposed to happen to me will happen.”

One doesn’t have to recognize themselves as spiritual to discover their inner peace. Hurst believes in the significance of taking time to take care of herself.

“I’m very selfish, not in a bad sense, but I’m very focused on myself,” Hurst said.” I’m not very religious either, I just believe in energy and following your intuition. That would be my ‘religion’.”

Finding one’s intuition and deciding to follow it is crucial in leading to a happy and fulfilled life.

Pursuing this life is what lead them to embark on the journey to find their inner peace. Since then, they’ve changed their lifestyles to be more centered around themselves and focusing on what is the best for them in their stressful lives as high schoolers. However, their journey continues, and who knows what else Cassie and Bre will discover within themselves.

Is your room a pigsty? Do you enjoy monkeying around? Are you as slippery as a snake? No, but seriously.

Fate from the

Far East

Translation: Were you born in 1995? How about 1996? Or 2001?

Eastern Zodiac works in twelve year cycles. For example, 1984 is Year of the Rat while 1996 is the renewal of a new twelve year cycle, being once again, the Year of the Rat. Rat is the 1st year in the cycle with Pig being the last. The next renewal of the cycle will be 2020, the next Year of the Rat.

20 00

20

8

7

1999

199

199

01

1996

2002

7

4

200

2005

06

20

03

20

200

Most people know the classic Eastern Zodiac. You know, the animal stuff you see on those cheap calendars you get from Chinese restaurants? And yes, while those things aren’t inaccurate, there’s so much more to Eastern astrology than just years.

WIthout further ado. We at The Lake present the Eastern Zodiac know-how you need to know.

Are you prepared for the dog days of summer break?

(Ok. No more, I promise. Please don’t rat me out.)

The years of Eastern Zodiac are meant to represent how you present yourself to others and conversely, how others perceive you.

Rat: The Positives: Witty, alert, spirited, sociable and ambitious. The Negatives: Timid, unstable, and lack of concentration.

Ox: The Positives: Intelligent, confident, natural-born leaders, honest, patient, and strongly devoted to their chosen task. The Negatives: Strict, stubborn, and uncommunicative.

Tiger: The Positives: Tolerant, intelligent, and expressive. The Negatives: Easily angered and apathetic.

Rabbit: The Positives:Gentle, sensitive, comedic, and compassionate. The Negatives: Stubborn, unskilled monetarily, and unable to deal with boredom.

Ap ril

Marc h

ry r ua Feb

May

Jan ua ry

Decem ber

Septe

st Augu

r to be Oc 0

0

9:0

0-

:00

3:0

9:00-1

-1:00

1:00

13

:00

-1

0 5:0

0

-17:0 15:00

17:00-1

9:00

3:00

0-1

0

1:0

-2

11:0

:00

-23 21:00

1

7:0

5:00-7

5:00

3:000-

1:0 23:00

0 9:0

Ju ly

mber

er

June

mb Nove

Eastern Zodiac is also divided up into months. Known as inner animals, the sign that corresponds to your month of birth is meant to represent the person you wish you could be.

Your hour of birth also represents another part of yourself, according to Eastern Zodiac.

Secret animals, as they’re called, represent your truest self, the one you hide from the rest of the world.

Dragon: The Positives: Self-assured, romantic, intellectual, excitable, and perfectionistic. The Negatives: Arrogant and impatient.

Snake: The Positives: Strictly moral, intuitive, wise, and eloquent. The Negatives: Easily jealous, suspicious, and materialistic.

Horse: The Positives: Cheerful, kind, adventurous, and perceptive. The Negatives: Impatient and seemingly superficial or fake.

Ram: The Positives: Polite, clever, gentle, solitary, and appreciative of aesthetic beauty. The Negatives: Shy, pessimistic, moody, and constantly anxious.

Monkey: The Positives: Incredibly clever, handy, quick-witted, problem-solvers, and charitable. The Negatives: Jealous, selfish, and seemingly immoral or heartless.

Rooster: The Positives: Honest, communicative, warm, independent and confident.

The Negatives: Lack empathy, unsympathetic, and tend to assume they’re always right.

Dog: The Positives: Loyal, brave, responsible, realistic and inspire confidence. The Negatives: Critical of other’s faults and unintentionally insulting.

Pig: The Positives: Chivalrous, diligent, tolerant, and optimistic. The Negatives: Naive, impulsive, insensitive to other’ feelings.

Based on Solar Time (London Time): 7 Hours ahead of us

17

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PALMISTRY The future is in the palm of your hand, you just have to know how to read it

2

1

There are 3-4 protrusive lines on each hand called the fate line (which not everyone has), the headline, the heart line, and the lifeline; each can be identified on the hand map.

1. the heart line if the line:

Starts beneath the index finger Starts under the middle finger Begins in the middle Straight and tiny Connects to life line Lengthy and curvy Parallel to the head line Squiggly line Circle on the line Cracked line Short lines crossing through

2. the head line if the line:

Short line Curved line Broken off from life line Squiggly line Deep, long line Straight line Ovals or crosses in the head line Severed head line Multiple crosses through head line

18 May 2016 | Issue 6

3

exhibits any health, romantic ideals and/or emotional aspects

This means:

You’re content with your love life You’re selfish with love You tend to fall in love quickly Romance isn’t the main priority You easily feel heartache You’re a free spirit with feelings You’re content with emotions Love isn’t taken seriously You have signs of turmoil You have signs of emotional anguish You have signs of emotional stress

Representing intellect, a curvy line connects to an artistic perspective and a straight line perceived as a logical set of viewpoints

This means:

4

3. the life line if the line:

This symbolizes physical and mental health, and could also be determined as key life changes

This means:

Comes close to thumb Curvy Long and deep Short and shallow Short swoops in a half moon shape Straight and near the edge of palm Multiple life lines Broken off

4. the fate line if the line:

You have a logical set of viewpoints Is deep Begins to fuse to the life Physical achievement is key line You’re creative Begins at the base of the Life seen as an adventure thumb and crosses the You’re often side-tracked life line You’re vfocused and think clearly You think realistically You have signs of emotional trauma Your thoughts are sporadic Your decisions are destined

You’re often tired You’re almost always invigorated You’re Spunky You’re easily taken advantage of You’re strong and enthusiastic You’re cautious with relationships You’re very exuberant You’ll have a sudden lifestyle change

A.K.A. The line of destinty

This means: You’re controlled by destiny You’re very individualistic You’re supported by many

Skeptic Pyschic One day after school, we ventured off to the “Psychic Reader” in Olde Town Arvada. Upon approaching the the house, there was handwritten signs instructing us to “ring the bell many times”. We were then greeted by a small, barking dog; and then an older woman in a nightgown removed the dog gate from the door.

This woman was our psychic.

She invited us inside her house, where we then sat on her couch while she talked on the phone with a client. We first thought that we were to do our reading together, but then she took us separately. Each of us was led into a smaller room with a desk and lots of candles.

We were asked to think of two questions that we wanted to ask her--and when we were ready to hold out our palm and ask the question. We both asked about our future’s--this is what she said:

The Lake’s personal fortune telling experience sophia’s Future:

I would initially go to college, but suddenly drop out and work at a 7-11. Then I would later re-apply to college, and make a lot of money. I would get married at thirty, only to get married again many times, and have three kids. Her life advice was not to worry about boys (and continued to chuckle about my joke of a life).

meg’s Future: I would have an average life. She stressed the importance of going college, as I would meet my husband there. I would get married at 28, and have two kids--one boy and one girl. It was also “written in the stars” that I wasn’t going to make a lot of money; considering that I’m an aspiring journalist.

We feel like these predictions were a little generalized and anyone could say them.

We’re not saying all psychics are this sketchy, but this one, defs was.

We would give her a bad review on Yelp.

But hey, at least the dog was cute. | Kevin Han | Jenna Hines | Hannah Laughlin | Meg Metzger-Seymour | Sophia Stimpfl

19

the hip modern revived different unaffordable urban 20 May 2016 | Issue 6

Gentrification transforms neighborhoods, brings problems It’s one of the most challenging and disruptive issues affecting low-income and middle-class families in the world’s biggest cities. Forcing people out of their homes because of an increasing and unsustainable cost of living, gentrification can seem unstoppable to those it affects.

You’ve probably heard about the issue of gentrification on the news or social media, but what exactly does it mean and how vulnerable are Denver’s suburbs to gentrification?

Imagine your parents can no longer afford to live near Standley Lake High School because hip, urban housing and businesses have made it too expensive to afford. Now you have to move further away from school, or go to a new school altogether.

Does an increasing number of homeless people and a booming marijuana busi-

ness in Denver mean that Westminster will soon be too expensive to afford? Or is it already?

Gentrification is a relatively new problem, having only come about in the past couple years. It involves an increasing cost of living as a place becomes more hip or desirable to live in. Gentrification usually means a greater number of affluent residents and businesses move in and existing families and businesses are priced out of their own neighborhoods.

Most of the time, the people who move into low income neighborhoods are interested in the neighborhood as is.

Yet as the gears of gentrification turn, these low priced locations become part of the urban model, blending together into one cohesive area. This means that gentrification can be a quick and repetitive process as people move from place to place.

21

The process of gentrification can cause turbulence for a city’s government, and often ends as a double-edged sword. Denver’s city council and mayor recognize gentrification as a massive problem the city faces, and it has been among the top priorities in the city’s economic plan for the past couple years.

While trying to welcome local businesses in Denver, Mayor Michael B. Hancock has also set the initiative to create at least 600 affordable housing units for those affected by gentrification.

“All of our residents should have the opportunity to access decent affordable housing in the community in which they work if they so choose, “ Mayor Hancock said in 2015.

22 May 2016 | Issue 6

Mayor Hancock also has plans for new business in Denver benefitting residents in the upcoming neighborhoods. “[We will] be developing policy objectives to ensure that these efforts aren’t just uplifting new commerce, but those already in the neighborhoods as well,” The Denver Post reports Mayor Hancock saying in a 2015 address.

“And I can’t underscore how important that is as we go into these underserved communities.”

Denver is one of the top five most-gentrified cities in the country, according to a study done by governing.com. But as of right now, Westminster has not seen any serious consequences.

The majority of Westminster’s population is middle-class families more than urban millennials and Westminster does not have the vibrant culture that areas of Denver might have. Westminster is not and will most likely never be the next big thing, but that doesn’t mean we’re completely invulnerable.

Westminster has plans to develop the old Westminster Mall site at 88th Ave. and Sheridan to “become the next urban center on Colorado’s Front Range,” according to the city’s development website.

One way this problem has affected Westminster is with population growth and more homeless on the streets. For the most part, these homeless people are being kicked out of Denver because of gentrification. Unable to sustain a life in the ever more expensive Denver, these people migrate out, consequently settling within the rest of the metro area.

With families priced out and moving to less ex-

THE LEADING CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS ARE ABUSE AND ABANDONNMENT.

THE “HOMELESS” WORK AND DO STUFF JUST LIKE YOU. JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE..

THE INCREASING CHARGE FOR HOUSING IS MAKNG LIVING FOR THE LOWER CLASSES HARDER.

each year colorado loses 22,500 acres of open space to development.

HOMELESSNESS IS BECOMING A MAJOR ISSUE IS AMERICA AND ITS A PROBLEM THAT DEESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

pensive areas, more kids and teens will need new schools to attend—Standley having the potential to be one of them. With the freshman class getting bigger and bigger each year, the school will need to hire more teachers to accommodate the classes.

“I can’t speak from experience, but from what I’ve observed in the household of one of my best friends, being poor is expensive, almost as if the punishment for poverty is additional poverty,” Carli Macejak ‘18 says, experiencing poverty from a secondhand point of view. “People who are homeless cannot just get a job or rent a place as many of them are barred from those options because of both societal prejudice and their daily expenses.”

Data shows that some of the most gentrified parts of Denver are in the North, with median home values increasing upwards of 40 percent in this area since the year 2000. There is a distinct decrease of population in one area and a nearly identical increase in population in another area just to the south. With these increasing home values, the people that used to live in one area, coming from low income or middle class families, are unable to pay for their house, forced to

relocate to a more affordable location.

Many of these people face homelessness, living in a vastly gentrified area, unable to pay for much of anything.

The major role Westminster and the Standley Lake area plays in gentrification is that of acceptance of those pushed out of their homes in Denver. With an influx of homeless and working-class families coming to Westminster, we are on the receiving end of the gentrification issue.

New business development can bring a boom to neighborhoods previously overlooked, and there is a benefit to growing local business and invigorating communities. But it might be useful for Westminster to take some tips from Denver in approaching the challenges that come with gentrification. As city officials look to developing a new urban center for the city, it may be beneficial to consider possibilities for affordable housing and other responses to the implications that this new construction will bring. l | Grace Johnson | Ty Milliken | Gordon Saur

23

Stories from

THE LA K ESH ORE PART 2 DERIVED FROM NPR’S STORYCORP

After taking on our version of NPR’s Storycorp in the last issue of The Lake, we decided to revisit the idea for our final issue because the stories haven’t ceased to amaze us yet.

24 May 2016 | Issue 6

Mr. Cassady: Do you remember the first time we met?

Mrs. Cassady: I do, it was in physics class.

Mr. Cassady: It was, wasn’t it? (laughs) You were sitting right in front of me and a little bit over there (points to left), and it was maybe October when we did that lab together.

Mrs.Cassady: It was the dropping the stuff down the stairwell, wasn’t it?

Mr. Cassady:Yeah, that gravitated the calculation of the speed of gravitation.

Mrs. Cassady: Yeah, that’s really nerdy.

Mrs. Cassady: What is your favorite memory of us?

Mr. Cassady: I don’t know because there’s lots of good memories.

Mrs. Cassady: There are.

Mr. Cassady: I don’t know if it’s like, having Dylan—I mean I didn’t have Dylan so it was really better for me (laughs)—coming back from some trips and still being alive and seeing you after not being able to for a couple of months, that’s pretty cool, too.

Mr. Rob Cassady and Mrs. Julie Cassady both teach science here at Standley Lake. Their last names are the same for a reason. They got married years ago, before coming together in the same working environment. They recounted the early years of their relationship and how their aspirations differed from where they are today.

Mrs.Cassady: When did you first realize you wanted to marry me?

Mr. Cassady: I probably had thoughts in the first year or two of dating you, that we’d end up getting married.

Mrs. Cassady: It just took eight years (laughs).

Mr. Cassady: Yeah, it just took me seven years to actually pop the question. But you know, it’s a busy time in life when you’re in college and grad school—there’re all these changed and you’re trying to get careers going and, I don’t know. I had some commitment issues but I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life, so it took a while before I felt ready to ask you to marry me.

But within the first year, I certainly had thoughts. Did you ever think about our future together before we realized we really did have a future?

Mr. Cassady: Absolutely, because this way we can go home and talk about how busy our days were, where as if we didn’t work in the same place, we wouldn’t have that commonality. So in some respects it would be better in terms of that, but I like coming to school with you and seeing you at lunch, and seeing you on a regular basis, it’s nice. I definitely enjoy working with you, in the same place, I guess there would be advantages of not, but it would be certainly different because we’ve been sharing the joys of teaching.

Mrs. Cassady: And talk about how much we enjoyed the CMASS Testing (laughs)

Mrs. Cassady: Like you, I thought maybe we’d go somewhere, maybe a couple years into our relationship.

Mr. Cassady: Yeah, we could just go home and rave about how wonderful CMASS was and talk about how much fun we had administering that test.

But if you were teaching at Boulder, you might not have had that experience yet, or it might’ve been different. It’s hard to say, but now we can share those wonderful memories.

Mr. Cassady: Do you remember how you felt on our wedding day?

Mr. Cassady: Do you like working in the same place?

Mrs. Cassady: Mostly relieved it was over, it was very stressful.

Mrs. Cassady: Mostly yes.

Mr. Cassady: Are you happy we got married when we did?

Mrs. Cassady: What are some of the pros and cons of working in the same place and teaching the same subject?

Mrs. Cassady: Sure. I mean, I probably would’ve wanted to a little earlier, maybe two years earlier, but yeah.

Mr. Cassady: It probably took my sister getting married and seeing her get married and going “oh, wow this actually can happen,” because she’d only known her husband for two or three years and we’d known each other for seven when we got engaged and eight when we got married.

Mr. Cassady: Why do you think our relationship has been so successful?

Mrs. Cassady: I think we have common values, we’re just similar.

Mr. Cassady: Well we rarely ever teach the same subject. I think that would be too much togetherness, but it’s the same discipline to some degree. There is a distinction where we’re not doing the exact same thing, and it’s nice because we both know science and understand it. But it’s different enough that we’re not rehashing the day.

Mr. Cassady: What’s your favorite thing about working together?

Mrs. Cassady: I like when you drive when it snows, and I don’t have to.

Mr. Cassady: In some ways, yeah.

Mr. Cassady: But you actually drive most of the time, which is good because I’m not a big fan of driving.

Mrs. Cassady: What do you think made our relationship so strong?

Mrs. Cassady: What’s your least favorite thing about working together?

Mr. Cassady: To plagiarize, I think we have common values and common aims and goals. Our general philosophy on raising kids, and life—there’s a lot alike there. But we’re somewhat different. Like how I like to go to bizarre, exotic places and you, not so much. So we have differences and we have our own separate identities but in terms of big, important things that matter, we have a lot of commonality there.

Mr. Cassady: I think sometimes you tend to get home and rehash something that happened, which can be a great thing. But other times, if it was a rough day, then it would be easier for you to slip into negative thoughts, which is not as good.

Mrs. Cassady: Do you think it would be different if we didn’t work in the same place?

Mr. Cassady: Life (laughs). l

Mrs. Cassady: What do you think our best adventure together was?

25

Freshmen, Trevin Montano and Liam Hamby joined a pre-naval boot camp called “Naval Sea Cadet Corps”, in hopes of one day joining the U.S. Navy. They discussed their hopes for future success in the military and the reasons behind their determination for this goal.

Liam: Why did you want to be in the Navy Sea Cadets?

Liam: What’s your biggest fear about joining the navy?

Trevin: I mainly wanted to join because it helped me with my passion to join the Navy. What made you want to join the Navy?

Trevin: Probably not getting the job or I want to do flying, like being on a special-ops team, so my biggest fear is not making it

Liam: I wanted to get more discipline in my life. I didn’t really have anything other than that [to discipline me]. I just wanted to look more beyond and see what was in the service—I wanted to push the boundaries a little bit.

Trevin: What is the best memory you have had in the Sea Cadets?

Liam: Tell me about your experience in joining the naval boot camp.

Trevin: Some of the experiences I had when I joined the Sea Cadets were learning how to fly, everything about the ships, the United States service, and some stuff that has impacted the service and has changed society.

Liam: The best memory when we were going to boot camp on the plane, was probably the most fun because we had to get all of our energy out before we went so it was pretty fun going to Chicago training with everyone Trevin: Who has been influential in your choice to join the Navy?

Trevin: Do you have any backup plans in case something changes and you decide you don’t want to join the Navy?

Liam: Probably you, actually. You’re the only one that has actually made me want to join and push me further. No one else really has helped me accomplish a goal like that. Who has been the most supportive in your choice to join the Navy?

Liam: If I need a backup plan, it’ll still be something in the service. I feel like I’m still going to go in the service either way. It would be something with special forces or something in that field.

Trevin: It’s also probably back at you because you have followed my path. But also my cousins and other family members that have joined the Navy and have done jobs that follow those steps and choices.

Liam: What would your path be if you couldn’t make Seals?

Liam: Where do you think this experience is going to take you in life?

Trevin: I would want to become a Navy pilot and then hopefully go to San Diego to do the top gun challenge.

Trevin: Hopefully to a career when I do join the service. l

26 May 2016 | Issue 6

Art teacher Ms. Taylor Hillberry has a condition that transforms the way she sees the world. It is called auditory visual synesthesia, which provides her with the ability to listen to music and simultaneously see correlating colors.

She got together with her friend, history teacher Ms. Jessica Post, to speak about her condition and how it affects not just her skill as an art teacher, but the way she maneuvers her way around the world.

Post: Tell me about the condition you have.

Hillberry: It is a neurological condition that affects your senses and essentially crosses your senses with other senses. So, as you experience one sense, simultaneously another sense will be ignited. So for me, and there is a variety of synesthetes, words and syllables I associate with different colors—same with music. It’s an auditory visual synesthesia.

Music and sounds have correlating colors. What do you think it is like with my condition?

Post: Is it mostly solid colors or is it all over the colors spectrum, like any neon colors?

Hillberry: It’s so hard to explain this actually because you sound like a crazy person, but they can actually affect each other when they are next to each other in a word. Some are stronger and dilute the others. I could go through the alphabet and tell you what letter has a color assigned to it. But if it is in a word, then the word sort of becomes a rainbow of those vowels and consonants and it flows together. So in the word cat, C is yellow, A is red and the T is a grayish blue just at the end, and the grey isn’t really visible.

When I see the word cat I just see the brightness of the yellow and the red.

I think the reds stand out really.

Post: So then it helps you remember the actual lyrics by a color pattern.

Hillberry: I have wondered because I didn’t realize it was a condition, and condition is a really strong word. But I was confused by how other people heard and remembered things if it wasn’t through some sort of visual. So I can’t imagine everyone’s little dark brains and how they are thinking about sounds when my head is just so alive.

Post: If you weren’t using the word condition, what word would you use to describe synesthesia?

Hillberry: I haven’t really seen it as a hindrance. In fact, it can help memorization for sure, and just a more enriching experience as your sensing things.

Hillberry: And it’s instantaneous, which is the thing I think people can be confused about.

Hillberry: That’s just the existential torment. The ‘condition’ lends to art and to memorization. That’s why I know all the lyrics to all the songs, because I have a picture of the lyrics in my head as a sandwich of colors and sounds and words.

Post: Have you ever wondered what it would be like without your condition?

Post: But there isn’t really the negative connotation associated with the word condition.

Post: I can see how that could be really good for memorization because I have very slight photographic memory and the things I can remember the most are the things I can picture or see in my head, so I can imagine that being helpful in terms of memorization. And I know a lot of people associate gender with things, like giving numbers a gender, but that’s a little different.

Post: So, if I understand you correctly, whenever you hear a certain sound, you associate it with a certain color. Or if you hear a number, it’s almost like a photographic memory but with colors. I think it sounds really difficult.

Hillberry: Yes, so that is how I think of all the songs.

Hillberry: I don’t know. It’s just perception. I think it is called a neurological condition because it is just a rewiring of your brain. Actually, I believe they think that as babies we all kind of have this muddy sensory brain, and then as we grow up and develop those senses they become more compartmentalized. People with synesthesia end up not having those breaks. So they’re all kind of overlapping a bit, because even smells can conjure a color.

And it’s not like i’m vividly hallucinating all the time but sometimes when I’m falling asleep and there is a loud bang, I will see a bright green flash, but otherwise it’s just like your third eye.

Post: Does your synesthesia come out very much in your art?

Hillberry: It’s actually really hard to translate it because it is not right in front of you. It’s back in the imagination part, so when you try to look at it it’s hard to recall it because it is instantaneous with the sound or color so trying to think back on it or put it on a canvas, it just doesn’t work spacially. I have tried to sort of paint someone’s laugh with big parts and jagged parts but it never turns out like it does in my head. I think it has enhanced my ability to be creative but it is very hard to paint what I am visualizing.

l | Jenna Hines | Hannah Laughlin | Kayla Pray | Gordon Saur | Sophia Stimpfl

27

OPINIONS

it will get better

PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT A COLLECTION OF MINI-EDITORIALS

you have a voice

we are all human beings

You are an individual. You are your own person and no one should be able to take that away from you. The voice you have, deep inside your body, should be shouted from the mountain tops. Express your love for your passion, whether it is art or athletics, you should embrace the thing you care so much about. Your voice can save a life. When someone needs a friend or seems to be struggling around crowds, embrace them and speak up. Let them know that they have a friend. Your voice lets people know your limits.

“No” is an important word and don’t be afraid to use it. Don’t be afraid to tell people they’re going to far. Your voice is the thing you have control over. Whether you use it or not, your voice is what makes you unique.

It’s what differentiates you from all the people surrounding you: friends, enemies, and strangers. Your voice controls your life.

We are all human beings. We breathe the same air. We walk the same ground.

| Hannah Jensen

28 May 2016 | Issue 6

We need food, water, and shelter. We crave attention from our peers, and a better future for all. It’s hard to remember that, especially when we’re too busy worrying about who’s different—why we don’t fit together.

In high school, everyone seems to have a group.

There are the people who like sci-fi, those who mainly express themselves through music, and those who love sports.

These are the ways we find friends.

I’m not saying having a group is a bad thing; actually, it is a good thing. But the problem arises when groups reach out to change others to fit with their own views and beliefs. That’s what our world wars almost always come down to; a lack of acceptance, and the desire to gain power.

One of the strongest ways to stop hate in the world is to stop hate in your own community.

Words can be just as strong as bullets. If we can’t control what we say to others, how can we occupy this whole planet full of people with their own opinions and ideas? We are human, not just a part of a race or a religion or any other group which divides us. We are people, with our own futures and pasts, and we can make peace happen more frequently in this disastrous world with only a few simple words in a sea of misunderstanding: I respect and accept you for who you are. | Cheyenne Main

I know it sounds cliché, but there are certain clichés that everyone just knows are true. And this is one of them. There are days where it is rough and it seems like nothing is ever going to go the way you want it. Days where it seems like the whole universe is turned against you. The days where you leave your 100 point assignment at home with no way to get it.

The days where you can’t find your keys and have to succumb to asking for a ride. The days where you can’t eat breakfast because you woke up late and had to rush to get out of the house. The days where you want to stay home and curl up with your blankets and just sit there all day. But no matter how slim it seems the chances are of it being true, there are better days ahead. Days where you wake up to the sun shining and the birds singing. Days where you do nothing but smile at people in the halls or on the street (and it’s a genuine smile). Days where you sing at the top of your lungs in the shower for so long and your family has to tell you to get out because you’re using up all the hot water. Days where you find your favorite activities joyous again. Those are the days to look forward to. Remember: one step back, two steps forward. | Kayla Pray

you are beautiful Our world can be very cruel at times. We often criticize people for things they can’t help. Some people are brought up that way, thinking it’s okay to see themselves as higher than others.

Every single one of us is, or has been guilty of judging others at one time or another. Confidence, if too hastily obtained, can be a starting point for hurting others. Having good confidence is key to loving yourself, but not when it escalates to where you think you’re better than everyone else, where nobody’s opinions matter to you, where you’re always right. This mindset is unhealthy.It’s important to remember that you are beautiful no matter what anyone says. Lewis Carroll once said, “IN THE END… we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” Don’t let anyone take away your beliefs, your greatest achievements, or your confidence. People will judge—it’s what humans do—but what we can do is have compassion for those who are lost in their judgemental ways and move on.You are only responsible for being the best person you can possibly be. | Alishay Merrill

BADGE O F HO NO R POLICE OFFICERS AR EN ’ T R ESPECTED Every cop has a family. Every cop has a home they want to return to. Cops often see more than one should see.

With every war there are two fronts: one across the seas and one at home. Cops are fighting the wars at home— the war on drugs, the war on violence, the war on crime.

With my dad being a cop, I am worried he’ll leave for work and I won’t see him again. I am worried that the people chanting “death to cops” will commit a crime he’s trying to prevent. I am worried that his bulletproof vest won’t be enough.

Cops run towards things an average person runs away from. My dad has seen hundreds of dead bodies—the results of accidents, murders, and even suicides. Bodies of adults, teenagers, kids, and babies; he’s seen heads smashed in, bodies sandwiched between two hard surfaces, things that aren’t very pretty. When everyone is with their family at home celebrating the holidays, cops are on the streets, allowing us to be at peace. It doesn’t matter if there’s a large blizzard or storm, cops are still on the roads. At times they are so busy enforcing peace that they don’t have time to eat. They do so many things for us and we retaliate against them.

There’s no doubt some cops take things too far, but keep in mind that only a small percentage do. Similarly to everything else in the media, good actions of cops are rarely told, but when that small amount goes too far, it’s all over the media on every channel. If you were to follow a cop for a day and witness some of the actions they perform, you’d be both amazed and disgusted. Amazed by how they save so many lives and stay calm, disgusted by the people they arrest and bring to justice.

Just like our military personnel overseas, cops come home seeing terrible things. A large amount of cops suf-

fer from PTSD just like our heroes across the sea. The amount of police suicides committed each year has increased. Each officer silently suffers. Each one stands up for our rights and pushes through the traumatic and emotional distress they experience everyday. All for us. They don’t do it because it’s fun. They don’t do it because they want power.

They do it because they want us to be safe.

THE AMOUNT

Our police officers really aren’t that different than our soldiers halfway across the world.

They’re both fighting a war on ideology. The problem with that is you don’t know who the “bad guy” is. Unlike WWII, criminals nor ISIS wear uniforms that flash “I’M TRYING TO KILL YOU”. The same happened in Vietnam.

You can’t see who a communist is. You can’t see who a terrorist is. You can’t see who a criminal is. It’s like fighting a boogey man.

OF TIME TILL BACKUP ARRIVES MAY BE SHORT, BUT IT’S THE

When my dad became a police officer, he felt like people were thankful for him, he felt as if people appreciated what he was doing. Now he’s afraid the people who he’s trying to save are trying to kill him. He’s not sure if an attempted murder call is just an ambush set up for him. That arseny call he’s investigating? He doesn’t have a fireproof vest. The amount of time till backup arrives may be short, but it’s the longest time in their life.

LONGEST TIME IN THEIR LIFE.

Reconsider the next time you chant that three word phrase that directly attacks cops. When you see an officer’s sirens screeching by, thank them in your head for responding to someone who is in desperate need of help.

Give cops the respect they deserve. | AJ Ehrhardt

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OPINIONS

YOUR WO RLDV IEW NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED IGNORANCE ISN’T INCONSEQUENTIAL Ignorance is bliss, a common saying, but woefully misleading. Yes, tweeting and snapchatting your besties is fun and great. But without knowledge of our world’s situation rife with fragility, nothing will be changed, nothing can be fixed. It may be fun to gossip about what newest celebrity got Botox or what newest incendiary comment Donald Trump made, but our world’s precarious situation can’t be allowed to dissipate into mindless chatter. Yes, even I’m guilty of getting absorbed in the newest trend but that doesn’t justify being unknowledgeable of the happenings of the world around us.

actually understanding them. This ignorance that our generation has been stereotyped with just fuels the “lazy and narcissistic” comments about us that we all despise.

In short, knowledge is power. Education is a solution to more than one of the problems our society faces. So go. Go out and learn! Learn what your favorite politician’s views actually are.

Learn in all honesty, about the current problems ravaging our world. And no, our world’s current problems don’t include whether or not Kim Kardashian’s eyebrows are “on fleek” in her latest Instagram post.

NOTHING’S MORE DANGEROUS

THAN PEOPLE

WHO FOLLOW

It’s understandable—the world is truly a scary place, one that’s full of violence and death. In our current circumstances, the world isn’t exactly the most welcoming. And it’s easier just to turn a blind eye and ignore this dark reality and watch some adorable cat videos or marathon the newest season of your favorite show. Yes, it’s unrealistic to expect that everyone should always and consistently burden themselves with the issues we all face. Rather, it’s more fair to think of it as a balancing act. If you see that the sun is making your skin look on-point, and you want to take sixty selfies, go for it, but don’t ignore everything else. Because ignorance will just leave us vulnerable to be directed like mindless sheep. Ignorance will only ever evolve into violence and bloodshed. Nothing’s more dangerous than people who follow a set of beliefs without

To be perfectly honest, one of the most important skills anyone can learn is to nurture a thirst for knowledge within themselves. The ones who make it in our dog-eat-dog world are the ones who never stop seeking for new things to learn. In our vast society, there are countless subjects and topics. So many that it’s unfathomable to believe you’ll learn everything. But it’s that basic urge to learn as much as you possibly can that creates success. So start now. Open that news app you’ve never touched and educate yourself about the world that you share with 7 billion other people. Educate yourself, before it’s too late, and you’re contributing to the violence that we all fear so much.

A SET OF BELIEFS

WITHOUT ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING THEM.

30 May 2016 | Issue 6

No. Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s deadly. | Kevin Han

TAKIN G A B R EATH FOR THE BEST We are too often consumed by the bustle of modern life, with no time or energy to truly take care of our minds and bodies.

you are on the wrong track.

It should be for you, and only you.

This is a very real issue that we are failing to recognize.

As our lives become more and more compact with appointments, due dates, start times, end times— all of the obligations we OTHERS WILL have of one kind or another—it is easy to get BE ALONG lost in the things that we think are important.

FOR THE

RIDE, BUT YOU ARE THE ONE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

Mental and physical maintenance show much more than we think and matter much more as well.

That extra hour of sleep, swig of H2O, jog around the block can make heaps of difference. Prioritizing shouldn’t be a tangle between your wellbeing and stress from other realms of your life.

Sure, that essay’s got to get done and you should probably prepare for the tourna-

ment next week, but by no means should sacrifices be made to skip on dinner, a night of sleep, or some “me” time.

Unless you take care of your beautiful being, nothing will get done to the quality of which you and those around you expect it to.

That said, we need to stop thinking grades rule our lives. Stop believing our social images always mirror who we really are. Stop convincing ourselves that what’s going to be happening in an hour, a week, a month, or a year from now is twice as important as what is happening to us right now.

Of course the future is important! But we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves.

There’s a reason we’re all so fond of the notion of stopping and smelling the roses.

Besides, who are you running for?

If it’s for your parents, your teachers, your coaches, your friends, your romantic pursuits,

Because the only one who will have to deal with the heavy implications of your choices when the time comes will be you; others will be along for the ride, but you are the one behind the wheel.

So if staying sane means coming to class and admitting that you weren’t in the right mindset to finish this or that because you needed some time to regroup, be honest—not just with your teacher—but with yourself.

There’s no doubt they were once wearing your shoes. They know the strain of adolescence and high school, of growing up, of discovering who you are.

Just realize that everyone needs time to breath, so if things just aren’t jiving, take some time. Reflect.

Even if things are going fine, make the effort to think about how sound you are.

Clear a slate and sketch a new image, because there should never be a time where your ease and peace of mind are unimportant.

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until next time.