April 2025 // Vol. One Hundred and Four
Table of Contents Fight Fight Fight
Future Predictions
Pg. 5
You Can't Talk About This Movie Pg. 6
Promposals and Problems Pg. 8
Modeling the Future of Politics
Pg. 10
Aiming for the A Pg. 12
The Final Countdown Pg. 14
Competing for Recognition Pg. 16
Putting the E in Esports Pg. 18
One More Scroll Pg. 20
Filter or Filler Pg. 22
Marketing Mayhem Pg. 24
A Playlist of Emotions Pg. 26
Turning Times Tables Pg. 28
Conversations Around the Coffee Table Pg. 30
Where Suffering Meets Hope Pg. 32
Recipes Pg. 34
Crossword Pg. 35
Black & Gold Quarterly
APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE
BGQ Staff
Editor-In-Chiefs
Eliana Hermel
Bridget Belden
Content Editors
Morgan Hill
Kailyn Groves
Staff Writers
Elaina Chippewa
Sean Humphrey
Jordan Teesdale
Leo McAvoy
Kaleb LaBarbera
Parker Ziegler
Myah McCotter
Landon Willett
Finn Kennedy
Jade McGraw
Kerrigan Jenkins
Cover
Eliana Hermel
Graphics
Eliana Hermel
Bridget Belden
Jordan Teesdale
Susan Roskelley
Advisor
Susan Roskelley
Send information, advertising, and other inquiries to:
Black & Gold Quarterly Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: (231) 933-6533
Email: roskellesu@tcaps. net
Editor's Note
We started this issue during the worst time of the year: January. As we worked on this issue from late January into early April, we had four snow days and spring break to slow us down. While our original plan was to release the issue when we got back from spring break, that plan was blocked by the time we lost along the way. Issue three, by far, has been the hardest to work on, but we entered it with a vision: one of technological intrigue.
In our many months of work, we have looked into the ongoing debates regarding social media expectations (pg. 22), the TikTok ban (pg. 20), the impact of music within social media (pg. 26), and the emergence of chaotic marketing tactics on social platforms (pg. 24). Aside from this theme of technology, though, our staffers also delved into student spirit (pg. 8), coffee shops in Traverse City (pg. 30), underappreciated sports (pg. 16), and what it takes to be an academic weapon (pg. 12). Our latest issue also features an article that our very own Kailyn Groves published in the Northern Express (pg. 32).
In this issue, we also decided to spice things up: when turning to the recipe page, one will not only find Elaina’s delectable banana bread, but also Jordan’s scrumptious cookie dough dip! Our doubling up on recipes wasn’t the only way we decided to mix things up, though, we also have a blockblast themed crossword! While this version of block-blast won’t allow you to put blocks beside each other, you’ll still have a blast solving it!
We couldn't have finished issue three without the help of our incredible staffers and our phenomenal advisor Ms. Roskelley. Our staffers' stories are all fantastic, and we couldn't have asked for a better group to help push through the slow winter months of work. Issue three was rough, but in the end we couldn't have had better final result.
From the Pub,
Eliana Hermel & Bridget Belden
Future Predictions
Back in 2020, the BGQ staff asked Central students during the pandemic what their predictions were for what lies ahead, specifically modern technology, sports, healthcare, outer space, and the environment. Five years later, many of the predictions Central students made are making a come-
By Elaina Chippewa and Kailyn Groves Staff Writer and Editor
How do you thinnk certain social issues will be addressed or changed in the future?
“I really hope people can learn to live together, not against each other. At the end of the day, we are all humans so why does it matter who Betty sleeps with or what color John's skin is?” - Ellie Clous ‘26
In what ways do you see the country by the end of this generation?
“With all the access to social media and video games and weird posts, it's causing lots of people to become dumber, especially with all the misinformation. However, all these things can help as well with retaining information. So really, it's whether you're using it to watch informational videos to help yourself try and learn something, or [just] watching Skibidi Toilet or something equally as weird.” - Ayden Mills ’26
Do you think TikTok will grow or do you think it will end up being banned?
“I think it will continue to grow because of its mainstream popularity. It's where most people post about themselves.” - Nathan Fernow ‘25
Do you believe we’ll find life somewhere other than Earth? If so, where and why?
“Absolutely. There are so many places out there. We cannot see any part of space at its current time. When we look through a telescope, we see up to billions of years in the past. It took humans a couple thousand years to go from cavemen to where we are today. We just can't see if anyone else has made it.”Nathan Stawski ’27
You Can’t Talk About This Movie
You Can’t Talk About This Movie
Taking a look at how movies and reviews are interconnected through the classic late 90s film Fight Club.
By Landon Willett // Staff Writer
Movies are a powerful form of storytelling that makes viewers ask questions and take away valuable lessons. They offer a unique blend of visual artistry combined with narrative depth, which is told through characters, environments, and dialogue. Older films have potential to be great movies, but some people are put off by dated films, and consequently never see what significance these older films have. Movie reviews can often be valuable in providing insight into the plot, acting, direction, and overall quality of a movie, which can help deepen the viewer’s understanding of the film. Some films have the ability to make the viewer see the world from a different viewpoint. Movies, such as Fight Club, provide a fresh perspective on reality and give a unique viewing experience. Before reading further, please note that there are spoilers ahead.
Fight Club, released in 1999, initially received a disappointing response due to its controversial nature, presenting issues that were more prevalent at the time. However, upon its home release, it quickly became a cult classic that challenged social norms and big corporations. Many people have an ideal image of who they want to be in their head, and this movie offers a unique take on that concept. The main character, known as The Narrator, suffers from schizophrenia and manifests an alter-ego in his mind that has the qualities he aspires
to have. He sees this person in the real world and has no idea he is an illusion. In the beginning of the movie, it is established that The Narrator attends support groups for illnesses he does not have, finding solace in being heard. He believes his worth boils down to his possessions rather than his actions, his job dealing with car wrecks being one of the many reasons he feels this way. During one of his flights back from a car wreck, he has a dream about the plane he’s on suddenly collapsing. He wakes up just before the crash and, upon awakening, meets Tyler Durden (his alter-ego). After his interaction with Durden, he returns home to find that his apartment has been blown up, taking all of his belongings with it, leaving him nothing to his name. The Narrator, with nowhere else to turn, contacts Durden and they arrange to meet.
After their conversation, Durden invites The Narrator to take a swing at him, which ultimately leads to the formation of the recreational fighting club for men. Durden believes that society’s suppression of primal instincts is detrimental to humanity, and this club provides an outlet for people to release their emotions and unwind. As the club grew, it transformed into a movement aimed at dismantling large corporations and fighting against consumerism. After building up an army of people, The Narrator realizes that he and Tyler Durden are one and the same and now has to deal with
the consequences of his alter-ego. Durden made plans to destroy credit card company buildings, relieving everyone from their debt. The Narrator Tries stopping this plan but gets held captive by Durden. He tries to reason with him but in a moment of clarity, The Narrator realizes he’s in authority of his own mind. Recognizing he’s in full control, The Narrator shoots himself, seemingly killing the Tyler Durden persona: winning the fight for control he hadn’t realized he was a participant in. The movie ends with The Narrator watching as the buildings slowly collapse; he now seems to be at calm, now knowing he’s in control and is no longer living inside his own mind. It doesn’t show what happens to The Narrator, leaving it to the viewer’s imagination to decide his fate.
Fight Club delves into the mindless consumerism prevalent in capitalist societies, The Narrator being a key example of valuing property over life. People often make purchases without considering the life cycle of the product, and are easily influenced by those who have expensive items, leading to feelings of envy or fear of missing out. This constant cycle of consumption can leave individuals stressed and dissatisfied.This ultimately teaches them that material possessions and money cannot bring true happiness, the same lesson the movie’s protagonist learns throughout the film. This theme also ties into the concept of emasculation, that society is forcing us to live consumerist lives centered around money and physical items. However, this
is a harmful lesson to teach, as it suggests that a person’s value is based on the items they own and how much money they have, when in reality what defines them and their value are their beliefs and principles. In the film, the protagonist is so caught up in this pressure, he creates a persona to cope with modern reality: someone who he deems to be perfect in his mind, one who values principles over possessions. Furthermore, the film also promotes the idea that we are all mortal and encourages individuals to live each day as if it were their last, free from the constraints of societal norms.
Fight Club stands out for its unique form of storytelling and its ability to convey multiple messages in just over two hours. Even 26 years after the movie’s release, viewers continue to find new layers and themes, making it timeless and thought-provoking to watch. While it may be the only film to explore these themes in this manner, there are other similar films, such as American Psycho and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, that also revolve around the topic of mental illness and identity. A film’s message can often be eye-opening, teaching the audience something that needs to be heard or said, its meaning often leaving a lasting impression on the viewer, and Fight Club is still relevant in this regard. //
Graphic: J. Teesdale
Promposals and Problems
Figuring out how to make school spirit fashionable again.
By Leo McAvoy // Staff Writer
School dances and spirit weeks are a significant rite of passage for many, a meaningful teenage experience a large portion of the population excitedly waits for. Unfortunately for many, that school spirit is harder to gain with the lack of decorations, hype, and originality over the last few years. Many have noticed the dances we see here at Central, while a fun escape from homework and stress, seem to be lacking. Along with our now-repetitive spirit weeks, these events are now dull and devoid of excitement. One major contributing factor is a lack of funding for a more extravagant event, along with the lack of input given.
Student Senate has the largest part in setting up our dances and spirit weeks. Although Senate is very open to ideas and input from the student body, not many students want to give their input. “The best
way is to just come to one of the senators. If you see me and you want to say something, I’m always open to talking about feedback or hearing different ideas,” governor Roxy McClellan ‘25 states. “If people ever have ideas, we are super open to it because we want as much input as we can get. It’s really hard to think of new things all the time when there’s restrictions.”
On top of this, it is simply impossible to make absolutely everyone happy, even when it comes to something simple like music chosen for events or dance themes. “We’ve toyed with the idea of bringing in a band instead of having a DJ,” shares former senate advisor and current principal Lisa Johnson, “[which] would be really comfortable and an awesome experience for a lot of people. And then you’d also make a lot of people upset because they like the DJ and they like that music.” For Johnson, her high school dance experience was a bit of a departure from what we’re used to at Central: “We actually had a lot of school dances when I was in high school,” reminisces Johnson. “I grew up in Lansing, and we had our prom…in the conference room of the bowling alley. So I would say that it’s a lot more swanky here to have your prom at this really nice resort.”
While Johnson has positive memories as a student regardless of the less fancy dances, she admits that there are restrictions that come with deciding on themes for
Photo: K. Fraley
Graphics: J. Teesdale
dances and spirit weeks that could make others possibly have less fun. She briefly touched on this when discussing favourite themes she’s done, adding that it “seems so harmless, but it can cause anxiety for people.” There are specific guidelines that must be met and restrictions that must not be crossed or touched, such as “anything that would marginalize a specific group or touch on a stereotype is something that we’ve really moved away from in the past few years,” Johnson defines. She contends that the changes in how Senate decides themes was not based on leadership, but rather “the conversation had changed, and we were trying to really work towards making sure that everything from dance themes to spirit week days were something that would be attainable for everybody,” she clarifies. “[We try] to think about all of the students that are represented at Central High School, not just the 28 kids that sit in the senate classroom.”
When asked for their opinions on our chosen themes, various responses and reactions were conveyed: “I think my favorite themes have been themes that we’ve done, like disco or stuff with glow in the dark just because I think people think that’s super fun and it makes the assembly easy,” claims Senator Vienna Moore ‘26. Johnson recalls participating in a twin day, “which now I don’t love anymore because what if you don’t have a twin? That’s one that we
don’t really like to do anymore. Like, it’s not necessarily fair to everyone that doesn’t have a person, or it can cause a rift in friend groups,” she notes.
There’s a lot of decisions that go into themes, but the only way for students to start feeling that sense of school spirit is to be active participants in the process: “I think if students would participate more in spirit days and just go to games and other events that the school holds, I think that school school spirit could be increased [and] more driven,” Moore suggests. //
Modeling the Future of Politics
How AP Gov and Model UN students experience real-life political scenarios in high school
by Morgan Hill // content editor
Politics is the entity of representation in any society. It defines leadership and decision-making, no matter how large or small, even if it’s a controversial subject. Because of its importance, Central obviously has to teach it as a subject in the school in order to expose students to common civics and general political discussion that will be their responsibility to understand once they are able to vote. Central teaches several political-related topics such as Civics, AP US Government and Politics (AP Gov), and Model UN. The latter two offer the opportunity for students to publicly speak and defend political views - whether their own or another nation’s - while in the process writing speeches, discussing political views with others, forming committees, studying topics, and debating. These representativebased classes create a realistic depiction of what political discussions and work are like. Perhaps the more commonly known political simulation opportunity for students is the annual Mock Congress event, spearheaded by AP Gov teacher Paige Paul. Its primary purpose is to connect topics that AP Gov students learn prior to the event,
allowing them to act as a bicameral government legislature. Then finally, in late March, Mock Congress is hosted in the auditorium for those selected to be in the House of Representatives, and a rotating location for the Senate room. Lucy Desmond ‘25, a member of Model UN who took AP Gov, explains that “Gov in other schools is harder, and people don’t get as good [of] grades on the AP test. Almost everyone got a four or five in our class,” Desmond shares. “It’s considered here [as] one of the easiest AP classes because Mrs. Paul is such a good teacher, not because of the curriculum.” The reach of Mock Congress goes beyond the junior class, who typically take AP Gov: students who participate in their junior year are offered the opportunity to return to Mock Congress during the next year in other roles, including President of the United States, timekeepers, vote counters, and other volunteers for the event. For example, Desmond was selected and volunteered as a vote counter for a portion of the event, and Gabe Girrbach ‘25 served as President of the United States, having previously been Speaker of the House dur-
ing his time in AP Gov.
Although Mock Congress is only a oneday event, with months of preparation, many of the students find the same joy in a long-term organization known as Model UN, which has many parallels: “[Model UN] is an assimilation of the United Nations, ” advisor and Central teacher Dr. Bryn Lynch explains. ”There’s about 600 people all over from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Canada, and sometimes farther places, too.” Lynch is well-known for teaching foreign-related social studies classes, such as Spanish, French, and of course, Model UN, which she took over after the previous advisor offered her his position, noting her love of the club. In Model UN, students gather to roleplay a United Nations meeting over a few days. Unlike Mock Congress, however, Model UN does not focus primarily on one individual’s political opinion, but rather Model UN students in the class study how their individual country treats certain policies within World Politics.
“We have five to six countries usually, and each student represents the country in different committees. This year, we have, for example, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malta and El Salvador…and there are five or six students per delegation. [One committee is] the DICE, which is mostly political issues. There’s a social humanitarian and cultural committee,” Lynch explains. “And then students have three different topics that they have to research and they have to
write a position paper on it, which means like what is their country’s position on that topic.”
Something unique about Model UN’s policy is that students have to face topics from the perspective of their assigned country. “[It’s] often hard for students to step into the country’s point of view rather than looking at it through a United States lens. That’s a always a big shift. So, instead of like looking at it as an American, you’re trying to look at it as someone from El Salvador, someone from Malta, someone from Saudi Arabia,” clarifies Lynch. “That’s also, especially when they’re new at it, more difficult. You can’t [align with] the United States’ policy.”
These government events heavily rely on students’ abilities to work hard and study for their stance on their country’s issues, but it can be an intimidating situation for many students and takes a lot of work: “It’s terrifying because there’s so many people in there,” Desmond admits. “[There might be] five of them and the rest are just like looking at you, waiting to hear what you say, and then you can. It’s just speaking, and you don’t want to repeat what everybody else said. But…you have to work with people. It’s just how it works and it’s just like collaboration.” Education in a field can go a long way, but experience in the field can prove to be the real teacher. //
Aiming for the A
Three Central students reveal what’s behind their drive to become academic weapons
by Finn Kennedy and Jade McGraw // Staff Writers
Keira Wesley ‘25 struggled with time management and grades. She fell into a slump. Then one day, she became a powerhouse academic weapon. How did she make such a sudden shift to high achievements?
What is an academic weapon, and how does someone become one? An academic weapon is a student who excels in school, balances academics, and extracurriculars with discipline and strategy. It’s the definition of success. Academic weapons have traits like powerful work ethics, amazing time management skills, and a positive mindset that propels them to succeed. Academic weapons are bursting at the seams with motivation. Wesley, a diligent and driven student here at Central, shares why she is constantly working towards her future aspirations. “I have a lot of goals, and as a senior, I am moving on from high school to college. Academic achievements for me are stepping stones for goals I want to achieve, whether it’s for my career or the life I want to have,” Wesley explains, “And doing my best all around, whether it’s in school, sports, or community service, I want to do the best I possibly can so that I can get to where I want to go.”
Just like Wesley, other students at Central share this drive for success. Sylvia Coulter ‘27 has the desire to perform well now in high school to avoid future regrets, ensuring her long-term opportunities. “I want to be able to have options…later in life,” Coulter explains. “I want to do as well as I can now so that, later in life, I don’t look back and…wish I had done [something different].” Both students emphasize the importance of harnessing personal motivation to push through challenges. Coulter focuses on finding time in busy schedules, using a planner as a useful tool and recommends not having your phone by you while you study to minimize distractions. She feels that even imperfect time management is effective; it’s the effort that counts in the long run. “You push yourself to do something and then once you complete it, you [think], ‘wow, I can do that,’” Coulter reflects.
Even Wesley grapples with juggling all her work. “For me, in freshman and sophomore year, it was really difficult for me to learn time management because it was something that I struggled with for a long time, and I didn’t really know how to manage my time wisely,” she admits.
Graphics: E. Hermel
Arthur Lijewski-Lee ‘26 adds another layer to the discussion of motivation. “I think for me, it’s about seeing how well I can do, just as kind of a challenge for myself,” he explains. “I just want to do well. Most of the time, whenever I’m in a class or an extracurricular, I like to find a reason to be invested in that class.” This investment, he believes, naturally translates into better grades, as genuine interest fuels a desire to learn.
While finding balance is a common struggle, Lijewski-Lee emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning. “I have calendars [and] checklists. I have a whole document where I just plan out [and] block out my entire week,” he shares. While he admits that this level of organization can be intense, he finds it essential for managing his busy schedule. He also realistically admits that “the other part is that my personal life suffers a bit,” showing that even very organized students have to make sacrifices. It’s just trial and error in developing a system that specifically works for someone personally. Academic burnout is an exhausting example of one of the many challenges high school students face. Most students are tired of school and all the work at the end of the year from months of cramming and stress. Burnout is common, and motivation may fail. Sometimes, we need to focus on things we enjoy, like friends or community service. Wesley recognises that balance is key, but putting in the work is satisfying in the end. “I think the most rewarding part is getting the results I wanted when I tried my absolute hardest, because it shows me that my hard work pays off,” she comments. “And sometimes when I don’t get the results I want, still knowing that I tried my best is a reward in
itself, because it means I put my best foot forward no matter the outcome.”
Both Wesley and Lijewski-Lee swear by the Pomodoro method, which involves focused study intervals followed by short breaks. “Basically, it’s just making sure to take regular short breaks, not just doing something for an hour straight, but doing it at 20 minute intervals with little five minute breaks,” Lijewski-Lee explains. Without proactive routines, hard work goes to waste.
Setbacks can wound academic progress, not because of them, but the mindset shift. Wesley views failure as an opportunity to reflect and improve, often seeking teacher feedback to enhance her performance. “I think as someone who has pretty high expectations for myself, failure is definitely hard to deal with, not getting the results or the grade I want,” she notes. “It’s definitely hard, but I try to think of it from the teacher’s perspective. [I figure out] why did they give me the grade that I got, or what I can improve on. I try to think of ways that I can improve so that I can get the grade that I want the next time. So I try to think of it more as a journey, where this is a stepping stone more than an ending point.” It’s also important when faced with failure to shift focus from grades to truly understanding the material, which alleviates some of the stress around academic performance.
Personal growth is more important than simply achieving good grades. Embracing the learning process and understanding the material can lead to more lasting success. For these academic weapons at Central, the focus on personal achievement is what makes them exceptional students. //
As early as the 1950s, high school seniors have caught something called ‘Senioritis’. The term senioritis is the predicament of procrastination and lack of school work before the end of their last year in high school. As a senior myself, I’ve noticed a change in my motivation and capability to firmly express detail in assignments and projects analytically. The mindblowing piece of being a senior is just knowing that each day you’re drawing closer to the deadline of high school dependency. In my younger years, I always found myself imagining what it would be like to be a high school senior and all the freedoms I’d get to acquire. After 12 years of school and hard work, the last year has been the easiest yet hardest for me to dissect. With two months left of senior year, I hope to make the most of it and enjoy the most that I have before it’s gone. A part of me still wants to go back and relive what I felt like I couldn’t live in the past. But now that we’re nearing the end, I’ve got to focus on the things I can accomplish before leaving Central.
Traverse City Central Traverse City,
By Kailyn Groves Content
The Final
As seniors near the end of their students last year in high school, one by one, overbearing
I heard the word Senioritis used with a lot of different connotations and a lot of different definitions behind it,” Biddinger explains. Although the definition varies, most people can agree that it’s a feeling of having little to no motivation to do school work, knowing that the ‘end’ is near.
Cameron Biddinger ‘25 can proudly agree that Senioritis is a real thing that affects most high school seniors. “[At] the beginning of this year, when we did our senior photos, [the presenter said,] ‘Don’t get a fatal case of Senioritis: it happens to people every year, and they have to return all their graduation stuff,’” Biddinger recalls. He believes that everyone’s “work ethic” is different: “Something that has been interesting to me this year is that
Senioritis is pretty much inevitable, but it’s hard to pin down when it will strike. Chloe Saxton ‘25 experienced senioritis after Christmas break and understands firsthand how focusing too much on what lies ahead can be troublesome: “At some point, you do get excited about being done with high school and ready for the future,” Saxton claims. Because there’s so much to look forward to after high school, seniors tend to get caught up in fun rather than focusing on their academic performance. “[I try] to stay focused during the school day and just [get] my stuff done during school, so then once I’m out of
Central High School
City, Michigan
Content Editor
Countdown
their students catch the infectious,
overbearing case of senioritis. school, I don’t have to worry about it at all,” Saxton explains.
When it does finally appear, senioritis can lead to exhaustion, fatigue, and burnout. “I’m taking 4 AP classes and a college class, Calc 3, over at NMC. There have definitely been points where, especially for my online classes, I just don’t want to do it, and I’ll wait till the day before our week’s assignments for all online AP classes are actually due,” Biddinger admits. Saxton also has felt that time management has been her biggest struggle: “It’s made me a lot less motivated to do my schoolwork and easier to just push things off to the last minute,” she notes.
Every class has a different workload that many seniors struggle to balance, especially towards the end of the year. English 12 teacher Kathryn Polus has noticed seniors distancing themselves from their willingness to work fluently on projects, specifically the infamous senior recom-
mendation project. “I do know that their senior research project can tend to be one that leads to senioritis because it is so independent,” Polus explains. “We’re trying to have these skills developed to kind of [slowly] release students into college or the work environment, where there won’t be someone checking up on them every day. So we give them a lot of independence, and sometimes that can lead to more senioritis.”
As spring approaches, the weather turns warmer, and people find themselves needing to get out after a long winter inside. It’s the perfect recipe for disaster when it comes to combating senioritis, but there are steps to take that can make a difference in the long run: “Know your schedule and know your own circadian rhythm. When are you tired during the day? When’s a good time to not do work? And when is a good time to sit down and do the work that you actually need to do?” Biddinger questions. “We’re all creatures of habit in some sort of way. And knowing that about yourself [and] when [it] is the best time for you to do work is pretty important.”
For me, the motivation I want is that I will leave Central knowing I did my absolute hardest and best work during my time here. Senioritis can make or break a school year, and hopefully, we can prevail up until graduation. //
Competing for Recognition
By Parker Ziegler // Staff Writer
There are some sports that get significant representation, whether it be on the announcements, the Senate Instagram, or school assemblies. However, sports that don’t go directly through the school are often overlooked. The sailing, rowing, and competitive dance teams are composed of students from Central, West, and St. Francis, yet they aren’t normally recognized in the same league as sports like basketball, football, and soccer, among others.
For some students, getting into these underrepresented sports is a result of their family’s influence. Frannie Harbold ‘27 has been sailing since she was eight years old and got her start because her mom’s family was really into sailing. “Ever since then, it was the thing I looked forward to [most] in the summer,” she recalls, “because as an eight year old kid living in the city, you don’t have control over anything, so having control over a boat was really nice.” Although being in charge of your own vessel can seem intimidating, Harbold finds it a “really fun and a great activity for all skill levels.” Sailing can be somewhat weather-dependent, which can add significant obstacles to an already complicated sport, but Harbold revels
Acknowledging some of Central’s most underrepresented sports.
in the challenge. “I know a lot of people like it when it’s really windy, and I like that too. But some day[s], I want it to be a nice chill day with ten mile an hour winds [and] sunny, so that I can just relax. But if I want to go for fun, I want a good 15 mile an hour winds,” she admits.
Besides just being a recreational activity, sailing can also be a very competitive sport. Many sailing teams participate in regattas, which consists of a giant sailing tournament where teams race against each other, and at the end of the day, the team with the most points wins. In terms of time, sailing is a two season sport, with seasons taking place throughout the spring and the fall, with summer being left over for recreational sailing. In Harbold’s case, her team practices three nights a week with regattas on most weekends. She hopes that more students will want to get involved and expand their team in the future. “We can teach you how to sail, how to understand, and how to control the boat,” she explains.
Sailing isn’t the only unusual water sport. Rowing shares a lot of similarities with sailing, but the experience is arguably more team-driven. Like sailing, rowers race
in regattas and have the choice to race by themselves (single), with another person (double), in a quad, a four, or an eight. Unlike sailing, however, rowing regattas don’t have any points. If a rower messes up, they can have time added or even be disqualified. Rowing can be surprisingly strenuous. “It’s a very difficult sport, so you definitely need to be mentally strong,” comments rower Jack Potgieter ‘25. Fellow rower Annie Heron ‘25 feels similarly: “You really have to enjoy the sport and give it your all. It’s hard, you have to learn to love it. It wasn’t my favorite thing at the beginning, but then I learned to love it and it has become one of my favorite things.”
Additionally, rowing takes up a lot of time; even with the option to row only two seasons of the year, most rowers have practice daily. “It does take a lot of time. It’s every day, up to two hours, but it’s worth it in the end,” mentions Potgieter. “I only do fall and spring when the races are, but it is [a] year round [sport].” Heron prefers to participate throughout the year: “I do four seasons all year round, so I have rowing pretty much every night. We have winter training in the weights room or in the gym,” she shares. For Heron, the team aspect is the best part about rowing. “I’ve just really learned to enjoy it. I find it relaxing and fun,” Heron comments.
Dance Arts Academy (DAA). They teach a wide range of dance styles including tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop, among others. As a competitive dance studio, dancers at DAA attend several competitions throughout the year. Dance competitions can be slightly different compared to other sports’ tournaments or races. Some have conventions, which are taught by guest instructors who teach the dancers combinations that they can then use to audition for titles like Outstanding Dancer, an award that gives scholarships to Nationals. After hours of convention and competition, awards begin. “We compete the pieces in specific categories and after that they judge you on your technique, performance quality, and ‘it’ factor. And they give you a score, and that score determines your rating and that’s how you win awards. They’re generally pretty stressful,” comments dancer Natalie Couch ‘27. DAA routinely takes their dancers to two competitions: Headliners, a competition, and New York City Dance Alliance, which is a competition and convention.
Traverse City also has an outlet for those both artistic and athletic through its competitive dance studios. There are many dance studios in TC, but the biggest is
With all these competitions and performances to prepare for, company dance takes up a lot of time. “I wanna say [I dance] 18+ hours per week, an average of three to four hours per day.” admits Couch ‘27. Despite the time commitment, dancing offers the opportunity to succeed both as a team and as an individual.
Although these sports aren’t run directly through the school, the students who participate in these activities still deserve
Putting the E in Esports
Discussing the social aspects of the Esports community at Central
By Kaleb LaBarbera // Staff Writer
Screens light up the room filled with laughter. Sounds of Mario fighting Link and Winston and Tracer battling Reaper. Teams are working together to bring their school victory. This is TCC Esports club. The games being played this season are Overwatch Two and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Everyone is having a great time together as their favorite characters. Games change throughout the changing semesters; new ones can be added or removed depending on participation.
A popular game this season is Super Smash Bros Ultimate. In this game, players fight against each other as many characters from a variety of media properties, from Nintendo games - including the Mario franchise - to Sonic from Sega or Steve from Mojang. Characters can battle in teams, one-on-ones, and in brackets. The Smash Bros team usually plays the game normally against one another to practice; however, when competing against other teams, the group takes turns against the opponents’ members battle after battle until one team is victorious. Aiden Taint ‘27, a member of the TCC Smash Bros team, expresses that usually, the game is not taken too seriously, and it is usually just an amazing time with friends, as most days the members are “playing around, we’re having jokes, we’re having fun, [although it is different on tournament days.] If we were
in an actual tournament…we lock in,” he states. Taint finds that his experience on the team this year has “been so fun getting together with people and playing some of my favorite games. It’s made an impact because I’ve finally started interacting more socially,” he shares. Taint credits Esports for helping him make many friends within the team, and when not in competition, Taint and the other team members bond through chatting, battling, and getting to know each other through their biweekly practices.
The other game being played in Esports currently is Overwatch. In this game, two teams compete to try to complete an objective before the other team can accomplish the task or before time runs out. Objectives include things such as capturing a point or moving objects toward a point, among others. One team in Overwatch is made up of five members and three classes, which include tanks that defend and lead the team, DPS (damage per second) that damage the enemy, and support that heals the team. Like the Smash Bros group, the Overwatch team also plays together in many competitions and enjoy having fun battling alongside each other.
Stephen Sommerfield ’25 is vice president of the Esports team and is currently a member of the Overwatch team. Like Taint, Sommerfield enjoys the community aspect of Esports the most: “It’s basically just
a place, a community of people where I can come to and I won’t be judged for anything at all,” he reflects. “A lot of people in here have just…not great history with being ‘popular,’ so whenever I do come in, it’s just a community of people who care and support me no matter what.”
Outside of Central, Esports has also changed on a world level. It has become more popular, even to the point where Saudi Arabia will be hosting an Esports Olympics in 2027. “Five to ten years ago, [this] would have never been a possibility,” Barber claims. The world of Esports is ever-changing and growing. New games and new people are always joining the sport. Different games are played in different seasons with Valorant, Halo, and Fortnight being played alongside Smash Bros and Overwatch. Central’s team tends to change games to reflect what’s popular. Both teams within the Esports club this year have helped people make
friends and get to know each other. It has been a massive change in the lives of many who have joined. Every time the club meets up, they laugh, play games, and have massive amounts of fun. Bradley Barber ’26, the president of the Esports club, finds that the culture of the group has changed tremendously since its inception: “Whenever I first joined, there was not a connection with everybody like I feel like there is now,” he notes. The Esports team has helped many people make connections with others who love playing the same games they play, and ideally, they want more students to see it for themselves.
“We accept everyone. Anyone’s welcome,” Barber expresses. Sommerfield agrees, emphasizing the importance of defying stereotypes with a club dedicated to competitive gaming: “[It] shouldn’t matter what you think other people will think about you. Just do what you want to do and have fun,” he encourages. //
Graphics: S. Roskelley
One More Scroll One More Scroll One More Scroll
by Jordan Teesdale // staff writer by Jordan Teesdale // staff writer by Jordan Teesdale // staff writer
The recent ban on TikTok has caused an uproar among teens but might have revealed student’s dependency on social media.
The recent ban on TikTok has caused an uproar among teens but might have revealed student’s dependency on social media.
The recent ban on TikTok has caused an uproar among teens but might have revealed student’s dependency on social media.
Around 10:30 PM, January 18th, social media and news websites erupted in a panicked frenzy. Tiktok was suddenly banned early, with many people shocked, as we supposedly had until the next day. Within minutes, platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat were flooded with posts written by panicked teenagers expressing their confusion and frustration with the app’s sudden disappearance.
The ban might have come as a surprise to many, but the ban has been discussed since 2019. When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, teens flocked to the site to find some form of entertainment. With this, the app quickly became one of the most popular social media platforms, with 1.925 billion users worldwide.TikTok is owned by the parent company, ByteDance, which was founded in China, despite TikTok headquarters being located in Los Angeles and Singapore. Due to this, many members of the U.S. government saw TikTok as a national security risk,
claiming that the site was being used to harbor information overseas. In October 2019, the U.S. government began discussing the platform and started an investigation in November. “The whole trial determining if Tiktok was affiliated with China or not was incredibly poorly executed and embarrassing,” Nikolas Hatton, ‘25, rants: “Firstly, the CEO [of TikTok] is Singaporean. Secondly, TikTok employs the exact same predatory practices with the data of its users that every other social media conglomerate does. Google, Meta, and Twitter all do the same thing, but they’re not at risk of being banned.”
Many students were confused about why the app suddenly disappeared or why it was even banned in the first place. “At first, I was like, ‘oh, this is just fake’ because everyone kept saying that TikTok would get banned repeatedly every year,” says Alyssa Tolin, ‘26. “So I thought this would just be another year of that, but nope, it was real this time.”
Some students felt that the government was incorrect in their judgment of the app: “TikTok is just a place where people make dumb videos. There’s not anything illegal going on,” Shane Turner ‘25 states.
The ban revealed that many people might have been too dependent on the app, with some ending up in hysterics. “You never see middle schoolers or any other little kid playing out with their friends anymore. I was at the mall, and I saw this toddler Facetiming another toddler,” Tolin recalls. Adults are noticing this within kids, too. “I think that the easy access to social media] has made it easy to become addicted,” Erin Scholten, a counselor at Northport Public Schools, explains. “Parents don’t even know how to respond to this stuff because they’re also learning it in real-time with their kids, so I think that’s created this opportunity for misuse, addiction, and overconsumption of content through that platform.”
As lovely as every little like and comment feels, many think they aren’t so helpful for youth’s mental health. “People tend to post the best moments of their lives on social media, so when people only see the good parts, they start comparing
themselves to people they shouldn’t be comparing themselves to,” Hatton addresses. The growth of social media makes it easier for trends to grow and spread, with many trends lasting just a few weeks before becoming once again obsolete. “All these people choose all these different beauty standards every once a week. And you can’t just catch up with any of them, especially if you’re still growing up,” Tolin agrees.
As social media continues to evolve, so too does its impact on young users, their mental health, and the way they interact with the world. “I think what will have a more positive impact [will be] teaching kids from a younger age how to regulate themselves [and] how to minimize or effectively regulate how much time they spend on social media platforms,” Scholten notes, “[which will] be much more beneficial in the long run.” The TikTok ban serves as a looming reminder of how deeply ingrained these platforms have become in everyday life—and raises questions about what the future of social media might look like. //
Filter or Filler? Filter or Filler?
By Elaina Chippewa // Staff Writer
The media paints a deceitful picture, leading many to lose themselves in a scramble trying to become someone who is not real.
For better or for worse, the media has consumed the world, and there is no doubt that it profoundly affects all aspects of life. One of the major downfalls accompanying the expansion of social media use is the deceitful images put out into the world, leading the way to unrealistic expectations and desires: lifestyle, eating habits, body image, wealth, fame, and mental health. People have been deceived into believing there is a “standard” to meet when, in reality, people put in what they want to be taken out—the media is a masquerade, a facade. Now, more than ever, our generation needs to challenge the fallacy of social media.
There is no doubt that social media ravages much of society’s time—having become a primary source of communication and a nurturer for the yearning to keep up with the Kardashians. With countless apps surfacing over the years, its impact only reigns further; Owen Munch ‘26 acknowledges his over-usage: “Almost every single day…I definitely spend more time than I should on social media,” primarily on the platforms Tiktok and Instagram—which is undeniably the case for people of all generations, especially young adults. Lawrence Cubitt ‘25, who has taken the valiant step of removing himself from social media plat-
forms following his self-proclaimed addiction, reflects on his former habits: “I would say I definitely [spent] seven days a week and two to three hours [a day], sometimes more, on social media,” Cubitt admits. He recalls his use of Instagram and Snapchat as being the most prominent. For some odd reason, media users never seem to grasp the insignificance of a snap-streak— claiming it ”the measure of friendship.” It is a common theme that society can own up to the ceaseless cycle of hours spent on social media, yet the unmendable grasp of the media remains unscathed.
The immense amount of time spent on social media is inevitably accompanied by consequences—largely those feeding into one of the greatest crises of the day: the mental health crisis. Numerous studies provide conclusive evidence of the negative impacts; still, it perseveres—the scrolling hit of dopamine flooded when the face of the “hottest new bombshell enters the villa.” Cubitt feels that “it can go both ways. [On the negative side], it can give people a false image…it might tempt you to chase the wrong things in life,” he notes. “Celebrities tend to flaunt their wealth or fame; people might look at that and envy that.” A slightly different perspective comes from Sasha Buck ‘25—who has also chosen to stay off
of social media: “[I notice] a lot of body image issues with seeing photoshopped people or even the pictures of people going on trips every weekend. It makes a lot of my friends feel bad,” she shares. The destructive nature of social media and its impact on the mental health of its users has met the extreme of people choosing to isolate themselves from it; that should say enough about the crisis.
When absorbed by the media, one is often too blinded to see its true colors; however, those who have steered clear of the media’s superficiality are sharpeyed to its masquerade— the media’s counterfeit portrayal of all aspects of life. Echoing earlier mentions, Buck has chosen to remain a stranger to the media, observing from the outside. Her main argument is that it is ”hard to condemn social media, because it’s the people who use it that make it a tool for destruction. You see it used to make people jealous, to hurt people or to cancel people. And it hasn’t turned out very well in our society.” The media wasn’t made for harm but it has been nurtured in such a way that it has become home to many harmful actions. “[People find that] it’s hard to grasp the concept that what people post on social media is oftentimes the best of their life…it’s hard not to feel less than,” Buck continues. ”You have to remember that we’re all human, and social media often makes people [forget that.]”
Luckily, there are options when it comes to limiting social media usage. “I would say, try your best to wean off of it, slowly but surely—I think that if you do that and are successful, it would prompt you to think about it less, hence you’ll use it less,” Cubitt advises. “Out of sight, out of mind,” as the saying goes. Munch encourages: “ Try to balance it. I think having something to do other than [going on social media], even though it can be a little hard, is so beneficial.” Making use of the hobbies you enjoy can definitely help when it comes to cutting back— make it a fun experience, not a dreadful one. Buck refers to the scientific aspects of social media consumption, acknowledging the reality of the situation: “Screen addiction is real. Nobody likes to talk about it, but sometimes, it’s hard to turn it off because it’s [a rush of] dopamine that you get from social media,” Buck elaborates. “If you know it’s a problem and you want to quit, then I would tell you to detox, and then slowly, you will find other ways to get that dopamine.”
The stride toward combating the media overtake of the world will be a long road; however, there are solutions. Each person just has to take that first courageous step. The mental health of its users is paying the penalty of its flawed reality and the mystery of the screen is being taken advantage of; it is time society comes face to face with reality—to halt its impact before it becomes irreversible. // 3:14
Graphic: B. Belden
Marketing Mayhem
By Finn Kennedy & Jade McGraw Staff Writers
Duolingo
Call it a miracle, or a marketing tactic: Duo the owl has risen from the ashes. Two weeks after faking the green mascot’s death, the sassy bird claims he orchestrated the whole thing.
How Duolingo, Scrub Daddy, and Sour Patch Kids have dominated social media platforms with their outrageous and absurd content.
Duo’s insistent and sometimes threatening lesson reminders, obnoxious, demanding emails, and snarky random social media posts have made him into a viral online sensation.
After Duo’s dramatic death, the company announced “he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know?” It’s difficult to gauge if Duolingo’s “helpful” reminders have crossed the line of threatening and attention seeking.
The apocalypse of the Duolingo world seemed to shortly follow his death: violent videos of Duo being brutally run over by a Tesla Cybertruck and posts of other mascots throwing him a funeral, only for the rest of them to be killed off as well, flooded social media streams.
The bird claimed: “I’ve always had two main goals; get people to do their lesson and get Dua Lipa to notice me. Neither was working. I had to do something drastic. So I thought, why not kill one green bird with two stones?”
The owl’s death seemed to be the cherry on top to the company’s dramatic and attention-seeking marketing tactics, all to learn a language. The bird said “I put the ‘fun’ in funeral. So yeah, please just do your lesson. Because next time, it won’t be a fake death.” It’s becoming concerning enough to wonder; is Duo really just an innocent owl trying to help you learn a language, or something far, far more sinister?
Scrub Daddy
Scrub Daddy and Duolingo have seem to have connected on another level. Videos featuring their collaboration reveal that the scrub duo combine the image of Scrub Daddy, a smiley sponge, with the owl mascot Duo creating a hilarious mashup.
The video was rather bizarre, showcasing the mascots giving birth to tiny bird-shaped sponges. The idea is that now you can clean and be motivated to learn a new language at the exact same time. Washing dishes is now a perfect opportunity to whip out conjugating verbs! Despite the seemingly light-hearted, yet slightly explicit Scrub Duo baby, Scrub Daddy has faced many controversies as well. The company is known for its “edgier” presence on social media. Owner Aaron Krause reveals he sleeps three hours a night and reads every social media comment on his videos.
The brand thanks TikTok for its ability to reach a massive new audience that it would not be able to influence without it. The comments might even be more entertaining than the actual goofy videos. Scrub Daddy sometimes sends humorous responses back to comments.
A TikTok user asked: “Are y’all okay over there?” to which Scrub Daddy replied: “No.” Another asked “What did I just witness?” Scrub Daddy got a bit cocky with their response, which simply said: “Perfection.”
The creative sponge scrubber has risen to popularity after appearing on Shark Tank in 2012. Their online fandom has been huge for their success. No one knows what other eyebrow-raising surprises Scrub Daddy has in store, and if they have enough to scrub away their own messes.
Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids have also been known for their snarky and eclectic profile on social media. Stomach-churning videos of the sweet and sour sugar coated gummies show them being mixed with foods like macaroni and cheese, cereal, and sour cream.
Graphics: J. Teesdale
Similarly, the Sour Patch characters have even gone as far as creating their own syndrome. “Sour Patch Kid Syndrome” means having behavior similar to toddlers. They do things to get simple, short-lived pleasure, and enjoy other people’s struggles, as they find it humorous. Their actions are spontaneous and have very little regard to the dangers associated with their actions.
Sour Patch Kids promote the sweet and sour gummies through various social media platforms. They quickly tapped social media influencer Logan Paul to create content for their account, ensuing pranks with their mascot, “The Kid,” around town.
Silly, snarky posts, including a Sour Patch mascot and a funny blurb include a Sour Patch Kid saying: “New Year’s resolution: hurt more feelings,” as well as “‘being kind is free. Okay, so is being a hater.”
Other posts include: “first date idea: ruin their life,” and “‘here’s what I think.’ Literally no one asked.” These posts seem to be crossing the line. How far into controversy and entertainment does one brand have to go just to promote sour candies? //
A Playlist of Emotions
The music of many culminates into the feed of one; how songs captivate social media and capitalize on it.
By Sean Humphrey // Staff Writer
Most social media naysayers point to the negatives of social media: the constant comparisons, unrealistic expectations, distractions, and addiction to the rush of dopamine and ‘likes.’ But for many music artists today, social media is key to providing inspiration, motivation, and growing their fan base. Today’s mixtapes or CD mixes might just be playlists on Spotify or Apple Music, but this allows more people to discover or access unrecognized songs and artists they would otherwise never know about. Artists like Toby Mac, a small internet country artist, often uses video duets and funny videos as hooks to draw in fans. Meanwhile, artists like Frank Watkinson, an acoustic artist, perform covers as well as write their own songs, choosing to let their work speak for itself.
A prominent artist who fits the latter is the popular online artist, Øneheart. He rapidly gained popularity in 2022 and 2023, amassing a stunning 7,455,947 monthly listeners on Spotify as of February 2025. “I thought [my single Snowfall] might hit 100,000 streams at most, but here we are,” Øneheart beams. “The success came with pressure. At times, I caught myself trying to recreate it. It’s been a battle, but now I’m focused on making the music I truly want.” Øneheart finds himself experimenting with changing his sound but not losing sight of
what makes his music unique. “My music is mostly a reflection of the emotions I’m feeling at the moment. That’s what I try to capture,” he states, adding that “trends come and go, but if you ignore them, your discography develops an eternal quality.” Øneheart’s music is regularly found across multiple platforms, accompanying a variety of video templates. These templates are often the catalyst for songs of any genre to take off.
Social media also allows for users to experience more genres of music as well as find songs that some may not otherwise know. Many factors of popular songs often reflect the current mindset of the user or their environment. As their algorithm evolves to their likes, they may notice the same song appearing more and more. Some types of posts tend to drift towards certain songs as well. For example, nostalgia-driven posts may choose a calmer, lyricless audio like Øneheart’s hit, Snowfall. Another example of this is “slice of life” creators using more upbeat and happy songs such as Pennies From Heaven by Louis Prima or Disco by Surf Curse. These examples of a content creator using auditory keys to influence the audience of their post can help boost artists and pose some risks to the user’s health simultaneously.
Streaming platforms like Spotify help to
promote popular music with culminated playlists like ‘Discover Weekly’, a personalized playlist of familiar and new tunes for users to listen to. Another example is the ‘State of Music’ today section on the user’s homepage, delivering the top hits around the world and in different genres for users to explore openly. These are often curated based on worldwide popularity as well as by genre. These sometimes include social media playlists, but more often than not, playlists for social media specific songs are curated by users. This ‘user error’ factor might mean that some playlists are weighted towards one specific genre more than others, especially if the user simply uploads every song they hear to the playlist.
For some music fans, the music they personally curate comes from stumbling upon new songs in other media. Chloe Colliver ‘27 finds a lot of her music through “scrolling on TikTok. I would add it to my post cause I just like it, and then I would listen to it a lot,” she shares. “But I also get a lot of my music from just looking at new releases.” Some of Colliver’s favorite artists span both popular artists - like Billie Eilish - and less known artists - like Rex Orange County, who got his start thanks to social media. “I really just like his music and how it sounds,” Colliver adds. “[He’s] my favorite artist.”
These influences in one’s social media feed can be dangerous to someone’s mood. It’s no secret that all social media platforms collect all sorts of data about how you interact with the content you are given. This allows for better user retention and more time spent on screens. Often called ‘Doomscrolling’, this data is analyzed by the platform and used to dish up related content. These analytics allow the system to analyze how you might be feeling and
to serve up similar content, all to keep you engaged and active longer. When scrolling and sharing videos, be mindful of how you might be getting dragged down!
Despite the doomscrolling, social media isn’t inherently bad. It offers countless people a chance to openly express themselves and keep people connected. Social media has allowed for many people to pursue their dreams and to share their passion with others, even allowing them to make a career out of it. Music in social media is a great example of this, with many artists becoming mainstream or being featured in advertising due to their online success. //
Many of you may know John Failor. He's been a math teacher for 31 years, five of those years in Illinois. However, what you may not know is that Failor has been volunteering in his spare time as a DJ for the last eight years on WNMC 70.7 FM.
When Failor was in college, he loved music, but he never had the time to do anything with it. But after graduating, his time quickly filled with his career, marriage, and kids, leaving even less time to dedicate to music. In 2017, the year Failor’s daughter went to college and his son went to France, his house felt pretty empty. Failor decided that maybe being a vol-
Photo Courtesy TCAPS
explains. “On the electronic stuff, you can just search up a song and then you click and drag it. Then, if you pick a bunch of songs, you can put it on autopilot.” When Failor teaches, and then works a Tuesday gig, it's a pretty packed day, with his gigs running from 7-9 pm. “ I usually just stay in town, close to here. Then when I get home, it's close to my bedtime,” he shares. Sometimes Failor will even try grading assignments while he's DJing, which is easier said than done: “The problem when DJing [is that I’ll] play a song, and then two minutes later, I need another song, so it's always trying to find the next song. So I'm always pretty busy,” he
Turning the Times Tables
By Myah McCotter // Staff Writer
The
limits of math teacher John Failor's talent does not exist!
unteer DJ wouldn't be a bad thing to do. With NMC right next door, “I went over there and it was super easy. They give you like three training sessions,” explains Failor.
Being a DJ isn't that hard once you figure it out, according to Failor: “I remember the first time I was by myself. I think I texted my wife, ‘can you hear me?’ Because you're just in the studio, and you don't know if your voice is actually coming out,” he admits. “It's really not that hard, as long as you know what you're doing.” Failor uses both CDs as well as digital music in his sessions, which can be challenging once he’s on air. “Occasionally, if I'm playing a CD and changing it, the song just ends. So you always try to avoid dead air,” he
admits.
Failor has thought about his future in the DJing world, but he feels that doing it too much tends to lead to burnout, as well as running out of ideas. Plus, NMC currently has around four to five DJs, so usually they split it up pretty evenly. When Failor retires, he might not become a full-time DJ, but he has ideas about how to keep his side job going: “One thing we don't really have anymore is [that] we used to have a folk music director,” he notes. “We get tons of CDs mailed to the station, and he would listen to them and decide if they're good, and put them in the rotation. I definitely don't have time for that right now, but that's something I'd like to get more involved in.” //
Conversations Around The Coffee Table
Traverse City has a lot of choices when it comes to coffee. Here's how to make the right one.
By Kerrigan Jenkins // Staff Writer
Many teens find themselves in a coffee shop in a world dominated by a lack of sleep and the need for a sweet treat. Studies show that 83% of teens drink coffee regularly. The majority of these consumers also see trends in different items found in popular coffee shops on social media, such as TikTok or Instagram, with their favorite influencers trying unique concoctions found on secret menus. These trends can cause influxes of what, when, and where people drink their cups of coffee.
Sophomore Ella Batsakis ‘27 is proud to be a dedicated fan of Starbucks, spending lots of her time outside of school just down the road at the Front Street location, working on homework, studying, and hanging out with friends. Unsurprisingly, it’s her favorite place in town to get coffee. “I like to go there because overall, they make the drinks super good, and they’re super fast and consistent,” she explains. “I've been going for years, and they always get my drink right, unlike some other shops I have been to.” Most teens
tend not to have a significant amount of money to spend, but coffee and fun drinks always seem to sneak their way into the budget. “Usually, I spend between six and eight dollars [on a drink] depending on the customization I make,” on her vanilla latte with “a bunch of other things in it,” she admits. Batsakis is just one example of someone who likes the “classic teen’s order,” but even she can agree that coffee addiction is a real thing: “I started drinking coffee when I was new to high school [during] the summer of freshman year. Then it started to get worse and worse, [and] I [thought,] ‘oh, I need this every single day,’” Batsakis confesses.
Nearly every teen would like a job at some point in their high school career, and many, including McKeiley Buron ‘25, gravitate towards a first job at a local coffee shop. Buron works at Outpost, a coffee shop on Front Street, which is also connected to the Mill in Glen Arbor and the Riverside Inn in Leland, Michigan: “I’ve been working there since the beginning of last
Photo: Higher Grounds
summer,” Buron explains. “My favorite drink is probably a classic. I really like a good vanilla latte,” coincidentally the same as Batsakis. Unlike the franchise coffee shops in the area, Outpost provides a different kind of environment that feels more homey: “It has got a really good location since we’re right downtown, so you're always in the know with what's happening. And it's a lot of fun to see the different types of people who come in and are visiting,” she notes. “That has made it a ton of fun for sure. We also get unlimited shift drinks, so you can always take one home.” Being a barista or a member of a coffee shop can be a very good first job for a teenager. Learning something new, being surrounded by good people, and socializing can benefit many. Where should you get your coffee next? Where do you get the tastiest and most affordable drink to make your taste buds and wallet happy while also supporting your morals? Would you rather shop locally or at a franchise? One of the local businesses of Traverse City, Higher Grounds, is located right in the middle of the Grand Traverse Commons and is open seven days a week. They are also quite vocal about their support for minority groups and their “purpose”. They are most notably known for their inclusive, eccentric environment and their delicious food and drinks. Chris Tretor, owner of Higher Grounds, takes a different approach to the typical “coffee shop,” focusing more on their production and relationship with their suppliers in Mexico, Columbia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, the
Congo and more: “The farmers are most supported in our communities through using quality coffee, but also [having a] quality approach to business that provides that for our customers,” Tretor explains. “There’s a human relationship with our staff and our customers. Their support is central to our business.” Higher Grounds uniquely roasts their beans in-house and receives coffee from all around the world in Mexico, Congo, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala. With many partners in the business, Coop Coffees imports green beans from all around and then ships them out to Higher Ground and all other roasters in the US. On the ground, it focuses on educating women in the Congo specifically, and Muungano helps with education and gender equity. Tretor also admits that ”it's very difficult to manage your own business,” while also explaining,” It's important to remember that while education is crucial, it's not going to get you anywhere, and experience itself isn't going to get you anywhere; it's the collaboration [of the two]...what you learn is that most businesses fail in the first three years, and 5% will make it to 5 years old”. And he is proud to say that his business has been around for over 20 years.
There’s no doubt that Traverse City has a lot of coffee shops, especially when it comes to drive-thru chains. But more connections can be made at those local, community-oriented businesses, which is what makes our very caffeinated area unique. //
Graphics: B. Belden
Where Suffering Meets Hope
One organization's mission to help single moms and their families through personal trials.
By Kailyn Groves // Content Editor Published in the Northern Express
Back in 2012, my family faced a major change that would create a ripple effect throughout my life. When my little brother and I were forced to move to Michigan with our mother, Jodi McCailb, we had to adapt to the new changes that altered our childhood. In 2013, my mother heard about the Single Mom Ministry (Single MOMM) through her Bible study leader and decided to learn more about it. After McCalib got involved, she would take us to events held at a local church. My brother and I would spend time with kids our own age while our mom was getting the support she needed. My mom’s experience with Single MOMM changed her perspective on the situation she was unexpectedly put into. “If it weren't for Single MOMM, my faith, and the support I built around me with other single moms, I'm not sure I would've thrived like I did,” McCalib claims.
Single MOMM was born out of the hardships of its founder, Jennifer Finnegan Pool, shortly after she became a single mother herself. “I had become a single mom when my kids were one and three, [which made] transitioning from a two parent family structure to becoming a single parent [difficult],” she recalls. Besides the family dynamic changing, Finnegan Pool experienced financial challenges, difficulty balancing work and motherhood, and lack of community support, most of which she
never thought she’d go through. Because of these obstacles, she recognized there was a great need and desire for a supportive community in the Traverse City area, which brought her to the creation of Single MOMM. “It [started with] a group of women in the community that really felt this need that we need to just start something where single moms could help other single moms rise up,” Finnegan Pool shares.
Established in 2008 as a mom-to-mom experience, Single MOMM’s main focus is to provide personal support for single mothers who are struggling to raise their children on their own. TCAPS Indigenous Education Coordinator Christine Willow, a single mother for 11 years and a current benefactor of Single MOMM, wishes “... people understood that when you're doing parenting on your own… it is actually tripling it.” Single MOMM is determined to turn hardships and pain into healing and a sense of belonging in times of true loss to create healthy independence. “We pursue helping women thrive for the long haul,” states Finnegan Pool, “allowing them to gain that confidence and then really run after what it is that is good for their family.” By giving moms a place to belong and a safe place to share their stories, they can open up no matter how hard things are for them. “This organization is impacting the next generation because when we have
healthy parents, we have healthier kids,” Finnegan Pool claims.
From child care to office work, community volunteers are essential to the organization's stability. Having a consistent, supportive circle to reach out to even in difficult times is crucial to the growth of the families served. “[Single MOMM] helped me know that I was not alone,” Willow explains, “and that other moms were also out there struggling, [which] provided me a community of people who fully understood
Single MOMM. “The most vulnerable populations in any place in the United States get impacted the hardest, and so we sometimes find ourselves ebbing and flowing along with the economy and the way things transpire,” she notes.
Since its founding, Single MOMM has now outgrown its original location and plans to relocate in April to better serve the community and “expand our mentorship rooms, our classrooms, and our offices,” Finnegan Pool clarifies. Single MOMM’s
my struggles, [as well as] those different aspects of navigating life as a single mom with multiple kids.”
Single MOMM, like any other nonprofit organization, has its challenges. “Every penny that we give and engage single moms with comes directly from our communities. We do not receive state or federal funding,” Finnegan Pool explains. This ultimately puts the community's donations in the driver's seat to further continue
hope is that they can be accessible to the whole state of Michigan in the next 10 years and expand their outreach beyond Traverse City. Although this organization was born out of suffering, its volunteers couldn’t imagine life without Single MOMM and the hope it has provided to hundreds of moms and children over the years. //
Photo Courtesy Northern Express
The Recipes!
By Elaina Chippewa and Jordan Teesdale // Staff Writers
Banana Bread
Ingredients:
4 medium bananas
1 cup of flour
¾ cup of light brown sugar
¾ cup of white sugar
⅓ cup of butter (softened)
1 large egg
½ tablespoon of vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon nutmeg (allergy sensitive)
Optional:
½ cup of chocolate chips
½ cup of chopped walnuts
Chocolate Cookie Dough Dip
Ingredients:
⅓ cup salted butter, softened to room temperature
8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Step 1: Grease loaf pan, melt butter over medium heat, preheat oven to 375°F. Mash the bananas in a large bowl, all while consistently mixing in the bananas.
Step 2: Mix in the butter. Beat the eggs, then mix them into the batter. Mix in the baking soda, vanilla extract, & nutmeg (optional). Mix in the sugar, flour, and any additions (e.g. walnuts or chocolate chips)
Step 3: Carefully pour the batter into the loaf pan & bake for 1 hour
Step 4: Take the loaf out of the oven carefully & let it cool.
Step 1: Mix your softened butter and cream cheese together until combined. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer for this. Whichever you prefer!
Step 2: Add in your powdered sugar, Brown sugar, and vanilla extract and mix till smooth, make sure to occasionally stop and scrape the sides of the bowl to keep everything combined
Step 3: Add in your chocolate chips and mix for just a few seconds to combine everything
Step 4: Serve with graham crackers, nilla wafers, or any other biscuit of your choice! I tried both graham crackers and nilla wafers, and found the graham crackers tasted a lot better!
The Crossword
By Eliana Hermel and Parker Ziegler
A favorite dance theme of one CHS senator
