The 6420-Fall 2018 by Rose State Media Group

The 6420

Letter from the Editor

Front Page Photo

Welcome to our first Fall Edition of The 6420.

For this edition, I have have the honor to welcome many new staff members. Although change can be difficult, I am pleased and excited about our new staff. With our new staff comes a huge wave of newfound energy and fresh ideas for our publications.

This fall we are excited to give you all an issue with a little bit of everything: news, recipes, health, sports, culture and trends. Our diverse staff allows us to not only write from all point of views but also to deliver a well balanced magazine for all Rose State staff, faculty, students and community to enjoy.

Le t us know what you think.

Michelle Rojano, Editor-in-Chief & Graphic Designer michelle-rojano@raider.rose.edu

Adviser

A Rose State journalism graduate, Professor Darcy Delaney-Nelson received a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication, with a minor in sociology, as well as a master’s degree in JMC from Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma. She has experience in a number of mediums and served as the public relations specialist and technical writer for a software company prior to her working at Rose. Darcy Delaney-Nelson Professor of Mass Communication & Adviser to the 15th Street News & The 6420 ddelaney@rose.edu

Letters to the Editor

The 15th Street News and The 6420 welcomes and encourages letters to the editor. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and are subject to editing for obscenity, clarity and space. Submissions must include name, major and phone number. 15th Street News reserves the right to not publish submitted letters.

Letters to the editor may be hand-delivered to FA110. Policies

The 15th Street News is published monthly and The 6420 is quarterly as designated public forum. Student e ditors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Columns, commentaries and letters to the editor are personal opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of our publications or other students, faculty or administrators of the college.

Anyone having a complaint may contact the Editor-in-Chief, 733-7400.

15th Street News is a member of OCMA, OPA and the ACP.

This publication is printed by Mercury Press, issued by RSC and authorized by the Adviser of Student Publications.

RSC is in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans w ith Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, re ligion, disability, sexual orientation or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.

Cover photo by Michelle Rojano Model: Haley Humphrey

Bailey Walker

Assistant Editor bailey-walker@raider.rose.edu

yesenia-gonzalez@raider.rose.edu

Hollye

Kessley Miller Advertising & Social Media Director kessley-miller@raider.rose.edu

Yesenia Gonzalez News Editor

Real Talk

“What are you excited about this school year?”

De’Schannel Gordon Business Management

“I’m excited for all the Rose State activities and graduating and getting ready to go to UCO.”

Artavia Walker Political Science

“Graduating from Rose and furthering my education; heading to OU or UCO next year.”

“Making new friends.”

“Getting to have new experiences at Rose, being in a new environment and to succeed in life.”

Partain Computer Science & Programming

“I’ve been out of school for three years because I went to the Marine Corps first, so I am excited to be back here getting an education this year.”

Jeffrey Bell Aviation

Alexis Williams Psychology

Isaac

Earth’s Life Source

Water is the source of life on earth. When looking for life on other planets, one of the first signs scientists look for is any amount of water. More than 70 percent of the earth is covered in this resource and human beings cannot survive more than three days without it. At any given moment, different parts of the world exhibit unique weather patterns with profound effects on the ecosystem. Natural weather events, like floods, droughts and tornadoes are some of the most common in Oklahoma.

Weather

Weather occurs in cycles and one way that scientists can predict incoming disasters is by looking at weather patterns. Oklahoma is no different and its varied landscaping makes for a wide variety of inclement weather activity. Oklahoma is prone to drought because of factors like the dry line, which means there is low moisture in the atmosphere. Wildfire dangers emerge when there is a lack of rain, dry air, high winds and low dew points over a region. Wildfires are one of the negative consequences of periods of intense drought.

According to Steve Carano, professor of atmospheric science and geosciences coordinator, in 2011, Oklahoma had more than 50 days with temperatures over 100 degrees. If 100-degree weather is not dry, but rather muggy and moist, there is a potential risk for other types of severe weather outbreaks. As the environment becomes more unstable, tornado chances increase. The weather during 2011 proved deadly, with the Oklahoma Forestry Services reporting 1,745 fires that blazed across Oklahoma. It was a different story for May 20, 2013, with the resulting weather being just as deadly. A category EF5 tornado ravaged central Oklahoma, with Moore enduring the heaviest damage. A tornado forms when cold, dry air converges with warm, moist air and that combination creates instability in the atmosphere. Thunderstorms precede tornadoes but can increase in severity depending on how unstable the environment is at the time.

One of the reasons Western Oklahoma exhibits a different climate than that of the dry, eastern region is that the western part of

the state faces the Rocky Mountains. Its location gives it a wide gap in the diurnal temperature. A diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the highest and lowest daily temperatures. When the diurnal temperature difference is wide, there is an increased risk for the atmospheric instability that causes thunderstorms, floods and tornadoes.

According to Professor of Environmental Science and Geosciences Coordinator Daniel Ratcliff, there is no real way for humans to prevent droughts; in fact, one of the biggest challenges in water preservation is the copious amount needed by the agricultural industry.

Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture estimated that agriculture accounted for about 80 percent of the United States’ consumptive water use. Oklahoma is right in the middle of a region known as the central plains, which hosts other dry, flat areas. Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana are the other states located in the central plains. Economic research conducted in 2017 by the United States Department of Agriculture concluded that Oklahoma is the state with the fourth highest number of farms in the US, the total sum being about 77,200. Texas is the top farm state in the United States, with about 240,000. In the case of Oklahoma, regions in the western half of the state are prone to dry, arid conditions while the eastern half of the state receives more precipitation.

Although human intervention cannot prevent Oklahoma’s inevitable droughts, scientists, farmers, agricultural engineers and utility companies take steps to mitigate the consequences of Oklahoma’s droughts.

Xeriscaping is a practice where farmers place plant species that consume less water in areas prone to drought. Water laws during the summer time are instilled by different municipalities across the state, each law limiting the amount of water people can use to water their gardens and at what times. Oklahoma has the most man-made lakes in the United States. Since Oklahoma is a flat, dry state, man-

Story by Yesenia Gonzalez • Photos by Yesenia Gonzalez & Michelle Rojano

made lakes have one primary function: underground water storage. Lake Hefner, Stanley Draper and Overholser are all man-made lakes that serve as water storage.

Lake Stanley Draper specifically functions as an aqueduct. The way an aqueduct functions is that when the lake fills with water, a series of ducts and canals transport that water to the regions it serves. Lake Thunderbird also has an aqueduct that supplies water to Midwest City and Norman. Oklahoma’s eastern half is more prone to flooding than the western half, so it is especially important for artificial lakes to collect some of the excess to place less of a burden on the area.

“The No. 1 cause of weather-related fatalities is drowning,” said Professor and Director of Emergency Management Jackie Wright.

In 2015, record flooding impacted eastern Oklahoma. The Red River was backing up to the dam, which could not keep up with the heavy rainfall that hit the state. When a natural disaster hits Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Emergency Management Department oversees ensuring the safety of those affected. Oklahoma is one of only about 20 percent of the U.S. whose emergency department is not directed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Rather, it is overseen by Oklahoma’s Department of Homeland Security as an office under public safety instead of being its own department.

During the 2015 eastern Oklahoma floods, disaster declarations informed residents of the incoming dangerous road conditions. According to Wright, fatalities caused by floods are common because people do not respect dangerous flood waters.

Severe weather events do not only impact human lives but can

also bring about negative consequences to wildlife. According to Ratcliff, since every habitat is different, organisms are adapted to varying conditions. What may not greatly affect one ecosystem can bring about detrimental effects to another. Species who are adjusted to dry climates like those of Western Oklahoma would not experience particularly adverse effects during a drought but organisms who live in wetland environments would receive a greater impact. Environments like bogs, marshes and wetlands contain microorganisms who contribute to nourishing the soil. Without water, those microorganisms would not be able to thrive and keep the habitat healthy.

“Those [animals] which have adaptations that are tied to an aquatic environment [are more vulnerable to extreme drought],” Professor of Life Science Dr. Cory Rubel said. “This obviously includes fish which require water as their habitat, but also, droughts can affect the level, temperature and salinity of water which can cause detrimental consequences. But other animals as well, such as those whose reproduction is tied to water, [like] the amphibians, and animals whose food source requires water, which can include reptiles, birds and mammals.”

Droughts

Long-term versus short-term droughts can mean all the difference for plant and animal species when it comes to survival. Ratcliff explained that droughts increase evaporation in the soil. In a short-term drought, the earth can regain that lost moisture content, but extended droughts can have permanent effects. Droughts are

not unique to the 21st century. In fact, as severe as weather events may appear during certain years, severe weather patterns are nothing new. Ratcliff used the Ancient Pueblos of the Four Corners region as an example of the result of a severe drought that occurred more than 3,000 years ago. The region is known for its dry cliffs that formed during the drought and housed Native American groups. Today, the cliffs remain, a picture of the far-reaching effects of long-term arid conditions.

“Brief droughts are usually recoverable. Organisms often have variations in populations that allow for survival of some members during the drought that recover fully when conditions return to normal. Organisms with many offspring allow for a high mortality, yet those few that survive often survive until adulthood. However, most populations will see a decline in population due to many factors including loss of habitat, reproduction, food source, fires, and an increase in disease due to organisms crowding together by the remaining water sources,” Rubel said.

Water is a limiting factor when it comes to population growth among humans. Currently, there are about 7.5 billion people inhabiting the earth. Sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson from Harvard University is among the scientists who believe that the earth has a capacity to carry, at most, 10 billion people. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that the total global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. There are various solutions to alleviate droughts and reduce water consumption, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

GMOs

Genetically-modified crops are nothing new, but Ratcliff thinks that talks of genetically modifying crops to consume less water

may increase in the coming years. Some of the benefits of genetically modifying crops are lower water consumption and increased drought resistance. However, genetically modifying plants reduces biodiversity among species. Without biodiversity, a disease could easily wipe out an entire plant species to extinction because all the plants are engineered to be alike. Cloud seeding is another widely debated topic. Seeding a cloud means to insert more particles in it so that it can produce more condensation, which in turn produces rain. While cloud seeding has the potential to relieve areas in longterm droughts, it can also cause floods and other types of damaging, inclement weather to the area or even surrounding states.

“Now, cloud seeding is just one of those things, what we’re doing in the cloud seeding [process] is we’re putting condensation nuclei in the atmosphere and, so, moisture will condense upon those particles and make clouds and hopefully it will precipitate. Well, let’s say we, like you said, set a cloud seed here and it goes over to Arkansas and they have ten inches of rain and people die and lose their homes. Well, you know, somebody’s gonna be paying the piper for that. So, I think that’s the big reason why they don’t do a lot of cloud seeding; because of [potential] lawsuits,” Carano said. Water can be a resource that many take for granted. After all, more than 70 percent of the earth being covered in a single resource makes it appear abundant but there are various factors to consider. Only about one percent of all water on earth is readily available for human consumption. As the world population increases, so will the demand for natural resources, which can put a strain on the earth. Ratcliff mentioned a quote by Benjamin Franklin that summarizes the necessity to be mindful of water consumption: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

Happy 50th birthday, Jeffrey Lee Conkin!

Fall Essentials

16 must-have items for the upcoming fall season.

Lip balm: With the brisk fall winds, it is easy for your lips to get chapped. Having lip balm on hand is an easy solution to throw in your bag or pocket.

Beanies: Having a bad hair day or forgot to wash your hair? Beanies can keep your ears warm and complete an outfit for all those autumn months.

Fall-scented candles: Need we say more? Any candle that smells like pumpkin or coffee is always the way to go for fall-themed scents.

Hot coffee: A necessity for every season, but especially fall, hot coffee is the perfect pick-me-up for those chilly days. Hoodies or crew-neck sweatshirts: Any hoodie sweatshirt can be dressed up or dressed down. So whatever your style is, they can easily complete an outfit. Not to mention, they are incredibly comfortable.

Lotion: The cold wind can take a toll on skin. Make sure to stay moisturized on the breezy days or every day in Oklahoma.

Fluffy blankets: Blankets are the best way to warm up after a long day. Just jump on the couch, watch a movie and snuggle up with a fluffy blanket.

Thermal mug: This is definitely an essential to keep in your bag or carry around with you throughout the day, especially for keeping hot drinks. This is perfect for students or professors needing a warm sip of coffee on the go.

Scarves: Spilled something on your shirt? Getting a little chilly? No worries, a scarf

can fix almost anything. Also, blanket scarves can help you go from fiesta to siesta.

Hot apple cider: If you are not a coffee person, hot apple cider is a great alternative for a quick way to warm yourself up.

Tea: Don’t enjoy coffee or apple cider? Tea can help people keep warm. Some teas can offer a good energy boost of caffeine or other health-related benefits.

Gloves or mittens: Touching cold door handles or just walking to class can easily freeze your fingers. Small gloves or mittens can help keep your hands warm. Throw in a hand warming pouch for days you expect to be in the cold for longer periods of time.

Leggings or sweats: The unofficial uniform for all college students. No need to dress up for school, just be comfy and warm all day.

Cozy sweaters: Soft, comfortable and, most importantly, it keeps you warm. Plus, you can wear layers underneath the sweater for extra warmth. Shop early for fall sweaters for the best prices.

Books by your favorite author: Having a few extra minutes to spare may be difficult, but sitting down and taking a little bit of time to read your favorite books can be very relaxing after a long day.

Hand warmers: They are only $1.97 on Walmart.com, so getting stocked up for the nippy days is vital. Plus, you can put them in your shoes to keep your toes warm.

Story by Kessley Miller • Photo by Julie Archer

What’s in My Bag?

Story

& Photos by Bailey Walker

For this issue’s “What’s in my bag?,” we interviewed Philosophy Professor Dr. Guy Crain. Crain is a big believer in personal responsibility and choices to improve the world. He dropped the near war-torn lunch bag onto the table. It was a plastic, reusable bag that one would likely get for free as some kind of promotion. In his own words, here is what Crain carried in his bag and why.

Fried Rice & Buttermilk: You can see food items and you can so associate people with them and suddenly those reactions to food can be reactions to people and their way of life. If one sees this food as particularly foreign then people who are comfortable with that become foreign to me and it’s interesting that food can be divisive in that sense.

I think about my grandpa, he didn’t grow up on a farm, but he had friends that did and he loved fresh buttermilk, and to my 4-year-old ears, that sounded disgusting. But it’s interesting to look at these two disparate groups this food represents and what they think about each other, and, what’s funny, is these foods are tied up into the tribal markers that underpins what these two think of each other.

Some of that [integration] is improving. In Oklahoma in 2018, you could get sushi, Korean or Arab food, and when I was a kid, you couldn’t. Now there’s entire generations that don’t know any different from having a Chinese buffet on every corner and falafel place on ... every third corner. But the options are still there to silo yourself pretty easily.

Apple: It’s interesting to me still that the most cost-effective options are in the least nutritious kinds of foods. So those most struggling need to buy the things least replenishing to their bodies. It bothers me to think about. It’s not just about eating picky, but the way in which the options set before you train your preferences. Think about what a vicious loop that might be.

Very typically, at a warehouse I worked at, our days were 12 hours long. If that’s what someone is doing day in and day out, and then trying to replenish the body with quarter pounders, it doesn’t work out super well.

It’s easy to miss the degree to which food plays an important role in maintaining classes as they are and maintaining tribes as they are. So many of our problems are connected to food in ways we don’t understand. Food is a big component of healthcare seeing as Twinkies are cheaper than apples. The question being asked is ‘can we engineer a safe Twinkie?’ but to me that

grossly misses the point.

British Tea: One thing that strikes me is people who have a degree of a picky palate, is that there’s not a sense of ‘I know what it’s like to have produced my food,’ and this is especially true in international markets. So like for every 10 people that like chicken nuggets, about seven of them would never make them themselves. I’m not saying you have to go kill all your food or you’re a hypocrite, that’s not true. But being so far removed from your food source can give you a whitewashed view of what that food is.

The proportion of these things would change. If I had to think hard about chicken death, I may not stop eating chicken, but I may not think I should eat chicken for every meal. When you’re thinking of what you’re asking from nature, I think a significant number of people would ask less. I think being more familiar with these practices would change people’s food pyramids.

What also dawned on me is the power of food to unify. Think of how big of a deal it is to share a meal with a person, the kind of social invitation that it constitutes. It seems to me then it is a big deal to be able to share food with a person unlike you which could involve sharing food unlike what you’ve really had. I’m not even talking about something radical, just the most basic kind of hospitality in that sense is a massive bridge into what a person may not even realize is an intimate tribalism, a gut reaction to what you want to eat; would I go eat there, why not? What am I willing to call weird and normal?

And I don’t think people have a sense of how pregnant those terms are, ‘weird’ and ‘normal.’

There’s a very innocent way to hear ‘oh, that’s weird’ or ‘oh’ as in you’re not accustomed to it, but I think you get to a point where it means much more than that ‘oh, it’s not normal,’ it’s more about how there’s this default setting of how these trappings ought to be for everyone and that where wars start and all that.

Big XII Preview

Story by Brayden Conover • Photos by Caitlyn Epes from OU Daily

University of Oklahoma

It’s nearly a foregone conclusion that OU is going to win its fourth straight Big 12 title. Yes, you read that right. FOURTH STRAIGHT. Although they lost most efficient quarterback to ever play the game, Kyler Murray is going to make Lincoln Riley’s offense even more explosive with his running abilities. One question still remains: Can the Sooners play defense? The side of the ball that cost them a shot at a National Championship in the Rose Bowl will be younger this year. However, look for Riley and Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops to turn freshman and sophomores into grizzled ball hawking veterans by the end of the season. Key Players to Watch: RB Rodney Anderson, QB Kyler Murray, linebacker Kenneth Murray, Defensive Secondary West Virginia

Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers are led by senior quarterback Will Grier. The 23-year-old transfer from the University of Florida has the media buzzing about West Virginia. Grier is an early season favorite to be in New York at the end of the season for the Heisman ceremony. West Virginia plays an unconventional 3-3-5 defense which matches well against the air raid offenses of the Big XII, but that multidimensional offenses and bruising running backs at OU, OSU and Iowa State, West Virginia will need to rely on the leadership and poise of Grier and the rest of the offense to win ball games. Key Players to Watch: QB Will Grier, wide receiver David Sills V, WR Marcus Simms, Defensive Line

TCU

Gary Patterson’s Horned Frogs are returning one of its five starting offensive linemen from last year. The offense will be lead by true sophomore Shawn Robinson. Robinson, the second ranked dual-threat quarterback is the highest rated QB to sign

with the Horned Frogs. Robinson beat out true freshman Justin Rogers for the job. TCU has by far the best defense in the Big XII and they will rely on it once again to keep them in the conference hunt late in the season. Key Players to Watch: Offensive Line, wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, QB Shawn Robinson, linebacker Montrel Wilson

Oklahoma State

With all the buzz around Head Coach Mike Gundy and Athletic Director Mike Holder surrounding the Cowboys this offseason, the narrative is finally coming to OSU’s biggest problem heading into the season: Finding a quarterback. Fifth year senior Taylor Cornelius was announced the starter for the Cowboys week one matchup against Missouri State. Hawaii transfer Dru Brown, and true freshman Spencer Sanders are all fighting for the backup role and potential starting job if Cornelius under performs. No matter who is under center, they will have one of the best running backs in the nation to hand the ball off to in Justice Hill. Hill is anticipated to be the cornerstone of the offense with the departure of QB Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington via the NFL Draft. The Cowboys need to improve in the trenches on both sides of the ball if they want to have a chance at a New Year's Six bowl. The defense doesn’t need to be great or even good for them to win games. OSU simply needs to take care of their home turf and improve on their 3-3 home record. Key Players to Watch: running back Justice Hill, QB battle, linebacker Calvin Bundage

Iowa State

The Cyclones shocked the world last season when they went into Norman and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 38-31 and finished with an 8-5 record. Head Coach Matt Campbell enters his third year with big expectations. Iowa State wants to show the college

football world that last season was not a fluke. Senior quarterback Kyle Kempt and former Lawton running back, junior Mike Montgomery lead the veteran offense. With 10 starters returning on offense and six returning starters on defense, the Cyclones are hungry to improve on their 5-4 conference record. Although they could easily be toward the bottom of the conference, ISU’s high side is being ranked in the top 25 to finish the year. Key Players to Watch: running back David Montgomery, QB Kyle Kempt, linebacker Marcel Spears Jr.

Kansas State

Bill Snyder is back for his 26th season as the Wildcats head coach. Kansas State averaged 5.1 penalties per game last year, which was 35th best throughout FBS schools. The Wildcats were just four touchdowns away from being 12-1 instead of 8-5. K-State is a team that can fall forward or backward record-wise. The Wildcats will have two quarterbacks this season in junior Alex Delton and sophomore Skylar Thompson. The two will split time and maybe even starts. With no star talent, look for Kansas State to finish near the middle of the pack in conference. Key Players to Watch: offensive lineman Dalton Risner, QB Alex Delton, running back Alex Barnes, QB Skylar Thompson Texas

TEXAS IS BACK! ... Well, sort of … not really. Head Coach Tom Herman is in his second season and trying to rebuild the Longhorn legacy. Herman named Ehlinger his starting quarterback just this week. Ehlinger may be on a short leash as former starter Shane Buchelle lurks in the wings. Texas signed three quarterbacks from the 2018 class, including former Newcastle star Casey Thompson who should have a crack at the starting job next season. The Longhorns lost left tackle Connor Williams to the NFL Draft as well as linebacker Malik Jefferson and safety DeShon Elliott. Texas needs to win and win soon, to keep not only their brand alive, but the Big 12 as a whole. If the Longhorns are good, the Big 12 is more respected. Key Players to Watch: cornerback Kris Boyd, QB Sam Ehlinger, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Texas Tech

Kliff Kingsbury's Red Raiders are underwhelming. With a weak

defense in the Big 12, Tech did show improvement on the defensive side of the ball in 2017. Linebacker Dakota Allen will be the leader of an improving but still bad defense. Replacing QB - Nic Shimonek will be the biggest test for the offense. Coach Kingsbury named junior McLane Carter as his No. 1 quarterback on Tech’s depth chart. Carter is built like every other Texas Tech quarterback: tall, solid and has a rocket for an arm. No matter how potent the Red Raiders are on offense, their defense will keep them out of most games. Key Players to Watch: linebacker Dakota Allen, running back Tre King, wide receiver De’Quan Bowman

Baylor

Ever since the sexual assault scandal in 2016, the program has fallen back to the bottom of the Big 12. Matt Rhule is in his second year, and trying to not only make Baylor competitive again, but to change the culture of the football program. With a back-loaded schedule, the Bears could be out to an above average start and fizzle out to finish the season. A young team, the Bears are looking toward building for the future. The offensive line has 11 underclassmen ready to take the reins over the next three seasons. Defensively, the Bears look more like cubs. This program is simply treading water until the NCAA comes down hard with sanctions stemming from the 2016 scandal that continues to get worse and worse. Key Players to Watch: running back Dru Dixon, tight end Christoph Henle, wide receiver Denzel Mims, LB Jordan Williams

Kansas

To sum up the Jayhawks season in five words: Is it basketball season yet? The Jayhawks have little to look forward to despite having a $300 million donation to the football program this past offseason. David Beaty is his fourth year of being tasked with making Kansas a non-laughing stock throughout college football. The Jayhawks have not had a winning season since 2008 nor have they won a road conference game during the same time period. With the highlight of the past 10 years being a home win against Texas two years ago, Kansas fans are already looking to fill Phog Allen Fieldhouse come October. Key Players to Watch: cornerback Deante Ford, defensive end Vaughn Taylor Jr.

Athlete Spotlight: Ala Ramadan

Photo by Madi Zick

Number: 10

Hometown: Tripoli, Libya

Favorite formation: 4-2-3-1

Any superstitions: None

Favorite team: AS Roma

Favorite pre-game meal:

Favorite color: Red

Expectations for season:

Halloweentown

Both Halloweentown and Halloweentown II can be bought together for $11.99 at Walmart.com.

Hocus Pocus

This movie can be bought for $5 at Target.com.

Remember The Titans

Available at Walmart.com for $9.84.

The Addams Family

This can be bought for $4.99 at BestBuy.com

Halloween

The Halloween collection can be bought as a set $7.99 at BestBuy.com.

Books Movies Albums Fall Recommendations

The Time Machine - H.G. Wells

Science fiction author H.G. Wells offers a riveting tale about a scientist who goes on a journey through time and stumbles upon a futuristic world filled with fantastical beings. His awesome adventure intrigues and horrifies his fellow scientists with the frightening descriptions of what awaits humanity in the distant future. The scientist himself details his dangerous journey.

$5.99 paperback @ amazon.com

The Queen of Water - Laura Resau & Maria Virginia Farinango

Sing the Sorrow by AFI

The album is available on Spotify, Apple Music and for $8.99 on Google Play.

The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga

This album is available on Spotify, Apple Music and for $14.49 on Google Play.

Hot Fuss by The Killers

Available on Spotify, Apple Music and for $7.99 on Google Play.

Kamikaze by Eminem

This new release is available on Spotify, Apple Music and for $9.49 on Google Play.

Podcasts

Serial Killers

This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and online.

Pardon My Take

Find this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast and online. Stuff You Should Know

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast and online.

Inspired by a true story, this book is a fictional account of a Quichua (Ecuadorian indigenous group) girl unknowingly sold into slavery by her parents. Virginia spends most of her childhood serving an upper-class mestizo family and enduring abuse at their hands. The story allows readers to feel Virginia’s sorrows and triumphs as her life takes her down various roads.

$9.99 paperback & Kindle @ amazon.com

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

This fictional story depicts a stark glimpse into the human condition. The book follows a boy’s journey from affluence as an architect’s son to a refugee in the United States and later to a successful author. Set in Afghanistan prior to Taliban rule, this story covers a broad array of topics, including an unlikely friendship, discrimination, family secrets, betrayal, the darkness of the human mind and the endurance of the human spirit when faced with insurmountable odds.

$11.91 paperback & $11.99 Kindle @ amazon.com.

Tell us what you think or share your top favorite fall entertainment with us. Visit The 6420 on Facebook or visit the6420.com.

Shrinking the Stigma

How Society's View on Mental Health, Politics and Education Has Shifted

Story by Courtney Burleigh

As the years go by, it is safe to assume that society’s views on different issues and topics change over time. It is not unusual for the newer generations to prioritize different issues and have varying perspectives that differ from those of earlier generations, including topics that may have been considered unpleasant or even uncomfortable to discuss. Such topics include mental health, politics and even education. All of these have carried some relevance in society for decades.

Millennials Embrace Mental Health

Mental health is a topic that is no stranger to most millennials. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, millennials grew up hearing about depression, suicide, anxiety and eating disorders. Exposure to such information could suggest why younger generations have become more accepting of others with mental illnesses or prompting them to speak out and get help. However, this was not always the case. Humanities Dean Toni Castillo said when she was younger, the topic of mental health in the 1960s was rarely discussed openly.

“Mental health issues were generally thought of as a weakness or oddity rather than an actual illness,” Castillo said. “Certainly alcoholism and drug addiction were viewed back then as a character failing rather than an illness. The stigma was being labeled as a person of weak character, or as a criminal.”

When the United States entered the Vietnam War in 1965, the links between mental health and trauma began to surface. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, it was not until 1980 when the American Psychiatric Association officially recognized and named post-traumatic stress disorder as a mental disorder.

“Conditions we would now define as bipolar disorder or PTSD were not openly discussed because the main treatment was institutionalization,” Castillo said. “However ... the concept of counseling had begun to emerge, and it [created] a dividing line, with some—especially older generation people—scoffing and ridiculing those who sought treatment.”

Castillo continued to describe how a contrast began to form between the older and younger generations on the topic of mental illness, saying the younger generations found the treatments for mental illness “intriguing” and even “full of possibilities.”

By the late-‘90s and early-2000s, the stigma began to dissipate. Rose State Political Science Professor Dr. Emily Stacey said society began to “open up.”

“It was during the 2000s that we as a society started to be more open about mental health issues,” Stacey said. “From the cultural and societal level, [we] did see an opening of minds in relation to

mental health.”

Now that society began to shift its perspective, how likely were individuals to seek help?

“High,” said Stacey. “I was in therapy for most of my teenage years into my freshman year of college, and I recommend it for anyone that needs to work through issues of any sort.”

Generational Difference in Higher Education

While some students were studying politics, others decided to stop studying altogether. According to NPR.org, a college education to baby boomers was not “as critical to a middle-class lifestyle.”

Castillo said that after finishing high school, she “moved very slowly” when it came to balancing life and college.

“Out of necessity, I became independent at a very young age, so I worked full-time through college to support myself,” she said, adding that she focused on paying bills, buying groceries and finding study time. “At that time, I didn’t think of college as means to a better economic future as most students do today ... It wasn’t until my first semester in graduate school that I began to link education and employment.”

Stacey stated something similar, saying she was lucky enough to be able to focus on what she loved, but what about today’s students?

“I am not sure that I was as focused on a career path as I should have been when I was going through my undergraduate,” Stacey said. “[But] I think that students today are focused more on finding a suitable and lucrative career path, which is good, but [they] may be missing some of the ‘getting to know yourself’ part of college. This is important too.”

She may be correct. According to a Gallup poll cited by the Washington Post, only 38 percent of millennials with bachelor’s degrees thought their higher education was worth it, and that they saw their degree as “the only entry ticket for any good job.”

On the contrary, the majority of millennials seem to disagree with this sentiment. The younger generations are beginning to think they can be just as successful without a college degree, similar to what baby boomers once did. According to Pew Research Center, 42 percent of baby boomers have bachelor’s degrees, with at least 388,000 returning to college. It can be said that among some millennials, opinions about higher education may have come full circle, yet 61 percent remain in college, according to Pew data.

Discussing topics like mental health has not always been an easy task. However, time has proven that with proper research and exposure, society will become more informed, which reduces stigma and bias against mental health.

‘Why Go On’ One woman’s silent struggle

Story by Danny Fritts • Photos by Michelle Rojano

Wake up; put on a happy face for everyone to see. Look in the mirror as you get ready for the day and tell yourself over and over that everything is fine. When someone asks if everything is fine, just fake a smile and say yes. Go through the motions and just pretend everything is fine, no matter what is truly happening.

One can only pretend for so long. This can make something as simple as going to the movies a difficult task. Waiting in line to buy tickets to the premiere of Black Panther, everything felt fine, until suddenly being engulfed with fear and panic as your body began to slowly fade. Your mind is full of clarity, but your body insists it is in danger. You try telling yourself everything is fine, but you convince yourself that everything around you is burning as you’re up in flames. Soon enough, you find yourself in a hospital bed, being told what you’re going through is depression and anxiety.

Meet Riley Ramsey. Ramsey is a junior at the University of Oklahoma and takes online courses in order to work two different jobs to support herself. This is not new to her since she has been working both jobs since her senior year of high school. She lost both her parents and two younger brothers in a horrific car accident just days before class started at Duncan High School. As resilient as she is, she said keeping everything bottled in for so long only made things worse.

“I didn’t want to live,” she said. “No family, no life, no real goals. Why go on, I thought?”

As unique as Ramsey’s case is, she is not alone. According to Mental Health America, 1-out-of-5 young adults between the ages of 17 and 26 are suffering from some type of depression or anxiety. This is a rate that can be caused by many different experiences in life or fearing the future.

Whenever life would throw her a curve ball, she did not know how to handle it at times. She convinced herself that everything was all right and those feelings would eventually pass. There were times she thought it was her fault her family was in an accident; like if she were with them, maybe things would have happened differently.

After her hospital visit, she told herself she needed professional help. Keeping everything bottled up for so many years put her in a dark place, a place she never wants to return.

Putting her mental health as a top priority was the first step. She was so consumed with trying to make everything perfect, she forgot about the most important thing: herself. Ramsey also said she is learning how to truly love herself.

“The past couple months have changed my perspective on life,” she said. “I am slowly realizing my self-worth and that help is always a phone call away. I am not alone.”

If you or someone you know is going through any hardship in life or just feel stuck, Rose State offers free counseling to all students and faculty. You can also call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, which is always available.

Find Your Perfect Playlist Coffee or Tea?

Tea Coffee

Beach or Lake? Sunrise or Sunset?

Beach Sunrise Sunset Lake

Hip-Hop:

• Can I Kick it? (A tribe Called Quest)

• Forest Whitiker (Brother Ali)

• Truth Hurts (Lizzo)

• Concrete School Yard (Jurassic 5)

• San Francisco Knights (People Under the Stairs)

Country:

• Muckalee Creek Water (Luke Bryan)

• Born to Love You (LANCO)

• What I can’t put down (Jon Pardi)

• Heart like a Wheel (Eric Church)

• Velvet Elvis (Kacey Musgraves)

Pop:

• In My Feelings (Drake)

• Redbone (Childish Gambino)

• Run the World (Beyonce)

• Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)

• What They Want (Russ)

Rock:

• Have Faith In Me (A Day To Remember)

• Sweet Sour (Band of Skulls)

• What Kind Of Man (Florence + The Machine)

• You Can’t Look Back (Taking Back Sunday)

• Snow Cats (AFI)

Recycling

Beyond plastics, glass and paper: E-waste

Story & Photo by Michelle Rojano

E-waste is considered to be anything discarded that is electrical, including electronic devices. Now more than ever, our society not only uses more electronic devices, but we also have a high level of turnover for electronics. This means we go through devices rapidly but we do not necessarily properly discard them.

“The rapid turnover [of] e-waste by modern society has caused this fairly new category of waste to become a major concern for environmental pollution issues, which could lead to public health concerns,” said Daniel Ratcliff, environmental science professor and coordinator.

E-waste that is disposed of improperly can result in toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere. According to Ratcliff, e-waste tested with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure contains more than 5 mg/L of lead. According to the EPA, children under the age of 6 are more vulnerable to the effects of lead. Effects of lead on children include lower IQ, issues with behavior and learning, anemia and hearing problems. In addition, pregnant women are also susceptible to side effects such as underdeveloped vital fetal organs, early birth, a smaller baby and can even be a cause of miscarriage.

According to Becca Stokes, Rose State alumna and environmental science major at Oklahoma State University, lead is not the only risk factor to tossing e-waste in the trash bin.

“[It] creates large amounts of solid waste that is full of toxic materials including mercury, cadmium, chromium and copper. When it accumulates in landfills, these materials are incredibly harmful to the environment,” Stokes said.

Chemicals in landfills can seep into our soil and water sources and even affect our air. According to the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington, residue from e-waste in groundwater can result in humans consuming toxic water, which can have a negative impact on the nervous and reproductive systems.

Recycling electronics has been made easier with popular retailers offering recycling services. Target stores accept plastic bags, ink cartridges, MP3 players and phones. Best Buy recycles everything from broken charging cords to major appliances,

and they even offer haul away options for customers.

According to the Best Buy website, “Consumers recycle more appliances and electronics with Best Buy than any other retailer. The company collects more than 400 pounds of product for recycling every minute our stores are open — no matter what retailer the products were purchased from.”

Best Buy’s goal is to recycle 2 billion pounds of electronics by the end of 2020. In addition, Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma offers recycling for many items including phones. Recyclers of Oklahoma offers recycling for batteries, including car batteries.

Taking care of electronics and making them last is a great way to help reduce e-waste. Donating electronics is an alternative to recycling. Old computers can be donated to public schools or low income families. Computer brands like Apple and Microsoft Surface are known to have good quality items with great durability.

“[We should] update our electronics when needed, with the best brands that are shown to be more durable,” Ratcliff said.

Rose State takes part in reducing e-waste by auctioning or donating its old equipment. People interested in recycling electronics can start by having e-waste bins to toss broken phone chargers, batteries, remotes and other electronic waste. Taking old electronics to local retailers for recycling is another way consumers can safely dispose of electronic items. Sometimes, items may have a trade-in value and can result in extra cash. Appliances can be posted for free pick up or even donated to local appliance repair shops. Typically, they will be properly recycled or even used for parts to fix other appliances.

Recycling bins picked up by the city only take plastic, paper, cans and glass, not e-waste. According to the official website for the city of Oklahoma City, people should rinse cans, jars and bottles before placing in the bin. Boxes should be flattened and all items should be loose; placing items in bags can slow down the separation process.

For more information, visit okc.gov. For a full list of recyclable items and where to locally recycle them, including electronics, visit okc.gov/departments/utilities/recycling/beyond-thebin.

Quinceañeras

Story by Yesenia Gonzalez • Photo by Michelle Rojano

Many young women from Latin American countries celebrate a special hallmark into adulthood: the quinceañera. This event occurs when a girl turns 15 years old, and it is an extensive ordeal involving months of planning. A unique aspect of the tradition is that it stemmed from indigenous and European influences. In Mesoamerican culture, young women were presented in front of their community and considered adults ready for marriage at age 15. Spanish Roman Catholic influences later combined this ritual with a religious ceremony. That framework is the basis for the modern-day quinceañera.

Planning a quinceañera is similar to planning for a wedding: young women spend hours shopping for the perfect dress; catering, limo, photography, music and choreography services are arranged well in advance. Reserving an event center, in addition to a church for a religious ceremony, at least a year prior is a must. The party is a costly endeavor, often rivaling the price of a wedding. It is common for padrinos and madrinas (godfathers and godmothers, respectively), who are either relatives or family friends, to help offset the cost by sponsoring specific items.

Catholicism is a driving force in the celebration of the quinceañera. A 2014 Pew Research Center study of 18 Latin American countries and Puerto Rico found that 69 percent of Latin Americans identify as Catholic, while 84 percent said they were raised in Catholic households; 19 percent of Latin Americans identified as Protestant and 8 percent as unaffiliated. For Hispanic communities in the U.S., Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2013 that found 55 percent of adults practiced Catholicism, about 22 percent identified as Protestant and 18 percent were unaffiliated.

In practicing Catholic families, the day begins at a special Mass for the birthday girl where a priest leads a prayer and the girl reaffirms her devotion to her faith. Protestant ceremonies and quinceañeras without a religious ceremony are also common.

Rose State student Vanessa Hernandez attended two years of confirmation classes in preparation for her quinceañera. She also attended Mass after her classes, did volunteer work and participated in her youth group. When the big day arrived in September 2013, Hernandez recalled details about the ceremony. After the priest reminded Hernandez of her responsibilities as a young woman to her faith and to her family, her godparents gifted Hernandez with a special necklace that the priest blessed as a reminder of her ceremony.

No celebration is complete without a lavish ball gown. Traditional quinceañera dresses come in muted, pastel colors but recent trends gravitate toward more vibrant color schemes. Hernandez’s dress was white even though her color scheme for the decorations was turquoise and leopard print.

Rose State student Carla Rafael did not shy away from a colorful

gown and chose a turquoise dress to match her turquoise and silver theme. Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Erica Alvarez had her quinceañera July 6, 1996. She chose a white gown for the occasion.

After the religious ceremony, guests head to an event center where an evening of dancing and surprises awaits. Hundreds of guests attend the event; Hernandez had about 500 people attend her quinceañera. As the evening winds down and dinner is served, guests wait for the father-daughter dance. Dances, gifts and other symbolic gestures are an integral part of the celebration.

“Probably dancing with my father was, like, the most beautiful part [of my party], because I cried. It was just a great feeling,” Rafael said.

Prior to the dance, a father figure in the young woman’s life will take off her shoes and replace them with high heeled sandals, symbolizing her transition to adulthood. Padrinos and madrinas will typically also present jewelry, such as a ring engraved with the birth date. An older female relative will also give the 15-year-old girl a gift: la ultima muñeca, or “the last doll.” This porcelain doll wears a dress channeling the party’s color scheme and symbolizes the last semblance of childhood.

Planning the quinceañera depends on the availability of various rental services. While Hernandez planned for her party for two years, Rafael made the decision to celebrate her quinceañera three months prior to turning to 15.

“The funny part about mine is that is was planned in three months,” Rafael said. “It was really fast. Even my tios, my uncle and my aunt, were my padrinos. They were the ones that bought my quinceañera dress. So basically, it was like a whole family [ordeal]. They were all trying to help me out with this quinceañera. I did it last minute because I didn’t want a quinceañera, I always wanted a car, but then … my mom was like, ‘it’s a one-time thing and it should be in your memories,’ so then my dad was like, ‘well okay, you’re going to get your car and your quinceañera.’”

Alvarez had a similar experience.

“Growing up, I didn’t want a quinceanera,” she said. “Being a ‘tomboy,’ you couldn’t catch me in a dress, much less a huge puffy gown. I asked for money instead, but because I was the baby [of the family], my family made me have one. This event that usually takes years to save up for, was thrown together in a month and cost less than $1,500. Luckily, my aunt owns a bridal shop and my cousins have a Tejano band. Problem solved.”

Every quinceañera is as unique as the girl it celebrates. This event commemorates a transition in a young woman’s life from childhood and into adulthood. Celebrating this day with family and friends is an important event in many Latino households.

“Every [Latina girl] should have her quinceañera. You can pass it on to your kids, your grandkids. That tradition should never end,” Rafael said.

Ink Master Visits OKC

Story & Photos by Bella Kok

Ink Master is a competitive tattoo show that airs on the channel Paramount. Between the passion portrayed through the art and the competitive edge, Ink Master is the show to watch. With $100,000 and the title of Ink Master on the line, ten tattoo artists compete in a series of competitions in New York, to prove who is indeed the ultimate “Ink Master.” The spin off show Ink Master Angels stems from Ink Master a show where four of the top previous female Ink Master winners, also known as Angels, travel the United States and compete against local artists to win the ultimate Ink Master Angels title.

Ink Master Angels chooses three local artists to battle in a series of two competitions, with one being eliminated after each round. The first round serves as a two-hour elimination tattoo where the artists must tattoo a body

part in the style and subject of their choice in order to impress the Angels. For the second round, two artists have four hours to tattoo a subject the city is known for. Prior to the first elimination round, it is revealed that the winner of the second round will face a random Angel. The Angel and the local artist will then draw white skulls that will determine who gets one of the two human canvases before the six-hour process begins. The local artist and the Angel then have to tattoo a subject inspired by an idea from the person they are tattooing. After the tattooing process concludes, the other Angels, the eliminated local artists and the audience each get one vote. If the local artist gets the most votes and successfully takes down an Angel, they earn a spot to compete on a future season of Ink Master and $100,000.

In the fifth episode of the second season of Ink Master Angels, the Angels travelled to Oklahoma City in an episode titled “Healed by An Angel.” In this episode, three local artists, Muse, Drew Shurtleff and Derek Sharp go head to head for a chance to win a spot to compete on Ink Master. The first-round rules state that the tattoo must be a tattoo in their own style. The Angels chose a tornado for the local artists to tattoo in their own styles. After two hours the tattoos are judged by the Angels and two of the local artists advance to the next round. Per round-two rules, the tattoo must be of something that represents the city the local artists are in. The angels have the local artists tattoo a Native American headdress tattoo but, the tattoo must be done with photo-realism aspects.

After round-two, the local artist Drew Shurtleff is ready to battle against Angel Nikki Simpson. Before the tattoo commences, the competing artists sit down and meet their canvases in order to discuss what direction they want their tattoos to go. For the Oklahoma City Ink Master Angels, the two canvases are widely known Oklahomans, Aren Almon and Chris Fields. Almon and Fields are known for the picture of the firefighter carrying the deceased baby on April 19, 1995 when a bomb exploded in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The baby was Almon’s 1 year old daughter, Baylee Almon, and the first responder was, now retired, OKC Firefighter Fields.

“As a father of a young daughter, with a young son on the way, it is a terrifying to think about not having your children,” Shurtleff said. “If I could pull this tattoo off and give her what she really wants, then I am going to call it a win.”

Shurtleff and Almon, decided on a tattoo design that represented a star that was purchased in honor of Baylee, Almon’s daughter, following her tragic death. “I wanted it to appear as though I was holding her star. The tattoo makes me feel like I am getting to hold her again. I love it,” Almon said.

Nikki Simpson, the Angel competing against Shurtleff, got the honor of tattooing Fields. “I usually like to do something a little bit more illustrative, but today I am doing something more

realistic. I am doing stone and marble which looks old and cracked and has little holes and pores in it. I am a very versatile artist and I am not afraid of a challenge like this.” Simpson stated confidently. The tattoo inspiration for Fields and Simpson was Saint Anne.

With the six-hour final round wrapped up, the other Angels, the eliminated local artists and everybody in the crowd is received a metal angel wing to drop into the metal box after they viewed the tattoos up close. Once every angel wing is dropped and the votes are tallied the moment of truth appears. The winner is announced at last. In that challenge the winner was… NIKKI SIMPSON!

Keto Dieting

Story by Julie Archer • Photos by Michelle Rojano

Following a strict diet can be difficult and it requires a lot of dedication. This is about more than weight loss, it is about putting good things into your body. I am not a professional dietitian in any way, this is just my personal journey. If you would like more updates about my experience follow @ julie_archer on instagram.

What is Keto?

The Ketogenic Diet has become a popular lifestyle in the U.S. To explain what keto means in the simplest way, it is a diet that is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. The average person on a keto diet will have 70 percent of their calories come from fat, 25 percent come from protein and only 5 percent come from carbohydrates. The name for calculating these is called macros.

The Ketogenic Diet gets its name because of the science behind the diet. Our bodies naturally burn their energy through carbohydrates. If a body is not receiving enough carbs, it goes into a state called “ketosis,” meaning that the body is burning fat as its main source of energy. This is why the diet is effective for weight loss.

Why I Chose This Diet

I have been researching this diet for some time now, but I did not want to do it alone. There are people who are loving this lifestyle choice and they love the effectiveness of the diet. My parents decided they were going to do 60 days of keto, so I decided to join them. People who have been on this diet are satisfied with the results that they have. Kaylee Brogan has been on Keto for several months.

“Keto has been an easy and effective eating style to follow. It’s the tastiest diet I’ve ever been on and I am seeing great results,” she said.

My Body Struggles

There are a lot of reasons I decided to go on this diet. My weight has been a constant struggle for me ever since I was young. I recently found out I have thyroid issues and a hormone imbalance, which can contribute to weight gain. These two main reasons are what

pushed me over the edge to start taking my diet seriously and start making lifestyle changes.

My New Routine

I am eating three meals a day and still learning about the amount of food I should be eating. During my first two days of eating keto, I was not getting enough food without even realizing it. I was always hungry. On my third day, I started adding more food to my meals, while still sticking to my proper calorie count and macros, and I felt so much better. My fullness lasts a lot longer and the diet is getting easier the longer I do it.

How I Keep Track

I use the Keto app on my iPhone and it helps me keep track of what I am putting into my body. I can put in all of the food that I eat and it helps me keep track of my macros. I do not think I would be able to keep track of what I eat in a day without the app.

A Learning Experience

I know now I am going to learn something new every day. It has been a process of listening to my body and figuring out what it needs. I am not an expert. I catch myself looking up things about the diet several times a day, even though I did a lot of research prior to starting it.

Want to Try It?

If anyone is interested in beginning this diet, I recommend doing a lot of prior research. Be prepared; this is not easy. Be sure to meal prep because this diet requires more cooking and it gets tiring. For more information, visit ketohq.com.

Breaking Habits:

My journey to 5K and a healthier lifestyle

Story & Photos by Michelle Rojano

Life can be stressful for a lot of people, myself included. Staying healthy can be tough. The responsibilities that come with being an adult can leave our health in the back burner. Learning to prioritize your health, whether you want to lose weight or simply feel better, is important. I am not a dietitian or personal trainer. I am simply an average person sharing their story to help others learn from my mistakes and hopefully inspire others to find their best health. Follow @chelly788 on Instagram to track my 5K and health progress in between publications.

About Me

Gaining weight is not the end of the world. In my case, I think I needed a few extra pounds; however, 25 is pushing it. I always had a thinner build and played tennis most of my teenage years. These two factors were key to staying thin throughout my teenage years.

My Body Dysmorphia

I never realized I had spent my entire high school career looking in the mirror and seeing myself as “fat.” My perspective, after gaining a considerable amount of weight, has changed. Knowing how skewed my perspective was makes me wonder if I can trust myself now.

Analyzing my Habits

I began working full-time and attending college full-

time. This had a bigger impact on my weight than I expected. I went from eating home-cooked meals at least twice a week to eating junk food for every single meal of the day. Not to mention, I work retail, which I dislike. Food became my reward for showing up to work. Taking a lunch was the most exciting part of my work day, so I indulged. Showing up to work earned me a Starbucks drink, maybe a breakfast sandwich.

Health and Weight

Birth control is a great option for many but with it comes many side effects. Everyone has different experiences, but I truly believe this has contributed to my weight gain.

How I Decided to Lose Weight

I realized, given my routines, eating home-cooked meals

was unrealistic. Instead, I decided to make conscious healthy choices about my meals and portions. For example, if I wanted to grab Starbucks before work, I ordered a low calorie coffee or tea in a smaller size. I also picked up the habit of grabbing kids meals whenever possible. I realized ordering larger meals either caused me to eat more or waste food.

One huge move to a healthier lifestyle I have made is cancelling my gym membership and instead signing up for a 5K race. I realized I avoided the gym because I hated it. I felt like people stared at me and judged me. I paid a monthly membership and only visited once a month. On the other hand, paying to participate for a race motivated me to run regularly.

My Journey to 5K

I began running in the beginning of August. My first run was devastating and eye opening. I ran a little more than 3 miles. Really I ran less than a mile and walked for most of it trying to catch my breath and not throw up. It was upsetting to realize I would not be able to run for about half a mile before having to stop for a breath. What if I ever found myself in a life or death situation? I ran a mile in about 15 minutes.

In hindsight, running a 5K from the start was probably too much to begin with. Despite that, knowing I was able to complete it, even at my worst, was a relief. The next day, I was so sore I could not walk properly. After recovering,

running the same distance two days later, I was able to shave off a minute. Currently, I run a mile in less than 12 minutes. Running is not only getting easier, but I see myself running more than before. Fewer walking breaks and faster miles.

How I Track Progress

I used my Fitbit Versa at first to track my run. Recently, I switched to the Galaxy watch. The Fitbit and Samsung Health apps also have other useful tools, like tracking water and food intake and weight. I don’t weigh myself regularly or keep track of progress through weight loss. Focusing on losing weight instead of feeling healthy about my choices put me in a bad place. Running helps lose weight, but I am also building muscles I didn’t have before so my weight won’t change for awhile. In the future, I plan to buy a smart scale to pair with my app, but currently it is not the best option for me.

What I Have Learned So Far

I think a benefit of gaining weight and the journey to lose it is that I learned a lot about my body and weight gain. People don’t gain weight overnight. The process is gradual and it takes several months for the person to notice. It’s easy to ignore the signs and fall into a cycle of bad habits. My biggest hope in this is that I learn and practice good habits. I hope I can make running a normal part of my routine one day, and I hope smaller portions become normal portions of food.

CREAMY CHIPOTLE CHICKEN

Recipe & Photos by Yesenia Gonzalez

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 2 large boneless chicken breasts, cubed

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• ½ tablespoon salt

• 2 cups sour cream

• ½ cup diced chipotle peppers

• 2 tablespoons milk

In a blender, combine sour cream, chipotle peppers and milk. Set aside. In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the chicken breasts, garlic powder and salt. Cook for about 12 minutes or until browned. Add chipotle mixture over chicken. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with broccoli and white rice.

PUMPKIN SPICE OATMEAL

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Servings: 2

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 cup pure pumpkin puree

• ½ tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• Two (separate) ½ cups of milk

• ½ cup water

• 2 ½ cups quick-cooking oats

• ½ cup dried cranberries

• Garnish with nuts or seeds (optional)

In a small saucepan over low, heat butter until melted.

Add pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, honey, brown sugar, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix together until combined. Add milk and water and allow mixture to come to simmer. Stir in oats, dried cranberries and remaining milk. Allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes on low heat and serve immediately.