OPINION: LISD should allow students mental health days

Story by Shiren Noorani

The No. 1 reported source of stress for teenagers in America is school. Whether that be because of daily assignments, tests, preparing a good college application or simply just showing up to school, each of these can be seen as a common factor of stress for teenagers.

Under Texas law, LISD requires students to be present for at least 90% of the time that the class is offered, regardless of the reasoning for the absence. As an LISD student, my parents and I were sent a warning email last year for loss of credit due to the number of absences I had, even though each absence was excused with a valid note. I got extremely sick multiple times throughout the year and had to stay home. There were some cases where I just needed a break because I was so overwhelmed with my workload and I could feel my mental health deteriorating, but I was completely caught up on my school work and passing each of my classes.

I was already close to facing credit loss last year, so when the end of the semester came around and I was at a breaking point, I had to push myself way past my mental health limits and attend school.

English I teacher Cassie Madewell said she feels as though it would be nice to implement excused mental health days for students: a day dedicated to relaxation and easing stress from their daily lives without the fear of losing credit.

“I understand that there is a limit to the number of days that kids can miss,” Madewell said. “But, I do wish that [there] was some way of figuring [out how] to make those specific mental health days to where [it wouldn’t] be so punitive or [that they] wouldn’t get punished.”

Mental health days, once in every nine weeks, would benefit students because having a day to just refresh themselves would provide the ability to come back feeling better and more balanced with everything they have on their plates.

“My dad, as a teacher, told me I had three mental health days every single school year because of the belief that some days you just can’t [do anything],” AP human geography teacher Kelley Ferguson said. “It helped me be a successful AP [and] honors student, work 40 hours a week and be involved in tons of extracurricular activities. It was what got me through high school.”

The state of Illinois allows students to take up to five mental health days each year. There is a possibility that students could abuse these allotted mental health days, but if it’s kept to a reasonable limit, that should hardly be an issue.

Some people remain under the impression that mental health isn’t as important as physical health. A student being able to take a mental health day when genuinely needed can potentially help them push through what they have going on since they’re given a day to prioritize themselves.

“[Kids need to know to] not just [use] that as a moment to goof off, but really [as] a moment of reenergizing and rejuvenating so that you can get back into your life and tackle [what’s going on],” Hebron 9 librarian Shannon Whiteley said. Additionally, having a designated absence related to mental health days would let teachers know that a specific student is dealing with a lot. In my freshman year, one of my best friends told my teachers I was having a rough day, and that teacher checking in on me helped me get through one of my hardest days.

“[I wish] that we were aware that this was [a mental health] kind of day as opposed to [their] family vacation [being] extended for two days,” Madewell said. “So that I know, [as] a teacher, [that] I need to pay attention to this kid [and] make sure they’re where they need to be.”

Our mind and body share a direct relationship; although there are times where our mind is one team and our body another, they’re both playing in the same game. One day can make a huge difference in someone’s life; it could be the cause of a path to healing or a path to rock bottom.

Connecticut, Oregon, Arizona and many more states in the U.S. have passed laws promoting mental health days. We, as a community, can localize this issue and implement mental health days as well. I urge you, as a student, to use your voice and speak up, and as an adult, to recognize this and take a step forward by truly opening your eyes to the importance of mental health care.

Design by Madeline Rivera

I’ve visited the famous Chicago a few times, and when I’m in the Windy City, “Portillo’s” is definitely a stop I force my family to make. So, when I heard there was a “Portillo’s” opening up less than 10 minutes away from my house, I knew I had to go.

The line stretched all around the parking lot, encased in parking cones separating the drive-thru from the parking lot. The drive-thru was split into two lanes, with employees walking down the line to get orders. They are a cashless drive-thru, but that wasn’t a big issue for me.

I wanted to see what the employee felt was the best item on the menu, so I got what they recommended — the spicy chicken sandwich, which was a win for me. Though the franchise started from its love of hot dogs, I am not the biggest fan of the Chicago delicacy.

Once we ordered, it was about a 20 minute wait to get the food, a relief as I had heard horror stories of wait times longer than an hour. While we were waiting in front of the window, the smell hit my nose, instantly making my stomach growl. I couldn’t wait any longer before I ate, and by the time we were back on the highway, I had begun eating.

Before I even got home, I had eaten all of my food. The fries were perfectly crispy, each crinkle perfectly fried. While the fries were plainly seasoned, the crispiness made it one of the best fries I’ve had. Comparing it to another popular fry, the Chick-fil-A waffle fry, I would honestly prefer Portillo’s. The golden-brown color told me all I needed to know, yet the taste blew my taste buds’ mind. I would rate the fries a 10/10.

I had already been blown away by the fries, but I didn’t know what was waiting for me in the cardboard box right next to them. Before opening, I expected the chicken to be spicy, not the sauce. The chicken was equally as crispy as the fries, which as I described earlier, was a great sensation in my mouth. There was one bite that I had trouble chewing through because it was cooked somewhat funny, which was a disappointment based on the great experience I had been having. I did, overall, think it was an average chicken sandwich, and if I compared it to the Chick-fil-A spicy chicken deluxe, I would pick Chick-fil-A. I would give the sandwich a 7/10.

Overall, I thought the restaurant was good, with some great fry cooks, and I will definitely go back to eat some more of their food. I’d rate the overall restaurant a 9.5/10.

If you’re looking for a well-priced sandwich meal, then “Portillo’s” is the perfect stop.

FRIES 10/10

SANDWICH 7/10

OVERALL 9.5/10

Story by Bree Andrews

I’ve struggled with acne since middle school, and it’s always been one of my biggest insecurities. I did everything I could think of to hide my acne and would cover my face in makeup every morning before school. However, the makeup barely covered the pimples and blackheads that adorned my face, and ended up causing my breakouts to worsen.

It took years before I realized that I couldn’t just hide my acne, but instead, I had to get to the root of the problem. In seventh grade, I finally paid a visit to a dermatologist who helped me create a skincare routine that worked for me. Here are some tips I learned that might help you create your own skincare routine.

Finding your skin type

Before you purchase any skincare items, you need to know your skin type. To start, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and dry with a towel, and wait an hour. Then, examine your skin in a mirror.

If your face is oily/shiny all over, you have oily skin; you can check this by taking a paper towel and gently blotting your skin. If your face feels tight, rough, itchy or flaky, you have dry/sensitive skin. Lastly, if your skin is oily in your T-zones (your nose, chin and lower forehead area) and dry in other places, (cheeks, upper forehead, hairline) you have combination skin — a combination of oily and dry skin.

Knowing your skin type is crucial to your skincare routine and helps you to determine which products to use. Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to determine what you need in your routine.

Morning routine

Most skincare routines follow the same steps, but the products that you use in your routine will depend on your skin type. In the morning, start by cleaning your face – remember to choose the cleanser for your skin type. This washes sebum, dirt, sweat and other build up and helps to avoid blackheads and pimples.

Next, follow up with a toner. This step is optional, but I highly encourage it. Toner will restore balance and hydration to your skin after cleansing. Toners also help to calm your skin and reduce the appearance of pores.

Design by Heather Wheeler

Then, put on a moisturizing sunscreen. This is the most crucial part of your morning routine. Doctors recommend using an SPF of 30 or higher daily, no matter the weather. SPF protects your skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays, and will help to prevent skin cancer and avoid wrinkles as you age. When looking for an SPF, please keep your skin tone in mind –some products are known to give a “white cast” to people of color.

This last step is optional, but I personally love ending my routine with an eye cream. I use Grace and Stella’s “if eyes could smile” eye cream. This has been my go-to eye cream for the past year, and it’s helped me to lighten the dark circles under my eyes.

Nightly routine

In the evening, start by washing off any makeup worn throughout the day. My all-time favorite makeup remover is the Garnier micellar water, which is great for all skin types. Cleansing balms are another great way to cleanse and remove makeup — they’re also better for the environment since they produce less waste, unlike makeup remover wipes that produce a lot of single-use waste. Going to bed without washing off your makeup is one of the biggest mistakes you can make on your journey to clear skin. Not removing your makeup can cause buildup in your pores, resulting in blackheads and pimples.

Next, cleanse your skin and follow up with an exfoliator (use this step only 2-3 nights a week). Everyone’s skin is unique, so I would recommend researching exfoliators and deciding what might work best for you and your skin type.

Lastly, follow up with a moisturizer. Remember to choose one for your skin type; for oily skin, I recommend a lighter gel moisturizer and for dryer skin, look for moisturizing creams. If you have dry skin, use a thicker cream at night and reserve the lighter moisturizers for the daytime. For combination skin, you can use the same moisturizer in your morning and night routine, just make sure to look for oil-free moisturizers.

It is important to remember that changing hormones play a role in your acne; sometimes breakouts are inevitable and that is completely normal – especially for women during their menstrual cycle. However, creating a skincare routine can help lessen the severity of your breakouts, how often they occur, restore the moisture barrier of your skin and help to improve the overall health of your skin.

Having a consistent skincare routine can greatly improve your skin and your confidence. By spending just a few minutes a day dedicated to your skin, your breakouts will begin to heal and you won’t just see the difference — you’ll feel it!