The Vista - Issue 3 of 2020-21

The Vista

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY*3535 W. SYLVANIA AVE.*TOLEDO, OH 43623*VOL 71, ISSUE 3* Feb. 12, 2021

In This Issue: Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder (p. 2)

Crosstalk: Which Side of Your Brain Do You Prefer? (p. 4)

Is There a Doctor in the White House? Yes, She Is There (p. 5)

Virtual Valentine Activities (p. 7)

Roving Reporter (p.8)

Girls enjoy dressing up for the days of Spirit Week. Photo By Kaitlin Shiple

The Vista

Page 2 News

Beauty Standards Can Impact Self Image Kaitlin Shiple

Beauty standards have always been present in everyday life and still continue to rule modern day society.

Beauty standards originated back in Ancient Greece, where women were considered to be disfigured because their body shape was so different from men.

During the Italian Renaissance, wives had to reflect their husband’s status through appearance, so if a woman was thin, it indicated that her husband was not wealthy. These beauty standards are present in most paintings from the renaissance.

The trend of wearing a corset started in Victorian England, which held the shoulders back so far until they were almost touching. Until recently, female beauty standards have only been about being thin, but have now switched to focusing on Kim Kardashian’s body type.

Beauty standards have been incorporated throughout all cultures and all time periods, making people who do not fit into specific categories insecure.

“Societal beauty standards have the ability to impact our feelings of self-acceptance, our overall satisfaction with our lives and can even influence whether or not we believe in our ability to accomplish our goals. When we don't meet society’s standards, it is common to feel as if we hold less value than others,” said Ms. Rachel Gombos MSW, LISW. Within the past year alone, the body positivity movement has become more prominent in younger generations. Originating in 2012, the body positivity movement started out as giving

Senior Lauren Hitts recreated Johannes Vermeer’s painting Girl with a Pearl Earring last year for Virtual Spirit Week. Photo From Lauren Hitts

acceptance for plus size women, but has now shifted into being represented by the phrase “all bodies are beautiful.”

“This year has been both good and bad for the body positivity movement. First, the fear of the “quarantine 15” and the ultimate push for the “perfect body” to show off after Covid has had detrimental effects on thousands, maybe even millions of people” said senior Maria Evola, who runs a food and body positivity Instagram account.

“Body neutrality is mainly different from body positivity in the fact that we are allowed to acknowledge our negative feelings towards our body while not accepting them. Even if we do not feel great about ourselves at any given moment, we can still, in that exact moment, decide to honor our bodies, recognizing all that they do for us” said Maria.

According to a study done by Bradley University, around 95% of college age men are not satisfied with their bodies on some level. Men also tend to seek treatment and counseling and less often.

“I think there is a shared experience with different expectations.

Specifically, women are urged to shrink and fit into whatever shape is in style while men are urged to grow and enlarge their muscles.

Both are detrimental to individuals and society, and sadly, I think men’s experiences within this issue are often ignored.” said Maria.

Most beauty standards are influenced by how people are portrayed in movies, shows, books, magazines, and social media. According to a study from the Girl Scouts of America, 88% of 1,000 teen girls surveyed believe media puts a lot of pressure on girls to be thin, 65% believe that the body image represented in the fashion industry in the media is too skinny, and 60% said they compare their body to what they see in magazines.

“If you find yourself believing those negative thoughts, remember that you're only human and some days are hard. It's ok to afford yourself some patience and grace as you learn a new way to see yourself and others,” said Ms. Gombos.

The Vista

Page 3 News

School Activities, Clubs Add Fun, Passion Mary Grzybowski School activities are a valuable part of most students’ high school experiences.

These can come in the form of sports, extracurricular clubs, student government, peer tutoring, or volunteering with classmates. The fact that school activities are so varied in purpose show that there is something for everyone in all grades.

For freshmen, an extracurricular club can mean an opportunity to meet new friends at a time when you might not know anyone. Knowing that there is a common interest among the group makes conversing easier. Maybe your conversations with fellow members of the Spanish club are only about Bad Bunny or Álvaro Soler at first, but this could lead to deeper friendship down the line.

For many seniors or upperclassmen who often become club presidents, running an extracurricular club gives the opportunity to show serious interest in a subject and take a more active role in the school community, as well as develop leadership skills. Notre Dame has many clubs that advocate for particular causes.

The SEAL Team advocates for life, while the Environmental Club discusses the protection of the planet.

Passion is the most important thing to consider when joining a club.

“You should choose activities that you are truly interested in and that you will contribute to in meaningful ways for an extended period of time,” said College Counselor Mrs. Erin Young.

Extracurricular clubs and activities are an important part of the college application, so many students try to choose clubs that they believe will be impressive to college admissions. However, Mrs. Young points out that colleges don’t care what type of extracurricular you are involved in, as long as you demonstrate your passion for them.

“Colleges simply value quality over quantity, and I can’t stress that enough,” she said.

For students planning to fake it until they make it, Mrs. Young notes that “If it’s authentic, it will come across on your application and in your personal

essay. If it’s not authentic, that will also come across on your application.”

When used right, extracurricular activities can add interest to your school life, allowing you to explore passions outside of classes, and getting colleges to see past an SAT score and to a more personalized representation of you.

One of the most popular ways to get involved in school activities is through Student Council. Students in student government show passion for the well-being of their school and the student body by advocating for students’ needs. They also develop leadership skills.

Additionally, school activities can lead to local or national events outside of school, as many clubs are connected to larger organizations. The Speech and Debate team, as well as the National Art Honors Society are both good examples of this.

Larger activities like these can seem intimidating to busy students, but if you have passion for the club activity and its purpose, it will be time well spent.

Small Businesses Make Big Difference in Community Kaitlin Shiple Within recent decades, owning a small business has been a rising trend, especially among younger generations. Starting with slime and moving towards jewelry and stickers, Gen Z has been finding many ways to make some extra money.

Supporting local businesses can be good for many reasons such as environmental impact, bringing money into communities, and providing jobs for locals.

Senior Alex Simpson started a small handmade jewelry business in 2020 called Inorganic Aura.

“I think supporting a local business is so important because you are not only directly supporting someone’s livelihood, but you get to help support your local community’s economy grow, and you can really see the benefits of your choice in society.” Alex said.

According to Amy Hartzler, the director of communications for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 stays in the community. Alliance for Local Living Economies is a non-profit

Photo from: Alex Simpson organization that helps build strong local economies.

According to Hartzler, buying from local businesses that are sourced locally can reduce the environmental impact from national transportation of good for major corporations. Local businesses can also be in walking distance in the community, which would reduce the amount of air pollution from cars.

Local businesses create a majority of economic growth by employing around 77 million people, which also helps improve stability in communities.

“I’ve learned so much about marketing and business strategies, as well as how to make a brand, and even profit margins. I feel like I know much more about the insides of a business than I did before” said Alex.

Senior Emma Pelton also has a small jewelry business called Celestial Coexist.

“I thought it would be fun to do! I am creative and I always wanted to do something fun like this” said Emma.

According to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy, there are around 31.7 million small businesses in the United States alone, making up around 99.9 percent of all businesses nationwide. Because of the amount of businesses, there is also a high demand for employees. Around 47.5 percent of all working Americans are employed by small businesses, which means that around 60 million employees make their living from small businesses.

The Vista

Page 4 OP-ED

Using Your Brain to Get Ahead Left Side Brain Right Side Brain Crosstalk Mary K. Grzybowski

Regan Carnes The term “left-brained” is commonly used, but its true meaning is often disregarded or even misunderstood. You may associate it with logic or math; however, there is much more to the concept than just these characteristics.

The expression originates from a theory which states that the brain’s two hemispheres function in significantly different ways. If the left side of the brain appears to be more dominant, or more active, one is considered to be “left-brained.”

The left hemisphere of the brain controls functions such as language and critical thinking. People often associate the left hemisphere’s functions with an inclination for math, but this is only partially true.

According to Tania Lobrozo, a professor at Princeton University, “left-brained” people are in fact skilled at memorization, which can be helpful when it comes to math. However, “right-brained” people tend to be good at estimation, another important aspect of math.

Those who are considered to be “left-brained” are often associated with logic. People who possess a dominant left hemisphere typically take the analytical approach when presented with difficult choices. Their skill set ranges from reading and writing to sequencing and linear thinking.

The different hemispheres of the brain are said to determine more than just skills and talents. For instance, the dominant hemisphere is also associated with one’s personal preferences. “Left-brained” people tend to value clarity and honesty. In addition, they appreciate organization.

Dominant hemispheres are also correlated with personality traits. “Left-brained” individuals are often calm and cautious.

They think through their decisions, opposed to making rash choices (not to say right-brained people are necessarily impulsive).

Being “left-brained” can mean being mathematically talented or a logical thinker. That being said, it is important to understand that these descriptions merely scratch the surface of the expression’s true meaning.

The right brain is famous in pop-psychology for its supposed role in creativity and imagination. This has led to the labelling of musically or artistically gifted people as “rightbrained,” and more analytical and scientific people as “leftbrained.” However, the right brain deserves more credit for its role in our daily lives.

The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for recognizing faces, an ability many often take for granted. Damage to the right fusiform gyrus can cause inability or difficulty recognizing faces, or prosopagnosia.

The right hemisphere helps a person make quick comparisons or estimations. In a grocery store, for example, people might have a general idea of how much they are spending before they get to the checkout line. Of course, they didn’t calculate the prices in their heads exactly -- they used the right brain to estimate, which is more efficient while just as useful.

Though the left brain often gets the credit for language and speech, the right brain plays a large part as well. Even the most moving Shakespearean soliloquy or sly joke could be made dull without the right brain’s skill for picking up intonations of language and the nuances of humor.

Facial expressions and emotion are also a large part of interpretation and understanding of language. The right hemisphere is important in both understanding and expressing emotion through the face. It helps complete the left hemisphere’s initial literal understanding of language making for more complete comprehension.

Though exaggerated by pop-psychology, the right brain does play a role in creativity, most notably in insight, the “aha moment” when you suddenly realize the answer to a question or problem. Scientists have found that people experience energy oscillations above or near the right superior temporal gyrus directly before a moment of insight. So, although Archimedes’ left-brained genius allowed him to mathematically and analytically prove his buoyancy theory, it was his right hemisphere that made him jump out of his bathtub shouting “Eureka!”

The Vista Staff Volume 71 Issue 3 The Vista is a publication of Notre Dame Academy by the students of Journalism II and III. The office is located in room 113 of the school.

Unsigned editorials represent a majority vote of the newspaper staff.

Editor in Chief: Kaitlin Shiple First Year Reporters: Reagan Carnes Chelsea Fall Mary K. Grzybowski Adviser: Mrs. Julie Sells

Editor’s Corner Hey NDA, I hope you like our first issue of 2021.

We have been putting a lot of time into these issues and I’m happy to say that this is very different from what we normally put out. This issue specifically is a lot more personal to me.

Between the Rant and the beauty standards piece, I’ve been reminded of how many people I know who have dealt with a lot of negativity towards themselves because of how they look. Feeling like that, it definitely takes a toll. That’s why I think this issue is so important.

Anyone who is struggling with self-esteem or anything in general, don’t be afraid to reach out to talk to someone.

- Kaitlin

The Vista

Page 5 OP-ED

#MyTitleIsDr In today’s world we constantly see the achievements of women being minimized in the media, and it must stop.

Often, these accomplishments are part of women becoming more powerful and being taken more seriously, but these women making strides professionally and in life are often critiqued for wanting to take pride in their accomplishments.

However, men are rarely questioned in the media about the accomplishments they have made and are often praised for doing the same thing for which women are criticized.

An example of diminishing women achievements is a recent column by Joseph Epstein in the Wall Street Journal, suggesting Dr. Jill Biden should drop her doctor title when she becomes the First Lady.

This article minimized her education and said that she should drop her doctor title for the much more important Madame First Lady title. The article also suggested that she should drop the doctor because she has a PhD in education and is not a medical doctor.

This caused an outrage from many women over social media who used the hashtag #MyTitleisDoctor and added their titles to their usernames. Many people called the article sexist because if Jill Biden were a man, there would probably not be talk of changing her title.

Another example is Vice President Kamala Harris and how Vogue magazine

changed the magazine cover of the issue featuring her story to make her more “approachable” instead of the professional looking photo she had approved.

Many people considered the photo they had picked for the cover disrespectful because it was poorly lit and styled. Many took it as a way to downplay the seriousness of the first woman and person of color in the Vice President position.

Vogue responded to the controversy and by saying that the casual and laid back nature of the photo was to capture the true feeling of the Biden/ Harris Campaign.

Still, people started to call out Vogue to show the sexism of trying to keep a casual nature and how they wouldn’t have stuck with it had it been a man.

These examples prove the sexism of the media and how many times it is women’s accomplishments that are brought down. All of these examples most likely wouldn’t have happened if the roles were reversed, and many people can’t recognize that it is not fair to praise men but tear down women for the same thing.

As a society we should talk equally about the achievements of men and women and not question women for the sincerity of their accomplishments.

Places Hiring Teens  Biggby is looking for a barista at the Toledo location near Franklin Park (can be under 18 years old)  If you’re looking for a temporary position, the University of Toledo’s Barnes & Noble is looking for a bookseller (must be at least 16 years old)  The McDonald’s on Broadway is looking for a crew member (must be at least 16 years old)  Bob Evans on West Central is looking for dishwashers, grill cooks, cashiers, and servers (must be at least 16 years old)  American Eagle in Maumee is looking for a sales associate (must be at least 16 years old)  Panera Bread in the Heatherdowns area is looking for cashiers (must be at least 16 years old)  Little Caesars on Reynolds is looking for crew members (must be at least 16 years old)  Sonic on Secor is looking for a skating server (must be at least 16 years old)  Cinemark in Toledo is looking for crew members (must be at least 16 years old)  Pet Supplies Plus in Toledo is looking for cashiers and stockers (must be at least 16 years old)

An Eagle’s View

If NDA Teachers Were Presidents Chelsea Fall As we celebrate Presidents Day, we sometimes wonder what people would be like in that position. We wonder what rules and regulations would be in place, and what they would want to do. Teachers are fun to imagine as president because we like imagine the rules they'd put into place. Teachers such as Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Johns, and Mr. Richards are great teachers that might make good presidents.

Mrs. Walker would make plenty of rules about books that must be read. The Scarlet Letter must be read by all citizens if she was in office.

She would make national days celebrating many poets and authors that have made great contributions to literature. She would play musicals for all events and celebrations nationwide due to her love of working with the musicals at school. She would already be a professional from helping run the student council at school.

Mrs. Johns would make a national choir that she would have sing at all nationwide events since she teaches choir at school.

The country would be very peaceful, and she would try and make the country as nice as possible.

She would have fun parties around the country and would make fun events with games that everyone can participate in.

She would add an extra Halloween since she loves to dress up in her speech and drama classes.

Mr. Richards would incorporate some of his favorite things into his presidency and many of these things are also in his classroom.

He would make cats the national animal and would make everyone have a cat. He would also make golf the national sport and would play a lot during his term. During all meetings and events in the country, jazz music would be a must for the music at all times. There would be a new addition of mints for everyone if he was in office due to his mints that he has in his classroom.

While we have our teachers in class it is fun to think about what they would be like running the country based on what they like to do in class. They all have fun things that make them all different from each other. As we look at these teachers we can see some clear differences between them that would make their presidencies unique to them.

The Vista

Page 6 Feature

Lack of Sleep Becomes Nightmare Chelsea Fall As a new semester begins, NDA also begins a new schedule from virtual to inperson. The changes from break to virtual school to in-person school can affect the ways girls sleep and that can affect a lot more.

Trying to stay on top of your sleep schedule and adjusting it as your life changes is an important way to keep yourself healthy mentally and physically.

Doctors say that teens need 8-10 hours of sleep per day in order to help with focus and mental health.

The recommendations for sleep of 8-10 hours a night seem to be forgotten by most girls as many have too much homework and extracurricular activities to have the time to get at least 8 hours.

Sleep tends to be a last priority, especially when girls go to bed later over break because they know that they can wake up later because there is no school the next day.

However, this sets up a bad sleep schedule and bad sleep habits that will eventually lead to more exhaustion.

Doctors say sleep is much more important than one may think. Sleep is ben-

eficial for many systems that promote attention, memory, and analytical skills in the brain. This means that activities such as studying, learning, or socializing all are dependent on the amount of sleep that you get.

The amount of sleep could also affect relationships as a lack of sleep leads to consequences such as irritability, mood swings, and over emotional reactions.

This can cause a negative development in girls’ emotional relationships and could hurt them in the long run.

During break girls use this time to catch up on sleep and often go to bed later and wake up later.

“I would go to bed super late because I knew that I could wake up way later the next day, especially since it was during the holidays,” said junior Grace Sanford.

Oftentimes girls use longer breaks like Christmas and Easter to relax and spend

time sleeping for longer periods of time that they seem to lack during the school year. This is a time where there are usually no stresses, and everyone can create an entirely new sleep schedule. However, this may not be good for when school

does finally start back up.

“I usually don’t go to bed earlier until the night before because I like to stay up later when it’s over break, but I’m usually more tired when I come back to school,” said junior Sadie Evener.

The immediate change from break to school usually hits girls much harder than they expect, which leaves them feeling much more tired during the school day. Many girls also don’t try and fix their schedule before school starts which doesn’t help the process of transitioning back into school.

Sleep is one of the most important bodily functions and it’s important to make sure that you are getting enough.

It can be difficult to juggle many activities as well as trying to make sure that you get enough sleep but it is essential for your health. If you are able to do things earlier so that you can go to bed than that should be integrated into your schedule.

It’s important to take time for your own health and make sure that you are getting the right amount of sleep so that you can be successful.

Lenten Promise Focuses on God Mary Grzybowski

Last year, because of the uncertainty of the coronavirus, it was difficult to appreciate and be reverent to the spiritual significance of the Christian season of Lent. This year, with virtual Masses being more organized and everyone being more adapted to the general situation, there is hope for a more traditional Lent.

One of the most important traditions in Lent comes from Jesus’s fasting in the desert for 40 days.

It also comes from the “intense period of training and preparation” of people who wanted to become Christian in early communities, according to Ms. Sarah Hunter, theology teacher.

To honor his sacrifice, Christians give up something small, yet important in their own lives.

In the past, many have treated the Lenten promises tradition as a sort of New Year’s Resolution goal, so they

end up trying goals that mainly focus on self-improvement. This results in many using Lent as an excuse to try a new diet or workout plan, missing the large aim.

“God doesn’t care if you give up chocolate, Netflix, and hot showers for Lent if it doesn’t get you closer to Him,” said Mrs. Lauren Jakubisin, the Co-Director of Campus Ministry. She notes that the difference between a goal and a sacrifice is that “God is fully involved in the Lenten sacrifice.”

Ms. Hunter recommends that students “match any physical or behavioral change that you make with prayer.” These methods encourage closeness to God instead of focus on yourself.

The Lenten sacrifice doesn’t have to be something large or impressive. It can be as simple as deleting an app or giving up chocolate, so long as it is

slightly challenging.

This is good news for both students and teachers who feel the stress of school and may be worried about fitting a Lenten sacrifice in your schedule. The new meditation and prayer app, Hallow, offered for free to NDA students, is a good option.

Mrs. Jakubisin also recommends the Litany of Humility or the Litany of Trust, as well as integrating simple, short prayers into your daily life.

“Last year I decided to fast from any foods that had added sugar...which I failed at miserably. While the idea was good, and I was willing to make the sacrifice, I took on too much too soon,” said Ms. Hunter.

This Lenten season, remember that the real goal of a Lenten Promise is to forge a better relationship with God to help one’s well-being -- not to create much additional stress.

The Vista

Page 7 Feature

February 14 Is Still a Special Day to Celebrate Regan Carnes With Valentine’s Day swiftly approaching, coming up with fun plans can feel frustrating and overwhelming. There are still many enjoyable ways to spend this Valentine’s Day, despite the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.

One way to spend the holiday this year is by attending NDA’s Valentine’s Day Dance. It will be a virtual event with plenty of entertainment and excitement as usual.

Another fun aspect of Valentine’s Day is the candy and chocolate! It may not be the safest to distribute these treats amidst the pandemic, but there’s always the option of sending virtual cards or candy grams. Virtual gifts like these will be thoughtful and heartfelt, especially this year.

If you do decide to give candy or other

items to loved ones this Valentine’s Day, sending these presents through the mail is a smart choice. This way, gifts can stay packaged and safe from any germs or contamination.

Since some restaurants are closed, this may make traditional Valentine’s Day reservations an unrealistic plan.

Making a homemade dinner is an exciting way to spend the holiday. It can occupy lots of time and the end result will feel rewarding. Takeout can also be fun, and it requires less effort.

To stay especially safe in light of these circumstances, a virtual gathering is a cautious way to spend the holiday.

Zoom and FaceTime continue to provide comfort and communication regardless of distance. There are several events that you can attend from home.

Most arts and crafts seminars, concerts, or even fundraisers allow virtual attendance.

A movie or game night could also be a fun way to spend this Valentine’s Day. No matter what you’re watching, television is a great way to celebrate the holiday in a laid-back manner. Everyone has board games or even cards at home, so partaking in a bit of friendly competition is always a possibility.

There is no doubt that the holiday will still be enjoyable and entertaining. Taking time to focus on yourself is always an exceptional choice. The past year has been upsetting and chaotic for most. It is important to maintain a strong mentality in light of the difficult circumstances the world has faced this year, and make the best of it.

Helping Others While Staying Safe Chelsea Fall Everyone is struggling right now, and it is a perfect opportunity to help out others and volunteer during your extra time.

During times like these you also want to consider different ways that you can help others that are not necessarily traditional.

There are still many ways that you can help others in their time of need while also keeping you and your family safe.

Although staying safe should be your main priority it's also important to help those who are struggling so that we can all continue to support one another.

Right now volunteering is a great way to serve those around you and continue to help others so that they are not struggling as bad during this time. Helping others is incredibly important ,and it might save a family from not being able to eat or helping kids who are falling behind in school.

Showing others there are people out there to help is the best way to encourage them to not only help others but get the help that they need as well. Just being there for people is a good way to help them as well and it can give them comfort if they are struggling.

One way that you can support kids during this time is online tutoring. During quarantine many kids are struggling with keeping up with school work or are struggling to keep up with some of their classes while not being in school physically.

Some kids may also have a hard time focusing while not in school. You can sign up to zoom with kids who need the extra help and can help them do better in their classes during this hard time. You can also sign up to teach many kids at once and help them all with the same subject and go into more detail than they would in class. Since not being in person has affected so many kids it is important to help them so that they can stay on track and are still able to succeed during this hard time.

Another way that you can volunteer while also staying safe is helping places like food pantries deliver food and supplies to families in need. If you are able to drive, you can volunteer to drive different supplies around to families who are struggling with the supplies they don’t have. If you can’t, you can also help by loading deliveries into cars or gathering different supplies from places so they can be delivered. This cannot only help a family with food but also many things that are scarce during this time. These deliveries can get supplies to people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to have these things.

Although it is hard to stay active in the community during this time it is still important to help those around you. We can all help each other and be safe at the same time. Learning different ways to help others will not only help with the

same time. Learning different ways to help others will not only help with the service hours requirement for school but also help others in your community that need help now more than ever. Staying active and helpful to others during this time is one of the most important things that you can do so it’s important to learn more about the people who are struggling around you so that you can try and be there for them.

The annual Appalachia trip is a great way to get involved. Photo submitted by Mrs. Jakubisin

The Vista

The Rant: Stop Obsessing About Summer Bodies As the colder months come to an end and the sun starts shining bright again, most people tend to hit the gym before getting their new swimsuit for the year. People have been so convinced that they need to lose weight or get in shape for summer.

All bodies are summer bodies.

Bodies exist to hold your organs together and keep you functioning.

Without your body, you would not exist. Taking care of your body is important, but why only do that for the summer? If you want to take care of your body, focus on the small things that actually make a difference. Maybe you want to be healthier, or be more comfortable with yourself and how you look, or maybe you just want to help others be okay with themselves.

Body positivity is important, but not just for the summer. Bodies help you digest your food and taste your favorite desserts. Bodies help you see your favorite movies, listen to your favorite songs. Bodies help you come up with new ideas from your brain. Your hands let you pet animals and create art. Your vocal cords help you sing and speak to other people. Every body is beautiful and should be treated with respect.

Wanting a summer body has so many negative connotations associated with it. Modern society causes us to worry too much about what other people think, and less about whether we are happy with ourselves. Instead of trying to change to fit what you think other people will appreciate, try appreciating yourself the way you are first. Self love is difficult, but boy is it worth it.

Bodies are not defined by a certain time or temperature of the year, but they are always changing and adjusting, which is not a bad thing. Normalize gaining weight, losing weight, weight shifting to other parts of your body, stretch marks, and any other process your body goes through that is normal.

Being beautiful is about feeling beautiful, not trying to fit into a mold. Define your own beauty by practicing self confidence and self love.

Roving Reporter Roving Reporter Teacher Edition: Student Edition: What Is Something You Do With Other Teachers Outside of School?

If You Could Be Anyone, Who Would You Be?

Kaitlin Shiple

Mary Grzybowski

“Mrs. Brancatto We get together on the weekends and do our lesson plans” - Ms. Shiloh Jackson “I have a group of teachers and we have a game night”. Of course, now because of the pandemic, it’s all through Zoom. We have virtual games we play together” - Ms. Kate Caventer “Friday dinners” - Mrs. Tracy Fahim “Before Covid, we used to go to UT basketball games together.” Coach Travis Galloway “Weddings” - Ms. Christiana Jefferson ‘15 “Mrs. Walker is my movie buddy; it’s great because we have the same sense of humor and laugh at all the right spots together, whether other people like it or not.” Mrs. Julie Sells “Game nights with my friends.

Pre-covid, we would meet up at Mrs. Wood’s house or Mrs. Sutton’s house with all of our husbands” - Mrs. Amanda (Martis) Mariasy ‘11 “Book club. We’ve had a book club here for about 30 years. We meet up every 6-8 weeks. We learn a lot about each other when we see how everyone reacts to the reading. It’s not exclusive either, whenever we have new staff, we tell them about it and invite people to come even if they don’t read the book, just for socializing” - Mrs. Laura Gallaher

“Myself” - Junior Cici Cao “I would be Kendall Jenner” Freshman Lily Perry “Beyoncé” - Junior Elise Brown “Emma Watson” - Sophomore Katie Hoyt “Captain Kirk” - Junior Seneca Klockowski “Absolutely Demi Tebo” - Senior Amanda Deku “Wonder Woman” - Junior Alison Heerdegan “A nurse” - Junior Taylynn Hall “A worldwide famous celebrity” Sophomore Anne Smaciarz “Alan Turing” - Freshman Kelby Armstrong “Mallory Pugh, she’s a soccer player” - Freshman Morgan McCanna “I want to be Lebron James” Freshman Natalie Kinn “I would definitely be Taylor Swift” - Carly McCahon “Kendall Jenner. Automatically, she is the first person to come to mind” - Senior McKenna Matson “David Dobrik, no doubt. He’s like the most unproblematic rich person” - Sophomore Maya Imbrock