REVIEW The Vanguard
FEB '24
Vol. 50 No. 3
Vanguard Stock Market Challenge
Congratulations!
From humble roots and a heart for education, to 50 years of educational excellence as Waco’s Best College Preparatory School.
February 2024 CONTENTS
NEWS
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
5 Israel-Hamas War Three things you need to know about the Israel-Hamas War 6-7 Hot Lunch Spots With sophomores now getting to experience off campus lunch, find out our students favorite lunch spots F E AT U R E S
8 Lights, Camera, Action! Juliet Indergard plans to take her acting to the next level 9 Bella's Blockbusters 3 rom-coms for a perfect Valentine's Day 10-11 The Love Language of Gen Z
The new dating trends of Gen Z 14 Lefties: First-Hand Accounts
Exploring the life of the left handed in and outside of the classroom 15 Lunar New Year International students share how they celebrate the holiday S TA F F
The Vanguard Review Editor-in-Chief & Business Manager Landri Wheeler
Reporter Grace Bergerson
Senior Reporter Caro Williams
Reporter Sara Clark
Reporter Madelyn Kim
Reporter Emily VanCleave
Reporter Aria Cleveland
Reporter Cynthia Weaver
Reporter Bella Tonkin
Reporter Ellen Weaver
Reporter Landry Stewart
Adviser Gretchen Eichenberg
Oh What a Beautiful Morning Students share their morning
routines and tips for a stress free day. Pages 12-13
MISSION
About the Cover
It is our mission to be the voice of the students of Vanguard College Preparatory School. We will endeavor in our roles as journalists to create a magazine that students can read to be educated and informed.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Vanguard College Preparatory School has a total student population of 279. Candy hearts are traditional, but today's relationships require a whole new set of words and actions to show you like or love someone. It's complicated.
Vol. 50 No. 3
The Vanguard College Preparatory School 2517 Mt Carmel Dr Waco, Texas 76710 254 772-8111 vanguard_review@vanguard.org
A VC PS P U B L IC AT ION FEB 2024
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From the Editor
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
L OV E I S I N T H E A I R FROM THE REVIEW
Valentine's Day Senior Carnations February 14
Orchestra Lunch Concert February 15
Student/Faculty Holiday February 16 & 19
HS VASE Competition February 17
Vanguard Talent Showcase February 22
TAPPS Solo & Ensemble Peer Lunch February 23
End of Quarter 3 Baylor Latin Day March 1
Spring Break March 2 - 11
Quarter 4 Begins March 12
L O V E
A huge congrats to Sam Wieman and Jacob Lefebvre on their recent engagement. They have made an impact on many students' lives and we wish them all the best.
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t's that time of year again where we are surrounded by hearts, candy and love. This issue of the Vanguard Review is no exception. Our staff has worked around the clock to make this issue the best it can be. We have a surplus of features, reviews and news ranging from the issues that are lacking love to the ones that have always shown it. We hope you enjoy the February issue of the Vanguard news magazine. Starting off with some insight on a conflict happening over 7,000 miles away — the Israel-Hamas War. Take a deeper look into this issue with Grace Bergerson and Emily VanCleave. Driving over to our next topic: If you enjoy off-campus lunch, have a look at Sara Clark’s story on the hot spots around Waco. Find out what your fellow students say are their favorite lunch spots and meals. While our off campus lunches may be fun, we have to take a step back and go to the beginning of the school day. Check out Cynthia Weaver’s article on morning routines. It may shock you to find out which of your fellow students take two minutes or two hours to get ready for school. Are you a leftie who struggles with some of the most common items the rest of us use? Take a look at Aria Cleveland’s article on lefties and their everyday battles with
notebooks, scissors and pens. Even though they struggle, they also shine. Speaking of shining: If you love music, art and acting, meet our student spotlight Juliet Indergard. Find out the inspiration behind her roles and what she has accomplished. If you like rom-coms but cannot decide which to watch, reporter Bella Tonkin has reviewed three of them. Speaking the language of love is difficult and now it seems Gen Z has created one of their own. To find out more about how dating has changed look at the article ‘The Love Language of Gen Z’ by reporters Caro Williams and Landri Wheeler. If you want to learn about a holiday celebrated by some of our international students, read Grace and Emily’s article on the Lunar New Year. Find out what students in our school do to celebrate. Next up: Do you believe in the concept of "home court advantage?" Ellen Weaver tackles that subject to find out of its just an urban legend or a serious advantage. A huge shout out to all of the reporters on staff who make this publication my dream come true. They have worked tirelessly on this magazine and we are so proud to share it with all of you. I also want to thank all of the people who are willing to comment and be a part of these stories. Your insight keeps people interested and allows us to explore new areas of our stories. Another big thank you to our advisor who puts in endless hours to make sure we are doing the best we can. We hope you enjoy the February issue of the Vanguard Review. Editor-in-Chief
Painting by Alex Thompson, senior
IS R A E L - H A M A S WA R
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Everything you need to know about the conflict in the Middle East
B Y E M I LY VA NC L E AV E & GR AC E B E RGE R S ON R E P O RT E R S
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our months ago, war broke out in a region of Asia known as Palestine. But what is happening on that side of the world is hard to understand. The Vanguard Review spoke with two history teachers to break down what is going. Here are some of the most important things to know about the Israel-Hamas war.
Why are they fighting?
The conflict between Israel and Hamas did not just begin on October 7 – it has been ongoing for a very long time. Though the more recent conflict began at least 75 years after Israel was made a state following World War II, it is a much older conflict than that. “It dates back thousands of years, [to] ancient times before the Roman Empire,” said history teacher Matthew Holze. At that time, Holze said, it was a “fight between the Israelites, the Jews today, and the Palestinians once known as the Philistines.” Gaza has been controlled by Hamas, a terrorist group supported by Iran, since 2007 when they expelled the U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority, according to the Combating Terrorism Palestinians inspect the damage following an Center. Israeli airstrike on the El-Remal aera in Gaza City The relationship between Hamas and Israel has been complicated since Hamas’ on October 9, 2023. Wafa and APAimages creation in 1987, Livingstone said. “[Hamas What’s going has] a history of being extremely violent,” he said. “And one of its charters is the on and where? destruction of Israel.” On October 7, 2023, Israel was invaded Hamas does not recognize Israel as by the terrorist group Hamas, which took a state and plans to replace it. Israel has the lives of 1,200 Israeli citizens. Most of the people killed were attending a music festival, What are the effects of causing many also to be taken as hostages. the Israel-Hamas War? In response, Israel declared war on the As with all wars, serious consequences terrorist group and has been attacking the have come from the still ongoing IsraelPalestinians in the Gaza Strip. Between Hamas War. Though most of the fighting is October 8, 2023 and now, it is believed happening in the Gaza Strip, both Palestine over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed, and Israel have suffered tremendous losses. according to the Health Ministry of Gaza “I was devastated by the amount of and Israeli health officials. atrocities taking place in that attack on While that is a staggering number, innocent civilians,” Livingstone said. history teacher Brad Livingstone said it In addition to those who died on October could be much worse. “If any country that 7 and on, hundreds of Israelis have been borders the United States had attacked us abducted by Hamas as hostages. In November the way Hamas attacked Israel, they would 2023, 105 of these hostages were released in probably cease to exist,” said Livingstone. exchange for 240 Palestinians, as reported “That's how horrific that attack was.” by BBC. To pressure Hamas into releasing The state of Palestine is located in hostages, Israel cut off supplies of food, water two regions: the West Bank and the Gaza and fuel, leading to severe shortages in Gaza. Strip. Many media outlets have referred Since then, Israel has allowed humanitarian to the warring region as Gaza rather than aid and limited fuel, especially through Palestine, as the war has primarily occurred Egypt, according to the Washington Post. there. Gaza is home to over 2.1 million Limited border openings have allowed some people, many of them Palestinians, as injured Palestinians and foreign citizens to reported by the Washington Post. Throughout leave. the thousands of years the conflict has been Some may have heard the term ‘ethnic occurring, the violence and destruction have cleansing’ to describe Hamas’ goals in Israel. mainly been centralized between the regions Holze shares his thoughts: of Palestine and Israel. “I would say what's going on definitely “We've done a pretty good job of fits what we would say [is] the historical containing it, [except] Northern Israel and definition of genocide," he said. "That does Lebanon,” Livingstone said. not mean ethnic cleansing, it just means the
in place a years-long blockade to restrict imports and exports, along with the movement of civilians, across the Gaza Strip. These policies have been considered collective punishment and a violation of international laws. Since Hamas’ rise to power, several violent incidents have occurred between Israeli forces and Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza and on the West Bank. In May 2021, violent clashes ensued when Israeli officials attempted to evict families from a Palestinian neighborhood to favor Jewish Israelis in East Jerusalem (on the West Bank, controlled by Hamas), according to Human Rights Watch. More recently, in April 2023, Israeli forces stormed and used force on worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a holy site for both Muslims and Jews, leading to a five-day conflict. More clashes occurred during the summer, with Israeli troops on the offensive in the West Bank and Gaza. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government leaders have created tensions with not only Palestine but also strife within Israel. Many Israeli citizens have taken to the streets in demonstrations against policies pushed by the government. removal of a group of people,” he said. Is it possible that other countries could become involved in the war between Israel and Hamas? Currently, “the U.S., the European Union and other Western countries have condemned the Hamas attack on Israel,” according to an article by BBC. Both Russia and China have refused to condemn Hamas while maintaining contact with both sides. As Israel’s closest ally, the United States over time has given Israel more than $260 billion in military and economic aid; the U.S. has also promised additional equipment. Aircraft carrier strike groups have also been sent to the eastern Mediterranean to deter Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement. Holze thinks that it is a possibility that other nations could get involved. “World wars have been started over less,” Holze said, “but [it] depends on how stable the rest of the world is going to be and how closely are we in America are going to maintain our alliance with Israel.” He poses some thought-provoking questions: “Are we in America going to consider this a war worth fighting,” Holze said. “And if we do, are other countries going to take that as a chance to weaken the United States?” FEB 2024 The Vanguard Review
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NEWS
HIT TI N G TH E H O T S P O T
Vikings top picks for their 55 minutes of freedom BY SA R A CLA R K R E P O RT E R
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t’s twelve o’clock, five minutes before the bell rings. You’re trying so hard to concentrate on your assignment, except all you can think about is leaving campus with your friends to grab a fresh hot meal from Slim Chickens, Schmaltz, Chipotle or even home. With many places to eat around school, here are students' picks. 42 percent of Vanguard students leave campus for lunch according to the VR Feb. 2024 student poll. Most students only leave once a week, however, 13 percent of
According to the VR student poll, 60 percent of students have between a $20-$60 budget for lunch. Junior Grant Herridge said he “does not necessarily have a budget.” However, Herridge said he usually goes home for lunch but sometimes eats out with friends. Some students like Wollard have a budget that varies depending on the money earned and the money given to them. There are a lot of popular places to eat near Vanguard, Slim Chickens being one of
"I love the freedom and being able to go out with friends and take a break."
- Landry Cole, sophomore
Sophomore Landry Cole loves two easily forgotten places located on Valley Mills Drive. “I love Sonic or Schmaltz,” Cole said. Even though many restaurants are near school, going out to lunch requires students to think about time management. “It takes forever to go and eat and come back,” Duncan said. With students Home Schmaltz's only having an 5.6% 5.6% hour to leave, order their food, eat and drive back, that Arby's leaves a very short 33% amount of time for Slim Chickens them before the 18.2% bell rings. “An hour seems like a lot, but it's really nothing,” Duncan said. When leaving campus at 12:10 p.m. to eat at Slim Source: VR Feb. Source: VR Feb. Chickens it takes 2023 student poll 2023 student poll 5 minutes and 40 seconds to leave campus and arrive to Slim Chickens, according to a test run by VR staff. Chipotle Chick-fil-A It took 23 minutes and 58 seconds to order 13.7% 23.9% and eat food, and then it took 5 minutes and 7 minutes and 14 seconds to get back to school. That leaves about 25 minutes before them. Senior Luke Williams is a regular at the bell rings. students leave every day for lunch. Slim Chickens. Some of the employees even “I get back right before the bell rings, but Junior Jacie Grace Duncan said she know his order. However, other popular if I wanted to I could go somewhere and get doesn't normally eat out daily, but recently places around the school are Chick-fil-A, back within a half hour,” Herridge said. she has been going more because the which is about 3.6 miles from campus, and However, with traffic, Wollard said it sophomores can leave campus now. Chipotle which is 1.4 miles from campus. can take anywhere between "20 and “But normally I would eat out minutes to go out, get food “[Being able to leave campus] goes 50-ish" twice a week,” Duncan said. and come back. Senior Lydia Wollard said that along with the school's general Some students, like Williams, when she's good at remembering her bring their food back to eat with philosophy: that we want you to lunch, she will only eat out once. friends. “During busier weeks I tend to learn how to take care of yourself “[When] I do eat out [it] usually eat out three or four times,” Wollard it takes me about half of lunch to go and manage yourself." said. the food,” Williams said, “but if I - Bill Borg, Head of school get eat out, I stay out the whole time.”
Vikings Favorite Places to Eat
33.8% of students said they spend around $20 a week at lunch
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OTS Leaving campus for lunch is considered a privilege for students. Herridge said that being able to leave is “like a breath of fresh air from school, and it makes getting through the school day a lot easier.” With the privilege also comes responsibilities. “[Being able to leave campus] goes along with the school's general philosophy: that we want you to learn how to take care of yourself and manage yourself,” Bill Borg, Head of school, said. Sometimes not all students have classes with their friends. “Going out with friends for lunch is always fun,” Wollard said. “I love that I have the option to get away from the stresses of school and get food that I actually like” After being in class all morning, going to lunch is something most students look forward to. ”I love the freedom and being able to go out with friends and take a break,” Cole said. One change made this year was sophomores being able to leave campus for lunch at the start of the third quarter, instead of the fourth quarter. “Having it after Christmas is way better than the 3rd quarter because it gives me more time,” Cole said. Some might wonder why the administration decided to change the timeline of when sophomores can leave campus. “We try to figure out ways to do things for kids we think are good,” Bord said. “We had a table discussion about whether we should wait till the end of the third quarter, [or should] we go ahead and do it at the third quarter.”
12.7% high school students said they go out to lunch every day of the week.
Top to bottom: Sophomores Owen Roos and Aria Cleveland share a snack from Sonic for lunch one day. Seniors Britton Burney, Luke Williams and Bilal Adra leave Slim Chickens with their to go orders Juniors Jacie Grace Duncan and Ema Mathis laugh over lunch at Chipotle Photos submitted by students
Source: VR Feb. 2023 student poll
Sophomores Landry Cole and Chloe Selke grab a quick bite from Sonic during lunch. FEB 2024
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Juliet Indergard plans to take her passion for acting to the next level B Y M A DE LY N K I M R E P O RT E R
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character could be considered one of the most important skills as an actor. . Juliet has her own tips when getting herself to the character that she performs in the play. “So pretty much I go through my lines in the script and stage directions that my character does,” Indergard said. “And then I’ll also go to other sources and see how they portray them and then kind of mesh all of that together to create kind of own version "I love both stage and screen my of the character. performance. I plan to go to And then just do memory college for musical theatre. I muscle to do it during will be auditioning for screen the plays” Not only is acting jobs while in college, she dedicated to but will be focusing on her acting, she musical theatre." also tries out — Juliet Indergard, senior other things as well like making music and movies. Being in performance,” she said. “I plan to go multimedia class, she to college for musical theatre. I will be has been trying types auditioning for screen acting jobs while in of media that she hasn’t college, but I will be focusing on musical done before. theatre. The goal is to make it to Broadway “Last year I experimented with music or the West End.” writing and I loved it,” Indergard said. “I Indergard said she has different made a demo of what a potential song could rituals and techniques for preparing for a be. I have so many songs and am still adding performance. to the list. I start with the melody and build “If it’s right before a show or an the song and accompaniment around it.” audition, [I] just try to pretend that it’s Even though it could be challenging to a rehearsal so that it doesn't put as much do all these countless things and school work stress on me,” Indergard said. “I just have to at the same time, she deals with it. be confident in myself that I know what I’m “Balancing school and acting is fairly doing and I’ve got everything.” easy,” Indergard said. “I tend to do my Her inspiration comes from lots of homework at school when I have a study mod places, Indergard said. or extra time. My rehearsals tend to be later “I watch movies, TV shows, and stage in the evenings so I do it before then too! I performances and want to be where those like to gauge how much work I have to do actors and actresses are,” Indergard said. “I and what work is coming up before I decide love to try new and different ways of acting. when to do a filmed audition. I make sure I Acting is a career where you are always am keeping time allotted for both school and learning something new and it’s exciting to acting.” extend my knowledge of what acting is.” How they morph oneself to their ednesday Addams, Laurey Williams, Young Eponine, and Rapunzel. They all have one thing in common: They are characters that have played by senior Juliet Indergard. “I have been acting since I was eight years old when I was in a production of Les Miserables at the Waco Civic theater,” Indergard said. “I usually work with them for most of my theater performances but I also perform at McLennan Community College.” With 10 years of acting experience, she has been putting a lot of effort to achieve her dream to expand her theater career. Indergard has an agent and is signed with Duvall Mac Talent, an agency based in Dallas. “I love both stage and screen
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Budding actress Juliet Indergard said she plans to go to college for musical theatre. Photo by Landri Wheeler Last September, Indergard played Laurey in Waco Civic Theatre's "Oklahoma." In McLennan Community College's production of The Addams Family, Indergard played Wednesday Addams. Photos courtesy of Indergard family
ENTERTAINMENT
B E L L A' S B L O C K B U S T E R S
3 ROM COMS FOR A PERFECT VALENTINE'S DAY
B Y B E L L A T ON K I N R E P O RT E R
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n honor of Valentine's Day, the Vanguard Review offers four rom com reviews — complete with a plot summary, critic's review, favorite quotes and even a Shakespeare connection. From old to very new, all of these movies will have you falling in love. Each one has a different circumstance for how the couple gets together, whether it's fake dating, going from enemies to lovers, a marriage of convenience or spontaneous love.
Anyone But You Rating: Ben (Glen Powell) and Bea (Sydney Sweeney) have a one night stand that ends up with bad feelings between each other. When they end up at Bea’s older sister's destination wedding together they decide to fake date so that Bea’s parents will get off her back about her ex boyfriend and Ben's ex will want him back, but it did not work how they thought it would. What Bella thinks: Super uplifting and fun, lots of humor. I saw this movie in theaters twice and both times I left I was singing "Unwritten" and having the best time. This movie is super fun and by the end you will be in the best mood. Fav quote: “That’s my serenity song. How do you know my serenity song?” — Ben
10 Things I Hate About You
The Proposal Rating:
Rating:
Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) is an assistant to a big deal Canadian author Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock). When she gets told that she is about to be deported, she decides to “marry” Andrew so she can keep her visa and he can get a promotion. Because of this she has to go to Andrew's grandma Anna’s (Betty White) 90th birthday in Alaska. Almost every one buys the relationship, except for Andrew's father, (Craig Nelson) who calls ICE and says the marriage is fake, but in the end their love becomes real. What Bella thinks: Super funny (especially when Betty White is in the scenes). Ryan Reynold and Betty White in this movie take it to the next level. It is so funny and uplifting. The funniest scene is when Betty White’s character and Sandra Bullock’s character are in the woods dancing and singing to “Low” in the woods. Fav quote: “I’m sorry for feeding you to the eagle.” — Margaret
Kat (Julia Stiles) and Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) father has a rule that Bianca can’t date until Kat does. Bianca makes a plan with Cameron where he gets Joey to pay Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take Kat on a date so that Joey can take Bianca on a date. But Bianca falls for Cameron, the climax takes place at the prom when an upset Joey reveals to Kat the only reason Patrick took her out. He wins her back though, by buying her a guitar. What Bella thinks: Grungy, funny, romantic. I think this movie has the best soundtrack ever. It definitely hits every emotion. I always cry when she says the “Ten Things speech”. It is one of my favorite rom coms ever and is definitely worth a watch or 10. Fav quote: “I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” — Kat
Bonus Rec Sleepless in Seattle What Bella thinks: I thought this movie was super cute and romantic. Although I do still think it is strange that she left her fiancé for a man she heard over the radio. I love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan so they definitely helped in my decision to watch this movie. It’s definitely a classic rom com, and in my opinion a must see. FEB 2024
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FEATURE
THE LOVE LANGUAGE O F
rom soda shops to mall makeovers to dreamy diary entries, the ups and downs of teenage dating have been colorfully depicted in classic films like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “Grease” and “Clueless.” But since then, there have been a lot of changes in what people tend to want out of relationships. According to the Vanguard Review student poll, 52.6 percent of students said that they have been on a date – meaning over half of students polled have experienced what it is like to go on a first date. With additions such as technology and social media, the concept of dating has greatly evolved. The way people communicate alone is much different than that of 30 years ago. There is also the question of how people interact with each other. It seems as though two people can rarely just be friends without the implications of feelings surrounding them. Present-day dating has more freedoms than it used to but it might be a gateway for more confusion.
Social media and technology have heavily influenced dating culture in this generation and have certain positives and negatives. It has its positives in how people can relate and talk to others without being with them in person. Social media has made it easier to communicate with new people, according to senior KK Horner. “I think it is easier to be connected to people through social media and to plan dates,” Horner said. In the high school demographic, popular apps such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, allow people to stay connected and communicate with new people. Senior Lillian Lowe said technology is a huge part of present-day relationships. “Technology plays a crucial role, with the rise of online dating apps altering the way people meet and connect,” Lowe said. While technology may be an advantage in keeping in touch with people, it can also be a hindrance in why they do not go on physical dates. Over 25 percent of students said that they believe the reason people do not really go on dates
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is because they hang out on social media instead, according to the VR poll. Senior Lydia Wollard agrees that social media and online chat platforms can influence couples against going out on dates. “Some people consider quality time as something that can be spent over the internet. So texting each other or checking in on each other may be considered sufficient for some people instead of in-person quality time.” With the development of widespread social media platforms, relationships have also become more publicized. Some couples post pictures documenting their entire relationship to their followers. While this can be a good thing, many individuals are very public, which could create pressure. “Dating can definitely be made more complicated by social media because some people are concerned about how they're perceived on social media, so they may rush into relationships for their image,” Wollard said. A popular social media platform commonly used to meet people and send selfies on is Snapchat. It is easier to meet people on Snapchat than in real life. While this can be a positive thing, it has also hyper-modernized dating and replaced things such as first dates and dating with hangouts and talking stages. It causes relationships to move fast and fizzle out. Senior Abby Civa agrees that Snapchat has had a somewhat negative impact on dating culture. “I think that Snapchat has ruined dating culture as a whole. I don't think it's dating culture any more. It's called talking culture. And I hate the talking stage. Like what even is that? I hate that we've gotten rid of first dates and replaced them with hangouts.”
Aside from the impact of technology, the idea of a platonic relationship is also being debated. In this generation, it is unclear whether a girl and a guy can be just friends. Many people have strong opinions on whether platonic relationships can last long-term. Platonic relationships are defined as a relationship with the absence of love or romantic feeling, according to Merriam Webster
FEATURE
GE OF GEN Z
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Dictionary “Yes, I believe in platonic relationships, especially ones built off of friendship for a number of years. Some people enjoy each other's company without the pressure of a "title,” said Horner. Senior Lydia Wollard agreed. “A girl and a guy can absolutely be platonic friends,” Wollard said. “My best friend is a guy, and I have to say that if you're avoiding being friends with the opposite sex, you're missing out on so many wonderful friendships.” While students say that these relationships are possible, Civa that there is still an unnecessary stigma against them. “I think it's just the negative stigma of hating on people these days,” Civa said. “Dude, the haters are out and they're on the prowl. I've experienced this before and I just block 'em out. You can have a guy friend that you don't like romantically and only like being friends with.” Junior Kaydon Daniel said that while people can just be friends, there are circumstances where things could become more. “I think it really depends from person to person,” Daniel said. “Like if they spend a normal amount of time together they can, but I feel like the more time that is spent alone the more likely someone is to catch feelings.” Another question is if two friends can go to an event together without any strings being attached. If someone were to ask you to a dance, does that mean they are romantically interested in you? Nearly half of students said that it probably means they like you, according to the VR poll. Horner agrees that when she was younger, she would have thought the same thing. “In middle school… girls/boys really only talked to each other if they liked each other or their friend had a crush on them (from my experience),” Horner said, “and I would have read too much into their gesture.” Nearly 50 percent of students said that they could be asked to a dance and it would not necessarily have to lead to anything, according to the student poll. As Horner has grown up and matured, she said she would not think anything of it. “I have grown older and my friends and I have matured [so] if one of my friends asked me to dance and we had been having a great time together, I would have thought nothing of it,” she said, “ just that they wanted to spend more time with me.”
B Y L A N DR I W H E E L E R A N D C A RO W I L L I A M S
Sophomore Luke Willeford agreed. “It just means they want to dance,” he said.
While present-day dating allows more freedom in how relationships can work, they have also been packaged with more confusion about what each person wants from it. In the early 20th century, there were gentlemen callers and you would court a person you were interested in. It was straightforward – if they were interested and wanted a relationship, they would court you and get to know more about you. Today dating culture is not as straightforward. What is classified as dating or in a relationship? How many dates do you go on until you are considered ‘dating?' According to Horner, there needs to be clarification of the relationship beforehand. “I think it would be a conversation after the first couple of dates that would establish the relationship.” Lowe said that just because you go on a date with someone, it does not mean y’all are in a relationship. “One hundred percent no," Lowe said. "Just because you go on one date doesn't mean you're suddenly in a full-blown relationship. It's like dipping your toes in the water — it takes more hangouts, shared moments, and getting to know each other to actually dive into a real relationship. “One date is just the start, not the whole story." Some students like Daniel said that dating now is harder than it was 10 years ago. “I think it is [harder] [be]cause it takes a lot longer now to be in what is considered a relationship then it was,” he said. Other students believe that dating is easier now because of technology. “ I think it is easier to be connected to people through social media and to plan dates,” Horner said. “There are so many more restaurants and hang out spots than there used to be to enjoy each other's company that I think it is easier to date now.” Lowe agreed. “I think it is easier,” Lowe said. “I feel like with current technology, relationships are easier to keep.”
FEB 2024
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FEATURE
Beautiful
OHHHHH Hec ti c MOR Relaxed W HAT A Emotional Students share their different morning routines and tips for a stress-free day B Y C Y N T H I A W E AV E R R E P O RT E R
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ou wake up and immediately realize that your alarm didn’t go off! After hurriedly throwing on clothes and brushing your teeth, you grab a bite to eat and run out the door. You barely make it to class before the tardy bell rings. Meanwhile, your friend wakes up in plenty of time and has enough time to shower, pack lunch and make it to school 20 minutes before you. Whether you roll out of bed and head out the door five minutes later or you plan each step of your morning and have plenty of time before you leave, everyone has a different morning routine — or lack of one. Nearly 61% of students’ morning routines are 45 minutes or longer, according to the VR February 2024 poll. The Vanguard Review interviewed some students to find out exactly what those routines look like for them and collected tips for having more relaxed mornings. Having an orderly start to your day is proven to increase your mental sharpness, emotional wellbeing and energy, according to a report by Northwestern University
Having an orderly start to your day is proven to increase your mental sharpness, emotional wellbeing and energy.
35.8% of students said their morning routine takes 45 minutes
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Medicine. Students with organized morning routines share their relaxed mornings before school. Clara Lawson, 7th grade, explained how she has a shorter morning routine so she can be less rushed. She says that her morning routine is “only about 20 minutes.” “I have a lot of time afterwards,” she said. “I just relax.” Similarly, senior Alex Thomson has a regular routine to his morning. “I wake up at 6:30 and I leave the door at 7:30,” he said, “so I have an hour to make coffee, make my bed, brush my teeth and shower.” Freshman Jake Attas demonstrated how you can still have a relaxed morning with limited time. “I can do all my stuff pretty fast,” he said, “and then I can get out the door in eight minutes.” Despite the order a morning routine can bring to your day, it does not come without difficulties. For example, while waking up early each day can give you the extra time you need to get ready, it can be hard on your body. “I think everybody has that problem, just wanting to go back to bed,” Thomson said. On the other hand, many people get up later in the morning, automatically shortening the time they have to get ready for school. Sophomore Melina Garman says that her morning is “normally rushed.” “I wake up kind of late because I stay up doing homework,” she said. Likewise, senior Mary Campbell said she wished her morning routine was more relaxed, but she doesn’t want to wake up earlier
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to make it so. While some may view shortened time in the morning as a downside, freshman Luke Scarborough believes stress can help you cut down on time.
4.6% of students said they get ready for school in 5 minutes
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“If you want a shorter routine, just get up later,” he said. “So then you'll have to because you'll be rushed.” Vanguard students shared some tips to have a more relaxed morning with fewer steps in your routine. Campbell stresses the importance of a daily wakeup time. “Set alarms and get up to them,” she said. If there are a lot of tasks that need to be done in the morning, using the time available the night before can be very helpful. Lawson says that she has certain preparations that help her have a less stressed morning. “I'll get my clothes out for the day or make a sandwich so that it doesn't take long to make lunch in the morning,” Lawson said. Thomson has a simple solution for rushed mornings: “Just go to bed earlier,” he said. “Don’t stay up till four in the morning.”
FEATURE
Want a better start to your day?
ORNING!
Try these tips: Sleep
• Quantity is key — Try to set your alarms so that you get at least 7 hours of sleep • Try to go to sleep at the same time each night — patterns help you sleep better • Don’t hit snooze — every time you hit snooze it restarts your sleep cycle
Wake up
• Sunlight— Natural light helps you wake up more naturally and quickly- so open your widows • Music — Listening to music in the morning promotes happiness and actually reduces stress
Eat
• Breakfast — prepare a quick, healthy breakfast the night before- it fuels your body for the day ahead • Drink water — hydration is important for healthy digestion and better skin
Get going
• Exercise — Moving your body in the morning will boost your overall spirits and increase your energy — you can stretch, take a walk, or go to the gym • Prioritize — make a physical or mental checklist, and take care of your most difficult tasks first PHO T O B Y C A RO W I L L I A M S
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FEATURE
LEFTIES:
FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS
Exploring the life of the left-handed in and outside of the classroom BY A R I A CLEVELA ND R E P O RT E R
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mudges of pencil lead and swirls of blue pen ink mark your hand as you take history notes or write an in-class essay. You cannot leave school without a fully multicolored hand reminding you of what sets you apart from 90% of the world, according to the National Library of Medicine. About 13.3 percent of students are left-handed, according to the February VR Student Poll — 33% higher than the national average of 10%. Yes, there are 36,177,100 people around the U.S. who sign, eat, write and unlock their phones using their left hand. China, according to a study published in Psychology Today, has the lowest percentage of left-handed citizens, 2.64%, which is four times smaller than the world’s average, possibly caused by their high valuation of conformity as a nation. In contrast, The Netherlands lead the lefty world with almost 13%, with the United Arab Emirates coming in close second. A common discussion among lefties is the difficulties of living in a right-oriented world. Nearly 57% of the lefties at Vanguard face problems daily because of how the world is set up. Senior Jack Meehan affirms that life as a lefty is sometimes a struggle. “People don’t really understand how much of society functions with righthanded objects. Doors, computers, and cars are a few that I notice most often,” Meehan said, “But it’s easy for me to tell when something I’m doing feels weirdly difficult and then I figure out I’m using some righthanded object.”
Kramolis speaks to the athletic side of the rare trait. “When I played [sports], I just adapted to using my right hand,” she said. On the flip side, Meehan, Kramolis, and Williams attested to some benefits. Both Meehan and Kramolis particularly enjoy the shock of others when they find out, and fellow lefties, junior Lathan Dieterich and sophomore Ryan Brock admit it as well. “Lathan, Ryan and I agreed that the momentary fame you get when people say ‘Wait, you’re lefthanded???’ is fun to hear,” Kramolis said. “I like being different in that way," Meehan said. "People don’t expect it, and they’ll notice it about me.” Williams enjoys the novel supplies and stationery that accompany being left-handed. “I like that we get cool pens,” she said, speaking of those that have a special ink that doesn’t smudge or that are shaped to fit into the left Smeared with ink from tedious math notes, Algebra II Honors student Marisa Kramolis's hand perfectly. left hand shows its work. Photo by Aria Although dominant handedness Cleveland/ VR Staff has no confirmed effects on spirals specifically. Some people say to use intelligence or aptitude, a surprising the right side of composition notebooks or number of important figures in modern spirals, but that just looks weird. I end up society and history adhere to the lefties writing like an inch and a half over from the club, including talk show host and car binding/spiral,” she said. philanthropist Oprah Winfrey; ex-dictator Living in a world exclusively designed of France Napoleon Bonaparte; A-list actors for right-handers is definitely a matter Hugh Jackman, Angelina Jolie; and Tina of challenge and sometimes Fey, and not to mention two of the richest a struggle, according to the people alive, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill “I always had trouble with writing National Association of Left Gates. on a whiteboard, so I figured out that Handers. The debate whether lefties are different “I always had trouble with from the right-dominant have been I either have to write backward or on a whiteboard, so I circulating since civilization realized think about lowering my hand and writing figured out that I either have to that handedness varied. Some, including changing the angle.” write backward or think about Williams and Meehan concur that lefties lowering my hand and changing are not too different, but Stewart has a — Claire Williams, freshman the angle,” freshman Claire hilarious hot-take: Williams said. “No one else is left-handed so we’re “In third grade, when we used markers, better," Stewart said. "There’s less people, Sophomore Marisa Kramolis agrees it would get on your hand and [I’d] have to [so] that means we’re different, and with Meehan, saying that school especially pick it up," eighth grader Charlie Stewart that means we’re better, smarter, more causes some stress. said. intelligent.” “Writing in composition notebooks and
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CULTURE
LUNAR NEW YEAR International students share how they celebrate the season B Y GR AC E B E RGE R S ON & E M I LY VA NC L E AV E R E P O RT E R S
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Festival Gala’” together as well. Even the rom elaborate firework displays simple red envelope of lucky money is chosen and red envelopes for good fortune with the meaning of the amount carefully to simple family gatherings and considered. meals, the Chinese New Year—also Sophomore Xander Fu considers the known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Spring Festival as a time for “remembering Festival—is celebrated by more than a billion people each year. This new year does your family [and] being grateful for your family members. not fall on January 1st but usually between “It's a festival of spreading kindness... January 21 and February 20 in many East and starting fresh,” he said. Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year Vietnam, and South Korea. Because this celebration is known as the Tet Holiday. It celebration is one of the most important is one of the most traditional and important for families, some countries allow for a festivals celebrated in Vietnam, as there week of official public holiday or activities many and events with Sophomore Xander Fu considers are customs and family. traditions Freshman the Spring Festival a time for from before Violet Chen’s "remembering your family [and] the new year favorite tradition being grateful for your family to after. is receiving lucky money. members. "It's a festival of spreading Junior Kathryn “For Chinese kindness and starting fresh." Nguyen people, the red envelope is a — Xander Fu, sophomore celebrates Tet at home significant in Vietnam cultural symbol. and shared with the Vanguard Review some It not only represents money but also carries blessings,” Chen said. of her family’s customs. The traditions and legends Before the beginning of the new year, surrounding the Lunar New Year play a usually around February 5-8, families clean significant role in the cultures of many their homes to welcome in a peaceful and East Asian countries. These customs have lucky new year. Families will also set aside a been assimilated into Western culture day to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves as well. Lunar New Year celebrations together, bringing with them offerings and occur all around regardless of ethnicity or incense for gratitude and remembrance. nationality. Buying plants and arranging five-fruit trays For the Spring Festival in China, are also important to decorating homes families will decorate their homes with and ancestral altars. Also essential to New red ornaments believed to bring good luck Year preparations are shopping for colorful and prosperity to the household. These clothing, representing good luck, and gifts are often couplets designed with two for friends, colleagues, and children. On the lines of poetry or window flower designs night before Tet, some families will shoot off incorporating animals like fish, which fireworks or stay up all night making Banh represent wealth, or the Chinese zodiac. Chung and Banh Tet, two special dishes. Red clothing also symbolizes good luck and On the first days of Tet, adults joy for the coming year. will give lucky money to children, On the eve of the new year, families which they will use to play games with gather for dinner and friends. Families and friends will also celebration, often with gather together for a meal and hold fireworks. Violet Chen says several parties. Wishing everyone, that many people watch a including teachers, a happy new “live broadcast program year is a way to show respect called the ‘Spring and bring happiness
to others. Kathryn Nguyen’s favorite traditions is to “eat jams and bite melon seeds, drink soft drinks, and watch TV or go play games to make money”. She finds that “Tet is a day with many happy meanings.” Some students at Vanguard from South Korea also celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own way. Senior Jake Lee and Junior Amy Kim both celebrate by having dinner with family and receiving money from elders. Though the celebrations in Vietnam and Korea may be different from those in China, they still are an important part of culture and relationships with family. The Lunar New Year has been celebrated for over 3,500 years and is possibly as old as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.), according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Despite China adopting the Gregorian Calendar in 1912, the Lunar New Year remains the most important holiday in many East Asian countries. The origin of the holiday follows one myth in particular: the story of a monstrous beast called the Nian. It is said that the creature lives underwater year-round but would come up to torment people and kill their livestock the day before the new year. One year, an old man decided he was going to stop the issue himself and scare away the monster. Continued on Page 19
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SPORTS
HOME COURT ADVAN
Vikings debate the effects of playing on home vs. away courts B Y E L L E N W E AV E R R E P O RT E R
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ou’re in the middle of an intense game against your team’s No. 1 competitor. Your coach finally puts you in, but you don’t have the same energy as usual. No one in the stands is cheering you on, you’re exhausted from your two-and-ahalf hour bus ride, and your team barely had time to warm up before the game. If only you were playing on your home turf, you might have the energy — and encouragement — to push through the moment. “I think playing on the court you have practiced on makes you more comfortable and therefore more confident to perform well during games,” freshman basketball player Crosby Davis said. Home advantage is defined as the tendency for sports teams to win more often when they play at their home facilities, according to a 2021 study at Butler University. Many factors support home court advantage, such as playing in a familiar territory, being surrounded by supportive fans, and feeling more motivated to win for your school. “I do think you can create a home court advantage for your team,” girls basketball coach Jeff Young said, “You naturally have an advantage because you practice in your gym every day. If you can get your student body to the game and they can be loud and engaged, you can create an even better advantage.” A 2015 study by the Chicago Booth Review showed that US Major League
Soccer Teams win 69.1% of their home games and NBA teams win 62.7% at their home courts. The 2023 Vanguard football team’s home record was 3-0, away 1-2, and neutral site 0-2. The 2023 varsity volleyball team, however, had a home record of 3-4, away 7-5, and neutral site 0-2. So, home court advantage clearly does not apply to every team’s season outcomes.
“You naturally have an advantage because you practice in your gym every day. If you can get your student body to the game and they can be loud and engaged, you can create an even better advantage.” — Jeff Young, girls basketball coach “I don’t think [home court advantage] has a major effect on the [basketball] game,” senior Dion Moradi said, “If you’re skilled enough to win you should be able to do it on any court.” Young also thinks that there is a plus side to away games. “Playing on the road can be advantageous with the correct mindset,” Young said. “There are usually less distractions on the road and the team can bond together on the
trip. Winning on the road takes mental toughness.” Vanguard athletes talked about how the number of fans affects how they play in a game. “The amount of fans greatly affects my performance in a game,” Bentlee Keepers, junior, shared, “the louder and more energy that is in the gym[,] the more excited and ready I am to play basketball.” “The louder the fans are, the faster and harder we play,” senior basketball player Keeton Matthews said, “It also distracts and disorients the opponent.” Having fans you know is special, but some athletes are energized by large fanbases at other schools. At away games, the increased rivalry can have a positive effect on Vanguard teams. “When schools cheer loudly for their team in an encouraging manner, it motivates me to play to the best of my abilities,” KK Horner, senior volleyball player said. Keepers is also motivated by opposing fans. “I love [it] when I play at another school and they have a high energy student section because it just makes the game more competitive and honestly more fun,” Keepers said. Some fans don’t play by the rules, though. Horner described a bad experience she had while playing at an out-of-town game. “Imagine having 100 students who have researched your name, your boyfriend's
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT Maggie Haskett, '27, Varsity Basketball BY SA R A CLA R K R E P O RT E R
VR: How are you able to balance sports and academics? MAGGIE HASKETT: It’s pretty hard actually, especially without a study mod and since I’m on the mock trial competition team. I try to do as much as I can in school when teachers give us time to do homework in class and stuff. I just try to do well in school and sports while also trying to have time to just relax.
Photo by Sara Clark/ VR staff
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VR: How do you stay so positive after a loss? MH: I don’t try to stay positive. I just tell myself the truth and ask myself, “How did I play?” “What could I have done better?” “What do I need to work on?” Just stuff like that. Of course I’m disappointed after a loss, but I don’t let it linger.
SPORTS
VANTAGE name, where you plan to go to college, and yell all such things at your team to try and psych you out,” Horner said. “When other opponents illegally get in our heads using such tactics [it] negatively affects my performance.”
Top to bottom: Viking fans fill the home stands as the Lady Vikings take on Prince of Peace. (Photo by Sara Clark/ VR staff) A lone fan represents his school's entire student section at an away JV boys' basketball game. (Photo by Bentlee Keepers) Vikings watch, enthralled, from the sidelines at a Varsity home volleyball game. (Photo by Crosby Davis/ Bifrost staff)
Circumstances such as jeering fans and long trips before a game can certainly put guest teams at a disadvantage. Drew Howard, sophomore basketball player, encourages athletes to always play to the best of their abilities, whether at home or away games. “You have to treat [an away game] the same as you would a home game because it doesn't matter what place, time, or how many [opponents] are against you," Howard said, "you have to always have the mentality that you're there to get the job done.”
VR: Do your jersey numbers have a special meaning behind them? MH: Not at all. My three favorite jersey numbers are 13, 14, and 15 for no real reason. VR: How long have you been playing each sport? MH: I’ve been playing volleyball since 3rd grade, so about 5-6 years. I’ve been playing basketball since 2014 at Woodway Family Center , so it’s been 10 years. VR: Do you plan on playing/trying any
new sports throughout high school? MH: I’m on the edge about playing softball, [however] I’ve never swung a bat in my life. VR: What has been your favorite basketball/ volleyball game this year? MH: Our JV Blue game at Prince of Peace was really fun. We went to the third set, but it was just a really fun game in general. We ran a new rotation for the first time and it worked really well. VR: Do you plan on playing any sports in college?
MH: No, I just have no interest in going past high school in sports, besides for fun on weekends. VR: What is Your favorite Bus ride memory from this year? MH: Probably the bus ride back from Prince of Peace during volleyball season. It was after a win so that part was great, and Annie, Crosby, Miley, and I all slept on the floor together. It was more like messing around with a side of sleep. Just a great memory with my friends.
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STUDENT POLL
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LUNAR NEW YEAR Continued from page 15
zodiac — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. People born in these years are believed to have certain personality traits and have different fortunes each year. This year, 2024, is the year of the dragon, but the rat is the luckiest this year. There are 12 animals in the Chinese The zodiac follows a 60-year which determines what year zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, cycle it will be. The rat starts the cycle horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig due to it mythologically being the — and 2024 is the year of the dragon. first in the zodiac. These animals show themselves on many decorations during the Spring Festival, most commonly red outlined in gold. Zodiac signs play a large part in the celebration of the Spring Festival as each year has a different animal or creature dedicated to it. Different regions have different zodiac signs and rotations; however, the Chinese zodiac is the most well-known of the many variations. There are twelve animals in the Chinese When the night of the new year came, the man was dressed in red and sent off firecrackers which scared the monster away. From then on each year the people would set off firecrackers, decorate with red decorations, and wear red clothing. For a long time, this tradition was celebrated by people in smaller villages and farmers, but the Han Dynasty transformed the holiday into a true celebration. Today, many of these traditions still follow the myths from thousands of years ago.
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REVIEW The Vanguard