Why Schools Should Start Later
Julia DiStasio 5/15
Ah, there’s nothing more satisfying than the perpetual sound of an alarm clock blaring in your ears at six in the morning.
Okay, sarcasm aside, if you are reading this, then you know the sweet feeling of pressing the snooze button and getting those five extra minutes of sleep--then ten, then twenty, then twenty five--and now you’re rushing to get ready so you’re not late for school. This is my problem; every morning, I press the snooze button until I realize that I am going to be late for school.
I never had the best attendance or the most consistent Honor Roll. Some people may think it's because I don’t care about school, but that isn’t the reason. The reason is--and I can guarantee at least half the school would agree with me--high schools start too early.
I get such little sleep that it feels like my brain forces me to take a nap when I get home from school. When I do this, I end up ruining my sleep schedule and when I wake up at 2 a.m., I’m not able to fall back to sleep (this actually happened to me last night).
Some people might suggest going to bed earlier or getting up instead of hitting snooze, but here’s the problem: I cannot fall asleep before eleven p.m. This is because teenagers' biological clocks generally restrict or “force-delay” them to go to sleep around nine through ten at night. I honestly don’t even bother trying to sleep at 10:00 anymore because I know I won’t fall asleep.
Teenagers are reported to get between seven to seven and a half hours of sleep on school nights. According to nationwidechildrens.org, they should be getting nine to nine and a half hours of sleep. It makes it especially worse for students that have to take the bus to school in the morning. I know some students who have to get up at 5 or 4:30 because their buses come so early.
Do you know how detrimental it is to our health to start school this early? Lack of sleep can lead to impaired attention, alertness, memory, cognitive processing skills, and judgment, and can lead to depression, anxiety, obesity, and risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Did you know starting school too early can lead to eating disorders? Imagine: you're up and on your way to school, but you realize you didn’t eat. Now what? Maybe stop by Dunkin' Donuts or McDonalds and get something fast(ish). They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day so it should be nutritious and it shouldn’t be skipped. Skipping breakfast can lead to obesity, lower cognition, and bad mood.
Many people would wonder how we could actually make school start later without having to stay till 4 p.m. I have the answer.
I’ve worked a way around that; it involves tweaking our schedules in a variety of ways. Other schools do it, so we can too.
There are so many benefits to starting school later, such as more sleep per night, improved academic skills, reduced tardiness and dropout rates, reduced anxiety and depression, reduced risk of obesity and eating disorders, improved mood and impulse control, and overall stronger immune systems.
Starting school later is pediatrician approved and if doctors that are specifically devoted to the health of adolescents say that high schools should start later because it’s a health issue, why won’t anyone do anything to change it?
Julia DiStasio 5/15
Ah, there’s nothing more satisfying than the perpetual sound of an alarm clock blaring in your ears at six in the morning.
Okay, sarcasm aside, if you are reading this, then you know the sweet feeling of pressing the snooze button and getting those five extra minutes of sleep--then ten, then twenty, then twenty five--and now you’re rushing to get ready so you’re not late for school. This is my problem; every morning, I press the snooze button until I realize that I am going to be late for school.
I never had the best attendance or the most consistent Honor Roll. Some people may think it's because I don’t care about school, but that isn’t the reason. The reason is--and I can guarantee at least half the school would agree with me--high schools start too early.
I get such little sleep that it feels like my brain forces me to take a nap when I get home from school. When I do this, I end up ruining my sleep schedule and when I wake up at 2 a.m., I’m not able to fall back to sleep (this actually happened to me last night).
Some people might suggest going to bed earlier or getting up instead of hitting snooze, but here’s the problem: I cannot fall asleep before eleven p.m. This is because teenagers' biological clocks generally restrict or “force-delay” them to go to sleep around nine through ten at night. I honestly don’t even bother trying to sleep at 10:00 anymore because I know I won’t fall asleep.
Teenagers are reported to get between seven to seven and a half hours of sleep on school nights. According to nationwidechildrens.org, they should be getting nine to nine and a half hours of sleep. It makes it especially worse for students that have to take the bus to school in the morning. I know some students who have to get up at 5 or 4:30 because their buses come so early.
Do you know how detrimental it is to our health to start school this early? Lack of sleep can lead to impaired attention, alertness, memory, cognitive processing skills, and judgment, and can lead to depression, anxiety, obesity, and risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Did you know starting school too early can lead to eating disorders? Imagine: you're up and on your way to school, but you realize you didn’t eat. Now what? Maybe stop by Dunkin' Donuts or McDonalds and get something fast(ish). They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day so it should be nutritious and it shouldn’t be skipped. Skipping breakfast can lead to obesity, lower cognition, and bad mood.
Many people would wonder how we could actually make school start later without having to stay till 4 p.m. I have the answer.
I’ve worked a way around that; it involves tweaking our schedules in a variety of ways. Other schools do it, so we can too.
There are so many benefits to starting school later, such as more sleep per night, improved academic skills, reduced tardiness and dropout rates, reduced anxiety and depression, reduced risk of obesity and eating disorders, improved mood and impulse control, and overall stronger immune systems.
Starting school later is pediatrician approved and if doctors that are specifically devoted to the health of adolescents say that high schools should start later because it’s a health issue, why won’t anyone do anything to change it?
"50 Shades of Abuse": Are You Aware of Relationship Abuse?
Nerea Blanco 5/15 Now let’s think...how many people have read the book "50 Shades Of Grey" or been to see the movie? I wonder if those people knew they were watching abuse. You may now be wondering “What?! Millions of people have read that book and watched that movie; why would they watch abuse?” The answer to that is because they actually don’t know what abuse is. (I refuse to read the book, but I have seen snippets and found information online through multiple sources.) Most people are ignorant about the various pieces of the abuse puzzle. They end up trying to make what they know fit and they don’t think about it too much. But there are people who do put the whole puzzle together. And it forms a scary picture. "50 Shades" is the puzzle. And people need to start realizing that some of the pieces just don’t fit. There are people that are into different things, and that’s okay. But abuse isn’t okay. The adult content it contains is what some people enjoy. The characters pretend, and that’s fine...when it’s pretend. But in "50 Shades Of Grey," it’s not pretend. Christian Grey, the male lead, stalks the female lead, Ana. The handsome, rich, millionaire finds out where she works and uses her phone to track where she is. He controls what she eats, who she’s allowed to spend time with, and isolates her from her family and friends. He threatens her and blames her for things. This causes Ana to be afraid to talk to her friends and she becomes insecure and is genuinely afraid of Christian. When you’re afraid of your partner, you need to get out of the relationship. That should be where the line is drawn. Fear is not fun, sexy, or healthy. If you are unable to get out of a relationship for any reason, even if you’re just scared to, then you’re being domestically abused. Amy Bonomi, professor and chairperson of Michigan State University’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, backs this up. “A thorough 2013 study of the book concludes that emotional and sexual abuse is pervasive in the novel”, she says. Up until last year, I didn’t know that domestic abuse wasn’t just physical. Because I was never taught about this, I had to learn about it on my own. Only 33% of teens being domestically abused knowingly report it, and this is scary. This is concerning news for teens, but think about married people in situations that are even more difficult to get out of. Thehotline.org says lack of knowledge, confusion about the law, and desire for confidentiality are the biggest barriers that stop people from getting help. On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by a partner...and over 12 million over the course of a year in the United States. Confidentiality shouldn’t be a problem. Why is it we can’t talk about things like this? We obviously need to. Especially since so many people lack adequate knowledge about what domestic abuse actually is. There are people who are scared to talk about their situations for fear of being judged. Why are they being judged? Why should anyone be judged because of something someone else does to physically or mentally harm them? It doesn’t make any sense. We need to talk about it! We need awareness! These people all deserve to be safe and happy. Abuse in relationships comes in many forms. Physical abuse is only one form. Other kinds of abuse are listed below. They can seem vague or confusing. So I’ll explain them. • Coercion [koh-ur-shuh n], noun: the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats. This means making threats to do something that will hurt you, to leave you if you don’t do what they say, to commit suicide, to make you drop charges…basically any threat. Even if the threat isn't carried out, if your significant other is making threats against you at all it is abuse. Your partner should not be allowed to make you do anything you don’t want to do...this is abuse. • Intimidation [in-tim-i-dey-shuh n], noun: to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear. This means making you afraid by using looks, gestures, or full-on actions. This could be basically anything your partner does to purposely scare you and make you feel like they’re in control. Throwing, breaking, or smashing things, destroying your personal belongings, abusing pets, or displaying weapons...this is abuse. • Emotional [ih-moh-shuh-el adj.], adjective: any strong agitation of the feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear, etc., and usually accompanied by certain physiological changes, as increased heartbeat or respiration, and often overt manifestation, as crying or shaking. If your partner is using your emotions against you, this is emotional abuse. By putting you down, making you feel bad about yourself, insulting you, disrespecting you, calling you names, making you think you’re crazy or that there’s something wrong with you, humiliating you, making you feel guilty, or basically making you feel a certain way about yourself...this is abuse. • Isolation [ahy-suh-ley-shuh n], noun: to set or place apart; detach or separate so as to be alone. When your partner controls what you do, where you go, who you see, who you talk to, what you watch, what you read, your free time or activities outside the relationship (ex. hobbies, time with friends, family, etc.), and/or uses jealousy to justify actions...this is abuse. • Deceiving [dih-seev-ing], verb: to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude. This type of abuse is the most commonly disregarded or excluded type of abuse, although it can do just as much mental damage. If your partner is playing “mind games,” using the relationship for personal gain (sexual favors or actual physical items), keeping secrets, lying (about their feelings for you or practically anything else), tricking you into doing things for them, and/or giving false hope by making and breaking promises...this is abuse. • Denying [dih-nahy-ing], verb: to state that (something declared or believed to be true) is not true. If your partner is saying the abuse didn’t happen, making excuses for the abusive behavior, blaming it on you, not taking it seriously, or ignoring it all together...this is abuse. • Male Privilege [priv-lij], noun: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people (in this case, men). Your boyfriend treating you like a maid, cook, servant, etc. Acting like he’s the one to decide men’s and women’s roles in society and your life...this is abuse. • Using Children [yooz-ing], verb: to take unfair advantage of; exploiting (children). When your partner makes you feel guilty about your children, lies to them, makes them pick sides, threatens to take them away if you leave the relationship, uses visitation to harass you, uses them as an excuse to keep the relationship going, or in any other way uses them against you...this is abuse. • Physical [fiz-i-kuh l], adjective: of or relating to the body. Being forced with your body into doing anything sexual is rape, even if you’re in a relationship with that person. Being in a relationship doesn’t mean you have to do anything your partner wants. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. Remember, your body is yours. Anything that involves violence: hitting, throwing things, beating, using weapons, you being hurt at all. If you’re being assaulted sexually, or violently...this is abuse. • Economic [ek-uh-nom-ik], adjective: pertaining to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and commodities. When your partner prevents you from getting or keeping a job, making you ask others for money, taking your money, giving you an allowance, not letting you know about family income, uses their money against you, or keep money a secret when you need it...this is abuse. Let’s go back to "50 Shades Of Grey," and think about what you just read. Ten different types of abuse. Economic abuse: He’s a billionaire, he uses his money as power against her. Denying: He denies the abuse because he claims she agreed to it, when in any relationship, if you want it to end, you should be able to end it. Isolation: keeps her away from loved ones, and controls many aspects of her life like eating, whereabouts, etc. Intimidation: he scares her, using coercion: to threaten her, making her too afraid to leave and practically unable anyways with everything else he does and can do. Four different types of abuse? And society plays this off as a “romance"? This is utterly and completely horrifying. Don’t think 50 Shades is negatively influencing society? Think again. Mohammad Hossain, a 19-year-old college freshman at the University of Illinois was recently influenced. He raped another 19-year-old student while reenacting scenes from "50 Shades Of Grey." He thought his behavior was okay, because it’s in the media and people are treating it like it’s okay. In addition to people ignoring abuse in the media, the amount of people I know that have been abused mentally and physically is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you acknowledge the fact some of them didn’t even know it was abuse at the time it was occurring to them.
Think about it. Why are people consenting to abusive relationships? Look at the cultural norms around you-- on TV, advertisements, and the way women are seen/treated. Think about it, question it, talk about it, learn about it, and educate others. We can’t keep this as the norm. It’s wrong and something needs to be done about it! Educate yourself, and spread the knowledge about the subtleties of abuse. It’s a serious, dangerous matter. If you or someone you know thinks they’re being abused, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org) can help. You can chat online with specialists, find more information, or call these numbers: 1-800-799-7233, 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). |
Fake Dragons and Creeping Suns
Julia DiStasio 4/15 I hate how people are expected to go to school for thirteen years, get a part time job, go to college, get a better job, and then work for the rest of their lives to pay off college. Why can’t we have time to do things that matter and make us happy--like spending time with our family, hanging out with friends, or discovering new places for ourselves and not just seeing it all online? There’s nothing I want to do more than to travel around the world, but my family doesn’t even have enough money to travel around Connecticut so forget about the rest of the United States and the world (for now). The newest generations are going to be so used to getting what they want when they want it. How is that even fun? What I find fun and what most others find fun are completely opposite. Most kids would say they like playing video games and watching TV all day. I have to admit that I do too, but what’s the point of living in a world where the only adventure you get to go on is the mission in a video game to kill the dragon? I want to go places and learn new things, not stay cooped up in my house with my eyes glued to my phone or stuck in a chair in school for six hours getting lectured by a teacher. Half the time I zone out and wonder what the members of my favorite band are doing at that moment or who made up the names of colors. I get that most people prefer staying inside because that means no contact with anyone or anything, but I know if they actually got up at five in the morning and took a walk they would experience so many new things that TV shows can’t compare to. Who wouldn’t want to hear the birds sing to the sun that’s creeping up over the horizon or smell the fresh air that the new day brings firsthand? Money, Wealth, Power
Derrick Sims 4/15 Oligarchy: “A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.” Democracy: “A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.” America claims to be a democracy, I will not take away the fact the America is democratically set up. But the way that it is run is not a democratic society. In the world we live in today, rich people or upper class citizens have more power in political status than middle class, lower class, and poor people. A study done by the political scientists Martin Gilens, of Princeton, and Benjamin Page, of Northwestern, shows that about forty-five percent of policy changes supported by rich people were passed. About eighteen percent of laws opposed by rich people are passed. You may think that these numbers are low, but for rich people to have that much power in a so-called “Democracy” is disgusting. The rich people are a large majority of the “small group” that runs the country according to the definition of oligarchy. If my word cannot be heard or respected because I don’t make a certain amount of money, then what good is there for me to be here? What good is it for me to step in a booth and vote? What good is it for me to watch the news and keep up with politics and other current events? What good is it? In a democracy, even the lowest grade citizen’s word should have some power. Some effect or some considerable thought should go to the idea, if reasonable of course. To measure somebody’s power based on their wealth is ridiculous. That is not a democracy. I understand that anyone over the age of eighteen can vote for mayor, for representatives, and even for president. But if I vote for someone, I want someone to listen, someone to hear out all the suggestions before taking action. I don’t want to be overlooked because I don’t make as much money as the next guy. What’s so special about him? That he has more money than I do? That doesn’t mean he works as hard as me. Nor does that mean that he is any smarter than I or has better ideas. Why is wealth such a factor in America? I just would like to figure out why it is that wealth has such an impact on the idea of equity. |
Food for Thought: Junk food is KILLING YOU!
Tiana Hill 4/15 Okay, maybe not killing you, but I got your attention, right? We must communicate our arguments with passion. The article “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” by Mark Bittman, mentions people using the excuse that junk food costs less than healthy food to justify their unhealthy choices. To me it all depends. From personal experience with buying my own food and being around while my mom bought food, I believe that both forms of purchasing food can have an identical cost, if you’re actually thinking about what you’re buying. Cost can be generated from your preference in food; if you’re buying four Big Macs, four large fries and four large Sprites, of course it will cost more than some rice and beans. Most people buy junk food or fast food because it’s a more convenient source of nourishment. Not everyone has time to stand over a stove and cook a four course meal every single day; they may have work or school. Many people are just naturally lazy, so they may have all the time in the world, but they just don’t feel like cooking. This makes junk food and fast food an easier and better option for some people, also making it easier for the food and snack industry to build an empire. The food industry is often blamed for the foods that we as free people choose to eat, as well as the aftereffects of our unhealthy food choices. Let’s exclude the fact that mostly all foods are modified in some way. Genetic modification makes it difficult to find something completely natural and pure to eat. Other than that nobody is really forcing you to eat any particular food. If the cost or quality of the food really bothers you that bad then you can shop for food more consciously or grow your own food; the choice is yours. Junk food and fast food aren’t going to go anywhere, at least not anytime soon; Modern day people are too addicted to fast food for it to just disappear. It would take a ton of awareness, time, and patience. It’s such a convenience and people have a lot of dependency on places like McDonalds and Wendy’s. Due to modern day lifestyles, people usually choose what they feel will fill them up for the time being; not thinking about what would help them when it comes to nutrition in the long run. This kind of decision may not seem like an important one; however, this one choice is moderately connected to a quantity of other choices you might have to make, not only health wise, but in other aspects of your life as well. For example, you might want to consider your moral connections to the businesses that own and produce the food you buy. They might be advocates for something you’re against. You may never know, but as long as your food is temporarily satisfying you don’t care, right? Nothing can compare to the taste of those Modified meats, processed cheeses, and the sound of your morals and values crashing and burning inside your body. |
Shop on the Top Shelf
Jordyn Mitchell 4/15 When choosing a partner for a relationship, shop on the top shelf. Never give anyone that much power to change you inside or out, mentally or physically. Remember, you can be rejected, but then there is a new person to shop for the following day. Always use your experiences to steer clear of drama and succeed simply by making different choices. Believe it or not, most people are not here to intentionally hurt you. These choices won't be easy and you will lose some or all that are close to you, and you may even burn some bridges along the way when you see no other options, but your soul will be strong enough for these things in due time. Do not expect apologies from those who act on impulse, without self discipline. They come to you with all that they have; accept them for who they are, realizing they can do no better. We all do what we have to do to keep safe and others are no different; they may simply lacking the necessary traits for your well being. Forgive them, but there is only so much you can handle to a certain extent. I'm not saying go with the flow. Know that you can’t have everything because people come with flaws. Try to trust until given a reason not to; be loyal until given a reason not to be. Believe it or not, most people are good people. Respect, trust, and loyalty are earned, not given. Live with a purpose and measure it on your own scale. We can’t live for anyone else but ourselves. I’ve been lucky enough to love and be loved in this world on more than one occasion; some of us never find it, or miss it looking in many different directions at once. But don’t worry; stay your course. It may not happen when you wish, but it will happen. |
Our Societal Expectations
Liz Colon 3/15
When you are a certain age, you have and are given expectations. Society says you can and cannot do certain things. Some follow those rules; some don’t. But do those rules really matter? Either way, over time a person will become who they are meant to be.
For example, if you’re in the preteen age range, you usually aren’t given as many responsibilities as adults get. It’s almost as if your parents don’t want you exploring and seeing the world because they “know” it will ruin you. Your parents may not allow you to hang out with your friends past seven or watch PG-13 movies; you go through friends as often as you complain about school and homework. Everything is a joke to you, but you understand what’s important; you just choose not to do anything about it. At this age, you want to be treated as if you are older, but you accept the fact that you are a child and that your parents have much more authority over you.
When you are a teen, it’s very complicated. You’re just starting to see the world for what it is and you want to see and try everything. These are the years in which you have the opportunity to find yourself. Since teens go through many phases, the majority of teens claim that they’ve found themselves, but I believe you don’t really find yourself until something dramatic enough happens to change you or your view on things. Teens seem to always want independence and to be treated as if they are adults; staying out later, having nicer clothes and a lot of money, wanting to fall in love and be in a relationship, or just basically feeling like they have agency. It’s just a mess; teen priorities aren’t always right, so mistakes can happen. However, I realize that is because at this age teens are struggling to decide what is right, but tend to give in to what they want, not need. Teens want things because they yearn to be adults. They want to be on their own; they want to be experiencing exotic and exciting things.
I can only assume what it’s like to be an adult. They seem to see the world more for what it truly is and get a sense and feel of what it has to offer. It seems like adults wish they could be children or teens again so they could do it all over. Being an adult has its advantages of course, but since they’re given so much responsibility, they just want to be young again when there’s “not a single stress in the world.”
What I’ve noticed is that no matter what age we are, as we develop, we just want to be treated as if we are somebody. When you’re a preteen you want to be treated like a teen, when you’re a teen you want to be treated like an adult, and when you’re an adult you want to have the chance to start again and be young. With these age groups, it all depends on how immature and mature a person is. Everybody knows what is truly good for them and what they should or should not be doing. Obviously, you wouldn’t allow your ten-year-old child to wander the streets after nine o’clock, however, you should allow them to start having a variety of opportunities. For example, they can choose the kind of clothes they would like to wear or activities to join. When you’re an adult you shouldn’t have to be forced into being “mature” in every moment. You should definitely color in coloring books if you’d like or to just be a kid for a day. There’s no shame in not “acting your age.”
Everybody was raised a certain way in a certain environment. Some environments make people continue to be childish and some make people grow up too fast. Therefore, there shouldn’t be a specific expectation as to how a person should act according to their age. People are people and they should only have to live up to their own expectations, not some false idea that society made up so every human can be “perfect.”
Liz Colon 3/15
When you are a certain age, you have and are given expectations. Society says you can and cannot do certain things. Some follow those rules; some don’t. But do those rules really matter? Either way, over time a person will become who they are meant to be.
For example, if you’re in the preteen age range, you usually aren’t given as many responsibilities as adults get. It’s almost as if your parents don’t want you exploring and seeing the world because they “know” it will ruin you. Your parents may not allow you to hang out with your friends past seven or watch PG-13 movies; you go through friends as often as you complain about school and homework. Everything is a joke to you, but you understand what’s important; you just choose not to do anything about it. At this age, you want to be treated as if you are older, but you accept the fact that you are a child and that your parents have much more authority over you.
When you are a teen, it’s very complicated. You’re just starting to see the world for what it is and you want to see and try everything. These are the years in which you have the opportunity to find yourself. Since teens go through many phases, the majority of teens claim that they’ve found themselves, but I believe you don’t really find yourself until something dramatic enough happens to change you or your view on things. Teens seem to always want independence and to be treated as if they are adults; staying out later, having nicer clothes and a lot of money, wanting to fall in love and be in a relationship, or just basically feeling like they have agency. It’s just a mess; teen priorities aren’t always right, so mistakes can happen. However, I realize that is because at this age teens are struggling to decide what is right, but tend to give in to what they want, not need. Teens want things because they yearn to be adults. They want to be on their own; they want to be experiencing exotic and exciting things.
I can only assume what it’s like to be an adult. They seem to see the world more for what it truly is and get a sense and feel of what it has to offer. It seems like adults wish they could be children or teens again so they could do it all over. Being an adult has its advantages of course, but since they’re given so much responsibility, they just want to be young again when there’s “not a single stress in the world.”
What I’ve noticed is that no matter what age we are, as we develop, we just want to be treated as if we are somebody. When you’re a preteen you want to be treated like a teen, when you’re a teen you want to be treated like an adult, and when you’re an adult you want to have the chance to start again and be young. With these age groups, it all depends on how immature and mature a person is. Everybody knows what is truly good for them and what they should or should not be doing. Obviously, you wouldn’t allow your ten-year-old child to wander the streets after nine o’clock, however, you should allow them to start having a variety of opportunities. For example, they can choose the kind of clothes they would like to wear or activities to join. When you’re an adult you shouldn’t have to be forced into being “mature” in every moment. You should definitely color in coloring books if you’d like or to just be a kid for a day. There’s no shame in not “acting your age.”
Everybody was raised a certain way in a certain environment. Some environments make people continue to be childish and some make people grow up too fast. Therefore, there shouldn’t be a specific expectation as to how a person should act according to their age. People are people and they should only have to live up to their own expectations, not some false idea that society made up so every human can be “perfect.”
But Will It Buy You Happiness?
Renna Chambers 2/15 Have you ever thought that you didn’t have enough? So what do you do? You go out and buy more stuff to help you fill the empty hole. For a while it does fill the hole, all this new stuff you have in your house. Our lives feel complete when we have all the money we want, a nice house, a nice car and up to date clothing--but have you ever thought about giving it all up? I know you’re probably gasping at my question like I am crazy. Why would you give up all the nice stuff you worked for? Think of it like this: a New York Times article called “But will it make you happy?” describes a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Strobel who had everything and were making $40,000 a year and gave it all up to only have 100 personal items each. And no, they weren’t ill or crazy. They heard of a challenge to only live with 100 personal items. You don’t need money and fancy stuff to make you happy. Elizabeth M. Dunn, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia co-wrote a paper called “If money doesn’t make you happy then you probably aren’t spending it right” that explores this idea. People should realize they don’t need everything they have. They should be more interested in creating memories. People are more worried about wants than needs. You have this greedy feeling where you want more and more stuff. But it’s not your fault, the stores put merchandise in your face all the time--shiny, big things that make you crave. As I was reading this article I saw an ad for a big shiny watch from “Cartier,” but really where and what are you going to do with a watch like that unless you go to a lot of fancy parties? Material goods don’t bring you happiness. Ms. Stobel is quoted as saying, “The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false.” That’s why today people set an amount to spend and need to juggle to meet that amount. We stop getting pleasure from our things, yet we always want new things. The article also talks about a couple shopping for a house and they saw a nice house with a open floor plan, fancy kitchen, great light and a spacious bedroom. But do you know what made them buy the house? It wasn’t what was in the house, it was because there was a hiking trail right next door. The house next door to a hiking trail made it easy to hike every day. They take hiking trips three days a week. The best thing you can do is spend money that will affect you forever rather than spend money that will only affect you tomorrow. |
Influence & Manipulation
Carly Buccitti 2/15 Isn't it fascinating how we’re all made the same, but we form different opinions? The influence on our way of thinking comes from who we're surrounded by as we're brought up. It's pretty crazy how the ignorance of a person could potentially be prevented depending on who raises a child and what a child is exposed to. In some aspects, parents can be a dangerous source, depending on what they teach. They could provide children with awful morals that could turn into the way the society runs as the generation grows and becomes more in control. A lot of the people who become parents don't really deserve the position as much as a lot of the people who don't or can't, which is sad. All it really takes is the tiniest influence to mold a negative (or positive) mind. These are not necessarily the only ways that opinions can be formed, but it’s much easier to manipulate a mindset at an early age because the brain isn’t fully developed. Young children are more sensitive in this way because by watching the people around them, they can assume they’re doing the right thing. As a result, those kids repeat the things their family members do and say and they carry that thought process into adulthood. As you learn and are exposed to a broader range of people and opinions, your way of seeing things can change. But it’s harder to change when you’ve been accustomed to a certain way of thinking for most of your life. A similar form of manipulating how the brain thinks and functions is hypnosis. While in the state of hypnosis, the brain processes information differently than it usually would. Whoever is hypnotizing you can convince you of things you wouldn’t normally think to be true. They can trick you into thinking that no means yes and yes means no or that blue is green and green is blue, just by telling you so. The brain is easily influenced in this state of mind, maybe even more so than the mind of a child. Hypnosis is not only done for entertainment or scientific research; it is also done in many ways we’ve become unaware of. Examples of every day manipulation include advertising, laws, cultures, religion, etc. For example, advertiser’s main goals are to sell their products and make money. To get a consumer’s attention, they make sure that their ads are attractive and appealing; otherwise nobody would think about taking a second glance at what the company has to offer. Every day we succumb to the laws and rules given by who we believe is superior to us. Whether it be a religious leader or the leader of a country, we’ve been taught to listen, obey, and to not question why things are the way they are. How do we know that the way things are running are right? Is this the most efficient way to live? How does this benefit the society of people versus who’s in charge? We’re all manipulated every day in the tiniest ways. We’ve been told that a certain way of living is an ideal lifestyle and we’re all expected to achieve someone else’s goals. But more people have become self aware. Even though that’s frowned upon and many fear to think outside the box because of potential consequences, maybe questioning the way your community works is a good thing. It’s difficult not to become bait to the way the system works, but if there’s something you sense needs changing, you shouldn’t be considered at fault for speaking out against it. Question your surroundings and don’t feel obligated to live the life someone else wants for you. |
The Good, the Bad, and the In Between
Julia DiStasio 2/15 If someone were to rob a bank, you would call them a “bad person”, but what is bad? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary it is, “not correct or proper,” and I imagine you could presume that the definition of “good” is the opposite. Growing up, my mother made sure to tell me the things that were bad--stealing, murder, cheating on tests, and she also told me things that were good--holding the door open for other people, saying “please” and “thank you”, getting As on my tests. But if someone were to raise a child up and teach them that murder is good and helping people is bad, don’t you think they would listen to the person who has taken care of them their whole life? I believe there is no real definition of good and bad, only what people think are good and bad. For example, in the prohibition era, America banned the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol because they believed it was better for public morals and health; they pretty much called it bad. But now, as long as you are twenty one or over, you are allowed to buy, transport, and consume alcohol. Looking back at it now, everyone thinks that was ridiculous because most people nowadays believe that alcohol isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it doesn’t hurt anyone. Of course, that logic is wrong, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., ther are 88,000 deaths are annually attributed to excessive alcohol use. So the definitions of good and bad may not ever change, but what we decided are good and bad will. |
Equality is a Human Right
Jake DeLucia 2/15 When you’re born, you’re born a human. We all are. Regardless of skin color, eye color, hair color, or whether you have one leg or two, you’re born a human with human rights. You have the right to do whatever you want, whatever makes you happy. You can wear what you want, think what you want, say what you want, be what you want, marry who you want, and do whatever else you want as long as you don't infringe on the rights of others. It says so in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that you can. So why is it that gay marriage isn’t fully legalized everywhere in the world, not even in the United States which is supposed to be the “land of the free" where, “All men are created equal.” This is a violation of our rights and the rules our country is based on. Yet some people try and tell others who they can and cannot marry, who they can and cannot love. Not letting a couple marry because they are of the same gender is not freedom. If two people are in love they should be able to get married and have a family just like everybody else. How hard is that to understand? Take some time to look at Article 16 of the Declaration of Human Rights--read and comprehend it. “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” Therefore defying someone of marriage is defying them of having their natural born rights. On my way to school the other day, I heard on the radio that Alabama legalized gay marriage. But some judges do not agree with the ruling, so they are refusing to give marriage licenses. I find that to be very rude and I hope that if they don’t give the license that that couple reports them because what right does a judge have against the law? Instead of being a judge in regards to their job title--one who serves justice and grants the laws--they are the other form of judge, the one who judges another person with their own opinion. It bothers me because if the government is telling them to issue a marriage license and they say no because of their own belief, that is just not okay. People in this world really need to learn acceptance. They also need to learn how to mind their own business and live their own lives and stop trying to halt another person’s happiness because they don’t agree with something that has nothing to do with them. A homosexual relationship has nothing to do with, nor does it interfere with, a person’s heterosexual relationship. So why can’t people just let others have their own relationships to be happy in? Some say gays are ruining the “sanctity of marriage,” but up to 50% of marriages end in divorce anyway. All I’m saying is live for you and do what makes you happy in life. Don’t try and kill another person’s happiness because of your personal opinion, especially when it really has nothing to do with you and how you live your daily life. |
Remembrances
Jade Epps 2/15 It's already the second week in February and I haven’t learned one thing that relates to Black history--except the fact that a voice comes on the intercom the last five minutes of class, but who can hear anything with all of the chaos that goes on during the class period. Takes breath. When I was younger, there was always an activity or a guest speaker that would stop by and share their insights on the events that happened back then. It was always good to hear, but now that I’m in high school things seemed to have changed; now we rarely talk about these things. I began to question a teacher and ask why we only “celebrate" Black history month once a month. Why is it that Christopher Columbus gets more recognition? Why is that when those who worked hard don't get the same type of respect and fairness as others? I began to realize that when we define success, it relates back to self esteem. My question to you is: what does your reflection say about you; when you pass how will you want to remembered? |
The Self-Portrait Photography
(a.k.a. Selfie) Obsession Janardhan Sutram 1/15 For those who purposely detach themselves from the social world, and have inadequate knowledge about the new social reality and its existence, a selfie is when you take a self-portrait photograph of yourself by yourself. You can usually see the person's arm holding out the camera, in which case you can clearly tell that this person not have a friend to take the picture or in some cases the person has no friends at all. If Steve has no friends, that's his prerogative. This 21st century term has gained so much popularity that even songs have been named after it. The Chainsmoker released a song titled, “#selfie” which has over 2 billion views and has become a viral hit on the internet. Selfies are being used to crash twitter during auspicious award ceremonies like the Grammys (I’m looking at you Ellen DeGeneres…congratulations on crashing twitter with a selfie!...although I wish I was in it). #Dontgetmewrong, I have nothing against people taking selfies. It’s a free country; you can do whatever you want, but it does irk me when they are being taken often, like "every 5 seconds" often. As a matter of fact, obsession with selfies can lead to disturbing relationships with your phone: "Steve, you wanna go fishing this weekend?" "Nah! I think I'll spend some time with boo boo iPhone." Techinfographics.com says, “1 Million+ #selfies are taken every day.” And yes, that includes the “I ain’t a selfie addict” crazies. #Selfies are being taken so seriously by the society that there have been extreme cases where they take the lives of human beings. In August of 2014, a fifteen-year-old boy was critically wounded after shooting himself with a gun while taking a selfie. This goes to show that people are taking the #selfiegame too seriously, to a point where they are putting their lives at risk to get the #bestselfieever. On a positive note, selfies let you connect with a wide range of audiences that you might have never connected with otherwise. Miss Annabelle from easy1001.com says, “They can change how you see--or love--yourself.” In the end, that’s where we are headed. We all want to feel good about our bodies and love ourselves; we have found a new medium through which we can do that. More likes on instagram can boost your self-confidence and make you feel good about yourself. Selfies help us achieve exactly that. So, why don't we take a quick #selfie? As college tuition rises, high school students worry
Trequan Mills 11/14 Many students in the 11th and 12th grade are planning what careers they’ll choose after high school but as college tuition rises it’s making it extremely hard for students to get into certain colleges without having to pay back so many loans. Many states in the U.S. tuition fees have skyrocketed. WNPR reports that over the last five years, Georgia tuition alone has increased 75% and in Arizona a 77% increase. The majority of teenagers graduating in 2015 or 2016 want to be successful outside of high school and get a degree, but with college prices rising almost every year, some start to have second thoughts. Not everyone will receive full scholarships; some may only receive enough money to pay for two or three years of college. Many families are already struggling to pay bills and mortgages, but to have to worry whether your child will be able to go farther in life than high school is scary to many people all over. Teens are looking for a way to make a living when we’re adults and be able to make enough money to pay bills and still have extra money to spend. But with tuition fees rising, it almost seems like we’ll be working to pay back loans, which many teens want to avoid. How can we not be in debt once we’re finished with college? How many of us will be able to finish college? It all depends on what will happen next and how the government will try to handle the situation. |
Last Time; First Time
By Athena Singh 11/14 The other day I was in my room on twitter and I saw that Nash Grier tweeted: “When’s the last time you did something for the first time?” That one tweet has had me thinking since then. I honestly didn't remember the last time I really did something for the first time. I tried wracking my brain all night after that to see if there was something I did in the last month or so for the first time. I know many people don’t consider that many things we do every day could be considered something we have done for the first time. I remember about two weeks ago at my aunt’s house--she made this dessert called arroz con dulce. I’d never tried it before and it turned out to be really good. Arroz con dulce is translated into "sweet rice" in English. It’s a pretty good description of it, if you ask me. It’s a dessert that has sweet rice pudding, coconuts, raisins, and spices that we usually use near the holidays. And just last week I really had to get something to drink so I used the water fountain for the first time in my high school. I rode the city bus and got my first milkshake from Shake Shack about a month ago for the first time. I finally shared a piece of writing in my creative writing class. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we usually don’t dwell too much on the little things we do compared to the important, significant things. When I tried to find something I did that was big, I was stuck. But once I thought about it more, I realized I do new things a lot. Enough about me, I want to know when’s the last time you did something for the first time? |
Football: As American as... Domestic Violence?
Kyra Johnson 11/14 Football is one of the most popular sports in America. In many households, Sundays are sacred (not because of church), Monday is revered, and Thursday is almost holy. Every game is anticipated, watched with bated breath until the final seconds are played, down to the last tackles, the lass pass. We celebrate, argue, and bet for our favorite teams and players. Football is one of the ways we show our patriotism and faith in America—it’s what binds us together. It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but football is an all-American sport that defines us as a nation. When we (or at least I) think of America, of what America is, a few things come to mind. I’m not talking about the bald eagle, Uncle Sam, or freedom. I mean the things, the symbols, that are distinctly American, but not necessarily patriotic: Levi’s jeans, American cheese (the yellow, processed kind, of course), fried or grilled food of any kind, country music, pick-up trucks (I have an oddly southern view), #2 pencils, Disney Channel, and Football. When you watch those disturbingly patriotic commercials that want you to buy a car or a beer, scenes of all these things flash across the screen while an old white guy tells you what it means to be American. And while this is probably not such a great definition of what being an American actually means, it’s what a lot of us know. When I was 7, I wanted to be the first female football player in the NFL. I was determined to be the definition of American as I knew it, exactly as I and all 7-year-olds I knew saw it. I was going to be a fantastic football player who drove a pick-up and ate American cheese on everything. That was until one day, a few years later during a game of football (not tag football), I was tackled by the biggest kid in my grade. As I lay there struggling to catch my breath while seeing double, I decided I no longer wanted to be a player. I could watch, cheer, and do anything but play in the real league. That was the day I realized that football is a truly aggressive sport and that a girl couldn’t play. It’s a sport based purely on strength and masculine stereotypes, on pounding an opponent into the ground to win a game. And to not only win, but destroy. The players destroy each other, and themselves physically, all to get that football into the end zone. Much of today’s society centers around violence, from crime shows to video games to the sports we so love. But what’s important to remember is that the violence we see on TV should not follow us home. If you’ve watched the news at all lately you’ll know that is exactly what seems to be happening in the NFL--the violence and aggression is spilling over into the players’ personal lives. From a fiancée knocked unconscious to children ending up in the hospital because of brutal beatings, the violence just seems to keep coming. Along with the domestic abuse scandals, comes the reality none of us want to face—that football is not the sport we thought it was. While researching domestic abuse and the NFL, I came across multiple articles that were eye-opening. The International Business Times published ‘NFL's History of Domestic Violence Extends Beyond Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson Abuse Cases’ by Thomas Barribi in September of this year. Barribi points out the fact that between 1989 and 1994 140 football players from both college and pro leagues had been reported for domestic abuse. From 2000 to 2014, there were 85 arrests of players charged for domestic abuse. While these numbers may seem low, imagine how high the numbers really are for cases that have gone unreported over the years. In a second article ‘For battered NFL wives, a message from the cops and the league: Keep quiet’ by Simone Sebastian and Ines Bebea, posted by The Washington Post, the wife of former NFL player Wally Williams came forward to tell her story. “There is never any accountability [for men taught to attack on the field and enforce their wills on others.]…Some of these men are not equipped mentally or emotionally to turn off the aggression switch.” Everywhere some of these players go, the aggression and violence follows. What makes them such good football players is precisely what’s hurting those around them much more. Both articles point out a very important piece of the story: domestic abuse is not a new issue in the NFL. Part of what makes these stories scandals is that there are so many cover-ups conducted by the League each year going back to when the sport began. Players are now usually given a six-game suspension with pay after a domestic abuse charge. But what’s especially sad, besides the fact that DUI’s are treated with a heavier penalty within the league than abuse, is that these suspensions are few and far between, and not because there aren’t many cases. On the contrary, there are plenty of cases, but most are swept under the rug so quickly they never see the daylight, and players never have the chance to be suspended. These suspensions only occur after public pushback on the league. Another serious issues is the new information about life expectancy and injury surrounding the players themselves. A professional football player’s life expectancy is 20 years less than the average man. One third of players will have long-term brain damage in retirement. The list goes on. So why do we watch a sport that is killing its players for our entertainment? A sport that ignores domestic abuse and lets wives and children continue to be beaten so the league can make money? Why do we idolize this game so much we plan our week around it? Yes, there is the patriotism, the need to be American. There is excitement, something many of us can find common ground in. There’s just something about football. But it comes down to moral choices. Do we continue to support a game that does these things? Or do we turn our backs on it? For me, it’s an almost impossible choice to make. It seems to challenge what I always thought it meant to be American—if football is bad, and football is the most American we can get, what becomes of America? If I walk away from football, I lose my sense of patriotism. I feel somehow less American without it. And if I lose football, does that mean I lose everything else too? Do the cheese and country music no longer work without football? The answer is not so simple. In my research, I found many editorials written by former sports reporters who had turned their backs on football altogether because of these issues. To them, the answer was simple. A sport that we use as entertainment that destroys families is not okay. And then there are diehard fans who will never turn their backs on the sport. They love it too much to abandon it. I fall somewhere in between. I love football, but I also hate what it stands for--aggression, violence, abuse, and pain. It goes against my upbringing, my own personal morals. It seems simple on paper—I should stop my support of football. But a part of me, maybe the 7-year-old deep inside who (illegally) drives a pick-up truck is heartbroken to do so. I know I will always love football. It’ll require a ton of restraint to change the channel when a game is on, or to delete the multiple apps on my phone. But if I want to be the person I say I am morally, to believe in the things I say I do, I know I need to put my relationship with football on hold, at least until football can get itself together. |