STAY WOKE
BY KELLIE MONZON CRUZ
"Cyntoia Brown"
Raped and sent to jail for life, Cyntoia Brown. In November, the young woman went viral over social media. Cyntoia Brown was a victim of sex trafficking, she was abused, raped, and was forced to prostitute herself. At the age of 16 she killed a man and was tried as an adult, resulting in a lifetime sentence in jail.
The young girl went viral after Rihanna shared the story via Instagram, catching the attention of thousands of people including other A-list celebrities. Kim Kardashian has also shared the story and has even offered her support to Cyntoia by talking to her lawyers about reducing Cyntoia’s sentence.
This all may seem like just any other rape case, right? No. This is not just any rape case; this case has many effects on the future of rape cases and how they could be handled. The way I see things is Cyntoia is raped by a 43-year-old man, at the age of 16, and kills him out of self-defense, yet is punished for it by being put in jail for life.
I personally don’t find this right at all, she was repeatedly abused and raped by several men, brought up with drugs and raised as a sex slave; when she finally has the courage to stand up for herself and defend herself against a man who has used her for his personal pleasure, she is put in jail for life without parole until the age of 69.
Rape is an extremely sensitive topic, and it is understood that people don’t want to talk about it. In many cases, rape victims feel ashamed and most of all they’re afraid of not being believed which is why many rape victims keep quiet. Rape victims should be supported, not punished.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault feel free to call the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
BY KELLIE MONZON CRUZ
"Cyntoia Brown"
Raped and sent to jail for life, Cyntoia Brown. In November, the young woman went viral over social media. Cyntoia Brown was a victim of sex trafficking, she was abused, raped, and was forced to prostitute herself. At the age of 16 she killed a man and was tried as an adult, resulting in a lifetime sentence in jail.
The young girl went viral after Rihanna shared the story via Instagram, catching the attention of thousands of people including other A-list celebrities. Kim Kardashian has also shared the story and has even offered her support to Cyntoia by talking to her lawyers about reducing Cyntoia’s sentence.
This all may seem like just any other rape case, right? No. This is not just any rape case; this case has many effects on the future of rape cases and how they could be handled. The way I see things is Cyntoia is raped by a 43-year-old man, at the age of 16, and kills him out of self-defense, yet is punished for it by being put in jail for life.
I personally don’t find this right at all, she was repeatedly abused and raped by several men, brought up with drugs and raised as a sex slave; when she finally has the courage to stand up for herself and defend herself against a man who has used her for his personal pleasure, she is put in jail for life without parole until the age of 69.
Rape is an extremely sensitive topic, and it is understood that people don’t want to talk about it. In many cases, rape victims feel ashamed and most of all they’re afraid of not being believed which is why many rape victims keep quiet. Rape victims should be supported, not punished.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault feel free to call the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
HEARD AROUND THE GLOBE
BY TANJENA CHOWDHURY
There have been many protests over the statement President Trump made about on Jerusalem. Its Palestinians and the Israelis that are having a dispute over if Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel or not. Since Trump's announcement over a week ago, 16 rockets have been fired from Gaza Strip into Israel. Many Palestinians have started protests against the statement. About four Palestinians had just been declared dead from protesting, and hundreds have been wounded. The Israeli army had mentioned that about 2,500 Palestinians rolled burning tires and hurled firebombs and rocks at police in several West Bank cities, and another 3,500 Palestinians fought against the soldiers along the security fence in the Gaza Strip. Around 10,000 Palestinians had went to Al -Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City for Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer for Muslims) and then stayed back to protest. People from the country Jordan had gathered around to protest with the Palestinians. For that many people to protest this is such a big movement for the Palestinians. So many people are dying or getting hurt from all these riots. The protests and fightings are making innocent people hurt.
- http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/15/middleeast/jerusalem-protests-friday-intl/index.html
BY TANJENA CHOWDHURY
There have been many protests over the statement President Trump made about on Jerusalem. Its Palestinians and the Israelis that are having a dispute over if Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel or not. Since Trump's announcement over a week ago, 16 rockets have been fired from Gaza Strip into Israel. Many Palestinians have started protests against the statement. About four Palestinians had just been declared dead from protesting, and hundreds have been wounded. The Israeli army had mentioned that about 2,500 Palestinians rolled burning tires and hurled firebombs and rocks at police in several West Bank cities, and another 3,500 Palestinians fought against the soldiers along the security fence in the Gaza Strip. Around 10,000 Palestinians had went to Al -Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City for Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer for Muslims) and then stayed back to protest. People from the country Jordan had gathered around to protest with the Palestinians. For that many people to protest this is such a big movement for the Palestinians. So many people are dying or getting hurt from all these riots. The protests and fightings are making innocent people hurt.
- http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/15/middleeast/jerusalem-protests-friday-intl/index.html
NOT YOUR AVERAGE CUP OF JOE
BY ANNA LIPPY
"Studying vs. an Underwater Tea Party… Why Not Both?"
Students’ stress levels increase as the days until the final exams decrease. It’s an indirect relationship, at least that’s what I learned in physics. I have noticed that as you get older, you tend to be more stressed out and often have more commitments. That’s a direct relationship. As a student athlete, employee, and avid club member I can attest to this unfortunate, vicious cycle. To combat all of this overextension, I take mental health moments. I say mental health “moments” because I don't have time for a whole mental health day. That’s time I could be studying, because God forbid I prioritize my mental health over my GPA…
There are a few places I go for these sacred moments. One of my favorite spots is Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party in Candler Park. The rooms are lined with books, the ceilings are covered with lampshades and paper parasols, and there are long, wooden tables. I feel like I'm at a bohemian Hogwarts whenever I go there. This isn’t your typical coffee shop. If it were, I wouldn’t be writing about it. The books on the shelf are either donated or swapped. You can find any book under the sun, from Howard Zinn’s “A Guide to the People’s History of the United States” to almanacs, to The Shack. Oh, the stories those books could tell - not just literally.
BY ANNA LIPPY
"Studying vs. an Underwater Tea Party… Why Not Both?"
Students’ stress levels increase as the days until the final exams decrease. It’s an indirect relationship, at least that’s what I learned in physics. I have noticed that as you get older, you tend to be more stressed out and often have more commitments. That’s a direct relationship. As a student athlete, employee, and avid club member I can attest to this unfortunate, vicious cycle. To combat all of this overextension, I take mental health moments. I say mental health “moments” because I don't have time for a whole mental health day. That’s time I could be studying, because God forbid I prioritize my mental health over my GPA…
There are a few places I go for these sacred moments. One of my favorite spots is Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party in Candler Park. The rooms are lined with books, the ceilings are covered with lampshades and paper parasols, and there are long, wooden tables. I feel like I'm at a bohemian Hogwarts whenever I go there. This isn’t your typical coffee shop. If it were, I wouldn’t be writing about it. The books on the shelf are either donated or swapped. You can find any book under the sun, from Howard Zinn’s “A Guide to the People’s History of the United States” to almanacs, to The Shack. Oh, the stories those books could tell - not just literally.
The end of the semester is not only stressful for the students, but the teachers as well! People of all ages can take refuge in this quiet and peaceful nook. This is a great place to catch up on studying, get lost in a good book, or eat too many blondies. This peaceful ambiance wouldn’t be the same without a cup of tea and a snack. I’m no more a tea expert than I am a coffee expert, so I always choose the most exciting drink to try. If you’re looking for an escape on a hot, sunny day, Dr. Bombay’s also sells ice cream. This is a haven for the lost and weary, stressed and overburdened, the enlightened and inspired, and everyone in between and outside of the lines.
Don’t let the negative things take you away from the all the amazing places, moments, and blondies that life has to offer. Come here to relax. Come here to study. Come here to think and escape reality in a novel. Dr. Bombays will welcome you on your sunny days, but also on your rainy days. There’s nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds when you can’t have just one.
Don’t let the negative things take you away from the all the amazing places, moments, and blondies that life has to offer. Come here to relax. Come here to study. Come here to think and escape reality in a novel. Dr. Bombays will welcome you on your sunny days, but also on your rainy days. There’s nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds when you can’t have just one.
TV TIME WITH AKBAR
AKBAR KHAN
"PARKS AND REC"
Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her own career) by helping local nurse Ann Perkins turn an abandoned construction site into a community park. However, what should be a fairly simple project is impeded at every turn by selfish neighbors, governmental figures and a plethora of other challenges. And after Leslie's colleague Tom Haverford, who delights in exploiting his position for personal gain, is as likely to undermine her efforts as to help her, while her boss, Ron Swanson, is adamantly opposed to government in any form, even though he's a bureaucrat himself.
AKBAR KHAN
"PARKS AND REC"
Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her own career) by helping local nurse Ann Perkins turn an abandoned construction site into a community park. However, what should be a fairly simple project is impeded at every turn by selfish neighbors, governmental figures and a plethora of other challenges. And after Leslie's colleague Tom Haverford, who delights in exploiting his position for personal gain, is as likely to undermine her efforts as to help her, while her boss, Ron Swanson, is adamantly opposed to government in any form, even though he's a bureaucrat himself.
I was a bit on standby for this show throughout the first season and for the beginning of the second, but the last few episodes have made this the funniest show on air for me. The humor is not always laugh out loud, but I can watch each episode a few times and find new things that make me laugh each time. The characters are unique and the comedy comes mostly from subtleties such as intonations, gestures, and camera glances. It's high-end comedic stuff in my opinion. It is obvious when watching "Parks and Recreation" that there has been a lot of effort put forth to put out a great show, and I believe they have pulled it off. The show leaves me not only laughing hysterically but also rooting for Leslie and her committee. The show is a welcome addition to my weekly TV schedule, and is worth checking out more than once. You can check it out now on Hulu or Netflix.
A Fine Read
BY Genevieve DeCastro
Book of the Month: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Every high schooler has, at one point in their schooling career, felt that lung-crushing sensation we call a panic attack. Craig Gilner is no different. He seemingly has his life together. Straight A’s, loving and supportive parents, cool friends and one of the hottest girls at school. This, however, doesn’t mean that much to Craig. He knows how the world works. He knows he needs to be the best of the best to be successful in life. Which means he needs to get into Manhattan’s Executive Pre-Professional High School, then he can go on to reach his full potential because that’s just what’s expected. When he aces his way into “the high school of his dreams” he loses control. Spiraling downward into a pit of anxiety. He discontinues eating and sleeping and replaces them with overthinking, then one night almost kills himself. After his suicidal episode, Craig checks himself into a mental hospital where he meets an odd bunch of schizophrenics, sex addicts, and self-harmers. Vizzini does an excellent job of capturing the unnerving feelings caused by stress and anxiety in teens and the way it affects others. He delves into the core of mental illness and the physical toll it takes on those afflicted. The extraordinary character development used throughout the novel, not only in the main character, Craig but also in the other patients, is one of the reasons this book is one of my all-time favorites. It is well written and comprehensible, while also very raw and emotional. It is very easy to connect to this story whether you yourself have gone through Craig’s trials or simply know someone that has. Definitely, a must-read.
As Told by the Author:
“I’d like to be under the sea, as an octopus”
“I had awful realization that I was awake”
“I’m not doing well in terms of being a functional human being”
“The Shift is coming, The Shift has to be coming. Because if you keep on living like this, you’re going to die.”
Food For Thought:
Rice
Coffee with cream
Chicken nuggets
Pepsi
Songs for the Pages:
Pepper by Butthole Surfers
Kiss Off by Violent Femmes
Where is my Mind by Pixies
Jane Says by Jane’s Addiction
Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants
Sadderdaze by The Neighbourhood
Feel Good Inc by the Gorillaz
What I Got by Sublime
BY Genevieve DeCastro
Book of the Month: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Every high schooler has, at one point in their schooling career, felt that lung-crushing sensation we call a panic attack. Craig Gilner is no different. He seemingly has his life together. Straight A’s, loving and supportive parents, cool friends and one of the hottest girls at school. This, however, doesn’t mean that much to Craig. He knows how the world works. He knows he needs to be the best of the best to be successful in life. Which means he needs to get into Manhattan’s Executive Pre-Professional High School, then he can go on to reach his full potential because that’s just what’s expected. When he aces his way into “the high school of his dreams” he loses control. Spiraling downward into a pit of anxiety. He discontinues eating and sleeping and replaces them with overthinking, then one night almost kills himself. After his suicidal episode, Craig checks himself into a mental hospital where he meets an odd bunch of schizophrenics, sex addicts, and self-harmers. Vizzini does an excellent job of capturing the unnerving feelings caused by stress and anxiety in teens and the way it affects others. He delves into the core of mental illness and the physical toll it takes on those afflicted. The extraordinary character development used throughout the novel, not only in the main character, Craig but also in the other patients, is one of the reasons this book is one of my all-time favorites. It is well written and comprehensible, while also very raw and emotional. It is very easy to connect to this story whether you yourself have gone through Craig’s trials or simply know someone that has. Definitely, a must-read.
As Told by the Author:
“I’d like to be under the sea, as an octopus”
“I had awful realization that I was awake”
“I’m not doing well in terms of being a functional human being”
“The Shift is coming, The Shift has to be coming. Because if you keep on living like this, you’re going to die.”
Food For Thought:
Rice
Coffee with cream
Chicken nuggets
Pepsi
Songs for the Pages:
Pepper by Butthole Surfers
Kiss Off by Violent Femmes
Where is my Mind by Pixies
Jane Says by Jane’s Addiction
Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants
Sadderdaze by The Neighbourhood
Feel Good Inc by the Gorillaz
What I Got by Sublime
FEATURE A TEACHER
BY CHRISTOPHER MACLIN
“MOONEY”
This month I decided to ask the great Mr.Mooney about some of his all time favorite music . When I first posed this topic to him he said it would probably be alittle difficult trying to comprise a list , but with aliilt thought he could.
Here what he had to say when i talked to him:
Dave Matthews Band – Lie In Our Graves – My favorite version is Live at the Gorge, 2004.
I have a long list of thoughts about a long song. I don’t take too well to the 140-character culture (or President, but that’s a totally different topic).
Stepping into the light. Would you not like to be sitting on top of the world with your legs hanging free? I can’t believe we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well – dreaming of things that we might have been.
To me, the song leads with a lyrical and musical celebration of life. Entering the light, sitting on top of the world, enjoying the company of another, and being filled to the brim and blown away. Long musical solos, both explosive and subtle in sound. The intense and quiet joys of life in rhythm.
Long violin solo, followed by piano, bass, back to the violin but this time being picked like a mandolin. Or guitar? I don’t play an instrument myself.
The light-hearted lyrics and musical jam build up to a consideration on what this life leads to.
I can’t believe that we would lie in our graves. I think I take that literally. You don’t have to. But I really cannot believe that with such an opportunity to experience life and joy, to listen to such incredible sounds that humans produce from instruments that they made, that at some point it would go black forever. This song brings to mind thoughts of dancing on the grave.
Many believe the temporal nature of life makes it more beautiful while it lasts. For me, if I believed that to be true, I think it would cast a dark shadow over life – would I be soaking life in while it lasts or just distracting myself from thinking about the inevitable reality? The truth is, I think humanity and the cosmos and the music we create and the novels we write and the adventures we go on are so astounding they must have a permanence to them. Again, that’s just me.
I realized as I sat down to write about this song that I have more to say than I realized.
I like when people have a conviction about their life – that they have something to do and it’s urgent. Not in a stressful, overly-driven, judge-you-for-not-caring-as-much-as-they-do sort of way. It’s just important. Like the way John Oliver delivers news and jokes. Or the way Genevieve Johnson talks about the importance of delivering impactful learning experiences to students. I think the way this band plays their music gives me that sense – they’ve given it their all. I think in any field of work or life that type of attitude inspires and wins people over. This band was the #2 touring band in the world for a long time, second only to U2. If you become a nurse, a software engineer, a chef – do it with conviction and passion.
This band has put out an absurd amount of live albums and often the same 25-30 songs are rotated on the albums. But they play each one a little differently each time. I like the creative ability to find new ways of playing an old song. I have three or four other versions of this exact same song that I really like. I try to apply that principle to my job as a teacher. I think it could help me be a better husband and brother and son and friend. It’s a subtle message of hope that things don’t have to be as they are. Some bands just play the same song the same way over and over. That song was once a creative product but now it’s on an assembly line being reproduced for profit until people grow tired of it. Tapping into our creativity might make our same-old-same-old brand new again.
This particular concert was performed at an amphitheater called the Gorge. Google it. It’s in the Cascade Mountains about two hours east of Seattle where my wife is from. Can I be sappy for a second? I realized somewhere near those mountains I wanted to marry her. It’s a special part of the country. The musical part of this song was second on the play list after she and I said our vows at our wedding. First was the Shrek theme song but that is also another story.
The idea of hope and celebration in the face of a grave makes me think of tragedy that I’ve experienced. My mom had lung cancer when I was young and passed away. That event set in motion many other tragic things that defined my childhood. The world was always a dark and hopeless place for me as a kid. As I grew older and encountered new ideas and what I felt were larger truths, some of that despair began to dissipate. Light cuts a little bit more of the fog each passing year. This song gives both voice and sound to my feelings of joy and liberation that are still relatively new to me.
I don’t believe I have a monopoly on truth and all of this could be my own coping mechanism to feel happy in the world. The lyrics and ideas here simply resonate for me in an undeniable way – I can’t believe that we would lie in our graves dreaming of things that we might have been – disappointed that we had a finite amount of time to taste what little bit of life we could squeeze from our allotted moments.
Other songs…
I realized that the themes and ideas of hope and redemption permeated just about all of my favorite songs. On the one hand I felt this must be redundant and I need to branch out. On the other hand, and the one I think is probably right, I learned something true about myself.
I was also reminded, when I thought about the fact that other people might actually read this, of something that C.S. Lewis wrote. He said that we often try to hide our true selves for fear of being rejected, scorned or mocked. He said we are more likely to be comfortable lying about ourselves than telling the truth because then if we get rejected, at least our true self was not rejected – our façade was. Well, I can tell you that I did not present a façade in this little essay but I was tempted to do so. The inner voice had a lot of questions for me such as, “….” Do I need to tell you? I think our inner voices critique us all in similar ways.
My other songs…
U2 – Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind
Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
Mumford and Sons – After the Storm
Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait
Mumford and Sons – Below My Feet
The Youngbloods – Get Together
Strumbellas – In This Life
BY CHRISTOPHER MACLIN
“MOONEY”
This month I decided to ask the great Mr.Mooney about some of his all time favorite music . When I first posed this topic to him he said it would probably be alittle difficult trying to comprise a list , but with aliilt thought he could.
Here what he had to say when i talked to him:
Dave Matthews Band – Lie In Our Graves – My favorite version is Live at the Gorge, 2004.
I have a long list of thoughts about a long song. I don’t take too well to the 140-character culture (or President, but that’s a totally different topic).
Stepping into the light. Would you not like to be sitting on top of the world with your legs hanging free? I can’t believe we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well – dreaming of things that we might have been.
To me, the song leads with a lyrical and musical celebration of life. Entering the light, sitting on top of the world, enjoying the company of another, and being filled to the brim and blown away. Long musical solos, both explosive and subtle in sound. The intense and quiet joys of life in rhythm.
Long violin solo, followed by piano, bass, back to the violin but this time being picked like a mandolin. Or guitar? I don’t play an instrument myself.
The light-hearted lyrics and musical jam build up to a consideration on what this life leads to.
I can’t believe that we would lie in our graves. I think I take that literally. You don’t have to. But I really cannot believe that with such an opportunity to experience life and joy, to listen to such incredible sounds that humans produce from instruments that they made, that at some point it would go black forever. This song brings to mind thoughts of dancing on the grave.
Many believe the temporal nature of life makes it more beautiful while it lasts. For me, if I believed that to be true, I think it would cast a dark shadow over life – would I be soaking life in while it lasts or just distracting myself from thinking about the inevitable reality? The truth is, I think humanity and the cosmos and the music we create and the novels we write and the adventures we go on are so astounding they must have a permanence to them. Again, that’s just me.
I realized as I sat down to write about this song that I have more to say than I realized.
I like when people have a conviction about their life – that they have something to do and it’s urgent. Not in a stressful, overly-driven, judge-you-for-not-caring-as-much-as-they-do sort of way. It’s just important. Like the way John Oliver delivers news and jokes. Or the way Genevieve Johnson talks about the importance of delivering impactful learning experiences to students. I think the way this band plays their music gives me that sense – they’ve given it their all. I think in any field of work or life that type of attitude inspires and wins people over. This band was the #2 touring band in the world for a long time, second only to U2. If you become a nurse, a software engineer, a chef – do it with conviction and passion.
This band has put out an absurd amount of live albums and often the same 25-30 songs are rotated on the albums. But they play each one a little differently each time. I like the creative ability to find new ways of playing an old song. I have three or four other versions of this exact same song that I really like. I try to apply that principle to my job as a teacher. I think it could help me be a better husband and brother and son and friend. It’s a subtle message of hope that things don’t have to be as they are. Some bands just play the same song the same way over and over. That song was once a creative product but now it’s on an assembly line being reproduced for profit until people grow tired of it. Tapping into our creativity might make our same-old-same-old brand new again.
This particular concert was performed at an amphitheater called the Gorge. Google it. It’s in the Cascade Mountains about two hours east of Seattle where my wife is from. Can I be sappy for a second? I realized somewhere near those mountains I wanted to marry her. It’s a special part of the country. The musical part of this song was second on the play list after she and I said our vows at our wedding. First was the Shrek theme song but that is also another story.
The idea of hope and celebration in the face of a grave makes me think of tragedy that I’ve experienced. My mom had lung cancer when I was young and passed away. That event set in motion many other tragic things that defined my childhood. The world was always a dark and hopeless place for me as a kid. As I grew older and encountered new ideas and what I felt were larger truths, some of that despair began to dissipate. Light cuts a little bit more of the fog each passing year. This song gives both voice and sound to my feelings of joy and liberation that are still relatively new to me.
I don’t believe I have a monopoly on truth and all of this could be my own coping mechanism to feel happy in the world. The lyrics and ideas here simply resonate for me in an undeniable way – I can’t believe that we would lie in our graves dreaming of things that we might have been – disappointed that we had a finite amount of time to taste what little bit of life we could squeeze from our allotted moments.
Other songs…
I realized that the themes and ideas of hope and redemption permeated just about all of my favorite songs. On the one hand I felt this must be redundant and I need to branch out. On the other hand, and the one I think is probably right, I learned something true about myself.
I was also reminded, when I thought about the fact that other people might actually read this, of something that C.S. Lewis wrote. He said that we often try to hide our true selves for fear of being rejected, scorned or mocked. He said we are more likely to be comfortable lying about ourselves than telling the truth because then if we get rejected, at least our true self was not rejected – our façade was. Well, I can tell you that I did not present a façade in this little essay but I was tempted to do so. The inner voice had a lot of questions for me such as, “….” Do I need to tell you? I think our inner voices critique us all in similar ways.
My other songs…
U2 – Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind
Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
Mumford and Sons – After the Storm
Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait
Mumford and Sons – Below My Feet
The Youngbloods – Get Together
Strumbellas – In This Life
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
BY VICTORIA SANDERS
"CORNERED"
We all know how stressful school is especially with sports and other extracurriculars added into the mix. Quite honestly, I feel that my generation has a bit more pressure on them. We are constantly trying to live up to our parents’ expectations and make them proud because they’ve done so much to get us where we are. Not only are we trying to meet our parent's expectations, but we are also striving to reach what seems like the impossible heights to even be noticed for scholarships and colleges. We tell people we are stressed and they tend to give you the same response “life is stressful, this is just training.” Which yeah I understand but that’s not what any kid wants to hear when they are panicking trying to make everyone happy. Right about now you might think I’m just making excuses, over exaggerating, or whining, but to see for yourself, ask any high school student how school is going or how they are genuinely doing.
Like I said earlier, much of this stress comes from our parents who are often trying to support us and who we want to make proud. Sometimes, hearing someone constantly tell you how great you are when you know you aren’t does more harm than good. I know that might sound odd our like we’re ungrateful but sometimes all really want to do is is cry and for you to listen and not saying anything kinda just..be there. I feel like that’s what most people need, just a simple shoulder to cry on. I’m not saying that that’s the grand cure but I think it’ll help, quite honestly we all know it’s a bit deeper than that for some people. In the case of when it is deeper and starts affecting your mental health, I think you should really sit down and tell someone and try to work on some things. Burdens are lighter when you have someone to share the load with.
Here’s some stress relief techniques and things that could help:
-http://www.tazo.com/herbal-tea/refresh-mint
-http://www.tazo.com/herbal-tea/passion
BY VICTORIA SANDERS
"CORNERED"
We all know how stressful school is especially with sports and other extracurriculars added into the mix. Quite honestly, I feel that my generation has a bit more pressure on them. We are constantly trying to live up to our parents’ expectations and make them proud because they’ve done so much to get us where we are. Not only are we trying to meet our parent's expectations, but we are also striving to reach what seems like the impossible heights to even be noticed for scholarships and colleges. We tell people we are stressed and they tend to give you the same response “life is stressful, this is just training.” Which yeah I understand but that’s not what any kid wants to hear when they are panicking trying to make everyone happy. Right about now you might think I’m just making excuses, over exaggerating, or whining, but to see for yourself, ask any high school student how school is going or how they are genuinely doing.
Like I said earlier, much of this stress comes from our parents who are often trying to support us and who we want to make proud. Sometimes, hearing someone constantly tell you how great you are when you know you aren’t does more harm than good. I know that might sound odd our like we’re ungrateful but sometimes all really want to do is is cry and for you to listen and not saying anything kinda just..be there. I feel like that’s what most people need, just a simple shoulder to cry on. I’m not saying that that’s the grand cure but I think it’ll help, quite honestly we all know it’s a bit deeper than that for some people. In the case of when it is deeper and starts affecting your mental health, I think you should really sit down and tell someone and try to work on some things. Burdens are lighter when you have someone to share the load with.
Here’s some stress relief techniques and things that could help:
- Meditation (here’s a great meditation playlist
- Here are some great calming teas :
-http://www.tazo.com/herbal-tea/refresh-mint
-http://www.tazo.com/herbal-tea/passion
- Journaling helps a lot to get things off of your chest (https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-gift-black-soft-bound-medium-journal/12601534?ean=9780641026898)
- Exercise is another great way to relieve stress here’s a great running playlist
- Lastly just sleep. Take some time to simply rest.