By: Cole Negen
Kanye West was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1977. He moved to Chicago at the age of 3 after the split of his parents. Thus began the turbulent life of Kanye West. West got his beginnings as a producer for the infamous hip hop artist, Jay Z. He produced a single for him, and then would go on to produce 4 songs on Jay Z’s album The Blueprint, one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Kanye had quite a track record for producing, but wasn’t just satisfied with that role. In 2004, Kanye released his debut album The College Dropout. The album was not only entirely produced by him, but also consisted of him rapping throughout the length of the project. The album was a massive concept piece, detailing his life as a dropout-turned-musician, and attacking the idea of people who go to college because they were pressured into it, and get degrees in things they have no passion for, and in the end, can’t find work and make no money. It was a whale of a project on an issue nobody had really tackled before, at least not to the extent West did. More impressive though, was his style of music. The College Dropout contained old-school, simple, bass heavy drums mixed with samples of the 60's and 70’s soul music. It was a very simple style, but was done really well. The production was fun and beautiful, and allowed Kanye’s lyrics to take center stage. It’s straightforward and to casual listeners may not sound like anything that special, but at the time of its release it was a huge U-turn from where hip-hop, especially popular hip-hop, was heading. In 2004, hip hop was very short on innovation. Most hip hop of the time sounded like generic pop music, full of songs designed to be more catchy than memorable. West’s album was a safe-haven for people who wanted hip hop with something more than what was presented on the surface. West received a grammy for the album, but the question remained; was Kanye a one-album-wonder, or was he here to stay. He proved his spot in hip hop with his sophomore album Late Registration. It was of the same style of the first, and some of the same topics of school and college come up, but yet Late Registration stands out on its own. The samples used are a lot more up tempo and jubilant, and West raps about a lot of different things, such as his mother, race relations in America, and celebrating his spot as one of the best new voices in hip hop. These 2 albums, while unique in and of themselves, were generally similar. On his third album, Kanye completely flipped the switch. In an effort to break away from what he saw as a singular lane he was stuck in, Kanye switched up his style completely. Instead of a stripped back soul style, Kanye’s third album, Graduation, was full of electronic and dance elements. The instrumentals were grand, full of synthesizers and 808s. Instead of super focused personal themes, Kanye made songs intended to be catchier, pop rap songs. While this was by far his most contemporary album yet, Kanye still was at the top of the game, for being able to make it sound so grand and elegant. The album as a whole doesn’t match up with his previous albums in quality, but it was far from something generic. It is because of that that this album is a standout from the late 2000’s. Kanye was at the top of his game. He had released 3 straight albums, all very good. Unfortunately for Kanye, things would take a quick spiral from the grandiose of Graduation to his 4th album.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Infamous High School Students
By: Grace Litterer
I have to start this paper off with a confession. I cannot believe that I haven’t done an Infamous High School Students blog. Now, considering that I already discussed each class, I just have to highlight some of the well known students throughout many high schools. So, gather ‘round, and come with me on a nostalgia induced journey.
One student I must mention is the Freshman Racer. Freshman are always rushing. This is a fact we absolutely must acknowledge. This freshman zooms around groups of people and leaps over those sitting on the ground. This freshman may have 3 minutes to get to a class, but this freshman treat it like they only have 30 seconds to run from one end of the school to other. Now, this freshman is an absolute classic, and it would not be high school without them. To all the upperclassman who feel the need to trip a few racing freshman, please refrain. Afterall, you were a Racing Freshman.
Next, is the Driving Sophomore. I know, I know. This isn’t the most creative name, but it’s true nonetheless. Sophomore year is the year that everyone gets their license. Of course, everyone within a 10 mile radius must know. One staple of this student is that they shake their keys. You can hear hordes of sophomores shaking their keys and yelling at their friends.
Third, is the Stressed Junior. Now, I have a lot to say about this student. (Of course, I have to, being that I self-identify as a Stressed Junior.) First of all, we must acknowledge the fact that most people get a job their junior year, or the summer between sophomore and junior year. Most juniors either have a job or an extracurricular that consumes most of their time. Juniors are pressured into having so many clubs and extracurriculars. It seems that there are so many things to do and so little time. Of course, junior year is also the year of tests: ACTs, SATs, pSATs, ASVABs, etc. It’s almost as though junior year is designed to cause anxiety and depression. Frankly, it’s kind of ridiculous.
Finally, we have the Chill Senior. This senior has dealt with stress so long that they have entered a state of calm. Now, most people say that senior year is not a big deal. (Of course, it can be different for each student.) However, despite the easier classes. Senior year is about the future, which can be more stressful than hard classes. Between scholarship applications, job applications, and college applications, there is no room for error during senior year. Despite all of this, seniors seem to be the most calm.
In conclusion, there are many different types of students. There is a staple student each year. No matter which class you are in, no matter which student you are, you would be smart to take the advice of one Troy Bolton (from High School Musical). Believe me when I say, “We are all in this together.”
I have to start this paper off with a confession. I cannot believe that I haven’t done an Infamous High School Students blog. Now, considering that I already discussed each class, I just have to highlight some of the well known students throughout many high schools. So, gather ‘round, and come with me on a nostalgia induced journey.
One student I must mention is the Freshman Racer. Freshman are always rushing. This is a fact we absolutely must acknowledge. This freshman zooms around groups of people and leaps over those sitting on the ground. This freshman may have 3 minutes to get to a class, but this freshman treat it like they only have 30 seconds to run from one end of the school to other. Now, this freshman is an absolute classic, and it would not be high school without them. To all the upperclassman who feel the need to trip a few racing freshman, please refrain. Afterall, you were a Racing Freshman.
Next, is the Driving Sophomore. I know, I know. This isn’t the most creative name, but it’s true nonetheless. Sophomore year is the year that everyone gets their license. Of course, everyone within a 10 mile radius must know. One staple of this student is that they shake their keys. You can hear hordes of sophomores shaking their keys and yelling at their friends.
Third, is the Stressed Junior. Now, I have a lot to say about this student. (Of course, I have to, being that I self-identify as a Stressed Junior.) First of all, we must acknowledge the fact that most people get a job their junior year, or the summer between sophomore and junior year. Most juniors either have a job or an extracurricular that consumes most of their time. Juniors are pressured into having so many clubs and extracurriculars. It seems that there are so many things to do and so little time. Of course, junior year is also the year of tests: ACTs, SATs, pSATs, ASVABs, etc. It’s almost as though junior year is designed to cause anxiety and depression. Frankly, it’s kind of ridiculous.
Finally, we have the Chill Senior. This senior has dealt with stress so long that they have entered a state of calm. Now, most people say that senior year is not a big deal. (Of course, it can be different for each student.) However, despite the easier classes. Senior year is about the future, which can be more stressful than hard classes. Between scholarship applications, job applications, and college applications, there is no room for error during senior year. Despite all of this, seniors seem to be the most calm.
In conclusion, there are many different types of students. There is a staple student each year. No matter which class you are in, no matter which student you are, you would be smart to take the advice of one Troy Bolton (from High School Musical). Believe me when I say, “We are all in this together.”
Holocaust Denial - How Are People Today Handling It?
By: Tess Lampe
For years, a few decades at the least, there have been plenty of individuals who have actively denied that the Holocaust during World War II happened. That being said, holocaust denial is essentially any attempt to negate or avoid any facts about the genocide that was the holocaust. Holocaust deniers usually share the belief that the Holocaust was exaggerated or invented by Jews to “advance Jewish interests” because of their antisemetic views, or hatred towards Jewish people.
In 2019, the Palm Beach County School Board fired a Florida high school principal for refusing to recognize the Holocaust as a “factual, historic event.” Cases similar to this have brought forward many critical questions such as the following: Should holocaust denial be treated as a crime? Should freedom of speech protect/allow holocaust denial? Why are there holocaust deniers? Should holocaust denial be considered hate speech? Why and where is holocaust denial active today? Middle Eastern countries like Germany, Belgium, and Israel have criminalized holocaust denial.
When making an attempt to answer the question if holocaust denial should be treated as a crime, there are two main viewpoints: Yes, because it is a form of hate speech and causes much harm. The opposing opinion says no, because it violates freedom of speech. Because there is a protection over freedom of speech, many companies, schools, businesses, and other institutes can’t justly punish someone for antisemitism or for denying the Holocaust. The circumstances of those punishments are different for each institute. For example, Rutgers University could not fire or otherwise punish Michael Chikindas for frequently posting antisemetic, racist, homophobic, and islamaphobic things on his Facebook page because of Rutgers’ freedom of speech policy and because he did not spread his beliefs in school or in any class. Many people would’ve preferred if he was punished for his bigotry - intolerance towards those who have different opinions than oneself - but it would be, according to some, unjust to fire a professor for having a “controversial opinion.
It is acknowledged, however, that “their [anti-semites] poisonous ideology must still be recognized as truly dangerous, and never discounted as simply ‘uncomfortable.’” To end his argument for the punishment of holocaust denial (according to SIRS.com), Steven Lubet said, “Those who encourage anti-Jewish terror are racists, not idiots; and they are motivated by hatred; not personal opinions.” Additionally, Robert Singer made an urgent statement saying that, “Amazon needs to prioritize the removal of all items that blatantly ‘promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance.’” He made this statement after noticing that Amazon had plenty of antisemetic and holocaust denial titles in stock.
Similarly, Donald Trump’s Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated in 2017, “Someone who is despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” He said this in an attempt to compare Adolf Hitler and Syria’s president Bashar Assad. Afterwards, Spicer was met with much criticism because of this comparison. He later stated that he, “mistakenly made an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which there is no comparison.” When he was president, George W. Bush said something similar when addressing Sadam Hussein, former President of Iraq, seeming to defend Hitler in saying that he at least, “respected the legitimacy of the embassies.” Essentially, because of their failure to understand the Holocaust, they experienced much backlash.
These uneducated statements along with how the Holocaust is educated throughout the U.S. have contributed to misleading beliefs of the horrible genocide. To finalize his argument, Seth Frantzman stated, “It seems every day there is some abuse of Holocaust memory. We are coming to the point in history where any responsibility for the Holocaust will be whitewashed away… we will lose all understanding of it.”
With these arguments, the question of “Should holocaust denial and antisemitism be treated as a legal crime?” is not easily answered. What it does do, however, is encourage not only the education, but the accurate education of the Holocaust to make sure that it is not forgotten. Many stress the importance of making sure that it is not seen as an event isolated from the rest of World War II, which is important for the next generations and how they view the unfortunate events of the past wars.
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2257695893?searchid=1579108171&accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2267348986?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2262112473?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2266149781?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2265961413?accountid=65642
https://www.ushmm.org/antisemitism/holocaust-denial-and-distortion
For years, a few decades at the least, there have been plenty of individuals who have actively denied that the Holocaust during World War II happened. That being said, holocaust denial is essentially any attempt to negate or avoid any facts about the genocide that was the holocaust. Holocaust deniers usually share the belief that the Holocaust was exaggerated or invented by Jews to “advance Jewish interests” because of their antisemetic views, or hatred towards Jewish people.
In 2019, the Palm Beach County School Board fired a Florida high school principal for refusing to recognize the Holocaust as a “factual, historic event.” Cases similar to this have brought forward many critical questions such as the following: Should holocaust denial be treated as a crime? Should freedom of speech protect/allow holocaust denial? Why are there holocaust deniers? Should holocaust denial be considered hate speech? Why and where is holocaust denial active today? Middle Eastern countries like Germany, Belgium, and Israel have criminalized holocaust denial.
When making an attempt to answer the question if holocaust denial should be treated as a crime, there are two main viewpoints: Yes, because it is a form of hate speech and causes much harm. The opposing opinion says no, because it violates freedom of speech. Because there is a protection over freedom of speech, many companies, schools, businesses, and other institutes can’t justly punish someone for antisemitism or for denying the Holocaust. The circumstances of those punishments are different for each institute. For example, Rutgers University could not fire or otherwise punish Michael Chikindas for frequently posting antisemetic, racist, homophobic, and islamaphobic things on his Facebook page because of Rutgers’ freedom of speech policy and because he did not spread his beliefs in school or in any class. Many people would’ve preferred if he was punished for his bigotry - intolerance towards those who have different opinions than oneself - but it would be, according to some, unjust to fire a professor for having a “controversial opinion.
It is acknowledged, however, that “their [anti-semites] poisonous ideology must still be recognized as truly dangerous, and never discounted as simply ‘uncomfortable.’” To end his argument for the punishment of holocaust denial (according to SIRS.com), Steven Lubet said, “Those who encourage anti-Jewish terror are racists, not idiots; and they are motivated by hatred; not personal opinions.” Additionally, Robert Singer made an urgent statement saying that, “Amazon needs to prioritize the removal of all items that blatantly ‘promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance.’” He made this statement after noticing that Amazon had plenty of antisemetic and holocaust denial titles in stock.
Similarly, Donald Trump’s Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated in 2017, “Someone who is despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” He said this in an attempt to compare Adolf Hitler and Syria’s president Bashar Assad. Afterwards, Spicer was met with much criticism because of this comparison. He later stated that he, “mistakenly made an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which there is no comparison.” When he was president, George W. Bush said something similar when addressing Sadam Hussein, former President of Iraq, seeming to defend Hitler in saying that he at least, “respected the legitimacy of the embassies.” Essentially, because of their failure to understand the Holocaust, they experienced much backlash.
These uneducated statements along with how the Holocaust is educated throughout the U.S. have contributed to misleading beliefs of the horrible genocide. To finalize his argument, Seth Frantzman stated, “It seems every day there is some abuse of Holocaust memory. We are coming to the point in history where any responsibility for the Holocaust will be whitewashed away… we will lose all understanding of it.”
With these arguments, the question of “Should holocaust denial and antisemitism be treated as a legal crime?” is not easily answered. What it does do, however, is encourage not only the education, but the accurate education of the Holocaust to make sure that it is not forgotten. Many stress the importance of making sure that it is not seen as an event isolated from the rest of World War II, which is important for the next generations and how they view the unfortunate events of the past wars.
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2257695893?searchid=1579108171&accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2267348986?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2262112473?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2266149781?accountid=65642
https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2265961413?accountid=65642
https://www.ushmm.org/antisemitism/holocaust-denial-and-distortion
NFL Playoffs Updates
By Kelton Kluiter
This week in the NFL playoffs in the AFC the Chiefs played the Texans and the Ravens played the Titans. On Saturday the Titans stunned the Ravens on the road 28-12 with Derrick Henry rushing for over 180 yards once again. Then on Sunday the Chiefs beat the Texans at home with a remarkable 2nd quarter comeback after being down 24-0 in the first quarter. The Chiefs would then go on to score 6 unanswered touchdowns and win 51-31.
In the NFC the Vikings played the 49ers on Saturday and got manhandled 27-10 in San Francisco. On Sunday Night the Packers took on the Seahawks at lambo field. The Packers came out hot and were up by 18 at halftime. The Seahwks came out hot in the second half and brought it back within 5 points but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as the packers defeat the Seahawks 28-3.
This week in the NFL playoffs in the AFC the Chiefs played the Texans and the Ravens played the Titans. On Saturday the Titans stunned the Ravens on the road 28-12 with Derrick Henry rushing for over 180 yards once again. Then on Sunday the Chiefs beat the Texans at home with a remarkable 2nd quarter comeback after being down 24-0 in the first quarter. The Chiefs would then go on to score 6 unanswered touchdowns and win 51-31.
In the NFC the Vikings played the 49ers on Saturday and got manhandled 27-10 in San Francisco. On Sunday Night the Packers took on the Seahawks at lambo field. The Packers came out hot and were up by 18 at halftime. The Seahwks came out hot in the second half and brought it back within 5 points but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as the packers defeat the Seahawks 28-3.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
NFL Playoffs
By: Kelton Kluiter
The NFL playoffs started last weekend with wild card weekend. The Patriots played the Titans and the Bills played the Texans in the AFC. The Titans went on to stun the patriots and maybe put an end to Tom Brady’s legacy in New England. The Texans came out very slowly and were down 16-0 against the bills but roared back in the second half to win in overtime. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson made an incredible play to get the Texans into field goal range to seal the victory.
In the NFC the Vikings played the Saints and the Seahawks played the eagles. The Vikings shocked the NFL in a Minneapolis Miracle rematch as they defeat the Saints at home in overtime. The Sunday night game between the Seahawks and Eagles came down to the wire. In the first half Eagles star quarterback Carson Wentz went down with an injury as Jadaveon Clowny speared him as he dove forward.
This week on Saturday the Ravens play the Titans in Baltimore and the Texans play the Chiefs in Kansas City. On Sunday the 49ers play the Vikings in San Francisco and the Seahawks play the Packers in Green Bay.
The NFL playoffs started last weekend with wild card weekend. The Patriots played the Titans and the Bills played the Texans in the AFC. The Titans went on to stun the patriots and maybe put an end to Tom Brady’s legacy in New England. The Texans came out very slowly and were down 16-0 against the bills but roared back in the second half to win in overtime. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson made an incredible play to get the Texans into field goal range to seal the victory.
In the NFC the Vikings played the Saints and the Seahawks played the eagles. The Vikings shocked the NFL in a Minneapolis Miracle rematch as they defeat the Saints at home in overtime. The Sunday night game between the Seahawks and Eagles came down to the wire. In the first half Eagles star quarterback Carson Wentz went down with an injury as Jadaveon Clowny speared him as he dove forward.
This week on Saturday the Ravens play the Titans in Baltimore and the Texans play the Chiefs in Kansas City. On Sunday the 49ers play the Vikings in San Francisco and the Seahawks play the Packers in Green Bay.
Friday, January 10, 2020
The New Year
By: Katie Stirling
The New Year can be an exciting time for many, especially this year. As we head into a new decade and more years to come, many people will be starting new beginnings. Whether it’s graduating from high school or college or starting a new job, changes happen often throughout the years.
After Christmas is over, many people look forward to New Year’s Eve. Some will gather with their friends or family to celebrate the new year that is finally upon us. Once the clock strikes midnight, it’s official. But what is there to look forward to after January 1st?
It’s true that after the 3 month stretch of holidays that some don’t look forward to the first couple of months of the year. Especially in Iowa when it’s winter time, sometimes all we think about is the warm weather that may be soon, or not so soon, approaching.
For some, the new year is when they set goals. A fresh start can be eye-opening for many. Some people may want to quit bad habits, or start new healthy ones. Patterns can form easily when given a fresh opportunity to start them. There are many people who take advantage of this. There are others who try, but just can’t succeed.
The new year means coming back from a long break. Whether you’re in school, college, or just working, you typically have some sort of break at the end of the year. This lasts about 2 weeks for kids in school, sometimes longer for college kids. Adults enjoy the break off of work also. Time spent at home is refreshing over the holiday break. Although it must come to an end and everyone returns back to work.
New Year’s can mean new beginnings, returning to your daily routine, setting new goals, or whatever you want it to.
The New Year can be an exciting time for many, especially this year. As we head into a new decade and more years to come, many people will be starting new beginnings. Whether it’s graduating from high school or college or starting a new job, changes happen often throughout the years.
After Christmas is over, many people look forward to New Year’s Eve. Some will gather with their friends or family to celebrate the new year that is finally upon us. Once the clock strikes midnight, it’s official. But what is there to look forward to after January 1st?
It’s true that after the 3 month stretch of holidays that some don’t look forward to the first couple of months of the year. Especially in Iowa when it’s winter time, sometimes all we think about is the warm weather that may be soon, or not so soon, approaching.
For some, the new year is when they set goals. A fresh start can be eye-opening for many. Some people may want to quit bad habits, or start new healthy ones. Patterns can form easily when given a fresh opportunity to start them. There are many people who take advantage of this. There are others who try, but just can’t succeed.
The new year means coming back from a long break. Whether you’re in school, college, or just working, you typically have some sort of break at the end of the year. This lasts about 2 weeks for kids in school, sometimes longer for college kids. Adults enjoy the break off of work also. Time spent at home is refreshing over the holiday break. Although it must come to an end and everyone returns back to work.
New Year’s can mean new beginnings, returning to your daily routine, setting new goals, or whatever you want it to.
Iran
By: Ethan Schmidt
Trump has eliminated Iran’s military strategist. He was responsible for killing many Americans. He was a singularly destructive actor in the region. He was considered the second most important man in Iran. He was behind Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah. Iran said they will not be following the restrictions laid out in the 2015 nuclear record. On Sunday they said, “Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs.”
Many Americans are in fear of World War 3. It has been trending on Twitter with the hashtags #WW3 and #WorldWar3. They think Iran will strike back and will declare war with America. Iran hit back Wednesday. They fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi airbases housing American forces. Iran Guards said it was in retaliation for the death of General Soleimani on Friday. Iraq and US officials say that there appear to be no casualties. Trump tweeted “all is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well-equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei has described the attack as a slap in the face to the US. He also warned that the attack will not end the dispute. He said a speech on Iranian state television saying “When it comes to confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough. What is important is that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end!”
Trump has eliminated Iran’s military strategist. He was responsible for killing many Americans. He was a singularly destructive actor in the region. He was considered the second most important man in Iran. He was behind Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah. Iran said they will not be following the restrictions laid out in the 2015 nuclear record. On Sunday they said, “Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs.”
Many Americans are in fear of World War 3. It has been trending on Twitter with the hashtags #WW3 and #WorldWar3. They think Iran will strike back and will declare war with America. Iran hit back Wednesday. They fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi airbases housing American forces. Iran Guards said it was in retaliation for the death of General Soleimani on Friday. Iraq and US officials say that there appear to be no casualties. Trump tweeted “all is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well-equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei has described the attack as a slap in the face to the US. He also warned that the attack will not end the dispute. He said a speech on Iranian state television saying “When it comes to confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough. What is important is that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end!”
What Makes a Winning Team
By: Cole Negen
High School sports are truly a unique experience. Some people don’t get as much experience in it, but as someone who participates in 4 sports, competition is definitely not new to me. Over my time it’s been no secret that the teams I have been on have not been very successful. I’ve been on some really fun teams, and I’ve been on some not very fun teams. As an avid sports fan, I’ve also been able to see what teams who are competing at the highest level looks like. Over this time I’ve noticed a few common denominators.
Identity
More than a lot of things, teams who are most successful have an identity. Not just amongst the best players, but amongst everyone. Everyone knows what is trying to be accomplished and what is expected of them as an individual. Recently while I was down at the state football finals, I got to see a matchup of 2 teams who I’m actually very familiar with. The matchup was the Class A finals, between Grundy Center and West Hancock. West Hancock had a very clear and obvious identity; run the ball. They had 3 players with over 1000 yards rushing, as well as the leading rusher in all of Class A. Their offense was straight forward, run, run, and run some more. By the state finals game, their quarterback had passed it a total of 37 times! For reference, they played 13 games, meaning they called a pass play on average about once a quarter… if you round up. The coaches knew what they wanted to do, they players bought in to that idea, and they were able to run with it.
Talent
So this is the obvious one. Like I said I played on teams that were super fun and everyone knew what we needed to do to win. The problem is, we just weren’t that good. You hear a lot of negative things about people with talent. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. This is very true. But after all, it’s hard to overcome a team that is naturally talented. A team that naturally has an advantage over other teams strictly because of genetics is very difficult to overcome when they are working hard.
Hard work
Yeah, it’s not glamorous. I am definitely one who is tired of hearing the old adage of out working someone. But that’s really a huge part. Nothing breeds success like trial and error. Teams that compete at the highest level put in the work. Not only that, but they are focused. They get good grades, they are focused in the weight room. They study the game. They just push themselves, and like I said above, when talent works hard, at least from an individual standpoint, it’s hard to get even a slight edge.
Coaching
A team needs coordination to work. Some people are just naturally inclined to buy into coaching, coaching methods, lifting programs. Good teams have coaches who can get all the rest of the people to buy in. These coaches know how to maximize the potential in every player. They don’t just teach, they have programs. A lot of the most successful teams have coaches who have been there for an extended period of time. These teams stay on top because that coach knows what it takes out of the players, and what he needs to do to get those players to do to be on top (if you can follow all that). Coaches know the process, and how to fit each individual player into said process.
Attitude
Attitude not in the mean or arrogant sense per say, but attitude in this case can also double as charisma. A lot of great teams have a lot of fun at what they are doing. They never take themselves nor what they are doing too seriously, to the point that they forget why they even play the sport. Every year our wrestling team wrestles Lake Mills. Last year, when we faced them in a dual, I just noticed how much fun all there guys had. There bench was super energetic and active, something you don’t often see in wrestling. They were really good to. They would later go on to State Duals, and made a nice run while they were down there. This attitude allows for teams to not over-complicate things, and also gives them the motivation to compete and win.
Intelligence
While this one isn’t as 1:1 as the other characteristics, but most teams who are the best of the best, have a lot of knowledge for what they are doing. They know the philosophy of the sport, why things are taught a certain way, what to do in certain situations during a game or match, and so on. Some teams are so talented they can coast on the fact that they may not know a ton about the game, but I would say a good majority of teams are very intelligent in their sport.
Balance
Good teams are good in all areas. For instance, a team may lead the state in 3 point shooting percentage, but say they also score in the paint at a JV level. This team is not going very far. Even if the coach draws up an offense designed to primarily shoot 3’s, eventually they will be exposed. Look at the best players on each team. Often times, the best players are amongst the best in all areas on there team. The best scorer is also probably one of the best rebounders, and one of the best defenders, and so on.
There are many other things that you could make a case to include in this list, but this is what I came up with. When I think of great teams, these are what I think of, more than most anything else.
High School sports are truly a unique experience. Some people don’t get as much experience in it, but as someone who participates in 4 sports, competition is definitely not new to me. Over my time it’s been no secret that the teams I have been on have not been very successful. I’ve been on some really fun teams, and I’ve been on some not very fun teams. As an avid sports fan, I’ve also been able to see what teams who are competing at the highest level looks like. Over this time I’ve noticed a few common denominators.
Identity
More than a lot of things, teams who are most successful have an identity. Not just amongst the best players, but amongst everyone. Everyone knows what is trying to be accomplished and what is expected of them as an individual. Recently while I was down at the state football finals, I got to see a matchup of 2 teams who I’m actually very familiar with. The matchup was the Class A finals, between Grundy Center and West Hancock. West Hancock had a very clear and obvious identity; run the ball. They had 3 players with over 1000 yards rushing, as well as the leading rusher in all of Class A. Their offense was straight forward, run, run, and run some more. By the state finals game, their quarterback had passed it a total of 37 times! For reference, they played 13 games, meaning they called a pass play on average about once a quarter… if you round up. The coaches knew what they wanted to do, they players bought in to that idea, and they were able to run with it.
Talent
So this is the obvious one. Like I said I played on teams that were super fun and everyone knew what we needed to do to win. The problem is, we just weren’t that good. You hear a lot of negative things about people with talent. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. This is very true. But after all, it’s hard to overcome a team that is naturally talented. A team that naturally has an advantage over other teams strictly because of genetics is very difficult to overcome when they are working hard.
Hard work
Yeah, it’s not glamorous. I am definitely one who is tired of hearing the old adage of out working someone. But that’s really a huge part. Nothing breeds success like trial and error. Teams that compete at the highest level put in the work. Not only that, but they are focused. They get good grades, they are focused in the weight room. They study the game. They just push themselves, and like I said above, when talent works hard, at least from an individual standpoint, it’s hard to get even a slight edge.
Coaching
A team needs coordination to work. Some people are just naturally inclined to buy into coaching, coaching methods, lifting programs. Good teams have coaches who can get all the rest of the people to buy in. These coaches know how to maximize the potential in every player. They don’t just teach, they have programs. A lot of the most successful teams have coaches who have been there for an extended period of time. These teams stay on top because that coach knows what it takes out of the players, and what he needs to do to get those players to do to be on top (if you can follow all that). Coaches know the process, and how to fit each individual player into said process.
Attitude
Attitude not in the mean or arrogant sense per say, but attitude in this case can also double as charisma. A lot of great teams have a lot of fun at what they are doing. They never take themselves nor what they are doing too seriously, to the point that they forget why they even play the sport. Every year our wrestling team wrestles Lake Mills. Last year, when we faced them in a dual, I just noticed how much fun all there guys had. There bench was super energetic and active, something you don’t often see in wrestling. They were really good to. They would later go on to State Duals, and made a nice run while they were down there. This attitude allows for teams to not over-complicate things, and also gives them the motivation to compete and win.
Intelligence
While this one isn’t as 1:1 as the other characteristics, but most teams who are the best of the best, have a lot of knowledge for what they are doing. They know the philosophy of the sport, why things are taught a certain way, what to do in certain situations during a game or match, and so on. Some teams are so talented they can coast on the fact that they may not know a ton about the game, but I would say a good majority of teams are very intelligent in their sport.
Balance
Good teams are good in all areas. For instance, a team may lead the state in 3 point shooting percentage, but say they also score in the paint at a JV level. This team is not going very far. Even if the coach draws up an offense designed to primarily shoot 3’s, eventually they will be exposed. Look at the best players on each team. Often times, the best players are amongst the best in all areas on there team. The best scorer is also probably one of the best rebounders, and one of the best defenders, and so on.
There are many other things that you could make a case to include in this list, but this is what I came up with. When I think of great teams, these are what I think of, more than most anything else.
Types of Relatives During Christmas
By: Grace Litterer
Per the fact that I wrote an article over Types of Relatives During Thanksgiving, I figured I would honor Christmas and all of the fun family time that accompanies it with a similar article. Now, I feel as though everyone has a similar experience when it comes to extended family Christmas celebration. I feel that these experiences must be honored in a blog before I welcome the new year.
First is the College Student Cousin. I have to pay homage to this relative, mainly because it’s a classic. The College Student Cousin has one thing that really sets them apart from the others. They always ask for cash. Yes, cash is really the only thing that they want or need in their lives. In fact, their sole purpose at family Christmases is to rack up cash and withstand interrogation about their classes, their majors, and whatever else every single aunt and uncle has questions about.
Next is, of course, the Sarcastic Uncle. Now, traditionally, this person is an uncle, but they don’t have to be. This person really has one role that stands above all else, and it is vital to a family Christmas. Yes, this person absolutely must speculate about what a present consists of. Now, here is where the sarcastic part comes in. The classic is, “Well, it looks like you got a box!” However, honorable mentions for the catchphrase of a Sarcastic Uncle include, “I bet it’s a bowling ball!” or “Did you get some socks in your stocking?” Yes, according to my Sarcastic Uncle, I have gotten a box for Christmas every year since I was born, but, hey, it wouldn’t be a family Christmas without the Sarcastic Uncle.
Finally, we have the Horrible Gifter. Yes, this is a family classic. This person could be a grandma, an aunt, or a cousin. This Christmas classic is made famous by Aunt Clara and a pink bunny suit that she gifted to Ralphie in A Christmas Story. From this person, you may receive a number of items, but none that you will like. Yes, you would find anything from socks to used candles to a big, pink bunny suit.
Of course, no matter what kind of relatives you have, Christmas will always be fun. I, for one, would never want to miss the ham induced comas and competitive Pictionary tournaments that accompany my holidays. Plus, what would Christmas be without a college student interrogation, a wise crack from an uncle, and a gift you have to lie about loving?
Per the fact that I wrote an article over Types of Relatives During Thanksgiving, I figured I would honor Christmas and all of the fun family time that accompanies it with a similar article. Now, I feel as though everyone has a similar experience when it comes to extended family Christmas celebration. I feel that these experiences must be honored in a blog before I welcome the new year.
First is the College Student Cousin. I have to pay homage to this relative, mainly because it’s a classic. The College Student Cousin has one thing that really sets them apart from the others. They always ask for cash. Yes, cash is really the only thing that they want or need in their lives. In fact, their sole purpose at family Christmases is to rack up cash and withstand interrogation about their classes, their majors, and whatever else every single aunt and uncle has questions about.
Next is, of course, the Sarcastic Uncle. Now, traditionally, this person is an uncle, but they don’t have to be. This person really has one role that stands above all else, and it is vital to a family Christmas. Yes, this person absolutely must speculate about what a present consists of. Now, here is where the sarcastic part comes in. The classic is, “Well, it looks like you got a box!” However, honorable mentions for the catchphrase of a Sarcastic Uncle include, “I bet it’s a bowling ball!” or “Did you get some socks in your stocking?” Yes, according to my Sarcastic Uncle, I have gotten a box for Christmas every year since I was born, but, hey, it wouldn’t be a family Christmas without the Sarcastic Uncle.
Finally, we have the Horrible Gifter. Yes, this is a family classic. This person could be a grandma, an aunt, or a cousin. This Christmas classic is made famous by Aunt Clara and a pink bunny suit that she gifted to Ralphie in A Christmas Story. From this person, you may receive a number of items, but none that you will like. Yes, you would find anything from socks to used candles to a big, pink bunny suit.
Of course, no matter what kind of relatives you have, Christmas will always be fun. I, for one, would never want to miss the ham induced comas and competitive Pictionary tournaments that accompany my holidays. Plus, what would Christmas be without a college student interrogation, a wise crack from an uncle, and a gift you have to lie about loving?
2020 - What We Can Expect From a New Year
By: Tess Lampe
If you didn’t already think that the phrase “See you next year!” was a bad enough dad joke that is often said on New Year’s Eve, try “See you next decade!” It’s certain that that was said plenty of times as the Earth made yet another full revolution around the sun and we entered a new year and a new decade.
With this new year and the 20/20 vision that supposedly came along with it, many new things can be expected. Just as every year, new memes will arise, more people will be born, and more experiences will be had. When it comes to large entertainment franchises such as Disney, Marvel, DC, Star Wars and others, there are many plans to continue to spread enjoyment across the world with new and highly anticipated films and series’. Even though many things are still being worked on and we don’t know everything that is to come, the following include much of what we do.
For Disney, they have many things coming from them to us this year. Films that will be released this year directly from Disney include: Call of the Wild (February 21, 2020 - Starring Harrison Ford), the animated film Onward (March 6, 2020 - Starring Tom Holland & Chris Pratt), Mulan (March 27, 2020 - Starring Liu Yiefi), and many more. Even though Marvel and Star Wars are currently owned by Disney, there are many things being released from those franchises as individuals. For Marvel, these include: Black Widow (May 1, 2020 - Starring Scarlett Johansson) and the Eternals (November 6, 2020 - Starring Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, & Kumail Nanjiani). Venom, which has been apart of Marvel but not the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be coming out on October 2, 2020 and will be starring Tom Hardy. New Mutants, an X-Men movie, will be released on April 3, 2020; starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton. X-Men is owned by Fox, but recently there was a deal made between Disney and Fox, meaning that Marvel now owns the rights to the X-Men. However, New Mutants is not yet a part of the MCU.
As for DC, there are also set to be many new releases: Birds of Prey & the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (February 7, 2020 - Starring Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, & Mary Elizabeth), Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020 - Starring Gal Gadot & Chris Pine), and Cyborg (April 3, 2020 - Starring Ray Fisher).
Star Wars, on the other hand, has less coming. Because the Skywalker Saga officially ended on December 20th, 2019, it is rumored that the next trilogy will not begin until around Christmas of 2022. However, the hit Disney+ show The Mandalorian will have a second season, which is supposed to be released around the fall of 2020.
Other highly anticipated movies to come in 2020 include Dolittle (January 17, 2020 - Starring Robert Downey Jr.), Bad Boys For Life (January 17, 2020 - Starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence), A Quiet Place Part II (March 20, 2020 - Starring Emily Blunt), New Mutants - X-Men (April 3, 2020 - Starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton), No Time To Die - James Bond (April 8, 2020 - Starring Daniel Craig), Fast & Furious 9 (May 22, 2020 - Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, etc.), Top Gun: Maverick (June 26, 2020 - Starring Tom Cruise), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10, 2020 - Starring Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, etc.), and many more.
That may seem like a lot, and there is now doubt that it is. However, that’s not all. If there are any people within a certain category of entertainment that may be more enthusiastic about a new release, it’s the gaming community. There are many game releases to come this year, the most anticipated ones being Rainbow Six Quarantine, The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers, Dying Light 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 5, Halo Infinite, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ghost of Tsushima, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Watch Dogs Legion, and many more. The vast majority of these games will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (some being available for Stadia as well).
The Last of Us Part II happens to be one of the most, if not the top most anticipated game of 2020. It has had many changes in release date, recent changes going between February and May. The final decision was made by Naughty Dog and Sony Entertainment to release the game on February 21, 2020. The Last of Us (released in 2013 - Starring Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson) is a survival horror game that is mainly set 20 years after the “zombie apocalypse broke out across the world. This game was and still is in the top 5 most sold games in history that many people hold near and dear to them. With its sequel being known since around 2015 and the first trailer being released in 2016, the fans became quite exhilarated. Without the game even being out yet, the Last of Us Part II was previously nominated for most anticipated game of the year.
That being said, there is much love and excitement to come out of the entertainment industry, even though that is not the only thing that will make 2020 exciting. Basically, the year of 2020 is going to be a banger. Not only will franchises be expanding upon their fandoms and their creations, but inspiration will continue to spread across the people who enjoy it the most. Essentially, if this much is happening in 2020, you can only begin to imagine what is in store for the decade as a whole.
https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/172385/upcoming-games-2020/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610944/most-anticipated-movies-2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/star-wars-series-the-mandalorian-season-2-coming-fall-2020-jon-favreau-says.html
https://screenrant.com/2020-superhero-movies/
https://www.purewow.com/news/disney-movies-coming-out
https://www.vox.com › culture › marvel-fox-disney-merger-x-men
If you didn’t already think that the phrase “See you next year!” was a bad enough dad joke that is often said on New Year’s Eve, try “See you next decade!” It’s certain that that was said plenty of times as the Earth made yet another full revolution around the sun and we entered a new year and a new decade.
With this new year and the 20/20 vision that supposedly came along with it, many new things can be expected. Just as every year, new memes will arise, more people will be born, and more experiences will be had. When it comes to large entertainment franchises such as Disney, Marvel, DC, Star Wars and others, there are many plans to continue to spread enjoyment across the world with new and highly anticipated films and series’. Even though many things are still being worked on and we don’t know everything that is to come, the following include much of what we do.
For Disney, they have many things coming from them to us this year. Films that will be released this year directly from Disney include: Call of the Wild (February 21, 2020 - Starring Harrison Ford), the animated film Onward (March 6, 2020 - Starring Tom Holland & Chris Pratt), Mulan (March 27, 2020 - Starring Liu Yiefi), and many more. Even though Marvel and Star Wars are currently owned by Disney, there are many things being released from those franchises as individuals. For Marvel, these include: Black Widow (May 1, 2020 - Starring Scarlett Johansson) and the Eternals (November 6, 2020 - Starring Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, & Kumail Nanjiani). Venom, which has been apart of Marvel but not the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be coming out on October 2, 2020 and will be starring Tom Hardy. New Mutants, an X-Men movie, will be released on April 3, 2020; starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton. X-Men is owned by Fox, but recently there was a deal made between Disney and Fox, meaning that Marvel now owns the rights to the X-Men. However, New Mutants is not yet a part of the MCU.
As for DC, there are also set to be many new releases: Birds of Prey & the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (February 7, 2020 - Starring Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, & Mary Elizabeth), Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020 - Starring Gal Gadot & Chris Pine), and Cyborg (April 3, 2020 - Starring Ray Fisher).
Star Wars, on the other hand, has less coming. Because the Skywalker Saga officially ended on December 20th, 2019, it is rumored that the next trilogy will not begin until around Christmas of 2022. However, the hit Disney+ show The Mandalorian will have a second season, which is supposed to be released around the fall of 2020.
Other highly anticipated movies to come in 2020 include Dolittle (January 17, 2020 - Starring Robert Downey Jr.), Bad Boys For Life (January 17, 2020 - Starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence), A Quiet Place Part II (March 20, 2020 - Starring Emily Blunt), New Mutants - X-Men (April 3, 2020 - Starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton), No Time To Die - James Bond (April 8, 2020 - Starring Daniel Craig), Fast & Furious 9 (May 22, 2020 - Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, etc.), Top Gun: Maverick (June 26, 2020 - Starring Tom Cruise), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10, 2020 - Starring Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, etc.), and many more.
That may seem like a lot, and there is now doubt that it is. However, that’s not all. If there are any people within a certain category of entertainment that may be more enthusiastic about a new release, it’s the gaming community. There are many game releases to come this year, the most anticipated ones being Rainbow Six Quarantine, The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers, Dying Light 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 5, Halo Infinite, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ghost of Tsushima, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Watch Dogs Legion, and many more. The vast majority of these games will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (some being available for Stadia as well).
The Last of Us Part II happens to be one of the most, if not the top most anticipated game of 2020. It has had many changes in release date, recent changes going between February and May. The final decision was made by Naughty Dog and Sony Entertainment to release the game on February 21, 2020. The Last of Us (released in 2013 - Starring Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson) is a survival horror game that is mainly set 20 years after the “zombie apocalypse broke out across the world. This game was and still is in the top 5 most sold games in history that many people hold near and dear to them. With its sequel being known since around 2015 and the first trailer being released in 2016, the fans became quite exhilarated. Without the game even being out yet, the Last of Us Part II was previously nominated for most anticipated game of the year.
That being said, there is much love and excitement to come out of the entertainment industry, even though that is not the only thing that will make 2020 exciting. Basically, the year of 2020 is going to be a banger. Not only will franchises be expanding upon their fandoms and their creations, but inspiration will continue to spread across the people who enjoy it the most. Essentially, if this much is happening in 2020, you can only begin to imagine what is in store for the decade as a whole.
https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/172385/upcoming-games-2020/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610944/most-anticipated-movies-2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/star-wars-series-the-mandalorian-season-2-coming-fall-2020-jon-favreau-says.html
https://screenrant.com/2020-superhero-movies/
https://www.purewow.com/news/disney-movies-coming-out
https://www.vox.com › culture › marvel-fox-disney-merger-x-men
Types of Basketball Fans
By: Conner Freerks
Since we are in the middle of the basketball season I thought I would tell you the type of basketball fans. I’ll be talking about the three most popular fans. The “Coach”, The “Dad”, and the “ Cheerleader”.
The “Coach is somebody the thinks they know everything about basketball. They sit at the very top of the bleacher and thinks they are the coach. They are always yelling at the coach or at the player to do something and most of the time they are wrong. They were most likely the little league coach and they are at every game. Next is the “Dad”.
The “Dad” is the person that is always criticizing their child no matter how good they did. They want their children to be the best player. They are always yelling during the game and like to disagree with the ref. Like the coach, they like to try to coach from the sidelines. Finally is the “Cheerleader”.
The “Cheerleader is someone that is always yelling let’s go, team and always participate in the cheers that cheerleaders do. I swear if the could become an honorary cheerleader they would. They like to get the crowd loud. You can hear them over anybody and usually a mom of one of the players.
There you have it, the three types of basketball fans. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned next week.
Since we are in the middle of the basketball season I thought I would tell you the type of basketball fans. I’ll be talking about the three most popular fans. The “Coach”, The “Dad”, and the “ Cheerleader”.
The “Coach is somebody the thinks they know everything about basketball. They sit at the very top of the bleacher and thinks they are the coach. They are always yelling at the coach or at the player to do something and most of the time they are wrong. They were most likely the little league coach and they are at every game. Next is the “Dad”.
The “Dad” is the person that is always criticizing their child no matter how good they did. They want their children to be the best player. They are always yelling during the game and like to disagree with the ref. Like the coach, they like to try to coach from the sidelines. Finally is the “Cheerleader”.
The “Cheerleader is someone that is always yelling let’s go, team and always participate in the cheers that cheerleaders do. I swear if the could become an honorary cheerleader they would. They like to get the crowd loud. You can hear them over anybody and usually a mom of one of the players.
There you have it, the three types of basketball fans. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned next week.
Lost Faith?
By: Lilly Cobb
Have you ever lost faith in something? Have you ever felt like giving up? Well if you ever did and don’t know where or how to get help. Well you are reading this so you found help. Hello My name is Lillian Cobb most call me Lilly.
Growing up I had a crazy life. Mine is not as bad as most but it can make you down. You would never think that someone that has parents not together would hurt. Well I know for a fact it does. At the age of 7 my parents broke it off. After a while my dad would come back around and try to break in and take me away from my mom. He was crazy but I did not know that until I moved two years later. Leaving my whole childhood behind. My friends, the rest of my family. It hurts.
After a few weeks after moving my mom found someone new. Well he was nice on the outside. He was abusive and hated me. The only time he was nice was when he was around my mom and would say “See I am not a bad man.” but he really was. Once my mom finally found out after 5 years that he was abusive she left him. Another year has passed I had friends and I felt like I belonged. That's where I as wrong. No one really liked me. I moved again to a new school and made friends. But what no one knew was that I was depressed a year before I moved once I found out people really did not care that much of me. I made friends online and left me like everyone else. Then I got tangled up in love with someone close to me well he cut me off within a month and moved on. It made me feel worse like I didn’t belong here in this world. Then I remembered something someone told me. Everyday is a new battle and each battle you get stronger. But you can’t become stronger just by yourself, you need to tell someone what's going on or else you will become weaker than what you were before. So let someone in and push through win every battle. You mean something in this world and to me. I can tell you are very special even without meeting you.
Have you ever lost faith in something? Have you ever felt like giving up? Well if you ever did and don’t know where or how to get help. Well you are reading this so you found help. Hello My name is Lillian Cobb most call me Lilly.
Growing up I had a crazy life. Mine is not as bad as most but it can make you down. You would never think that someone that has parents not together would hurt. Well I know for a fact it does. At the age of 7 my parents broke it off. After a while my dad would come back around and try to break in and take me away from my mom. He was crazy but I did not know that until I moved two years later. Leaving my whole childhood behind. My friends, the rest of my family. It hurts.
After a few weeks after moving my mom found someone new. Well he was nice on the outside. He was abusive and hated me. The only time he was nice was when he was around my mom and would say “See I am not a bad man.” but he really was. Once my mom finally found out after 5 years that he was abusive she left him. Another year has passed I had friends and I felt like I belonged. That's where I as wrong. No one really liked me. I moved again to a new school and made friends. But what no one knew was that I was depressed a year before I moved once I found out people really did not care that much of me. I made friends online and left me like everyone else. Then I got tangled up in love with someone close to me well he cut me off within a month and moved on. It made me feel worse like I didn’t belong here in this world. Then I remembered something someone told me. Everyday is a new battle and each battle you get stronger. But you can’t become stronger just by yourself, you need to tell someone what's going on or else you will become weaker than what you were before. So let someone in and push through win every battle. You mean something in this world and to me. I can tell you are very special even without meeting you.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Home Economics Class
By Katie Stirling
There are a variety of different classes you can take here at Clarksville High School. Some are required while others are chosen. These chosen classes are electives. Many students enjoy the electives we have available already, and others wish there were more options. One of these options is a Home Economics class.
Home economics teaches students about skills needed while adulting. A lot of things change once students start to live on their own. After high school, this class could come in very handy. Home economics, or home science, deals with the interactions and relationships between individuals, families, communities, and the environment they live in.
One main topic many think of when it comes to Home Ec class is cooking. Knowing how to cook and make your own food is a very important necessity in our lifestyles. In the future, students may end up living alone at some point and will have to know how to do this. Many learn from their parents at home, but this only applies to some. If there were a class at school to offer help with this, many students would benefit. They would learn how to properly prepare their food for themselves.
Another part of home economics is budgeting. This is an area that many students lack knowledge in. There are certain classes we can take to learn about financial situations, but the Home Ec class could take it even farther in advance. Without this useful information, we tend to get confused about how to handle finances. College isn’t too far ahead from high school, and we need to be informed of these expenses.
The Home Ec class would be a great opportunity for upperclassmen to be exposed to some of the struggles of adulthood. The material could make lives easier for the better.
There are a variety of different classes you can take here at Clarksville High School. Some are required while others are chosen. These chosen classes are electives. Many students enjoy the electives we have available already, and others wish there were more options. One of these options is a Home Economics class.
Home economics teaches students about skills needed while adulting. A lot of things change once students start to live on their own. After high school, this class could come in very handy. Home economics, or home science, deals with the interactions and relationships between individuals, families, communities, and the environment they live in.
One main topic many think of when it comes to Home Ec class is cooking. Knowing how to cook and make your own food is a very important necessity in our lifestyles. In the future, students may end up living alone at some point and will have to know how to do this. Many learn from their parents at home, but this only applies to some. If there were a class at school to offer help with this, many students would benefit. They would learn how to properly prepare their food for themselves.
Another part of home economics is budgeting. This is an area that many students lack knowledge in. There are certain classes we can take to learn about financial situations, but the Home Ec class could take it even farther in advance. Without this useful information, we tend to get confused about how to handle finances. College isn’t too far ahead from high school, and we need to be informed of these expenses.
The Home Ec class would be a great opportunity for upperclassmen to be exposed to some of the struggles of adulthood. The material could make lives easier for the better.
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