Buying all those reusable straws and Starbucks cups may have you feeling like you are helping the Earth, but in reality, the more you buy, the more the Earth dies a little more each day. For many years, the world has been fighting global warming and pollution. Global warming is a type of climate change, and it makes the temperatures around the world warmer. Greenhouse gasses such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all contribute to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is when the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere capture the Sun’s heat and trap it. As a result, it makes the Earth much warmer than per usual. There are many organizations that are fighting global warming, but there is only so many people that will stop using plastic bags, along with using solar panels for electricity. However it is not just global warming that is affecting the planet, pollution is another strong factor. Most everything we use in our everyday lives contains plastic. Plastic bags, cups, straws, clothes, and even our notebooks. The recent trend of “VSCO girls” using metal straws and always saying “save the turtles!” has been buzzing around; using metal straws and reusable cups, bags, and water bottles is a step to stop worldwide pollution, but it actually creates more waste. Interesting enough, everyday products made to help the environment are actually hurting it more. For example; Starbucks recently created a paper straw that is supposed to create less plastic waste. However, the packaging the paper straw comes in is plastic. By doing this, Starbucks created more waste by trying to decrease waste, and many other companies have done the same thing. It is hard to make something that is a hundred percent reusable, nevertheless producing it so it does not hurt the planet even more. “I have 4 metal straws, and I bought them to help raise money for an organization that is cleaning up plastic in the ocean,'' says freshman Jordan Wickham. Of course, there are countless organizations for global warming and pollution, but as individuals, only so much can be accomplished. Even though these organizations are helping to raise awareness along with taking action, global warming is, well, global. It is pretty much everywhere, and it may just be impossible to end it. Humans are a well known factor in causing global warming and pollution by throwing away tons of plastic each year, alongside digging oil and releasing smog into the atmosphere. We are essentially deteriorating the earth, but all of the resources it provides are what people need to survive. Without any of it, we would not be alive today. In the end, global warming and pollution are a well-known issue in today’s society, and it may never change due to the impact humans have had on this Earth. Picture : In this image The Great Barrier Reef after years of decay and harsh conditions appears to be less colorful and dead due to climate change. Credits to Business Insider.
Social Media Scare
With the increase of teen social media users across the globe, mental and social issues are on the rise. From depression to self image, the social media world is not as perfect as it seems. Social media- we all know what it is, and a lot of us use it, whether to share memories, memes, weird cat videos, or take countless selfies with animal filters. Some of the more common apps used by teens todayare Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Many teens around the world are very familiar with these apps, and it is uncommon to come across someone who does not have an account on any platform. According to Statista.com, the most popular app in 2019 is Snapchat with forty-one percent of teens holding an account. Most of these social media sites are used for sending videos and pictures to one another; others focus more on with posting pictures to see how many likes it will receive. Teens are constantly checking social media, anxious to see if their last social media post got more than 10 likes in the last minute. The promise is that if you get 200+ likes per post and have more than 1,000 followers, then you are most likely “popular.” Social media was designed to share pictures and communicate with others, but in 2019, things have changed. Behind a screen, anyone can pretend to be someone else. Scary right? This is why children have to be 13 years or older to have an account on social media platform. Over 50% of twelve year olds have some sort of account on social media, according to BBC News. However, scary things can and have happened, due to predators and other people with bad intentions searching across many social media platforms. No one can be sure who you are really talking to or following, and that is the shocking thing about some of these apps. As The United States of America wakes up each day, many pick up their phones before even getting out of bed. According to the Tech Times, 46 percent of Americans admitted to checking their phones before getting out of bed. Throughout their day, they will check it many more times, sometimes even opening their phones just for the sake of opening it. Phones have taken over our social interaction, and so many people turn to social media and texting for expressing their feelings and have conversations, instead of just saying it face to face. The world is being taken over by technology as we know it, whether it is for the better or has yet to be seen. Picture: Freshman Lauren Maneval scrolls through the app TikTok, a short video app, during her lunchtime.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Equal Play, Equal Pay
For the USA Women’s National Soccer Team, the last couple soccer seasons have been successful. The team won their third World Cup this year, with a leading goals record of 26 goals. According to KOMO News, the women and men’s team both play 20 matches each year, yet the women’s team makes nearly 40% less than the men’s team. For the 2-time World Cup winner and FIFA Player of The Year Megan Rapinoe, she has strong opinions on the equal pay subject. According to an interview with ABC News, “we will not accept anything than less than equal pay,” said Rapinoe. With the leading numbers of goals scored in the World Cup and the title of champions, Rapinoe believes that their title is more than enough to prove that they deserve equal pay. In 2018, the US women’s team received $4 million for winning the World Cup, but the men’s French team received $38 million for winning in 2014. But the controversy did not just start this year, it’s been in the air since 2016. Keep in mind the men’s team did not even qualify for the 2019 World Cup, yet they still receive most of the American hype. In a regular season, if the men’s team won all 20 games, they would be paid $164,320 more than the women’s team if they won all 20 games (as shown in the provided figure). For the women’s team to be paid equally as the men's team in the regular season, they would have to be the best in the world, which they have more than done enough to prove. Many people are not happy about this unfair pay gap, and sophomore Brette Guenzler is one of the many that disagrees. She thinks that “it is unjust to deprive the clearly better team of the proper funding they deserve”. Guenzler plays for the Bigfork soccer team, and has grown up in a soccer family. She has always been a big fan of the US women’s team. The US women’s team has many supporters who actively participate in the controversial conversation with equal pay. The United States Womens National Team recently sued US Soccer for gender discrimination three months before kickoff of the World Cup. A decision still has not been made, and probably will not be for a while. Until then, the USWNT will still play with their heads held high, knowing that they are the best team in the world.
Many remember going to the musty thrift store with their mom and finding all those weird clothes that looked worn out and like something a grandmother would wear. But, weirdly enough, thrift store finds and early 2000s trends are making a comeback and some trends from the 1980’s are even coming back. For example, Birkenstocks were popular between 1960 and 1990, before becoming less popular. Now they are known as ‘basic’ shoes. Basic refers to something many people have and is super popular. Air Force 1’s, Crocs, Vans, and Converse are all shoes it is likely to have seen someone wearing. Senior Shea Meisner says that,” I have been wearing Chacos and Patagonia since fifth grade, before anyone knew what those were, and I got bullied for it. Kids called them ‘jesus sandals’ but now everyone has a pair.” Shea also would like to remind everyone that “she walked so they could run.” There are plenty of old trends that many teens probably have in their closet. Ripped denim was big in the 80s, but in 2019, it is even bigger. It is highly likely to have seen ripped jeans, with big jean brands such as American Eagle, Hollister, and Levi’s selling different styles and colors. Ongoing jokes about owning a pair of ripped jeans are: “it’s not Sunday, why are you wearing your holy jeans?”, “did you buy those like that?”, or “where’s the rest of your jeans?”. Here’s a helpful tip: don’t wear ripped jeans to a family event. Something else that there is an abundance of is crop tops. Girls that wore tank tops under a crop top was a familiar sight, but nobody really thought anything of it. Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters are both clothing stores where teens often shop. Both stores sell many different styles of crop tops, and many other trendy clothes. These stores are considered “artsy” and are very popular among young people. The funny thing about all these trends and old clothing styles coming back is it’s almost nostalgic. Freshman Dawson Chamber says, “My mom usually takes me to the thrift store, and I can usually tell when I find something I like she thinks its funny because it was something she used to wear when she was younger.” Dawson goes on to say that she loves to wear turtlenecks under t-shirts or tank tops because she likes the style, but if she thinks it doesn’t look right, she can take off the outer shirt and she still has an outfit. The stereotype of thrift stores has changed drastically in 2019, and the once old and musty graveyard of used items is now an adventure to pick through and find those perfect thrift store finds. But will trends from this generation be cool again in 50 years?
JANUARY
New Year, New Knowledge
New Years is a worldwide holiday that many people celebrate. There are many different traditions based on your religion or region, and they all are meant to bring you good luck and success in the upcoming year. For Americans, New Year’s Eve is when the famous ball drops from the top of Times Square in New York City, along with festivities and get-togethers. According to Wilstar.com, “This New Years’ holiday is often marked by fireworks, parades, and reflection upon the last year while looking ahead to the future’s possibilities.” As said in the holidays name, New Years is a way to wipe the slate clean and start over for another year. Another well-known New Year’s holiday is the Chinese New Year. It is the most important holiday in China, and for 2020, it starts on Saturday January 25th. On this day, it marks the year of the Rat. History.com says, “Each new year was marked by the characteristics of one of the 12 zodiac animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.” In Spain, New Year’s Eve is known as Noche Vieja (Old Night). At midnight, everyone eats 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock. Eating these grapes is predicted to bring happiness, good luck, hope, and prosperity. People in Madrid gather in the plazas and eat grapes together. There are many traditions and different ways to celebrate New Year’s around the world, but how was New Year’s created? During the Roman era, the beginning of the calendar started in March. But in 46 B.C, the Julian calendar was created by Julius Caesar. He marked the New Year on January first, which is what is celebrated now. Even though he declared that day as New Years, many cultures continued to celebrate it on different days. Around the world, there are many traditions that can be celebrated on New Year’s. From China to Spain to America, the overall purpose of New Years is the same: starting over. The New Year is for taking the last year and starting clean. Making the next year a good year is also why people pledge to resolutions. Resolutions can range from losing weight to practicing an act of kindness every day. The New Year comes with great fun and a chance to start clean, and starting over is one of the best things one can do for oneself.
Recap of The 10s
As the 2010s have come to an end, there are so many things that have happened through the decade that are easy to forget about. It is sad, and even scary to think about, but there are still so many things to look forward to: marriage, college, getting a job, and maybe even starting a family are all waiting in the future. All of our childhood memories have all happened in the 10s. Favorite TV shows, music, movies, along with clothing trends are all captured in this span of 20 years, and to move on is bittersweet. Disney has recently released a movie platform called Disney+, allowing viewers to watch all content from Disney, Pixar, National Geographic, Marvel, and much more. Teens across America are thrilled, due to the fact that they can watch all of the shows they watched when they were younger. Some examples include Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, and Wizards of Waverly Place. All of those shows were debuted on Disney Channel, and many classic movies were made alongside them. However, it was not just those shows and movies. There are many major events that have happened throughout the 2000s that many have forgotten about. There has been both good and bad, but sadly, the news has been filled with a lot of disappointing information. The rise in mass shootings, along with the controversial topic of gun rights has become a big conversation in the United States. More and more shootings are happening across America, especially in schools. Additionally, several mass hurricanes have happened in the 10s, the casualties that were caused will go down in the history books. Also, another important event in America’s history is the 2016 Presidential Election. The process was a very intense and competitive race between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, whose impeachment is now up in the air, and still being decided. Even though there was a lot of bad, there was so much good that happened. We cannot forget that smartphone companies such as Apple and Samsung have had big years leading up to 2020, and have many more yet to come. 2016 was definitely a year that everyone remembers. Vine, Harambe, Pokémon GO, and of course the Mannequin challenge. As smartphones started to become bigger and more popular, all of these apps and trends started to become popular as well. It is easy to forget everything that has happened these past years, but many important people and celebrities have passed these last couple of years that we will never forget. The deaths of famous singers Prince, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Chris Cornell, and Tom Petty, rocked the older generation, but artists Juice WRLD, Mac Miller, Lil Peep, and XXXTentacion, who have all recently passed away, but left a major legacy behind in the hands of Generation 2. The 10s were great years, but they are also years to never forget. The end is bittersweet, but there is so much more to come.
FEBRUARY
Gold Medal Mindset
The Olympics is one of the most viewed events across the world, and is televised worldwide. Every four years either the summer Olympics or the winter Olympics take place somewhere around the world where athletes compete to get on the podium. Over the years, controversy have played into the games, such as gender equality and transgender athletes. This year, the summer games are heading to Tokyo, and there are many new events. Baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing have all been added. Events like skateboarding and sports climbing are going to be held in urban environments with hopes to attract a younger audience. With the recent trends of these sports, many are excited to experience these new events. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said, “We want to take sport to the youth. With the many options that young people have, we cannot expect any more that they will come automatically to us. We have to go to them.” So many young athletes have competed in the games in recent years, including Laurie Hernandez, Maria Coburn, Ragan Smith, and Kanah Jha. They are all under the age of 20, and have competed at young ages at high competition levels. Having young people in the games attracts viewers along with more interest in the games, and it is a step up for the Olympic world. The IOC has taken steps to create gender equality among all athletes, and their efforts have shown over the years. In the 1988 Seoul games, 26.1% of athletes were women. But in the 2016 Rio games, with record breaking numbers, 45.2% of the athletes were women in the games. In 2018, the IOC was awarded the “Power, Together Award” for their commitment to gender equality. They have taken it into priority, and many have gained respect for the committee. In 2015, Chris Mosier was the first transgender man to make Team USA. But at that time, the policies about transgender athletes prevented him from competing internationally. He decided to speak up about this issue, and in 2016, the IOC changed the policy so that transgender athletes could compete without any rules against them. He has paved a path for many transgender athletes, and is an inspiration to many. But not everyone is happy about this change. Gold medalist Paula Radcliffe tweeted, “If you are born and grow up male you cannot be allowed to compete in female sports simply because you 'identify' as female. It makes a mockery of the definitions of male and female sports categories." Because transgender athletes compete in the events they now identify as, they may have more advantages than other athletes. Such as a transgender male competing in a women’s sport, they may have an advantage physically. But, the IOC has been making history with equality, and there will always be controversy one way or another.
Status Symbols
Status symbols. They are all around us, but may be hard to identify. A status symbol is maybe something someone has, or the people they hang out with. It could even be a sport. Trendy items such as a hydro flask or Airpods may give status, or may look cooler. Celebrities buy expensive clothing items such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry to make others want their lifestyle and show off how much money they have. Just from walking around the halls at school, many status symbols are displayed. But it's not just clothing items and cool technology, it's also sports and cliques. For example, being a football or basketball player may be cooler than being a soccer player, due to the attention that the basketball and football players may receive. Having status within sports may be shown through having the newest gear, or the coolest shoes. It could also be shown by having a starting spot, or being on the varsity team. Many people are unaware of status symbols, and it can be noticeable coming from different perspectives. There are kids who go home and don’t get to eat, or don’t even have a home to go to. It’s hard to believe, but it happens everyday. Having new shoes and a warm house to go home to may seem normal, but it’s different for everyone. No one seems to notice them because they don’t have the newest Nikes, but they are not hard to identify. But there's two sides to the story. Kids with nice shoes, new jackets, Airpods, etc. are assumed to be “rich”. Or it seems to be they are spoiled and get everything they want. Many kids have jobs and work for their money, and decide to spend it on nice things. Not everyone has everything handed to them, and it can be hard to tell but that doesn’t mean there's a need to assume. Comments like those are hard to hear, because their parents may be struggling or their home life is hard. Things don’t identify personality. It may sound cringey, but it’s true. Another status symbol is cliques. A clique is a group of people who have a certain type of status, and are often compared to other cliques. People in a popular clique probably have more status than people in a less popular clique. But what often happens is the popularity starts to become more important, and the relationship between one another doesn’t start to matter. It becomes a competition between each other, and it starts to be toxic. But other cliques that aren’t as popular are sometimes the more relaxed groups, and often have good relationships. Having status isn’t everything, and movies and TV shows often stereotype the things explained in this paragraph, and it sometimes happens in reality, but not often.