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Josh Barbone: Battling Cancer and High School

MVHS Staff
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Josh Barbone: Battling Cancer and High School

Breanna Huynh and Brooklyn Baggett
Feature Editor and Co-Editor in Chief

An inside look into the life and story of Josh Barbone, a resilient 14 year old with a positive and uplifting perspective on life and self-reliance.  

     One of the main mysteries of life surrounds death and the afterlife. Many people wonder and fear their death but not this kid, Josh Barbone, a freshman at Mission Viejo High School. 

     Despite going through traumatic experiences he states that, “A lot of people are scared of death, but I’m scared of pain before death because death seems relaxing. I’ve been under anesthesia and the feeling is great.”

     Born and raised in California, Josh is the oldest child in a family of five, having a younger sister named Scarlett and an older half sister named Missy. He has a cat named Balls, which of course is important to mention. 

     While he is the oldest child, one of the biggest influences and supporters in his life is his mom. Another person at the center of his support system is his neighbor, who he has known for almost his entire life. His favorite memory is with his neighbor, which was, as Josh gladly comments was, “something illegal.” 

     He then explains, “So me and my neighbor were bored on a Saturday and we went to my elementary school and Linda Vista and flipped around twenty five tables sideways because we thought it was funny, which it is.”

     Besides flipping tables, Josh can be seen receiving rounds of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is, as he puts it, “the opposite of chemotherapy. Chemo attacks everything in your body and tries to kill everything and immunotherapy pumps up my immune system so none of my normal cells gets turned into cancerous cells.”

     “I don’t think it can shrink my cancer but it’s not what we’re looking for. The strongest chemotherapy can’t kill the cancer on its own. I need this transplant. Right now, I just need something to contain it,” he emphasizes.  

     Last year in September, Josh was diagnosed with a rare type of liver cancer for his age. Ever since then, he has dealt with the knowledge that his days might be numbered. 

     In April of this year, he learned he only had a year left and as of right now he now only has five months left to live if he doesn’t get a liver transplant. 

    “Once I get the transplant, I’m cancer free and will hopefully live a normal life.” Josh remarks. 

     One of his hopes in life is to become a pro-wrestler, going even as far as asking for a wrestling ring in his front yard as part of his wish for the Make a Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to fulfill the wishes of children who have critical illnesses.

     Apart from this, one of Josh’s biggest dreams is to travel to Greece in the future. The country is unique to him not only because of its beauty, but also because of its history and unique cuisine. He also would like to one day meet Shawn Michaels (HBK) and another professional wrestler named Kenny Omega. 

     While most would assume that someone would become more depressed and reclusive when dealing with a terminal illness, Josh’s mindset defies all stereotypes, even those of ordinary high school students. 

     “Before I was more like everyone else, more sad. But now, I’m more happy, bright and I’m more confident…and straightforward,” Josh explains. 

     His frame of mind and optimism despite everything that he struggles with daily is something that is truly heartening and should encourage us all to be more positive about our experiences and ourselves. 

     Based on the interview, it seems that there are high hopes for Josh’s future and hopefully there is something, even small, that we can all do to help.

“They say all’s well that ends well” – Taylor Swift

MVHS Staff
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“They say all’s well that ends well” – Taylor Swift

Samuel Romero Castanon
Staff Writer

Credit: Taylor Swift

     Taylor Swift has released a new album, “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, and fans can’t stop talking about it. The album first came out in 2012 as “Red”, and some might be confused about the difference between the two albums. 

     The reason for her re-release of the album is because Taylor’s master recordings were sold to the manager, Scooter Braun, without her consent. (Taylor’s Version) is her ongoing effort to regain financial and artistic control over her music, which she first started with Fearless.

     The album contains the original 16 songs from the Red album and 14 more songs in the newer album. Although it has the same songs from the first recording, Taylor has grown since then and it’s shown in her re-recording and she’s even added more style.

     So I’ll be listing my top 5 favorite songs from this album. Coincidentally these songs are all from (The Vault) so dont come after me please, I didn’t realize.

     Starting at #5, I had, “The Very First Night (From The Vault)” mainly because of the sound of the music but also the catchy chorus. The breakdown was my favorite part of the whole song. Her voice sounded so calm and yet so energetic at the same time and the sound of the guitar in the background made the lyrics sound so much more powerful.   

     At #4 we have, “Message in a Bottle (From The Vault)” since the vocals were outstanding in this song. I especially loved how Taylor would hold out the note from the pre-chorus going into the chorus and how she would sing the last words in each stanza from the chorus. 

     My #3 was, “I Bet You Think About Me (feat. Chris Stapleton) (From The Vault)” because her voice was amazing as usual and the music added so much emotion, especially the harmonica in the beginning and at the end. The lyrics also caught my attention since it’s about her affluent lover and throughout most of the song she mocks him and I love how she sings the 1st verse. I just can’t decide which verse I liked the most.

     At #2 is “Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) (From The Vault)” because both of their voices sounded so good together, especially in the bridge when they were harmonizing. My favorite section was in the chorus, “How can a person know everything at eighteen, But nothing at twenty-two? And will you still want me when I’m nothing new?” This song has me searching for words I should know like novelty and words I’ve never heard about like ingénue but aside from that, the song is really earnest and heartfelt. It would’ve been #1 if it wasn’t for another song.

     Finally, we have gotten down to my #1 song, although before I get into that, some honorable mentions are Treacherous, Forever Winter (From The Vault), Starlight, Ronin, and Sad Beautiful Tragic. These were the songs that didn’t make my top 5 but they sure put up a fight to be #5.

     Now back to my #1 song. I know the suspense is killing you, so drumroll, please…. It’s none other than “All Too Well (10 minute version) (from the vault)” This song is everything– the vocals, the music, the lyrics, it’s marvelous. The song is genuinely emotional, all the way from the anger to the sadness in her voice just makes the song so much more passionate. 

     The Bridge, The Pre-Chorus, and the 3rd, 4th, and 6th verses were my absolute favorite parts either because of the lyrics or the way that Taylor sings a certain part. “And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, So casually cruel in the name of bein’ honest.” and, “And I was never good at tellin’ jokes, but the punch line goes ’I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age’”, like where else would you get a song similar to this.

     After listening to it, I could understand why it’s Taylor’s most played song from the album and why it even became No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for a week. And for those who haven’t listened to her album, do it right now because I promise that it’s well worth the 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 26 seconds.

The Holiday Blues: Seasonal Depression

MVHS Staff
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The Holiday Blues: Seasonal Depression

Megan LeBoff
Staff Writer

As the winter season rolls around, many start to feel the effects of seasonal depression. But what does it mean? And how can you treat it?

Credit: hrmagazine.co.uk

     It’s that time of year. The air is getting colder, and the sun is in hiding for most of the day.

     For some, this change in climate is welcomed, as the change of weather signals the start of holiday festivities. But for others, the change in weather means the start of a sort of seasonal sadness. And these “winter blues” could mean more than you think. 

     Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression directly linked to weather and daylight changes brought about during fall and winter. This phenomenon is more commonly known as seasonal depression.

     And this disorder is more common than you might think. In fact, according to healthresearchfunding.com, it is estimated that SAD affects nearly 10 million Americans every year. And although all age groups are susceptible to SAD, women are 3 times more likely to suffer from it than men.

     Genetics also play a part in deciding who experiences seasonal depression. According to Reggis College, having a family history of SAD correlates with a higher prevalence of the condition.

     Unfortunately, it’s not entirely clear what causes seasonal depression. Some research suggests that people with SAD may have disrupted levels of serotonin (a chemical in your brain that regulates mood) and melatonin (a hormone that helps maintain your natural sleep cycle). Such disruptions would make it hard to adjust to seasonal changes in day length, explaining why SAD is more common in areas farther from the equator, where the sun rises the latest and sets the earliest during winter. 

     So what does suffering from SAD entail? Seasonal depression has mostly the same symptoms as year-round depression: fatigue, trouble sleeping, agitation, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. The only difference being the seasonality of it.

     If you feel you may be suffering from SAD, it is important to know it is very treatable. Common treatment options include dawn simulators and sunlights, which are devices that are meant to simulate longer daylight hours, vitamin D supplements, omega 3 supplements, and exercise. All of which are proven to help treat SAD. 

     I talked to Irvine Highschool Counselor Abby LeBoff about Seasonal Depression. “In my experience, SAD is not that common in high school.” She says “A lot of it has to do with living in southern California so we don’t have as severe or extreme winter weather; we do have a lot more sun, which influences SAD.”

     In terms of treating SAD, “One of the steps that can be taken is to get outside,” she says “also, increase the socialization you have with other people, rather than most people, when they are experiencing that, want to avoid activities or being around others.”

     “Importantly” she adds “If your sadness is causing any severe symptoms, that you are having any thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or suicidal ideations, you talk to a trusted adult or professional and get the help that you need.”

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Harry Styles’ New Beauty Brand

Jim Marsoobian
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Harry Styles’ New Beauty Brand

Jim Marsoobian
Opinion Editor

He’s back at it again, this time with a line of nail polish and skincare products.

Credit: Pleasing.com

     November 15th, 2021 marked the launch of a new beauty brand, Pleasing: founded by none other than Harry Styles. The singer, songwriter, and actor continues to expand his title, this time dabbling in the fashion and beauty world. Having attended the Met Gala and always impressing with his bold and unique closet, Styles has become a fashion inspiration for people all over.

     So far, Pleasing is selling a variety of nail polish and a few skincare products. The Perfect Polish Set, containing four pearl-inspired bottles and letter decals, is selling for sixty-five dollars. All of the products Pleasing offers are vegan, biodegradable, cruelty-free, and made with plant-based ingredients to have a sustainable effect, which explains the high price. The packaging contains recycled materials and the carton is completely compostable, as well.

     The four nail polish colors being offered are Perfect Pearl, a creamy white, Pearly Tops, a subtle barely-there polish, Inky Pearl, which has a deep black-blue hue, and last but not least, Granny’s Pink Pearls, a lovely light pink. As stated on the website, all of these colors can be combined to create unique colors and designs. As of now, the only colors being sold individually arePerfect Pearl and Pearly Tops for twenty dollars each.

     Styles’ inspiration for this new project is simple: “I wanted to find a way to explore more ideas and have more opportunities to collaborate with people who were inspiring me; that’s how Pleasing was born,” he said in a recent press release. “When we decided Pleasing would make beauty products I wanted to be sure they were something I would use. I didn’t want to make products to mask people, I wanted to highlight them and make them feel beautiful,” Styles explains.

     In a recent interview with Dazed, he said, “I really think that the essence of Pleasing is finding those little moments of joy and showing them to people.” Styles continues, “I don’t think being beautiful or feeling beautiful is about looking good. When people are happy and glowing, they’re radiating. And that’s what I think the products do, it’s about helping you feel beautiful.”

     Already, this hysteria-causing brand is receiving great reviews. “My primary complaint about Pleasing, frankly, is that there isn’t more of it to go around,” writes Nicola Dall’asen of  Allure Magazine. Shannon Lawlor of Who What Wear talks about how “It’s not claiming to be perfect—it’s open, honest and is trying its best to act inclusively and sustainably without getting hung up on nuances.”

     Most importantly, however, this new line represents a change in beauty. The products are marketed towards all people and promote a diverse, inclusive outtake on the target market of these items. The brand claims that “by exploring the contradictions around and within us, we dispel the myth of a binary existence.”

     Overall, this new line of products establishes the beginning of a new era of inclusive, sustainable beauty. Hopefully, this new addition to the beauty world inspires brands across the globe to create a long-lasting change that not only encourages a diverse and inclusive society but also a healthy and happy planet.

The Boys Are Back: Boys Basketball

MVHS Staff
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The Boys Are Back: Boys Basketball

Sofia Araujo & Jason Hatfield
Staff Writers

Boys Basketball is back and are ready to be better than ever.

 

     Moe Golshani is the Mission Viejo High School head boys basketball coach. He is a husband and a father to two girls. This is his first year coaching at Mission Viejo High School, and previously he has worked with teams inside of the NVO basketball club.

     He has coached since 1999 so for 22 years, which means that he has lots of coaching experience.

     In an interview with Golshani when asked if he was excited to coach for the MVHS basketball team he says “Extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the DIABLOS boys basketball program”.

     Golshani’s philosophy for coaching is to “NEVER Compromise toughness and effort”. He says that “we would not step on the court if we did not believe we could win!” He believes that the teams will have a great season and will continue to give it their all on the court.

      Besides talent Golshani was also looking for “selfless players that will lay it all on the line for the team”. So not only do the players on the teams have talent but they also have selfless attitudes which will ultimately lead them to their wins. 

     “I spent last season at Fallbrook HS in north SD county. Prior to that I spent 5 years at Bishop Manogue Catholic HS in Reno NV. State runner up in 2018 and state final four run in 2019”, was Golshani’s response to where he coached prior to Mission. 

     When asked who he thinks the biggest competitor will be this year he responded with “Our league is tough and we have limited varsity experience so I think every game will have different challenges”. There is no definite rival but the season has just begun and we will see how it continues. 

     Lastly, when asked what he tells the players to give them motivation he says “we ask them to play for one and other! Our slogan is STRENGTH IN FAMILY, We are always better together”. He believes that playing together and for one another will lead them to their victory. 

     The Mission Viejo High School basketball program consists of three teams, varsity, junior varsity, and freshman. 

     The varsity team consists of Isaiah Tolmaire #0, Ryan Miller #1, Alec Delgado #2, Trae Tolmaire #3, Jake Higgins #4, Isaiah Palmer #5, Zach Smail #10, Jake Andrade #13, Robby Andrade #15, Alexander Frost #21, Josh Hewitt #23, Connor Dagarin #24, Ethan Brown #30, Campbell Brown #33, and Jason Hatfield #44.

     The jv team includes Mikey #0, Luka P. #1, Caden Delgado #2, Caden #3, Tyson Ford #5, Shane Huttenhoff #10, Brandon S. #15, Collin Hambel #20, Nathaniel T. #23, Brayden Brooks #24, Jessie Randolph #35, Isaiah Carrasco #42, Andrew Camerena #44, and Yi Hui Zhang #50. 

     And the newest team, the freshman team, is made up of Madoc #1, Potter Baldwin #2, Vincent Ramirez #4, Luke R. #5, Adrian Garnica #10, Shea O’Neill #11, Mark P. #12, Owen Berg #13, Ryan Somo #22, Brady Farzley #25, Kenny Dutwiler #32, Rowen Weiss #34, and Bo Clark #40. 

    Basketball is a winter sport, and it is a sixth period.

     They have had a few games and are yet to have their first home game, which looking at it will be January 5th, 2022, playing against Tesoro. This is for jv and for freshman basketball, their first home game will be the same day at 4:00 against Tesoro.  

     Mission Viejo High school  hosted the “Diablo Inferno” tournament. This is for the varsity teams and began on November 29,2021 and ended on December 4th. This tournament included  Mission Viejo High School , Fairmont Prep, Beckman, CVC, San Juan Hills, El Toro, Fountain Valley, Arroyo Grande, Carlsbad, and Valley Christian. The diablos did not win the tournament but were 3-5 and will continue to get better every day! The winners of the tournament were Fairmont prep. Though the diablos did not win it was only their first tournament this season and there are many more games to go.You can find game dates and updates on the team on the basketball instagram, @mvdiablobasketball.  Make sure to support your Mission Viejo freshman, junior varsity, and varsity basketball teams this season. Go Diablos! 

Should Students Be Required to Get Vaccinated?

MVHS Staff
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Should Students Be Required to Get Vaccinated?

Jason Hatfield
Entertainment Editor

Credit: rand.org

     It’s often seen that

in times of confusion, people stick with what they know. 

     But when a thoughtful, cautious view turns to pure ignorance, it becomes very problematic. 

     When everything around is so unknown, it’s easier for many to call the world’s bluffs and to declare foul play. This obsession manifests itself to extreme paranoia and delusion, leading to outlandish claims all backed (very poorly) by shoddy interpretations of the bill of rights. 

     While I struggle to share this common thought process in most cases (blame it on my young age if you will), I still find it painfully difficult to rationalize the vaccination resistance. Vaccination is not new, nor should it be seen as especially dangerous. 

     But denial is a tricky thing, a place far out of logic’s typical reach. 

     Due to its indifference to previous required vaccinations and its effectiveness in keeping people safe and healthy, vaccinations are crucial for students to attend school.

     There’s a common argument that most of us have heard many times, the argument that vaccination should be a choice as it is our own liberty. You’ve probably heard a friend make a backhanded comment or uncle spout at the thanksgiving table with the same conviction that vaccination mandates overstep our freedom.

     Now sure, it may sound patriotic and all, pointing to the constitution with pure defiance and showing that the government has it all wrong. But the mandatory vaccination to attend school is certainly not overstepping anyone’s freedoms for a number of reasons.

     In 2021, the amount of options for independent study has skyrocketed and seems to only be improving. This has, and most likely always will, be an option for students which gives them the liberty they declare they don’t have.

     No one has ever refused an education to students for their decision to refuse the vaccine, only these students have made a different decision and have subsequently received different accommodations.bes

     Another factor in showing that common liberty is not being overstepped is the fact that unvaccinated people do in fact pose a larger threat to the general population. 

     Unvaccinated people are more likely to contract covid and subsequently spread covid to anyone. In fact, those who are vaccinated  are less likely to get covid, and if they do, usually have it for a shorter period of time, making them less contagious than those who are unvaccinated.

     As well, it has been shown that large amounts of unvaccinated people have led to more variants of covid. And with these new variations, Relying on natural immunity doesn’t work against them.

     Because unvaccinated people serve as a threat to everyone, these limitations are only fair. 

     Another thing is that vaccination requirements are not at all a new standard. Students take vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella. 

     These are standard practices in education today and have been for some time, so it’s all the more confusing that people are so firmly against covid vaccinations.

     Lastly, the decision against vaccination has been deeply rooted in politics, unfortunately. In fact, the relationship between conservatism and opposition to vaccination isn’t new, as the gap between counties that are conservative vs liberal and their vaccination rate continues to grow (KFF.org).

     It is not the school’s responsibility to align with political views and it is a personal decision to deny vaccination as much as it is a personal decision to distance oneself around those who are more likely to spread and create new covid variants.

     No, the first amendment has not been shot down by liberal politicians vying for totalitarian control. In reality, the state of California has only established a necessary ruling to help keep students safe at school, a ruling that is completely and totally valid.

8-bit Christmas – From Two Views

Judd Karn
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8-bit Christmas – From Two Views

Judd Karn & Shahyan Pour Teimour
Online Editor & Staff Writer

Shayhan and Judd were asked to review the same movie with the same questions.

Credit: HBO Max

     Shahyan’s Review:

8-bit Christmas: It’s a Bit Dull
We’ll just make a Christmas movie who’s entire structure is based off other Christmas movies and hope the nostalgia saves us – 8-bit Christmas movie writers

What do you think the movie did a good job at? What do you think the movie did a poor job at? The Acting? The Story? The Cinematography? The Pacing?
          8-bit Christmas is a movie that is enjoyabl for almost all age groups. With the timeline set to the late 1980s, and the main character being a 10 year old kid, director Michael Dowse was able to capture the attention of adults and children.

     Additionally, the pace and acting in the movie were up to the mark with a traditional, cliche Christmas movie. With little to no parts that are slow or will bore you, and exceptional acting from Winslow Fegley (Jake Doyle), Neil Patrick Harris (Adult Jake Doyle), June Diane Raphael (Kathy Doyle), and others, this is definitely the movie for the younger generation.

     However, with these pros come some cons to the movie, such as originality. Even though almost all Christmas movies have some similarities to another Christmas movie, this movie tried to incorporate and cultivate too many cliches. Some examples include, “Once upon a time,” the basic storyline of a young kid who wants nothing more than this one thing for Christmas, and more.

    The cinematography was very bland, except for one or two scenes of a kid throwing up CGI spaghettios, which I’m guessing was thrown into the movie for the amusement of children.

What did you see as the message for this film?

     Even though the plot of the story follows young Jack Doyle on his quest to attain a Nintendo system, the underlying message for the film is about fatherhood. When Jack Doyle was a kid, his father was very strict with him, and showed some favoritism towards his younger sister. Now that Jack has his own daughter, he learns to become a good father around Christmas time.

How would you rate the movie out of 10?

     I would rate this movie a 5/10. It is a good Christmas movie, but there is nothing super special or that stands out about it. I would recommend this movie to families with young kids who don’t pay attention to plot, cinematography, etc.

 

     Judd’s Review:

    8-bit Christmas: A Classic? No, But It Sure Tried To Be.
     Hey let’s make an amalgamation of a Christmas movie that relies heavily on nostalgia – 8-Bit Christmas Writers

    What do you think the movie did a good job at? What do you think the movie did a poor job at? The Acting? The Story? The Cinematography? The Pacing?
     The movie did a good job at pacing, not feeling slow ever ever, the narrative is a run of the mill kid wants something Christmas story (think Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jingle All The Way). The cinematography is nothing special, there are a couple shots that try to deviate from the mold but, once again, nothing too special.
     The movie feels like an amalgamation of a bunch of different Christmas tropes, you see the classic, “Once Upon A Time…” cliché with the fully grown Jake Doyle (Neil Patrick Harris) narrating his adventurous story of acquiring a Nintendo Entertainment System.
    They did not know who this was for though, maybe they were trying to get both the parents and the kids? It is a nostalgia bait with many, “back in my day” remarks. Which at times feel a bit unnecessary but understandable because that is a big draw in for parents. However, unlike other movies, it actually uses these nostalgia bait items as plot points; the war on Video Games, the NES, and Cabbage Patch Kids were all used tastefully instead of just stating that it was a thing in the time only for nostalgia purposes.
     It also has a kid vomiting. Why did they need that, why did they decide to add CGI vomit and show it on screen for 30 seconds? I guess they were trying to appeal to kids because haha funny vomit? I guess.
     One thing I did like is the way they initially displayed narrative bias with a little glitch effect, not only cementing narrative bias but also incentivizing the viewer to have some suspense of disbelief.
     What did you see as the message for this film?
     The movie had a pretty clear message of value what you have throughout it, with the entire movie being a quest to acquire the almighty ‘Nintendo’ but he was too focused on that to look at what he already has; not a bad message but not profound in the slightest.
     How would you rate the movie out of 10?
     I would say this is a perfectly middle of the road movie. It used nostalgia well, it is a perfectly fine narrative, but it is nothing innovative and nothing special. 5/10
    
    Conclusion:
     So with all this being said, should you watch this movie? If you’re looking for an edge of the seat thriller, this wouldn’t be the movie for you. But if you’re looking for a good family Christmas movie that isn’t bad, but also isn’t particularly good, this would be the one to watch. A perfectly decent movie.

The Key to Key Club

MVHS Staff
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The Key to Key Club

Breanna Huynh 
Feature Editor 

A look inside Key Club at Mission Viejo High School.

Credit: MVHS key club instagram @mvhskeyclub_

     The cheers and voices of thousands thundered through the stadium as students all over California gathered together to celebrate their annual Fall Rally South to kick off the new school year. 

     The Fall Rally is held by the CNH (California-Nevada-Hawaii) District where each division (which for our school is Division 4 South) can show off their spirit and passion for service as well as raising money for the Pediatric Trauma Program. 

     The Pediatric Trauma Program (PTP) is Mission’s Key Club primary charity who aims to prevent and improve the outcomes of children who have experienced traumatic events. While most proceeds of money raised by Key Club will go to the PTP, they have donated to other organizations such as UNICEF, South County Outreach Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. 

     Throughout the year, they do various projects and activities including food drives, bottle drives, collecting clothes, and being able to participate in the annual Rose Parade where members were able to help set up and create floats that would be featured on television. 

     While Key Club hosts a plethora of events, Stephanie Tran, a senior and president of Key Club, says that her favorite event is one that has not been formally announced or implemented yet. 

     “One of the goals of the CNH District is to raise awareness for mental health, so Key Club plans to initate a mental health awareness week before students have to take their finals or other exams such as AP or IB exams,” Tran responds. 

     She adds that the club will be “making individual encouraging cards to cheer on students, put up posters with positive affirmations, and supply students with activities for mindfulness.” 

     As one can see, Key Club is a student-led service club that aims to give back to the community as well as getting in some community service hours. It’s a global organization that focuses on leadership skills, character building, compassion, and inclusiveness which Tran states has been going good so far this term. 

     With distance learning taking place last year, it was hard for many clubs to recruit members and to keep their club alive and running.

     Key Club, despite being one of the oldest service clubs at the school, were not excluded from this dilemma and while they faced issues such as club membership, “membership and participation has vastly improved since we’ve transitioned to in-person school. It’s been a lot more fun and engaging since being back in-person” Tran gladly comments. 

     However, Tran isn’t the only person to feel this way. A senior and long-time member of the club, Grace Schultz, remarks that one of favorite things about being a part of the club was that “I have always really enjoyed giving back through volunteer work and Key Club gives so many awesome opportunities to do that. I also love that all the members have this in common, so there’s really great camaraderie.” 

     While it’s still early on in the school year, things are looking bright for Key Club in terms of the service opportunities and events that are going to be happening. If you’re interested in joining, you can find Key Club on Tuesdays at lunch in the Little Theater and can text @mvkey2022 to join the remind for updates and more information. 

Six Tips for Productive Studying

MVHS Staff
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Six Tips for Productive Studying

Megan LeBoff
Staff Writer

Having trouble studying? Don’t even know where to start? Here are 6 tips that are proven to help get you through finals.

     As finals are starting to roll around, studying is more important than ever. But studying isn’t as simple as it may sound. So to avoid burnouts and study effectively, here are some tips that are proven to help you succeed.

Plan

     The planning stage is incredibly important. Map out what it is you need to study and arrange them from your easiest subjects to your hardest. That way, you can spend more time with the harder subjects, and a little less time on the easier subjects. Time management is the key to studying, so planning how you will spend your time is surprisingly helpful.

Put your phone away

      None of us want to, but the truth is our phones are incredibly distracting. What starts as checking a text, can easily turn into 3 hours scrolling through TikTok. So make sure to distance yourself from your phone. 

     In fact, one thing you can do is record a time-lapse of yourself studying. This effectively makes you keep your distance from your phone, but also, being on camera is an interesting way of holding yourself accountable.

Rest

     Although many of us will be pulling some all-nighters cramming last minute for a test, this could actually be doing more harm than good. Getting enough sleep is crucial for memory function, so when you are deprived of sleep, your brain has trouble remembering facts and information. So try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and your brain will be ready to perform at its best.

Choose a good place to study

     The place you choose to work can easily affect how you study. For example, try not to study in a messy workspace. Being in a messy area can be both distracting and overwhelming. Seeing a lot going on in one space can unconsciously trigger your brain to be overwhelmed, and while studying, this is the last thing you need to worry about. On the other hand, you don’t want a place so relaxing you end up just falling asleep. So choose a good in-between, like a cleaned-off desk, or a table at a coffee shop.

Be careful with what music you listen to

     For some, music is a useful tool to help retain information, but for others, music is incredibly distracting. A general rule of thumb is to listen to instrumental music, as lyrics can easily distract you from your work; I recommend Lofi Girl on YouTube. But everyone’s mind works differently, so find what works best for you, and run with it.

Find a study group

     Study groups are incredibly useful in many facets. For starters, they are great at holding you accountable. If you are supposed to meet up with a group of friends to study, it is much harder to blow off than if you were studying alone. Additionally, studying in a group can help you focus. When everyone in a group is studying, the atmosphere of the room itself becomes focused, making it easier to concentrate. Finally, working with a group creates an amazing support system. If you are confused about a subject, chances are your group can help you. Additionally, teaching others is proven to help you understand the material better. There is power in numbers, so use this to your advantage when studying.

     Finals can be stressful, but with the right steps, anyone can succeed. Happy studying!

Does America Have a Gun Problem?

MVHS Staff
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Does America Have a Gun Problem?

Emily Brown
Staff Writer

credit: https://www.humanosphere.org/

     Short answer, yes. America has a gun problem. Just last week on November 26th 2021 a shooting occurred at a school in Michigan, Oxford. This makes this the 29th shooting in just the year 2021. School shootings have started to rise ever since the shooting at Columbine High school, where a dozen students and a teacher were killed in 1999. A dozen kids went to school to learn, have a good time, and then go back home to see their family at the end of the day but never returned. 

     Since this incident at Columbine High School, there have been 231 fatal school shootings since, each one causing injuries and deaths. A total of 304 people have died from school shootings from 1999-2021. It’s scary in which the rate of shootings have increased dramatically in the U.S drastically from 3 incidents in 2000 to 40 in 2020. Kids and parents are starting to question the safety of schools and what they’re doing to prevent shootings from happening. 

     Though school shootings were what opened up peoples eyes to our gun problem, it’s not just school where people die at the hand of a gun. From 2016-2021 there have been 99,591 deaths and 197,222 injuries involving guns.

     Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in America and guns have a 60% hold on the leading cause of suicide. All these suicide stories from guns aren’t talked about as much as the bigger gun violence but people are dying all the time by the bullet from a gun at their own hand. 

     America has such a high rate of gun violence that in 2016 the American Journal of Medicine found that Americans are 25 times more likely to die from gun homicide than any other wealthy country.

     Many people feel that it should be harder to possess a gun; it should be as hard to get a gun as it is to get a car. Moreover, this means that people possessing a gun would need to take a training course and obtain a license that includes a registration of all purchases. 

     President Barack Obama once asked in an interview “If we can set it up so you can’t unlock your phone unless you’ve got the right fingerprint, why can’t we do the same thing for our guns?” Having a gun know the owner may not solve all the gun problems, but it can stop suicides and homicides where the assaulter is using someone else’s gun. 

     Another way this problem could be solved is holding the parents and school accountable. In the most recent shooting in Michigan, the parents knew that their child had access to a firearm and stated that they didn’t believe their son would harm anyone. Also, the school had witnessed things that were disturbing and should’ve been questioned. It was stated that the shooter (Crumbley) had been drawing disturbing drawings, looking at bullets, and wrote things like “help me,” “the thoughts won’t stop.” 

     Lastly, we could start to hold the manufacturer liable for the incidents at the hand of the guns they produced. This would incentivize manufacturers to make their guns safer.

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