On January 27th, Holocaust Memorial Day is celebrated to commemorate those who were lost and harmed in the tragedy that was the Holocaust. Many countries recognize this day as a time to make sure the Holocaust is taken with seriousness and sincerity. It is important for everyday people to be aware of the impact of these events in history and to make it clear to people that this was an unacceptable part of history. I went and interviewed multiple students out at lunch to see what they would answer when asked, “Why is it important for people to be aware of the events that took place under the Holocaust?”. One student said, “It is important to be able to know what has happened in history and it makes it easier to understand what people went through.” I think they have made a very important point. Dedicating this day to everyone who has been personally affected by this tragic event isn't something that the general public should easily forget. This also ties into something else many people have said “it prevents people from repeating the past.” This statement basically means that when people learn something it internalizes with them and makes them not want to repeat it. 

Lots of people all play games, right? We want some form of entertainment by playing with friends that includes a little competitive play. Sophomore Amelia Harrison stated that she is extremely competitive. “For example, Uno can be a very competitive game because of the people you play with and the type of Uno Cards.”  This means that competitiveness in any game like Uno can be enjoyable for some. Whether it’s a board game, card game, video game, physical game, or any other game, everyone still has fun while playing board games. However, it’s not just the fun that brings significance to board games, it’s the benefits.

First of all, have proven benefits been gained over time from playing different types of board games? Yes. Board games increase critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Freshman Ace Barrette said, “It helps with critical thinking and can help with real-life situations based on your ability to come up with plausible solutions.” 

Board games also induce players to think ahead and use strategies to plan their moves. Junior Jake Anderson said, “Board games will improve your strategic capability based on the games you play. In Ticket to Ride, you have to make up a strategy to be able to get the most points. Depending on your route or strategy, you can either get more or less points because of the route. ” Playing a fun game can relieve stress and get your mind off things. Perhaps a goofy card was drawn, or someone got eliminated quickly which made someone laugh. Laughter and happiness are big results from playing board games. Studying methods by improving memory can also develop from playing board games. Freshman Mia Hill said, “Strategy and memorization especially happen in puzzle games, and problem-solving skills are learned.” Board games are an amazing way for students to build new connections and friendships, relieve some weight off their shoulders, and have a good time. Furthermore, Junior Jay AbdinPerry said, “DnD allows you to create enemies with the DM (Dungeon Master), but also creates relationships among the other players in the game.” Board games have been around for a long time and will continue to be appreciated in future generations so even more groups of individuals will be positively impacted. One benefit of board games will always be entertainment, that’s a given. Yet, there’s a lot more underneath the surface. The true benefits of board games are shown around us. While board games are a simple way to escape reality, it’s so much more than that. Through our happy faces on our friends, our increased confidence and reduced stress, our improved communication, and our teamwork, we can always create infinite memories right after taking those little pieces out of the box and laying out something that’s called: A board game.

January 20th is a day dedicated to one of the most impactful men born in history, Martin Luther King Jr. He is mostly known for his famous speech, ‘I Have a Dream’, where he speaks about wishing everybody in the world was equal. In his speech, he described his hope for the future where his children would not get judged based on the color of their skin, but their personality. He expresses how much he wishes for the US to live up to its Constitution. That no matter what color somebody was, they would be respected just the same. Martin Luther King Jr inspired many and fought for not only the rights of black personnel but all. He dedicated his life to ensuring that the people heard his voice, especially the government that enforced segregation. By the creation of MLK Day, we honor what he has done for us and the world we live in. By remembering his existence, we move on to inspire others to promote equality. As time went on, the world has become more accepting of others, and now nobody is limited from the rights they were born with. There is still criticism and there is still hate, but at least now we have the strength to fight back from those negative forces that remain in society. By celebrating MLK Day, we inspire others to honor him as well and build a better society. It is significant that we understand the importance of this holiday, and how many people fought for it. Many risks were taken to ensure that Martin Luther King Jr was remembered. Many protesters took a stand for him, insisting that there be a day dedicated to such an amazing man. As a result of their protests, it was declared that January 20th would be the day we honor him. It has now been 56 years since he was assassinated, and 56 years since the death of a very honorable man: Martin Luther King Jr.

As we quickly approach the holiday season, we think of the many days on which we celebrate. We think of all the fun that we have, all the joy that each holiday brings, and the traditions that are unique to us. But, a holiday that is often overlooked is Giving Tuesday or World Giving Day.  Giving Tuesday takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is also called the Global Generosity Movement. This year World Giving Day will take place on December 3rd.

But, why is this holiday so important, you might ask? Until doing more research, I had the same question. Giving Tuesday began in 2012 to encourage people to give back after they spent Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. It was to entice people, after spending a lot of money on themselves and their families, to help the less fortunate. What began as just a simple idea has turned into a global movement that encourages people to give back to their communities. 

Neither schools nor businesses typically close in observance of the day. But, in my opinion, that needs to change. Not because I want an extra day off from school to do whatever I want, but rather I would love a day when I can do my part by giving back to the community. We need to observe the day on which we are supposed to give back, when we are supposed to help make the world a better place, one service project at a time.

So what can you do? You can volunteer at a local nonprofit, make blankets for the less fortunate, or even donate toys to children. There are so many ways that you can give back to your community that can make such a difference. You can be the reason that somebody has food on their plate, clothes on their back, a blanket to keep warm, or even a toy with which to find enjoyment. So, I urge you to give back, to focus outward, and, above that, share your happiness in the holiday season with everyone you can. Even a small gesture can have a huge impact.

The month of November has been claimed as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This month is set in to recognize people who are diagnosed with lung cancer and for research on how to develop treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, over two hundred thousand people find out they have lung cancer a year. This is a scary time to face for people; cancer has a reputation of being deadly for a reason. Being able to shine a light on what these people have to go through on a daily basis can open new paths for their reputation and study.

Many people have been affected by this cancer; rather, it is detrimental to their health or to their families. Cancer is a very expensive thing to battle, emotionally and financially. Many families struggle to pay for treatment and to cope with the illness. There are foundations that can help give resources to cancer patients and movements to lower healthcare prices. Charities can donate to hospitals that care for patients and can cover the cost of treatments like chemotherapy.

Cancer research moves forward every day, but there will always be room for improvement. Cancer tumors in your lungs can move at very fast or slow paces. Many doctors and scientists have made countless discoveries on how to remove and prevent the spread of the cells. By working on surgical tactics, surgeons can learn how to remove tumors from one's lungs and prescribe ways to stop cells from reproducing. Scientists who work with the cells themselves look for ways to reduce numbers and send them into a dormant state.

It is no surprise that climate change has been a pressing issue for decades. Whether it be from fossil fuel emissions, mass deforestation, or the rapidly growing population, climate change is a huge problem right now within our society, and we are starting to see the effects of that.

Currently, there are raging wildfires in California. These wildfires started on January 7th of this year in the Pacific Palisades. This fire is actively rampaging through California and has burned over 40,000 acres of land in LA County. Thousands of people have lost their homes, personal belongings, and unfortunately in some cases, loved ones. The official reason as to how this fire started in the first place is unknown, however, we can likely attribute a huge reason to climate change. The western part of the United States is notorious for its dry climates and intense heat, especially during the warmer months such as July and August. Though wildfires aren’t necessarily uncommon in regions of the country such as California, the numbers at which they are popping up have been increasing over the years. A 2016 study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that climate change played a huge role when it came to drying out organic matter, which primarily doubled the amount of fires in the Western United States between the years 1984 and 2015. They also stated that “Drought and persistent heat set the stage for extraordinary wildfire seasons from 2020 to 2022 across many western states.”

Now you might be thinking, sure, that stuff is all true but why should I care? Well, climate change doesn’t only affect the amount of global wildfires, but rather all other humanitarian emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. On that note, think about the amount of hurricanes that we have had in the past couple of decades compared to older ones. Or think about the melting glaciers in the Arctic and the massive floods and devastation that is happening. Animals are being displaced from their natural habitats and many animals are on the brink of extinction. Countries such as Greenland that house species reliant on the cold climate are melting rapidly. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research stated “Greenland is currently losing 234 billion tons of ice per year. That's enough ice to pack into 6,324 Empire State Buildings. Ice is melting seven times faster now than it was in the 1990s.” No matter what angle you look at this phenomenon from there is no way of simply ignoring it. Now, yes this is all true but what can I, one person, truly do to change this? This is often the question that people ask themselves when it comes to issues such as global warming. What many people don’t recognize is that every movement, group, or idea, is always started by one person and their willingness to speak out and start something amazing. We all know about global warming, and we all generally know that the effects are calamitous, however, when it comes to recent news media, there is not enough coverage considering how important this issue is. To help combat global warming you can invest in energy-efficient appliances, reduce waste by starting a compost bucket, and stop overconsumption of goods. These are just a couple of examples of ways in which we can help stop global warming, however, it is important to remember that this is a group effort. Having a mindset of ‘someone else will do it so I don't need to” helps nobody! We have to remember, we all live here and work together as one. Humans have been the number one reason for the rapid rise in earth's surface temperature and taking the first step is a fantastic way to join the movement. So, on that note, next time you are thinking about speaking out about global warming, or even doing something as small as starting a compost bin in your backyard, do it! You never know who is out there, and you may be the push somebody needs to start their own journey when it comes to tackling climate change!