OPINION/EDITORIAL

Blowing Smoke: Vaping in Today's Society

By Andrew Azizolllahi

Did you know that most people who vape will eventually get cancer? Vaping can lead to heart attacks, destroy lungs, and cause brain damage. Companies market vapes to teens by calling them unique flavors such as blue raspberry, lemon, cereal, sweet, and more. When teens see this, they think it's cool or maybe fun to try, but what they do not know is that they can get addicted to vaping very easily. 

To start, vaping can lead to heart attacks. According to hopkinsmedicine.org, "Vaping causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack”. This is just one of the many reasons why vaping is so bad for you, but the heart-failing factor makes everything all the worse. 

Next, vaping can destroy the lungs.  When smoking a vape, air filled with chemicals, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, enters the lungs. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease. E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. 

Finally, vaping can damage the brain. Vaping can affect the brain, harming the parts of the brain that control attention and learning. There are many brain risks; these risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control. 

Some might argue that vaping can help some people quit smoking since it is usually better for your body than smoking. Vaping is harmful, but it can do more damage than smoking.  However, even if vaping helps people quit smoking, it is still extremely bad for you because you inhale nicotine and tobacco, which is horrible for your health. 

Overall, vaping is a horrible thing that is ruining this generation. It can cause many diseases and has many brain risks. Hopefully, this article can persuade you not to put this harmful thing in your body. 

Teens Spend Too Much Time on Their Smartphones Playing 'Games'

By Jian Jung

Teens spend too much time playing video games and using their smartphones. Kids may become addicted to their games and play too many games simultaneously. They also spend too much time on their smartphones. As a result, that is not healthy for them. It is essential to highlight how addicted kids can be to video games and how addicted they are to using their smartphones while playing.

First, kids can become very hooked on video games due to the high dopamine levels found in them. According to thoughtfulparent.com, "Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that becomes active when individuals participate in something fun and pleasurable, like video games. Some research has shown that dopamine levels rise when kids play video games, and therefore, they want to continue to play to get this "hit" of dopamine." The dopamine levels cannot be stopped, but children can be stopped from exposure.

Next, video games can have many violent actions in them, and some of them may not be the best option for kids to see. According to Tagcounseling.com, "While there are likely multiple factors contributing to the origins of mass killers, we know that all shooters are gamers and that gangs use video games to practice the art of shooting." There is only so much we can do to stop the violence of shooters and killers, but it is possible to foster and maintain that violence before it gets to a horrifying level.

Kids get addicted to online games because of the process of winning and losing. Every child wants to win rather than lose, and for some kids, winning is always an option. That is bad for kids because the concept of winning and losing can make them too competitive in a virtual world. Clevelandclinic.org says, "Researchers are still trying to determine the exact cause of video game addiction and the addictive qualities of video games and the internet."So far, researchers think the process of playing and winning video games triggers". 

Some people say that video games are educational, but truthfully, let us face it. Video games are bad no matter how educational they seem; games are games. They stay just that, and too much of it is never suitable, especially not for kids.

Overall, kids should play video games less. Parents could improvise and try other things to limit kids' screen time. All in all, video games have nothing to offer children, and they should spend less time on them.

Temu Is Not Worth It

By Andrew Azizollahi and Siena Goldman

Temu has risen to number one in shopping on the App Store in the past year, and it has a reason for this. Its cheap and affordable pricing, paired with the variety that Temu offers, makes it a great substitute for Amazon. But many questions have occurred about whether this shopping app is reliable, and we will answer all those concerns.

First, Temu is based in China, which may not be the most trustworthy for some people. China is known for cheap factories and warehouses for other companies to use, and while it is inexpensive, it uses inhumane labor, such as children. There have been past reports from customers saying that horrible things are written in the packages and messages as well. Fashionweekdaily.com says there have been things in Temu bags that say “Help Me” or “Please end my pain." It is disturbing and odd, making the company not look so good.

Next, if you use Temu, do not use your phone number or email. The Temu company will send you many notifications that will constantly bother and bombard you with telling you that “you won a free item” or "you won free money,” but when you click on the notifications, you don’t get anything from them, and the things they say are false.

Lastly, and most importantly, there has been a concern about stolen credit cards and other vital information on Temu after customers have given them their card, address, and other important components to buy items. According to SafWise.com, at least 30 reports have come up about random charges to people’s credit cards immediately after giving the information to Temu. This is really sketchy, and while it may not happen to you specifically, the risk of that occurring is not worth it.

To conclude, Temu sells notoriously cheap products that may be what you are looking for, but the bottom line is that they should not be trusted. The disturbing labor to make the products and the annoying notifications that spam your phone, combined with the risk of stealing your information, make Temu unreliable and not worth downloading.

Social Media Is Harmful

By Leyla Yomtobian

Research shows social media can increase the risk of mental health problems in adolescents with cyberbullying risks. The frequency of both cyberbullying and adolescent suicide cases is increasing in the United States. Research studies collected data showing that 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied, and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt.

Social media platforms give people access to talk with peers online. The effect of being able to talk online creates the aspect of cyberbullying. Since 2021, the rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in teens have been elevating intensely. If you are feeling the need for help or experiencing suicidal ideation, contact the hotline at 988. In 2021, more than 40% of high school students reported poor mental health. Teens worldwide have deleted social media because they know it affects them negatively.

Negative comments on social media can be hurtful and cause people to feel depressed, anxious, and stressed. When you post something negative about or to someone on social media, not only will you ruin your reputation—maybe not now, but definitely at some point—but you will also attract negative people to you. When you post on social media, it stays there forever. No matter what happens, someone can screenshot or share your posts. If you are applying to a school or job, they can web-search and reject you. In conclusion, be careful what negativity you send out on social media.

Humans have a natural desire to be accepted and liked. Negative comments may give us a fear of rejection or being judged. Criticism challenges our self-perception. Some people believe this makes us stronger, but in many instances, it does not.

Be careful who you talk to on social media. You always need to find out who you are talking to. Someone may post photos or post as someone they are not and trick you. This is called catfishing. You can catfish someone in many ways. One widespread way of getting catfished is by adding filters or editing your photos. People may edit photos with beauty filters to clear their skin or morph their bodies and add features.

Ever since social media was created, people have abused it. Today, it has only gotten worse. People are now homicidal, suicidal, depressed, etc., all because of social media. Instead of being on your phone, go outside, play a game, and breathe fresh air. There are so many things to do to prevent suicide. 

The Destructive Bubble Around Earth

By Teja Wolfe

Space junk is a huge problem that will affect everyone when people want to explore the wonders of space. Space junk is debris from satellites, rockets, or other objects sent into space. They can be as tiny as screws or as big as broken-down satellites. It will be a big problem in the future because no one can explore space, critical satellites can be destroyed, and the domino effect will be worse than ever.

One of the biggest reasons why space junk will be a problem in the future is because no one will be able to travel in space. There will be so much debris in space that there will be a ring around the Earth. When astronauts try to go deep into space to explore new planets, they will get hit with debris that will break the rocket. According to From Earth to Space: The Dangers of Space Junk, there are more than 8,000 tons of debris orbiting Earth, and there are 1.3 million objects that are ten cm or smaller. Then there are also thirty-four thousand objects that are bigger than ten cm. This would be nearly impossible to avoid when trying to get past the ring of space junk. Everyone would be trapped on a dying planet with no way to escape.

Next, space junk can destroy essential satellites. Space junk can crash into satellites that can control GPS or the internet. Everyone uses satellites in everyday life. Already, 3,000 non-working satellites are orbiting Earth. About one primary satellite is destroyed annually (Dangers of Space Junk).

Some might say that only one primary satellite was destroyed in 365 days. You can send up another satellite to replace that one. However, there is something called the domino effect that could make one satellite poorly destroyed. The domino effect is that if one destroyed satellite goes and bumps into another working satellite, then that one will get destroyed. Then, this satellite will bump into another satellite. This will be a chain effect that will cause more space junk and more problems. The official name for the domino effect is Kessler Syndrome (The Dangers of SpaceJunk).

Overall, space junk can be a massive problem in the future because no one can leave Earth, satellites will get destroyed, and the domino effect will happen worse than ever. On the bright side, scientists are already working on ways to get rid of space junk and slow down Kessler syndrome. Some believe that using giant lasers to zap the space junk will work, and others are building robots that can go into space to pick up the debris. Engineers are also building rockets with two layers of protection that will stop them from being destroyed by one impact with debris (Dangers of Space Junk). Soon, when these inventions are implemented, space will be cleaner and better than ever.

Avoid Vaping At All Costs

By Aidan Zahabian

No teenager should ever vape. Nobody should ever have the choice to vape, let alone kids. Sixty-eight teens were reportedly dead from vaping alone. Vaping kills teens and injures them. Two thousand eight hundred seven teens needed medical help because they never learned that vaping can do terrible things to them. Teens should not vape because vaping can kill; vaping has nicotine in it, and young teens are wasting their time and money on vapes.

According to my.clevelandclinic.org, teens should not be able to vape because it can kill them. Vaping is growing in popularity, and that is not for the better. More and more teens are starting to use it. In some cases, teens can die from lung injuries vaping causes—one of the many being lung cancer.

Teens should not be able to vape because it has nicotine in it. While not excessively harmful or cancer-causing by itself, nicotine is known for having a highly addictive nature. According to Echelon Health, nicotine is not exactly harmful but is addicting. If teens have it once, they might want to keep having it more 

Some people may say nicotine is not harmful; it just gets teens addicted. Some people might say that vaping does not harm teens. However, teens should not be able to vape because young teens are wasting their time and money on vapes. Kids are found daily in alleys "hitting puffs" of vapes, but when they get caught, they still do not stop (they are addicted). This shows that some kids are already too addicted to stop vaping and may someday get depressed and end their lives.

Overall, vaping should not be as easily accessed as it is. Many kids get their hands on vapes because many dealers around the city get a quick buck. All in all, teens should not vape because there is nicotine in the vape, vaping can kill you, and vaping is expensive.

Girls Can Play American Football

By Solon Jones

Girls' American football can allow girls to play another sport, is suitable for building muscle and staying in shape, and if it were on TV, more people would watch American football. 

First, Girls American football can give girls opportunities to play another sport. To ensure the other half of our world can excel and play football, girls and women should allow girls to play American football. Then, if they are good enough, they can make money and go to college on a scholarship. 

Next, playing football can be good to build muscles and stay in shape. Football is a contact sport, and muscle can be built just by playing it. Just running up and down the field can build many leg muscles.

Some people may argue that women's football is less entertaining than men's football. However, women can generate more money and get more people interested in football. Some women and girls do not like watching men's football, so it may interest them when they see women play. Seeing other women do things that most women will not do could inspire other women to play if they want to. 

Overall, the women of America should be able to excel and play in football. Creating a WNFL (Women's National Football League) would be a great option, and it would get some colleges to have D1 teams. Football can be a sport for all if more people let it be.

Competition Crushes Students' Self-Esteem and Love of Learning

By Eli Yaghoubi

Have you ever wondered why students are stressed out? Why do some lie and some cheat? Why are there more cases of depression every year? Teachers put way too much pressure on students.

It all starts in kindergarten when students are given a reading test even when they cannot read. The test results tell students their reading level and what books they can check out from the classroom library. Immediately, kindergarten students notice that some of their classmates are allowed to check out more challenging books than them. Although kids are so young, they already have to experience being competitive.

It worsens once students move to higher grades because classes get more brutal, and the competition to earn the best grades worsens. Students who do not do well in school start feeling bad about themselves, stressed, and depressed. Even worse, some cheat to keep up with the competition.

The competitiveness at school is not only about grades but also sports. A flag football player at Beverly Vista Middle School commented, "I was extremely stressed about the big game and could not even sleep the night before." The morning of the game, he was so stressed out that he didn't play well at the game and got sick from all the pressure.

In conclusion, teachers start comparing students as early as five years old, and it never ends. Unfortunately, this causes competition, and many students become burned out after a lengthy competition period. Teachers must step back and figure out how to make learning great again, or education could take a turn for the worse.

It Is Not Entirely Clear If Acronyms are Advantageous

By Philip Lee

Acronyms. Everyone's seen them, and everyone's used them. But are they advantageous? Sure, they're great for turning a long-winded corporate nightmare into an easily digestible word, but often, they confuse people. Take ATM, for example. Does anyone know what it stands for? Some people will even say "ATM," though the M in ATM stands for machine. Maybe it would be easier to say automatic teller machine, teller machine, or something similar than to cause unnecessary confusion by saying "ATM." How about NASA? It's another abbreviation, but it might be better that way. The National Aerospa–yada yada yada. Does anyone care to say the full name of NASA every single time? No, is the answer. So, acronyms are helpful. Right?

With the whole ATM fiasco, something should have been mentioned. It's not just a problem with acronyms but with languages. Many people will say "chai tea" with no issue at all. But a deeper dive reveals that chai means tea, so the sentence becomes, "tea tea." Now imagine saying that in any professional setting. 

How about the SAT, AP, or ACT? Does anyone know what they mean? Since they are only ever mentioned as the acronym, the true meaning is lost to almost everyone. But at the same time, does the actual meaning matter if you know the general gist? Sometimes, yes, but other times, no. So, in conclusion, yes. Acronyms are advantageous at times.

Our School Start Time is Optimal

By Beaudy Sipser

What is the ideal time for middle school to start and end? It is a valid question, as the timing of the school day can significantly impact your child's academic performance and overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the factors that come into play when deciding on the start and end times for middle schools and provide some valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

Firstly, adolescent sleep patterns: Studies have shown that adolescents tend to have a later circadian rhythm, which makes it difficult for them to fall asleep early and wake up early. Therefore, starting school later in the day can help ensure that students are well-rested and alert during class, leading to better academic performance.

Secondly, transportation: the timing of the school day needs to be coordinated with the transportation system to ensure that students can get to and from school safely and efficiently. This involves considering bus schedules, traffic patterns, and the distance between students' homes and the school.

Lastly, after-school activities: Many middle school students participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and music lessons, which can take place after school. Therefore, the school day's timing needs to allow these activities to occur without interfering with students' academic responsibilities.

When deciding what time middle school should start and end, it is essential to consider the impact on adolescent sleep patterns. Studies have shown that adolescents tend to have a later circadian rhythm, making it difficult to fall asleep and wake up early. This can lead to sleep deprivation, negatively affecting academic performance and overall well-being. By starting school later in the day, students are more likely to be well-rested and alert during class, leading to better academic performance. It is essential to prioritize the health and well-being of students when making decisions about school schedules.

After researching this topic, starting school between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and ending between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. is the best option. This would give students enough time to sleep, eat breakfast, and arrive at school on time without feeling rushed. Moreover, starting school later might affect transportation, as it could lead to more traffic during peak hours. Also, if school ends too late, it might affect the ability of students to attend after-school activities, as well as limit the time they have to do homework, study, and spend time with their families. Therefore, finding the right balance between starting and ending times is crucial to ensuring students have enough time to learn and grow while minimizing the impact on transportation.

When considering the ideal start and end times for middle school, it is essential to consider the needs of both students and the community. Starting school later is a good idea to allow for more sleep, but it could negatively affect transportation and after-school activities. Additionally, if school ends too late, students may have less time for homework, studying, and spending time with their families. Therefore, finding the right balance between starting and ending times is crucial to ensuring students can learn and grow while meeting the community's needs. Starting school between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and ending between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. strikes this balance and allows for a successful academic career.

When considering the best time for middle school to start and end, it is essential to consider after-school activities. If school ends too late, students may need more time to participate in extracurricular activities or attend sports practices or games. On the other hand, starting school too early could lead to students missing out on valuable sleep and needing help fully engaging in after-school activities. Finding the right balance is critical to ensuring students can learn and participate in activities that will help them grow and develop. Starting school between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and ending between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. strikes this balance and fully engages students in after-school activities.

Overall, finding the right time for middle school to start and end is essential for students to be able to participate in extracurricular activities and sports while also getting enough sleep and being fully engaged in their studies. Starting school between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and ending between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. is the best option, balancing academics and after-school activities. By implementing this schedule, middle school students can have the opportunity to learn and grow both inside and outside of the classroom.