With the 2020-21 school year now leading into the last months of the final semester, many MVHS seniors have one thing on their minds: scholarships. It seems as if the word itself only stems from stress and panic.

Many seniors will tell you that they cower at the thought of college. The realization of fully having to become an adult and figuring out what you want to do with your life is something quite frightening. With an image filled with shared and crowded dorm rooms, being away from family, and a lot of stressful work, college life is destined to sound not all that sweet, at least to some. But there is one negative factor that stands out from them all the others, and that’s money.

It isn’t a secret that the luxury of attending college comes with a hefty price tag. Some might even argue that the pure debt that the experience can cost you can only be classified as pure robbery. This is why it is so important for seniors to recognize the importance of seeking financial aid.

Most students, however, are lost in how to find that little extra help. To some, the world seems to be in the same category as rocket science, but they shouldn't panic, because when students need help with the topic of scholarships, Ms. Muerita Scrivner, the counselor's office secretary, is here to lend a guiding hand.

In a document titled “Scholarship Information for Seniors," Ms. Scrivner provides seven bullet points listing key information on helping seniors throughout their journey of obtaining scholarships. Let’s take a look at the most important.

1. “Compile a resume based on information from your activities file.”

Ms. Scrivner first recommends composing a resume containing key activities you have taken action in. List examples include “clubs, sports participation, class awards, community service, volunteer work, contests, music competitions, art shows, and employment during high school.” She also stresses the importance of remembering to keep this resume organized and easy to read.

2. “Prepare a short essay (1 page) introducing yourself and the college you are interested in attending.”

It is very important to have the basics of what you are trying to achieve laid out for possible scholarship help. Ms. Scrivner says, “You will be asked to use a lot of the same information on many of the scholarship applications.” This means that having an easy page of who you are and what you want at the ready means you are just saving yourself extra time!

3. "Always read the eligibility requirements for all scholarships.”

This one is key to take notice of your ability to obtain a scholarship. You need to know what the application is going towards because some scholarships are only for certain areas and subjects. Ms. Scrivner also claims the importance of applying to as many scholarships as you can. “The more applications you fill out, the better the chance you have at receiving scholarship money.”

4. “Check frequently to see if new scholarships are available.”

One of the best ways to get financial aid is by taking the time to look for it. Remember to check by the counselor's office frequently to see if there is a new scholarship you might be eligible for.

In the end, looking and asking for financial aid can be scary, but always remember help is around every corner. From a simple helpful list or a visit to the counselor's office, you can always find some relief through a time of chaos. And try to relax. College is just another crazy chapter towards thriving and having a successful life so have fun and go collect that money!

February 20 marked one month in office for President Joe Biden. On his first day, just hours after his inauguration, he had already signed 17 executive orders and is already making big moves, as some MVHS students have noted.

Sophomore Harley Daniels views the new president in a rather negative light. She says, “Biden is going off of what the Democratic Party wants instead of letting the Republican Party have a choice as well.” She clarifies that she does not think Republicans should have all the say, but that “they need to be included” and urges people to consider how they would feel if the roles were reversed. This clear favoritism leads to many other issues in her eyes.

Daniels strongly supported former President Donald Trump, claiming she approved of all of his actions and was particularly a fan of his efforts to repair the economy and prevent illegal immigration.

“Trump was about keeping [people] safe and keeping us from going into a depression,” Daniels says, connecting this to her view of Biden aiming to please only one party. She states that she disapproves all that Biden has done thus far, expressing a strong dislike on transgender sport policies in particular. She says, “I disagree with this because scientifically, women and men are different. If a trans girl comes into a girls sport, that wouldn’t be fair as they have testosterone while non-trans girls don’t. Testosterone makes guys stronger, faster, and taller.”

Finally, Daniels says, “I do believe though that both parties are at fault as to our current situation. This is because we are not compromising or negotiating; we are ignoring each other.”

Senior Dalton Joachim, on the other hand, has some positive outlooks on Biden and his performance. He notes that Biden is “keeping his promises.” He is “very thankful” to have a president who takes COVID-19 seriously, praising Biden’s actions taken towards the pandemic on his very first day in office.

Furthermore, Joachim says he “approves of Biden’s 'Buy America' agenda” and that he appreciates Biden's "actions regarding foreign policy, especially his intolerance of Russia’s corruption.”

That being said, Joachim does disapprove of certain actions taken by Biden. He notes a disapproval of Biden’s “handling on the nation’s largest threat: the national debt.” He elaborates on this saying, “Our economy is already crippling under strict regulation, and it won’t be healed by pushing for trillions to be spent in relief packages that do little benefit for the majority of Americans.”

In further comment on the economy, Joachim disapproves of Biden “removing protections against funding international aborting with taxpayer money.” Joachim himself finds immorality in abortion, buts says, “Bias aside, using taxpayer money on matters outside of the country rather than focusing on debt is harmful to our economy.”

Joachim believes that Biden is “widening the political divide.” He says he agrees fully with Biden’s call to unity, saying, “Any sane man on this planet would want unity during these times.” However, he believes that with the Democratic Party in the majority throughout Congress, “it’s likely the 'unity' will be on their terms.”

In his eyes, the Democrats are “using Biden’s call to unity as a shutdown for disagreement.” Because of this, the Republicans “feel under attack," leading to an all around lack of cooperation and compromise.

Joachim does think Biden can take action and fix this. He suggests “Biden should fight the urge to be partisan and find some common ground to rebuild upon.”

Despite Joachim’s feelings of disapproval, he believes that Biden has shown care and compassion, whether his actions “be genuinely beneficial or not.” While a majority of Biden’s goals and ideas aimed at pleasing the Democratic Party, Joachim noted some that benefit those on either side of the political spectrum, namely his appeal to college students by pausing loans without interest.

Joachim says, “I feel that in general, Biden’s actions so far were done with good intentions. But in the long run, I have concern for the unintended consequences of using big government to get things done. Regardless of policy, I truly hope he does his best to promote peace and prosperity for all. I pray his call to unity be answered by us, through democracy, and through compromise.”