Out of This World
Editor: Makayla Wise
LGBT community mourns loss of southern sweetheart Leslie Jordan
One of the most well known figures amongst the LGBTQ+ community, Leslie Jordan, recently passed away on October 24. The Will & Grace star’s passing caused waves of sadness amongst the community; people flooded social media with messages of their grief and shock at the tragedy. The news was incredibly devastating to fans and co-stars of Jordan. His death was not only unexpected but truly a tragedy to those who knew him.
Since his death in October, his Tik Tok account has posted several tribute videos of Leslie doing what he did best, making people laugh and wearing fabulous outfits. Leslie never stopped doing what he loved. He was eccentric and dazzling until the very end.
Leslie has left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten and shoes that are much too big to fill. Jordan will be remembered for years to come, his appearances on television such as MTV Cribs and American Horror Story will live on for those to enjoy for years to come.
MVHS students learn how to pick the perfect gift
The holiday season is a time for many to spread joy by giving gifts to their loved ones to show how much they care. However, giving can be really hard for some people, whether it be a lack of ideas, funds, or even things to give. Thankfully, due to some helpful articles and ideas from the MVHS student body, this holiday gift-giving season will be spectacular!
First, an article from the Unconventional Route gives a great piece of advice to keep in mind: when the person you want to give a gift to makes it clear what they want, then you should make it easy on yourself by getting them what they want. Don’t try and one-up yourself; all you would be doing is making things difficult for yourself and the gift receiver.
Next, the article notes how you present your gift can either make it or break it. Simply handing over a gift really deprives the recipient of the thrill of ripping off colorful wrapping paper or peeking into a bag stuffed with festive tissue paper. A good presentation could also help out a present you feel is lacking. When all else fails, no gift is better than giving your loved one's quality time together. Nothing will show your affection more than going out of your way to spend time with the people you love. A quote from Grant Sabatier says it beautifully; “Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can’t get more time.”
Another article from Investopedia says that it is important to keep in mind that everyone has a different outlook when it comes to giving and receiving gifts. And to always be aware of your surroundings especially when you are getting ready to give your gift to the receiver. If you are planning on giving it to them in the midst of a full group you may want to give it to them privately or even consider waiting for another time. It could be seen as rude and inconsiderate if you give a gift to one person in front of a group and have nothing planned for everyone else. You don’t want anyone to feel left out.
The students of MVHS also had some tips and ideas that they shared in a form that was sent out.
A majority of the students say they do give gifts during the holidays and that it is a great way to show affection to your loved ones. The students also say that a great gift can be something that was handmade or bought from a store. Some creative ideas were shared such as paintings, resin jewelry, and even homemade salsa! Cameran Hurley recommended a “Love Bucket” which is a small bucket that you can fill with little pieces of paper that have loving quotes, complements, or even fond memories. Even with all of this in mind, a majority of the students say that they still struggle coming up with ideas. The main concern with gift giving is that the receiver of the gift won’t like their gift. Or that it might be something they already have. The important thing to remember is, despite the cliche, more often than not, people are satisfied with the fact that you cared enough to give them something. As the saying goes, “it’s the thought that counts.”
To wrap it all up (pun intended), if you are struggling with choosing a gift for someone, one good place to start is with something small like candy or a card. That could be a good base for your gift and then you could branch off from there. If you want to do something bigger, try discreetly asking the person you’re planning to give to or even other close peers for ideas. If you choose to make a gift, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want this gift to feel special. Try making it personalized by adding something the recipient will cherish (like their initials). Always remember that your attitude and thoughts behind the gift (and maybe a little bit of fun presenting) will keep you stress free and will be good enough for anyone!
