Lifestyle

Stress Management

Written by: Rich, Makila - Reporter

February 26, 2025

Stress is a natural response caused by difficult problems in life that induce mental or physical pressure. Stress can affect your body and wellbeing in a negative way. Although stress can motivate you to get things done or get through certain situations, it is only beneficial for short amounts of time. 

Stress can be caused by many factors, including financial stability, changes in life, relationships, school, etc. Sometimes we try to juggle too many things at once. We eventually get caught up with ourselves and feel overwhelmed. Maybe some of us don’t even get caught up but are constantly juggling work, school, events, friendships/relationships, responsibilities, sports, etc. It seems like some people are constantly on this roller coaster in life. Sometimes we need to stop, take a break, and focus on what we need to do for ourselves. 

It's not always that easy, but you can do lots of things that help you manage stress. Try physical activity: take a walk, do yoga, go on a quick run, or, if you have the time, take an exercise class. Doing these things can reduce your stress levels, give you more energy, and may even help you sleep better. 

You can also surround yourself with people who make you laugh, smile, give you emotional support, or just make you a better person. This helps reduce stress by having a stable support system, providing validation, and giving you people to help through your troubles. 

Instead of focusing on all the things you could’ve done, make an effort to focus on the things you have achieved. Making sure you take care of yourself is an important step in managing your stress. This can set you up for success in maintaining a healthy well being. 

As Peter G. Hanson once said, “Stress is simply the adaptation of our bodies and minds to change.” Take every day one at a time. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Stress is a part of life, but we can do things to better the way we handle it.

How to Manage Your Stress

Written by: Shumaker, Nathalie - Reporter

February 26, 2025

Sometimes, school and work can stress you out, especially when you have a lot to do. Stress can cause major damage to your health, so it’s important to try to manage it. How do you manage stress, though? 

1. Exercising

When you exercise, it can help you feel calm. An activity like taking a hike will help you feel less stressed in the moment and make you worry less about the future.

2. Reduce Screen Time

Some people may not agree with this, but reducing your screen time can help you relax better than if you were to just scroll through social media. 

3. Take a Break

Taking a break to do something you enjoy can help you relax much better than if you were to continue.

4. Meditate

Breathing in and out can help you release some of the stress hormones and lower your heart rate.

5. Talk to Someone You Trust

If you talk to someone about the stress you are feeling, it can help you feel calmer. It’s always good to have someone who will support and listen to you.

Overall, stress can be dangerous, but there are ways to manage it. Stress is something everyone goes through. Remember these five ideas the next time you feel anxious.

Strategies to Stay Mentally Healthy

Written by: Rich, Makila - Reporter

January 9, 2025

Mental Health is important in everyday life. Mental health affects how we think, act, feel, relate to others, make choices, and how we handle stress. Good mental health will set you up for success in daily situations. It will make you feel better to do more things you enjoy. Although school might not be one of them, having good mental health and a good mindset will help you get through it. High school isn’t easy. High school may cause some of your mental health issues. Mental health issues are different for a lot of people. Maybe something big in your life causes a major life change. Perhaps you are having relationship problems. Maybe you are struggling financially. Those are all causes of mental health issues.

Sometimes you cope with these issues the wrong way. You might try to ignore it or act out. Neither of those things is the healthy way to address the problem. It is good to seek healthy tips to cope with your mental health issues. Some beneficial tips are to pay attention to your sleep, limit your screen time, talk it out, or exercise. These tips may or may not help you, but you can give them a try. Getting enough sleep is important for your mental health but also for your physical health. I know it can be challenging, but try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep. Studies show that teens in high school need more sleep than an adult does. Limiting your screen time can feel major to some teens. I’m not saying you have to not have your phone for hours on end. I’m just saying maybe an hour or two could help. Instead of being on your phone, you can read, listen to music, do a hobby, or exercise.

You can try talking it out with a friend, family member, or a trusted adult. Don’t be afraid that someone might judge you or not understand you. You might feel vulnerable, which makes people feel the need to shut down. People who love or care about you will try and help you even if they don’t understand. Someone listening to you is sometimes what you need. It usually makes you feel better. Exercising is good both for your mental and physical health. Pros to exercising are that it can help you get better sleep, stay hydrated, it can improve your diet and it can reduce your stress. Exercising doesn’t just have to be running or doing some exhausting workout. It comes in many different forms. You can go hiking, swimming, dancing, walking, weight lifting or biking. You can make it fun! Studies show that you should try and achieve at least an hour of physical activity every day. Easier said than done, I know. At least try, days can be so busy, but it's all worth it.

Mental health is very important for your well-being. Good mental health can positively affect your life. We can be happier and look at life in a better, healthier way.

Fashion Around PAHS

Written by: Drozd, Ava - Reporter

December 9, 2024

Fashion is everywhere. We see fashion as we walk down the streets, the grocery store, runway shows, movies, television shows, and in our very own school. Fashion is an important part of our society that I don't think people notice. It’s a way to express who you are through colors, aesthetics, patterns and so much more. 

Students around PAHS have shown what it truly means to express yourself through fashion. Rather than speaking what you need to say, why not wear it? I interviewed students who showed what it means to be a true “fashion icon.” 

Many people feel as though they need to fit into “society” when it comes to wearing the coolest and latest trends, but a true fashionista wears what they feel most confident in. Piper Jordan said “Don’t be afraid to wear what you want, because if people don’t like it they’re boring.” Lydia Miller says, “Everyone should be able to dress how they want to because it’s a way to express themselves and do whatever makes them happy.” 

So what were these students wearing? Well, Piper Jordan sported a “90s grunge” inspired outfit. “My top is from Hollister, tights are from Walmart, and then my shoes are Dr. Martens.” Lydia Miller styled a simple, adorable “downtown girl” inspired outfit. “My headband is from Ross, sweater from Hollister, jeans are thrifted from Goodwill, and my shoes are New Balance.” Ruby Grose styled a comfy sweatshirt into a more dressed up look. “Shoes are Converse, tights are Amazon, skirt is JC Penny, and sweatshirt is from Paris.” 

One thing I absolutely adore about fashion is the way you can wear a different “aesthetic” everyday. One day you can look like a rockstar, the next you can dress like you're off to the country club, which makes life 10x more exciting.

I feel like in today's society everyone loves to fit into one aesthetic or certain style. But life's more fun when you switch it up a little. I saw someone on TikTok talk about this exact issue; they said “you are not an aesthetic, you are a complex person.” We as people are made to like all types of different clothes, decor, etc. It’s all a part of the human experience!

Each student views fashion in different ways. I asked students the question, “What does Fashion mean to you?” Ruby Grose said, “It means expressing your true identity through a way of clothing.” Lydia Miller says,” Well I think it’s just really fun to get to pick out what you wear and I think it’s just a symbol of girlhood and it’s just something that makes me really excited.” Piper Jordan says, “Fashion to me is my life, it is what I eat, sleep, and breathe.”

Each exemplifies how you too can express yourself through fashion in your own unique way. Nobody should be ashamed or afraid to show what they like and who they are. As I always say, you can never be overdressed!

Refreshing the Mind and Body Practices

Written by: Grose, Ruby - Reporter

December 9, 2024

To succeed in school is to succeed within yourself. Utilizing good habits in daily life such as eating healthy, a good night's sleep, breathing exercises, and journaling are all great ways to refresh yourself. Setting a healthy diet through the day with set times and having all your major food groups is able to help with eating healthy. Winding down before bedtime and getting ready for bed at the same time every night help get you into a pattern. Simply buying a journal and writing down things throughout the day is a great way to start journaling. You can treat it as a diary, a personal scrapbook, or have certain themes. Yoga has been seen to help with breathing and opening up the body.

A personal interview was conducted with PAHS teacher, Ms. Zinzella, who is the head of PAHS yoga club and has been practicing for over twenty years. Ms. Z for short, talked about how yoga can help you regulate your emotions and stay in the present moment. Her personal favorite poses and or types of practices are inversions and arm balances. These exercises are fully balancing on your arms or being in the air completely upside down. The poses require full focus from your mind, pushing out all other stresses and struggles. 

Ms. Z suggests to beginners or peers who are struggling to try box breathing. Box breathing is inhaling for four seconds, holding for four seconds, exhaling for four seconds, and holding again for four seconds before repeating the process. These breathing exercises will help relax the body and control your breathing movements to calm down. Yoga should be started out very simple, such as practicing for only a few minutes every day with easy stretches until you may go for longer. This is better than doing an hour or multiple hours of full poses which can be harmful. 

When the interview ended, Ms. Z had one final word for all people struggling. She stated, “the body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.” 

This article is to benefit all, and give advice to everyone. Try these examples at home and see how well they can help you. You can even try yoga for a week and then write it down to start journaling, two birds with one stone! From all yogis around the world, and from our personal idles, namaste. Have a pleasant experience with life, and remember there is always someone there to help. Never be afraid to reach out.

Do You Know? A Discussion on Cancer. 

Written by: Manners, Phalen - Reporter

December 11, 2024

Not everyone knows about certain diseases, there are just so many it's hard to keep track. Let's be honest, not everyone wants to read article after article just to end up unsure of what they just read. So what if I gave you something that you could read that you would still learn about those diseases and not feel unsure about it. 

Scientists and doctors are still trying to find a cure for this common disease, however, they are still unable to find it. Cancer has affected people all over the world. In 2022 there were almost 20 million new cases worldwide, 53.5 million people are affected with cancer. Most types of cancer have four stages, cancer staging helps doctors plan treatments. Not all cancer is incurable, however scientists found a way to cure four cancers which are: Melanoma (skin cancer), Thyroid cancer, and two others.

The word cancer comes from the Latin word ‘crab’. Cancer forms when the cells in your body divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues. Some risk factors for cancer are: not protecting yourself from the sun, not getting enough physical activity, etc. Some of the number one cancer-fighting foods are berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes, and other vegetables, fruits and nuts.

In conclusion, while the process of trying to cure cancer has taken around 250 years, scientists are making groundbreaking discoveries everyday. However, it isn’t likely there will be a cure for cancer, instead, like I mentioned before scientists have found treatments for individual cancers. So the question ‘what will we do in the meantime’ may come up, in the meantime those scientists will keep working hard to find new treatments. In addition to that, we can support anyone who is going through their battles with cancer.

Preparing for the Post-Grade Life: Setting Goals

Written by: Waddell, Taylor - Reporter

December 11, 2024

Hello students of PAHS! I am so excited to be writing for the shadow for the year and I hope you enjoy this concept. I would like to formally introduce you to the guide to everything post grad life, a comprehensive guide that will help you succeed in the adult world. My hope for this column is to give you a resource when planning for life after high school. I am a current senior here at PAHS who is completely obsessed with all things personal organization. 

The importance of setting life sized goals early is not something to push under the metaphorical rug. Setting goals early can help boost your chances of getting into your dream school, can give you direction in choosing electives, and help you maximize your productivity. The goal setting process can look different for everybody and that’s okay. If you don't know where to start, I've attached a template to help you get started planning your dream life. Don't worry if you feel overwhelmed! I hope you find it helpful! 

Until next time, Taylor