Embedded Files
Laugh More, Stress Less
by Raegan Rowe
Why can cracking a small joke have a big effect on your body? Studies have shown that laughing actually has health benefits, including how laughing can actually protect you against a heart attack. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood. Which can protect you against a heart attack. Henry Ford Health gives many reasons about how laughing can protect your heart. Laughing also brings out those feel good vibes by reducing stress hormones. A good laugh with a buddy or just in general lowers your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which helps you feel way more relaxed and brings out your good energy. These studies have been proven by the National institutes of Health.
Laughing also helps with your immune system. This is shown because laughing increases the number of antibody-producing cells which boosts your immune system. “Laughter also increases the number and activity of critical immune cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells. NK cells are especially important for fighting viruses and tumors. More boosting effects of laughter can be long-lasting. Research increased NK cell activity for up to 12 hours after laughing just for a little bit.” This information came from the organization Research Gate.
Over all, surrounding yourself with people and things that give you a good laugh is overall a good way to bring out your good energy and give you some good laughs. Laughing also helps your brain, body, and muscles feel way more relaxed and focused. You'll start feeling good and being happier just by laughing. Who knew laughing could do all of this for your mental and physical health?!
Stressed Out? You’re Not Alone by Paige Lauver
Have you ever felt stressed out with school, work, or classes? If you do, this article's for you!
So first, some may ask “What is stress?”
Here are some symptoms of stress!
Feeling nauseous, short tempered, and depressed.
You get sick more often
Having headaches, stomachaches, and even more aches.
You feel way more tired than you usually do
If you have a test the next day it could mess up your sleep leading to sleep loss
Skipping meals can even be a sign of stress
So, what can YOU do about this?
Well let's start from the top of the list. What can you do when you feel nauseous, short tempered, or depressed? Well there’s a couple. I know for depression that going to sleep at 9:00-9:30 can help a lot. And if you feel nauseous you can also use your 5 senses, don’t know what that is? That’s okay I'll tell you!
5: Look around and name five things you can see.
4. What can you feel? Focus on the textures, is it bumpy, smooth?
3. What are three things you can hear? Is it tapping, voices,
keyboard, writing?
2. What are two things you can smell? Is it air freshener, is it
an old book, is it perfume?
1. Focus on what you can taste.
That can help bring you back to your reality and awareness of what's going on around you. So the next thing on the list is getting sick often. Consider your hygiene, sickness comes from germs, are you washing your hands frequently, are you sharing things with friends? That can lead to sickness. Sickness can also lead into not eating a lot, trust me you NEED to be eating especially at the age you are at. Not eating can lead to headaches, even if you don’t have time for breakfast, get a water bottle!. Having headaches and stomachaches, How to avoid headaches is to be well rested, DO NOT skip meals, even exercising can help. How can you avoid stomach aches? Well don’t overeat, you need to eat but don’t overeat. Over eating can even make you feel nauseous as well. Drink a lot of water, water helps with a lot of things, no not a sip of water will do the trick. Try to drink 5-8 bottles of water.
Have you ever felt like curling up in a ball, crying and never coming out because you have a math test?
It is okay! Don’t stress about it too much. If you know it is upcoming and you have time to study, STUDY. I promise it pays off in the end. Coming from Kaleb Shemberger he has said that he grabs a note, grabs the study guide and changes the numbers and practices that. I know you don’t want to study but it is way better than failing and you will feel better after studying. But just remember that the test won’t really be that bad as you think it is. And now once you have studied and the test has come you will know how to do the problems and it will even help you in the future. Also I know some teachers allow you to make cheat-sheets so if they do allow you to do that, DO IT. It could actually help you and you wouldn’t even know it.
Have you ever felt like you were going to have a panic attack while in school/class?
First let's think about what is causing this? Maybe you embarrassed yourself, this paper work is too hard, you had a fight with your best friend. Whatever this is, we are going to tell your teacher that you are having a panic attack. Now let's also talk about symptoms of a panic attack. Maybe you are actually just nauseous.
Rapid heartbeat
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or tightness
Dizziness or light headed
Shaking
Numbness or tingling
Hot flashes or chills.
Now that we have the symptoms and you now know you are about to have a panic attack, let's go back to talking about the teacher. Go to the teacher you have and tell them you are about to have a panic attack, they should let you go down to the office and just have a moment to collect yourself, cry if you need to. And also sometimes if Mrs. Ely isn’t with someone you can go into her office and she will calm you down and help you with breathing and stuff.
Is someone gossiping about you and you don’t know what to do?
Let's talk about reminders. Well the first thing is that you have to remember someone talking about you is not better about you. People talking about you are not better than you in any way. “But she is prettier” “But she is more popular.” That does not matter, they are popular for the wrong reasons.
Now let's talk about what to do, if they are your friend and you are scared of anything. If you are scared she/he will hate you, make rumors about you, etc. Just talk to them. I promise it will be okay. Well I guess they could do the things I listed but when you remove them from your life you will feel so much better. Now think about it, would you want to keep being friends with the person who is talking about you or get it over with and deal with what they do. Also think about it, they could just not do anything. And I know a lot of people think fighting will help but it won’t. It will literally just make things worse, and most likely you’ll probably still have beef afterwards.
Now what should you do? What if these people want to fight you? Well we are not going to do that, why aren’t we going to do that? Because they aren’t worth your time. Fighting is not worth it and that also goes for the future, think about it this way. In the future you don’t like something your coworker did? You can’t just fight them. Plus fighting is immature. Talking it out and figuring it out and being able to talk one on one is way better than fighting. So we are going to talk it out with the person. Maybe you do it online, maybe you do it in school. Whatever it is you are going to stay calm while doing it. This is middle school. Just enjoy your life and stay out of drama. It really is not worth your time and you could be doing so much more better things.
Do you ever feel like running away and standing in the middle of a rain forest instead of coming to school?
A lot of people have this problem so you are not alone just know that. There are so many people in your school/grade who don’t want to come to school. But you have to, something you should do is think about something that is worth coming to school everyday, maybe it's seeing friends, maybe it's seeing your favorite teacher, whatever it is, appreciate it while you can. School is not your whole life so appreciating it while you can is a good thing to do. Maybe you don’t want to come to school because you are getting bullied, well let's talk about what you can do. Just ignore them, they simply do not matter and they are not worth your energy. Yes it can be hard to just avoid/ignore them. But it is way better than talking to them. If you do not interact with them they will get bored, act unphased and just keep being you. People will always have something to say about you plus you only live once. Now let’s talk about maybe you just are struggling with things like mental health, friends, whatever you can think of. Days can be hard to get through, I've been in your shoes, but it will get better, there's nothing more that I can say. Life is tough and it will continue to be for the rest of your life but you are going to have to deal with it. Since it is hard right now, think what you can do to prevent this happening in the future and think on how to cope. Is your coping style music, writing, drawing, hanging out with friends, baking, cooking, painting. Whatever it is, just do that.
“Did You Know” Facts About Space
By Gabriel Smaw
There are a ton of interesting things out in the world about nature, animals and lots more but what about things out of this world? What I'm talking about is space, space is almost infinite, a void of solar systems, stars and planets.
According to Sky At Night Magazine all of the other planets in our solar system could fit between the earth and the moon which is insane when you think about it because the moon looks pretty big in the night sky and also Jupiter is huge in comparison to earth and the moon.
Did you know that a Gamma-Ray burst releases more energy in 10 seconds than our sun in its entire life? Another fact about gamma rays is that they are completely random which means a gamma ray burst could hit earth and by time it hit you would be gone.
Did you know that space is not completely quiet based on what people say? It is true that space does not transfer sound waves in space like it does on earth but there are electromagnetic vibrations in space that can be translated into sound with instruments. Most people expect space to be silent and it is a common fact that most people know.
This next fact is a really unknown fact. It is also crazy to think about. We live in the Milky Way galaxy and apparently in 2009 scientists studied a giant gas cloud at the centre of our galaxy and it was composed of chemicals like ethyl formate which is responsible for giving raspberries their flavor and it also has a smell of rum. The other chemical the gas cloud was composed of was ethyl alcohol which is known for making alcoholic beverages. Finally I hope you had an interesting time reading and learning about space and its phenomena.
Tiktok Trends
Ever wanted to
post a video on
TikTok but you don’t
know what to post?
This article is all about
the trends you can do
on TikTok.
by Yeirialys Treacy Ramos
There are tons of TikTok trends that people try out when they want to become famous. Some popular ones that students might do at school include dancing with friends or taking part in funny challenges.One entertaining trend is the “Rock, Paper, Scissors Food Challenge.” In this trend, two people stand in a parking lot or an open space and play rock, paper, scissors. Whoever wins gets to start eating the food while the other person runs away, then races back before the winner eats it all! It’s hilarious to watch—especially when someone trips or when the food disappears too fast.
Other popular TikTok videos include baking and crafting trends. Around Halloween, many people post creative baking videos featuring spooky desserts and themed treats. These videos aren’t just fun to watch—they’re also a great way to learn how to bake and decorate unique delicacies.
Of course, dance trends are a TikTok classic. Everyone seems to love showing off their moves! One school-appropriate dance is the CitiRokk trend, which is inspired by the famous Renegade dance.
There are also plenty of fun, creative ideas to try with friends, like before-and-after transitions using trending songs—such as one from Sabrina Carpenter’s recent album—to show off a glow-up, a mindset change, or even a new outfit. Another idea is the “Come With Us to Shop” trend, where one friend goes on a blind shopping spree and picks something they think the other will love. The big reveal and reactions make it both funny and entertaining to watch.
No matter which trend you try, TikTok is full of fun, creativity, and laughter—just make sure to keep it positive and appropriate for school!
Middle School Makeup: Keep It Simple and Sweet!
A fellow student shares easy, beginner-friendly tips for natural looks, smart product choices, and what to avoid when starting with makeup.
by Paige Lauver
Since we are starting middle school, I’m assuming you might want to try some makeup. So let’s talk about what not to do. (You are beautiful just the way you are!)
What not to do
Don’t do a full face. Keep it casual.
Don’t throw random colors on your face.
Don’t leave things unblended.
Don’t wear huge lashes.
Now that we have some of those things out of the way, let’s talk about why we shouldn’t do them. First: a full face. You’re in middle school — let’s be real — you don’t need a full face of makeup! Why shouldn’t we throw random colors on our face? Because you don’t want to look like a clown. Pink, blue, purple, orange, yellow, green, red — bright eyeshadow is a no-go for school. Stick with neutral tones. Also, don’t wear bright red lipstick unless you need to for an event or a sport. Don’t leave hot pink blush unblended — seriously, don’t. About blending: this one should be self-explanatory. You don’t want to go around with unblended bronzer, blush, or anything else. And lashes — lashes are okay! I’m talking about really big lashes, to the point where you can’t see your natural eyelashes. That’s too much.
How to do makeup (a simple routine)
How to do makeup (a simple routine)
Here’s a “perfect” basic routine and some tips on how to use each product:
Concealer (Use for under-eye bags or breakouts. If you don’t have those, I wouldn’t recommend it.)
Bronzer (It’s good to have some color if your skin is pale.)
Blush (Again, good for adding color.)
Mascara (Just lengthens your eyelashes and adds a little pop.)
Lip gloss (A nice finishing touch.)
Setting spray or powder
How to use each product (in order)
How to use each product (in order)
Concealer
Don’t use a lot — three dots under each eye is enough, trust me. Now about blending: don’t blend it right away. Wait 3–5 minutes so it’s a little drier. If you blend too soon, there’s too much product and it can look like paint. If you wait, it’ll look smoother. Use a brush first to dab in little circles. This helps it look natural. Don’t spread concealer over your whole face — just under eyes and on breakouts. After blending with a brush, go in with a beauty blender. Be careful, because beauty blenders soak up product — it can remove excess so you don’t look cakey.
Bronzer
Do one swipe on each side of your forehead. If you put makeup everywhere except your forehead, your face will look like two different colors. Then apply it to your cheekbones. Blend it with a brush if it’s cream; if it’s liquid, a beauty blender can help take off excess. Remember, beauty blenders soak some product off.
Blush
Many people mess up blush. The placement depends on your face shape. Watch a video or try different spots until it looks natural. Don’t overdo it.
Mascara
This is kind of self-explanatory, but people still mess it up. Use an eyelash curler first so your lashes look more lifted. Try the 3-2-1 method:
Place the curler at the roots of your lashes; press and release slightly 3 times.
Move to the middle of your lashes; press and release twice.
Then press once at the tips.
After curling, apply mascara to the tips of your lashes. Putting it at the root mostly darkens them but doesn’t lengthen. If you want long lashes, focus on the tips. Also, choose a volume mascara if length is your goal.
Lip gloss
Apply it on your lips — that’s it. It shouldn’t go anywhere else.
Powder or setting spray
Powder helps keep your makeup from looking cakey. You don’t want to walk around looking like you have a cake on your face. Use a light dusting of powder. If you want your makeup to last all day, use setting spray too.
Tools: beauty blender, powder puff, brush — what’s the difference?
Tools: beauty blender, powder puff, brush — what’s the difference?
A beauty blender soaks up excess product. If you only use a beauty blender, your makeup might look faint.
A powder puff is mainly for applying powder. I don’t recommend it for blending concealer, blush, or bronzer.
A brush makes products more noticeable — which can be good if you want them to show — but be careful to blend well.
Cream vs. liquid vs. powder
Cream vs. liquid vs. powder
If you use liquid concealer or products, layering matters. Many people make the mistake of putting powder over liquid everywhere. The only powder you should use over liquid is for blush or setting powder. If you see someone who uses powder over everything, we’ll probably tell instantly. So use liquid first, then powder blush (if you want).
For bronzer, I personally don’t like powder bronzer — it can look choppy or cakey. But if you prefer it, just make sure to apply liquid first, then powder.
Brands — you don’t need expensive stuff
Brands — you don’t need expensive stuff
You’re in middle school — you don’t need to spend $56 on one concealer. Expensive products often break out sensitive skin. Stick with drugstore brands that are usually safer. Some good drugstore brands: e.l.f., Maybelline, NYX, and Wet n Wild. These tend to be light on the skin and less likely to irritate. Skin is different for everyone. What works for an influencer on TikTok may not work for you. Don’t feel pressured by trends.
Examples:
Examples:
e.l.f. is affordable and offers many good products. It’s lightweight and beginner-friendly.
Maybelline lasts all day and is known for good concealers (for under eyes, breakouts, and redness). But avoid applying heavy layers on pimples — that can irritate them.
Pixi also has good shades and is gentle, so it’s a good choice if your skin is sensitive.
You can find these brands at Ulta, CVS, Walmart, etc. Many of their products are oil-free and help your base look smooth rather than cakey or oily. Products with oil can clog pores and cause acne. Lightweight formulas help your face feel comfortable and healthy.
The Shot Heard Around The World
By: Julianna Wilson
During the night of April 18th, 1775 it was noticed the day before that hundreds of British troops were sent from Boston with a mission by King George III himself to seize all military supplies stockpiled by American patriots residing in Massachusetts, along with orders of British officers needing to arrest these American leaders. The British had set foot towards Lexington by the morning of April 19, approximately around 70 minutemen had arrived early just before the redcoats. They stand lined up right across from each other just standing before each and every single one of their eyes, the minutemen are greatly outnumbered by around 700+ redcoats and with other British allied regiments it seemed like the minutemen would not stand a chance against these men…
Suddenly a shot is fired within the silence between the soldiers before havoc breaks through, beginning a fierce battle between these men which we refer to as the Battle of Lexington and Concord today. It's still uncertain which side necessarily shot at the other first, which only led to chaos; we can assume it was a flimsy musket malfunction or someone who didn’t want to follow orders on either side. After being startled and the clash between the American minutemen and British redcoats came to an end, eight Americans were laying dead and about the same amount of men were injured resulting in needs of immediate aid, while only one redcoat was injured…
The minutemen are clearly inexperienced and lacking strategic skills. Minutemen were often just volunteers, drilling more frequently and being prepared with ammunition more than the American militia's main regiments and regulars. They served as a quick response to come help and assist within battle, they were a key part of the American revolutionary wars like Lexington and Concord for example, these militias were even claimed to be fully trained and ready to fight “at a moments notice”.
The British moved on to Concord after the poor minutemen fled with injured men, that same day the British came face to face with an armed group of local patriots at Concord’s North Bridge. Both of the sides shot at each other leaving two colonists and three redcoats dead. We call this ‘The Shot Heard Round The World’ which was a term created by an American writer and poet named Ralph Waldo Emerson featured in his poem “Concord Hymn" illustrated in 1837 to represent the shot allegedly fired by American patriots at the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts starting more conflict and being the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The British were forced to retreat back to Boston quickly while being fired at by militia men hiding within roadside cover like trees, and brick walls that resulted in very many casualties approximately 273 in total.
Rooted in Pride: How Adrian Public Schools Shaped a Community
From one-room schoolhouses to modern classrooms, Adrian’s schools have grown
with the city—fostering success, unity, and generations of "Maple Pride."
compiled by Brandon Gautz
From the beginning, Adrian Public Schools have been integral to the success of our city. They have educated generations of Adrian citizens and been the driving force behind the city's growth through a well developed plan, by creating a talent path of graduates to fill jobs and create new businesses in Adrian.
As a student here, I can honestly say the schools mean a lot to everyone. It’s not just a place where we learn, it’s a big part of our community. The pride people have for Adrian Public Schools is something you can feel from the start. These schools have been more than just buildings. The people inside them have helped shape our town and made it what it is today.
The story of Adrian Public Schools goes way back to the 1800s when the town was just starting to grow. The first schools were very small, just one room where all the kids sat together, no matter their age. As more people moved to Adrian, the schools needed to grow too, so new buildings were built. The schools started offering more subjects like math, science, and history, and they also added activities like sports and music to give students more opportunities.
The sports teams at Adrian Public Schools are a huge part of what makes the schools special. The football and basketball teams have been really successful over the years, winning a lot of games and championships. The whole town gets excited when the teams do well. It’s not just about winning, it’s about coming together as a community to support our players. Everyone cheers on the teams, and that energy makes the town feel closer. Even if you're not on the team, you still feel part of it, and that’s something I think is really cool about Adrian Public Schools.
It’s not just sports that make Adrian Public Schools stand out. The academic programs here are also really strong.Lots of students have gone on to do amazing things in their careers, like becoming doctors, teachers, or artists. There are even students who have won awards for their achievements in subjects like science and math. The schools really prepare students for the future, and it's awesome to know that so many people who went to these schools have done great things.
The arts are also a big part of Adrian Public Schools, whether it’s band, choir, or theater, there are so many chances to be creative. I’ve seen some amazing performances over the years. It’s really cool how the arts help students express themselves and build confidence. The music programs have been successful too, with awards and recognition for the students who put in the work. Being able to perform or play in a band or choir is a big deal at Adrian Public Schools, and it’s something that brings everyone together.
Over the years, Adrian Public Schools have had their challenges, too, as in the 1970s and 80s, there were financial problems that made it hard to keep everything going. Even when things were tough though, the people of Adrian stepped up to make sure the schools stayed strong. They held fundraisers, voted on new ways to raise money and worked together to support the schools. That’s something that really stands out to me –how much the community cares about the schools and how they always find a way to keep them going.
As time went on, the schools kept up with changes in the world. When new technology started becoming a bigger part of everyday life, Adrian Public Schools made sure students had the tools they needed to learn. Access to computers and technology help us stay connected to the world. The schools have always made sure we’re prepared for the future, no matter how much things change.
One of the biggest things that makes Adrian Public Schools stand out is the maple tree. The maple tree is the symbol of the city and the schools because it represents strength and growth. Just like a maple tree grows tall and strong over the years, Adrian Public Schools have faced challenges but always kept growing. No matter what happens, the schools keep standing strong, and the people of Adrian always come together to support them. That’s why "Maple Pride" is such a big deal, it’s about pride in the schools and pride in how far they’ve come.
Today, Adrian Public Schools are still a huge part of the community. It’s not just about going to class and doing homework, it’s about being part of something bigger. The schools bring people together, whether it’s at a football game, a graduation party, or a concert, everyone in the town feels connected to the schools in some way. "Maple Pride" isn’t just a slogan, it’s something we all feel. We take pride in our schools and the people who make them great.
Adrian Public Schools have shaped this town in so many ways. They’ve helped students grow and succeed, and they’ve helped make Adrian a place where people support each other. From the early days with those small one room schools to the big schools we have now, Adrian Public Schools have always been a big part of this community, and just like the maple tree, they’ll keep growing and standing strong for many years to come.
Are Teens Too Tied to Their Phones?
by Giselle Shipperbottom
Do you think kids these days or people in general are overly attached to their phones? As a teenager I would say yes, we are way too attached to our phones. The average time teens spend on their phones is about 8 hours a day, mind you that's just an average. I mean you never know, teens could be spending way over 8 hours a day. But it’s also not all our fault. I say this because teens are always stuck inside their house with nothing to do, especially when the weather is bad, so all we have left to do is be on screens. But, that’s no excuse.
The real question is, WHY are teens so overly attached to their phones? According to What Phone Addiction Looks Like in Teens and How to Help, “Having access to the technology on a 24-hour basis caused us to develop a dependency upon our devices.” That dependency is also used during school. Some students depend on their phones to help them with school work, so that’s another reason why teens are overly attached to their phones. I think school is supposed to teach us hard work and effort and that’s all just getting taken away because of technology handing everything to teens.
If you’re trying to lower your screen time, here are some things you could do instead of being on your phone. If the weather is nice, go outside! Go for a walk, bike ride, scooter, etc.! You can also color. Coloring is a good way to clear your mind and get some creativity back in your life. Cleaning is also another way to clear your mind and we all know that refreshing feeling after you get done cleaning. Those ideas are just 3 in a million. So when you get a chance, take a break from your phone.
Teens And Social Media
How Would Teenagers' Lives Be Without Social Media?
by Julianna Wilson
Would their lives be better?
According to research about social media, I believe that teenagers' lives would be better. In ways like how their mental health will be affected, what that teen is exposed to for their age, and how safe they may feel. There could even be a lesser chance of depression, anxiety, stress, and even insecurity coming from social media but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to develop these disorders. Without social media, your child would less likely be prone to grooming, manipulation, and probably bad relationships you’d never want them to have. Their life wouldn’t be worse, just excluded because due to individuals they know with social media, like their friends and even people they look up to would most likely be talking about it quite often. I choose to agree with this because of my own experiences with people I know always talking about their following or accounts.
Does social media benefit society?
Social media does benefit society in many ways. It helps with connecting, and meeting new people, discovering way more than you probably would in person, like many different cultures, and beliefs. You can even create and be a part of a community. Although there may be a lot of pros about social media, there are also many cons. Some communities may not be the best place to be, some people you meet may not be good people. Oh, and content? Yeah, there isn’t always going to be appropriate content, comments, and even suggestions. There are plenty of terror groups supported by minors, which is concerning. Although I think it’s just a phase, it’d be safer if anyone just stayed away and joined communities they know feels safe to them, communities that are normalized and believed to be a better place.
What aspects of social media could be improved?
I think social media (everyone collectively) needs to be different on how it lets people shape its reputation. A better way to have a contained and controlled community. Now yes, there’s no way someone can just control millions of people and make them act pretty perfect. But, if you own a group, or you’re a part of one, just do your best to set that role model feeling, create inspiring content or leave nice and memorable comments, and even suggestions.
Well, what if you see a concerning, or even harmful person/group? Yeah, I know everyone usually says “Oh, just scroll, block, or ignore them.” No. That shouldn’t always be the case. If you see someone hurting another person, or even a community, don’t be afraid to speak up about it or even confront those individuals. Then again, you shouldn’t make the internet a big part of your life, even if it feels good to just be you. It gets bad when you start letting these things get to you everyday… Although many users just seem to be out of the ordinary, be aware, there are many users that like to rage bait. What's rage bait? It is when a person, or something does a thing to make another one or even a community mad. The name explains itself, the rage baiter acts and puts on a show so they will get the attention they want. These people can be intentionally harmful, or they're just playing a little scheme. Usually it is teens who decide to be this online persona.
So… Do you think teens should have social media, or not? Think of the benefits, think of the consequences.
TWO AUTHORS AND THEIR TAKE ON DRAMA
How to Avoid Drama
by Emma Francis
A lot of people are in drama in this era, in and out of school. So here is how to avoid it. You need to remember who your real friends are. People are always going to have a friend who they shouldn't trust at all. Second tip, you need to stay as loyal to your friends as possible, always tell the truth and keep their secrets. Third tip, make sure if you have a problem with someone you go talk to them about it to fix the issue, it was probably a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Fourth tip, be open to other people and stay focused on what's important to you. Abigail Brenner from Psychology Today says five ways to avoid drama are to create healthy boundaries, watch how you interact with others, be a good human, stay positive, and develop strategies to remove yourself from drama.
Drama is often created by those who seek attention and excitement. There will always be someone in your school that seeks attention. If you find yourself getting into drama more often try to learn to take more responsibility over yourself instead of blaming others when you get yourself into the drama. Make sure you also choose your battles wisely. You could be in this mess over something stupid so be the bigger person and tell them how you could solve this problem.
Remember that you are incharge of your own feelings, not others. No one can tell you what you can and can not do with your life. Try to avoid being in drama the best you can and stick with people who you think is a good influence on you and others. Tell an adult if you think drama between you and someone has gotten to a point where you don't want to go to school or anywhere for that matter. If drama between you and your family has been happening, talk to your school counselor or counselor for help and tips to make you feel more confident.
How to Deal with Drama
by Julianna Wilson
Drama, we all should be familiar with it. Sure, there’s more than one type of drama but in this case we’re talking about the drama that has to do with a relationship between you, and usually someone else. Drama is especially common in an educational and working environment (school and maybe even your job). That's what we’re here to discuss today.
It is quite easy for rumors and lies to be spread just through a few peers being led all through just one person. So you’d better have an understanding defense or backup for yourself because these things are never usually pretty or fun to deal with. As an example, say you and a friend are talking about a certain someone, and your friend makes a “joke” or says something they probably shouldn’t have. Someone passing by hears them, and takes it seriously or believes it, once that person gets to their group of peers it starts getting mentioned and passed around, and becomes a rumor. Now that certain someone is beginning to have a bad reputation all because of someone eavesdropping on you and your buddy’s conversation.
Now, you may be wondering; “How do I come up with ways to avoid something like this happening, or staying out of any drama?” Well, it depends on your environment, and who you choose to be around or surround yourself with. No, this doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from certain people. Just limit how much time you spend with a certain someone if you think something with them is going to impact you emotionally, and maybe mentally in a way you dont want it to. You should also keep an eye on how you speak, or note how others decide to use their language and common sense. There have been lots of cases (experiences) where you may be guilt tripped, manipulated, or forced onto someone's “side” against another person, or individuals.
Now, this doesn’t mean you’re set, and going to stay out of drama for the rest of your life. It's still bound to happen eventually. Just remember this, don’t pick sides, try to stay as unbiased as possible depending on the situation if it isn’t against you, and have a truthful explanation for your reason. Even make agreements, apologize, or better yourselves to fix it. Taking a break away from someone for a short while shouldn’t hurt, and use it as time to fix how you act towards that person or people.
Keep Our School Clean
Do you pick up your trash at school?
Here are the reasons you should.
by Emery Hudson
Fewer Sick Days: If the school is clean, there will be less germs. You can't stop students from bringing germs to school, but you can stop germs from leaving the school. Healthier students are better prepared for learning. If the school is clean, people will want to go to that school. Think about it, if there was a clean school and a dirty school you would want to go to the clean school wouldn't you? With better attendance, the school would have more people on count day, so that means more money for the school so we can get more school supplies, and better school supplies means a better learning experience. Parents would want to do more things for the school. Safety would be much better if there wasn’t stuff all over the floor. You could slip and fall and possibly get a concussion. We should have a “strong sense of school pride” and take care of our own Springbrook Middle School
If the school is trashed, a bug or rodent problem might develop. So if there was a rodent problem there would be mice or rats running around the school and getting into the lockers and eating through bags and bugs are just gross to be around so we wouldn't want either of those, right? But if the school has garbage all over it this might happen. Keeping the bathrooms clean is also important. Do you really want to go into a bathroom used by every other student that is trashed? And leaving things on the bench is just asking someone to go through your stuff and steal things. If you lust leave your bag on the bench it might get taken to the lost and found. Have you seen our lost and found table this year? It’s out of control because it gets filled up so fast.
So, do your part to keep Springbrook clean. Start small, just pick up after yourself at lunch, in the classroom, or at your locker. If you see garbage on the floor, pick it up. Help make Springbrook Middle School a great place to learn!
Get Off Your Screens! Go Outside!
by Mitchell Barnett
Phones and tv’s and game systems are not good for your health because it can cause neck pain, metal stress and headache. Being outdoors provides a break and for you to relax and recharge. Your screen can cause you to have bad vision and going outside is a good exercise. Even if you're just walking out and about or riding your bike, going outside can make you sleep better. Having just a little run can burn calories too. Going outside provides vitamin D and an immunity boost, cleans your lungs and lowers your heart rate. Watching your phone all day or playing video games can change brain activity and reaction times. The average person's screen time is 6 to 8 hours a day when the normal average should be down to 2 to 4 hours a day. Going outside is amazing for spending time with family and friends. Going outdoors is a way for you to get some space for your screen and have a little relief. The outdoors is very peaceful. You can go on hikes, mountain climbing and fishing. Having a lot of phone time is a bad way for you to have a cracked neck because looking down for so long can make you have back pain. Tv’s are what impact your eyes you can have in strain and blurred vision. Staring at the tv for too long can cause irritations and headaches and itchy eyes and back ache, you can feel dizzy and nauseous and have watery eyes. Too much screen time can even cause poor sleep and motion sickness.
‘’When we're in urban environments or the office all day, we can experience sensory overload, resulting in tension and mental fatigue. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively,” according to studies in the National Library of Medicine. This just means when we’re inside all day at school, especially on our chromebooks, it will help us be better students by just going outside.
Personal Hygiene
by Mya Gonzalez
It's good to keep up your hygiene, but sometimes you don't have the right products or it's not something you can just do, due to certain circumstances, but there are people all around this building that can help. You can contact talk to or email Ms. Blackmon at kblackmon@adrian.k12.mi.us and ask her for some supplies like deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, feminine products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and chapstick. Ms. Blackmon will always be willing to help you when you are in need so that you can keep up your hygiene because hygiene is so important. It can help with your physical appearance, it helps protect you against illnesses, it helps refrain body odor, it boosts your self respect and self confidence, it can also help with your academic performance and so many more things. That is why it is so important to have good hygiene and to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Besides, we all want our school to smell good, don’t we?!
Does VR Affect Your Brain More than a Regular Device?
by Emery Hudson
Do you have a Virtual Reality headset? Here’s a small list of headsets: Oculus 1,2,3, Oculus Rift, and PlayStation VR. There are large differences between VR and regular devices. For one, you get up and move with a VR device because you are the character. You have full control over them so you are moving around, but to what point does it affect your brain more? The short answer is yes and this is why according to Kathryn Segovia from the University of Stanford “in VR environments we project our eyes to look at things far away but in reality there are only a few centimeters away.” That can mess with our perception.
Also, it should not be surprising that “children are affected even more; most children believe something they did in VR really happened” according to CNN reporter Sandee LaMotte. VR can affect motor skills and cause “disorientation symptoms, nausea, malaise, and discomfort referred to as cybersickness” says health coach Beata Sokołowska and the blue light emitting from the headset can be harmful and “can cause damage retinal cells and cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration”
So, yes VR does affect your brain more than a regular device but there are also positives to VR. The fun concept of VR can help with learning, “anxiety and mental health issues,” in an article from Health News Today.
The VR headset is just a computer strapped to your head but you can get ones that have no technology in them and you slide your phone into them and some people think this is better for you but is just as bad as the normal VR headset because it is the same 3D videos/games it is just less powerful of a vr headset so it cases the same damage.
Did you know that Nintendo has a VR headset? Well you might have it and you didn't know. It's the Nintendo Switch: you can buy a kit that lets you build a cardboard VR headset that you slide the switch into. But, this also can affect your brain the same way.
So, I think you get the pattern now - all VR affects your brain the same. The 3D technology for all devices do the same thing, but, if you do the VR with you phone, nothing is in 3D so it’s the blue light damage you have to protect yourself from by using blue light glasses with it. Like most things, you can't prevent everything; 40% to 70% of people get VR sickness and many more get eye damage so it is safe to still use V, but to limit the time spent on it to prevent any long term damage.
The Dangers of Vaping
by Landen Fouty
I’m going to talk to you about the dangers of vaping, why vaping is not better than cigarettes, and also how the Vaping industry affects our planet.
First off let's talk about how vaping destroys the body, and why vaping is SO addictive. An article from What's The Harm? written by the Texas Department of State Health Services, “The way that vaping harms the body is through toxic chemicals that enter the body through the airway that can damage organs, the brain, your lungs, and skin/face because sometimes vapes can EXPLODE in your face, causing deformities in your skin, and leading to painful burns.” An article named What’s in an E-cigarette? written by the American Lung Association says, “Nicotine is highly addictive and that it negatively affects adolescent brain development. Also, vapes contain a chemical called Acrolein and it is a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds, which can cause irreversible lung damage or in some cases lead to death.” It gets even worse because vapes also have a chemical that contains HEAVY METALS!!! Such as nickel, tin, and lead which can lead to trouble breathing and different diseases.
Now we are going to move on to how vaping is NOT better than cigarettes, and after a LOT of research I found information on an article called 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know written by Dr. Michael Joseph Blaha stated that tobacco cigarettes have about 7000 chemicals in them, but vapes are still under research to see how many chemicals are used in a vape.
And Lastly, I’m going to talk about how the Vaping Industry affects our environment. In an article named Vape Fact Sheet written by the Lung Foundation Australia says, “Vapes only contain some components that are recyclable, but most of the components have a large amount of toxic waste, and micro plastics that can be consumed by wildlife. Also the vape contains a battery that if left under heat can explode, which if left in the sun can also explode, sending e-liquids, chemicals, plastics and nicotine into the air.” And the most expected effect on the environment out of all of the effects, is the effect on you, because every time you let the vapor out of your mouth, if in a room, or a confined area, can release small, harmful particles into the air, and once breathed in, can cause it to be very harmful to breath in.
So make a smart choice of what you're breathing in, because 2800 people are taken to the hospital per year because of vaping, but almost zero have died of breathing air since the beginning of time, so make a smart choice, don’t vape.
Are Video Games Healthy?
by Emery Hudson
Do you play video games? 65% of people play video games and according to Kids Health in an article about video games, Dr. Elana Pearl Ben-Johnson states that “some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information.” But gaming does have some negatives like Well Powers’ article on the same topic, “Unsparingly excessive use of video games has been shown by some studies to have negative effects like problems with sleep, depression and anxiety.”
But here are some ways to make video games heather according to Francesca Lunzer’s article about making games heather, “Choose games wisely. In some games, even modest amounts of play—30 minutes a day—have been shown to improve memory ability in adults of all ages and some studies have found that playing 3-D video games could also boost the formation of memories. Participants were allocated to either a group that played video games with a 2-D environment or a 3-D environment. After playing the games for 30 minutes per day for 2 weeks, the students were given memory tests that engaged the brain’s hippocampus.” (According to the Cleveland Clinic the hippocampus is the small part of your brain that helps with your learning and memory). You might want to share that bit of information with your parents!
The advanced online gaming security company, Kidas tells us that “being a good multi-tasker is absolutely essential! When playing video games, especially multiplayer ones, research has shown that it increases the ability to multitask. You've probably heard this before: Don't sit too close to the TV. You’re going to hurt your eyes! As it seems, researchers say that when it comes to gaming, this might not be the case. Many research studies have shown that playing video games in moderation helps improve the eyes ability to discern color.”
On the other hand,there are some negative effects of gaming according to Maria Aurelia “wjp studied Psychology and Early Childhood Development. “Sleep Disorders – The blue light emitted by screens and the stimulating nature of video games can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or poor-quality sleep. Emotional Numbing – Repeated exposure to violent content in video games may lead to desensitization to violence, making individuals less sensitive to the suffering of others.” You can avoid some of this by wearing blue light glasses and just playing these games in moderation.
So, it’s up to you; do you think video games are healthy or unhealthy? I guess the answer is it depends on you.
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