RUN LIKE A GIRLBy Marlie Cohen In the year 2015, in near summer, I saw a commercial. A commercial that went viral. With many thumbs up, but just as many thumbs down. They called in teenage boys, and interviewed them, asking questions about what they thought… about girls. They asked them to “run like a girl”. To “hit like a girl”. To “kick like a girl”. To “describe a girl”. The results were horrific. They ran like they didn’t know what they were doing. They waved their arms to signify throwing. Some of them didn’t even kick, thinking their “heels” would fly off. They described a girl as being “pretty,” “perfect,” “girly,” “weak”. Then they called in teenage girls. I thought they would be different, but no. They did the EXACT SAME THING. It was almost like they were making fun of themselves. Then, they called in younger girls. Girls my age, girls younger than me, girls that are younger than 14. The questions were asked… And I saw the most amazing thing. To “run like a girl” was to run fast and powerfully. To “throw like a girl” was like seeing a baseball player chucking a ball so hard it could knock teeth out. To “kick like a girl” was to keep balance, and destroy a target. Then it came to the last question. “What is a girl.” “Powerful.” “Strong.” “Kind.” “Imperfect” “Unique” After the commercial ended, all I could think about was those teenage boys and girls, thinking that women aren’t good enough. That they’re weak and useless. What about Serena and Venus Williams? They are famous because they defied the unwritten rules! Beyonce is one of the most famous singers ever, and she’s a girl. Normal girls like me, or my friends all have big dreams of becoming actresses, interior designers (that’s me), or to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner. So why are girls looked down upon? Because they think we’re not strong. Too feminine and scared to get our hands dirty. I do karate. My teachers say I’m one of the best in class, better than some of the boys. My friend is an actress and works on her dream so hard, she is even working on getting an agent! Another friend of mine has the most amazing voice ever, and she is encouraged to be a singer. Girls in this generation may be looked down upon, like back then. But we can change that. We can get sweaty. We can carry heavy objects men can’t even lift! And it all starts with… Getting rid of “run like a girl.” All you do is remove the “like a girl.”  By Mariella Hollines After this week's major shooting in Orlando, I just felt the need to reflect over it. I was heartbroken when my dad turned on the tv on Sunday morning and the caption read the worst shooting in American History after 9/11. I could feel my heart drop and just think about all those people who lost their lives. As I heard more about this major event, one idea would not get out of my head. This idea was the restriction over gun control.
I think the Orlando shooting along with many other massacres that have happened bring a strong need to talk about gun control laws. The other day I heard Trump on the radio say that if others in the club had had guns with them there wouldn't have been so much damage. Although Trump makes me completely crazy, his idea could potentially be true but, not necessarily. Imagine this man coming in and everyone having a gun shooting in random places. That could be very unsafe and hectic. I think it is more reasonable to think that if the gunman had no gun in the first place then there could have not been this massacre. I believe there needs to be a way tighter control on gun laws. There is no reason that just any person especially with any mental problems or any suspicion toward them should be able to get a gun. I’m not saying that all people who are mentally ill will kill someone but it's better to be safe than sorry. It should be much harder to get a gun. In the case of the Orlando shooting, even though there isn't a lot of information out about if the gunman was mentally ill yet, his ex-wife did say she thought he wasn't mentally stable. Those who sell guns need to find away to find out this information before giving people guns. If they had known this I’m sure he wouldn't have had the chance to get his hands on a gun. On another note, why would anyone need such a huge assault weapon. If a person feels the need to have a gun to protect themselves the huge rifle the gunman had seems a little much. Also, I read that some gun shops had suspicion about him. I just don't understand how he got the gun if there were those suspicious toward him. Gun control laws have stayed pretty much the same for way too long. There has been so many terrible shootings and it’s time that we stop waiting. We need to act now and prevent things like this from happening again. By Bianca LewisCollege is an extremely important decision in a student's life that affects not only academic aspects, but also social aspects and other activities. However, before a student can decide which college they will attend, they must first apply to colleges. Although I have yet to apply to college, I am a high school student and have to make a lot of decisions now so that I can be prepared to apply to colleges and so that I can be accepted to my most desired colleges.
As the standard of education continues to improve, so does the competition that exists between students. This means that students continue getting smarter and smarter, more involved in their schools and communities, and more well-rounded. Therefore, I think that there are three extremely important factors that contribute to a student's college acceptances or university related decisions; the three factors being academics, activities, and community involvement. A student's grades and their academic record will be one of the first things a college looks for. Students are expected to have a strong G.P.A, high test scores, and more. When colleges are assessing a student's GPA, they are not only looking at grades earned in certain classes, but the difficulty of the classes. To colleges, it is important to see that a student took the highest level classes available to them, because they want to see that the student is willing to work hard and challenge themselves. Colleges want to accept students who are going to be motivated to study and pursue a career that will lead them to have a successful life. Colleges are also going to look at the activities that a student has been involved in. Activities demonstrate a student's well-roundedness and how a student is able to balance sports or clubs with academics as a priority. This is an important factor for colleges because they want students who will be involved at the university and not easily become overwhelmed. Finally, it is important for students applying to colleges to show how they have been involved in their community. This is because colleges accept students from all around the world, and they want to see how a student has made an impact on their community, and how the students will continue to positively change the environment around them. All of these factors are necessary for students to present to colleges to achieve success in their lives. By Bianca Lewis Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how quickly time seems to fly. Of course, there is the cliché phrase, "time flies when you are having fun." But then again I always find myself thinking about how everybody continues getting older, and how time cannot be reversed. These odd thoughts almost seem to haunt me as I think about how I will never be as young as I am in this moment, but at the same time, I am the oldest I have ever been.
I see people around me getting older, and I am right there with them. It seems like just a little bit ago, I was in elementary school, a young girl with not much to worry about. I remember when I didn't know the difference between a sophomore and a junior in high school, and here I am, about to end my freshman year of high school, and enter my sophomore year. In just 3 short years, I will be on my way to college. And after college... That is what scares me the most. Because once I am finished with my education, I will be on my own; out in the world, as an adult. Sometimes I wish I could remain a student forever, and not have to reach the point where I will no longer be as dependent on people, as people will be dependent on me. And to think that time is relative. In relation to physics, this applies to the theory of relativity, but at the same time, the time we spend in our lives is relative to how we view the time spent. Has time really gone by that quickly? When you think about years that have passed, in some ways it can seem like a short time, but at the same time, a year is made of 365 days, with each day filled with 24 hours. This is quite simply, a concept that I just cannot put into words. There is nothing that can be done about the passing of time, except to soak in every single second of each and every day, and truly enjoy it; to discover something new and amazing at least once a day. Instead of always looking forward to the next big event and counting down until that day to do something incredible, start living more in the 'in-between days', that come before and after the big events. Don't just float through life but define your purposes and fall in love with everything you do. By Brynn WhiteI think that it goes without saying that college is expensive and that it can be an obstacle to finish school without adequate funding. Sure there are scholarships, loans, and more scholarships for the academic elite with high GPA’s and athletes. But where does that leave everyone else who wasn’t born into wealth, have athletic genes, or any other innate ability that gives me access to funds ?
College girls and some young men are turning to sugaring. “Sugaring” is considered a mutually beneficial relationship between the young and attractive with a wealthy mature man or woman. It is uncharted territory and many of called it modern prostitution, but there is no denying that there are some very obvious benefits. Many “sugar babies” (college students) are offered base allowances of $2,500 per month for a once a week meetup. The process of finding a sugar daddy or mamma has become increasingly easier in the age of social media type platforms. Websites like Seeking Arrangements and Sugar Daddies allow for people to communicate online and view each other’s profiles. The wealthy counterparts must pay a fee to belong on the site and some are background checked and verified. On the profile it displays their yearly income, net worth, and describes the type of relationship that they are seeking out. Now, you may be asking yourself, how is this even remotely legal? Well, as long as the sugar babies are being paid for services outside of sex, it isn’t considered prostitution. As long as you are 18 years old or older, it is perfectly legal. Whether it is ethical or not is a whole other question. Many of these wealthy counterparts in the equation are married and some are explicit about over sexualizing the woman. I decided to do a bit of an experiment to see what this was about. So, with an older friend’s permission, I built a profile around her using her pictures and a bio that I thought best describes her and her best attributes. Within hours being on the site, her profile was viewed several times and she received several messages offering her monthly allowances between $3,500- $6,000 for weekly visits. This didn’t include any additional pampering and gifts. It seems like “easy” money depending on the type of relationship that you have both agreed upon. But at what cost? Women are now more than ever being seen as simply sexual objects that can be enticed by money. Currently, there is estimated to be over 1 million college girls and boys involved in a sugaring relationship. So who is to blame? The wealthy men and women? Universities and colleges for such outrageous tuition? To be honest, I think that everyone plays a part in this equation. No one person can be held responsible for a system that is corrupt and quite off-centered. My advice to anyone who is pursuing this option is to tread lightly. You are diving into murky waters that can be dangerous. By Elizabeth Resendiz
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week and a half, you have heard the news that swept the nation the night of Sunday, February 7: The Denver Broncos are the Super Bowl 50 champions. Although not everyone watches, or even cares, about professional football, it cannot be denied that Denver is a football city. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the Denver Metro Area hummed with anticipation. For radio shows, news programs, magazines, and the over 650 thousand Denver residents, it seemed that football was all anyone could talk about. It is a magical thing, the community that arises from having a sports team in the world championship. It was as if we all understood just how special it was to have our very own Denver Broncos playing in Super Bowl 50. Not only is making it to the Super Bowl an incredible achievement for a team, it is worth even more when that Super Bowl is the 50th anniversary of the game. The city was alight with the shared joy, tension, and pride shared by its many football fans. Crowds were seas of orange and blue. Grocery stores displayed Broncos sweets and inflated balloons. Schools and workplaces declared the Friday before the game an “orange day.” Friendly football conversations were started between fans pretty much everywhere, and people were just generally happier. Denver was truly united in orange. And then, the big day came. Going out on February 7, you would find yourself surrounded by fans picking up last minutes food and gear, shops people murmuring excitedly, and the streets all but cleared by 4 pm. The city was under a spell of disbelief, hope, and companionship, and to be a part of that spell was an amazing experience. The excitement and feeling of Denver could hardly compare to the days after the Broncos’ win over the North Carolina Panthers.The following Tuesday, the Super Bowl parade was held downtown, ending at Civic Center Park. Players and coaches road on fire trucks through crowds the exceeded one million people. The streets of downtown Denver were rivers of orange and shared wonder at being home to the team that just won Super Bowl 50. Not everyone appreciates football, but all can appreciate the companionship and unity that football, and all other sports, can bring. By Elizabeth ResendizRecently, the sophomore class at Rangeview High School was visited by
a representative from Herff Jones with information on class rings for the class of 2018. A class ring is a ring specially designed for a student’s school. Each student is able to customize a ring to fit them specifically, and because of this, each class ring is special. Class rings connect schools and classmates, and symbolize the completion of one step of your journey, in this case, high school, and the memories you will keep from that chapter in your life. Besides the excitement from getting to design my own class ring, the whole thing really got me thinking. A class ring is a tangible reminder of our high school experiences, a link between our past and our future. Even when we leave high school, the memories of our time in it will remain for years and years to come. For better or worse, this part of our lives shapes us forever. Before we know it, high school will be gone forever, seen only in our class ring and memories. Friends and interests will change, others will stay exactly the same, and all the while time will continue passing us by. High school is truly an experience to be treasured and lived while we still can. Not everything from high school will last, but it will never completely fade from us, either. By Brynn WhiteTo be frank with you, the world is… Interesting. At least, that is what I say to myself to ease some of the confusion and the pain. My grandmother used to tell me that I have to be twice as “good.” I didn’t really understand what that meant. I would always ask that question, “twice as good as what?” She meant that I had to be twice as good as everyone. I needed to be immersed in the white and politically correct world just as much as the average joe and know what it means to be around my people aka the black community. I decided that it was all too much work and so I became accustomed to only living in one world the “white world.” After all, that is the more important “world” to live in because it promises a future that is stable and rich with opportunities in the real world. (I don’t actually believe this, it is just what I have come to understand about the state of our nation and our culture as it is today.)
With that being said, here is what I have learned as an African American Teen Girl living in today’s society. #1.) Allow people to touch your hair Yes, I actually get stopped in the middle of the street walking to work and people ask if they can touch my hair. It is weird at first but you eventually get used to the notion that people don’t understand how your hair can end up in an afro. For some reason, it is fascinating to them beyond belief. I try not to ask them why or get flustered, I just say yes. #2.) Don’t Get Upset When People Use the N-word. I know what you're thinking. Why would you even get offended? It’s just a word and it's not like they are using it in a derogatory manner. It is commonly used in popular songs, tv, social media,etc. But for me, it still nags at me when people use it who are not apart of my culture use it. I just try to refrain from punching someone in the gut. #3.) Don’t Get Upset When People Say anything that is slightly or remotely construed as derogatory. I have heard the line “ I just got a spray tan that is so dark. I like I am black.” or “That is so Ghetto.” You just have to breathe and walk in the other direction. #4.) People will always assume that you are going to steal something After a while, you realize that you are going to be followed and watched like a hawk in any kind of retail store. I just think of them as my little assistants. Plus, I will never have to go looking for a store manager... Ever! #5.) Know that most people do things out of ignorance and fear I know that ignorance isn’t a good excuse for all bad behavior but I would like to believe that most people have good intentions and just don’t understand the implications of what they are saying and/or doing. I have grown to have a high tolerance to b.s. and uninformed individuals. By Madeline LaMeeHe’s a player, she’s a slut. She’s feisty, he’s abusive. He’s a boss, she’s just bossy. We hear these things constantly, but more often we see them. We see them in the ways couples interact, how friends socialize, and even how governments are run. Sexism (against both men and women) is an idea embedded in our society so deeply that it is hardly discernable from the everyday practices and traditions of life. Despite the great leaps in our mindsets about sexism, the problem is not completely solved. In fact, it is still highly evident in the language and standards of present day teenagers.
Of course, sexism exists in both the men and women, but, in the spirit of irony, ‘ladies first’! Irony aside, there is a lot of historical context that must be taken into account when dealing with sexism against women. We have had the short end of the personal freedom stick for a very long time, making it a far touchier subject than sexism against men. And there is a reason for this! Atrocities that women suffered and still suffer under the name of male supremacy have been one of the more widespread injustices of history. Since about the neolithic age on to present day, females have been in most societies oppressed as the roles of males became ever more powerful. For a very very long time women in almost every country couldn’t hold a position in the government or have a career in a male-dominated field. Laws restricting female sexuality became extremely strict as it became the norm to pass down property through male heirs. In many places, it was a crime for a woman to even speak up against her husband. In some areas of the world, women have fought for and have obtained their rights to the freedom to choose their own futures, but even in these places, the sexism has left its traces in the traditions and standards that have been passed down from generation to generation. One thing that has resulted of the overly strict regulations on female sexuality is the double standard of slut shaming. I have seen how young mothers and sexually promiscuous women are treated with such little respect by their peers, whereas promiscuous men are often commended, if not openly praised for their behavior. In this situation, it’s clear the guys have the cop-out solution, while the girls are held to the higher moral standard. Another incredibly important double-standard that affects women is the lingering expectation that women are gentle and submissive by nature, an assumption that makes it difficult for boss women to appear to their employees as both likeable and assertive at the same time. Since female beauty is often associated with passiveness and frailty, and handsomeness is associated with assertive behavior, women who attempt to act more assertive are often considered to be manly. Plus, this probably contributes to the fact that the United States still hasn’t had a woman for president, since Presidents are expected to be strong leaders but also have to be likeable in order to win elections. Whereas men are generally considered more charismatic if they are decisive and unyielding, it’s the unfortunate truth that these qualities are often seen as undesirable for women. The same goes for attitudes that young people hold for each other. I notice constantly how many of my female peers will seek a relationship not by flaunting their best traits but by acting smaller, dumber, and shallower than they actually are. They see in the media and sometimes in their own families that acting that way is what makes a woman attractive, and by mirroring these practices, they enter into a relationship that is in most cases very devoid of respect towards their actual good qualities. This dynamic, I would argue, is the reason why there are generally more abusive relationships that target women than men; the women are taught that sticking up for themselves will be unattractive, whereas guys are taught that aggressiveness is a way to prove their manliness. Still, there is another idea that comes along with this. While women were idealized as the perfect images of beauty and grace, men were then idealized as the epitome of strength and toughness, and it reflects in the way that we see their roles in relationships even today. Needless to say, it turns out that not every man wants to be dominant, just as not every women wants to be submissive. This in itself is often referred to as reverse sexism, a rising epidemic that is taking form in some countries who have already made strides in women’s rights. Take, for instance, the abuse scenario. Since it is still statistically more likely for men to be abusive, many men complain that it is much harder for them to press charges against an abusive wife than it would be for their wives to press charges against them. This makes sense, since women are generally stereotyped as the caring, gentle homemakers, an image that doesn’t really fit very well with domestic abuse. Some would even blame the abuse on the husband, who somehow wasn’t manly enough to stick up for his own dignity. In this way, divorce and abuse cases are prejudiced towards the woman and so usually end with her taking custody of the children. Another one that I personally notice quite often is the expectation that men should be chivalrous towards women even when their girlfriend/ wife / friend is not being polite to them. I frustrates me greatly when I see girls who think it’s perfectly fine to be rude to the guys in their lives (and in the name of empowerment!) but expect their boyfriends to open their doors and help them out of their cars. First off, if you want to be empowered, then why not open your own door? Secondly, if you expect equality for yourself, then it should not exclude the less convenient side to this, which is having to learn a bit of chivalry yourself. It is paramount for women to learn to command respect, but in the spirit of actual equality, that means we must take responsibility for respecting others too. So, yes, I consider myself a feminist, and I am proud of that, but if there were such a thing, I would be a “minist” too. Feminism was never meant to become the tipping of the tides so that females would have their time to oppress. Instead, it was meant as a promise that all men and women were created equal, and that this equality must not be marred by the doubles-standards of casual sexism. by Sofia Romero CampbellI describe myself as a feminist and I am not afraid to say so. Throughout the past year
I have really gotten to know what it truly means and currently feel a great sense of connection to what is stands for and how it shapes and defines the person I am. Nevertheless, there are still others who might be scared, intimidated, and worried about the repercussions that come along with identifying as a feminist. In this way I have recently found myself having more courage standing up to be a voice that brings awareness to fellow peer’s stereotypes and biases. As I am getting older and more exposed to how to talk about controversial and “hidden” aspects of the culture we are exposed to. I see how the more informed I am the better and more empowered I feel in expressing to others how to be more thoughtful about what they say, think, and do to make the biggest impact. Just this past week for instance there was a boy in my class who kept calling his friend a bitch. The friend was horsing around and irritating the other boy, and after hearing the word for about the fourth time I couldn’t handle it anymore. I told the boy to stop using the word to describe his friend and he told me how he would never say that to a girl but somehow it was ok to call a boy that instead. This struck me as an odd response, but I proceeded to explain to him that no matter who he is speaking to, the word is hurtful and shouldn’t be used in any circumstances to describe someone. After I had talked to him, I noticed a sense of understanding not immediately but gradually. The experience made me notice how if you educate someone they begin to see the world a little bit different. Gradually influencing people in small settings can be the spark that inspires people to hold others accountable for times when they might be unaware of what they are saying and how that impacts others around them. Lastly, you never know who is listening and to have that small victory it made me feel as though I could change the world because I had the bravery to say something instead of just accepting what was going on in front of me. Whenever you feel as though you’re witnessing injustice in your community just remember “speak the truth even if your voice shakes.” |
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