How to stick with your New Year’s Resolutions

By Gabrielle Rackner

Even though we are now deep into February it is still good to keep being focused on those New Year’s Resolutions and to check in and try not to stray off them.

It is hard to keep motivated after the Resolution phase of January is over, but it is easy to stay on those resolutions after January. I know it is tempting to just give up or put it off until another day, such as “I’ll start drinking more water on Sunday because it is the beginning of the week,” but there’s no better time than now to start.

With all of the technology in this day and time your phone can be a valuable tool in keeping in check with your resolutions. Let’s say for example your New Year’s resolution was to run a 5k, there are many apps out there that can help you get started such as the Nike + Running app that tracks your daily mileage and has a “coach” feature that can help you train for that and keep at it. It also is good when there is commitment instead of just words, instead of talking about running that 5k, sign up for it so that there is no backing out.

The second semester has just started so it is good to think in that “new semester, new me” mentality. Maybe you feel that your grades could have been a little better last semester or you didn’t feel you were as organized as you should be. Even the little things, even as small as putting little sticky notes in your notebooks to mark out units or chapters can make you feel accomplished and organized when studying or taking notes.

New Year’s resolutions can make a big impact on your life and health. Let’s say that your goal was to get more sleep at night, I know that at night with homework and activities it is hard to get everything done and still get enough sleep, and I understand that feeling of “one more episode of The Office and then I’ll go to bed” but starting out small can help you achieve your goal, such as if you went to bed at 11:00 yesterday try to just get 10 extra minutes of sleep tonight and go to bed at 10:50, then the next day ten more minutes, go to bed at 10:40, next day 10:30 and woah! You have already earned 30 extra minutes of sleep than you had three days earlier.

Little changes here and there can help contribute to your overall resolution and lead to good changes and a better year!

 

How to start second semester strong

By Ginger Gionet

The first day of second semester is much like the first day of new year. Promises and pledges are made to apply yourself better at school, to get that rare 4.0, to acquire a better work ethic. Just like new year resolutions, many of these goals are never met. Why? Often times it’s because you don’t know where to start.

So, you may ask, how do you make them happen? Easy!

School is a puzzle. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out, so you quit and start a new one. However, sticking with it and seeing the end result is much more satisfying.

Often times, even just buying a new notebook and a pen can make students pay attention better at school. Waking up in the morning and dressing for success, feeling confident in your own skin, being assured by your abilities to learn, are all fundamental parts to being successful.

When I wake up, the last place I want to go is school. Not because it’s not fun to learn, but because it’s boring. The weight of the next six hours overcomes me and makes me want to give up and stop trying. But, no matter what, I always end up getting out of bed and heading to class.

School sets you up for life. Going to school every day increases your chances of getting into the college you want to go to. Turning in your homework gets you closer and closer to that 4.0 you’ve always wanted. Socializing with the kids in your classes can get you friends for life.

The best part of second semester is that we have already made it past the first half of the school year. Everyday becomes a countdown for summer. So why not try your hardest? We are almost done, so you might as well give it your all!

 

Why do we change our clocks?

By Julia Schexnayder

Twice a year we adjust our clocks one hour, throwing off our sleeping schedule and generally confusing everyone for the next few days. The main reason for this change is to make better use of the daylight. During the spring and summer season we move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening, causing time to “spring forward.” In fall, we move the hour back to the evening, causing time to “fall back.”

In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March and changes back to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November.

People tend to have strong opinions each time we have to change the clocks. Either you lose an hour of sleep or lose an hour of daylight. Along with these drawbacks no one really knows why we have Daylight Saving Time.

“Something to do with farmers, right? Ben Franklin came up with it to plant crops earlier…?” sophomore Megan Rose L. Macapinlac answered aloofly when asked what she thought the origin was.

Each person interviewed had similar answers, confused mumbles of Benjamin Franklin, farmers, and saving energy.

Changing our clocks is good for activities that need sunlight, such as sports and farming. On the other hand, DST makes travel, record keeping, and billing complicated and confusing.

We change our clocks to make the most out of the daylight we have and save energy. People use natural daylight instead of electric lights when they are awake when the sun is up. Daylight Saving Time is supposed to save energy. It was aimed to reduce the use of incandescent lighting at night, which was used primarily in the late 19^th and most of the 20^th century. Today however, we use mostly fluorescent lighting which uses less energy.

DST was intended to save multiple weeks’ worth of energy, but a recent study by the California Energy Commission found the energy savings to be barely 0.18 percent at the most. Other studies have shown that DST causes a greater use of energy due to the use of air conditioning later into the evening.

Changing our clocks does more harm than good overall. Many people believe that we no longer need it; others think we can’t live without it. But ask anyone from Arizona, Hawaii, Asia, Africa, or South America; they’re doing just fine without it.

 

Get involved at School this year

By Gabrielle Rackner

School activities are a great way to get involved and have fun at school, while doing the things you are interested in. Here at West Seattle High School there are numerous ways to get involved including clubs, sports, and community service opportunities.

Clubs are well underway but it is not too late to join! From debate club to bridge club there are many ways that you can find something that you like to do and participate in at school. Also, many of the clubs here at WSHS offer community service credit, and any way to try to achieve those 60 hours required to graduate should be taken. Especially when you can achieve those hours doing something that interests you. Some clubs that offer community service hours are National Honors society and Key club. Talk to the YMCA office about joining any clubs that interest you.

If you are more into drama and the arts, there is a great drama program here. Two productions are coming up that you can get involved in: “Rhinoceros” the student directed show (auditions were November 24 and 25) and in December, there are auditions for the Spring musical; “The Addams Family” Even if you are not into acting or singing you can be a part of the lighting and sound design program, house crew, or stage crew that accompanies the school productions.

Sports are also a great way to get involved and get fit. Even though Winter sports are coming to an end, spring sports are coming up, from softball to track, there are many sports that you can join. Not only is it a good way to get exercise but also you can meet a lot of people. And a lot of the sports here at West Seattle High School don’t require tryouts, so come participate in a school sport this year.

School activities and sports are not just a good way to get involved but it is also a great way to meet new people who share your similar interests. Doubtful about joining a school activity because of your schedule and commitment? Try to go for one practice, or meeting just to try it out.

One of the biggest regrets that a lot of people have when they look back on High School is that they didn’t get involved. Let’s eliminate the possibility of those regrets by joining a school activity or sport today.

Ask Dr.Mo

Dear Dr. Mo,

I’m worried about getting a job. I’m doing a lot of volunteer work that I love, but it’s eating away my time and I’m not making any money. My mom is the only one in the family who works and I feel bad asking for money all the time. There may be a job opening at my mom’s library system, but because I’m her daughter I might not get it. Do you have any advice for me?

Sincerely,

Needing Income

 

Applying for jobs can be stressful. However, just limiting yourself in applying for one job can be even worse. That’s why you should try to widen your horizons by applying to multiple jobs at once. Use online applications and even the help of teachers to write successful resumes and send them into multiple businesses at once. In addition, while volunteering is very important to helping society, think about the most efficient way to spend your time. If you already have your necessary service hours for graduating, then consider getting a job rather than spending time volunteering. And then when its summer and you have more free time then you can fill your empty time with volunteering. Also, remember that these hours spent volunteering can also strengthen your resume! Some examples of places hiring for part time work regularly include retail businesses and food places around Westwood Village, Westlake Mall, and even around Alki.

Dear Dr. Mo,

What can I do to apply for scholarships?

Sincerely,

In Need of Money

 

For many, applying for scholarships is a necessity. However many students reject the idea of applying for even small scholarships. My advice is to search out any scholarships that you might be eligible for, even the ones that offer just a few hundred dollars. I recommend using the website www.scholarships.com and choosing the option to receive notifications about the scholarships you’re eligible for. Doing independent research is also important, so don’t just wait for scholarships to find you. Do active research on the web typing in certain criteria like “Athlete scholarships” or “Scholarships for women” if you fit the criteria. Remember not to shy away from scholarships that seem unimportant or too small to apply to. After all, these scholarships are often the ones that add up to save you the most money when it comes to college.

 

 

Dear Dr. Mo,

How do you suggest seniors balance school work, college apps, and extracurriculars while having time devoted to their mental/emotional wellness?

Sincerely,

Seeking Balance

 

Taking time out of your day for yourself is very important, even if it doesn’t seem like the most productive thing to do. Sometimes students freak out about making time for themselves and instead of being productive they stress themselves out about getting everything done and end up with less time to do the things they have to get done. Instead of putting off work until the last moment, schedule your time so that each day you put off a few hours for homework and be sure to get it done in a certain time frame. Also, schedule the time that’s taken out of your day for extracurriculars and other necessary activities. That being said, overloading yourself with all these things to do can be overwhelming to say the least. That’s why you should always take time out of your day to treat yourself. Take a bath, go on a walk, or watch a TV show you like or go online. Whatever you like, be sure to make time for it. Be sure to scatter these moments throughout your week at any moments possible. Even a 10 minute bus ride can turn into a 10 minute meditation break, a time to listen to your favorite music, or time to draw in a sketchbook.

Is Black Friday worth it?

By: Ivan Cruz

I rarely go out shopping, but if there is something I want and it’s priced very well on Black Friday, I really enjoy going out, waiting, and then going and purchasing it. I enjoy the anticipation and the excitement I get from the rush of going in at that final moment and getting what I want at such a great price.

If nothing else, the video clips and sensationalized news reports will encourage those with common sense and a sense of self preservation, to purchase goods from the Internet, where if you’re savvy, you get better deals, tax free.

Black Friday is “worth it” (despite this question making absolutely no sense and being completely arbitrary on what “worth it” means), you get cheap goods – I don’t understand what there is to dislike about Black Friday. You could be making a lot of arguments that are not intrinsic to Black Friday itself. Violence might happen on Black Friday, but that doesn’t mean Black Friday itself is inherently violent – that is purely correlation.

Furthermore, yes, Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what you have, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be grateful for being able to get more things for a cheap price – see where I’m going here?

For all those ordinary Americans looking for a good sale, the famous post-Thanksgiving shopping event may not be all it’s cracked up to be. If you fall into this category, you can stay home without fearing that you’re missing out. With the crowds, lackluster deals and ample opportunities for sale prices on other days of the year, shopping on the day after Thanksgiving may be more hassle than it’s worth. But if you still want to get some shopping done, you can always opt for sales online

For social shoppers, Black Friday is an indispensable element of the holiday season, a matter of tradition. Thanksgiving dinner must be followed by cash registers and bags full of gifts. If you fall into this category, the shopping extravaganza is worth it simply for the experience.

For deal-finder die-hards, Black Friday is a science. It requires pitching a tent, claiming your spot in line and camping out for days at a time. If you fall into this category, Black Friday is worth it for those few coveted price cuts.

I think when people say that black Friday is a disgusting abomination of mankind and should be extinguished instead of fueled with more hot prices, don’t think they really understand the explosive element of this Bonnie situation. We as Black Friday celebrators do this for our friends and family, to get them something special this year.

We sacrifice our time and dedication to get the things we want for the people we love. Now, depending on how badly you want it and what you’re willing to do or not do depends entirely on you. But you know when you come back from that heaping mob of Black Friday shoppers; you’ll be imagining the look on your friends face when he/she receives the gift you have been working so hard to get.

School starts too early for high school students

By Ileyah Kantner

I believe that high school students should not have to start school early in the morning. Seattle public schools are considering changing school starting times. Many people think that school start times shouldn’t change because elementary and middle school students would be getting out of school way too late and it would be unsafe for the younger students. I think parents being uncomfortable with younger students getting out too late should not change the fact that it would be better if high school students started school later in the morning.

Students have to wake up very early in the morning to arrive to school on time. When you have to get dressed appropriately for school and have to find your transportation it can make it very difficult to get to school on time if you do not get up early. When you get up early you are losing hours of sleep that could have helped you stay awake and feel refreshed. Students would be healthier if they were able to get the right amount of sleep.

“I would feel better and more focused throughout the day if I could get the right amount of sleep I need and have enough time to get ready without missing class,” said one student.

I believe that many students drop out or don’t come to their first classes due to the fact that school starts so early. Many teenagers don’t want to be doing school work early in the day, and after doing it for a long period of time it can cause them to give up on attending classes or even school in general. If school started later in the day more students would attend school and show up to their first classes.

“I would definitely have much better attendance if school didn’t start so early,” expressed another student.

Teenagers would be more focused and better working in school if they could sleep in before they go to school. Sleep is proven to help you focus and be good for you brain. They could focus more on their school work and give their best effort in their classes. When you receive homework from almost all six classes almost every night, it provides a strain on students to do their best work and turn in assignments on time.

If school started a few hours later it would be beneficial in many ways. Students would be healthier, be able to work better, and more students would attend school and their first classes in the day. I strongly believe that classes should start later due to these important reasons for students. If school started later for high school students it would be beneficial in many ways to those students. If middle and elementary school students kept their original starting times while high schools changed; everyone could be happy.

Best Places to go for lunch

By Lavenia fink

West Seattle High School is in a great location because there are so many places walking and driving distance for lunch. If you can drive, a recommended place to go to is Nikkos Teriyaki in Jefferson Square. Most people that can drive go there for lunch. The drive there is about 5 minutes.

“Nikkos is a great place to go, not only because of the slappin teriyaki, but also because it’s healthy, and inexpensive too.” says Grant Vander Hijde.

Closer distance is PCC which is a five minute walk from the school which has more healthy food choices and hot and ready pizza. They also have sandwich options in the deli or pre-made salads.

“They have many nutritious options and alternatives” said junior Taylor Hutsell.

PCC has a large variety for gluten free food and vegetarian and vegan options.

“PCC is one of my favorite places for lunch, the food is healthy and affordable plus it’s a great place to sit down with friends because of the seating area outside” Says Jesse Bulman.

Another place short walking distance is Mcdonalds. Mcdonald’s serves fast food options so it’s fast and easy to enjoy your lunch without having to rush.

“I like to eat at Mc d’s during lunch because it’s very easy to access,affordable and serves food quickly so I have enough time to eat” Claims sophomore Abdi Jama.

If you’re looking for a variety of different foods, right across the street from Hiawatha is Safeway. Inside Safeway they have a sushi bar, deli, and a Starbucks. They also have a large sitting area so you can eat there instead of having to walk all the way back.

Also Driving distance from the school is taco time. Its about a 10 minute drive.

“ Taco Time is a good place to go eat for lunch especially if you have a car to go there. They have good burritos.” Said sophomore Saoirse Cumming.

Also a Chipotle was just built in the Alaska junction. Which is a good place to go if you can drive since It’s too far to walk. It’s a counter service but makes the food super fast so you don’t have to stress about time.

“Chipotle is really good and makes your food super fast. I go there a lot with friends if you get there and have enough time, it’s nice to sit down in their big seating area.” Sophomore Allie Boddell.

Whatever you hope to find for lunch, there are plenty of options.

 

Genetic modification: no longer science fiction

By Julia Schexnayder

When science fiction becomes a reality, the topic of ethics is always brought up. Deciding whether something is ethical is a tricky decision, as everyone has their own morals. Typically ethics are questions of morality, such as, “Does this feel right?”, “Is this hurting anyone?”, and “What are the consequences of these actions?”

Lately a big topic in scientific circles is the ethics of genetic modification, or altering the genes of a living thing. For example, in China scientists are conducting extreme genetic modification experiments.

One experiment being conducted by BGI, a biotech firm in China, could be a dream come true for pig enthusiasts. BGI has recently announced that they will be selling $1,600 teacup pigs that will never grow bigger than 35 pounds.

The pigs started as lab animals to model and study human diseases. Pigs are often used in labs for their similar anatomy and genes to humans, but their large size makes their accommodation and studying them a hassle.

Having pet pigs has been a struggle due to their size. What starts out as pint-sized can weight a whopping 700 pounds as an adult. Shrinking pigs will greatly reduce the number of pigs being abandoned as adults to shelters.

Another lab is doing experiments on… labs. Dogs are the newest genetic modification trend. Scientists are editing their genetic makeup to create customizable “designer dogs.”

By deleting part of a gene called myostatin, the muscle mass in dogs can be doubled, producing super-dogs. These extra athletic dogs could be helpful for hunting, police work, and military endeavors.

The deletion of myostatin could be helpful in disease prevention not just in dogs but humans as well. Diseases such as muscular dystrophy could have a slowed progression thanks to this research.

While this all seems somewhat reasonable and exciting, the idea of spreading genetic manipulation to humans is more complicated. Less than a month after a group of US scientists publicly requested to not genetically modify human embryos, a group of Chinese researches did just that. The US scientists believe technology isn’t ready for human genetic modification and it can be highly unethical due to the uncertainty.

The scientists from China justified their experiments by saying the embryos were not normal and were going to be discarded anyway. They were trying to edit the genes in embryos that can cause the blood disorder thalassaemia. However, other scientists are worried that they won’t stop with abnormal embryos and proceed to modify viable embryos.

Human genetic modification could be used to prevent diseases, and as genetic modification is passed down through reproduction, create a large population of future super humans. Worst case scenario, these super humans could lead to a total societal upheave and a wild dystopian future.

Though these “what-ifs” are a bit exaggerated, the longterm consequences of genetic modification are a mystery. Scientists can only predict what will happen. This doubtfulness leads people to believe the altering of genes is unethical and morally wrong.

Where do we draw the line between what is ethical and what is not? No one knows. We each have an opinion, taking in factors of consequences, cruelty, nature, and morals, but we may never reach an agreement. You and I have our own morals and standards that we follow. Not knowing whether the undiscovered cons of genetic manipulation outweigh their pros, at this point in time genetic modification will stay one of the biggest ethical conundrums.

Welcome Freshmen

By Julia Schexnayder

The step from middle school to high school is a big one, but with the right planning, responsibility, and skills you can avoid tripping yourself up and still have a great experience. Whether your heart’s set on getting a 4.0, an acceptance letter from an Ivy League college, or you’re still figuring out what elective to take next semester; there’s a few things you need to know.

High school is a melting pot of students from all corners of the world, so you’re bound to make a few new friends. While befriending new people, try and think about how this person will affect the next year of your life. Is this the kind of person who will help you get to where you want to be in the future? Or will they hold you back?

Stay away from activities that can lead you astray from your goals and your health. Figure out your priorities; your essay due tomorrow is more important than your new video game. Your health (both mental and physical) matters more than your GPA.

In high school, studying is a necessity. Start studying for tests and quizzes as soon as you find out about them. Study for 30 minutes then take a 15 minute break, repeat until you feel confident in your knowledge of the subject. Start studying at least a week before finals.

Introduce yourself to your teachers; they can be a great ally when you have a problem. Teachers see you almost every day for 9 months, and they get to really care about you. They’re here to help you understand the material, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Respect them and appreciate all the hard work they’re doing. They work more than you think.

Utilize your locker. Your back will thank you for not having to lug a 15 pound backpack around. Participate in school activities; go to school events, join clubs and be apart of school teams. Try new things, you might even find a new lifelong interest. Be brave.

Don’t be intimidated by upperclassmen, they were all in the same position you are in now. They’ll most likely be helpful and friendly by teaching you important school procedures and conduct you might not know about.

Follow school rules. Your disciplinary record will follow you for the rest of your education; don’t be prevented from getting into academic programs because of your past mistakes. With that said, you are not defined by your mistakes, you grow and learn from them.

As you dive feet first into the deep sea of responsibility that is high school, remember to trust yourself and don’t hide away who you are. Talk to others if necessary and enjoy the ride.