By Maddy Bergey “I can’t breathe.” These words are not only the words of George Floyd, but also the words of other people of color who suffer the effects of environmental racism and injustice each day. Environmental racism is a deliberate act that targets communities based on race. As climate change becomes an extensive crisis, the waste, pollution, and poor air quality … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project Are pit bulls actually bad dogs?
By Ryleigh Alery Pit bulls have the reputation of being instinctively mean and dangerous. Their bad reputation is reasonable since there have been many reported pit bull attacks. People in defense of pit bulls say that the owners are to be blamed for the dogs’ bad behavior. Pit bull critics argue that the breed is violent because of their DNA when actually, there is more than … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project Heartbreak season
By Kaylee Arndt It’s that time of year when thousands of hearts are broken... over email. And this year, in particular, will witness an even greater number of tears shed and feelings buried with pints of ice cream than ever before. Why? It’s that wonderful time of year when millions of high school students across the United States receive their admissions decisions from … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project The highs and lows of competitive and professionally singing
By Kristina Biel In my life, I have never experienced such a rush of happiness and energy until I started singing. Holding the mic up to your face, taking in the beginning breath, and pouring whatever you have bottled up inside of you out into the world through tides of lyrics and melody. Of course, that energy cannot excuse the ever so loved mistakes and screw-ups that … [Read more...]
Do what makes you happy
By Zenessa Anderson Whether you are choosing a career path, navigating a relationship, or deciding how to spend a Saturday night, “Do what makes you happy,” is common advice. It seems obvious, why would anyone choose something that makes them unhappy? While we are told overtly to do what makes us happy, there is at the same time a message instilled in us that suffering is … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project This land is your land, this land is MY land speaking up for my country – Red vs. Blue
By Abby Zutz Being a teen during this recent presidential election was hard. Everyone said, “You have no say, you can’t vote anyway”; “Your opinion doesn’t matter.” What they don’t know is that younger generations are building a new country. We are the future of the country. Our voices deserve to be heard just as anyone would like their voices to be heard and opinions to be … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project The pitfalls of solar and wind energy
By Bethany Schneekloth Solar and wind power have become the staple in examples of renewable energy. They are heralded as the most sufficient for the nation, but ask yourself what happens to the parts when they break down. The number of solar panels and wind turbines in our area is growing, making this an important question that needs an answer. Solar panels have been … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project The shadow of toxic positivity
By Maddy Bergey Positivity: the practice of being optimistic in attitude. Plastered everywhere we go — posted inside shopping centers, portrayed in shows on television, and inscribed on daily journals — the construct of positivity is almost inherent in humans. This proposes a question: when does positivity get warped into a new, toxic form? Here’s a closer look at the depths … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project “…” (Awkward silence)
By Kaylee Arndt Imagine you’re at one of those beloved family gatherings — the one with Great-great-aunt Mildred and the second cousin you’ve seen but once in your life and whose name might be Freddy... or Frank — you’re not entirely sure. Can you picture it? Wonderful. Now, let’s say you’re drawn (or forced) into a pleasant conversation with these two characters. It … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: Life elsewhere
By Kristina Biel My name is Kristina Biel, and I have pretty basic origins. There’s a little bit of German in there and other stuff that I can’t currently remember. So now you’re probably wondering where I am going with this. Well, if we look back to the origins of humans, past the Homo Habilis and the Australopithecus, we get to the basics. Unicellular bacteria – that’s where … [Read more...]