By Deanna Kay Phillips To get a tattoo or to not get a tattoo, that is the question. In today’s society there is a growing interest in getting tattoos, but some people judge others very hard for the amount of tattoos that they have or what the tattoos look like. Tattoos are more common now than what they used to be, but people still aren’t entirely accepting of other people … [Read more...]

By Ashley Haugerud What does passion mean to you? Is it just another word in the dictionary? Just a meaningless concept? Or is it one of the greatest gifts we, as humans, are given? To me it is exactly that. My passion is music, and I believe passion is an opportunity to build our ambition, faith, and love. Music is always pushing me to the limits, and never fails to make me … [Read more...]

By Laura Vettleson-Trutza What would you do for a million views? Would you eat a light bulb? Would you be willing to burn your hand in boiling water? People have always been willing to do things if they have an audience that  would enjoy watching them do something dangerous. People are even more likely to do something if they get something in return, like money. With social … [Read more...]

By Abad Macabanding Filipinos celebrate, likely, the longest Christmas celebration in the world. For as long as the months are “BER” months as what they used to call in the Philippines, then Christmas countdown will start. Christmas in the Philippines usually starts around September where festive Christmas carols begin to play on the television and radio, and Christmas … [Read more...]

By Annalise Shupe The holidays have passed and the new year is upon us. Most of you are welcoming 2018 by drinking your coffee and reading your local Journal to stay updated with what’s going on in your community. Well I’m going to twist that around and ask you; what’s going on in your life? More importantly, what is in your heart? Many people view the beginning of a new year … [Read more...]

By Travis Vatland What are the first things that come to mind when you think of a traditional American Christmas? For me I tend to think about large dinners filled with many different foods surrounded by family. I think about a large Christmas tree filled with lights, garland, and all of those old sentimental ornaments that you put on the tree every year. These are just a few … [Read more...]

Fat – adjective: having a large amount of excess flesh. Upon researching the term well-known among those of current society in a dictionary or similar source, one discovers a result resembling that of above.  Many are aware of the meaning behind the word and few can argue with such; it has long been established for thousands of years previous.  How, then, has being called or … [Read more...]

By Deanna Kay Phillips A sign of rebellion or a sign of racism? In the past several years the Confederate Flag has been brought into debate much more than what it used to be. It has always been a matter of much debate as to whether Old Dixie is a relic of history or something to try and erase. Most people are of two mind frames. It’s a historical artifact and needs to be … [Read more...]

By Ashley Haugerud I​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​academics​ ​always​ ​come​ ​first.​ ​On​ ​November​ ​16, ​the​ ​Fillmore Central​ ​High​ ​School​ ​hosted​ ​a​ ​Scholar​ ​Club​ ​ceremony​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​students​ ​for​ ​their academic​ ​excellence.​ ​To​ ​be​ ​in​ ​Scholar​ ​Club,​ ​one​ ​must​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​GPA​ ​of​ ​3.5​ ​or​ ​higher, with​ ​all​ ​grades​ ​being​ ​a​ ​“C”​ ​or​ … [Read more...]

By Laura Vettleson-Trutza On June 30, 2016, under the Obama administration, transgenders were no longer banned and could serve openly in the military. I found this to be a good thing that the military would be more open to those wanting to fight for our country. However, on July 26, 2017, a little over a year later, President Trump announced via twitter that the military … [Read more...]

By Abad Macabanding Filipino culture generally refers to the culture that is in common with all the cultures of different tribes that make up the Philippines. Due to the diversity in the Philippines, various tribes observe their distinctive traditions and cultures that define their own identities. The Philippines constitutes more than 100 ethnolinguistic nations mostly … [Read more...]

By Kadiatou Hawa Berthe My name is Kadiatou Hawa Berthe, an exchange student from Mali, located in Western Africa. I’m 15 years old and a junior at Kingsland High School. I have two sisters, Korotoumou, who is 18 years old and Doussou, who is 12 years old. I’m Muslim. My mother, Hawa Diawara works in the Treasury of Mali and my dad, Brema Berthe works in a German company … [Read more...]

By Annalise Shupe The Monster Bash Haunted House has helped me immensely in many aspects of my life. Primarily, it funded the last Fillmore Central Music Department trip I went on as I’m an active member in both the choir and band at FCHS. The last trip was in 2016 to St. Louis, Mo., I am also going on the 2018 trip to Los Angeles, Calif. Without the Monster Bash it would have … [Read more...]

By Travis Vatland “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” Neil Armstrong said as he took his first few steps on the moon. Apollo 11 happened a little over 48 years ago and was one of the greatest accomplishments not only by the U.S. but mankind during the 20th century. Having landed on the moon over 48 years ago, I couldn’t help but wonder on NASA’s next … [Read more...]

Hello,​ ​I’m​ ​Lizi​ ​Lomia.​ ​I’m​ ​an exchange​ ​student​ ​from​ ​Georgia. Georgia​ ​is​ ​a​ ​small​ ​country​ ​which​ ​is​ ​located​ ​in​ ​eastern​ ​Europe,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​coast​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Black​ Sea, near​ ​Turkey,​ ​Russia,​ ​Azerbaijan​ ​and​ ​Armenia.​ ​I​ ​live​ ​in​ ​Rustavi — ​that​ ​is​ ​near​ ​the​ ​capital​ ​city​ ​Tbilisi. I​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​a very​ ​big​ … [Read more...]