Editorials

I have always wanted to be an artist. I feel as if I have always had an internal nagging, a somewhat intrinsic need to express myself in the most vibrant of colors. 

I always thought that art was limited to just abstract, visual depictions and interpretations of the world around us. So it came as a great gift when I realized that art could be many things. To me, art qualifies as any imaginative expression. Writing is an art. Carefully weaving together sumptuous strings of words is artistic. So though I cannot draw, I am an artist and I paint a picture through my writing. Fueling my itch for a creative outlet is one of the reasons that I keep a journal. 

Additionally, I utilize my journal to practice self-reflection. Such reflection enables me to absorb and attempt to understand uncontrollable moments that occur so often in life. That being said, as a writer, I find it natural to embrace moments of pain and turn them into something beautiful. These moments frame the rough edges of my stories. Recently, one of my closest friends and I drifted apart. To mend, I encouraged myself to journal. As I continued to write, I began to heal, slowly soothing my mind. That pain, though, was a result of true love and one of our greatest human gifts: the ability to feel. I have realized that it is possible to love someone and learn to set them free simultaneously. Committing to this journey of self-reflection has enabled me to look into the mirror again and feel proud of the person I am becoming. It has left me with a whole blank slate to work with and so many new bright colors. 

So whether my journal entry for the day is reflective, artistic, aspirational, or transitional, I am always left with a sense of peace after writing. I feel as if I know myself better. I am more aware of my progress emotionally through the ups and downs of my life. 

Journaling, like art, cannot be defined. There is no right way to journal. Everyone can journal. And everyone can journal for different reasons unique to their own personality, preferences, and life. 

Current senior Patrick Eismost also practices journaling for both mental health purposes and to track workout progression. 

“Journaling has played a crucial role in my life. With my mental health one, it is very comforting to me. Being able to put thoughts into words and alleviate your mental struggles by writing them all out is very relieving. As far as my lifting one, it has also played an important role to me. Not only has it helped me structure my workouts in a more organized way, it has given me the ability to very clearly and obviously see tangible progress, which again feels very nice,” Eismont notes.  

Regardless of why or how someone may choose to keep a journal, the benefits can be similar such as pursuing peace, navigating uncertainty, gaining clarity, healing, or simply just being more in touch with oneself. 

Eismont suggests, “I have multiple tips for those considering starting a journal. For one, it is encouraged by me to use it consistently. The more consistently it’s used the more help you’ll in turn get out of it. Secondly though, don’t worry what others think of your journal, your thoughts, or what you were planning on writing. The purpose of a journal is to lay out all and everything you’re thinking and want to put on the paper…I originally refrained from journaling as I thought it would be judged by others…however, it is the complete opposite with many benefits to it.” 

It is a practice worth trying, so hopefully, you can give it a shot next time you have a chance!

1. Up

• This movie will have you crying tears of sadness and the next moment you’ll be crying tears of joy. This movie is like a roller coaster. There are plot twists, mood changes, and possibly some of the greatest character development you will see in any piece of film. It really teaches you the complication of life, and that sometimes you can’t appreciate a moment until it becomes a memory, but even then, you have to move on. 

2. The Incredibles 

• The Incredibles is the second-best superhero movie ever right behind The Dark Knight, which is not a Pixar movie. The Incredibles features the life of a family in which each family member has an extremely vibrant and unique character, as the audience learns throughout the movie to appreciate each character for separate reasons. This movie is anything but generic. The film covers political, economic, social, pretty much all the ideals of the real world, but incorporates them into a theoretical world where superheroes have a controversial role in society, making this film truly great and unforgettable. 

3. Toy Story 3

• Being one of the greatest animated films of all time, Toy Story 3 is truly unforgettable. Woody has a good character arc throughout the film, and the movie is filled with intense plotting, rivalries, twists, and even moments of great suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are great character dynamics, and there are different character changes for different characters, which makes the movie even more interesting. Also, the ending is great and extremely emotional. To put it short, anyone that has seen the first two Toy Story movies will have an indescribable feeling of happiness seeing how far these characters have come.

4. Ratatouille 

• To begin; Ratatouille has amazing character development and definitely some of the best scenery and setting of any Pixar movie. The setting of Paris, France definitely gives a unique vibe, and it allows the audience to dwell in an environment drastically different than if you live somewhere that isn’t Paris, France. This movie teaches the audience the significance of discrimination, and how one should fight it in order to achieve their aspirations no matter how negatively society looks at you. 

5. Toy Story 2

• Toy Story 2 manages to be incredibly touching while still maintaining the comedic aspects of every character from the first movie. It stresses the sad process of growing up, but also how we should learn to accept its inevitability rather than dwelling on the melancholy of it. 

6. Finding Nemo

• Finding Nemo has the story that certainly feels the longest, and probably the story that is the most stressful too. The difficulties of being a good parent, particularly if you are a single parent and effectively conveyed through the plot of this film. In a truly unique way, Finding Nemo teaches you to always respect and appreciate the effort that your parents put in taking care and raising you, but also that you have to sometimes branch out and talk to new people if you want to make friends.

7. A Bug’s life

• As great as this movie is, it sort of does appeal to slightly older audiences, as it is certainly one of the more literary and complicated films from Pixar. The movie goes in many different directions and has many great dynamic characters that all play into the audience learning the importance of an individual in a large society, particularly one under unjust authoritative rule. 

8. Monsters INC.

• Monsters INC. is the perfect combination of funny and heartwarming. Similar to the Incredibles, the audience is put in a theoretical universe, only the audience learns to appreciate monsters rather than superheroes. The film is full of surprises and twists making it a riveting watch, more the first time than the second. Similar to many other great Pixar movies, it employs the importance of caring for youth in a world full of threats. 

9. Toy Story 

• Toy Story, being one of the original Pixar favorites by many, is a very happy and high-energy film that is enjoyable to all audiences. Woody is sort of an eccentric character that some may have to get used to, and the plot becomes better as you watch the movie more times, so this film actually tends to get better in the screenings following the first time watching it. The voice acting is great, and the film effectively elaborates on the motifs of jealousy, aging, rivalry, etc. 

10. Coco

• Coco has one of the greatest plot twists of any Pixar movie. I’m not going to say what the plot twist is, but it’s pretty great. Some would compare this to The Book of Life at first glance, but it is actually quite different in terms of plot, characters, and general vibe. This film has beautiful imagery, great characters, and does a really great job portraying the significance of Mexican culture and the importance of family in the long term. Even though death and family legacy are components that younger audiences may not understand to a high extent, it is greatly simplified in this film so that it can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. 

11. Cars

• Cars is touching as it teaches the audience the importance of having a broader viewpoint in determining what really matters. Cars teach you that there are more important things than fame and glory, such as friendship and developing a wholesome character. This film is filled with eccentric characters, particularly the main character, Lightning Mcqueen, who develops greatly throughout the film.

12. Monsters University

• Monsters University is a great prequel to Monsters INC. Monsters University actually does a great job portraying the maturing of the two main characters if you watch it back-to-back with Monster INC. The film elaborates on the importance of authentic friendship over being associated with someone that is well known. Monsters University is funny, emotional, and really makes graet use of the college vibe while maintaining the great personalities of Sully and Mike.

13. Inside Out

• Inside Out is special in a way that is a film that most people can relate to, and therefore has a strong and unique effect on the audience. This movie does an emotional and hugely effective job portraying some of the struggles of childhood, including moving houses and settling in new areas and schools as you progress through youth, which is something that many of us relate to and sympathize with. This movie has an art style that mainly pertains to younger audiences, and it’s REALLY bright and colorful and the characters look very cartoony. Also, the movie is cheesy and generic at times, because you can only do so much when you’re making a movie where the main character is a little girl whose biggest problem is adjusting to a new area.

14. Toy Story 4

• Toy Story 4 is a great mix of emotional, nostalgic, and funny put together. Though the movie as a whole was pulled off quite well, I don’t think that the ten-year gap between this and Toy Story 3 was really great in the grand scheme of things. The movie has a very nostalgic and friendly vibe, one that just makes you really feel thankful for being able to watch a Toy Story movie again after 10 years. Also, the ending is super emotional, but you’re going to have to watch to see why.

15. The Incredibles 2

• This movie still had most of the core elements from the first Incredibles, but the acting and the general vibe of the characters was different than the first. It almost seemed that after years of being politically discriminated against, public superheroes sort of lost their character and physique, and the mission just wasn’t as exciting. 

16. Finding Dory 

• If I were to put it straight, Finding Dory is just Finding Nemo but worse, still not terrible, but definitely worse. The setting was narrowed from the entire ocean to a single aquarium, where the main characters meet new friends in their wacky misadventure at the aquarium. This movie was more emotional than Finding Nemo at certain times as Dorys’ short term memory loss became something that the audience felt quite bad about as the movie progressed and it was mentioned more and more. The characters in this movie were pretty great, and the quality of the characters was one thing that managed to be carried on from Finding Nemo. This movie has a narrower plot, and regards a character with a very emotional background, making it one for all ages to enjoy at least to some extent. 

17. Wall-E

• Wall-E is a unique film that would definitely be better if they didn’t put such a terrible image on humans as being fat, lazy, and incapable of doing anything without technological assistance.  On a better note, this movie has a great and very calm beginning in sort of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, which I believe is a setting that had potential but was underused in the grand scheme of things. Also, this movie has two of the cutest main characters ever, and that is definitely the reason why many adore this movie, even if those people are toddlers. Wall-E is emotional, funny, and really puts emphasis on the importance of friendship with differences, even if the film is boring and insulting at times. 

18. Brave

• Other than the rich Scottish culture, this movie is just pretty bland as a whole. There are no plot twists whatsoever and the entire “plot” is literally imitated after the main character is so immature that she refuses tradition and would rather shoot a bow and arrow against a crowd where there is ZERO competition. Also, this film puts a terrible image on bears, like they might be friendly but NO, let’s try and kill them instead!! On a more positive note, some of the action scenes are good, and plenty of people actually adore the movie for its moments of mother-daughter bonding, which is actually pretty emotional at the end given how terrible Merideth was to her mom in the beginning. 

19. Cars 2 

• I actually got pretty emotional having to put this one so low because it was a personal favorite from my childhood, of course when I couldn’t tell the difference between a good movie and one that was thrown together. If you’re above the age of 10, it becomes quite evident that cars 2 is just Mission Impossible with cars that talk. Some of the characters are okay, and I even sort of still like the action and spying aspect of this film. However, the movie is very thrown together and the script sounds exactly as if an elementary school kid wrote the script for the next Mission Impossible. The movie is generic, predictable, and overall a sub-par action film.

20. The Good Dinosaur

• The cinematography in this movie is great. There are a lot of great shots of panoramic landscapes, thunderstorms, sunsets, etc. However, pretty much everything else is bad. Arlo’s character is kind of annoying and immature for the most part and Spot is just a dumb figure with no character whatsoever and runs around being stupid while tagging along with the annoying green dinosaur. If the plot and characters were better, they could have mixed with the cinematography to make a good film, but instead, the film remains pretty poor. 

21. Cars 3

• Cars 3 is just straight-up bad. The third movie in a pretty good series had the opportunity to bring nostalgic aspects from the first two movies but instead, it has a cheesy plot that tries to glorify another female racer rather than making the story about Lightning Mcqueen. The plot is all over the place and there are lines so cringe that there were little kids cringing in the theater.

CON

Life360 is a mobile phone app created in 2008 which allows family members to track each other’s locations and driving information. The app has been highly praised for its real-time alerts that inform parents when their children are speeding, moving locations, or have even gotten in a car crash. According to the App Store, Life360 says that users will “get automatic notifications when your family comes and goes from home, work, and school, and when they complete drives.” While Life360 may seem like the best way to keep your family safe, just because you can access all of this information doesn’t mean you should. 

Life360 requires users to sacrifice all privacy in order to deliver the safety it promises. The ability for parents to track their child’s every movement throughout the day can become a tiring and unfair process for the child. Part of growing up is having the freedom to make your own choices, make mistakes, and then learn from them. This is what every generation of teenagers experienced while growing up, except for the current generation. Although it promotes safety, Life360 is limiting the lives of teenagers everywhere by alerting parents of their every move, regardless if it is good or bad. 

In my experience, teenagers will try to find ways to avoid parental supervision. An app can’t stop a teenager from doing what they please, which only leads kids to think of creative ways to outsmart the app as well as their parents. This can lead teenagers to end up in situations where they are without their phone since it is common to leave a tracked phone behind at a friend’s house before going to a location not approved by a parent. If a parent really wants to know where their child is, they can use programs such as “Find my iPhone” which solely shows a device’s location and not invasive information such as driving speeds.    

    I understand the appeal Life360 offers to parents such as high speed, real-time updates of your child’s whereabouts in order to ensure their safety, but I think this kind of tracking is too invasive to have a completely trusting family relationship. With Life360, teenagers are not given the opportunity to live their lives freely and are instead tied down by an app that gives their parents real-time updates according to their every movement. The app Life360 should be used only in special circumstances to ensure safety and not as a daily tracking device to hover over and control teenagers.            

PRO

Many teenagers argue that the Life360 app has had more negative impacts than positive; it makes them feel restricted, and it exacerbates the “helicopter parenting” style that has become more and more common. But looking at the bigger picture, Life360, as surprising as it may be, benefits teens by allowing them more freedom. Also, the app has developed new features that protect teens when they’re on their own, and it can be an effective safety measure if used with restraint.

For most teenagers, there comes a time when they yearn for freedom, and for many, it can be a constant struggle with their parents to gain independence. With the Life360 App, parents who feel hesitant about letting their teenagers roam uninhibited can be reassured. Having the app doesn’t mean that parents are obligated to check it all the time, but it is a great way for them to check their child’s location in an emergency. Sure, in the wrong hands, Life360 could be seen as helicopter parenting, but the main goal of the app is safety, and it achieves that. Parents might even feel more inclined to let their teenagers go out on their own because they would be able to contact them immediately in the case of an emergency. Life360 provides young people with a small taste of what freedom is like, without giving them the overwhelming responsibility of having to completely fend for themselves. 

There are countless examples of Life360 helping to save peoples’ lives, from connecting family members amid a terrorist attack to tracking a missing kidnapping victim. Even if the situation isn’t as drastic, it can still be a big help for teens to have that resource on hand. For people starting to drive on their own, the app’s new technologies can be a big help; Life360 offers 24-hour roadside assistance for minor incidents such as flat tires, running out of gas, and engine jump-starts.

Many people argue that Life360 restricts teenagers’ basic freedoms and puts a strain on the trust between them and their parents. But the system doesn’t have to be confining. With the right parameters in place, parents can preserve the trust they have with their children. First of all, parents need to begin by having a conversation with their kids about what the tracking means. It isn’t meant to be something that makes people uncomfortable or puts a strain on relationships; parents shouldn’t be compulsively checking the app to try and “bust” their children. Parents should give their children the benefit of the doubt. At its core, the Life360 app is a valuable tool that can keep people safe and even potentially save lives, but it must be treated with caution and not overused.

Journalist Steve Riley once said, “If we go, who will know?” Journalism is one of the most important professions, especially today. The current political environment has created a war on journalism. If this pattern continues, there may be no more respect for journalists, completely destroying the integrity of their profession. Without reporters to be the watchdog of politicians, corruption will increase. The people won’t know what is truly going on.While today’s political environment provides for an active, 24-hour news cycle, the constant use of wrongly discrediting entire newspapers, magazines, and news organizations have an overall adverse effect on the lives of journalists and the profession as a whole through violence, viewpoint, and vocation. 

The current state of the American government is one that the media has always followed very closely. While journalism has always been critical of society, it is necessary now more than ever.  It is well known that President Trump and other government officials closely associated with him have a very tense relationship with the press. This strained relationship has led to a negative view of the media, which goes so far as officials, including the President, calling them “enemies of the people” or “fake news.” Journalists of today have to stick together to survive the anti-journalistic political climate, and Americans have to stick up for the journalists.

Journalists’ jobs are to ask the hard questions persistently, even when faced with obstacles. While certain areas of journalism have always been dangerous,  more journalists are being stopped at the border, arrested, attacked, and even killed. In 2018, U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte from Montana pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault on Ben Jacobs, a reporter for The Guardian. According to NBC News, Gianforte body-slammed Jacobs after he asked a question about Gianforte’s health care policy. Once word spread about what happened, President Trump praised the violent behavior of the Congressman and said, “He’s my guy.” The attack on independent journalists themselves is threatening free media. 

Today’s polarized political climate does not help the stigma against journalism. Viewers can sense bias in the news they watch. With such an opinionated environment, it is hard not to have any bias. When the news contains bias, it can influence how the citizens think. If someone does not know they are watching biased news, they could be getting one side of the story rather than having an open mind and seeing things from all sides. Media outlets also tend to be biased in the news they choose to cover. Stations want to cover the more sensationalized news rather than the factual one because more ratings lead to more money, and the bigger the story the more ratings. 

Interest in the profession has also taken a fall as fewer and fewer people want to pursue a career in journalism, threatening the future of the journalism field. Whether it is jobs or just the typical form of media, today’s environment is completely changing journalism. With online news, people can get their stories anytime, anywhere, and for free, which has led to a struggle for newspapers and television news networks. Newspapers are taking the brunt of it. Many companies have had to fire employees, downsize, and even shut down. More people are talking about the news than there are people reporting and analyzing it. The violence and viewership issues are not helping the decline either. With the growth of the Internet and the reduction in jobs and candidates, the future of journalism itself is endangered. 

Throughout history, the relationship between the media and government has often been strained, but why should that continue? We need to fix this problem. The future of journalism is crucial to American society, especially if the political atmosphere does not change. “Fake news” will eventually become the only news we have.

Lincoln’s Haberdashery:

Lincoln’s Haberdashery describes themself as an “artisan market that serves sandwiches and coffee in a chill setting” and after being there more times than I can count, I can safely say this description is entirely accurate. It is located on South Boulevard and is complete with the new, hipster vibe that most places in that area have. Inside, the interior follows a quaint, soft aesthetic that is very relaxing as well as great music to accompany your studying. The sandwiches are amazing and have something for everyone, whether you’re vegetarian, gluten-free, or a meat lover. The coffee is also very good and they always have a special latte that is guaranteed to make you smile from a butterbeer latte to a Ron Swanson themed latte. The only downside to Lincoln’s is the prices for food and coffee are a bit on the steep side but don’t let that stop you from stopping by and grabbing a coffee. 

Mugs:

Mugs is a small coffee shop on Park Road and fits the stereotype of a coffee shop almost perfectly. The smell of coffee, insanely comfortable brown leather couches, quiet jazz music playing from the speakers, plus insanely good (and cheap) coffee are all things you’ll find here. They are a local business and it shows. The owner is almost always there and won’t hesitate to make sure that your experience in his coffee shop is as good as possible. The staff are also incredibly warm and will almost always ask how your day is going or compliment your outfit. The coffee is always good, tasting even better than the big brand coffee that Starbucks or Caribou may serve, and is less expensive as well. Although the coffee is amazing, the food menu is not as extensive as other coffee shops and is mainly pastries, cookies, and bagels, so if you’re looking for a meal, this may not be the best place. But if you’re looking to feel like you’re in a coffee shop from a movie, Mugs is the place to go. 

Amelies: 

Amelies is a classic study spot for many Myers Park students.  With three convenient locations, it is frequently visited by students thanks to its ambiance, productive energy, and exceptional food. Inside, the style of decor can only be described as chaotic; chandeliers are haphazardly hung on the ceilings and clocks randomly adorn the walls.  There are many different options for tables, from smaller booths to large tables for bigger groups. Amelies has delicious baked goods and a wide selection of coffee and tea. From macaroons to eclairs to baguettes, the food options are exceptional. In addition, for non-coffee drinkers, there is also delicious tea and other drinks. While it can be expensive, Amelies is always a great option for students who want to be productive while enjoying delicious food. 

Starbucks: 

While Starbucks may seem like a basic coffee shop option, it has an exceptional work environment. Whenever I have a big assignment to do, my first stop is typically Starbucks; I am incredibly productive in an environment surrounded by people who are working hard.  The baristas are always friendly and helpful, and refills are cheap. While Starbucks typically doesn’t have good food options, typically, they are located close to other restaurants. For example, the Starbucks located on Providence Road is next to Laurel Market, a delicious neighborhood store.  Starbucks is a convenient option for both coffee and a workspace for students who want to productive. 

Lucy Georgius: Pro Phones in School

As the technology behind smartphones continues to evolve at lightning speeds, technology in the classroom has become a hot topic of debate. There are strong arguments for each side of the issue as each side has its pros and cons. While phones can definitely be a source of distraction, especially with new apps coming out every day like Instagram, Snapchat, and even TikTok, they can also revolutionize the learning experience of students.

Over the past few years, Chromebooks have become widely used for students to use for research and writing. Although these can be helpful, personal phones allow the student to conduct research and type papers with the convenience of being able to fit in his or her pocket. Once class ends, the Chromebooks must return to the cart to be plugged in and left in the school overnight. In some cases, students might start to associate working and researching with using the Chromebook, which could keep students from doing work at home. On the other hand, people keep their phones in their pockets 24/7. In addition, students will be more familiar with their personal cell phones, which reduces the learning curve. Using a phone in contrast to a Chromebook allows the student and the teacher more flexibility within the classroom. 

One major backlash and argument against having phones in the classroom is the considerable risk of distraction. Phones nowadays are filled with different games and apps that keep us constantly stimulated and entertained. Here’s the difference: phones should not be allowed at all times throughout the classroom; cell phone use should be regulated, and only used when a teacher gives permission. While there should be obvious exceptions to this idea in execution, for the most part, this concept is a way to get the best of both worlds. Learning will be advanced through this innovative technology rather than be brought down and hindered by the distraction.

Not only does utilizing mobile devices enrich the academic experience, but there are other benefits too. In case of an emergency, it is beneficial to have a phone. Say there is a real fire—having to deal with handing back phones to students in such a stressful time can make an already chaotic situation much worse. Not only will this be a stressor in situations like these, but it also makes the threat much more dangerous. When students already have access to their phone in scary cases like these, it eliminates an extra step towards solving the problem and dealing with the situation at hand. In addition, if a family emergency occurs, a student will have more access to information and stay in the loop; if the student has to leave because of this, they will know immediately, which could be vital. 

Cell phone use in schools is highly controversial because of the potential risks, but using phones in a controlled way could lead to an innovative and enhanced classroom experience. 

Chole Wilson: Con Phones in School

Our attachment to our cellular devices has grown rapidly over the years. Not only can we not put them down during a family dinner or while doing homework, but it also seems that we cannot put them down at school. Maybe it’s because Candy Crush is too tempting, or perhaps it’s ingrained in our brains that we must have our phones on us at all times. 

Numerous studies have proved that our addiction to our phones can be related to the amount of dopamine in our brain. According to Trevor Haynes of Harvard University, “Smartphones have provided us with a virtually unlimited supply of social stimuli, both positive and negative. Every notification, whether it’s a text message, a “like” on Instagram, or a Facebook notification, has the potential to be a positive social stimulus and dopamine influx.” Our attachment to our smartphones has become an addiction that we just can’t shake. As a result, this addiction is now affecting our work ethic in the classroom. Dr. Sahlberg, who will join the University of New South Wales as professor of education this year, said smartphones were distracting students from reading, school-related work, physical activity, and high-quality sleep. With every notification we get, we are forced to unlock our phones, and in turn, we miss part of our teacher’s lecture. We are fortunate for our education, so should we really be decreasing its value at the expense of our smartphones? 

According to The Atlantic, The University of Michigan found that in schools that permitted students to have cell phones, 71 percent of students sent or received text messages on their cell phones in class. This staggering percentage is what is costing students their education. Although many students argue by saying that they can multitask or that they are simply listening to music while doing their work, this reasoning can be shot down quickly. Peter Bregman wrote in the Harvard Business Review Blog Network that multitasking can reduce productivity by 40 percent, while also increasing stress and causing a ten-point fall in IQ. The point is that teachers cannot be naive when it comes to cell phones in the classroom. If teachers think that their students aren’t quietly texting under their desk while instruction is going on, they would be sadly mistaken. At the same time, while students are missing parts of the lecture, they are only hurting themselves and their grades. 

According to The Atlantic, “In a recent New York Times article titled ‘A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute,’ Paul Thomas, a former teacher and an associate professor of education at Furman University was quoted as saying, ‘Teaching is a human experience. Technology is a distraction when we need literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.’” All in all, if teachers want success in the classroom, cell phones must be banned due to student’s unwavering addiction to them.