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By Anna Lawson
Many people wonder why parents would send their children away, sometimes to a place with less desirable accommodations than at home or a family vacation. Sure, a twin sized bunk bed and mosquito bites sounds less appealing than staying in the comfort of your own home. However, sleep away camps provide people of all ages with an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The first thought that comes to a child’s mind when they hear the words “sleep away camp” is no parents! Kids enjoy the idea of being unsupervised. Of course, this is not completely true as there are counselors around to ensure safety, but children still learn about independence. Being away from home and a normal routine that includes the same people allows them to explore their comfort zone and decide what they like and dislike. Glenelg Sophomore, Jordan Chizmadia, said that, “I was only eight when I went to sleep away camp for the first time. I loved being able to try new activities and meet new people!” It is good for kids to get to try new things and develop their own opinions. Most camps nowadays have a disconnect policy. This means that they discourage and exclude electronics. Most modern kids and teenagers feel terrified to leave their phones for weeks at a time, however this can actually be quite refreshing. Many have gone to the same sleep away camp for years and say that being away from their phone is one of their favorite parts. It allows one to live in the moment. In addition, being phone-less relieves stress. Keeping up with Snapchat, Instagram and the other social media apps tends to be very stressful, so those few weeks without responsibility to them is relaxing. Some summer camps include camp-wide competitions for example, Color War. In most cases, the camp is split up into two teams that compete against in various events. Competitions like this allow campers to let out their competitive side. Campers can usually request to be a part of a certain activity or event. Since camp-wide competitions tend to occur towards the end of camp, campers have had the chance to try all of the different activities and choose their favorites. Most campers’ favorite part is making new friends. Many camps have a cabin set up, so campers have the chance to meet people and create tight bonds that can last a lifetime. Sophomore, Megan Lydon, said, “I went to sleep away camp five years ago and am still in touch with some of my cabin mates.” Cabins usually eat and participate in activities together, so everyone becomes very close. It surprises many that just talking about camp can bring a smile to their face. Camp is a place to make lifelong friends and try different things that one would have never imagined themselves doing. If you have excluded the idea of going to a sleep away camp after a bad experience at one, try another! There are countless people who had bad experiences at another camp but were happy that they did their research and eventually found their fit. Sleep away camps provide an experience like no other and wonderful memories that will last the rest of your life. By Molly Swartz
Many people have watched, or at least heard of, the Netflix Original Series 13 Reasons Why . This show depicts a group of high school students, who throughout the show discover information and secrets about themselves and others through the recorded tapes of a girl who committed suicide. As the name of the show implies, the tapes discuss the thirteen specific reasons why the main character, Hannah Baker, decided to take her own life. As is evident through any type of search of a review of this show online, its contents are exceedingly controversial. Many popular news outlets such as the Chicago Tribune , LA Times , CNN , and USA Today are all inputting their views on this show. For the most part, the reviews have come to a consensus: that the contents presented in this show are either too graphic for young viewers, or not handled properly as the sensitive subject that they are. Grace Shrestha, a Junior at Glenelg, summed up this view perfectly- “Some people say it raises awareness about suicide, but it glorifies it.” This show, as Shrestha stated, goes above and beyond to fabricate and elaborate on a story all about suicide. By taking the show to this extreme, many people believe that 13 Reasons Why has become a glorification of suicide, and a story of seemingly plausible proof and encouragement as to how a person could get revenge on those who have done him or her wrong in the past. Basically, as Corynne Wolven, a Sophomore at Glenelg stated, “This show can give people bad ideas,” because people watching this show might be more likely to develop suicidal thoughts. By maintaining the mindset that 13 Reasons Why has improperly balanced fiction and reality when discussing sensitive, harsh topics, it is clear to see how many people could be disturbed by the concept of suicide, or even rape, as it is presented in the series. Overall, if the directors of the show wanted to raise awareness about the tragedies that are suicide and rape, they could have succeeded “in a more formal setting,” as Shrestha argued, through more informational shows or articles. Because of this new and cruel romanticization, many ignorant viewers (as in those who are too young to have learned about such tragic events or those who have simply chose to repress their knowledge about them) have an extremely construed view of how suicidal people think and act, and furthermore how the people surrounding the suicidal individual would be expected to act both before and after his or her death. As is evident through massive amounts of research, suicidal individuals often suffer from mental illnesses, such as depression. Kathiann Kowalski, an author for the Current Health Magazine , describes in her article “Dealing with Depression -- Beyond the Blues” some causes of depression and suicide, stress being chief among these reasons, as well as the physical, sexual or emotional victimization of an abused individual. Furthermore, Kowalski analyzes specific examples of people with depression, and then describes the brain chemistry, signs, and treatment of a person with depression or suicidal thoughts. In this article, the reality of suicide is faced, in close context with Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why , because of her status as a victim of rape and other sexual and emotional harassment. The show lacks these explanations of mental disorders associated with suicide. Without understanding the scientific viewpoints regarding the contents so casually placed in this show, it is near impossible for proper awareness to be raised about suicide and rape. 13 Reasons Why fails altogether to even mention the actual mind and body experiences or processes Hannah Baker was going through as a depressed suicidal individual. The directors chose to focus solely on her elaborate, fictitious plan to get back at the people who were mean to her, instead of choosing to bring to light the brain deficits she was experiencing as the neurotransmitters in her brain were imbalanced. These imbalances caused her to make irrational decisions. In this way, 13 Reasons Why completely failed at properly raising awareness about the unfortunate topics presented in the show. This show, due to its failure to properly inform and educate people on suicide and rape, does not deserve to uphold the popularity it currently possesses. Children viewing this show could potentially be, and will most likely be, traumatized with its intensely graphic depictions of scenes of both sexual harassment and Hannah Baker’s suicide itself. At the very least, this show should only be available to those individuals mature enough to handle the topics of suicide and rape with the background knowledge of why they occur and how they could be prevented. Clearly, suicide and rape are extremely serious and sensitive topics. It is best to approach them in a more formal nature, in order to increase the knowledge and awareness of these subjects without providing hyperbolized or unrealistic expectations as to what situations involving them could entail. In real life, it is imperative to get help if a person is experiencing any thoughts or concerns relating to suicide. Therefore, it is important to know the helpful resources available to all students, such as school counselors or other trusted adults, and even the suicide hotline. As most students have learned in school, these trusted resources will provide a student or any person with the assistance he or she needs.* *For those who need help, or know someone who may need help, please seek out a counselor or other trusted adult, or call the Suicide Hotline, at (410) 531-6677. By: Olivia Kavadias
Everyone knows the feeling of being stressed out. Homework, extracurriculars, exams… how do you balance it all, still have time to do what you want to do, and not be overly stressed about it all. Glenelg Freshman, Stephanie Farace, believes, “there is too much stress in school,” and it prevents students from doing things. Even though stress is seen as an enemy, it can be used to your advantage and actually help you. First, understand what stress actually is. Stress is a strategy for your body when you are in a “fight or flight” situation. It is meant to help you but too much can be harmful to your body- mentally and physically. Here are some ways to lower stress and use it as a good source of energy. Change Your Perspective Instead of seeing stress as something that drains you, see it as something that motivates you and helps you in anxious situations. Changing how you see stress can actually reduce or increase the amount of stress, and if you view it as positive, you could become more productive as well as less stressed overall. Know What You Are Stressing Over When you know the cause of your stress, you can control it better. Camille Sirenne, a Glenelg Junior, says, “most [of her stress] comes from school, family, and stressing over stress.” Once you know what you are stressing about, think about why it is making you stressed, and then find ways to use it for good. Turn It Into Energy For many high schoolers, stress takes away energy, making way for laziness, procrastination, and sleeping as strategies to compete against it. But instead of sleeping and putting off work, use it to do the opposite. After you change your view on stress as positive and helpful, stress will actually make you more productive. Think of it as a graph, stress is on the bottom and productivity is on the y-axis. The graph is bell curve; stress is useful and increases productivity when it is at its peak, but if you have too much or too little stress, it isn’t helpful. By Matthew Lipp
Students look forward to summer from the first day of school. Many people like to get away from home to relax after a long school year. Hot vacation spots for students at Glenelg include Ocean City, Maryland, the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and beaches all over Florida. Sophomore Jared Thomas stated, “I'm so excited to go to the Outer Banks this summer with my friends. The beach is so relaxing. It's a perfect break from sports and school”. Thomas further explained how he's heard of so many people around the school talking about going to Ocean City this summer. Junior Michael Forester mentioned, “Ocean City is going to be a busy place this summer. I love seeing so many people from school down there it makes it so fun”. If Ocean City is in your agenda this summer you should expect to see many familiar faces. The entertaining part of summer is being able to leave the state and experience something new and interesting. Students in Howard County always talk about extravagant trips they go on to different countries. Junior Lily Discepolo explained, “My family went to Italy last year and it was the best week of my life. This year we planned a trip to Africa and I am beyond excited for it. We've got safari adventures and so much fun stuff planned”. She went on about how awesome it is to visit other countries and see how different people’s lifestyles are. Whether you are traveling in America or abroad, getting away for a nice vacation is always a great time. By Hannah Butera
We all reach that point over the summer where we feel like we’ve run out of things to do. Going to the pool day after day gets old, and it’s become the routine to lounge around and watch Netflix all day. The thought of wasting away a summer after a strenuous school year is devastating. Thankfully, we live in an area where there are endless things to do to keep your summer busy, fun, and adventurous. Here are a few ideas to keep your summer alive: Go hiking! It's great exercise, a lot of fun, and the view can be spectacular. Not to mention it's a great way to bond with your friends or family. Senior Keelin Johnson, who enjoys hiking regularly, said "Adventure is everywhere around us, from Patapsco state park to Sugarloaf mountain.” We live in an area with a multitude of different hiking options. And the best part- it's free! Try Sugarloaf Mountain, suggested by Johnson, which is located nearby, in Frederick Maryland! Pack a lunch, have a picnic, and enjoy the view. Another great idea is a visit to old Ellicott City. The scenic historical city is a great way to spend a beautiful summer day. “Over the summer my family goes to Old Ellicott city often to walk around. It's a great way to spend a nice day,” explained Sophomore Leya Prezelski. The city has rapidly recovered from severe flood damage, and it's adorable stores, scenic environment, and fabulous restaurants are not something to miss. There are parking meters, so make sure you pay to avoid receiving a ticket. Looking to go on a day trip? Try North Beach, Maryland! Junior Maddie McSally has always loved visiting this area. She commented, “Going to Chesapeake beach has always been one of my favorite activities from when I was younger. Collecting shark teeth with my friends is always a friendly competition.” Chesapeake beach has an abundance of shark teeth along with several cute stores and restaurants. It is about 45 minutes away, but the drive is worth it! It costs ten dollars for access onto the beach, and it is worth every cent! You can swim in the water, lounge on the beach, and walk around the different shops. Try the mexican restauraunt located right near the main beach! Last but not least, Baltimore is always a great option! The Baltimore Inner Harbor is filled with shopping, restaurants, and not to mention a beautiful view. There is nothing more spectacular than the view of the Harbor from the top of Federal Hill! We are lucky enough to live so close to one of our country’s 0majors cities, so take advantage of that this summer! Maybe make it to an Orioles game, which start as low as $10 Friday night games (for students). Now there is no excuse to lay around all summer! Even if going to one of the places listed above is too difficult, it is still important to stay active and make something out of your summer! Whatever you choose to do, make your summer count because the days are limited! By Alex Long
Finals are the last obstacle before crossing the finish line to summer. Unfortunately, they are often the cause of some major end-of-school stress. Students end up spending hours at the library pouring over all of their work from earlier in the year. Thankfully, there are a few shortcuts to come out of finals like a winner. The first tip is to prioritize your classes in order to avoid extra work. Your first step before you begin to study should be to calculate the grade you need to get on the final in order to secure a good grade for the year. There are websites that will help you do that. The guidance counselors can also help calculate grades. Grade calculations can also be found on page 12 of your agenda book. This way you know how much effort you need to put into studying for each class and don't waste time on classes that don't need it. However, that doesn't mean that you should skip out on studying, make sure to spend some time on each class. Secondly, make yourself a study guide. Many teachers hand out study guides or a list of topics to go over for their final and it really does help to look over it because there are usually a lot of similar questions on the final as the study guide. However, if your teacher doesn't give out a study guide, make your own. Compile a set of questions from each test you took third and fourth quarter to look over. Junior, Paige Reese, likes to use previous work and “Make a little practice quiz to refresh what we learned.” Make sure to keep all of your work from previous quarters so you actually have material to study from. The last helpful tip is to involve others in your studying process. Making study groups with your friends and looking over work together will make studying a lot more bearable and can help you study new topics you wouldn't have thought of to go over before. Junior Allyson Kim says that she likes to, “Organize study groups and go to the library to meet and share ideas.” Don't be afraid to involve your teacher as well. Ask them what you should be studying or what to do to get a good grade for the final. Most teachers stay after school and you can always come in during Glad Time to speak with your teachers. They will be happy to help because they want you to do well on their final. Hopefully these tips will help you succeed on finals without major stress. The study tips can be used for other assignments as well. Forming study groups and talking to teachers can help you do well on any sort of test. Good Luck! By Julianna Mirabile
With having only two proms during the course of one’s high school career, the Juniors and Seniors anxiously wait for the day to approach each year. Whether someone will be slipping on a shimmery red dress or buttoning up a suit and tie, it is always a highly anticipated event. The process, though long and usually high priced, is different for everyone. For girls, buying the perfect dress that has been dreamed about for years with matching heels, getting a manicure and pedicure, and making sure the hair and makeup look perfect is always stressful. For guys, thinking of a clever promposal and picking out a matching suit could be overwhelming. But even though this process could be extensive and difficult, in the end it is all worth it. This year, Glenelg High School’s prom was held at the M&T Bank Stadium on May 13, 2017. This amazing night, put together by the Junior Student Government Association(SGA), sold over 500 tickets. Junior SGA President, Natalie Proviano, along with a few other students and teachers, spent a lot of time planning and organizing this event to make it one nobody would forget. Proviano describes this process as “A lot of focus and dedication. Luckily, Mr. Rosas was a huge help and got to the stadium at five to put everything together.” The effort put into this night can be overlooked, but it was clear this year of all the hard work. From the fancy finger food set up, to the dazzling lights on the dance floor, students were bound to have a good night. The reviews from this year’s prom were sensational. The boys were looking sharp and the girls stunned the crowd in their phenomenal dresses. The prom king and queen this year were James Kittleman and Grace Olsen, who got their own dance in the spotlight. Junior, Amy Smith, went with her good Senior friend, Chris Currie. She explains that her night was incredible because “I got amazing pictures and loved seeing everybody dressed up. It was really cool to be able to go out on the bleachers.” Several people agreed, thinking the venue really made the night worthwhile. After prom, hundreds of Glenelg students attended the After Prom Party at the Glenwood Community Center. The wild activities vary every year, though this year it had human bowling, human Hungry Hungry Hippo, a cash machine, multiple different prizes, and food options that appealed to every appetite. Many upcoming Juniors and Seniors are now psyched for their prom next year, though this one will definitely be hard to beat. |
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