By: Durartu and Fiona M.

Drama can be everywhere, and it can really take a big toll on your everyday life. At school for example, If you are stuck in the middle of drama, it is really hard to bounce back on track. Here are a few ways you can stay away from drama at school.

1. Choose Good Friends

Picking the right group of friends would definitely help you a lot when it comes to “hanging out with the right crowd.” It’s important to have a bunch of people you can trust and come back to when things go rough, for study sessions, and more. But it also helps the fact that drama will  be out of your life. When picking the right friends that you love and trust, it’s so much easier to have a good school year with no drama.

2. Treat Others How You Want to be Treated

• Speak to and of others how you would like to be spoken to, and about
• Make an effort to respect people even if they don’t show you that same respect

3. Walk Away From the Situation

Sometimes it’s best to walk away from the situation rather than staying in it and letting it get bad. A lot of times, people don’t realize that these situations can be very toxic and really affect you in a bad way at the end. Most times, it can get to the point where rumors start to appear and that can never be a good thing. If you know that arguing back and forth isn’t going to make things better then just save yourself the stress and just let it go.

4. If it Gets Serious, Talk to a Teacher

Drama can be handled at a certain standard but at times it can get bad. I personally have seen situations where an individual was verbally attacked and it was pretty bad. If that is the case, then talking to an adult may help. Telling on people, I know, doesn’t seem cool, but at the end it will be all worth it because it will resolve the situation.

5. Don’t let it Affect You.

In situations like these, it can really take a toll on a person and can make you feel different about yourself. Try and remember that you don’t need to let it get that far. Always remember who you are and what you’re about. Don’t let others take that away from you because you are stronger than that.

Momentum is an interactive financial learning platform that Hiway has launched to help youths and anyone else who wants to know more about finances. There are different financial topics that are explained in only 3-5 minutes, with visuals that are easy to understand. There are many different topics that you can learn about; it is not just checking vs. savings account. For example, there is a section about buying your first car, and about getting your first paycheck. There is even a section about college.

Each section, has specific topics that will help you learn more. For example, in the “College Possible” section, there is a budgeting tool that helps you get an idea on how much you should save and how much you should use.

There is also a section on money basics which is a very good start if you don’t know much about finances. The text is meant to be easy to read and they also have transcripts of their audio portions.

One of my favorite sections on Momentum is the “Helpful Calculators.” This section has different types of calculators, kind of like the budgeting calculator, but for other things such as: life insurance planning, emergency savings, student loans refinancing, and many more. It helped me learn more about how I can budget my money and allows me to make better decisions regarding the money I will use to spend.

Another one of my favorites is the section “Your First Car.” Getting your first car is exciting, but there is a lot of money that is needed and that includes the money for getting insurance to cover for your car. This section prepares you to know information on insurances and loans that will be useful. Also, this section lets you know more about the importance of your credit score, including what factors could easily impact your credit reports, and how you can make sure to avoid situations that could negatively affect you score.

Here is the link to the Momentum. It is a platform that you should definitely checked out: https://www.hiway.org/learn/momentum/index.html

By: Vivian S

Libraries offer a great many services to everybody, especially students, that we should be taking advantage of. First of all, libraries have a wide range of books that we can borrow at almost any time, which are very useful for both research and leisure reading.

The Saint Paul Public Libraries also offer students Library Go, so we all have our own accounts now. With Library Go, we have free music downloads with Freegal, we can check out ebooks from a giant online collection on Overdrive, and we can also get audiobooks and magazines.

The library has also created a resource list that we can use for research. It has a wide variety of sites that cover many different subjects. It starts us out with many trusted sites.

There is homework help offered both at the libraries and online. You can find a list of when the in-person help is available at: http://www.sppl.org/homework/homework-centers/.

For the online help you can use Brainfuse HelpNow, although you may need to make your own account. Brainfuse has many services such as mock tests you can take, explanations of subjects, and flashcards to review. You can even send in questions to be answered, and there is live tutoring online as well. The homework help is a very good resource.

The library also offers to print documents for you, and there are computers you can use. There are also ACT practice tests and driver’s permit practice tests available.

There are many different book clubs you can join. One for teens is called Teens Know Best, where you get to read young adult books before they are published. There are also events you can join, such as Createch.

Most Saint Paul libraries open between 10 a.m. and noon, and they close between 5 and 8 p.m. The schedule is online and varies by location and day.

Ms. Rahman, our school librarian, has told me about the variety of services the school library offers, including a giant collection of books in multiple languages, iPad help, research help, printing, board games, and puzzles.

All in all, if you have not started using the library’s resources yet, you really should.

By: Fiona M.

High school is a huge barrier that both blocks and represents our future. To be able to grasp that future in your hands, you need to be able get that diploma. But who said High School was ever easy? Here are a few tips and tricks that will definitely help you get over this big boulder.

• School Supplies

Making sure you have everything you need for the new school year is very important. Make sure you are stacked on the pencils; they will go missing once and awhile. Get at least five notebooks and folders because not all of your classes say that you need a notebook. Make sure you are getting materials that your classes might not have in stock for you, for example, rulers, calculator, pens, etc.

• Get Lots of Sleep

Sleep, sleep, sleep! Making sure you have your nightly routine prepared for you everyday will surely help you when it comes to sleeping in on time, and will definitely help you at school. According to the website Sleep Deprivation and Memory Loss, your brain is able to process information you learned that school day, when you sleep early. Also, when students wake up early, they have more time to get things done, like eating breakfast. You will feel so much more energized and happy if you sleep early, and you’re grades will thank you.

• Be on time to class

Coming to class on time is very beneficial. If you come to school in the middle of the class period, you have basically missed out on really important information your teacher has given you, and you will start getting behind in your work. I’m pretty sure you hate repeating yourself when you’re explaining something important to someone right? Well, the teachers feel the same way. But if you come to class on time, you wouldn’t have to ask questions that were already covered.

• Pay attention

Don’t snooze off in the middle of class, don’t text your friend, and definitely don’t annoy the students around you. By doing these things, you distract not only you, but your teacher and your peers. You came to school to get your education so sit up, grab your notebook, and listen. Or else you will stay behind and struggle to bring yourself back up again.

• Use a planner

Planners are very helpful when it comes to getting your homework done. Keep a small planner in your backpack where you can jot some notes down, or write down your homework. This is a great solution if you have trouble remembering if you have homework or not.

• Don’t procrastinate

Procrastination is a student’s worst nightmare. To help with this, make your own deadlines. If a teacher gives you a paper to write and it’s due in two weeks, make it due in one week, so you have the whole week to relax and get other things done for other classes.

Getting sick is not limited to one group of people only and I’m sure anyone who has attended a history class would know this to be true. To refresh your memory, in the war between Europeans and Native Americans, the former was immune to small pox, and the latter wasn’t, which lead to a catastrophe for the Native people.

Though getting a common cold is not a serious illness comparatively, it still has infuriating traits. People under 18 are the group most affected by flu and the common cold every year.

Statistically speaking, high schoolers are at a very low risk of getting the flu; we shouldn’t be that worried about it, right? and in fact, the ones at the highest percentile of risk are elementary kids. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, elementary school children get six to eight colds each school year, and for high school kids, about half of that. This could be attributed to their smaller physique, easily compromised immune system, and also lack of established hygiene practices. High schoolers, comparatively, have better hygiene practices and also more well adapted immune systems.

Though elementary school children are prone to getting sick more, they are least affected by this academically. Let me explain this further. Elementary kids don’t necessarily have any pressure from school in completing tasks or getting grades. In fact, most elementary schools don’t start grading things until 4th or 5th grade. Unfortunately, this is not the case for high schoolers who could be left to scramble catching up for even missing a day of school. So, this group, even though they are old enough to know flu is contagious, might be ambivalent in taking a day off from school.

So, how can we help them? How can high schoolers protect themselves from fellow students who show up at school irrespective of being sick? How can high schoolers be better prepared to handle the flu if they are infected?

If you ever suspect yourself to be infected with flu, or the common cold, the first thing to do is call your school about a leave of absence. Email teachers and track your classes through Schoology to stay updated. The  presence of technology in classrooms is a true boon to high schoolers.

What if it is absolutely necessary for you to come to school, like for example, you must take the SAT, a final in class, or other important tests, what should you do then? Warning: this might seem silly, funny or even inappropriate to some. Wear a mask! – the one that covers your nose and mouth.

All the masks that surgeons, nurses, and sick people in hospitals wear are not a joke, they are the best method of preventing the spread of germs. If you are feeling nervous to wear these things to school, remember it can be fashionable too! If you’re a fan of K-pop you already know that many people in Korea wear them, and they can come in many different styles. So please save the rest of us and wear one!!

Or better yet, stay precautious and follow the below protocols.

The others are the group who are not affected by the sickness yet and are surrounded by walking zombies who could infect them any second. Precautions to follow would be; number one, get the flu shot. Chose any, do the nasal version or the actual shot.

You might be saying, “Well, when I actually get the shot I end up getting sick right after anyway, so what’s the point.” To explain this, let’s see how flu shots are created and how they actually work. Every year, the CDC – The Center of Disease Control and Prevention, choosing from a large pool of virus, predicts the group that could potentially affect people with influenza that season. Using those selected viruses, the CDC creates a “friendlier”/ diluted version, which is weak enough for your immune system to detect, develop your own antibody, and successfully eradicate. These diluted, inactive versions, of viruses are what you get as a flu shot every year. This causes a very light version of the flu which then your body’s immune system fights and then stores the antibody formula for future reference in its database. This means the next time any of the actual viruses show up in your system, your body will eradicate them before you even notice you’re sick. Even if getting a vaccination is not a foolproof way of preventing ALL flu-related diseases, it rules out the predicted majority on the list.

If you want to understand more about the body’s immune system and how it works watch this video: The Immune System.

Another thing to practice is washing your hands frequently, using mild plain soap. Hand sanitizers and antibacterial hand wash should be avoided since they are heavily linked to the rise of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is a superbug (a bacteria that is resistant to most antibodies). You don’t want to create a monster while trying to avoid one, do you?

Finally, let’s look at our home state compared to others. What percentage of students take a leave of absence from school in Minnesota? The state of Minnesota’s chronic absenteeism rate is only 14%! This means our rate is on the lower, middle spectrum compared to the other states. We must be doing something right, so let’s continue to do that on top of building new preventive practices.

If you want to see the other states chronic absenteeism rate, click on this link!

To find more information about Vaccinations click here!

School officially ends on June 8th, just a few short weeks away. That means sun, freedom, and a lot more downtime. As a student without a job at the moment, trying to make plans while still conserving my bank account can be hard. Everything seems to cost just a little more money than I have, but the thought of spending three months in my bedroom is depressing. Thankfully, St. Paul offers many free or cheap activities and resources for high school students. Here are some of those things:

The Metro Transit Student Summer Pass

Metro Transit is providing $29 student passes for kids of all grades. If an outgoing senior (graduating class of 2018) wants to purchase one, they must have been enrolled in a participating school in 2018. The student pass can be used June 1st through September 4th, from 5am to 10pm. Metro Transit partnered with Second Harvest Heartland to provide free meals for children and teens 18 and under. Below is the link to free meal locations throughout Hennepin and Ramsey county. These student passes have been available for purchase since May 16th. You can buy them online here or at your school. Below are the participating schools.

Ramsey County Free Meals

Hennepin County Free Meals

Details and Participating Schools

Summer Camps

Star Tribune has supplied a lengthy list of summer camps in the metro area, and throughout Minnesota, available to kids and teens. It is comprehensive and provides information such as the camp description, the price(s), the length, date and type (overnight, half-day, full-day), the organization, and the location and phone number. From an all girls basketball and volleyball camp, to a French immersion for 4 – 18 year olds, and a crash course on how to run a business, there is an abundance of summer camps and programs for any interest at any age. The collection includes camps that are free, camps with sliding fees, and higher end programs. Go to this link to explore your options for the summer of 2018!

Parks and Nature

According to metrocouncil.org there are 53 parks and nature reserves in the metro area, along with 40 trails, and 8 special recreation features. In Ramsey County parks, you can access activities such as archery, bird watching, boating and fish, and swimming, and even golf. Click here to access the Parks and Recreation page, and get a comprehensive list of activities, parks, and their locations.

If you are more interested in Hennepin County, then click here for parks, and here for Events and Activities.

If you are interested in the surrounding areas click here. Get out there and enjoy all the wonderful things our state parks have to offer!

Swimming and Aquatic Centers

The St. Paul/Minneapolis area offers multiple aquatic enters and public beaches. The prices vary on location and size of swimming party.

Great River is located on Lexington Parkway, across from the Lexington-Hamline Community School. It has a 25 lap pool, a kids activity swimming pool, swimming lessons, water aerobics, and sailing lessons. You can also go here for lifeguard training. However, Great River will be closed July 4th through September 3rd.

Como is located on Wynne Avenue, close to Hamline University. It includes a zipline, a lazy river, an aquatic climbing wall, a kids pool, a lap pool, diving platforms and more. It also provides swimming lessons and water aerobics. It is open June 9th through September 3rd.

Highland Park is located on Edgecumbe Road, close to the Golf House. It offers a two-story water slide, lap swim pool, children’s splash pad, diving boards, aquatic climbing wall, party rentals, concessions, swimming lessons and more. It is open June 9th through September 3rd.

Phalen Beach is located close to Johnson Senior High School. It is on a Phalen Lake and is free admission. It offers a new splash pad, sand volleyball (bring your own net), a real sand beach, locker rooms, watercraft rentals, sailing, swimming, and kayak lessons. This is a participating location for Second Harvest Heartland and their free meals program. Below are the links for each aquatic center.

Great River

Como

Highland Park

Phalen Beach

Click here for more fun summer activities around the St. Paul/ Minneapolis area! Have fun and stay safe!

Those with depression know that being a successful student can be hard when one suffers from depression. Motivation to try and succeed is very low. There are ways to counteract this feeling, however.

Academically, always make sure to turn in your assignments, talk to your teachers about what you’re going through, and maybe look into a 504 plan.

Turning in an assignment for even only 2 points is better than having nothing turned in at all and getting a zero. Even if you only do half of the assignment, getting the points for that half is better than none at all.

Talking to your teachers can not only provide you a good outlet for what you’re feeling, but it  possibly allows you to make some arrangements regarding assignments and class work for that class as well.

Lastly, a 504 plan is a plan that protects a student with an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. 504 plans allow flexibility with your abilities to turn assignments in. For example those with ADD or depression may turn in assignments later due to concentration issues related to the named affliction. Keep in mind that a 504 plan is a legal document, and you will need to have documentation from a doctor in order to start the process to possibly receive one.

Self care is also a good option to lower stress and almost reboot your system. Make sure you’re eating enough and staying hydrated. Both of these will boost your energy and possibly your motivation levels.

It may also be a good idea to find creative and constructive outlets for your feelings. Some that I’ve seen have been painting (any kind of painting! It doesn’t even have to look like anything, it can just be a bunch of colors in a blob!), writing your feelings down in the form of a poem or story, and writing a short song.

Some other options that have worked for me have been blasting emotional songs and singing along.

Therapy can also be very helpful for managing symptoms of depression. Therapy, however, can be fairly expensive if you don’t have insurance, or if your insurance doesn’t cover therapy.

An important thing to remember is that your health comes before your school work.

If your depression is getting too bad that your ability to function is detrimental, and suicidal thoughts occur, then you should consider: going to the ER and getting help from there, going to the National Suicide Prevention website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or calling the National Suicide Prevention phone number: 1-800-273-8255.

High school is coming to a rapid end, which means college is right around the corner for many seniors. However, for some students, graduation is a temporary, or permanent, end of their academic journey.

Earlier this month, many students declared where they’d be spending the next four years, however, there are others who do not have the intention of going to college. In today’s society, the value, and necessity, of education is considered extremely critical, which brings to question: What are the benefits of not going college, or taking a gap year?

The first obvious reason for not attending college is finance. Collegeraptor.com states that “Studies show that attendance of a private four-year college could cost up to $46,000, and the cost of attendance for a public four year could potentially cost up to 36 thousand.” It is no secret that college is expensive, and student debt can have a greater negative impact on your future then not having a degree. Also, “student debt is at an all-time high, higher than credit card debt” according to pbs.org. The financial burden and potential harm to your future finances, in terms of student debt, is a risk that students attending college must face. In addition to debt, the chances of finding a job post-graduation have decreased. According to an article on the University of Washington’s website, “approximately 50% of college students are unemployed or working in a position which does not require a degree.”

The college system seem to have become a system built to cheat students out of money: requiring young adults to take out large loans, that they are then later not able to pay off. The financial burden of college needs to be carefully examined, however, students who aren’t attending college, are relieved of this burden, which is a primary and major reason as to why to not attend college.

Another reason why students aren’t attending college is preparation. The lack of preparation, within the current education system, for the future evident. For Abdullaziz Munye, a current senior at Highland, preparation is a key factor in his decision to join the workforce. “The problem is that students are taught to work with their hands in school.”

Abdulaziz plans on working as an apprentice carpenter this fall. “I do plan on going to school in the future, however, as of right now, I want to chase my passion in carpentering.”

Abdullaziz continues to discuss the reason in which he came to his decision, along with the stigma that is placed on students who choose not to attend college. The argument is that college does not prepare us any more than high school does, although college provides us with a lot more spare time than high school. The majority of this spare time will be spent in libraries studying.

The constraints that college puts on building ourselves rather than becoming “corporate clones” are obvious. Students are going to college just to be able to add something on to their resume and find a job, but where is the passion? Why are we told that we will find ourselves during our college years if there isn’t any real chance of growth and development, and instead a rather high chance of having more student loans than job offers.

In an article for the Huffington Post, Michael Price writes “Spending 4+ years pursuing a college education in this day and age when the world is changing at the speed of light is not only silly, it’s absolute insanity! Since I dropped out of college and started my career half a decade before my peers, I’m 5 years ahead of the game, plus I have zero debt. No student loans for me.”

College has always been pressured as a necessity, however, it’s obvious in our day and age, that many people can be successful without a degree. Along with the fact that the college environment isn’t built for everyone. The concept of college is particular to each person, and some people want or need to go to college in order to pursue their dream. However, college shouldn’t be viewed as the only way to achieve success.