V2-I6 Columns and Reviews
Class Personalities
By: Megan Hatfield
Every class gets described by teachers, other peers, and people in general in different ways. Each graduating class gets labeled with a personality. It can be good, or it could be bad. Every class is full of lots of different people, but often times the classes get described as a whole.
Heidi Wolfe ('14) says her class has "matured a lot since the years of middle school, when they were the feared and dreaded class among teachers, and other students." The senior class got the bad rep a lot of the way through school by a lot of people, but most seem to feel they have somewhat grown out of that reputation in time for graduation.
Macy Adams ('15) says the junior class is athletic. Katelynd Havice ('15) says that the class "is split because everyone is very different, and has different interests." Some people are really into sports, some are good at art, some are musical, and everything in between. Many people described the junior class as athletic, but also commented there are people with a lot of different talents and interests.
Jake Baughman ('16) claims his class is "the most cliquey among all of the classes currently in the high school." Taylor Williams ('16), and Jeb Board ('16) agreed with the claim that their class can be cliquey. Emily Wilson ('16) said she feels her class is full of "bright people." The sophomore class was mostly described as "intelligent."
Everyone views the classes in different ways. Through the years of school the people within classes have changed their interests and individual personalities, which in turn leaves the class more diverse.
Megan Hatfield ('15) is the features editor and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Every class gets described by teachers, other peers, and people in general in different ways. Each graduating class gets labeled with a personality. It can be good, or it could be bad. Every class is full of lots of different people, but often times the classes get described as a whole.
Heidi Wolfe ('14) says her class has "matured a lot since the years of middle school, when they were the feared and dreaded class among teachers, and other students." The senior class got the bad rep a lot of the way through school by a lot of people, but most seem to feel they have somewhat grown out of that reputation in time for graduation.
Macy Adams ('15) says the junior class is athletic. Katelynd Havice ('15) says that the class "is split because everyone is very different, and has different interests." Some people are really into sports, some are good at art, some are musical, and everything in between. Many people described the junior class as athletic, but also commented there are people with a lot of different talents and interests.
Jake Baughman ('16) claims his class is "the most cliquey among all of the classes currently in the high school." Taylor Williams ('16), and Jeb Board ('16) agreed with the claim that their class can be cliquey. Emily Wilson ('16) said she feels her class is full of "bright people." The sophomore class was mostly described as "intelligent."
Everyone views the classes in different ways. Through the years of school the people within classes have changed their interests and individual personalities, which in turn leaves the class more diverse.
Megan Hatfield ('15) is the features editor and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Travel Journal: Trip to paradise
By: Hunter Adkins
Mexico is a place to relax, get some sun, and eat as much food as you want! My parents and I went the week of February 22nd to March 1st to Bahia Principe Tulum in Cancun. For our trip, all we wanted to do was to eat good food, get sun, and relax by the pool. And that's all we did ... well, that and a few other things.
The first couple of days we explored our resort, laid by the pool, went to the beach, and went to the shows at night. The pool was huge, and they had activities everyday such as pool hand ball, where you have teams and have to score by throwing a ball into a net. Others were volleyball, mini golf and ping pong. The shows were awesome! The ones we went to were circus, dance night, and Michael Jackson!
On Wednesday, which was my birthday, we went to this place called Xel-ha. It was a natural park that had so many activities. Some of them were swimming with dolphins, zip lining, cliff diving, and snorkeling. They also had this natural lazy river that you take a tube and flow down it, so we did that and I also went cliff diving and snorkeling. That night we had a nice dinner and the food was amazing!
Thursday and Friday we went to the other parts of our resort and had dinners each evening. We went to the other beach at the other part of the resort. The beach was beautiful, and the water was crystal clear. Other than that, we swam by the pool and laid out.
Going to Mexico with my parents has been my favorite vacation. I'm truly blessed to have the parents I do, and I'll cherish the memories we made in Mexico forever!
Hunter Adkins ('15) is the extras editor and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Mexico is a place to relax, get some sun, and eat as much food as you want! My parents and I went the week of February 22nd to March 1st to Bahia Principe Tulum in Cancun. For our trip, all we wanted to do was to eat good food, get sun, and relax by the pool. And that's all we did ... well, that and a few other things.
The first couple of days we explored our resort, laid by the pool, went to the beach, and went to the shows at night. The pool was huge, and they had activities everyday such as pool hand ball, where you have teams and have to score by throwing a ball into a net. Others were volleyball, mini golf and ping pong. The shows were awesome! The ones we went to were circus, dance night, and Michael Jackson!
On Wednesday, which was my birthday, we went to this place called Xel-ha. It was a natural park that had so many activities. Some of them were swimming with dolphins, zip lining, cliff diving, and snorkeling. They also had this natural lazy river that you take a tube and flow down it, so we did that and I also went cliff diving and snorkeling. That night we had a nice dinner and the food was amazing!
Thursday and Friday we went to the other parts of our resort and had dinners each evening. We went to the other beach at the other part of the resort. The beach was beautiful, and the water was crystal clear. Other than that, we swam by the pool and laid out.
Going to Mexico with my parents has been my favorite vacation. I'm truly blessed to have the parents I do, and I'll cherish the memories we made in Mexico forever!
Hunter Adkins ('15) is the extras editor and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
On being average
By: Lilly Chesser
When I was younger, I was incredibly sure of myself. I always thought "of all the lives I could have been born into, isn't it weird that I turned out to be the smartest, most creative kid in America? Luck sure is on my side." Of course, I only ever told myself these things quietly in my head. I kept a low profile. Besides, I didn't need to brag. People could already tell by the way it just dripped off me. Teachers and parents, from my little perspective, were amazed by me. Adults would introduce me to other adults, "This is Lilly. She's just...she's very intelligent. And unique." I would bow and tell a joke, to prove the description. They always laughed, and I would think "Man, that joke was stupid. Guess I'm already smarter than these grown-ups too."
One thing I was constantly celebrated for was my ability to write. Naturally, my hilarious, creative genius could construct sentences that sounded like they were pulled right out of a real book. Once in fifth grade I went to a lunch date with a published author, to share something I'd written. It was a five or so page story about a pig escaping from a slaughterhouse with the help of a quirky, young girl. He silently read through the first page. "This is very good. You write like a seventh or eighth grader. Keep it up!" He signed the top and handed it back to me. I was just a little bit stunned. The very first sentence was an absolute doozy. I think it said something like "The wind whistled through the pine trees on a moonlit night." I went home flustered that day and gave my story to my older sister. She said "Seventh grader? You write like you're in high school. This is awesome." I went to bed that night feeling like a wrong had been righted.
I could write a long, overly-passionate, and awkward memoir about how I figured this out, but length restrictions require me to tell you directly: I wasn't great at writing. In fact, I wasn't great at anything. There wasn't anything extraordinary about me, and there still isn't. We all thought we would be the president when we grew up. Adults told every kid they were smart and unique and laughed at their attempt to make jokes. Even when I was younger I knew this, but that's what has always amazed me about growing up. Some things you just cannot get until you're older. Your brain isn't ready to understand. If I had decided that my story about Marvin the turkey wizard wasn't ever going to get published then I never would have spent my afternoons drawing up cover pages.
As long as I'm sharing vulnerable details of my life, I should say that it has always been a dream of mine to write something that I was proud of. I haven't really been impressed by myself since I was a kid. It's hard to create things, though, because it's so incredibly easy to embarrass yourself. I have an irrational fear of putting pen to paper, and coming up with a poem about how beautiful the sun is on the fresh green grass. I always imagine myself taking my writing to a "professional" and hearing a smug laugh while they rip into my cliché plotline and pompous diction, then place it into the pile of rejected pipe dreams.
But I'm starting to think it doesn't matter that I have no knowledge of the craft, no skill, and nothing to say. I kind of want to look back and cringe at my half-finished story about the constellations. Being ashamed of how dumb I was (and still am) just isn't worth the effort. Besides, if things get really bad, I can always just burn it.
Lilly Chesser (’15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
When I was younger, I was incredibly sure of myself. I always thought "of all the lives I could have been born into, isn't it weird that I turned out to be the smartest, most creative kid in America? Luck sure is on my side." Of course, I only ever told myself these things quietly in my head. I kept a low profile. Besides, I didn't need to brag. People could already tell by the way it just dripped off me. Teachers and parents, from my little perspective, were amazed by me. Adults would introduce me to other adults, "This is Lilly. She's just...she's very intelligent. And unique." I would bow and tell a joke, to prove the description. They always laughed, and I would think "Man, that joke was stupid. Guess I'm already smarter than these grown-ups too."
One thing I was constantly celebrated for was my ability to write. Naturally, my hilarious, creative genius could construct sentences that sounded like they were pulled right out of a real book. Once in fifth grade I went to a lunch date with a published author, to share something I'd written. It was a five or so page story about a pig escaping from a slaughterhouse with the help of a quirky, young girl. He silently read through the first page. "This is very good. You write like a seventh or eighth grader. Keep it up!" He signed the top and handed it back to me. I was just a little bit stunned. The very first sentence was an absolute doozy. I think it said something like "The wind whistled through the pine trees on a moonlit night." I went home flustered that day and gave my story to my older sister. She said "Seventh grader? You write like you're in high school. This is awesome." I went to bed that night feeling like a wrong had been righted.
I could write a long, overly-passionate, and awkward memoir about how I figured this out, but length restrictions require me to tell you directly: I wasn't great at writing. In fact, I wasn't great at anything. There wasn't anything extraordinary about me, and there still isn't. We all thought we would be the president when we grew up. Adults told every kid they were smart and unique and laughed at their attempt to make jokes. Even when I was younger I knew this, but that's what has always amazed me about growing up. Some things you just cannot get until you're older. Your brain isn't ready to understand. If I had decided that my story about Marvin the turkey wizard wasn't ever going to get published then I never would have spent my afternoons drawing up cover pages.
As long as I'm sharing vulnerable details of my life, I should say that it has always been a dream of mine to write something that I was proud of. I haven't really been impressed by myself since I was a kid. It's hard to create things, though, because it's so incredibly easy to embarrass yourself. I have an irrational fear of putting pen to paper, and coming up with a poem about how beautiful the sun is on the fresh green grass. I always imagine myself taking my writing to a "professional" and hearing a smug laugh while they rip into my cliché plotline and pompous diction, then place it into the pile of rejected pipe dreams.
But I'm starting to think it doesn't matter that I have no knowledge of the craft, no skill, and nothing to say. I kind of want to look back and cringe at my half-finished story about the constellations. Being ashamed of how dumb I was (and still am) just isn't worth the effort. Besides, if things get really bad, I can always just burn it.
Lilly Chesser (’15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Under the desk:
"How I Met Your Mother" finale
By: McKenzie Messer
*WARNING* if you read this, keep in mind that it will include lots and lots of spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the finale yet, I don’t recommend reading on.
On March 31st, 2014, the fateful day came. The end of an era. The series finale of “How I Met Your Mother”.
HIMYM has been a big part of my life, though it sounds strange. My sister, our best friend, and myself have grown very close while watching this show and participating in kooky events based off the show. Like we blasted “500 Miles” when Gen’s 1999 Camry hit 200,000 miles, assigning each other with character that we subconsciously embodied, and play zitch dog everywhere we go. To have a fictional television show such a big part of your life is silly, but it’s going to be hard to watch it end once and for all.
So the day came and the series ended with the finale of their ninth season. And it absolutely sucked.
So let’s say you have a kid, raise them and love them until they are nine, and then one day they punch you in the face and laugh while sprinkling the ashes of your dead dog over you. That’s basically what it felt like to watch the series finale.
Okay. Let’s start with the entirety of the ninth season. It was all about Barney and Robin’s wedding, and then within the first ten minutes of the finale, they get divorced. What the actual heck is that? The character development was supreme because they were both fidgety birds who were scared to be forcefully tied down. Finally, after years of being alone, they both decided to settle down with each other. Then they crashed it all down in 30 seconds. What absolute moot.
And the mother. THE MOTHER. THE “M” IN “HIMYM”. The ENTIRE point of the show. They killed her off. No remorse, no grieving, not even a name to what killed her. Just a quick shot of her in her death bed and a kid saying, “Mom died years ago, Dad.” First of all, why the heck did you kill off the character everyone’s been waiting years to finally see? Who do you think you are? Second of all, why could she not get decent sendoff? We knew her for only a season, yes, but we’ve been waiting nine years for her. That’s a really long time to dedicate yourself to a television show. So after all these years, I’d expect a better explanation of why she died.
I’ll complain about one last aspect, and then I’ll let you pitiful readers get back to a happy life. I love Robin and all, but she is not good for Ted. This has been shown over and over and over again, but they put them back together in the last 10 seconds. Why do this? Do you want fires in the street and people sacrificing their televisions? Ya know, I don’t want to talk about Robin. We’re done here.
So basically Tracy, the mother, was just a detour to give Ted the children Robin didn’t want to have, Barney and Robin’s marriage was a waste of their last season, and the whole show seemed to be an extremely cruel and extravagant April Fool’s Joke. So thank you all, and to all a good night.
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the columns editor, literary editor, and staff writer for the Viking Vault.
*WARNING* if you read this, keep in mind that it will include lots and lots of spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the finale yet, I don’t recommend reading on.
On March 31st, 2014, the fateful day came. The end of an era. The series finale of “How I Met Your Mother”.
HIMYM has been a big part of my life, though it sounds strange. My sister, our best friend, and myself have grown very close while watching this show and participating in kooky events based off the show. Like we blasted “500 Miles” when Gen’s 1999 Camry hit 200,000 miles, assigning each other with character that we subconsciously embodied, and play zitch dog everywhere we go. To have a fictional television show such a big part of your life is silly, but it’s going to be hard to watch it end once and for all.
So the day came and the series ended with the finale of their ninth season. And it absolutely sucked.
So let’s say you have a kid, raise them and love them until they are nine, and then one day they punch you in the face and laugh while sprinkling the ashes of your dead dog over you. That’s basically what it felt like to watch the series finale.
Okay. Let’s start with the entirety of the ninth season. It was all about Barney and Robin’s wedding, and then within the first ten minutes of the finale, they get divorced. What the actual heck is that? The character development was supreme because they were both fidgety birds who were scared to be forcefully tied down. Finally, after years of being alone, they both decided to settle down with each other. Then they crashed it all down in 30 seconds. What absolute moot.
And the mother. THE MOTHER. THE “M” IN “HIMYM”. The ENTIRE point of the show. They killed her off. No remorse, no grieving, not even a name to what killed her. Just a quick shot of her in her death bed and a kid saying, “Mom died years ago, Dad.” First of all, why the heck did you kill off the character everyone’s been waiting years to finally see? Who do you think you are? Second of all, why could she not get decent sendoff? We knew her for only a season, yes, but we’ve been waiting nine years for her. That’s a really long time to dedicate yourself to a television show. So after all these years, I’d expect a better explanation of why she died.
I’ll complain about one last aspect, and then I’ll let you pitiful readers get back to a happy life. I love Robin and all, but she is not good for Ted. This has been shown over and over and over again, but they put them back together in the last 10 seconds. Why do this? Do you want fires in the street and people sacrificing their televisions? Ya know, I don’t want to talk about Robin. We’re done here.
So basically Tracy, the mother, was just a detour to give Ted the children Robin didn’t want to have, Barney and Robin’s marriage was a waste of their last season, and the whole show seemed to be an extremely cruel and extravagant April Fool’s Joke. So thank you all, and to all a good night.
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the columns editor, literary editor, and staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Do’s and don’ts for summer fashion
By: Jamie Swickard
NORTHRIDGE- Summer is right around the corner for many Northridge High School students. While many are worried about their summer plans, some are worried about what they will be wearing. Knowing the do’s and don’ts of summer fashion will help you look fresh throughout the break.
DON’TS
-Don’t wear the new, tight, crop top bathing suits. The tops are unflattering to a girl and cause a girl’s worst enemy… terrible tan lines!
-DO NOT wear your UGGs this summer! While those look great with jeans, they’re not flattering with shorts.
-Don’t wear bandanas as tops! Those are meant for your head, not your torso.
-Don’t wear the Hawaiian shirts. Those are fun for vacation, but stick with your other adorable clothes in your wardrobe for the summer.
DO’S
-Do wear high rise shorts this summer. They’re making a comeback this summer so take advantage of it!
-Do Keep your wardrobe colorful. Try navy blue shorts with a fun green colored tank top!
-Do wear floral! Floral gives a fun and vibrant look to all of your outfits.
-Do stick with rompers! They’re super comfy and look so cute for any occasion!
Here are some helpful hints while deciding if an outfit will look good:
-Would Miley Cyrus wear this? If the answer is no, then you should be okay!
-Is this outfit appropriate for where I’m going?
-Does my hair compliment my outfit?
-Do I have too much/not enough accessories? Do they match?
Jamie Swickard (’16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault
NORTHRIDGE- Summer is right around the corner for many Northridge High School students. While many are worried about their summer plans, some are worried about what they will be wearing. Knowing the do’s and don’ts of summer fashion will help you look fresh throughout the break.
DON’TS
-Don’t wear the new, tight, crop top bathing suits. The tops are unflattering to a girl and cause a girl’s worst enemy… terrible tan lines!
-DO NOT wear your UGGs this summer! While those look great with jeans, they’re not flattering with shorts.
-Don’t wear bandanas as tops! Those are meant for your head, not your torso.
-Don’t wear the Hawaiian shirts. Those are fun for vacation, but stick with your other adorable clothes in your wardrobe for the summer.
DO’S
-Do wear high rise shorts this summer. They’re making a comeback this summer so take advantage of it!
-Do Keep your wardrobe colorful. Try navy blue shorts with a fun green colored tank top!
-Do wear floral! Floral gives a fun and vibrant look to all of your outfits.
-Do stick with rompers! They’re super comfy and look so cute for any occasion!
Here are some helpful hints while deciding if an outfit will look good:
-Would Miley Cyrus wear this? If the answer is no, then you should be okay!
-Is this outfit appropriate for where I’m going?
-Does my hair compliment my outfit?
-Do I have too much/not enough accessories? Do they match?
Jamie Swickard (’16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault
Mailbox smashing
By: Kyle Stermer
If you have mailbox, it may or may not have been smashed before. For some weird reason, people get enjoyment from taking baseball bats in their cars, driving by a mailbox, and beating it to shreds. Why would someone do this?
I set out to find the answer to that very question.
“I feel like a rebel” says an anonymous NHS mailbox smasher.
“It makes me feel unstoppable," says another anonymous mailbox smasher. When I explained to them it was a felony, they were a little shocked, saying that it "was no big deal, that it was just a mailbox." If they wanted to, the US Postal Service could actually charge them with tampering with mail, which is an even bigger crime. When I told them this, they were set back. They also realized that it would be extremely hard to catch someone who smashes mailboxes; the only way to catch them would be to catch them in the act. After all, there is typically no evidence except for a mailbox on the ground.
While the smashers are getting temporary enjoyment, the victims are not. Many have had mail blow away, get wet, or lost due to mailbox smashers. This is especially bad when there is important mail such as college acceptances, bank statements, and other personal documents.
There is also a culprit of mailbox smashing that isn’t exactly human, and that would be the snow plow. Every year after a snowstorm I see countless mailboxes laying on the ground due to the snow plows. I have also seen mailboxes that are snow plow proof. I saw one that had a mailbox in a large corrugated pipe. Not only would that defend attacks against a snow plow, but also protect your mailbox from the vicious acts of the run of the mill bat-toting mailbox smasher.
So the question remains, how do we stop this mailbox crisis? Reinforced mailboxes seem to be an answer, but for a dedicated smasher, that might not always hold true. Good luck keeping your mailbox safe.
Kyle Stermer ('16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Ask Aili
Q: I like reading, but English class is making me hate it. I constantly have to beat books into the ground and do so much unpleasant work surrounding them. How do I keep these books enjoyable, and stop myself from holding a grudge against them?
A: First, try to appreciate what beating books to a pulp has taught you about literature. Knowing how to find a theme, tone, or other textual aspects about a piece of writing can help you read on a deeper level. Yes, I know I sound like a nerd, but think of it this way. Before you started analyzing literature, you could only focus on the story. Yet, after all of this strenuous work, you can now not only enjoy a story, but also acknowledge how the author created his/her textual adventure. English classes have taught you to multi-task while reading. If you just simply can’t appreciate this new asset you have developed, try reading for fun without analyzing it. Simply focus on just the story, and the fun of reading.
Q: How do you get a person to change?
A: No one will ever act exactly how you wish they would; every person has their own quirks and special qualities, which is what makes them who they are. If this person is doing a destructive behavior that is harming them or others, you should tell an adult immediately so that they can get help. If a person just has an annoying laugh, isn’t adventurous, or likes something that you don’t, you should never try to get them to banish that quality. Instead, find a positive aspect in these things, or think of the other things that you enjoy about the said person. Chances are that they probably don’t like some of the things you do either.
Q: So, my family is extremely into board games, and we’re very competitive. Is there a way I can beat all of them at any game (especially Monopoly)? I want to win!
A: Practice is key. Practice playing different games online, several times a day. Learn all the tricks to beating anyone at any board game. You can even maybe consider hiring a professional board game tutor to help you. Most importantly, make sure you flex your thumbs to keep your dice-rolling up to par. After you have mastered a certain game, challenge your family to compete against you. If you follow my instructions carefully I guarantee you will be triumphant against your gamer gang.
Q: My best friend told me that he has always liked me, and wants to be more than friends. The problem is that I just recently got out of a relationship. My other friends think that we should give it a try and go out on a date, but I’m still hurt from my breakup. I don’t want my friendship with him to be ruined; I am just really not ready for a relationship. What should I do?
A: The best idea is to tell this guy exactly what you have told me. Let him know that your recent break-up has left you feeling upset, and you are just not ready to be in a relationship. Since you do like him as more than a friend, tell him you will be willing to give it a shot once you recover. If he is a true best friend, and the right guy for you, he will understand and be willing to wait.
Aili Barbee ('16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
A: First, try to appreciate what beating books to a pulp has taught you about literature. Knowing how to find a theme, tone, or other textual aspects about a piece of writing can help you read on a deeper level. Yes, I know I sound like a nerd, but think of it this way. Before you started analyzing literature, you could only focus on the story. Yet, after all of this strenuous work, you can now not only enjoy a story, but also acknowledge how the author created his/her textual adventure. English classes have taught you to multi-task while reading. If you just simply can’t appreciate this new asset you have developed, try reading for fun without analyzing it. Simply focus on just the story, and the fun of reading.
Q: How do you get a person to change?
A: No one will ever act exactly how you wish they would; every person has their own quirks and special qualities, which is what makes them who they are. If this person is doing a destructive behavior that is harming them or others, you should tell an adult immediately so that they can get help. If a person just has an annoying laugh, isn’t adventurous, or likes something that you don’t, you should never try to get them to banish that quality. Instead, find a positive aspect in these things, or think of the other things that you enjoy about the said person. Chances are that they probably don’t like some of the things you do either.
Q: So, my family is extremely into board games, and we’re very competitive. Is there a way I can beat all of them at any game (especially Monopoly)? I want to win!
A: Practice is key. Practice playing different games online, several times a day. Learn all the tricks to beating anyone at any board game. You can even maybe consider hiring a professional board game tutor to help you. Most importantly, make sure you flex your thumbs to keep your dice-rolling up to par. After you have mastered a certain game, challenge your family to compete against you. If you follow my instructions carefully I guarantee you will be triumphant against your gamer gang.
Q: My best friend told me that he has always liked me, and wants to be more than friends. The problem is that I just recently got out of a relationship. My other friends think that we should give it a try and go out on a date, but I’m still hurt from my breakup. I don’t want my friendship with him to be ruined; I am just really not ready for a relationship. What should I do?
A: The best idea is to tell this guy exactly what you have told me. Let him know that your recent break-up has left you feeling upset, and you are just not ready to be in a relationship. Since you do like him as more than a friend, tell him you will be willing to give it a shot once you recover. If he is a true best friend, and the right guy for you, he will understand and be willing to wait.
Aili Barbee ('16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault.