Sports on Spring Break
By: Savannah Legg
With spring break just around the corner students are counting down the days and digging out their shorts and tank tops from the back of the closet. Making plans to jump on planes and fly away to destinations of desire, but not for the athletes at Northridge.
Since the beginning, athletes who participated in spring sports have never been able to go on vacation due to practices, scrimmages, games, and meets over the course of the week. So what does spring break mean for these students?
Addie Vankirk (‘18) catcher for varsity softball says “On spring break we have three scrimmages and three practices over the course of the week”.
For track they will have practices almost everyday during spring break. While they won’t be able to go anywhere, at least they will be able to condition into their bikini bods. As a participant of the softball team myself, not being able to go anywhere for spring break has always been the rule. So going to do activities with friends and relaxing is the way to go.You could even play get to togethers with your other team members who are in Ohio with you.
Watching Netflix is always a must for those who need something to do. Check out Morgan Hatten’s story “Advice for Netflix newbies” for specific must see shows.
Although you won’t be able to go anywhere too fancy, there are still plenty of things to do in Ohio to have a good time.
-Savannah Legg (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Photos Editor.
By: Savannah Legg
With spring break just around the corner students are counting down the days and digging out their shorts and tank tops from the back of the closet. Making plans to jump on planes and fly away to destinations of desire, but not for the athletes at Northridge.
Since the beginning, athletes who participated in spring sports have never been able to go on vacation due to practices, scrimmages, games, and meets over the course of the week. So what does spring break mean for these students?
Addie Vankirk (‘18) catcher for varsity softball says “On spring break we have three scrimmages and three practices over the course of the week”.
For track they will have practices almost everyday during spring break. While they won’t be able to go anywhere, at least they will be able to condition into their bikini bods. As a participant of the softball team myself, not being able to go anywhere for spring break has always been the rule. So going to do activities with friends and relaxing is the way to go.You could even play get to togethers with your other team members who are in Ohio with you.
Watching Netflix is always a must for those who need something to do. Check out Morgan Hatten’s story “Advice for Netflix newbies” for specific must see shows.
Although you won’t be able to go anywhere too fancy, there are still plenty of things to do in Ohio to have a good time.
-Savannah Legg (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Photos Editor.
This classic movie will make your bones shake
The Nightmare Before Christmas
By: Jason Turner
The Nightmare Before Christmas is about this skeleton named Jack who is the king of Halloween Town, but he’s bored with the same thing year after year. Then one day he and his ghost dog Zero find the doors to all the other holidays. Jack is drawn to Christmas for no reason, but once there, he goes nuts and gets all of the Halloween Town to be his elves. He kidnaps Santa and hijacks Christmas.
Now, for those of you who haven’t seen the film, it probably sounds like Jack is just the Grinch gone extreme, but not really; Jack’s just bored.
Now, on to the villain, Oogie Boogie. He is like a Batman villain in that his lair is based upon one part of himself. In Oogie’s case it’s that gambler that cheats, and I can’t talk about him without talking about two things: his helpers three and his song, but that can wait. I need to rant about his motives; he has no motives, no reason why he does what he does, no backstory... nothing. That’s just weird to me. On to the other characters: Lock, Shock, and Barrel are Oogie’s henchmen. They are kid psychos. Jack tells them to make Santa comfy; they take him to Oogie. All the other characters are just as good, and you shouldn’t watch it if you are easily scared by bugs Oogie is made of bugs.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is on Netflix, so now go and see it.
-Jason Turner (‘18) is a first-year Viking Vault staff writer.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
By: Jason Turner
The Nightmare Before Christmas is about this skeleton named Jack who is the king of Halloween Town, but he’s bored with the same thing year after year. Then one day he and his ghost dog Zero find the doors to all the other holidays. Jack is drawn to Christmas for no reason, but once there, he goes nuts and gets all of the Halloween Town to be his elves. He kidnaps Santa and hijacks Christmas.
Now, for those of you who haven’t seen the film, it probably sounds like Jack is just the Grinch gone extreme, but not really; Jack’s just bored.
Now, on to the villain, Oogie Boogie. He is like a Batman villain in that his lair is based upon one part of himself. In Oogie’s case it’s that gambler that cheats, and I can’t talk about him without talking about two things: his helpers three and his song, but that can wait. I need to rant about his motives; he has no motives, no reason why he does what he does, no backstory... nothing. That’s just weird to me. On to the other characters: Lock, Shock, and Barrel are Oogie’s henchmen. They are kid psychos. Jack tells them to make Santa comfy; they take him to Oogie. All the other characters are just as good, and you shouldn’t watch it if you are easily scared by bugs Oogie is made of bugs.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is on Netflix, so now go and see it.
-Jason Turner (‘18) is a first-year Viking Vault staff writer.
Fall finale, February premiere
The Walking Dead almost here!
By: Kayla Butler
Besides all of the beautiful leaves, crisp air, and holiday celebrations, autumn brings lots of television shows for you to cuddle up with a blanket and enjoy. One of my favorite shows to watch is AMC's "The Walking Dead."
The mid-season finale of "The Walking Dead" premiered on November 29, 2015 on AMC.
"The Walking Dead," also known as the acronym “TWD,” is a television show that takes place during the zombie apocalypse, and it follows several groups of people as they try to fight for their lives, happiness, and humanity.
The main group of survivors are currently in a town called Alexandria, which is the group’s safe haven. Alexandria is a town that was built before the apocalypse, and it is completely sustainable with running water, plumbing, and electricity.
Episode eight, titled “Start To Finish,” opens with Tiny Tim’s “Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me.” The eerie tune plays as the camera pans to a young boy named Sam and his action figures and drawings. A plate with food is shown, and thousands of ants are crawling on it. This is a reference to the impending doom the survivors are about to face.
The lookout tower for Alexandria has just fallen, and it took the fence that was protecting the community and keeping the undead out with it.
Amidst the cloudy dust, zombies, otherwise known as “walkers,” emerge. Town leaders Rick Grimes and Deanna Monroe as well as other characters do their best to eliminate as many walkers as possible and get themselves and other Alexandrians to safety.
Seven people retreat to a house for safety. This house just happens to be the house where we saw the boy with his toys and drawings.
Next, we see Glenn and Enid have been outside the community and are witnessing the collapse from the outside. Glenn left Alexandria to help divert zombies away from the town, and Enid left for her own unknown reasons. Enid tells Glenn that there is no hope for herself, for him, or for the rest of the survivors. He then reveals the jaw-dropping news that his wife, Maggie, is pregnant. They climb a tree to get a better look at the place that made them feel the way they did before the fall of man and rise of dead. Glenn and Maggie see each other.
Now, the audience is back to the large group that fled to the house. Everything is in slow motion, as the boy, Sam, struggles to cope with reality and the “monsters.” The group is attending to Deanna, who suffered from a cut on the way to the house. Two teenage boys, Carl and Ron get in a physical fight in the garage, which cause even more problems for the group. During their battle, Ron breaks the glass to the door with a shovel. The zombies notice the noise and head to the garage, forcing the boys back in the house. The group quickly struggles to keep walkers from coming in the house by using a couch to help block the door. Unfortunately, the number of walkers overpowers the group and they come into the house. They retreat to the stairs and, once again, use a couch to try to keep the undead away. They resort to an old tactic, famously seen in season one, episode two, where Glenn and Rick covered themselves in walker guts to blend in with them and safely sneak through Atlanta, Georgia to safety. The group, in their disguises, say their goodbyes to Deanna, as it is made known she has a zombie bite in addition to her cut. The group wearily leaves the house, scared at the possibility of the walkers not falling for their disguises.
Survivors Tara, Rosita, and Eugene also fled to a house for safety, but what they do not know is that the town’s nurse, Denise, is stuck with an enemy who is a part of a group who call themselves “The Wolves.” The “wolf” has a cut that is infected and though she is hesitant, Denise moves to her bag like she may try to help him at a later time. The garage survivors struggle with the idea that this catastrophe could be the end of their lives. Carol and Morgan arrive and they begin to fight. Morgan believes that “all life is precious” and the Wolf should not be killed. Carol disagrees and sees him as a threat. So, they fight, and Morgan ends up “winning,” as he slammed Carol to the ground and she passes out. Suddenly, the Wolf grabs Morgan’s weapons and hits him on the head. He joins Carol on the floor. The Wolf frees himself from his restraints and takes Denise hostage with a knife. Tara, Rosita, and Eugene come, shocked to see Denise in the situation that she is stuck in. The women are forced to lower their guns and Eugene is forced to drop his machete by the Wolf, and he leaves with Denise. I think that the Wolf may be taking Denise because she can help him heal and to use her life to negotiate with the group.
The last scene shows the group making a safe escape out of the house. Unfortunately, Sam, in distress, starts to call out for his mother because he is afraid. This could cause the zombies to notice them. If this happens, they all die. The screen goes black and the audience must wait about three months to know the fate of the survivors they have grown to love. I am anxious to see if the group makes it out alive together and the fate of the Alexandria.
The second half of season six of "The Walking Dead" premieres on February 14, 2016 on AMC.
-Kayla Butler (‘17) is first-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
The Walking Dead almost here!
By: Kayla Butler
Besides all of the beautiful leaves, crisp air, and holiday celebrations, autumn brings lots of television shows for you to cuddle up with a blanket and enjoy. One of my favorite shows to watch is AMC's "The Walking Dead."
The mid-season finale of "The Walking Dead" premiered on November 29, 2015 on AMC.
"The Walking Dead," also known as the acronym “TWD,” is a television show that takes place during the zombie apocalypse, and it follows several groups of people as they try to fight for their lives, happiness, and humanity.
The main group of survivors are currently in a town called Alexandria, which is the group’s safe haven. Alexandria is a town that was built before the apocalypse, and it is completely sustainable with running water, plumbing, and electricity.
Episode eight, titled “Start To Finish,” opens with Tiny Tim’s “Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me.” The eerie tune plays as the camera pans to a young boy named Sam and his action figures and drawings. A plate with food is shown, and thousands of ants are crawling on it. This is a reference to the impending doom the survivors are about to face.
The lookout tower for Alexandria has just fallen, and it took the fence that was protecting the community and keeping the undead out with it.
Amidst the cloudy dust, zombies, otherwise known as “walkers,” emerge. Town leaders Rick Grimes and Deanna Monroe as well as other characters do their best to eliminate as many walkers as possible and get themselves and other Alexandrians to safety.
Seven people retreat to a house for safety. This house just happens to be the house where we saw the boy with his toys and drawings.
Next, we see Glenn and Enid have been outside the community and are witnessing the collapse from the outside. Glenn left Alexandria to help divert zombies away from the town, and Enid left for her own unknown reasons. Enid tells Glenn that there is no hope for herself, for him, or for the rest of the survivors. He then reveals the jaw-dropping news that his wife, Maggie, is pregnant. They climb a tree to get a better look at the place that made them feel the way they did before the fall of man and rise of dead. Glenn and Maggie see each other.
Now, the audience is back to the large group that fled to the house. Everything is in slow motion, as the boy, Sam, struggles to cope with reality and the “monsters.” The group is attending to Deanna, who suffered from a cut on the way to the house. Two teenage boys, Carl and Ron get in a physical fight in the garage, which cause even more problems for the group. During their battle, Ron breaks the glass to the door with a shovel. The zombies notice the noise and head to the garage, forcing the boys back in the house. The group quickly struggles to keep walkers from coming in the house by using a couch to help block the door. Unfortunately, the number of walkers overpowers the group and they come into the house. They retreat to the stairs and, once again, use a couch to try to keep the undead away. They resort to an old tactic, famously seen in season one, episode two, where Glenn and Rick covered themselves in walker guts to blend in with them and safely sneak through Atlanta, Georgia to safety. The group, in their disguises, say their goodbyes to Deanna, as it is made known she has a zombie bite in addition to her cut. The group wearily leaves the house, scared at the possibility of the walkers not falling for their disguises.
Survivors Tara, Rosita, and Eugene also fled to a house for safety, but what they do not know is that the town’s nurse, Denise, is stuck with an enemy who is a part of a group who call themselves “The Wolves.” The “wolf” has a cut that is infected and though she is hesitant, Denise moves to her bag like she may try to help him at a later time. The garage survivors struggle with the idea that this catastrophe could be the end of their lives. Carol and Morgan arrive and they begin to fight. Morgan believes that “all life is precious” and the Wolf should not be killed. Carol disagrees and sees him as a threat. So, they fight, and Morgan ends up “winning,” as he slammed Carol to the ground and she passes out. Suddenly, the Wolf grabs Morgan’s weapons and hits him on the head. He joins Carol on the floor. The Wolf frees himself from his restraints and takes Denise hostage with a knife. Tara, Rosita, and Eugene come, shocked to see Denise in the situation that she is stuck in. The women are forced to lower their guns and Eugene is forced to drop his machete by the Wolf, and he leaves with Denise. I think that the Wolf may be taking Denise because she can help him heal and to use her life to negotiate with the group.
The last scene shows the group making a safe escape out of the house. Unfortunately, Sam, in distress, starts to call out for his mother because he is afraid. This could cause the zombies to notice them. If this happens, they all die. The screen goes black and the audience must wait about three months to know the fate of the survivors they have grown to love. I am anxious to see if the group makes it out alive together and the fate of the Alexandria.
The second half of season six of "The Walking Dead" premieres on February 14, 2016 on AMC.
-Kayla Butler (‘17) is first-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
The best of the best of Valentine’s Day candy
By: Hugh Prentice
Fun dip, candy hearts, and boxes of chocolate. All of these are staples of a good Valentine’s Day candy box. With all of these choices, how can you possibly know which ones are the best to buy your sweetheart (or just yourself)? Well, that’s why I’m here. I’m going to try out all of the best and brightest candidates for Valentine’s candy.
First off, let’s start with the basics. You can find candy hearts just about anywhere, and they are the cliche treat for this holiday. People always go out and buy these little hearts because they have cute sayings written on them that can help convey their affection. Sayings like “Hug Me” or “U R 2 Cute” ... you know, the heavy hitters. That’s pretty much where the good things end for these little candies though. They are unbelievably chalky and have no taste whatsoever. I say no taste, but I didn’t think “Get this candy out of my mouth right this second” was a taste.
Moving on. It seems like every year I see someone or see myself with a large amount of Fun Dip to eat on Valentine’s Day. I don’t know how a chalk stick and some fruity powder is romantic, but that’s not really my business. It makes your tongue whatever color the powder is and I had no idea what to do with the chalk/sugar stick afterwards. Aside from that, I couldn’t find anything wrong with this stuff. It’s tasty, sweet, and just an enjoyable experience. Another benefit is the chalk/bone stick might have something sweet written on it, much like the candy hearts. I’ve seen some heart-melting sayings such as “You’re sweet”, “I want a divorce”, and “XOXO.”
Lastly, and definitely not leastly, is the box of chocolates. These are THE candy to buy on Valentine’s Day. Like Forest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Wiser words have never been spoken, because as I opened my test box of chocolates I had no idea what I had gotten into. There was chocolate filled with Roman Nougat, Maple Nut Butter, and Molasses Chew. I was clearly in over my head, but I’m here to deliver an extensive review. So, I bit the bullet and tried these mystery flavors. I tried the Roman Nougat first and immediately found myself uttering “Et tu, Brute?” because I felt betrayed by this chocolate. The Roman Nougat was coated in dark chocolate and the nougat itself was probably the most bitter thing I’ve experienced aside from a hungry Kyle Stermer. After this first chocolate I gave up and gifted the box to my younger brother.
No matter what candy you get this Valentine’s Day I hope you and your significant other have a wonderful holiday!
-Hugh Prentice ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Opinions Editor. [email protected]
By: Hugh Prentice
Fun dip, candy hearts, and boxes of chocolate. All of these are staples of a good Valentine’s Day candy box. With all of these choices, how can you possibly know which ones are the best to buy your sweetheart (or just yourself)? Well, that’s why I’m here. I’m going to try out all of the best and brightest candidates for Valentine’s candy.
First off, let’s start with the basics. You can find candy hearts just about anywhere, and they are the cliche treat for this holiday. People always go out and buy these little hearts because they have cute sayings written on them that can help convey their affection. Sayings like “Hug Me” or “U R 2 Cute” ... you know, the heavy hitters. That’s pretty much where the good things end for these little candies though. They are unbelievably chalky and have no taste whatsoever. I say no taste, but I didn’t think “Get this candy out of my mouth right this second” was a taste.
Moving on. It seems like every year I see someone or see myself with a large amount of Fun Dip to eat on Valentine’s Day. I don’t know how a chalk stick and some fruity powder is romantic, but that’s not really my business. It makes your tongue whatever color the powder is and I had no idea what to do with the chalk/sugar stick afterwards. Aside from that, I couldn’t find anything wrong with this stuff. It’s tasty, sweet, and just an enjoyable experience. Another benefit is the chalk/bone stick might have something sweet written on it, much like the candy hearts. I’ve seen some heart-melting sayings such as “You’re sweet”, “I want a divorce”, and “XOXO.”
Lastly, and definitely not leastly, is the box of chocolates. These are THE candy to buy on Valentine’s Day. Like Forest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Wiser words have never been spoken, because as I opened my test box of chocolates I had no idea what I had gotten into. There was chocolate filled with Roman Nougat, Maple Nut Butter, and Molasses Chew. I was clearly in over my head, but I’m here to deliver an extensive review. So, I bit the bullet and tried these mystery flavors. I tried the Roman Nougat first and immediately found myself uttering “Et tu, Brute?” because I felt betrayed by this chocolate. The Roman Nougat was coated in dark chocolate and the nougat itself was probably the most bitter thing I’ve experienced aside from a hungry Kyle Stermer. After this first chocolate I gave up and gifted the box to my younger brother.
No matter what candy you get this Valentine’s Day I hope you and your significant other have a wonderful holiday!
-Hugh Prentice ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Opinions Editor. [email protected]
Making long-distance relationships work
By: Emily Jesenko
Most people believe that long distance relationships are too difficult or impossible. Honestly, before I was in one myself, I believed the same thing. Steven Krehel and I have been in a relationship since my freshman year. We were together nearly every day, so I never suspected that our “short distance” relationship would turn into a long one. However, things change.
At the beginning of Steven’s senior year, he told me, “The Marines called. I think I want to join.” Being the selfish girlfriend I was, I told him not to go because I would miss him and it's dangerous. It was a long, difficult time facing the reality that he was going to be gone. He is currently in California, over 2,000 miles away. However, our relationship still works.
Most people would say, “Why would you want to be in a long-distance relationship?” I didn’t have a choice. If you love someone, you can’t just stop loving them because of geography. Even though Steven is far away, that doesn’t mean we can’t talk. During boot camp, our only form of communication was letters. I wrote to him every day and waited on the mailman every morning. Luckily, he is now allowed to use his phone, and we Skype on our laptops. The fact technology allows me to see him makes this relationship so much easier and much more doable. Most of the time when we're talking, I don’t even remember that he is far away.
A major plus to doing long distance is being able to travel to see him. The first place I went to was Parris Island, South Carolina to his Basic Training graduation. Let me tell you, being on a military base was the coolest thing ever. Seeing him in uniform for the first time in three months, though, was priceless. A few months later, I got to fly down to Jacksonville, North Carolina to see him before he left for California. One time I told him, “Steven, thanks to you I got an extra two vacations this year!” I also may be able to go to California with Mrs. Krehel this year for spring break!
It’s heartbreaking not being able to hug or see him every day, but the distance just makes the heart grow fonder. I’m so used to him being gone that when I see him my heart drops, butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I can’t stop smiling. Whenever we get to be together, I appreciate it so much more than I did when he lived twenty minutes away. Long distance relationships can work if you put in the effort. I believe they can make your relationship so much stronger. Ultimately, the fact is, if your relationship can stand distance, then it is golden.
-Emily Jesenko (‘16) is a first-year Vault staff member. [email protected]
By: Emily Jesenko
Most people believe that long distance relationships are too difficult or impossible. Honestly, before I was in one myself, I believed the same thing. Steven Krehel and I have been in a relationship since my freshman year. We were together nearly every day, so I never suspected that our “short distance” relationship would turn into a long one. However, things change.
At the beginning of Steven’s senior year, he told me, “The Marines called. I think I want to join.” Being the selfish girlfriend I was, I told him not to go because I would miss him and it's dangerous. It was a long, difficult time facing the reality that he was going to be gone. He is currently in California, over 2,000 miles away. However, our relationship still works.
Most people would say, “Why would you want to be in a long-distance relationship?” I didn’t have a choice. If you love someone, you can’t just stop loving them because of geography. Even though Steven is far away, that doesn’t mean we can’t talk. During boot camp, our only form of communication was letters. I wrote to him every day and waited on the mailman every morning. Luckily, he is now allowed to use his phone, and we Skype on our laptops. The fact technology allows me to see him makes this relationship so much easier and much more doable. Most of the time when we're talking, I don’t even remember that he is far away.
A major plus to doing long distance is being able to travel to see him. The first place I went to was Parris Island, South Carolina to his Basic Training graduation. Let me tell you, being on a military base was the coolest thing ever. Seeing him in uniform for the first time in three months, though, was priceless. A few months later, I got to fly down to Jacksonville, North Carolina to see him before he left for California. One time I told him, “Steven, thanks to you I got an extra two vacations this year!” I also may be able to go to California with Mrs. Krehel this year for spring break!
It’s heartbreaking not being able to hug or see him every day, but the distance just makes the heart grow fonder. I’m so used to him being gone that when I see him my heart drops, butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I can’t stop smiling. Whenever we get to be together, I appreciate it so much more than I did when he lived twenty minutes away. Long distance relationships can work if you put in the effort. I believe they can make your relationship so much stronger. Ultimately, the fact is, if your relationship can stand distance, then it is golden.
-Emily Jesenko (‘16) is a first-year Vault staff member. [email protected]
Ask Aili
Q: Dear Aili,
Is class rank a big deal? Some of my friends say it is but others assure me that it’s just a number. Should I really focus on it?
A: It is both important and not important. It’s important to remember that your grades matter, and competition with your peers to have the best grades can definitely help you reach that goal. However, it is important to not let this competition become a problem. Don’t let it stress you out, and don’t let it ruin relationships. It’s important to care about your rank, but don’t be discouraged if you are 10th in your class instead of 4th. Colleges do look at your class rank, but that’s not all they look at. Colleges want to see the big picture, so focus on every aspect of you in high school, including grades.
Q: Dear Aili,
I’ve always been set on going to college after high school, but now I’m not so sure if I want to. What other options are out there if I decide college isn’t for me?
A: I definitely recommend considering college after high school, but there are a lot of different paths you could take as well. For instance, you don’t have to attend a four-year university; there are two-year programs out there if what you want to do only requires an associate's degree. You could also attend a technical school instead of a university if your dream career involves a technical trade. The military is also another great possibility. Not only would you get the chance to serve your country, but you would also have the advantage of the military paying for your college if you decide to attend later on. If you aren’t ready to leap into more studies after high school, you could always get a job or internship in a field related to what you want to do. This way you would have some experience in the field before you fork out a lot of cash on a degree. It’s important to remember all of your options when choosing what to do after high school so that you don’t become miserable, or don’t end up not doing anything at all.
-Aili Barbee (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
Q: Dear Aili,
Is class rank a big deal? Some of my friends say it is but others assure me that it’s just a number. Should I really focus on it?
A: It is both important and not important. It’s important to remember that your grades matter, and competition with your peers to have the best grades can definitely help you reach that goal. However, it is important to not let this competition become a problem. Don’t let it stress you out, and don’t let it ruin relationships. It’s important to care about your rank, but don’t be discouraged if you are 10th in your class instead of 4th. Colleges do look at your class rank, but that’s not all they look at. Colleges want to see the big picture, so focus on every aspect of you in high school, including grades.
Q: Dear Aili,
I’ve always been set on going to college after high school, but now I’m not so sure if I want to. What other options are out there if I decide college isn’t for me?
A: I definitely recommend considering college after high school, but there are a lot of different paths you could take as well. For instance, you don’t have to attend a four-year university; there are two-year programs out there if what you want to do only requires an associate's degree. You could also attend a technical school instead of a university if your dream career involves a technical trade. The military is also another great possibility. Not only would you get the chance to serve your country, but you would also have the advantage of the military paying for your college if you decide to attend later on. If you aren’t ready to leap into more studies after high school, you could always get a job or internship in a field related to what you want to do. This way you would have some experience in the field before you fork out a lot of cash on a degree. It’s important to remember all of your options when choosing what to do after high school so that you don’t become miserable, or don’t end up not doing anything at all.
-Aili Barbee (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
Snow day activities
By: Dayna Martin
Snow begins to fall into the morning, and then the call comes: no school today! Don’t sit around the house, go outside and enjoy the snow. You might be asking, what is there to do in the snow? First, make sure to put on layers before heading out to enjoy your snow day activities.
You can start off your snow day by building a snowman. When making your snowman, put your own twist on the snowman. Cora Dorman (‘18) says, “In my family, we like to do things differently; we make a snow lady, in a bikini, with a beach ball on her side.” Your snowman does not have to be the typical Frosty the snowman; add your touch to the snowman, so it will be one you will remember.
Get together a group of your friends and build a couple of snow forts. After building the snow forts, you can make a supply of snowballs for your upcoming snowball battle. When finished making the snowballs, separate your friends into teams and then prepare for the upcoming snowball war.
When we were kids most of us remember running outside, finding a spot that was not yellow, flopping ourselves down into the snow and making snow angels. Snow angels are iconic symbols of a snow day, so make sure to re-live your childhood memories, run outside on your next snow day, and make a snow angel in a clean, white spot.
One of the most popular snow day activities is sledding. Grab a sled, a few friends and find a big hill to sled down. You can also hook your sled up to an ATV for some extra sledding fun, but make sure that safety comes first and wear your helmets. A trip to the hospital is not exactly the definition of a fun snow day activity.
Finally, after enjoying your snow day, run inside, get into a warm pair of pajamas, wrap up in a blanket and make yourself a mug of hot cocoa. Hope these activities are helpful on your next snow day (assuming we have one)!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is the Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief and Jr. Sports Editor. [email protected]
By: Dayna Martin
Snow begins to fall into the morning, and then the call comes: no school today! Don’t sit around the house, go outside and enjoy the snow. You might be asking, what is there to do in the snow? First, make sure to put on layers before heading out to enjoy your snow day activities.
You can start off your snow day by building a snowman. When making your snowman, put your own twist on the snowman. Cora Dorman (‘18) says, “In my family, we like to do things differently; we make a snow lady, in a bikini, with a beach ball on her side.” Your snowman does not have to be the typical Frosty the snowman; add your touch to the snowman, so it will be one you will remember.
Get together a group of your friends and build a couple of snow forts. After building the snow forts, you can make a supply of snowballs for your upcoming snowball battle. When finished making the snowballs, separate your friends into teams and then prepare for the upcoming snowball war.
When we were kids most of us remember running outside, finding a spot that was not yellow, flopping ourselves down into the snow and making snow angels. Snow angels are iconic symbols of a snow day, so make sure to re-live your childhood memories, run outside on your next snow day, and make a snow angel in a clean, white spot.
One of the most popular snow day activities is sledding. Grab a sled, a few friends and find a big hill to sled down. You can also hook your sled up to an ATV for some extra sledding fun, but make sure that safety comes first and wear your helmets. A trip to the hospital is not exactly the definition of a fun snow day activity.
Finally, after enjoying your snow day, run inside, get into a warm pair of pajamas, wrap up in a blanket and make yourself a mug of hot cocoa. Hope these activities are helpful on your next snow day (assuming we have one)!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is the Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief and Jr. Sports Editor. [email protected]
Travel diary: the road to Zimbabwe
By: Emma Scritchfield
While many will be spending their spring break in the sunshine and with family and friends, I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime.
In late 2015, I was presented with the opportunity to go with a team of individuals to Zimbabwe, a country located in southern Africa. Without hesitation, I eagerly accepted the offer. On this mission-based trip, my team and I will be doing a variety of tasks. We hope to drill several water wells, referred to as “bore holes” by Zim locals, assist a few orphanages with repairs and interact with the kids, and take desperately needed supplies such as infant formula and disposable diapers.
The trip will bring me to meet people far different from me, which I am so very excited for. Zimbabwe citizens often hold low income jobs, own fewer things than the standard American, and are always out and about. Often, children there are not in school, but working with or for their family. School in Zimbabwe isn’t free and can be a hardship on parents.
I greatly hope that I will be forever changed by this journey. I anticipate I will be more grateful, considerate, thankful, and compassionate by the time I board the plane to return home to Ohio. This trip is a step of faith. I am putting my personal safety into the hands of strangers in a nation oceans away. But I am ready for this. I am ready to make a difference and be changed by the faces of Zimbabwe.
-Emma Scritchfield (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Features Editor. [email protected]
By: Emma Scritchfield
While many will be spending their spring break in the sunshine and with family and friends, I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime.
In late 2015, I was presented with the opportunity to go with a team of individuals to Zimbabwe, a country located in southern Africa. Without hesitation, I eagerly accepted the offer. On this mission-based trip, my team and I will be doing a variety of tasks. We hope to drill several water wells, referred to as “bore holes” by Zim locals, assist a few orphanages with repairs and interact with the kids, and take desperately needed supplies such as infant formula and disposable diapers.
The trip will bring me to meet people far different from me, which I am so very excited for. Zimbabwe citizens often hold low income jobs, own fewer things than the standard American, and are always out and about. Often, children there are not in school, but working with or for their family. School in Zimbabwe isn’t free and can be a hardship on parents.
I greatly hope that I will be forever changed by this journey. I anticipate I will be more grateful, considerate, thankful, and compassionate by the time I board the plane to return home to Ohio. This trip is a step of faith. I am putting my personal safety into the hands of strangers in a nation oceans away. But I am ready for this. I am ready to make a difference and be changed by the faces of Zimbabwe.
-Emma Scritchfield (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Features Editor. [email protected]
Owner: Jamie Swickard (‘16)
Pet name: Tony
Breed: Cat
Biography: “Tony is two years old, but we actually don't know because he was a stray that ate a piece of my Cane’s chicken then never left. He is very precious and likes to play a lot, especially with laser pointers. Sometimes he gets a little too excited and claws me, but it's okay because those are claw marks of love. Tony normally wakes my dad up at 3:00 am so he can be fed his wet kitten food then lays on his lap while I get ready in the morning. Tony is a lovable kitten who purrs loud enough for our neighbors to hear. Overall, if you don't know Tony, I'm sorry because you're missing out!”
-Katelyn Darby ('18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
Pet name: Tony
Breed: Cat
Biography: “Tony is two years old, but we actually don't know because he was a stray that ate a piece of my Cane’s chicken then never left. He is very precious and likes to play a lot, especially with laser pointers. Sometimes he gets a little too excited and claws me, but it's okay because those are claw marks of love. Tony normally wakes my dad up at 3:00 am so he can be fed his wet kitten food then lays on his lap while I get ready in the morning. Tony is a lovable kitten who purrs loud enough for our neighbors to hear. Overall, if you don't know Tony, I'm sorry because you're missing out!”
-Katelyn Darby ('18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
Owner: Alex Rahde (‘18)
Pet name: Zoey
Breed: Horse
Biography: “Zoey is a eleven year old Quarter Pony. She's small, but good lord she has more attitude than should be fit into that little body. We've had her since she was four years old, and she's the sweetest horse I've ever met in my life. She follows me around in the field, wherever I walk. And when I whistle, she lifts her head and walks over to the fence and waits until I walk up to her. She's extremely kid safe, and gets along with just about everyone, except her barn mate, Roxie. Those two fight like siblings. But when she's not out in the field with her sister, she's just a giant puppy who wants lots of attention and treats. She begs for peppermints; she will turn her head and stretch her lip until you break down and feed it to her. That horse never fails to cheer me up, I've grown up with her. I can't imagine spending a summer without her, and I always look forward to seeing her happy face every morning. If you rattle her food bin, she lets out a string of nickers, and then tosses her head and snorts. It's a set pattern, and it's absolutely adorable.
Pet name: Zoey
Breed: Horse
Biography: “Zoey is a eleven year old Quarter Pony. She's small, but good lord she has more attitude than should be fit into that little body. We've had her since she was four years old, and she's the sweetest horse I've ever met in my life. She follows me around in the field, wherever I walk. And when I whistle, she lifts her head and walks over to the fence and waits until I walk up to her. She's extremely kid safe, and gets along with just about everyone, except her barn mate, Roxie. Those two fight like siblings. But when she's not out in the field with her sister, she's just a giant puppy who wants lots of attention and treats. She begs for peppermints; she will turn her head and stretch her lip until you break down and feed it to her. That horse never fails to cheer me up, I've grown up with her. I can't imagine spending a summer without her, and I always look forward to seeing her happy face every morning. If you rattle her food bin, she lets out a string of nickers, and then tosses her head and snorts. It's a set pattern, and it's absolutely adorable.
Owner: Megan Trainer (‘18)
Pet names: Peaches and Percy
Breed: Pug
Biography: “Peaches and Percy are six year old siblings that love to go on walks. If they’re not play fighting with each other, they’re most likely sleeping. Besides being cute, the only thing they do better than sleeping is snoring. Multiple breathing attacks in their sleep never wake them up, or even phase them. They always seem to be the first ones to notice the slightest bit of noise, although they can never figure out which way we call their names. Unaware of their actual size, they both love to growl at anything, no matter what size, that comes to our yard. After they’re done growling, they proceed to get excited realizing someone is there to pet them. They then start their abnormal whining cries for attention. After a long, hard day of sleeping they enjoy any left over food they can steal out of the cat’s food bowl before going back to bed.”
Pet names: Peaches and Percy
Breed: Pug
Biography: “Peaches and Percy are six year old siblings that love to go on walks. If they’re not play fighting with each other, they’re most likely sleeping. Besides being cute, the only thing they do better than sleeping is snoring. Multiple breathing attacks in their sleep never wake them up, or even phase them. They always seem to be the first ones to notice the slightest bit of noise, although they can never figure out which way we call their names. Unaware of their actual size, they both love to growl at anything, no matter what size, that comes to our yard. After they’re done growling, they proceed to get excited realizing someone is there to pet them. They then start their abnormal whining cries for attention. After a long, hard day of sleeping they enjoy any left over food they can steal out of the cat’s food bowl before going back to bed.”
Owner: Josie (‘16) and Wyatt Bunstine (‘18)
Pet name: Kona
Breed: Husky
Biography: “If I could describe Kona in one paragraph, I would probably compare him to a buffalo chicken sandwich. Just like the bun, Kona has a sweet, soft outer layer of fur that is very fluffy. He is sweet when he meets people and always loves to lick their faces and run around. He appears to be so cute and well-behaved when people first meet him; then they actually take a bite into the sandwich. On the inside, he is spicy like the buffalo sauce that pours over the chicken. He is sneaky and ornery, always taking things around our house and ripping them apart. You only see this side of him once you live with him every day. He takes food off of the counters, steals shoes out of my closet, and has the personality of a little fire ball full of energy. This layer, which most people eventually get to see, masks the innermost layer of chicken. Although Kona is crazy, his deepest intentions are whole-hearted and he just loves to play! He is always there when I need him, and is a sweet little puppy, despite the spice that covers this part of him up.
Pet name: Kona
Breed: Husky
Biography: “If I could describe Kona in one paragraph, I would probably compare him to a buffalo chicken sandwich. Just like the bun, Kona has a sweet, soft outer layer of fur that is very fluffy. He is sweet when he meets people and always loves to lick their faces and run around. He appears to be so cute and well-behaved when people first meet him; then they actually take a bite into the sandwich. On the inside, he is spicy like the buffalo sauce that pours over the chicken. He is sneaky and ornery, always taking things around our house and ripping them apart. You only see this side of him once you live with him every day. He takes food off of the counters, steals shoes out of my closet, and has the personality of a little fire ball full of energy. This layer, which most people eventually get to see, masks the innermost layer of chicken. Although Kona is crazy, his deepest intentions are whole-hearted and he just loves to play! He is always there when I need him, and is a sweet little puppy, despite the spice that covers this part of him up.
People and their pets
By: Katelyn Darby
Students at Northridge are recognized for their academic and extra-curricular achievements all the time, so why don’t we start recognizing their pets?
Owner: Caylee Lindsay (‘18)
Pet name: Crosby
Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Biography: “Crosby is a five year old berner who loves everyone. He is clutzy and doesn’t know his own size, but he’s just a gentle giant. He loves to sit on your feet and lap (he thinks he’s 20 pounds). We love to play in the snow together, and go for rides in the car. Crosby loves to play fetch and be outside. He will do anything to go out and play, until he gets hot after like two minutes and wants to come inside. He goes crazy for Italian food and loves his special “oreo” dog cookies. Although he hates taking baths and going swimming, Crosby loves riding in our boat. He always finds a way to cheer me up, and is constantly looking for attention.”
By: Katelyn Darby
Students at Northridge are recognized for their academic and extra-curricular achievements all the time, so why don’t we start recognizing their pets?
Owner: Caylee Lindsay (‘18)
Pet name: Crosby
Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Biography: “Crosby is a five year old berner who loves everyone. He is clutzy and doesn’t know his own size, but he’s just a gentle giant. He loves to sit on your feet and lap (he thinks he’s 20 pounds). We love to play in the snow together, and go for rides in the car. Crosby loves to play fetch and be outside. He will do anything to go out and play, until he gets hot after like two minutes and wants to come inside. He goes crazy for Italian food and loves his special “oreo” dog cookies. Although he hates taking baths and going swimming, Crosby loves riding in our boat. He always finds a way to cheer me up, and is constantly looking for attention.”
Female students hope for new change in the bathroom
By: Cora Dorman
NORTHRIDGE- It’s one of the problem in every girl’s life. Feminine products are often needed without warning and on the spur of the moment. When needed, lack of these products constitutes an emergency. But at Northridge High School, feminine products are not readily available in the bathrooms. To make matters worse, girls in need of these products have the added embarrassment of walking to the office to obtain them.
Along with other females, I agree that it is embarrassing and inconvenient to walk to the office when in need of those products. Personally, I wonder why the products have to be kept in the office. It would be much easier to have the products accessible in all the high school bathrooms.
Principal Amy Anderson wants female students to know that feminine products are available in the clinic room in the office. In the clinic, there is a bathroom available so girls don’t have to walk to a different bathroom. Although, in that moment of need, girls still have to make a walk to the office bathroom to access the products.
Alexis Absten (‘15) originally proposed the idea of putting a feminine care machine in the bathroom three years ago. Many high school girls agree. Anderson said the school has looked into putting a machine into the bathroom after the idea was proposed, but strayed away from the idea due to vandalism and stealing in the past, which most likely occurred outside of regular school hours.
I have been asked many times if I had a tampon or pad a friend could borrow. Sophomore Dayna Martin admits, "I'm not sure which is worse - begging your friend for a tampon or pad, or having to walk to the office to ask a teacher for one." If there were a machine in the bathroom, the problem would have been solved.
Anderson said, “If a feminine product machine is something the girls are interested in, we will look into getting a machine for the bathroom.”
If the school got a machine in the bathroom, it would definitely help out a lot of girls within the school. It would be much more convenient and surely less embarrassing to get those products in the bathroom, rather than the office.
There would be a cost to the products if there were to be a machine in the bathroom, explains Anderson. She states the cost would only be to cover the cost of the products, not to make a profit.
Free care products and a restroom would continue to be available in the office, even if the school decided to put a machine in the bathroom.
Easy access to these products should be a given, especially in a school setting. Women can’t choose when their period comes, so easy access to care products in the bathroom would make our lives just a little easier.
Females from around the school are hoping for changes regarding feminine care product access in the bathrooms of Northridge High School!
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is the Jr. News Editor and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
By: Cora Dorman
NORTHRIDGE- It’s one of the problem in every girl’s life. Feminine products are often needed without warning and on the spur of the moment. When needed, lack of these products constitutes an emergency. But at Northridge High School, feminine products are not readily available in the bathrooms. To make matters worse, girls in need of these products have the added embarrassment of walking to the office to obtain them.
Along with other females, I agree that it is embarrassing and inconvenient to walk to the office when in need of those products. Personally, I wonder why the products have to be kept in the office. It would be much easier to have the products accessible in all the high school bathrooms.
Principal Amy Anderson wants female students to know that feminine products are available in the clinic room in the office. In the clinic, there is a bathroom available so girls don’t have to walk to a different bathroom. Although, in that moment of need, girls still have to make a walk to the office bathroom to access the products.
Alexis Absten (‘15) originally proposed the idea of putting a feminine care machine in the bathroom three years ago. Many high school girls agree. Anderson said the school has looked into putting a machine into the bathroom after the idea was proposed, but strayed away from the idea due to vandalism and stealing in the past, which most likely occurred outside of regular school hours.
I have been asked many times if I had a tampon or pad a friend could borrow. Sophomore Dayna Martin admits, "I'm not sure which is worse - begging your friend for a tampon or pad, or having to walk to the office to ask a teacher for one." If there were a machine in the bathroom, the problem would have been solved.
Anderson said, “If a feminine product machine is something the girls are interested in, we will look into getting a machine for the bathroom.”
If the school got a machine in the bathroom, it would definitely help out a lot of girls within the school. It would be much more convenient and surely less embarrassing to get those products in the bathroom, rather than the office.
There would be a cost to the products if there were to be a machine in the bathroom, explains Anderson. She states the cost would only be to cover the cost of the products, not to make a profit.
Free care products and a restroom would continue to be available in the office, even if the school decided to put a machine in the bathroom.
Easy access to these products should be a given, especially in a school setting. Women can’t choose when their period comes, so easy access to care products in the bathroom would make our lives just a little easier.
Females from around the school are hoping for changes regarding feminine care product access in the bathrooms of Northridge High School!
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is the Jr. News Editor and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
How to wake up in the morning
By: Megan Dalton
Waking up in the morning can be quite the struggle. Not to mention when you have to wake up for school before the roosters even let out their “COCK-A-DOODLE-DO.” I am with you; I too am not what you would refer to as a ‘morning person.’ I am the type of sleeper who can sleep through a train hitting the house. Then if you do manage to get me up from my hibernation-like slumber, I am a walking zombie. If you find yourself in the same slumber boat as me, then this is the story for you! I’m here to tell you how I drag myself out of bed each morning.
Step one: The night before, I prepare myself by sitting a glass of water on my bedside table, just far enough I would have to get out of my bed to obtain it. Then I place my phone under my pillow, beside my good ear and go to dreamtown.
Step two: I begin mentally preparing myself to wake up with an alarm set for 5:34 A.M. to a sound of a peaceful babbling river. Don’t start crying yet, this is just a trick so when I wake up I get super excited thinking, “I still have an hour to sleep in.” It’s a trick I play on my brain to make it think I am getting more sleep than expected.
Step two: The next alarm is set for 5:46 A.M. This too is just a trick to ‘get more sleep.’
Step three: The next alarm is set for 6:00 A.M. to the sound of a robot sound. This is when you need to rub your eyeballs super hard until you see stars. This is a warm-up to the actually waking-up part.
Step four: At 6:10 A.M. another alarm goes off (not going to lie, I usually sleep through a few of these alarms so another is set for 6:14 A.M.)
Step five: At 6:18 A.M. and 6:20 A.M. there is an alarm to the sound of a barking dog. At one of these alarms you must gather all of your strength to go take a drink of water. This is a good technique because it forces you to get out of bed and take a nice gulp of water.
Step six: Four more alarms are set between 6:25 A.M. and 6:36 A.M. to an array of songs that range from Miley Cyrus to Big Sean. You must get up to one of these alarms if you want to look good for school.
Step seven: Set a warning alarm for five minutes before you need to leave, because you know you woke up late and are rushing.
After a million alarms, and strategies you should get a cup of coffee and hopefully you will be awake by 4th period.
-Megan Dalton (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Sports Editor. [email protected]
By: Megan Dalton
Waking up in the morning can be quite the struggle. Not to mention when you have to wake up for school before the roosters even let out their “COCK-A-DOODLE-DO.” I am with you; I too am not what you would refer to as a ‘morning person.’ I am the type of sleeper who can sleep through a train hitting the house. Then if you do manage to get me up from my hibernation-like slumber, I am a walking zombie. If you find yourself in the same slumber boat as me, then this is the story for you! I’m here to tell you how I drag myself out of bed each morning.
Step one: The night before, I prepare myself by sitting a glass of water on my bedside table, just far enough I would have to get out of my bed to obtain it. Then I place my phone under my pillow, beside my good ear and go to dreamtown.
Step two: I begin mentally preparing myself to wake up with an alarm set for 5:34 A.M. to a sound of a peaceful babbling river. Don’t start crying yet, this is just a trick so when I wake up I get super excited thinking, “I still have an hour to sleep in.” It’s a trick I play on my brain to make it think I am getting more sleep than expected.
Step two: The next alarm is set for 5:46 A.M. This too is just a trick to ‘get more sleep.’
Step three: The next alarm is set for 6:00 A.M. to the sound of a robot sound. This is when you need to rub your eyeballs super hard until you see stars. This is a warm-up to the actually waking-up part.
Step four: At 6:10 A.M. another alarm goes off (not going to lie, I usually sleep through a few of these alarms so another is set for 6:14 A.M.)
Step five: At 6:18 A.M. and 6:20 A.M. there is an alarm to the sound of a barking dog. At one of these alarms you must gather all of your strength to go take a drink of water. This is a good technique because it forces you to get out of bed and take a nice gulp of water.
Step six: Four more alarms are set between 6:25 A.M. and 6:36 A.M. to an array of songs that range from Miley Cyrus to Big Sean. You must get up to one of these alarms if you want to look good for school.
Step seven: Set a warning alarm for five minutes before you need to leave, because you know you woke up late and are rushing.
After a million alarms, and strategies you should get a cup of coffee and hopefully you will be awake by 4th period.
-Megan Dalton (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Sports Editor. [email protected]
What it’s really like when siblings come home from college
By: Kaycee Campbell
When a sibling goes off to college, everyone thinks about how horrible it will be: how much you’ll miss them, how your family member that you’ve grown up with all of your life will not be living there, and how much things will change. But let’s be honest here, when they come home for an extended period of time, you won’t necessarily be sad when they go back again.
“Kaycee, your brother’s home!” I hear my mom say with enough excitement that you’d think she won the lottery, every time my brother Chad comes home. For me, it’s great to see him and all, but it’s not something I would count down on a calendar for.
When your siblings come home, they become the center of attention for that period of time. Trust me, it’s all you’ll hear about for a while. They’ll take your parking spot in the driveway and you’ll have to park far away from the house (this sucks at night, when it’s snowing and you get home at 9:30 every night from practice). They’ll also have a free pass to do whatever they want and contribute nothing to their old household chores, which have now been added to your list. They’ll play video games on TV in the living room really loudly while you’re trying to do homework or study. They’ll eat all of the food because “they are a growing man.” They’ll even go as far as to tell you how your life sucks compared to theirs because you are still under the queen’s (mom’s) control. You’ll never know if they’re coming home at night or not, so when you set the alarm, you’ll have to go let them in at midnight or later. Say goodbye to your data because all of that will be gone after their stay, too. You thought that you guys had stopped fighting once you both got older? Wrong! You’ll have a big blow up over something very small.
So as you can probably see, it’s not all that peachy when your sibling comes home from college for an extended period of time, like Christmas break, but there are some things that you will be excited for, like seeing your childhood best friend, older brother/sister protector, and therapist for the first time in a while. You can look forward to sharing your lives with each other and hearing about their new experiences.
So, I guess it’s a win/lose situation, but I’ll admit, I’m excited to see my brother again.
-Kaycee Campbell (’17) is a second-year Vault staff member and Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
By: Kaycee Campbell
When a sibling goes off to college, everyone thinks about how horrible it will be: how much you’ll miss them, how your family member that you’ve grown up with all of your life will not be living there, and how much things will change. But let’s be honest here, when they come home for an extended period of time, you won’t necessarily be sad when they go back again.
“Kaycee, your brother’s home!” I hear my mom say with enough excitement that you’d think she won the lottery, every time my brother Chad comes home. For me, it’s great to see him and all, but it’s not something I would count down on a calendar for.
When your siblings come home, they become the center of attention for that period of time. Trust me, it’s all you’ll hear about for a while. They’ll take your parking spot in the driveway and you’ll have to park far away from the house (this sucks at night, when it’s snowing and you get home at 9:30 every night from practice). They’ll also have a free pass to do whatever they want and contribute nothing to their old household chores, which have now been added to your list. They’ll play video games on TV in the living room really loudly while you’re trying to do homework or study. They’ll eat all of the food because “they are a growing man.” They’ll even go as far as to tell you how your life sucks compared to theirs because you are still under the queen’s (mom’s) control. You’ll never know if they’re coming home at night or not, so when you set the alarm, you’ll have to go let them in at midnight or later. Say goodbye to your data because all of that will be gone after their stay, too. You thought that you guys had stopped fighting once you both got older? Wrong! You’ll have a big blow up over something very small.
So as you can probably see, it’s not all that peachy when your sibling comes home from college for an extended period of time, like Christmas break, but there are some things that you will be excited for, like seeing your childhood best friend, older brother/sister protector, and therapist for the first time in a while. You can look forward to sharing your lives with each other and hearing about their new experiences.
So, I guess it’s a win/lose situation, but I’ll admit, I’m excited to see my brother again.
-Kaycee Campbell (’17) is a second-year Vault staff member and Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
Living in a stranger’s home
By: Sven Stalder
As a foreign exchange student, you have to live in a stranger’s home until the people you live with are not strangers anymore. This time can be really awkward because there will be a lot of misunderstandings, different habits and culture, and it is just terrifying to go grab yourself a snack from a stranger’s pantry.
On my first day in the U.S., I didn’t know how to turn on an American shower. I also didn’t want to go to my host parents the way I looked when I woke up to ask them how to turn on the shower. I was trying everything I could imagine, but I didn’t succeed in turning on the shower until my host brother helped me.
Another awkward situation that I had a lot in the U.S. was that I felt like a criminal grabbing myself a bowl of cereal for breakfast when nobody was there to give me permission. It was weird to live in a house, knowing that I will stay there for a year, and that they want me to feel like home, but I still felt like a thief robbing their food.
If you ever happen to go on an exchange and live with a family, just remember that they are glad to have you and that they want you to feel like home. Don’t be shy to ask for help even with basic things because it is better than destroying something. I thought I destroyed my blinds, broke the dishwasher and almost cut off the roses by our house, just because I didn’t want to ask for help.
Now that I look back on my first few weeks in this amazing country, I can only laugh about my embarrassingly awkward moments and appreciate that I am here and enjoy my life here. I was always welcomed by the people I met here, and the memories of my first few awkward days in America are unforgettable.
-Sven Stalder (‘18) is an exchange student from Switzerland. He is also a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
By: Sven Stalder
As a foreign exchange student, you have to live in a stranger’s home until the people you live with are not strangers anymore. This time can be really awkward because there will be a lot of misunderstandings, different habits and culture, and it is just terrifying to go grab yourself a snack from a stranger’s pantry.
On my first day in the U.S., I didn’t know how to turn on an American shower. I also didn’t want to go to my host parents the way I looked when I woke up to ask them how to turn on the shower. I was trying everything I could imagine, but I didn’t succeed in turning on the shower until my host brother helped me.
Another awkward situation that I had a lot in the U.S. was that I felt like a criminal grabbing myself a bowl of cereal for breakfast when nobody was there to give me permission. It was weird to live in a house, knowing that I will stay there for a year, and that they want me to feel like home, but I still felt like a thief robbing their food.
If you ever happen to go on an exchange and live with a family, just remember that they are glad to have you and that they want you to feel like home. Don’t be shy to ask for help even with basic things because it is better than destroying something. I thought I destroyed my blinds, broke the dishwasher and almost cut off the roses by our house, just because I didn’t want to ask for help.
Now that I look back on my first few weeks in this amazing country, I can only laugh about my embarrassingly awkward moments and appreciate that I am here and enjoy my life here. I was always welcomed by the people I met here, and the memories of my first few awkward days in America are unforgettable.
-Sven Stalder (‘18) is an exchange student from Switzerland. He is also a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
What we all really want for Valentine's Day
By: Karie Smith
Boys, listen up. You want to get your girl a gift? Well, let me just tell you it’s not always about the money. We like the little things, and spoil us with some chocolate, or flowers (maybe make sure she doesn’t have allergies). We girls like being spoiled with love and affection. Spend time with her, and if you want to spend money, then take her out, and if you do don’t make it McDonald’s. Write her a note from the heart. Tell her why you like her. Write down a memory you have and make a cute note of it.
It doesn’t take much, you know. Stay at her house (or yours) and watch movies together. You’ll have to compromise. Don’t try to “Netflix and Chill.” Be sweet and if something doesn’t go right, then go left. Make up for it, don’t let it be a problem; if she gets angry, take the time to talk to her. Don’t blow her off or try to hurt her feelings.
If you want to buy her a gift and you’ve been together for awhile six or more months, then buy her a necklace or a bracelet. Or maybe you guys haven’t been together for awhile, then buy her some chocolate and roses, and a stuffed animal with your cologne on it. Either way you go, she’ll love it.
In my own opinion here, what I would want is for my boyfriend to just hang out with me, write me a ton of cute notes, play his guitar and sing in front of me. That’s what he’s afraid of: to sing in front of me, but I would find it very cute and romantic. Maybe he would just draw a picture of us or something that he wants to draw that he would find nice and romantic. It doesn’t matter what it is, at least he got you something
Just don’t feel the need to have to spend like hundreds of dollars. It’s the little things that count, so don’t try to argue or fight. Just do something cute for her or something nice that she would like or what you think she would like. It’s not all that hard.
If she’s the type of girl who just wants you to blow all of your money, don’t do that. Unless you really want too. You don’t even have to spend money on her, unless that’s the only way she’s happy.
Ladies, want to get your boyfriend something? Well, they’re too “manly” to receive any thing that we girls like. You could get him his favorite candy, a card, and a handwritten filled with lots of love note, and just make him feel special. You don’t want to be that jerk that didn’t get him anything. Boys are fairly easy.
But yet, if you don’t want to go that cheap, then buy him something you know he would want or like. I’m sure whatever you would go out and get him he would like it because at least you thought of him and got him something. You could be the one to surprise him and take him out to his favorite restaurant. Boys aren’t the only ones who should spoil us girls; girls needs to spoil our boys, too.
It’s fairly easy to spoil someone with your time and affection. In the end, nobody really needs to spend any money: just time, and affection, some notes. I mean, maybe not everybody likes to be cheesy and write notes, but I love it when I get a handwritten note written from somebody that I deeply care about.
Honestly, this shouldn’t be just a one-day-a-year thing; make it multiple days a year! Plan out something cute and special any time, but, for now, spend your Valentines money and time wisely!
-Karie Smith (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Opinions Editor. [email protected]
By: Karie Smith
Boys, listen up. You want to get your girl a gift? Well, let me just tell you it’s not always about the money. We like the little things, and spoil us with some chocolate, or flowers (maybe make sure she doesn’t have allergies). We girls like being spoiled with love and affection. Spend time with her, and if you want to spend money, then take her out, and if you do don’t make it McDonald’s. Write her a note from the heart. Tell her why you like her. Write down a memory you have and make a cute note of it.
It doesn’t take much, you know. Stay at her house (or yours) and watch movies together. You’ll have to compromise. Don’t try to “Netflix and Chill.” Be sweet and if something doesn’t go right, then go left. Make up for it, don’t let it be a problem; if she gets angry, take the time to talk to her. Don’t blow her off or try to hurt her feelings.
If you want to buy her a gift and you’ve been together for awhile six or more months, then buy her a necklace or a bracelet. Or maybe you guys haven’t been together for awhile, then buy her some chocolate and roses, and a stuffed animal with your cologne on it. Either way you go, she’ll love it.
In my own opinion here, what I would want is for my boyfriend to just hang out with me, write me a ton of cute notes, play his guitar and sing in front of me. That’s what he’s afraid of: to sing in front of me, but I would find it very cute and romantic. Maybe he would just draw a picture of us or something that he wants to draw that he would find nice and romantic. It doesn’t matter what it is, at least he got you something
Just don’t feel the need to have to spend like hundreds of dollars. It’s the little things that count, so don’t try to argue or fight. Just do something cute for her or something nice that she would like or what you think she would like. It’s not all that hard.
If she’s the type of girl who just wants you to blow all of your money, don’t do that. Unless you really want too. You don’t even have to spend money on her, unless that’s the only way she’s happy.
Ladies, want to get your boyfriend something? Well, they’re too “manly” to receive any thing that we girls like. You could get him his favorite candy, a card, and a handwritten filled with lots of love note, and just make him feel special. You don’t want to be that jerk that didn’t get him anything. Boys are fairly easy.
But yet, if you don’t want to go that cheap, then buy him something you know he would want or like. I’m sure whatever you would go out and get him he would like it because at least you thought of him and got him something. You could be the one to surprise him and take him out to his favorite restaurant. Boys aren’t the only ones who should spoil us girls; girls needs to spoil our boys, too.
It’s fairly easy to spoil someone with your time and affection. In the end, nobody really needs to spend any money: just time, and affection, some notes. I mean, maybe not everybody likes to be cheesy and write notes, but I love it when I get a handwritten note written from somebody that I deeply care about.
Honestly, this shouldn’t be just a one-day-a-year thing; make it multiple days a year! Plan out something cute and special any time, but, for now, spend your Valentines money and time wisely!
-Karie Smith (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Opinions Editor. [email protected]
Coffee shenanigans: spicing up your cup
By: Kyle Stermer
Coffee: a plant discovered in 11th century Ethiopia. Coffee has been a part of many peoples lives, and, more importantly, the wake up routine. Many rely on it to give us the energy to tackle the day. However, plain ol’ coffee and creamer may get old after awhile.
One of my favorite ways to spice up coffee is to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to it. I used to do this on early shifts while working at Velvet, and it definitely changes the coffee for the better. Ice cream has creamer in it, so it definitely reacts in the coffee just like regular creamer does. However, I notice more sweetness, and a more pure coffee flavor instead of being drowned out in cream. Overall, I highly recommend this method; it's one of my go-to’s.
Another way to really spice up your drink is to toss some cayenne pepper into it. I usually do this with hot chocolate, but it can be used with coffee as well. I would recommend this to anyone who likes spicy foods; it's definitely different but it's worth a try.
Another interesting drink is known by the name of “bulletproof coffee.” All you have to do for this one is put a firm slice of butter directly into your coffee. If you want to try this one, you should use grass-fed butter. There are many reasons for this, but mainly because coffee binds with the butter and creates micelles, which are droplets of fat that are easy to digest. This is said to reduce the crash and jitters that some people experience with regular coffee. If you try this, you should probably use unsalted butter, unless you enjoy salty coffee.
There are many other things you can put in coffee, but these are a couple of my favorites, and ones that stood out to me. Other things to put in could be cinnamon, maple syrup, or an egg. I've never tried the maple syrup one, but I presume it would be pretty good. However I'm not so sure about the egg. Good luck with your coffee additives!
-Kyle Stermer ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and News Editor. [email protected]
By: Kyle Stermer
Coffee: a plant discovered in 11th century Ethiopia. Coffee has been a part of many peoples lives, and, more importantly, the wake up routine. Many rely on it to give us the energy to tackle the day. However, plain ol’ coffee and creamer may get old after awhile.
One of my favorite ways to spice up coffee is to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to it. I used to do this on early shifts while working at Velvet, and it definitely changes the coffee for the better. Ice cream has creamer in it, so it definitely reacts in the coffee just like regular creamer does. However, I notice more sweetness, and a more pure coffee flavor instead of being drowned out in cream. Overall, I highly recommend this method; it's one of my go-to’s.
Another way to really spice up your drink is to toss some cayenne pepper into it. I usually do this with hot chocolate, but it can be used with coffee as well. I would recommend this to anyone who likes spicy foods; it's definitely different but it's worth a try.
Another interesting drink is known by the name of “bulletproof coffee.” All you have to do for this one is put a firm slice of butter directly into your coffee. If you want to try this one, you should use grass-fed butter. There are many reasons for this, but mainly because coffee binds with the butter and creates micelles, which are droplets of fat that are easy to digest. This is said to reduce the crash and jitters that some people experience with regular coffee. If you try this, you should probably use unsalted butter, unless you enjoy salty coffee.
There are many other things you can put in coffee, but these are a couple of my favorites, and ones that stood out to me. Other things to put in could be cinnamon, maple syrup, or an egg. I've never tried the maple syrup one, but I presume it would be pretty good. However I'm not so sure about the egg. Good luck with your coffee additives!
-Kyle Stermer ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and News Editor. [email protected]
Things that should STAY in 2015
By: Caylee Lindsay
It’s that time of the year again. We’re slowly getting accustomed to the new year, as we leave the old year behind. Yet there seems to be a lingering confusion regarding the “do’s and don’ts” of 2016. You may be wondering what catchphrases and styles are still relevant this year and what to leave in 2015. Some things just aren't acceptable anymore. 2016 will hopefully be a fresh start to get rid of these fads.
2015 was the year of whips, nae nae’s, and Hotline Blings. Many new “modern” dance moves went viral over the course of the year, trends that lasted way too long. The whip and nae nae is a dance move accompanying the song, “Watch Me.” This popular move, created by rapper, Silento, should surely be left behind this year. The amount of whips I’ve seen over the course of the year is overwhelming. When every 5-year-old in the nation knows how to “whip,” it's gone too far.
In addition to the whip/nae nae, hitting the “quan” is another dance move that went viral in 2015. Created by rapper, iLoveMemphis, “Hit the Quan” involves a series of actions mimicking the lyrics in the song. The final moves that went viral this year were in Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” This music video, reaching a mind-blowing 401 million views, has become annoyingly popular. Twitter and tumblr users have created memes and replicates regarding Drake’s crazy dancing. This catchy tune has gotten out of hand, and should surely be absent in 2016.
Catchy dances aren’t the only thing that should be left in 2015. Let's talk about man buns. Man buns swept the nation in 2015, a popular hairstyle that many men attempted to make a thing. Men growing shoulder-length hair and gathering it into a ball on top of their head should not be legal. I must admit that some men can pull off the “man bun,” but for most, this hairstyle is definitely something that should stay behind this year.
Many catchphrases were adopted over the course of last year. Most were the result of a vine or a video that had gone viral. One of these sayings is “got heem,” which comes from San Francisco Giants closer, Brian Wilson. According to Wilson, the battle cry “got him” just isn’t the same without proper emphasis on the e’s. His “battle cry” was adopted by many students, used for just about everything. This phrase should be left behind this year, as many cannot seem to handle this spin on pronunciation any longer.
That’s definitely not all of the things that should stay in 2015, but you get the idea. Let’s make 2016 a whip-free year, and properly dispose of annoying catchphrases and styles.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is the Jr. Photos Editor and Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
By: Caylee Lindsay
It’s that time of the year again. We’re slowly getting accustomed to the new year, as we leave the old year behind. Yet there seems to be a lingering confusion regarding the “do’s and don’ts” of 2016. You may be wondering what catchphrases and styles are still relevant this year and what to leave in 2015. Some things just aren't acceptable anymore. 2016 will hopefully be a fresh start to get rid of these fads.
2015 was the year of whips, nae nae’s, and Hotline Blings. Many new “modern” dance moves went viral over the course of the year, trends that lasted way too long. The whip and nae nae is a dance move accompanying the song, “Watch Me.” This popular move, created by rapper, Silento, should surely be left behind this year. The amount of whips I’ve seen over the course of the year is overwhelming. When every 5-year-old in the nation knows how to “whip,” it's gone too far.
In addition to the whip/nae nae, hitting the “quan” is another dance move that went viral in 2015. Created by rapper, iLoveMemphis, “Hit the Quan” involves a series of actions mimicking the lyrics in the song. The final moves that went viral this year were in Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” This music video, reaching a mind-blowing 401 million views, has become annoyingly popular. Twitter and tumblr users have created memes and replicates regarding Drake’s crazy dancing. This catchy tune has gotten out of hand, and should surely be absent in 2016.
Catchy dances aren’t the only thing that should be left in 2015. Let's talk about man buns. Man buns swept the nation in 2015, a popular hairstyle that many men attempted to make a thing. Men growing shoulder-length hair and gathering it into a ball on top of their head should not be legal. I must admit that some men can pull off the “man bun,” but for most, this hairstyle is definitely something that should stay behind this year.
Many catchphrases were adopted over the course of last year. Most were the result of a vine or a video that had gone viral. One of these sayings is “got heem,” which comes from San Francisco Giants closer, Brian Wilson. According to Wilson, the battle cry “got him” just isn’t the same without proper emphasis on the e’s. His “battle cry” was adopted by many students, used for just about everything. This phrase should be left behind this year, as many cannot seem to handle this spin on pronunciation any longer.
That’s definitely not all of the things that should stay in 2015, but you get the idea. Let’s make 2016 a whip-free year, and properly dispose of annoying catchphrases and styles.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is the Jr. Photos Editor and Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
How to do Valentine's Day when you're actually single
By: Morgan Hatten
Being single on Valentine’s Day seems like it would be full of misery, sadness, and loneliness, but it’s actually not all that bad if you do it the right way. Coming from someone who has spent the last three Valentine’s Days alone, there are many ways you can forget about the fact that no one loves you.
Buying ice cream for yourself is actually a good start, except you don’t want to buy that crappy Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. If you are one of those people that eat their feelings, Ben and Jerry’s is not for you. The cartons are so tiny, you would have to buy a couple. You should just grab one of the big generic Party Pail of whichever flavor you prefer. It’s a whole gallon of ice cream, and better quality too, all for $5.00.
Sappy love movies will make you cry and realize how empty your life actually is without love, but what kind of Valentine’s Day would it be if you didn’t break down about not being able to find love at least once? I recommend Nicholas Sparks. If you’re not watching Nicholas Sparks all day long, you’re doing it wrong. They will make you question why you can’t find love like in the movies, or at all for that matter. However, each of them have scenes where something in the relationship goes wrong which you can probably relate to (except of course you didn’t get a happy ending, but that’s okay).
You should grab your cat and cuddle with it. However, if it does try to escape from you, just wrap your arms around it and never let go. Even if it scratches and bites, eventually it will stop fighting you. Trust me.
If you really hate being alone, you can hang out with one of your other single, alone friends. That way, you can be sad together and cry on each other’s shoulders. Haley Trimble (‘16) says, “Megan Dalton (‘16) came over for Valentine’s Day last year. We ordered a heart shaped pizza and got lots of candy like chocolate hearts and a chocolate rose and Valentine’s Day cupcakes. We made chocolate strawberries and watched Nicholas Sparks movies all day.”
If you’re feeling extra hateful and really resenting all the couples out there, you can go do fun things that will make you feel better. Megan Dalton (‘16) says, “you can throw water balloons at the couples walking by and then tell the girl that her boyfriend is cheating on her.” Leyna Varney (‘16) suggests “going to taco bell in your pajamas.”
I think sending yourself flowers is better than sending yourself chocolates. I mean, they’re both equally pathetic, but you can buy yourself cheap chocolate any day of the year. Plus, flowers smell better and last longer. Flowers are saying “you mean a lot to me, I love you” but chocolates are just saying “you’re not important enough for me to buy you something more expensive.” If you’re low on money, you can just walk over to your neighbors house and steal some out of their garden.
The pros and cons list is actually a good idea. There’s obviously reasons that you’re alone this Valentine’s Day. So my advice to you is find them and fix them unless you want to spend the rest of your Valentine’s Days sad, single, alone, and depressed. You have a year to fix your flaws. Good luck.
-Morgan Hatten (‘16) first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Entertainment Editor. [email protected]
By: Morgan Hatten
Being single on Valentine’s Day seems like it would be full of misery, sadness, and loneliness, but it’s actually not all that bad if you do it the right way. Coming from someone who has spent the last three Valentine’s Days alone, there are many ways you can forget about the fact that no one loves you.
Buying ice cream for yourself is actually a good start, except you don’t want to buy that crappy Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. If you are one of those people that eat their feelings, Ben and Jerry’s is not for you. The cartons are so tiny, you would have to buy a couple. You should just grab one of the big generic Party Pail of whichever flavor you prefer. It’s a whole gallon of ice cream, and better quality too, all for $5.00.
Sappy love movies will make you cry and realize how empty your life actually is without love, but what kind of Valentine’s Day would it be if you didn’t break down about not being able to find love at least once? I recommend Nicholas Sparks. If you’re not watching Nicholas Sparks all day long, you’re doing it wrong. They will make you question why you can’t find love like in the movies, or at all for that matter. However, each of them have scenes where something in the relationship goes wrong which you can probably relate to (except of course you didn’t get a happy ending, but that’s okay).
You should grab your cat and cuddle with it. However, if it does try to escape from you, just wrap your arms around it and never let go. Even if it scratches and bites, eventually it will stop fighting you. Trust me.
If you really hate being alone, you can hang out with one of your other single, alone friends. That way, you can be sad together and cry on each other’s shoulders. Haley Trimble (‘16) says, “Megan Dalton (‘16) came over for Valentine’s Day last year. We ordered a heart shaped pizza and got lots of candy like chocolate hearts and a chocolate rose and Valentine’s Day cupcakes. We made chocolate strawberries and watched Nicholas Sparks movies all day.”
If you’re feeling extra hateful and really resenting all the couples out there, you can go do fun things that will make you feel better. Megan Dalton (‘16) says, “you can throw water balloons at the couples walking by and then tell the girl that her boyfriend is cheating on her.” Leyna Varney (‘16) suggests “going to taco bell in your pajamas.”
I think sending yourself flowers is better than sending yourself chocolates. I mean, they’re both equally pathetic, but you can buy yourself cheap chocolate any day of the year. Plus, flowers smell better and last longer. Flowers are saying “you mean a lot to me, I love you” but chocolates are just saying “you’re not important enough for me to buy you something more expensive.” If you’re low on money, you can just walk over to your neighbors house and steal some out of their garden.
The pros and cons list is actually a good idea. There’s obviously reasons that you’re alone this Valentine’s Day. So my advice to you is find them and fix them unless you want to spend the rest of your Valentine’s Days sad, single, alone, and depressed. You have a year to fix your flaws. Good luck.
-Morgan Hatten (‘16) first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Entertainment Editor. [email protected]
How to do Valentine's Day single style
By: Jamie Swickard
“She’s been in a relationship for three years, how would she know how to spend Valentine’s Day single?” Well doubters, I am here to show you the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day all by your lonesome from my first hand experiences.
Step one: Buy some ridiculously expensive Valentine’s Day version of ice cream Ben and Jerry’s has just released and drown in that. After a couple of hours, you won’t be able to tell where your tears end and where the chocolate chips start. Megan Phillips (‘16) says, “the ice cream isn’t even that good anyways; it’s such a waste of money. Plus, my boyfriend can buy me ice cream better than that any day.”
Step two: While you’re out buying that $8.00 pint of ice cream, stop by Redbox and pick out one of those sappy love movies. Please get anything rather than Dirty Dancing and the even more ridiculous remakes of the original. You can do better than that.
Step three: Go ahead and grab your cat that hates life and start cuddling with that because that’s the extent of your romantic connection with anyone you’ll have. If the cat starts to fight to get out of your arms, let it go; you don’t want to ruin their day too.
Step four: Hit up the iTunes store and buy the Valentine’s Day special edition album and crank that as you make your microwave meal for one in your kitchen. If the album doesn’t have Celine Dion on it, you’re not buying the right one. Remember though, your neighbors are probably having a romantic dinner for two, so try not to be too loud; others want to enjoy this day.
Step five: If you’re not in the mood to spend a ton of money on yourself, buy the ridiculously priced chocolates the day after. Trevor Roach (‘17) says, “since you feel the need to be cheap, even for yourself, buy the chocolates the day after. You can get like 75% off; that’s a great deal!”
Step six: If you feel like you’re still not getting enough attention on this simple yet VERY important day, write yourself a love letter to create the illusion that someone was thinking about you. Alexis Lamp (‘17) says, “put the letter in a spot where someone like your mom would find it. Have the letter addressed to you and she’ll deliver it to you! Maybe if you write it a few months before Valentine’s Day you’ll forget you wrote it and think someone actually said all of those sweet things about you.”
Step seven: If by the end of the day you haven’t gone completely blind from your uncontrollable tears, try making a pros and cons list about yourself to find ways to better yourself for the next Valentine’s Day. Megan Royer (‘18) says, “by making a pros and cons list, you can see the things boys might not really like about you. Then by fixing those flaws to become a completely different person, boys will totally buy you the good ice cream and not the sappy Valentine’s Day kind.”
Pretty much, it is very possible to spend Valentine’s Day alone and enjoy it. It is actually quite simple to be honest. If you don’t enjoy your Valentine’s Day being single then you’re doing it all wrong and really are just being overly sensitive. Good luck and remember, the Valentine’s Day version of Ben and Jerry's ice cream is ridiculously expensive; don’t waste your money or time.
-Jamie Swickard (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
By: Jamie Swickard
“She’s been in a relationship for three years, how would she know how to spend Valentine’s Day single?” Well doubters, I am here to show you the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day all by your lonesome from my first hand experiences.
Step one: Buy some ridiculously expensive Valentine’s Day version of ice cream Ben and Jerry’s has just released and drown in that. After a couple of hours, you won’t be able to tell where your tears end and where the chocolate chips start. Megan Phillips (‘16) says, “the ice cream isn’t even that good anyways; it’s such a waste of money. Plus, my boyfriend can buy me ice cream better than that any day.”
Step two: While you’re out buying that $8.00 pint of ice cream, stop by Redbox and pick out one of those sappy love movies. Please get anything rather than Dirty Dancing and the even more ridiculous remakes of the original. You can do better than that.
Step three: Go ahead and grab your cat that hates life and start cuddling with that because that’s the extent of your romantic connection with anyone you’ll have. If the cat starts to fight to get out of your arms, let it go; you don’t want to ruin their day too.
Step four: Hit up the iTunes store and buy the Valentine’s Day special edition album and crank that as you make your microwave meal for one in your kitchen. If the album doesn’t have Celine Dion on it, you’re not buying the right one. Remember though, your neighbors are probably having a romantic dinner for two, so try not to be too loud; others want to enjoy this day.
Step five: If you’re not in the mood to spend a ton of money on yourself, buy the ridiculously priced chocolates the day after. Trevor Roach (‘17) says, “since you feel the need to be cheap, even for yourself, buy the chocolates the day after. You can get like 75% off; that’s a great deal!”
Step six: If you feel like you’re still not getting enough attention on this simple yet VERY important day, write yourself a love letter to create the illusion that someone was thinking about you. Alexis Lamp (‘17) says, “put the letter in a spot where someone like your mom would find it. Have the letter addressed to you and she’ll deliver it to you! Maybe if you write it a few months before Valentine’s Day you’ll forget you wrote it and think someone actually said all of those sweet things about you.”
Step seven: If by the end of the day you haven’t gone completely blind from your uncontrollable tears, try making a pros and cons list about yourself to find ways to better yourself for the next Valentine’s Day. Megan Royer (‘18) says, “by making a pros and cons list, you can see the things boys might not really like about you. Then by fixing those flaws to become a completely different person, boys will totally buy you the good ice cream and not the sappy Valentine’s Day kind.”
Pretty much, it is very possible to spend Valentine’s Day alone and enjoy it. It is actually quite simple to be honest. If you don’t enjoy your Valentine’s Day being single then you’re doing it all wrong and really are just being overly sensitive. Good luck and remember, the Valentine’s Day version of Ben and Jerry's ice cream is ridiculously expensive; don’t waste your money or time.
-Jamie Swickard (‘16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
DIY with Andy the fix-it guy: Valentines edition
By: Andy Watson
Valentine’s Day is a long-observed holiday in the liturgical calendar honoring St. Valentine and the many early Christian saints named Valentinus. Aside from its religious background, in modern times it is a time of love and affection. Valentine’s Day sometimes falls on a weekday, and for those of us who are celebrating it, it makes things a bit less stressful to know it’s on a Sunday this year.
Something that might make the holiday more fun for guys also has to do with history. We all know the holiday's real shady background in the bootlegging era of the 1920s in Chicago, with the Saint Valentines Massacre. George “Bugs” Moran was a career criminal that ran the north side gang and fought bitterly with the leader of the south side gang “Scarface” Al Capone. When a $50,000 bounty was put on his head, it was the final straw and ordered his men to destroy Moran’s gang. On February 14. 1929, seven of Moran’s henchmen were lined up in Moran’s headquarters by four of Capone’s men who were dressed up as police officers and shot with Thompson machine guns and two shotguns. The bootlegging period of the 1920s, and the stories that come from this incident and many others like it make fantastic movies and books.
As we think about the incidents of the “roaring ‘20s”, we have to calm down and look at this holiday a whole lot differently. The first thing I can recommend is that you don’t want to be doing the same things your girlfriend does. You do not want to be the guy that cries during the movie or suggests to go to Starbucks. Guys, the point that girls want you to make on this day is that you are the man in the relationship. When you buy food from a restaurant or order in, you’re copping out. Most guys think making a meal is too feminine, but it only is if you make things like pea soup or salads or fancy mini quiches. I know it’s February, but it’s time to fire up the grill and make your girl feel wanted. Steak is a good dinner option, but salmon will also do. For side dishes, make something like potatoes and steamed vegetables, but don’t let her think you enjoy it. If she wants to help, don’t resist and let her take care of some things she should already know.
Guys of Northridge, your girl doesn’t really want you to let your deep feelings out; just offer enough to keep her interested. Playing hard to get is risky but if you’ve been in a relationship for a while it is much more interesting to take your time and act tough for a long time. Love is a funky thing, and many of us just need to keep to ourselves and watch those documentaries and movies about the Valentine’s day massacre and not some dumb chick flick. Hope you guys make it through this Valentine's day without spending too much money, have fun!
-Andy Watson ('16) is a first-year Vault staff member and Features Editor. [email protected]
By: Andy Watson
Valentine’s Day is a long-observed holiday in the liturgical calendar honoring St. Valentine and the many early Christian saints named Valentinus. Aside from its religious background, in modern times it is a time of love and affection. Valentine’s Day sometimes falls on a weekday, and for those of us who are celebrating it, it makes things a bit less stressful to know it’s on a Sunday this year.
Something that might make the holiday more fun for guys also has to do with history. We all know the holiday's real shady background in the bootlegging era of the 1920s in Chicago, with the Saint Valentines Massacre. George “Bugs” Moran was a career criminal that ran the north side gang and fought bitterly with the leader of the south side gang “Scarface” Al Capone. When a $50,000 bounty was put on his head, it was the final straw and ordered his men to destroy Moran’s gang. On February 14. 1929, seven of Moran’s henchmen were lined up in Moran’s headquarters by four of Capone’s men who were dressed up as police officers and shot with Thompson machine guns and two shotguns. The bootlegging period of the 1920s, and the stories that come from this incident and many others like it make fantastic movies and books.
As we think about the incidents of the “roaring ‘20s”, we have to calm down and look at this holiday a whole lot differently. The first thing I can recommend is that you don’t want to be doing the same things your girlfriend does. You do not want to be the guy that cries during the movie or suggests to go to Starbucks. Guys, the point that girls want you to make on this day is that you are the man in the relationship. When you buy food from a restaurant or order in, you’re copping out. Most guys think making a meal is too feminine, but it only is if you make things like pea soup or salads or fancy mini quiches. I know it’s February, but it’s time to fire up the grill and make your girl feel wanted. Steak is a good dinner option, but salmon will also do. For side dishes, make something like potatoes and steamed vegetables, but don’t let her think you enjoy it. If she wants to help, don’t resist and let her take care of some things she should already know.
Guys of Northridge, your girl doesn’t really want you to let your deep feelings out; just offer enough to keep her interested. Playing hard to get is risky but if you’ve been in a relationship for a while it is much more interesting to take your time and act tough for a long time. Love is a funky thing, and many of us just need to keep to ourselves and watch those documentaries and movies about the Valentine’s day massacre and not some dumb chick flick. Hope you guys make it through this Valentine's day without spending too much money, have fun!
-Andy Watson ('16) is a first-year Vault staff member and Features Editor. [email protected]
District awaits 2016-17 calendar decisions
(Hoping for longer winter breaks)
By: Carrisa Sweetman
NORTHRIDGE- From my perspective, many students and their parents were upset with last year's scheduled breaks, especially when it came to our winter break.
The last day of school before Christmas break was December 22. This caused families to only have the day before Christmas Eve to prepare for the holiday festivities, which included parties, Christmas gift wrapping, and other Christmas break traditions.
The week of November 29th, Northridge students had Monday off to conclude their Thanksgiving break, in addition to the following Monday, which was a teacher work day.
Karie Smith (18’), said, “we should have had school on the Monday after Thanksgiving and next Monday after. That way we could extend our break by four days before Christmas Eve.” Those four days would have included Saturday through Tuesday.
Some parents, like Mrs. Watson, mother of Andy Watson ('16) have said, “My children should have had school on Monday November 30th and on Monday December 7th so we could have a longer winter break."
Some families who had parties planned the weekend before Christmas Eve were either canceling or shortening their party because exams were on the next day. Mrs. Garee said, “I was concerned about my family's Christmas party because it was on Sunday, which was the day before exams.”
Then, students and staff returned on January 4th, and then started up the new semester. Some seniors have also complained about how it was their last Christmas at home before they go to college and they were not able to spend more time with their families. Things the seniors wanted to experience include: baking cookies for Santa, listening to Christmas music, and decorating the tree.
One can only wonder what next school year’s Christmas break will be, since the holiday will land on a weekend. What do you think will happen? It is a possibility that we will only have one week off for Christmas. The School board will be discussing and possibly voting on next school year’s schedule on Tuesday, February 16th at 6:30pm in the Northridge High school media center.
-Carrisa Sweetman (‘16) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Photos Editor. [email protected]
(Hoping for longer winter breaks)
By: Carrisa Sweetman
NORTHRIDGE- From my perspective, many students and their parents were upset with last year's scheduled breaks, especially when it came to our winter break.
The last day of school before Christmas break was December 22. This caused families to only have the day before Christmas Eve to prepare for the holiday festivities, which included parties, Christmas gift wrapping, and other Christmas break traditions.
The week of November 29th, Northridge students had Monday off to conclude their Thanksgiving break, in addition to the following Monday, which was a teacher work day.
Karie Smith (18’), said, “we should have had school on the Monday after Thanksgiving and next Monday after. That way we could extend our break by four days before Christmas Eve.” Those four days would have included Saturday through Tuesday.
Some parents, like Mrs. Watson, mother of Andy Watson ('16) have said, “My children should have had school on Monday November 30th and on Monday December 7th so we could have a longer winter break."
Some families who had parties planned the weekend before Christmas Eve were either canceling or shortening their party because exams were on the next day. Mrs. Garee said, “I was concerned about my family's Christmas party because it was on Sunday, which was the day before exams.”
Then, students and staff returned on January 4th, and then started up the new semester. Some seniors have also complained about how it was their last Christmas at home before they go to college and they were not able to spend more time with their families. Things the seniors wanted to experience include: baking cookies for Santa, listening to Christmas music, and decorating the tree.
One can only wonder what next school year’s Christmas break will be, since the holiday will land on a weekend. What do you think will happen? It is a possibility that we will only have one week off for Christmas. The School board will be discussing and possibly voting on next school year’s schedule on Tuesday, February 16th at 6:30pm in the Northridge High school media center.
-Carrisa Sweetman (‘16) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Photos Editor. [email protected]