Twelve ways to keep a good long-term relationship
By: Megan Smith
There’re always those really cute couples that everyone sees and wonders, “How are they so good together? Why can’t my relationship be that good?” There is a way to improve your relationship with a few of these guidelines:
The first thing that can be done to keep a happy relationship is to be there for your partner. Make sure they know that you are there for them, and comfort them when they need it.
The second thing to do is trust your partner. They are also there for you, and only want the best for you. Let them comfort you.
The third thing to do is to give them space when they need it. Sometimes it is good to comfort, but people also need space to calm down and put themselves back together. Just don’t be too clingy in general because people need time for friends and to be alone.
The fourth thing to do is to always resolve problems before going to bed, or at least tell them how much they mean to you even if you are still upset.
The fifth thing to do is not say hurtful things when you are mad. It may be hard to filter your words when upset, but some things can’t be taken back, and will be harmful to the relationship.
The sixth thing to do is to hold the door for them, give them simple gifts randomly, like a bottle of their favorite drink, or just any simple thing to show your love. These little things go a long way, and they are very appreciated.
The seventh thing to do is, if you don’t have much money to buy gifts or you just like doing it, write them notes or make them simple things that show you care. Things from the heart, like cute love notes, are one of the best things to give your partner, and will make them really happy.
The eighth thing to do is to make sure to tell your partner how you feel about them. Everyone likes to know where they stand with people, and communication is very important in a serious relationship.
The ninth thing to do, during Halloween, is to dress up if your partner really wants to dress up with you. It will make them really happy, and it could have been something they’ve dreamt of doing since they were little. However, it is important to not make your partner dress up in something that is very ridiculous and embarrassing. It is one thing to want to dress up as character you’ve always wanted to dress up as, but don’t purposefully try to make them look stupid because it may ruin dressing up for them.
The 10th thing to do, during the holiday season, is to remember to be patient. The holidays are always stressful, so it is good to practice patience with your partner, especially with making plans.
The 11th thing to do, during the holiday season, is to make sure you still give them some of your time since that season can be very busy for people. Spending time during the holidays can be important to your partner so you should try to honor that.
The 12th thing to do is to be grateful for your partner and to enjoy every second that you have with them. You should never take them for granted because you never know how long you will have with them.
It’s important to remember that all relationships are different, but following as many of these guidelines as possible will help to lead to a healthy and happy relationship. There are many other ways to keep a happy relationship, but these 12 are some of the most basic, but important, ways to have a harmonious relationship.
-Megan Smith (‘18) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By: Megan Smith
There’re always those really cute couples that everyone sees and wonders, “How are they so good together? Why can’t my relationship be that good?” There is a way to improve your relationship with a few of these guidelines:
The first thing that can be done to keep a happy relationship is to be there for your partner. Make sure they know that you are there for them, and comfort them when they need it.
The second thing to do is trust your partner. They are also there for you, and only want the best for you. Let them comfort you.
The third thing to do is to give them space when they need it. Sometimes it is good to comfort, but people also need space to calm down and put themselves back together. Just don’t be too clingy in general because people need time for friends and to be alone.
The fourth thing to do is to always resolve problems before going to bed, or at least tell them how much they mean to you even if you are still upset.
The fifth thing to do is not say hurtful things when you are mad. It may be hard to filter your words when upset, but some things can’t be taken back, and will be harmful to the relationship.
The sixth thing to do is to hold the door for them, give them simple gifts randomly, like a bottle of their favorite drink, or just any simple thing to show your love. These little things go a long way, and they are very appreciated.
The seventh thing to do is, if you don’t have much money to buy gifts or you just like doing it, write them notes or make them simple things that show you care. Things from the heart, like cute love notes, are one of the best things to give your partner, and will make them really happy.
The eighth thing to do is to make sure to tell your partner how you feel about them. Everyone likes to know where they stand with people, and communication is very important in a serious relationship.
The ninth thing to do, during Halloween, is to dress up if your partner really wants to dress up with you. It will make them really happy, and it could have been something they’ve dreamt of doing since they were little. However, it is important to not make your partner dress up in something that is very ridiculous and embarrassing. It is one thing to want to dress up as character you’ve always wanted to dress up as, but don’t purposefully try to make them look stupid because it may ruin dressing up for them.
The 10th thing to do, during the holiday season, is to remember to be patient. The holidays are always stressful, so it is good to practice patience with your partner, especially with making plans.
The 11th thing to do, during the holiday season, is to make sure you still give them some of your time since that season can be very busy for people. Spending time during the holidays can be important to your partner so you should try to honor that.
The 12th thing to do is to be grateful for your partner and to enjoy every second that you have with them. You should never take them for granted because you never know how long you will have with them.
It’s important to remember that all relationships are different, but following as many of these guidelines as possible will help to lead to a healthy and happy relationship. There are many other ways to keep a happy relationship, but these 12 are some of the most basic, but important, ways to have a harmonious relationship.
-Megan Smith (‘18) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Swimming for superstitions!
By: Maddi Giffin
NORTHRIDGE- The swim team is three months long and filled with many young and hopeful swimmers who are hoping to achieve their lifetime best. As it turns out, we on the swim team are currently in the homestretch of our season and need all the superstitions we can get!
As a swimmer, I will connect anything and everything to dropping time. A swimmer is so desperate to drop a tenth of a second, whether that be by doing the same cheer at the beginning of a swim meet, not shaving your legs until districts, participating in drag week (the week of our training where we will where clothes and swim with them), or eating a spaghetti dinner every Friday before a swim meet.
Here are a few of the more common superstitions we associate with luck in the pool:
NO SHAVING
The biggest superstition that I take part in is not shaving your legs for three months just so we can feel the littlest bit of difference in a late-season race. The whole team takes part in this, and at the end of the season there is a girl and boy winner. The prize is a trophy made from razors; I am proud to be the winner for three consecutive years. Most people get freaked out by this, but to us it is normal!
CHEERING
Before any swim meet we always do a cheer to bring us good luck in the water and to make all the other teams intimidated by us. Normally we do it in the water to make it more dramatic and fun, but also to put some good juju in the water.
DRAG WEEK
For as long as I can remember, we have a thing called Drag Week. For one week we train in full clothes that can range from leggings to jeans to sweatshirts. The main purpose of this is to get our muscles used to swimming with extra weight so that, when we take clothes off, we feel light as a feather. This is the time of the season where we really see personalities come out and see how much time we can drop at the end of the week.
SPAGHETTI DINNER
Every Friday night we meet a the school to have a big spaghetti dinner like one big happy family, which we are. Before a swim meet it is always a good idea to feed swimmers carbs.
To some people these things might seem odd, but to the Northridge swim team they seem exciting and normal. Most people might not believe that these superstitions make us drop time, but actually it makes us faster and really helps make our mental training better.
-Maddi Giffin (‘18) is a staff member for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Maddi Giffin
NORTHRIDGE- The swim team is three months long and filled with many young and hopeful swimmers who are hoping to achieve their lifetime best. As it turns out, we on the swim team are currently in the homestretch of our season and need all the superstitions we can get!
As a swimmer, I will connect anything and everything to dropping time. A swimmer is so desperate to drop a tenth of a second, whether that be by doing the same cheer at the beginning of a swim meet, not shaving your legs until districts, participating in drag week (the week of our training where we will where clothes and swim with them), or eating a spaghetti dinner every Friday before a swim meet.
Here are a few of the more common superstitions we associate with luck in the pool:
NO SHAVING
The biggest superstition that I take part in is not shaving your legs for three months just so we can feel the littlest bit of difference in a late-season race. The whole team takes part in this, and at the end of the season there is a girl and boy winner. The prize is a trophy made from razors; I am proud to be the winner for three consecutive years. Most people get freaked out by this, but to us it is normal!
CHEERING
Before any swim meet we always do a cheer to bring us good luck in the water and to make all the other teams intimidated by us. Normally we do it in the water to make it more dramatic and fun, but also to put some good juju in the water.
DRAG WEEK
For as long as I can remember, we have a thing called Drag Week. For one week we train in full clothes that can range from leggings to jeans to sweatshirts. The main purpose of this is to get our muscles used to swimming with extra weight so that, when we take clothes off, we feel light as a feather. This is the time of the season where we really see personalities come out and see how much time we can drop at the end of the week.
SPAGHETTI DINNER
Every Friday night we meet a the school to have a big spaghetti dinner like one big happy family, which we are. Before a swim meet it is always a good idea to feed swimmers carbs.
To some people these things might seem odd, but to the Northridge swim team they seem exciting and normal. Most people might not believe that these superstitions make us drop time, but actually it makes us faster and really helps make our mental training better.
-Maddi Giffin (‘18) is a staff member for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
What to expect when you’re a senior
By: Caylee Lindsay
Every underclassman looks forward to being a senior; there are certain rites of passage that are only excused by having endured four years of high school. However, most seniors suffer in silence as the year rolls by, faced with college and a complete lack of motivation. Here is a list of everything you need to expect when you’re a senior:
1. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) asking you where you’re going to college. I’m talking your dentist, your neighbor, your doctor, your grandma, and every acquaintance you know asking you where you’re going when you clearly have no idea what you’re doing with your life.
2. Going into a state of existential crisis after responding to deep, profound college prompts.
3. Spending the entire first half of the year worrying about your college applications and feeling like everyone else is getting into their dream schools as you wait (and wait) for your acceptance letters to arrive.
4. Spending the entire second half of the year worrying about scholarships and wondering whether you’ll ever have money again after comparing tuition costs.
5. Feeling uncertain and very emotional about the future… constantly.
6. Showing up to school in sweatpants and a sweatshirt every day because you really don’t care what underclassmen think about you.
7. Experiencing “lasts” of everything. It might be sad, but I can assure you that a lot of good memories go along with this one.
8. Having absolutely no motivation to do anything. After putting all of your effort into college applications and scholarship applications, it’s extremely hard to find time and motivation to do actual school work. Sorry, teachers.
9. Getting about four hours of sleep per night because you start doing homework at midnight and take a break to watch Netflix after writing a sentence.
10. SENIORITIS. It is very much real, guys. You long for the days when you could actually make yourself do homework or write an essay. Say goodbye to your work ethic, focus, and motivation!
Whether you experience all of these classic senior hardships or not, remember that senior year isn’t all about your future. It’s about making memories and taking advantage of every opportunity you get to spend time with your friends. You can’t get your last year of high school back, so live in the moment and try not to worry (too much).
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
By: Caylee Lindsay
Every underclassman looks forward to being a senior; there are certain rites of passage that are only excused by having endured four years of high school. However, most seniors suffer in silence as the year rolls by, faced with college and a complete lack of motivation. Here is a list of everything you need to expect when you’re a senior:
1. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) asking you where you’re going to college. I’m talking your dentist, your neighbor, your doctor, your grandma, and every acquaintance you know asking you where you’re going when you clearly have no idea what you’re doing with your life.
2. Going into a state of existential crisis after responding to deep, profound college prompts.
3. Spending the entire first half of the year worrying about your college applications and feeling like everyone else is getting into their dream schools as you wait (and wait) for your acceptance letters to arrive.
4. Spending the entire second half of the year worrying about scholarships and wondering whether you’ll ever have money again after comparing tuition costs.
5. Feeling uncertain and very emotional about the future… constantly.
6. Showing up to school in sweatpants and a sweatshirt every day because you really don’t care what underclassmen think about you.
7. Experiencing “lasts” of everything. It might be sad, but I can assure you that a lot of good memories go along with this one.
8. Having absolutely no motivation to do anything. After putting all of your effort into college applications and scholarship applications, it’s extremely hard to find time and motivation to do actual school work. Sorry, teachers.
9. Getting about four hours of sleep per night because you start doing homework at midnight and take a break to watch Netflix after writing a sentence.
10. SENIORITIS. It is very much real, guys. You long for the days when you could actually make yourself do homework or write an essay. Say goodbye to your work ethic, focus, and motivation!
Whether you experience all of these classic senior hardships or not, remember that senior year isn’t all about your future. It’s about making memories and taking advantage of every opportunity you get to spend time with your friends. You can’t get your last year of high school back, so live in the moment and try not to worry (too much).
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
Scholarships: everything you need to know
By: Katelyn Darby
During this time of year, it seems like the only thing on a senior’s mind is scholarships. Filling out applications and finding ones that are applicable to you can be daunting, but here are some tips to make the scholarship process less stressful.
What you may not know is that applying for scholarships is not limited to seniors only. It’s good to get a head start on this process if you’re an underclassman. Remember not to underestimate small $500 scholarships because everything adds up, especially if you get an early start.
Even if you want to get started on scholarships, you may not know where to look or how to begin. Start by looking up local scholarships and find websites that offer a variety of scholarships to choose from. If you ever come across a scholarship that you have to pay to submit, it’s probably a scam. Scholarships are always free to submit and usually open to all high schoolers.
Contrary to what you might think, scholarships do not have a designated season; they are available all year long, giving you plenty of time to search and apply. Just make sure to keep deadlines in mind.
A lot of organizations that provide scholarships ask similar questions, so remember to be organized and keep all of your scholarship essays and responses in one place. This way, you can reuse and repurpose your previous responses, modifying them to match the prompts.
For many scholarships, you will need a letter of recommendation. They are often required to be from a teacher, so keep a few things in mind when deciding who you will ask. Make sure it’s a teacher that knows you academically and personally. If you have interacted with a teacher on a more personal level, they will be better qualified to talk about not only your work ethic and classroom behavior, but who you are as a person. It’s also a good idea to build a resume of your activities and awards to create a glowing letter of recommendation.
Try not to be too stressed when it comes to scholarships; spreading them out over time lessens the burden. My best advice would be to think about the future benefits that scholarships will bring you. Trust me, you will be very glad that you put the time and effort into your future.
-Katelyn Darby (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
By: Katelyn Darby
During this time of year, it seems like the only thing on a senior’s mind is scholarships. Filling out applications and finding ones that are applicable to you can be daunting, but here are some tips to make the scholarship process less stressful.
What you may not know is that applying for scholarships is not limited to seniors only. It’s good to get a head start on this process if you’re an underclassman. Remember not to underestimate small $500 scholarships because everything adds up, especially if you get an early start.
Even if you want to get started on scholarships, you may not know where to look or how to begin. Start by looking up local scholarships and find websites that offer a variety of scholarships to choose from. If you ever come across a scholarship that you have to pay to submit, it’s probably a scam. Scholarships are always free to submit and usually open to all high schoolers.
Contrary to what you might think, scholarships do not have a designated season; they are available all year long, giving you plenty of time to search and apply. Just make sure to keep deadlines in mind.
A lot of organizations that provide scholarships ask similar questions, so remember to be organized and keep all of your scholarship essays and responses in one place. This way, you can reuse and repurpose your previous responses, modifying them to match the prompts.
For many scholarships, you will need a letter of recommendation. They are often required to be from a teacher, so keep a few things in mind when deciding who you will ask. Make sure it’s a teacher that knows you academically and personally. If you have interacted with a teacher on a more personal level, they will be better qualified to talk about not only your work ethic and classroom behavior, but who you are as a person. It’s also a good idea to build a resume of your activities and awards to create a glowing letter of recommendation.
Try not to be too stressed when it comes to scholarships; spreading them out over time lessens the burden. My best advice would be to think about the future benefits that scholarships will bring you. Trust me, you will be very glad that you put the time and effort into your future.
-Katelyn Darby (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
Seasonal struggles: Birthdays
By Katie Applequist
Your birthday is the best day of the year, right? Your chance to be the center of attention and plan the perfect day. But is it always perfect? Is it always exactly what you envision? Sometimes not, and usually there is nothing you can do about it. Sometimes all the disappointment of what your special day could have been is all because of the season you were born in.
So, who has it worse? Winter birthdays or summer ones?
Now is probably the time to tell you, I have a summer birthday. Specifically, July 1st. Almost the dead middle of summer. You might be thinking, “Yes! A pool party every year!” but let me tell you, that gets monotonous. Not to mention, your friends are always on vacation, you’re always busy, it’s always too hot to be outside, or it’s storming. So really, all you end up with is you and like five people in your basement (you think I’m joking). No one ever remembers to text or snapchat you (you’d think that the little birthday cake next to your name would help).
When I was younger, I always wanted to bring cupcakes and get sung to at school, but since it’s literally impossible for there to be school on my birthday (and not a reality I’d like to live in), my dream will never ever come true.
So, now that you know all the reasons summer birthdays are the literal worst, I guess you should know what winter birthdays (unnecessarily) complain about.
Emma Young (‘19), whose birthday is January 14th, says, “The worst part is the weather. I’ve had to cancel multiple parties due to snow. One time I rescheduled for March, it once again snowed, and I ended up with a July pool party.”
Megan King (‘19), whose birthday is January 4th, says, “You’ve just come back from winter break, so you already don’t want to be here, then all of a sudden your teacher is like ‘we have a birthday!’ and everyone starts singing. I’d rather spend my birthday with my family than about 400 of my acquaintances.”
Okay, so winter birthdays kinda suck too, I guess. Maybe one isn’t worse than the other, but what are the better parts of seasonal birthdays?
Jacob Feightner (‘18), whose birthday is July 4th, says, “The best part of my birthday is the fireworks. You feel like everyone is celebrating you.”
Young says, “I love that I have something to look forward to after Christmas.”
Alayna Curren (‘19), whose birthday is June 30th, has perhaps the most relatable positive thought about her summer celebration: “The best part of having my birthday in the summer is not having to go to school on my birthday.”
-Katie Applequist (‘18) is a second year member of the Viking Vault and is Entertainment Editor.
By Katie Applequist
Your birthday is the best day of the year, right? Your chance to be the center of attention and plan the perfect day. But is it always perfect? Is it always exactly what you envision? Sometimes not, and usually there is nothing you can do about it. Sometimes all the disappointment of what your special day could have been is all because of the season you were born in.
So, who has it worse? Winter birthdays or summer ones?
Now is probably the time to tell you, I have a summer birthday. Specifically, July 1st. Almost the dead middle of summer. You might be thinking, “Yes! A pool party every year!” but let me tell you, that gets monotonous. Not to mention, your friends are always on vacation, you’re always busy, it’s always too hot to be outside, or it’s storming. So really, all you end up with is you and like five people in your basement (you think I’m joking). No one ever remembers to text or snapchat you (you’d think that the little birthday cake next to your name would help).
When I was younger, I always wanted to bring cupcakes and get sung to at school, but since it’s literally impossible for there to be school on my birthday (and not a reality I’d like to live in), my dream will never ever come true.
So, now that you know all the reasons summer birthdays are the literal worst, I guess you should know what winter birthdays (unnecessarily) complain about.
Emma Young (‘19), whose birthday is January 14th, says, “The worst part is the weather. I’ve had to cancel multiple parties due to snow. One time I rescheduled for March, it once again snowed, and I ended up with a July pool party.”
Megan King (‘19), whose birthday is January 4th, says, “You’ve just come back from winter break, so you already don’t want to be here, then all of a sudden your teacher is like ‘we have a birthday!’ and everyone starts singing. I’d rather spend my birthday with my family than about 400 of my acquaintances.”
Okay, so winter birthdays kinda suck too, I guess. Maybe one isn’t worse than the other, but what are the better parts of seasonal birthdays?
Jacob Feightner (‘18), whose birthday is July 4th, says, “The best part of my birthday is the fireworks. You feel like everyone is celebrating you.”
Young says, “I love that I have something to look forward to after Christmas.”
Alayna Curren (‘19), whose birthday is June 30th, has perhaps the most relatable positive thought about her summer celebration: “The best part of having my birthday in the summer is not having to go to school on my birthday.”
-Katie Applequist (‘18) is a second year member of the Viking Vault and is Entertainment Editor.
Different approaches to school lunch
By: Megan Payne
NORTHRIDGE - Lunch is used as a period to socialize with your friends and eat your lunch, but how students go about the eating part is often varied. Most students at NHS identify as “packer” or “buyer,” without much change from day to day, and they usually have clear reasons for being one or the other.
Schools all over America are focused on an effort to make their lunches with healthier ingredients so students can receive the suggested daily amounts of different food groups. The school is at a disadvantage when it comes to what it can offer, though, due to certain guidelines set in place by the government. These guidelines state that school lunches must conform to the recommended daily value of each food group. This effort has resulted in students complaining that foods made with those ingredients just don’t always tickle their taste buds.
“The new healthy pizza that we get doesn’t taste as good the other pizza that we used to get. We are paying three dollars for this lunch, so I feel like the government shouldn’t force them to make it healthy at the expense of the taste,” says Sarah Phillips (‘20).
Ali Zigo (‘20) chooses to look at the positive in the situation, though: “Some of the side items aren’t always the best, but I know that they are good for me, and that makes me feel good.”
Other students have simply turned to packing their lunches daily for several reasons. “I feel like it is a good choice to pack because I always know what is for lunch and I am reassured that I will like everything in it,” says Braden Yost (‘20).
Some students prefer packing their lunch because it saves time, making it so they don’t have to stand in a lunch line that can take a while on some days.
“Honestly, I just pack my lunch because my mom offers to do it for me, and it is one less thing for me to worry about it the morning,” says Shelby Yorde (‘20).
The bottom line is the fact that lunch is a break from class and a period to spend enjoying friends, regardless of how you decide to fuel your body.
-Megan Payne (‘20) is the Assistant Web Editor of The Viking Vault.
By: Megan Payne
NORTHRIDGE - Lunch is used as a period to socialize with your friends and eat your lunch, but how students go about the eating part is often varied. Most students at NHS identify as “packer” or “buyer,” without much change from day to day, and they usually have clear reasons for being one or the other.
Schools all over America are focused on an effort to make their lunches with healthier ingredients so students can receive the suggested daily amounts of different food groups. The school is at a disadvantage when it comes to what it can offer, though, due to certain guidelines set in place by the government. These guidelines state that school lunches must conform to the recommended daily value of each food group. This effort has resulted in students complaining that foods made with those ingredients just don’t always tickle their taste buds.
“The new healthy pizza that we get doesn’t taste as good the other pizza that we used to get. We are paying three dollars for this lunch, so I feel like the government shouldn’t force them to make it healthy at the expense of the taste,” says Sarah Phillips (‘20).
Ali Zigo (‘20) chooses to look at the positive in the situation, though: “Some of the side items aren’t always the best, but I know that they are good for me, and that makes me feel good.”
Other students have simply turned to packing their lunches daily for several reasons. “I feel like it is a good choice to pack because I always know what is for lunch and I am reassured that I will like everything in it,” says Braden Yost (‘20).
Some students prefer packing their lunch because it saves time, making it so they don’t have to stand in a lunch line that can take a while on some days.
“Honestly, I just pack my lunch because my mom offers to do it for me, and it is one less thing for me to worry about it the morning,” says Shelby Yorde (‘20).
The bottom line is the fact that lunch is a break from class and a period to spend enjoying friends, regardless of how you decide to fuel your body.
-Megan Payne (‘20) is the Assistant Web Editor of The Viking Vault.
Johnstown’s New Gym
By: Shelby Yorde
NORTHRIDGE- The main reputation Johnstown has always had around here is how awful their gymnasium is. The gym was always small and hot, the bleachers were dangerous, and the lighting was too dark. Every basketball player dreaded this part of the season… until now.
Over the summer, Johnstown started the construction of their new school and everyone has been chomping at the bit to see how it would turn out. When it finally came time for the first basketball game in the new gym, they chose the Northridge girls as their first opponent. The game happened on Saturday, January 20th.
When you first walk into the building, you walk into the cafeteria. There are big TVs and lots of tables, both high and low. From there you go to the gym. The new gym is bigger than the old one but not by much, and you still have to climb over part of the bleacher stairs to get from one side of the gym to the other. The bleachers are much better and more comfortable than the ones in the past. There was a lot of light in the room, which was nice, and there were even windows.
“It’s unsafe that you have to climb over steps when walking from one side to the other. For older people, that can make it hard to get around,” says Lauren Admont (‘21).
“The floors were a little slippery, but that’s to be expected because it’s a newer gym,” says Megan Payne (‘20), a varsity player. She likes the new gym a lot more than the Johnnies’ old one, and she says it is even one she prefers to play in.
Sarah Phillips (‘20), a JV player says, “I really like that there are windows...I like being able to see outside.”
Abby Beyer (‘21), says she really hates the horn. “It sounds like a car horn and it’s obnoxiously loud, but other than that it’s a pretty good gym.”
Both the freshmen and varsity teams were able to bring home a win and plan on many more.
-Shelby Yorde (‘20) is the Assistant Print Editor of The Viking Vault.
Ridge Parking Battles
By: Cora Dorman
NORTHRIDGE- While I sit in my car and wait for the clock to hit 7:35, I have noticed something: the Northridge parking lot is full of parking battles.
Now, you may be asking, what is a parking battle? Well, a parking battle is not actually a fight, it’s just two people that park close to each other and constantly battle to be the first person at school. Being the first one at school allows for one to pull through both spots to avoid backing out. In my opinion, the most infamous parking battle is between Graham Garee (‘18) and Evan Willeke (‘18).
Since August, Willeke and Garee have been parking across from each other, although, they both have had their parking issues and admit to (some of) their issues.
Willeke states, “I park better than anyone I know, but Graham doesn’t know where the spot starts and ends.” Garee fires back saying, “When Evan gets there before me, he has no excuse for his truck being half in my spot. If he insists on driving such a big truck, it should be his responsibility to learn to park correctly.”
With Garee's recent early arrival for second semester classes, Willeke is left with the inability to pull through, which can be frustrating, according to Willeke.
To avoid parking battles like this, Willeke’s advice is to, “Physically dominate the other person.” Garee's advice, meanwhile, is to, “Make sure your car is completely in your spot. There are lines for a reason.”
As the parking lot gets fuller in months approaching the end of school, I advise you to always pay close attention to who is parking next to you. If you know the person next to you is a terrible parker, be alert and be prepared to give a little “toot, toot” on the horn.
If you get the chance one morning, watch Garee and Willeke park. It is rather entertaining and enjoyable.
Caption: Garee and Willeke exchange words about their parking on a chilly winter morning. Photo by: Cora Dorman (‘18)
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
By: Cora Dorman
NORTHRIDGE- While I sit in my car and wait for the clock to hit 7:35, I have noticed something: the Northridge parking lot is full of parking battles.
Now, you may be asking, what is a parking battle? Well, a parking battle is not actually a fight, it’s just two people that park close to each other and constantly battle to be the first person at school. Being the first one at school allows for one to pull through both spots to avoid backing out. In my opinion, the most infamous parking battle is between Graham Garee (‘18) and Evan Willeke (‘18).
Since August, Willeke and Garee have been parking across from each other, although, they both have had their parking issues and admit to (some of) their issues.
Willeke states, “I park better than anyone I know, but Graham doesn’t know where the spot starts and ends.” Garee fires back saying, “When Evan gets there before me, he has no excuse for his truck being half in my spot. If he insists on driving such a big truck, it should be his responsibility to learn to park correctly.”
With Garee's recent early arrival for second semester classes, Willeke is left with the inability to pull through, which can be frustrating, according to Willeke.
To avoid parking battles like this, Willeke’s advice is to, “Physically dominate the other person.” Garee's advice, meanwhile, is to, “Make sure your car is completely in your spot. There are lines for a reason.”
As the parking lot gets fuller in months approaching the end of school, I advise you to always pay close attention to who is parking next to you. If you know the person next to you is a terrible parker, be alert and be prepared to give a little “toot, toot” on the horn.
If you get the chance one morning, watch Garee and Willeke park. It is rather entertaining and enjoyable.
Caption: Garee and Willeke exchange words about their parking on a chilly winter morning. Photo by: Cora Dorman (‘18)
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
Dr. Love
Date ideas during the winter
By: Sydney Miller
Winter, otherwise known as White Death, is here “weather” we like it or not. Although I don’t have a boyfriend, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think about date ideas. Since I won’t be doing these dates myself, I thought that maybe someone else could use them. I’m generous that way.
In the winter there’s not that many dates you can go on because you’re stuck at home, and for some reason it’s not safe to drive when you can’t see the pavement. Instead of doing the same old date as everyone else like sledding, building a snowman or ice skating, you can have an indoor picnic/ go camping inside. First of all, why would you build a snowman that is going to melt away the next week when you can stay in and eat all the food you want? You can set up a tent in the living room in front of the TV, watching Netflix in your pj’s, and to jazz it up a bit make a fire and have some s’mores. Why go outside and be cold and probably get sick when you can just stay inside and have a movie marathon in your pj’s?
Now say you have siblings that you have to watch because school was cancelled and your parents went to work. What do you do? GIRL, you have yourself a bake off with your significant other. There is no such thing as having too many sweets in your house, unless you parents are dentists … then just hide them somewhere they’ll never look. What are life and love without a little competition anyways? Competition is good for every relationship, especially when it involves food. Maybe from this bake off you can see who was meant for the kitchen later on in the relationship, or who might burn down the house/ give you food poisoning in the future. Then after you have all those treats just laying around, you can just wrap them up nicely and hand them out to your neighbors because I guarantee that they’ll be pleased that you even thought of them.
Now, if you don’t like being cooped up in the house all day, then consider having a photoshoot. Boys, let me tell you one thing: girls (for some reason) like getting their pictures taken (except not in a creepy way; please don’t do that). Don’t ask why; just understand that that’s what they like. They have to make sure that those pictures on instagram are perfect. Some girls have even gone to the extent of taking pictures in the grocery store. Again, don’t question; just understand girls do it. Let’s be honest though; you probably haven’t posted a new picture of yourself since you were in middle school… sorry, but you need an updated picture. Not only is it a great way to capture the fun moments, but also a way to embrace the winter season.
No matter what you do as long as you are together and having fun, you can’t go wrong with anything you do.
If this advice helped you, feel free to ask me for more specific help. I’ll be on the lookout for the answers!
Until next visit,
Dr. Love PHD
Date ideas during the winter
By: Sydney Miller
Winter, otherwise known as White Death, is here “weather” we like it or not. Although I don’t have a boyfriend, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think about date ideas. Since I won’t be doing these dates myself, I thought that maybe someone else could use them. I’m generous that way.
In the winter there’s not that many dates you can go on because you’re stuck at home, and for some reason it’s not safe to drive when you can’t see the pavement. Instead of doing the same old date as everyone else like sledding, building a snowman or ice skating, you can have an indoor picnic/ go camping inside. First of all, why would you build a snowman that is going to melt away the next week when you can stay in and eat all the food you want? You can set up a tent in the living room in front of the TV, watching Netflix in your pj’s, and to jazz it up a bit make a fire and have some s’mores. Why go outside and be cold and probably get sick when you can just stay inside and have a movie marathon in your pj’s?
Now say you have siblings that you have to watch because school was cancelled and your parents went to work. What do you do? GIRL, you have yourself a bake off with your significant other. There is no such thing as having too many sweets in your house, unless you parents are dentists … then just hide them somewhere they’ll never look. What are life and love without a little competition anyways? Competition is good for every relationship, especially when it involves food. Maybe from this bake off you can see who was meant for the kitchen later on in the relationship, or who might burn down the house/ give you food poisoning in the future. Then after you have all those treats just laying around, you can just wrap them up nicely and hand them out to your neighbors because I guarantee that they’ll be pleased that you even thought of them.
Now, if you don’t like being cooped up in the house all day, then consider having a photoshoot. Boys, let me tell you one thing: girls (for some reason) like getting their pictures taken (except not in a creepy way; please don’t do that). Don’t ask why; just understand that that’s what they like. They have to make sure that those pictures on instagram are perfect. Some girls have even gone to the extent of taking pictures in the grocery store. Again, don’t question; just understand girls do it. Let’s be honest though; you probably haven’t posted a new picture of yourself since you were in middle school… sorry, but you need an updated picture. Not only is it a great way to capture the fun moments, but also a way to embrace the winter season.
No matter what you do as long as you are together and having fun, you can’t go wrong with anything you do.
If this advice helped you, feel free to ask me for more specific help. I’ll be on the lookout for the answers!
Until next visit,
Dr. Love PHD