Blissful brownie batter hummus
By: Maddi Giffin
I know what you're thinking, right? HUMMUS?!? That nasty, gritty, healthy alternative to unhealthy dip? But one lady thought, “what if I can turn that nasty, healthy alternative into a dessert?” The result is delicious.
This product is only offered at Wal-Mart, at select stores. I have to say when I heard about this I was just as skeptical as the person next door, since I have tried to “like” hummus many times, but I decided to put the dessert-hummus to the test.
This product is meant to be eaten with fruit or pretzels or any way that you like! We tried it with strawberries, and the minute I tasted it I fell in LOVE. It tastes as good as when you are making brownies; that rich, creamy, gritty, over-chocolately flavor just explored in my mouth, and my taste buds went for a wild ride.
The best thing about it is that it tastes just like brownie batter, but the nutritional value is so much better. If you like the taste but want more nutritional value than brownies and want something to curb your sweet tooth, then this dip is definitely for you.
If you are feeling feisty, you could try any of the other three flavors such as snickerdoodle, mint chocolate chip, or vanilla bean.
If you find any new ways to use this dip then, please let me know!
-Maddi Giffin (‘18) is a staff member for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Maddi Giffin
I know what you're thinking, right? HUMMUS?!? That nasty, gritty, healthy alternative to unhealthy dip? But one lady thought, “what if I can turn that nasty, healthy alternative into a dessert?” The result is delicious.
This product is only offered at Wal-Mart, at select stores. I have to say when I heard about this I was just as skeptical as the person next door, since I have tried to “like” hummus many times, but I decided to put the dessert-hummus to the test.
This product is meant to be eaten with fruit or pretzels or any way that you like! We tried it with strawberries, and the minute I tasted it I fell in LOVE. It tastes as good as when you are making brownies; that rich, creamy, gritty, over-chocolately flavor just explored in my mouth, and my taste buds went for a wild ride.
The best thing about it is that it tastes just like brownie batter, but the nutritional value is so much better. If you like the taste but want more nutritional value than brownies and want something to curb your sweet tooth, then this dip is definitely for you.
If you are feeling feisty, you could try any of the other three flavors such as snickerdoodle, mint chocolate chip, or vanilla bean.
If you find any new ways to use this dip then, please let me know!
-Maddi Giffin (‘18) is a staff member for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Vending machine treats officially reviewed
By: Katie Applequist
What is the most integral part of a school building? The classrooms? The hallways? The teachers? The students? While all of those are very important, the most important part of a school is obviously the vending machine.
Whether it’s fourth period and you cannot possibly focus in class AT ALL because of the dying whale sounds your stomach is making, or you are about to have a tough practice and your lunch wasn’t quite filling enough, vending machines are the saving grace of most students. But your dollar is valuable. How do you know which snack is the best?
In my opinion, the best snack by far is the Kettle Corn that magically appears in the vending machines occasionally, and you are lucky if there’s still some left in a week. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and there’s TONS of it in the bag. There’s really no downside to enjoying this unicorn of school vending machine snacks.
Another solid snack is Sun Chips. My favorite is the Harvest Cheddar but all Sun Chips are equal in their deliciousness. Not to mention these bags aren’t full of air and actually have more than five chips in the bag like some chip brands… *cough* Lays *cough*
If you are not super hungry or not in the mood for chips, the way to go is the fruit snacks. Welch’s Mixed Fruit are my favorite fruit snacks of all time, and the ones in the vending machine don’t disappoint. I don’t have them very often, but I’ve never had a bag that was hard or seemed like it had been in there a while. However, those bags aren’t very big and you might be better off just buying a box at the grocery store and keeping it in your locker.
Although there are plenty of good snacks in the vending machine, some of them don’t quite cut it. The cereal bars are one example. They are a great idea. Rice Krispie Treats but with different cereals! In practice, however, I had one of the cinnamon toast crunch bars one time and I think the reason Rice Krispie Treats work is that Rice Krispies themselves don’t really have a flavor. An entire bar of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is too much cinnamon for me, and the bar itself is crunchier than Rice Krispie Treats, leading to lots of crunchy dry cereal and not enough marshmellowly goodness.
Too many times I get hungry for one specific snack and I go the vending machine and its slot is empty. Now what? Usually, the vending machine by the auditeria runs out the bestselling snacks faster than the vending machine by the gym, and in times of desperation the vending machine by the office might come through, but be warned! That vending machine has lots of granola bars and doesn’t usually have the same snacks as the other two.
-Katie Applequist (‘18) is a second year member of the Viking Vault and is Entertainment Editor.
By: Katie Applequist
What is the most integral part of a school building? The classrooms? The hallways? The teachers? The students? While all of those are very important, the most important part of a school is obviously the vending machine.
Whether it’s fourth period and you cannot possibly focus in class AT ALL because of the dying whale sounds your stomach is making, or you are about to have a tough practice and your lunch wasn’t quite filling enough, vending machines are the saving grace of most students. But your dollar is valuable. How do you know which snack is the best?
In my opinion, the best snack by far is the Kettle Corn that magically appears in the vending machines occasionally, and you are lucky if there’s still some left in a week. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and there’s TONS of it in the bag. There’s really no downside to enjoying this unicorn of school vending machine snacks.
Another solid snack is Sun Chips. My favorite is the Harvest Cheddar but all Sun Chips are equal in their deliciousness. Not to mention these bags aren’t full of air and actually have more than five chips in the bag like some chip brands… *cough* Lays *cough*
If you are not super hungry or not in the mood for chips, the way to go is the fruit snacks. Welch’s Mixed Fruit are my favorite fruit snacks of all time, and the ones in the vending machine don’t disappoint. I don’t have them very often, but I’ve never had a bag that was hard or seemed like it had been in there a while. However, those bags aren’t very big and you might be better off just buying a box at the grocery store and keeping it in your locker.
Although there are plenty of good snacks in the vending machine, some of them don’t quite cut it. The cereal bars are one example. They are a great idea. Rice Krispie Treats but with different cereals! In practice, however, I had one of the cinnamon toast crunch bars one time and I think the reason Rice Krispie Treats work is that Rice Krispies themselves don’t really have a flavor. An entire bar of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is too much cinnamon for me, and the bar itself is crunchier than Rice Krispie Treats, leading to lots of crunchy dry cereal and not enough marshmellowly goodness.
Too many times I get hungry for one specific snack and I go the vending machine and its slot is empty. Now what? Usually, the vending machine by the auditeria runs out the bestselling snacks faster than the vending machine by the gym, and in times of desperation the vending machine by the office might come through, but be warned! That vending machine has lots of granola bars and doesn’t usually have the same snacks as the other two.
-Katie Applequist (‘18) is a second year member of the Viking Vault and is Entertainment Editor.
Twisted X Moccasins: The Greatest Shoes Around
By: Cora Dorman
Let me first establish myself by saying I am an avid lover of shoes. The amount of shoes I have is absolutely ridiculous. Of course I have my favorite pairs, which would be my Twisted X moccasins.
They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn because they mold to your feet. The squishy fabric is like walking on a cloud. The leather is also heavenly because it is a softer leather that won’t give you blisters on your feet.
Another reason why I loved Twisted X moccasins is because they can be both casual and (kind of) fancy. There are so many pairs to choose from, but I have a casual pair and a fancy pair. The casual pair is great because they can be worn just like a pair of tennis shoes. The fancy pair is great because they add a little bit of class, but they are still extremely comfortable.
Now, once you purchase your pair of Twisted X moccasins, you may experience some judgment. Don’t be bothered by the judgment because they don’t understand the heavenly clouds you are walking on. Personally, I have been judged because some think they are ugly, but the judgment doesn’t phase me because others just don’t understand.
Originally, Twisted X moccasins were made to show and work with livestock. From experience, I would advise against this as my steers are extremely heavy and the soft leather does not give your toes much protection.
To further preserve your precious Twisted X moccasins, I suggest putting a leather protection on them. The leather protection will waterproof the shoes and make them good as new.
If you, like me, are an avid lover of shoes and just need one more pair, I suggest getting a pair of Twisted X moccasins to cushion your feet for years!
-Cora Dorman ('18) is a second- year Vault staff member and Copy Editor.
By: Cora Dorman
Let me first establish myself by saying I am an avid lover of shoes. The amount of shoes I have is absolutely ridiculous. Of course I have my favorite pairs, which would be my Twisted X moccasins.
They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn because they mold to your feet. The squishy fabric is like walking on a cloud. The leather is also heavenly because it is a softer leather that won’t give you blisters on your feet.
Another reason why I loved Twisted X moccasins is because they can be both casual and (kind of) fancy. There are so many pairs to choose from, but I have a casual pair and a fancy pair. The casual pair is great because they can be worn just like a pair of tennis shoes. The fancy pair is great because they add a little bit of class, but they are still extremely comfortable.
Now, once you purchase your pair of Twisted X moccasins, you may experience some judgment. Don’t be bothered by the judgment because they don’t understand the heavenly clouds you are walking on. Personally, I have been judged because some think they are ugly, but the judgment doesn’t phase me because others just don’t understand.
Originally, Twisted X moccasins were made to show and work with livestock. From experience, I would advise against this as my steers are extremely heavy and the soft leather does not give your toes much protection.
To further preserve your precious Twisted X moccasins, I suggest putting a leather protection on them. The leather protection will waterproof the shoes and make them good as new.
If you, like me, are an avid lover of shoes and just need one more pair, I suggest getting a pair of Twisted X moccasins to cushion your feet for years!
-Cora Dorman ('18) is a second- year Vault staff member and Copy Editor.
Jumanji won’t let you down
By: Shelby Yorde
I recently went and saw Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle with a couple of friends. I give this movie a 10/10 rating. This was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It is equally funny and action packed/intense, making it perfect for most people.
The movie is about four high school students from different “cliques” who find themselves together in detention. They find an old game while cleaning out a storage room. They end up getting sucked into the game, all becoming the character that they had chosen. They have to complete the game before returning back to the real world.
The main characters are played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas. These characters provide the comedy that’s needed in the movie. The character that turns into Jack Black’s character was a girl; this means that he has a personality and voice of a girl.
Kevin Hart plays the weak character. He is so funny throughout the movie because his character is so helpless and paranoid.
Dwayne Johnson plays the role of the once-nerdy teen. He provides the action packed part of the movie. He is the strongest character and the brains of the four.
Karen Gillan is the only girl character in the game and plays the once-shy girl, but she is now the girl that kicks butt whenever she wants. She also is the girl who falls in love with the nerd of the group (Dwayne Johnson).
Nick Jonas plays the little boy in the beginning who went missing. They later find him in the game and he joins them to beat it.
Overall, Jumanji is a fantastic movie that I very much recommend you to see! The movie will come out on DVD on March 30, 2018.
-Shelby Yorde (‘20) is the Assistant Print Editor of The Viking Vault.
By: Shelby Yorde
I recently went and saw Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle with a couple of friends. I give this movie a 10/10 rating. This was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It is equally funny and action packed/intense, making it perfect for most people.
The movie is about four high school students from different “cliques” who find themselves together in detention. They find an old game while cleaning out a storage room. They end up getting sucked into the game, all becoming the character that they had chosen. They have to complete the game before returning back to the real world.
The main characters are played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas. These characters provide the comedy that’s needed in the movie. The character that turns into Jack Black’s character was a girl; this means that he has a personality and voice of a girl.
Kevin Hart plays the weak character. He is so funny throughout the movie because his character is so helpless and paranoid.
Dwayne Johnson plays the role of the once-nerdy teen. He provides the action packed part of the movie. He is the strongest character and the brains of the four.
Karen Gillan is the only girl character in the game and plays the once-shy girl, but she is now the girl that kicks butt whenever she wants. She also is the girl who falls in love with the nerd of the group (Dwayne Johnson).
Nick Jonas plays the little boy in the beginning who went missing. They later find him in the game and he joins them to beat it.
Overall, Jumanji is a fantastic movie that I very much recommend you to see! The movie will come out on DVD on March 30, 2018.
-Shelby Yorde (‘20) is the Assistant Print Editor of The Viking Vault.
How to get the most out of a college visit
By: Caylee Lindsay
College tours are in full swing during this time of year, and Juniors especially are taking advantage of Spring Break and weekends to visit colleges of interest. Visiting a college can be overwhelming: so much information, yet so little room for your brain to retain every fact about each college. So, here are some guidelines to help you get through your college visits with confidence.
While planning your visit, try to schedule it when there are classes going on at the college. This will help you to get a feel for life on campus and what an average day might be like.
While on your tour, try to picture yourself at each stop. You’re also going to want to jot down any information you want to remember in your phone. Speaking from personal experience, I really wish I had done this. If you plan on visiting a lot of campuses like I did, this will be extremely helpful when you’re comparing colleges; all of the tours blend together after a while, so it’s important to distinguish what aspects you liked about each one and important information.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Especially if it’s a college you’re really interested in, you should ask anything that could possibly help you make your decision in the long run. Tour guides are required to say certain things about the campus, so by asking more specific questions, you know their answers are coming from their own experience with the college.
Other than touring the campus, it will be extremely beneficial to schedule an appointment with your admissions counselor. They will tell you everything you need to know about what you should be doing to get accepted, financial aid, scholarships, credit transfers, and just about everything else.
Lastly, try to venture out on your own after the tour is done. You are free to wander around campuses and enter buildings that don’t require a pass, so visit spots you didn’t see on the tour, try food from the cafeteria, or talk to a student and ask them why they like going to college there.
College visits are not so overwhelming when you keep some of these guidelines in mind. A single question or talk with a counselor could change your mind about a college, so go forward in your search with an open, curious, and rested mind.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
By: Caylee Lindsay
College tours are in full swing during this time of year, and Juniors especially are taking advantage of Spring Break and weekends to visit colleges of interest. Visiting a college can be overwhelming: so much information, yet so little room for your brain to retain every fact about each college. So, here are some guidelines to help you get through your college visits with confidence.
While planning your visit, try to schedule it when there are classes going on at the college. This will help you to get a feel for life on campus and what an average day might be like.
While on your tour, try to picture yourself at each stop. You’re also going to want to jot down any information you want to remember in your phone. Speaking from personal experience, I really wish I had done this. If you plan on visiting a lot of campuses like I did, this will be extremely helpful when you’re comparing colleges; all of the tours blend together after a while, so it’s important to distinguish what aspects you liked about each one and important information.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Especially if it’s a college you’re really interested in, you should ask anything that could possibly help you make your decision in the long run. Tour guides are required to say certain things about the campus, so by asking more specific questions, you know their answers are coming from their own experience with the college.
Other than touring the campus, it will be extremely beneficial to schedule an appointment with your admissions counselor. They will tell you everything you need to know about what you should be doing to get accepted, financial aid, scholarships, credit transfers, and just about everything else.
Lastly, try to venture out on your own after the tour is done. You are free to wander around campuses and enter buildings that don’t require a pass, so visit spots you didn’t see on the tour, try food from the cafeteria, or talk to a student and ask them why they like going to college there.
College visits are not so overwhelming when you keep some of these guidelines in mind. A single question or talk with a counselor could change your mind about a college, so go forward in your search with an open, curious, and rested mind.
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
Another auto parts store angers community
By: Megan Payne
JOHNSTOWN - The city of Johnstown has welcomed a new auto parts which has been opened for about a month or two, adding to the other three that are already located there, but many community members think that the land could be used for something other than a fourth auto parts store. Our local choices now include Whit’s, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and a sit-down Mexican restaurant.
Braden Yost (‘20) says, “There is literally no point in this stupid store. There is simply just no need for another auto parts store.”
The new O'Reilly Auto Parts won’t offer anything that the others do not already sell. To community members, they all consist of the same things, and prices aren’t necessarily better at any one store.
The decision to add a fourth auto parts store has made several people upset for many reasons; some are deciding to act upon the situation, while others are just laying low.
Local trucker Dick Rutter says, “I’ll just get my parts from the same store that I always do. The new store doesn’t change anything for me.”
But others, like Kerry Stein, say, “I won’t be saying much, but I do hope that the city is wiser about what they choose to build next time.”
Young high school students that reside around Johnstown are asking for tasty fast-food places, for example.
Sarah Phillips (‘20) added, “All I want is either a Raising Cane’s or a Chipotle. Like is it really that hard?”
Kody Everts (‘19) said, “We need like a good sit-down restaurant, or even a sports bar would work.” He thinks that the community would benefit more from something like that.
Even parents around the community are demanding for something more useful, like a Marshalls or Target.
Northridge parent Shelley Payne says, “Instead of driving 25 minutes to the nearest clothing store, they could’ve put one in right there. It was the perfect place and everything. I don’t know why the town passed up that opportunity.”
Adding another auto parts store means more competition for the others, as well. Customers now have to decide on the four options where to spend their money.
“As time goes along, one of them will have to go out of business because they won’t be able to attract enough people away from the other stores. Or one of the will have to lower their prices dramatically,” says Rex Bammerlin (‘20).
If a store does eventually close due to lack of business, that will leave a number of workers out of a job. However, if a unique store or restaurant opened up business would boom, allowing for workers to have a stable job.
-Megan Payne (‘20) is the Assistant Web Editor of The Viking Vault.
By: Megan Payne
JOHNSTOWN - The city of Johnstown has welcomed a new auto parts which has been opened for about a month or two, adding to the other three that are already located there, but many community members think that the land could be used for something other than a fourth auto parts store. Our local choices now include Whit’s, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and a sit-down Mexican restaurant.
Braden Yost (‘20) says, “There is literally no point in this stupid store. There is simply just no need for another auto parts store.”
The new O'Reilly Auto Parts won’t offer anything that the others do not already sell. To community members, they all consist of the same things, and prices aren’t necessarily better at any one store.
The decision to add a fourth auto parts store has made several people upset for many reasons; some are deciding to act upon the situation, while others are just laying low.
Local trucker Dick Rutter says, “I’ll just get my parts from the same store that I always do. The new store doesn’t change anything for me.”
But others, like Kerry Stein, say, “I won’t be saying much, but I do hope that the city is wiser about what they choose to build next time.”
Young high school students that reside around Johnstown are asking for tasty fast-food places, for example.
Sarah Phillips (‘20) added, “All I want is either a Raising Cane’s or a Chipotle. Like is it really that hard?”
Kody Everts (‘19) said, “We need like a good sit-down restaurant, or even a sports bar would work.” He thinks that the community would benefit more from something like that.
Even parents around the community are demanding for something more useful, like a Marshalls or Target.
Northridge parent Shelley Payne says, “Instead of driving 25 minutes to the nearest clothing store, they could’ve put one in right there. It was the perfect place and everything. I don’t know why the town passed up that opportunity.”
Adding another auto parts store means more competition for the others, as well. Customers now have to decide on the four options where to spend their money.
“As time goes along, one of them will have to go out of business because they won’t be able to attract enough people away from the other stores. Or one of the will have to lower their prices dramatically,” says Rex Bammerlin (‘20).
If a store does eventually close due to lack of business, that will leave a number of workers out of a job. However, if a unique store or restaurant opened up business would boom, allowing for workers to have a stable job.
-Megan Payne (‘20) is the Assistant Web Editor of The Viking Vault.
Spring Break … athlete style
By: Anna Kohler
NORTHRIDGE- Going on Spring Break is not always an option for athletic students playing spring sports because there are rules and consequences about skipping to go on vacation.
Madie Legg (‘19) is one of the varsity softball players who doesn’t have the option of going on vacation during Spring Break. Legg states, “I can never go on vacation with my family during Spring Break because I can’t miss softball.”
Jackson Wilson (‘19) also has the same problem because of baseball: “I can never go anywhere because my dad is the coach and I play. ”
Even though they can’t go anywhere, the athletes say they still try to make their break fun by hanging out with their friends.
Legg says, “I have a lot of friends that play softball, so we usually just hangout a lot during break.” Meanwhile, her family heads out to vacation destinations without her, and she admits, “It makes me really mad that I can’t go, and I see pictures, and it makes me jealous.”
Julia West (‘20), who runs track, is allowed to go vacation, but the coach prefers players not to. West states, “The track coach said that if you do go on vacation let him know in advance and make sure to practice while you’re vacation.”
West also says, “Even though I have the option to go on Spring Break I don’t because I committed to this sport.”
-Anna Kohler ('20) is a first-year Vault staff member. [email protected]
By: Anna Kohler
NORTHRIDGE- Going on Spring Break is not always an option for athletic students playing spring sports because there are rules and consequences about skipping to go on vacation.
Madie Legg (‘19) is one of the varsity softball players who doesn’t have the option of going on vacation during Spring Break. Legg states, “I can never go on vacation with my family during Spring Break because I can’t miss softball.”
Jackson Wilson (‘19) also has the same problem because of baseball: “I can never go anywhere because my dad is the coach and I play. ”
Even though they can’t go anywhere, the athletes say they still try to make their break fun by hanging out with their friends.
Legg says, “I have a lot of friends that play softball, so we usually just hangout a lot during break.” Meanwhile, her family heads out to vacation destinations without her, and she admits, “It makes me really mad that I can’t go, and I see pictures, and it makes me jealous.”
Julia West (‘20), who runs track, is allowed to go vacation, but the coach prefers players not to. West states, “The track coach said that if you do go on vacation let him know in advance and make sure to practice while you’re vacation.”
West also says, “Even though I have the option to go on Spring Break I don’t because I committed to this sport.”
-Anna Kohler ('20) is a first-year Vault staff member. [email protected]
Making the most of your Spring Break
By: Katelyn Darby
The thought of Spring Break leaves everyone counting down the days; some may be going on vacation to warm, tropical places, while others are stuck at home. Here are a few ideas for how to make the most of your Spring Break for the more unlucky of the aforementioned.
You won’t have to travel very far at all to do fun things right here in Columbus. Grab your friends or family and go to a Columbus Blue Jackets game, or go watch the Columbus Crew! There are games scheduled during Spring Break, so now would be the perfect time to get your hands on some tickets.
Another fun thing to do in Columbus is a visit to the Columbus Blooms, opening on April 4th at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Over 100,000 blooming flowers are a great way to welcome Spring. Franklin Park is also home to Blooms and Butterflies, a stunning, tropical garden filled with thousands of butterflies.
You can’t go wrong with a visit to Columbus; there are countless other activities and events to go to. Trying new restaurants and cafes or just shopping around can be the best kind of day trip for those of us stuck at home over Spring Break.
Living in central Ohio means that accessing fun things to do all over the state can be done in a day trip! Traveling to Cincinnati or Cleveland for the day is another day trip that will allow for many memories with friends or family. Newport Aquarium is just outside of Cincinnati in Newport, Kentucky, and is the perfect excursion if you’re wishing you were somewhere a little more tropical. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is also only a short three-hour drive if you want to escape Ohio for the day.
Apart from all of the other countless amounts of options, these activities are sure to get you out of the house for the day. Staying at home may not be so boring after all!
-Katelyn Darby is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
By: Katelyn Darby
The thought of Spring Break leaves everyone counting down the days; some may be going on vacation to warm, tropical places, while others are stuck at home. Here are a few ideas for how to make the most of your Spring Break for the more unlucky of the aforementioned.
You won’t have to travel very far at all to do fun things right here in Columbus. Grab your friends or family and go to a Columbus Blue Jackets game, or go watch the Columbus Crew! There are games scheduled during Spring Break, so now would be the perfect time to get your hands on some tickets.
Another fun thing to do in Columbus is a visit to the Columbus Blooms, opening on April 4th at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Over 100,000 blooming flowers are a great way to welcome Spring. Franklin Park is also home to Blooms and Butterflies, a stunning, tropical garden filled with thousands of butterflies.
You can’t go wrong with a visit to Columbus; there are countless other activities and events to go to. Trying new restaurants and cafes or just shopping around can be the best kind of day trip for those of us stuck at home over Spring Break.
Living in central Ohio means that accessing fun things to do all over the state can be done in a day trip! Traveling to Cincinnati or Cleveland for the day is another day trip that will allow for many memories with friends or family. Newport Aquarium is just outside of Cincinnati in Newport, Kentucky, and is the perfect excursion if you’re wishing you were somewhere a little more tropical. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is also only a short three-hour drive if you want to escape Ohio for the day.
Apart from all of the other countless amounts of options, these activities are sure to get you out of the house for the day. Staying at home may not be so boring after all!
-Katelyn Darby is a third-year Vault staff member and Web Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
The struggle of having glasses
By: Megan Smith
I’ve noticed over the years that those people who don’t need glasses really take that for granted. They don’t realize how much of a struggle it can be sometimes. Some people even joke around with their friends, or bully others for having glasses. “Four eyes” or “nerd” are usually names thrown at those of us with poor eyesight. I’ve even had a friend who wished she had glasses, and would buy fake ones just for style.
Glasses, however, are not stylish. If anything, they are more of a nuisance. If there is any hope of them being stylish, they’d have to be black; any other color, and they could clash with an outfit. But it’s not like they can be changed daily; frames and lenses both cost over a hundred dollars together most of the time. They also have to be pushed up a hundred times a day because of how easily they slip off, and taken off for sleeping and showering. They easily get steamed up in the shower, and they are in the way when trying to lay down in bed. But once they are taken off, it's too hard to see to be able to do what is necessary in an efficient way.
Besides how much they can cost, which is truly a lot, they can get lost or broken very easily. Those who wear glasses know the dreaded “SNAP” and the panic that follow. Not only are they easy to snap, but they also scratch like no other. Once the lens is scratched, there is truly no hope unless new lenses are purchased. Even cleaning them on a shirt, or anything that is not their cleaning cloth, could leave little scratches and make seeing out of them closer and closer to impossible.
Not only can they get broken or lost, but they limit the area of sight.
Some people even hate the way they make them look. To fix this, they can wear contacts. However, there are many dangers and downfalls of contacts as well. They can hurt, get too dry, get stuck to your eyeball, and it’s easy to scratch your eye while trying to take them out. They can hurt for reasons like putting them in backwards, or getting something underneath them. There can be very many complications.
Those people who don’t need glasses should definitely consider themselves lucky. They should also be more understanding of those with glasses, since there are so many problems that are caused by needing them. People who need them have to be very skilled and self controlled to be able to deal with glasses and contacts every single day.
-Megan Smith (‘18) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Megan Smith
I’ve noticed over the years that those people who don’t need glasses really take that for granted. They don’t realize how much of a struggle it can be sometimes. Some people even joke around with their friends, or bully others for having glasses. “Four eyes” or “nerd” are usually names thrown at those of us with poor eyesight. I’ve even had a friend who wished she had glasses, and would buy fake ones just for style.
Glasses, however, are not stylish. If anything, they are more of a nuisance. If there is any hope of them being stylish, they’d have to be black; any other color, and they could clash with an outfit. But it’s not like they can be changed daily; frames and lenses both cost over a hundred dollars together most of the time. They also have to be pushed up a hundred times a day because of how easily they slip off, and taken off for sleeping and showering. They easily get steamed up in the shower, and they are in the way when trying to lay down in bed. But once they are taken off, it's too hard to see to be able to do what is necessary in an efficient way.
Besides how much they can cost, which is truly a lot, they can get lost or broken very easily. Those who wear glasses know the dreaded “SNAP” and the panic that follow. Not only are they easy to snap, but they also scratch like no other. Once the lens is scratched, there is truly no hope unless new lenses are purchased. Even cleaning them on a shirt, or anything that is not their cleaning cloth, could leave little scratches and make seeing out of them closer and closer to impossible.
Not only can they get broken or lost, but they limit the area of sight.
Some people even hate the way they make them look. To fix this, they can wear contacts. However, there are many dangers and downfalls of contacts as well. They can hurt, get too dry, get stuck to your eyeball, and it’s easy to scratch your eye while trying to take them out. They can hurt for reasons like putting them in backwards, or getting something underneath them. There can be very many complications.
Those people who don’t need glasses should definitely consider themselves lucky. They should also be more understanding of those with glasses, since there are so many problems that are caused by needing them. People who need them have to be very skilled and self controlled to be able to deal with glasses and contacts every single day.
-Megan Smith (‘18) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
The Realities of Spring Break
By: Meg Castle
Spring Break. The long-awaited and anticipated break after the grind of the third nine weeks.
Numerous activities and get-togethers are planned out for months in advance, and family vacations are finally becoming a reality! The weather is finally good enough to be able to do things out doors, and friends are always up for anything! Right? Wrong.
Vacation
Expectation: Finally. You’re all packed up and on your way to happiness. Your family is driving down and you’re all cozy in a blanket with your headphones on, stretched out in the back seat. You sleep most of the way down and when you get there, the hotel room is already ready for you. It’s perfect.
Reality: The car ride is horrible. Your headphones are broken, and your mom has control of the radio. Your little brother or sister won’t stop asking “are we there yet?” and the car is as cold as an ice cube. Everytime you start to fall asleep, someone has to stop and take a restroom break, making everything harder than it needs to be. The worst part, you forgot your charger and didn’t notice until you’re in a different state. Oh, and you have to wait two hours when you get to the hotel until your room is even ready.
The Weather
Expectation: Sunny and 65 degrees, maybe even 70! Not a cloud in sight, and you can finally break out your shorts and tank-tops. Ohio is finally warm and sunny. It doesn’t rain once all Spring Break.
Reality: It’s Ohio dude, seriously? It will probably be raining the first three days of break, and there might even be some snow somewhere in there. The rest of break is that weird, gross, weather where you cannot tell whether or not it is hot or cold, and the grass is muddy from melty snow. Put away your shorts; you won’t need them for another couple months.
Friends
Expectation: All your friends are still in town so you all decide to meet up and spend time together. Over Spring Break there will be a plethora of friend movie dates, dinner dates, maybe even some bowling and putt putting. Don’t forget the bonfires everyone will be throwing.
Reality: Okay ... but all of your friends went on vacation with their families or each other. Bonfires? No, we already talked about the weather so that is NOT happening. The friends that didn’t go on vacation ... they’re probably grounded or already busy.
Spring Break is much anticipated; however, it doesn’t always go as planned. Instead of planning on having lots of fun with all your friends and being able to enjoy the outdoors, just open your Netflix up, buddy. Put on some pajamas, make some food, and binge that new series you’ve been putting off watching. Netflix can’t ditch your plans.
-Megan Castle (‘19) is a Photo Editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Meg Castle
Spring Break. The long-awaited and anticipated break after the grind of the third nine weeks.
Numerous activities and get-togethers are planned out for months in advance, and family vacations are finally becoming a reality! The weather is finally good enough to be able to do things out doors, and friends are always up for anything! Right? Wrong.
Vacation
Expectation: Finally. You’re all packed up and on your way to happiness. Your family is driving down and you’re all cozy in a blanket with your headphones on, stretched out in the back seat. You sleep most of the way down and when you get there, the hotel room is already ready for you. It’s perfect.
Reality: The car ride is horrible. Your headphones are broken, and your mom has control of the radio. Your little brother or sister won’t stop asking “are we there yet?” and the car is as cold as an ice cube. Everytime you start to fall asleep, someone has to stop and take a restroom break, making everything harder than it needs to be. The worst part, you forgot your charger and didn’t notice until you’re in a different state. Oh, and you have to wait two hours when you get to the hotel until your room is even ready.
The Weather
Expectation: Sunny and 65 degrees, maybe even 70! Not a cloud in sight, and you can finally break out your shorts and tank-tops. Ohio is finally warm and sunny. It doesn’t rain once all Spring Break.
Reality: It’s Ohio dude, seriously? It will probably be raining the first three days of break, and there might even be some snow somewhere in there. The rest of break is that weird, gross, weather where you cannot tell whether or not it is hot or cold, and the grass is muddy from melty snow. Put away your shorts; you won’t need them for another couple months.
Friends
Expectation: All your friends are still in town so you all decide to meet up and spend time together. Over Spring Break there will be a plethora of friend movie dates, dinner dates, maybe even some bowling and putt putting. Don’t forget the bonfires everyone will be throwing.
Reality: Okay ... but all of your friends went on vacation with their families or each other. Bonfires? No, we already talked about the weather so that is NOT happening. The friends that didn’t go on vacation ... they’re probably grounded or already busy.
Spring Break is much anticipated; however, it doesn’t always go as planned. Instead of planning on having lots of fun with all your friends and being able to enjoy the outdoors, just open your Netflix up, buddy. Put on some pajamas, make some food, and binge that new series you’ve been putting off watching. Netflix can’t ditch your plans.
-Megan Castle (‘19) is a Photo Editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Dr. Love
The whole point of dating
By: Sydney Miller
You don’t have to be in a relationship to know the purpose of dating. Some may think that the purpose of dating is so you can take cute pictures of each other and caption it with some cheesy paragraph stating why their date is the best. There’s much more to it than that, believe it or not.
The whole idea of dating is to potentially find your future significant other. Though, on rare occasions, people find their significant other on the first try, people typically date multiple other people to find what qualities they like in that person and some they don’t like, so when they’re trying to settle down they know what to try and find. If you think about it, maybe in the Titanic Rose liked the fact that Jack would sacrifice his own life to save others and used that as the measure of her future relationships.
Everyone who’s seen High School Musical wishes that they had a relationship like Troy and Gabriella’s relationship, but even they had their bumps in the road. Also, who says they ended up getting married? That’s right, they graduated college, and who knows if they’re together now? Some people find their special someone in high school, some in college and some not even in school. When you’re in high school it seems like we have to have the person we want to marry picked out, but in all reality only on rare occasions do people find their soulmate in grades 9-12.
Having a boyfriend/girlfriend in high school is just like another best friend you have to go on crazy adventures and spend a lot of time with. All and all, dating someone and breaking up with them in high school is not the end of the world; you’re just trying to figure out what you like in someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with.
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
-Sydney Miller (‘18) is a second year Vault staff member and Senior Spotlight Editor
The whole point of dating
By: Sydney Miller
You don’t have to be in a relationship to know the purpose of dating. Some may think that the purpose of dating is so you can take cute pictures of each other and caption it with some cheesy paragraph stating why their date is the best. There’s much more to it than that, believe it or not.
The whole idea of dating is to potentially find your future significant other. Though, on rare occasions, people find their significant other on the first try, people typically date multiple other people to find what qualities they like in that person and some they don’t like, so when they’re trying to settle down they know what to try and find. If you think about it, maybe in the Titanic Rose liked the fact that Jack would sacrifice his own life to save others and used that as the measure of her future relationships.
Everyone who’s seen High School Musical wishes that they had a relationship like Troy and Gabriella’s relationship, but even they had their bumps in the road. Also, who says they ended up getting married? That’s right, they graduated college, and who knows if they’re together now? Some people find their special someone in high school, some in college and some not even in school. When you’re in high school it seems like we have to have the person we want to marry picked out, but in all reality only on rare occasions do people find their soulmate in grades 9-12.
Having a boyfriend/girlfriend in high school is just like another best friend you have to go on crazy adventures and spend a lot of time with. All and all, dating someone and breaking up with them in high school is not the end of the world; you’re just trying to figure out what you like in someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with.
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
-Sydney Miller (‘18) is a second year Vault staff member and Senior Spotlight Editor