Chronicle 18.5

An aerial view of Shadow Lake Mobile Home Village, the neighborhood Emerik Moser lives in.

Design by Aadrija Biswas

2 Cover Story January 22, 2021

taking on twitch

Students take to watching and streaming on rising platform

DellaJohnson

STAFF WRITER

Cover Story

Real-time broadcasting has found to stream. And then you just expect ourselves, which is not a bad thing,” funny, people like watching that.”
Rennekamp said. “But having a posi- Playing with a group of friends is
its way into the daily routine of high that in your day, so they become a part tive thing to busy ourselves with -- it’s
definitely improved my mental health, extremely common in the streaming
schoolers. of your day to day routine. They’re part and I’m sure plenty of other people’s. community. With the right energy and
I have trouble focusing, but for [live humor created by the relationships
Live streaming - -specifically video of your life, and that makes you feel a streams] it’s really easy because you between the players, they can garner
can do other things on your phone a large following. Still, even with the
game streaming -- has quickly become lot more comfortable and have more of while you’re watching them. It’s just Twitch algorithm figured out, Lipsey
nice to have their voice in the back- stresses that the main focus of his
the entertainment of choice among a purpose with what you’re [watching] ground because it’s something you’re channel is just for fun and for memo-
familiar with. And if you get bored [of ries. After he’s finished with a live
teenagers. Platforms such as YouTube and feel more comfortable with them.” watching the stream], you can always stream, Lipsey can upload highlight
come back to it.” clips and funny moments to his chan-
Live and Amazon’s Twitch provide Rennekamp also appreciates how nel. He does this not just to show off
The world of live streaming for a his skills to potential followers, but also
extensive spaces for creators to cast reactions between chat and the creator high school student does not end at to save them to watch on his own.
watching, though. For junior Xavier
video directly to their audience at the play out, such as when someone Lipsey, the idea of starting his own The moments of streaming he saves
channel and filming himself playing and the people he interacts with in his
exact time they are filming, allowing watching comments a joke and then video games was more appealing. chat are able to give Lipsey enough
Lipsey has been streaming for a year momentum to keep him uploading on a
for direct contact and unedited action. everyone on the stream “laughs about on his Twitch channel JavierXol. Each regular basis. He said appreciating the
of his live streams averages around ups and downs of his hobby as well
While live streaming was invented in it.” Sharing an exchange of emotions two hours each. He often streams as the excitement while playing has
games that are trending: Among Us, encouraged him online and in real life.
the 1990s, it has just recently reached creates a through-screen connection Minecraft, and Phasmophobia, to
name a few. But he does not just fol- “It’s kind of hard to keep streaming,”
its peak popularity with help from the that has not quite been established on low every trend; his main criterion for Lipsey said. “I have really good days,
choosing what games to feature on his and then I’ll have a day where maybe
younger generations. media platforms that don’t offer a live live streams is that he has to enjoy it it’s just me and my friend. But once I’m
himself. done and I’m going back, watching the
During a typical stream, the creator streaming feature. Rennekamp has clips, I’m seeing how much fun I have.
“I try to play what people are going Whenever I have people just come into
interacts with their audience: answer- also personally interacted in the chat to watch,” Lipsey said. “But I also try my chat and I’m talking to them and
to play what I’m going to enjoy and create an actual friendship with them --
ing questions, saying hello, asking for function, utilizing the donation func- what I can laugh with friends on and it motivates me to keep going. One of
have fun. Because, if I’m not having the main reasons I didn’t start [stream-
feedback. And their audience continu- tion to support some of her favorite fun, nobody’s going to want to watch ing] is that I didn’t have the confidence
that. When you’re genuine and friendly, to put myself out there. It gives you a
ously responds through a chat func- creators. She once donated to creator and you have that chemistry [with the lot more confidence -- there’s nothing
people you play with], and you’re just to be worried about.”
tion in real-time. This type of contact GeorgeNotFound because she “just

diverges from the classic platform of really enjoyed him and wanted to send

an online edited video such as those him a nice message,” to which he gave

commonly seen on Youtube. In recent a personal reply, saying “‘thank you so

trends, video creators that do not live much.’”

stream are receiving less interaction Building strong bonds with streamers

from their subscribers than those that and live content creators may have a

do. constructive impact on the viewer as

Junior Kaylee Rennekamp has been they watch content that incorporates

watching streamers since one of her real-life communication skills. Ren-

favorite content creators, Markiplier, nekamp has noticed the tendency

began live streaming. She enjoys the of herself and her peers to gravitate

contrast from regular YouTube while towards constant entertainment,

getting to know who she’s watching. and watching alongside her favorite

“I think one of the main things that’s creatives has helped her do something

obviously very different is the interac- more productive and beneficial with her

tion,” Rennekamp said. “It feels like you screen time.

know the person and you get to know “Our generation just has this main

their schedule, like when they’re going focus of kind of needing to busy

C 300 send a message

January 22, 2021 News 3

Student-led Global Language Initiative diversifies MHS’ learnable languages

Ally Guo | Staff Writer Sophomores Emir Tali and Raquel Ramirez both lead the
Language barriers are being broken thanks to Ma- GLI as Ambassadors while learning other languages.

son High School’s (MHS) Global Language Initiative. Photos by Ally Guo, graphic by Lexi Brown
Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and American
maintain a “secure language every week or missing meetings, it is some-
Sign Language are offered during the school day environment for everyone” and finds that students are times difficult for teachers to accommodate all skill
as classes to Mason students. However, the Global often interested in these topics. levels. However, Tali believes this issue can actually be
Language Initiative (GLI) was established two years beneficial.
ago so that students could learn an even wider array of “A big part of identity is your language, which con-
languages. nects to culture,” Shaikh said. “As a child of immigrants “It’s a problem, but I kind of turned into an advan-
who speaks two different languages at home, it’s just a tage,” Tali said. “Because I know that some students
At club meetings, members split up into different good idea [to have] a place where people can come and missed a meeting or two, I review the past lesson[s].
groups based on what language they are interested in, be comfortable with their own identity.” It becomes a teaching moment for that student who
and native speakers of that language -- called Ambas- missed it.”
sadors -- teach an informal lesson for about an hour. Ramirez, who teaches Spanish while learning Rus-
Available languages include Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, sian and Turkish, said she really enjoys attending GLI Another struggle is finding teachers for certain lan-
Russian, Hindi, Telugu, Afrikaans, and more. meetings, both as a student and a teacher. Alongside guages. Shaikh said that if several students are looking
interacting with other students, she said she relishes to learn an unavailable language, she’ll make a post
Sophomore Raquel Ramirez, the current President the opportunity to share her language and develop on Instagram and try to find someone who speaks that
of the GLI and an Ambassador for Spanish, said that al- important skills. language. Additionally, attempts have been made to
though she often learns new languages by herself, she expand the club beyond MHS, such as reaching out to a
joined the club in order to practice them with other “As a student, it’s so much fun because you’re learn- Russian speaker who lives outside of the Mason district.
people. She said she believes a great way to learn lan- ing what you’re interested in,” Ramirez said. “There’s
guages is by making a “personal connection to some- a lot of back and forth with the speaking and it makes “That was a really big initiative that we started this
one else” and practicing with “day-to-day” situations. you think on your feet, which is a skill that a lot of year,” Ramirez said. “We’re trying to connect a bunch of
people are trying to work on. As a teacher, it’s super fun students from all over the country and [other] schools
“That really was the primary motivation for me: because you get to use your own language, which you to broaden the amount of languages we have. We’re
to meet new people and learn new things about the might not have [much] chance to use outside of your always willing to add new people in, no matter what
world,” Ramirez said. personal family and relationships. Language is such a school they’re from.”
window into the culture of those individuals, and you
Sophomore Emir Tali, an Ambassador for Turkish, can really see how [people] think in the language.” Alongside adding even more languages and involv-
said that alongside teaching Turkish, he learns Spanish ing more English Second Language students, there
with the club. Though he also takes Spanish at the Ramirez also said she appreciates the relaxed, en- is also the possibility of expanding the GLI to other
school, he believes his speaking has improved as a couraging environment of the GLI. Though she was countries. Tali said he thought the club could poten-
result of the GLI because of the opportunity to practice nervous when she first began, she said the support she tially find Ambassadors from out of the country to do a
having everyday conversations with native speakers. received made it so she doesn’t have to “worry about “mutual exchange,” where GLI members teach foreign
making a mistake or sounding weird.” students English while learning them.
“The class content isn’t bad, but there’s just not that
much person-to-person speaking,” Tali said. “[With “We’re doing this video that we’re going to show- Although Ramirez said she is excited to see the club
Raquel], we converse about daily life and what hap- case at the end of the year, where everyone submits a evolve, her ultimate goal is to create a place where
pened in school. Since she’s [a] native [speaker], she uses video clip of them speaking their language of choice at people are free to share their cultures and bond over a
some common slang words that I don’t really know. I the very beginning of the year, and then again, at the love of languages.
write them down so I can use them later. And if I say end of the year, so they can really see their progress,”
something wrong -- say, use the wrong tense or the Ramirez said. “We’re doing this to show that you can do “We really want to touch every student in some way,”
sentence [doesn’t] make sense--she corrects me and then it. It doesn’t take a talent to learn a language. You just Ramirez said. “We’re really hoping that it’s a club where
I try to say it again.” have to want to learn it.” everyone can feel comfortable to go in and share their
language and their culture, because sometimes people
Though some people join the club to supplement While most Ambassadors and can be afraid to do that. We’re really hoping to create a
their normal high school language classes, accord- students enjoy the laid back and safe space for everybody, and we’re hoping to get more
ing to junior Laila Shaikh, the Head of Marketing and flexible nature of the GLI, it does people involved and share our love for languages with
Outreach and an Ambassador for Arabic, most students present occasional problems. With other people throughout the school so that it keeps
come because they have a “passion about another some students choosing a different growing.”
language.”

“I know a lot of people who complain about Mason
not offering more than Spanish, French, Mandarin, and
German,” Shaikh said. “[The] majority [of] the people
who come want to learn, [for example], Italian or
Shanghainese or Arabic.”

Lessons with the GLI are extremely flexible for both
the students and the Ambassadors. Students can choose
what language to attend on a week-by-week basis, al-
lowing them to either stick with one language or be
exposed to a wide variety.

The Ambassadors also have a lot of freedom to cus-
tomize their lessons. For example, Tali chooses to use
PowerPoint presentations during his lessons while other
teachers don’t. He said he tries to “expose the students
to [the] language as much as possible,” such as by giv-
ing “example conversations” and “playing sounds.”

Urdu Ambassador and sophomore Omar Chaudhry,
said the students often guide the content that is taught.
Though he started out teaching some basic fundamen-
tals of Urdu, such as key words, students are able to
request certain topics, grammar, or vocabulary.

“We do whatever the student [wants] to learn,”
Chaudhry said. “Like a specific word or sentence they
wanted to learn, they could come to that session with
that sentence or list of verbs and then we would tell
them it.”

Additionally, Shaikh said she often ends up
discussing the culture, history, and politics of the
Arabic-speaking world after the main lesson is
finished. Though sometimes these conversations can
get “off-topic” and “super political,” she said she tries to

Graphic by Lexi Brown

4 News January 22, 2021

MHS exploring post pandemic remote learning options

Graphic by Aadrija Biswas

Ally Guo | Staff Writer be our Mason teachers and our Mason what’s best fit, and families will be able to course.”
curriculum.” pick what’s best for them.” The plan for future online courses
Remote learning may be returning
in the future -- for reasons other than Sophomore Cynthia Shao, who chose Part of attaining that “best fit” is to is still in tentative development and
pandemic safety. remote learning this year, said she also incorporate more flexibility in student planning, but Jordan said her team has
believes the lack of engagement with schedules. Though tentative, the admin- been working with the focus groups and
When online classes were first Mason teachers is an issue. With short and istration has proposed offering hybrid families to make improvements and
implemented, many students and staff infrequent Zoom meetings, as well as the schedules in the future, where students adjustments. Based on solutions and ac-
at Mason believed it would be a tempo- expectation that students are supposed to can take a combination of online and in- tion steps proposed by the community, a
rary solution to a temporary problem. learn the content on their own, she said person classes concurrently. Jordan says prototype model has already been made.
However, as the administration received she sometimes struggles to master the she believes hybrid schedules will “[open]
feedback from families using the remote material. up flexibility for learning preferences and According to Jordan, teacher leaders
learning option, it hopes to make im- what [students] truly need as a learner,” have been discussing some models that
provements to the process and offer more “[The classes] shorten the Zoom meet- allowing students to “personalize their have been shared with the central office
online classes -- potentially even a hybrid ings to an hour of each class a week,” learning experience.” but nothing is finalized. Jordan feels
schedule where students can mix online Shao said. “Some classes we don’t even there’s still a great deal of collaborative
and in-person classes -- in future years. get Zoom meetings. And during the “We’ve seen some online learners work to be done with high school teach-
Zoom meetings, [I talk] to other students thrive this year, [but] online learning is ers in order to develop a program that
According to Associate Principal of who are just as clueless as me, or [the not for everyone,” Jordan said. “That’s is well rounded and respects a healthy
Teaching and Learning Dr. Robyn Jordan, teachers] go over the Learning Plan. I why I think [it’s] a huge benefit to be able balance between online and in person
Mason formed several focus groups in or- don’t need [them] to go over what we’re to personalize your learning. It really learning.
der to hear feedback from “every type of doing this week. I need [them] to go over just depends on who that student is as a
family” and “every type of learner.” Each the content, so I [can] actually listen and learner and what they feel like is best for Shao said that although she under-
focus group was asked the same ques- absorb what we’re learning.” their learning needs. [Flexible schedules] stands how more customizable schedules
tions, centering around what has gone really get at the heart of personalized could benefit some students, she views
well this year and what needs to change. Shao also said she finds it much easier learning.” “having school as a block in [her] day”
However, one particularly important to get good grades in her online classes as a source of “stability in [her] life” and
question asked to families was, “What but believes that “it’s wrong that they’re However, because not all classes, such doesn’t see herself taking online classes if
does Mason quality mean to you?” so easy.” Shao said that even though as more hands-on subjects like science she doesn’t need to.
“[her] grade might be a 100 or a 95, [her] and art, lend themselves well to an online
“The feedback clearly showed that part comprehension is like a five” due to lack setting, not all courses will be offered “I think I’ve been experiencing way too
of Mason quality was the teachers and the of direct instruction from teachers. online. Currently, the plan is that when much flexibility that I don’t know what to
curriculum,” Jordan said. “Those robust students go to register for courses, the do with,” Shao said. “I’ve been told all my
offerings, the curriculum that is offered Jordan said she believes the disparity course selector will indicate which classes life to follow this schedule, and now they
in person, our Mason teachers.” between online and in-person courses are offered in person and which could just throw this [new] schedule at me.”
will shrink once the Mason curriculum is potentially be taken online.
Although the current online model implemented online to be taught by Ma- Jordan said she also predicts that
aligns with Ohio standards and is sup- son teachers. For example, adjustments Additionally, according to Jordan, due most students would choose to stay all
ported by Mason teachers, the curriculum might be made to the schedule so that to logistical reasons, it will not be pos- in-person, however, she believes it is im-
was not developed by them. Instead, it the time spent interacting with a teacher sible for all students to receive a “perfect portant to keep an online option open for
was created by and purchased from an is more consistent between both options. schedule.” For example, a student may the smaller percentage of students who
outside company. Additionally, because some Mason teach- have an in-person first bell but an online do thrive with remote learning.
ers may be teaching both online and second bell and in-person third bell.
“Our community clearly shared that if in-portion sections at the same time, the Jordan said she recognizes the transporta- “At the end of the day, what we want
online is going to continue, we want it to classes will be able to “mirror” each other tion, time, and convenience problems this is for our students to feel psychologically
be our Mason teachers that are devel- more closely. poses. safe in any environment,” Jordan said.
oping and delivering the curriculum,” “We want them to have really meaning-
Jordan said. “The teachers said that that’s “I think that will improve tremendous- “We still have to plan out [the] logistics ful and relevant learning experiences and
what they wanted, too. As of now, we’re ly, just the way we structure the system of where the student would go,” Jordan be unapologetically themselves. That’s
seeing that there’s probably going to be to begin with,” Jordan said. “We build it said. “Is there a space they [could] go dur- Mason quality, and that’s what we want to
a need for some form of online option in that way where it’s our teachers, our ing an online bell, [where] they’re still in be able to provide to our families. That’s
moving into next year, so we want it to curriculum, and then students can select the building, but they’re working on their what we work to provide.”

January 22, 2021 Feature 5

MHS juniors fundraise to increase access to healthcare in rural India

Abby Waechter | Staff Writer necessarily a challenge. After the first three days, we from Barelli led them to take up the opportunity to
only had 15 dollars,” Singidi said. “It didn’t feel like help people while the group themselves remained
Living miles away from the nearest hospital dur- getting the amount of money was too big of a prob- in a strict quarantine due to concerns regarding the
ing a pandemic, rural villagers in India have limited lem after we started releasing things like flyers and effects of COVID-19.
access to crucial medical care. Students 8,300 miles videos. After that, [donations] came rolling in.”
away at Mason High School, however, are doing “Our manager threw out this idea of funding a
their part to help despite the distance. The group had to take many obstacles into tele-medicine platform,” Vedati said. “It was differ-
consideration while planning their project such as ent, it was helpful, and it would provide something
Juniors Vamshi Singidi, Vignesh Gogineli, Vida geographical differences. Since access to the tech- that a lot of people need and can have access to, so
Vedati, Niraj Koneru, and Rajeev Kunaparaju -- nology needed for the app to work is not available we took advantage of it and just ran through it from
creators of the Tarangini Youth Group -- had just 21 in certain locations, the group had to find a target there.”
days to raise $3,330 for a technology platform called mandal where the majority of villagers have access
Telangana Information Technology Association to mobile devices in order for the app to be effec- Since COVID-19 limited travel in many villages
(TITA) in order to qualify for a match grant from tive. and healthcare stations were dotted with patients,
biomedical company Johnson & Johnson. TITA, a many people in mandals did not have the opportu-
non-profit and non-governmental organization, de- Group member Niraj Koneru said that the group nity to see a healthcare worker when they were sick.
veloped an app called T-Consult which would allow settled on the Narva and Marikal mandals in the The app T-Consult would allow more villagers to
for rural villages in India to better connect their vil- Narayanpet District because most of the villagers get assistance from a doctor more frequently and
lagers to healthcare workers during the pandemic. had available devices that could download and use in an easier fashion. Therefore, the group decided
the app. that raising money for a smaller company was the
Indian states are divided into districts called man- smartest decision because it was an effective way
dals. Each mandal contains up to 30 villages with “The app connects healthcare workers to the vil- of actually helping people who wouldn’t normally
just one designated health care worker per mandal. lagers so that villagers could get the right help and have access to their village healthcare worker.
By raising money for the cause, the group was able prescriptions,” Koneru said. “We had to make sure
to provide the healthcare workers in one mandal that everyone had access to it, otherwise it simply Project organizer Vignesh Gogineli said that
with training and access to TITA’s app. would not have been effective.” there were lots of possible organizations that the
project funds could have gone towards such as the
Through the Caring Crowd Platform sponsored Ties between adult mentors and the Tarangini Red Cross, but by choosing a smaller company, the
by Johnson & Johnson, however, if the boys reached Youth Group influenced their motivation to get group said that they felt that they were able to help
their goal in 21 days, a match grant would be do- involved in up and coming technology platforms. others more directly.
nated to their cause. Co-project organizer Vamshi Dileep Barelli, a gastroenterologist and the boys’
Singidi said that the timeframe was intimidating project supervisor, inspired them to take on the proj- “Big companies are very helpful, and they do
at first, but the issue of not raising enough money ect and raise money for those in need in the unique help a lot of people in a myriad of different ways,”
never struck them as a challenge. way of funding a tele-medicine company that would Gogineli said, “But by focusing on smaller com-
potentially help villages in India. panies like TITA, you’re able to bring attention to
“It was a pretty tight timeframe, but it wasn’t things like telemedicine that oftentimes people look
Co-project organizer Vida Vedati said that the help over and neglect.”

Graphic by Aadrija Biswas

6 News January 22, 2021

Mason students hospitalized, critically ill from COVID

Ann Vettikkal | News Editor Gianna Gonzalez assessed the severity of her condition and, thana’s and Gonzalez’s COVID journey: both
MHS, Junior though just 11 years old, Keerthana received followed medical advice on how to mitigate
On Monday, December 14, junior Gianna the medicine for emergency use. the risk of infection, both expected a rela-
Gonzalez went to school, worked a shift at Another student at Mason was also tively painless and quick case of COVID like
Carraba’s Italian Grill, and came home com- admitted for COVID-19. But her stay at the What they didn’t know at the time is that most their age go through (“I was under the
pletely normal. More than a month later, hospital lasted for more than a week — and just days after receiving the emergency impression that she’s young -- how bad can
she struggles to breathe, is still recovering landed her in the Intensive Care Unit at medicine -- day 9 and 10 with the virus -- it get?” Gayatri said), and both emphasized
from pneumonia, and can only taste foods Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Sixth-grader Keerthana’s fever would break, her appetite the importance of doing your part to keep
with extreme flavor. Keerthana Pulapaka was an energetic, would return, and she would begin the path others safe as the nation continues to shatter
healthy kid who had just gotten her black toward recovery. its ceiling of record deaths and infections.
Gonzalez is part of a small but present belt in martial arts. But starting November
group of healthy young people that, for 21, she began to experience the virus in tiers: But it was precisely this inability to Seeing people around her fail to follow
reasons still being studied and analyzed, ex- on day one she had a fever and fatigue, day know that scared Gayatri the most during COVID guidelines is difficult for Gonzalez
perience COVID in a particularly miserable, four a stomach ache and low appetite, and her daughter’s struggle with COVID. The -- she knows the damage such behavior can
at times life-threatening manner. on day seven a dry cough and high fever novelty of the virus means that there is little cause.
that still had not subsided after over-the- research on how kids Keerthana’s age fare.
“My doctors thought I wasn’t gonna make counter medication. In fact, because of these gaps in experts’ “[At Carraba’s Italian Grill], I bring [food]
it for a hot minute,” Gonzalez said. knowledge, Keerthana participated in out to people’s cars,” Gonzalez said. “And
Her mother Gayatri Pulapaka walked research at Children’s to help doctors figure a lot of the time those people don’t wear
The most intense segment of the ordeal through the entire timeline and explained out why “some kids got as sick as she got,” masks. And even if you’re wearing a mask,
lasted three weeks, starting the day after the steps she took next after concerns of according to Gayatri. it doesn’t work if everyone around you isn’t
that uneventful Monday. She recalled wak- Keerthana’s relentless 103-degree fever. wearing a mask.”
ing up the next morning with a dry cough. She lived day-to-day, hoping that Keer-
Worried about both having the virus and “I called the pediatricians office again thana’s health would improve, but not hav- She brought up a number of after-effects
“getting made fun of” by her COVID-wary and I said, ‘Hey, I’m worried her fevers are ing definite answers or a way to know for she still deals with on a day-to-day basis such
classmates, Gonzalez decided to stay home spiking.’” Gayatri said. “The medicine barely sure if she would get better. as nausea and dizziness.
and get tested. The positive test result came could keep her comfortable. That’s when the
back Wednesday morning and immediately pediatrician said she needs to be checked.” “It was pretty scary going through it “At random parts of the day I just sit
after as if on cue, Gonzalez was hit with because of the unknown factors,” Gayatri down and take a break, like after going
“every single symptom.” It was at Cincinnati Children’s that they said. “If you had an established treatment up the stairs,” Gonzalez said. “Breathing is
discovered she was developing pneumonia. plan or enough data to say, ‘On this day, it really hard and it takes a lot of my energy
“I felt really nauseous and [had] body That along with low oxygen levels kept will peak but then she will get better after which is frustrating because before I had
aches so severe that I could barely move Keerthana for observation and treatment in COVID, I was completely healthy. But now I
without feeling pain,” Gonzalez said, mov- the hospital for more than a week. Keerthana Pulapaka have all these problems and I’m still taking
ing through the extensive list. “I lost my MIS, 6th grader all these medications. And those medica-
taste and I lost my smell right away. I felt fa- “I couldn’t really breathe,” Keerthana tions are giving me other symptoms as
tigued. I had a double middle ear infection, said. “I was breathing but not really [getting] this,’ you would feel comfortable. But they well.”
which turned into ruptured eardrums in a big deep breath.” don’t have it yet.”
both ears, which means that my eardrums As a result of their sobering COVID expe-
basically exploded. Every time I moved, it Two days after she was admitted to the Gonzalez, who spent all but five hours riences, both girls hope that others grasp the
felt like I had sunburn all over my body and general hospital, doctors realized Keerthana of her COVID experience at home, worried gravity of the virus’ toll on the human body.
my skin was peeling off. I broke out and was getting worse, not better. most about infecting her immunosup- Keerthana recited a concise, pointed mantra
[had] these like little, red blots [on] my body. pressed family members -- a dad who had on how she wants others to behave so long
I had a fever, obviously. And I had a lot of “In spite of her being on oxygen and get- double kidney failure and a mom who had as the pandemic is around.
phlegm buildup in my lungs to the point ting the steroid and antibiotics, things were given a kidney to save him.
where I had to sit up at all times of the day not looking very bright,” Gayatri said. “Her “Wash your hands with soap and water
so I didn’t choke on my own phlegm.” oxygen requirements kept increasing. She “For [my dad], the simplest thing like for 20 seconds,” Keerthana said. “Stay so-
was doing okay on two liters, but then the getting a cold could send him to the ER and cially distant. Wear your mask.”
After two weeks of immobilizing pain oxygen levels dropped again. They had to possibly the ICU -- it’s happened before,”
and fatigue, Gonzalez realized neither time increase it to 10. That’s when the EMT group Gonzalez said, citing this as one cause as to Gonzalez echoed a similar message
nor rest nor medicine was alleviating her came in, looked at her, and said she needs to why she isolated herself in her bedroom the focused toward mask-wearing etiquette in
symptoms and decided to get a chest X-ray. be moved to the ICU.” entire time (the other cause was a result of light of her inability to enjoy foods or scents
Doctors found fluid buildup in her lungs; being bedridden -- “it was painful to walk,” properly.
she had come down with pneumonia. In those three days at the ICU, doctors she said.)
considered an antiviral remedy approved “Wear your mask the right way -- put it
“[Pneumonia] is awful — I still have it,” only for kids 12 and above. The doctors There are several parallels between Keer- over your nose because the virus lives up
said Gonzalez. “You can probably hear from [there],” Gonzalez said. “That’s why you lose
my voice - it’s kind of failing.” While she your taste and your smell. So if you don’t
spoke, her tone trembled. wear your mask over your nose, it doesn’t
work, and you’re still gonna [give] it to other
Soon after the X-ray, she was admitted to people who may have family members that
the ER for five hours to receive antibiotics are sick or could die easily [from catching
for the infection. Gonzalez described the the virus.]”
scene as frightening, despite the kindness
and preparedness of the medical staff. She also urged teenagers to reevaluate
their priorities and unrestrained behavior.
“They seemed a little stressed out just But her advice is not just for the sake of the
being around me,” Gonzalez said, explaining elderly and immunocompromised. Backed
doctors and nurses took “every precaution by her own formidable evidence, she sends
plus more” and were “all gowned up.” “It a fair warning that staying safe could help to
felt like I was a bomb or something because keep fellow classmates healthy -- and alive.
people would avoid me so much. It was
scary.” “Don’t go out and hang out with your
friends without taking precautions,” Gonza-
lez said. “Don’t go partying. It’s not worth it.
It’s been five weeks. And I still [feel] dead.”

January 22, 2021 News 7

Graphic by Rachel Cai

8 News January 22, 2021

Mason City Schools receives federal funds for Coronavirus related expenses

Scott Reckers | Staff Writer the virus, requiring the purchase of Graphic by Scott Reckers
supplies. For example, even if a stu-
The price to educate children dur- dent elects to do online school, they
ing a global pandemic is not cheap. must have certain resources in order
After taking costly precautions to to do so effectively.
keep students and staff safe, Mason
City Schools is working hard to bal- “We have spent money on hand
ance their books. sanitizer, cleaning supplies, personal
protection equipment, and learning
Since the start of the pandemic, supplies, which could be anything like
MCS has experienced countless unex- remote learning software or devices,”
pected expenses as a result of pre- Bevan said. “We are not cutting cor-
ventative measures taken to slow the ners to save money or anything. We
spread of COVID-19. The district has are making sure the environment is
received financial help: $1,221,460.40 safe.”
to be exact. MCS Treasurer Shaun
Bevan said the funds root from the Administrators had to factor in the
Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Eco- district’s four school buildings, admin-
nomic Security (CARES) Act, a federal istrative office, and remote learners to
stimulus bill. make their decisions before the school
year began. Ensuring staff safety is
“The CARES Act was a piece of equally as important as student safety
federal legislation that made funding to MCS. Bevan said the third category
available from the federal govern- of what money from the CARES Act
ment, but school districts didn’t will fund is for the staff. “It’s what
receive any funding directly from we call COVID leave,” Bevan said. “It
the federal government,” Bevan allows for any employees across the
said. “However, we did receive some country, not just schools, to get paid
CARES Act funding via intermediate leave if they get COVID or have to be
sources, such as through the Warren quarantined.”
County Board of County Commis-
sioners. They took action to allocate With the highly contagious nature
a portion of the CARES Act funding of the virus, some teachers may feel
that the County received to Mason they need to do more to be safe, even
City Schools and other school districts while the district is supplying them
in Warren County.” with cleaning supplies and personal
protection equipment, or PPE. “On a
As Treasurer, Bevan has a big district level, we work hard to make
picture view of how the virus has sure our staff have when they need
affected MCS and knows where the to teach and stay safe effectively by
funds have gone. The district has had supplying them with learning sup-
to spend a great deal of money to plies and safety supplies that they
keep students learning safely. Bevan need,” Bevan said. “Safety is always an
said the funding from The CARES Act utmost priority.”
will go into paying that loss off.
Bevan said he is proud of all the
“Big picture, COVID has impacted staff at Mason: “We have a very com-
us financially with increased expenses mitted staff-- some may go above and
and revenue loss,” Bevan said. “Invest- beyond and spend their own dollars
ment revenues and bonds are down in the classrooms which really shows
with the rest of the economy. In total, how much they care,” Bevan said.
we are over $6 million to the negative,
even when you factor in The CARES The CARES Act will not visibly
Act funding. It has really hit hard.” change anything at Mason, but the
debt relief the money provides will
The district is putting time, effort help MCS through the difficult
and money into keeping student financial needs brought upon by the
and staff COVID cases down so that ongoing pandemic. “COVID has had
in-person learning can continue. The a major impact on everyone, but we
district has adhered to Centers for Dis- have worked very hard to stay open
ease Control and Prevention (CDC) and have a safe learning environ-
guidelines to prevent the spread of ment,” Bevan said.

January 22, 2021 Feature 9

Student art displayed in local businesses to raise social issue awareness

Meghan Dincler | Online Editor said that she was drawn in by the way that “[Jayden] Photo by Meghan Dincler
turned something that would typically be trash into Junior Jada Fox’s art is displayed at Mim’s off Main, a shop in
Art has the ability to inspire-- to teach people some- something beautiful.” Fox then fell in love with the downtown Mason, to encourage positivity. Fox combined her pas-
thing about themselves and about those around them. idea of creating something beautiful and meaning- sions for social issues and art as part of junior Audrey Galloway’s “A
Now, that art is beginning to make its way into Mason ful out of something not typically viewed as such. “I Presentation of Minds” project.
through an up-and-coming student-run project. thought that it would fit perfectly with my theme,” Fox
said. “It reflects on how the media can be negative but Jada Fox
“A Presentation of Minds” is a project led by Audrey also bring out the beauty in yourself.” MHS, Junior Artist
Galloway, a junior who started it as a way to raise
awareness for issues affecting both the community and Having the art placed around the community is a Audrey Galloway
the world as a whole through art. In order to do so, she core part of Galloway’s plan for the project. One of MHS, Junior, Project Organizer
reached out to creative students at Mason who were her main hurdles during the project was figuring out
willing to create a piece dedicated to a certain social where to place the art pieces that gets a lot of traffic
issue so that it could then be displayed in a public area in the community but allows for easy viewing. She
around the city. contacted the owner of their first target, Mim’s Off
Main, and Fox spent close to three weeks working on
Galloway started the project in accompaniment with her art piece that was soon to be displayed in the shop
her Girl Scout troop, using this as her Gold award proj- in downtown Mason.
ect: a project that is intended to bring lasting change
to the community and “make the world a better place.” Lisa Vitek, the owner of Mim’s Off Main, said that
Being an avid attendee of art museums growing up, she has always had a great appreciation for art and
the emotion and meaning behind art has always been feels that having Fox’s piece displayed in her building
something that has been of interest to her. Now, she will have a very positive impact on the shop’s atmo-
has come to see it as something that can be used to sphere. Growing up in a family of artists, she enjoys
inspire others to make a change in their community as being able to showcase others’ creations, even if she
well as hopefully draw a younger audience to a love of does not produce art pieces herself.
art like hers.
“To be able to show somebody else’s work or creativ-
“My parents have always taken me to art muse- ity is amazing,” Vitek said. “I think it will bring in
ums,” Galloway said. “I’ve been educated on it, and I students who come to see it and have a very positive
was thinking about having students make art for the impact on the community.”
community. I feel like you never see that anywhere. It’s
always adults, and I think people would enjoy seeing COVID-19 has made the past year a difficult time
[student made art].” for many small businesses, and Mim’s Off Main was
no exception. However, Vetik hopes that the new art
While it is not incredibly common to see public art showcase will help to drive business while educating
installations around Mason, it is even less common to students at the same time.
see them done by teens. Galloway said that she feels
“like people say they listen to [teenagers], but I don’t “Small businesses were so stressed through all of the
feel like they take our opinions into consideration crazy events of 2020,” Vitek said. “I feel like reaching
sometimes.” She said that having the students create out to the schools and doing something for the stu-
the art to be displayed gave them a unique outlet to dents is something [small businesses] should try to do.”
speak to the public, increasing the impact and reach
that the art itself could have on those observing it. Fox’s piece was displayed in Mim’s Off Main on Jan-
uary 10, but that is not all that Galloway has in store
“It’s voicing the opinions of the people who are for “A Presentation of Minds”. She plans to continue
going to lead this country,” Galloway said. “This is put- recruiting young artists and spreading education
ting it out there and saying ‘This is how I view it.’” through art all around Mason. Fox also hopes to
be able to continue making art for the project and
With her goal to recruit students in mind, Galloway sharing the power that she said she believes art can
first turned to Junior Jada Fox. As someone who has al- have on someone’s mindset.
ways been an advocate for body positivity, Fox jumped
on the opportunity to create something that can help In order to ensure the art displays have the im-
spread that message to those who may need to hear it. pact she desires, Galloway plans to continue tackling
tough social issues through this project. She said that
“I knew I wanted to do something with self love she wants teens to feel confident in sharing their views
and being comfortable in your own skin,” Fox said. “So and their voice, and wants to provide that outlet for
that’s the direction I went. I want to bring light to the them to speak out on their beliefs. To not be silenced,
idea that people aren’t alone, as well as the way that but to be encouraged.
media can affect people and how we can embrace it
and find positives in it.” Ultimately, Galloway said that she wants to encour-
age the community to listen, and has allowed contrib-
Her design -- the painted face of a woman in front of uting artists to “write something to accompany the
a collage of magazine headline clippings, featuring the art that explains what their thought process behind it
phrase “you are enough” on top of them -- was inspired was,” as the project was never just about the art.
by a series of ‘trash drawings’” by creator Jayden J.
These drawings were designed to be simplistic, consist- “Education is a big part of it [the project],” Galloway
ing mostly of sporadically drawn lines that, when said. “It’s all about addressing issues that nobody talks
viewing the finished piece, create a human face. Fox about, ones that they’re trying to talk about but people
keep shutting down their conversations.”

10 January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021 11

12 Fea

Who let the
The Chronicle sat down and got to know

GOOGLE Goldendoodle

Hi! My name is Google and I’m a 7-year-old service dog from 4 Paws for Scan the QR code belo
Ability for MHS freshman Malia Paxton. She is hearing impaired, has view of these lovely do
developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. She struggles with sensory from them! Thank you
issues as well. I help her hear things that are hard for her to hear with- dogs and their owners
out her hearing aides. I support her when things upset her, I give great hallways and making
kisses to calm her down. I can be used to help her stand up and walk.
We lov
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Puppy Dog Pals Who’s my “person”? Malia of course!
Favorite Snack: Anything bacon flavored! I want people to know: I love attention! I don’t like being dis-
Favorite Activity: I love to swim and play ball! tracted on the job, but if I’m resting, I LOVE to be petted.

Favorite place in MHS: The lunchroom is my favorite place... you know why!

Long-Haired German Shepherd ORION

Hi! I’m Orion! I’m a police K-9 that works with Officer Dyer here at MHS to
keep everybody safe. I started out being trained as a service dog, but I didn’t
pass my test. I just knew that this would be a better fit for me! My main jobs
are to detect the odor of narcotics, marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin,
and crack cocaine as well as tracking lost people and articles! That means
that if you were to leave something small like your keys out in a field and
lose them, I am able to locate them for you! I was transferred to Officer
Dyer a year ago, and I’ve loved my job here!

Favorite TV Show/Movie: TV isn’t really my thing. Who’s my “person”? Officer Dyer, duh!
Favorite Snack: I love BilJac treats! I live with her and four other dogs.
Favorite Activity: I LOVE to fetch. You might see Fun Fact: The school partnered with Kings Island to get
me outside the school playing sometimes! me, so that’s where my name comes from.

Favorite place in Mason: I love to go with Officer Dyer to areas in the city that are getting ready to be demolished and
just run in the space.

ature 13

e dogs out?

w all about MHS’ resident dogs

Black Lab, Golden Retriever Mix hibbs

ow to watch our inter- Hi! I’m Hibbs! I’m an emotional support dog and I work with MHS’s Hope
ogs and hear directly Squad. When I’m not with Mr. Beurket and the Hope Squad Crew, you can
u to all of our resident find me in the guidance offices with Mr. Zak or Mrs. Pay. When a student
s for brightening our goes to a counselor’s office, if I can help them be in a better emotional
g MHS a better place! place, that’s what I’m there to do. Sometimes I jump in the recycling bin just
ve you! to make kids smile. I was trailed at circle tail until I was two years old (they
tried to make me a service dog, but that didn’t work out). I get in trouble for
giving kisses sometimes, but I’m just trying to show my love. If you leave
your lunchbox on the ground my nose will probably be in it.

Favorite TV Show/Movie: Zootopia Who’s my “person”? Mr. Beurket, of course! Coming
Favorite Snack: I go crazy over peanut butter! to MHS was my last chance to be an Emotional
Favorite Activity: I love swimming! Once I Support Dog and help students, and Mr. Beurket has
lay my eyes on the water it is hard to get given me that chance!
me out. Fun Fact: If you keep your lunchbox or your backpack
open, I will stick my nose in there! I’m just so curious!

Favorite place in MHS: Ms. Gobble and Ms. Wilson’s rooms! They have treats for me and are close by.
I love laying on Ms. Wilson’s red carpet. If I hear either of them coming up the stairs, I’m a goner!

lucy F1 Goldendoodle

Hi! I’m Lucy! I’m a therapy dog who spends time with the students in the Mason
Achievement Program (MAP) program here at the high school! I come into the
building with Mr. Hilen a couple of times a week. MAP is an alternate educa-
tional option whose mission is to give those who qualify a non-traditional educa-
tional experience in a flexible environment. MAP was designed to help students
reach their goals through online learning and personal work-based experiences!
When you walk into the room, I will greet you tail wagging with my toy in my
mouth. I’m very intuitive -- I can sense when someone may be going through
something and might need some puppy snuggles. Helping kids is my favorite
thing to do!

Favorite TV Show/Movie: Lucky Dog Who’s my “person”? Mr. Hilen, duh!

Favorite Snack: Anything with peanut butter! I want people to know: I have an intuitive ability and
Favorite Activity: I love to play catch with my I’m good at recognizing when people have an emo-
Chuck it Frisbee! tional need!

Favorite place in MHS: I love everything about the school! But if I had to pick, it would be Pine Hill Par.
I love to go visit Mr. King’s Words from the Wild classes!

Page Design by Aadrija Biswas
Interview by Riley Johansen
Pictures by Riley Johansen and Rilee Malloy

14 January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021 Feature 15

MHS students utilize their platforms to speak out

Jada Fox proud of my imperfections and they to accept themselves. If I can help
Junior should be proud of theirs too. I also them even a little bit my soul will
have a thrifting account with my be happy. I also have struggled a lot
Tell Us about yourself! What kinds good friend Makenna Burton where in the past with accepting myself
of things do you like to do, Hobbies, Fun we sell size inclusive clothing (rang- and some of the people that helped
ing from XS-3X) that we thrifted. me overcome this were the body
Facts, Etc? When we made the account we positivity influencers on Instagram.
wanted to make sure that it would I saw that if that helped me then
My name is Jada Fox! I am always be inclusive by not leaving any body hopefully me doing the same will
doing some kind of art. A goal in types out. help others too.
my life is to learn every form of art
that I can! I am in Students Involv- What do you hope to do through spread- What would you like to see change or
ing & Befriending Students (SIBS) ing the word and informing others about improve within the world we live in?
and American Sign Language That is, what do you want to change by
Honor Society (ASLHS). I love lis- these topics? advocating for the topics you're speaking
tening to music-- my favorite song
changes daily but currently it is I hope that by doing what I am out on?
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds. I doing I can help normalize embrac-
love hiking, and am an avid thrifter, ing your imperfections, and loving Loving yourself is the greatest
who you are inside and out. I hope revolution. You will find so much
What issues are you passionate about advocating that people can realize that building peace when you embrace your im-
for? Are there any organizations or clubs you're each other up will also build your- perfections and understand that you
a part of that work to help spread the messages self up. are just right just the way you are.
Always remember that your body is
that you're advocating for? How does your identity and the issues you your powerhouse that keeps you go-
support play a role in your outlook on ing everyday, it deserves love.
I am very passionate about accept- the world?
ing and loving your body and the If there's one thing you want people to
person you are inside and out. I use From starting my journey of take away from reading this, what would
my Instagram to help spread posi- spreading body positivity and posi-
tive messages and post my own ex- tivity in general, I have come to it be?
periences with being body positive. realize that so many people relate
In September of last year I posted a to you-- that whatever you are going A great way to start your own
picture that shows some insecurities through you are not going through body positivity journey is to follow
that I had about myself. I posted it alone. positive influencers on instagram,
not only for myself but for others post positive quotes on your story,
too. I wanted to show them that I’m Why are these topics meaningful to you? expose yourself to people who build
you up, and push yourself to do
I think that spreading body posi- things that scare you (wear that crop
tivity and positivity in general is top, dress how you want to dress,
so important to me because I have show everyone that you are proud of
many friends who talk about their who you are). You will not only help
insecurities and who are struggling yourself but others as well.

Interview by Kaelyn Rodrigues
Page Design by Aadrija Biswas

16 Entertainment January 22, 2021

On the last day of 2020, it was announced that Daniel Dumile, better known as rapper MF DOOM, had passed away
two months prior on Halloween. As mercurial in death as he was in life, DOOM was one of rap’s greatest enigmas, hid-
ing his brilliant gift with the pen behind an iconic metal mask and a web of alter-egos. While his death is mourned in the
rap world and beyond, The Chronicle is taking a look at his legacy through a few songs from his most iconic alter-egos.

MF DOOM - “Rhymes Like Dimes”

17-year-old Olivia Rodrigo has become an overnight In the years prior to Operation: Doomsday being released in 1999,
sensation. Daniel Dumile had gone underground. His rap group, KMD, had been
kicked off Elektra in ‘94, and his brother, KMD’s Subroc, had passed
It’s not that she wasn’t already famous. From her star- away the same week after being hit by a car. These losses drove
ring role as Nini on Disney+ original High School Musical: Dumile to create the MF DOOM persona, one that emerged from
The Musical: The Series and Paige on Bizaardvark, she hurt and found power in mischievous, menacing chaos. Nowhere is
has gained quite a following. Even still, no one could’ve that clearer than in “Rhymes Like Dimes,” an immediate standout on
predicted the sort of response that her newest song, “drivers Doomsday. It’s guided by a dreamy, light synth sample, and as is the
license,” has received. case for a song about “rhymes,” it has a flow like no other, laced with
DOOM’s effortlessly hilarious, comically villainous theatrics and some
The song’s demo, initially posted on Instagram, featured creative shout-outs. It’s surprisingly joyous, a reminder that DOOM
a soft, piano-led ballad rendition of the song — she sang always had a gift for finding light in the darkness.
of her recent obtaining of (surprise!) her driver’s permit.
She compares the situation to her past desires to drive King Geedorah - “Next Levels”
with a guy from one of her old relationships, how he broke
her heart before she could take the test. This childhood mile- The most outlandish alter-ego MF DOOM ever utilized was King
stone is effectively a way to present the pain of growing up, Geedorah, based on the 1964 film Ghidorah, The Three-Headed
growing apart. She even compares herself to the new girl Monster. On his 2003 album Take Me to your Leader, DOOM uses
that he’s seeing, remarking “she’s everything I’m insecure Geedorah to create a premise in which the monster delivers DOOM’s
about.” messages from outerspace. The song “Next Levels” rides this
extraterrestrial theme in a touchingly philosophical manner (“The
Rodrigo’s finalized version of “drivers license” was world ain’t the same no more / Take your life to next level or remain
released on January 8 and, in four days, garnered 18 no more”). Over a smooth jazz beat, DOOM cedes the mic to jazz
million streams on Spotify alone, reaching number one on rap trio Scienz Of Life, and hits at the core of what it means to be
iTunes charts with millions of views on YouTube. It became human. Or, at least, he lets the monster from outer space take his
the most streamed song in a day in the United States with best guess.
assistance from teenagers’ posts across social media, using
the song as a soundtrack for TikToks and Instagram story Viktor Vaughn - “Saliva”
posts/reels.
Under the Viktor Vaughn moniker, DOOM transformed into
What could be cast as even more interesting than the a futuristic hoodlum, with an in-your-face attitude and youthful
song’s Lorde-esque harmonizing bridge or its heart-wrench- arrogance to spare. That bluster carries Vaughn’s 2003 outing,
ing high notes would be the drama behind the song. Fans Vaudeville Villain, and it comes bursting out the gate on the center-
have gotten incredibly involved, pointing fingers at Rodrigo’s piece, “Saliva.” Produced by RDJ2, the song begins in a fanfare
HSMTMTS co-star Joshua Bassett, whom she dated in early of horns, with DOOM dropping effortlessly esoteric references (a
2020. Perhaps this drama, and the over-engagement doctor with skincare ads on the New York subway, Silent Bob) as
he glides over a shimmering string section that sounds like it was
of random teenagers on the ripped out of a superhero cartoon. The song is effortlessly bold, a
internet in it, is the reason showstopper that’s just as fun as it is brilliant.
the song has gone so
stunningly viral. Madvillainy - “Rhinestone Cowboy”

Either that, or the In many ways, MF DOOM’s crowning work will always be his
fact that it might just legendary 2004 collaboration with Oxnard-based beatmaster Madlib,
be the break up Madvillainy. Every song on this album is absolutely seminal, from
the hypnotic “Accordion” to the identity-switching “Fancy Clown”
song of the year. (with Viktor Vaughn!), but there’s truly no rap song like the closing
victory-lap, “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Over rapturous applause and a
fantastic string sample from Madlib, DOOM’s rhymes are marvelous,
an assertion of his lyrical genius filled with some of his sharpest cas-
cading internal rhymes (“oh my aching hands, from raking in grands,
and breaking in mic-stands”). It is a masterwork, a rap clinic in and of
itself, one that serves as a prescient reminder of what made DOOM
so incredible.

January 22, 2021 Entertainment 17

Soul, the latest Disney/Pixar film, and first Taking place in a fictional 19th century English
to officially be released on Disney+, truly plays out society, the eight-part Netflix series Bridgerton has
like a symphony. The plot revolves around a romance, drama, comedy, and scandal.
struggling jazz musician and part-time band
teacher, Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), whose soul is cast into a whimsical adventure after he Although it’s undoubtedly a cliché when love
meets his untimely demise on the day of his big break. prevails and the guy gets the girl, Bridgerton successfully pulls it off, a chaotic tale of
Accompanied by an unborn soul (voiced by Tina Fey), Joe discovers what truly makes courtship between the Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton. Initially starting off their
life worth living, a lively tale that’s as emotionally resonant as anything Pixar’s done relationship as accomplices to help each other’s societal advancements, they develop
before. While the story is great, it packs a lot into its emotional ending, as striking as something deeper than just friendship — only for more chaos to arrive when the Prince of
expected from Pixar. Prussia enters the picture and expresses his interest in marrying Daphne. Through it all, a
Of course, the standout aspect of Soul is the animation. Soul is the most beautiful gossip writer working under the alias of Lady Whistledown, occasionally stirs the pot within
animated movie I have ever seen. Wonderfully inventive character design and gorgeous the society, exposing secrets and scandals, keeping both watchers and characters on their
colors pop off the screen, rendering the precursor to life (called the toes throughout the series.
“You Seminar”) in vivid, stunning detail. Even in the human world,
each character, whether main or background, has their own The series is remarkable with its character diversity. Taking place in a time where no
personality that’s instantly readable via their character design. one would dare question the Queen’s race, Bridgerton defies public expectation, offering a
It looks real, yet still maintains the warm, distinctly Pixar quality creative inclusivity that manages to be almost entirely escapist while also feeling contem-
that director Pete Docter is known for. porary.
Soul grapples with themes that
unite all of us: passion, loss, The music is also exceptional — it’s
life, purpose. Even though modern, filled with pop hits played in a
it can’t be experienced in a delightfully Victorian manner. Songs like
theater, it still feels Ariana Grande’s “Thank U Next” and Shawn
inspiring, a reminder Mendes’ “In My Blood” covered by the
to find purpose in Vitamin String Quartet particularly stand out,
everything pursued. connecting modern music to the past.

Bridgerton is easily one of the most
entertaining Netflix series to have
arrived over holiday break; its
second season can’t come
soon enough.

In many ways, Playboi Carti’s latest Young Nudy collaboration “Kid Cudi,” is song is out in 90 seconds flat. Elsewhere, that follows it is “Vamp Anthem,” a track so
album, Whole Lotta Red, is unlike anything barely heard here, replaced with a barking on the brilliantly named “Punk Monk,” gloriously, hysterically campy that it might
else happening in mainstream hip-hop right cadence that elevates the manic energy of Carti’s delivery is somehow even more just be one of the best things Carti’s ever
now. a lot of these songs. hoarse, flipping between this Young-Thug- laid to tape. Built around a sample of the
esque croon and this blipped moan as he sting from Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D
Despite its affinity for sticky melodies and Basically, the album operates almost airs out fake friends in the industry. Minor,” the song feels like a perfect distilla-
even stickier hooks, it has no obligations entirely without precedent, pushing Carti tion of every cheesy horror film ever made,
towards any of the viral trends that artists into even more experimental directions than Amidst these more esoteric decisions a wholly entertaining sequence of threats
have latched on to. It barely has anything 2018’s Die Lit did for something that often arrive a few songs that deal a little further that never takes itself too seriously.
that approaches crossover status, instead serves as a look into the surprising range away from the avant-garde, like the surpris-
opting for abrasive beats that buzz and of his artistry. Whole Lotta Red may not be ingly catchy “Slay3r’’ and “Place,” which “Vamp Anthem,” in all its delightfully silly
gleam like a chrome radiator. Even Carti’s the sort of genre-defining watermark that reunites Carti with producer Pi’erre Bourne glory, is the most quintessential distillation
baby-voiced delivery, which was notably Die Lit was for trap music, but it’s a truly for a lysergic synth woosh that takes Carti of an album that finds power in throwing
found on songs like Tyler The Creator’s impressive work nonetheless, and it’s fasci- on a bleary sonic trip. On “Teen X,” Carti things at the wall and seeing what sticks.
“EARFQUAKE” and the still-unreleased nating to hear these songs as reflections of and Future ride a Maaly Raw beat that No matter how wide-ranging it may be,
Carti’s truly inscrutable artistic process. chimes and bleeps with undeniable eupho- Whole Lotta Red is united by this driving
ria, with gleefully chirped ad-libs that sound ethos of experimental madness, thriving
What results is a song like “New Tank,” like birdsong. when it goes all in and sinks its teeth into
this absolutely unreal flurry of proto-chorus- the chaos.
es strung together over wheezing buzzsaw “Teen X” is maybe the most unapologeti-
synths. Every line feels breathless, and the cally beautiful song here; rightfully, the song Page Design by Rachel Cai

18 Feature January 22, 2021

Lifelong learners; educators practice what they preach, pursue advanced degrees

Shravani Page | Staff Writer experiences with his family’s law firm, interest in Photo contributed by Dr. Carmen Scalfaro
On December 11, the Wall Street Journal published informational technology, and personal growth led
him to choose to teach. Dr. Carmen Scalfaro (left) said that his passion for teaching led him to
a column regarding Dr. Jill Biden’s credentials. The recieve his Ph.D. in education from Miami University.
column sparked a response not only from Biden’s Dodd grew up in a family that highly prioritized
supporters but also from the nation’s educators. education. With an initial interest in joining his fam- interacting with students and helping them,” Jordan
ily’s law firm, Dodd chose to pursue a law degree at said. “After I graduated with a master's in biology,
Joseph Epstein’s “Is There a Doctor in the White John Carroll University in Cleveland. After he landed then I went back and I went through what's called the
House? Not if You Need an M.D” column under- a job in his family’s firm after university, Dodd alternative educator licensure program.”
mined Biden’s credentials and degree. Dr. Jill Biden began to express interest in computer networking
has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education. and information technology, leading him to pursue The reason Jordan chose to teach, similar to many
However, Epstein argues she shouldn’t even be a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology (IT). teachers, was to “positively impact the lives of oth-
referred to as “Dr.” due to her lack of a medical A consequent teaching job in the IT field launched ers.” The role of an educator can often be underesti-
degree. With Biden being a direct target of Epstein’s Dodd into a career in education. mated. According to Scalfaro, “[teaching] requires a
piece, there came the spark of national conversation lot of patience, a lot of courage, a lot of persistence.”
regarding misogynistic culture within academia. “When I was a teacher, I taught a lot of web design
classes, computer networking, and intro to engineer- According to Jordan, teaching also requires in-
Since its publication, the column has played into ing and design,” Dodd said. “I soon realized that I trinsic motivation. Jordan describes Mason’s teacher
the public perception that educators -- along with could help more students by being an administrator. culture as supportive and said that “everyone here is
their credentials -- play a small role in society, an So, I went to the University of Cincinnati and got a doing what they’re passionate about.”
opinion furthered by Epstein’s column. Many Mason Master’s Degree.”
High School (MHS) teachers and administrators hold As Epstein’s column underestimates Biden’s quali-
multiple degrees -- some even Doctor of Philosophy Dodd found the keys to his aspirations and his suc- fications, Scalfaro said “[her qualifications] may skew
(Ph.D.) degrees. cess by furthering his education in a variety of areas the public perception of what a First Lady should be.”
until discovering a passion for teaching. Throughout the past, America’s “First Lady” has held
MHS Principal Bobby Dodd, who holds multiple many faces by various women.
degrees, including one in law, chose to further his Passion comes largely into play for many teach-
education due to his passion for working with and ers, from pursuing multiple degrees to seeing that “When you look at somebody like Dr. Jill Biden,
helping students. Dodd believes that education serves “lightbulb” go off in a student’s head. Dr. Carmen and what she accomplished, you see a teacher still,”
as the “foundation for success.” Dodd’s previous Scalfaro took the idea of being a “life-long learner” to Scalfaro said. “We don't hear the same sort of rhetoric
heart as he entered college, got a Ph.D. in education, from what the current First Lady has. So if the col-
Photo by Shravani Page and chose to become a teacher. Throughout univer- umn wants to play that game and look at the pasts of
sity, Scalfaro chose to improve and pursue a program people, then it can go both ways.”
Dr. Robyn Jordan pursued her Ph.D. during the pandemic from Miami allowing him to work toward his passions for teach-
Univsersity after recieving her Master's in Biology. ing. Scalfaro said teachers have a direct impact on
student’s lives and hopes he can “take kids from one
spot and help them grow.”

“There are teachers in this building, who absolute-
ly will do anything for their students,” Scalfaro said.
“They love what they teach as well, sometimes they
just can’t get enough of it. There are teachers and
coaches who are just passionate about helping their
kids learn and seeing the light bulbs go on and off.
Passion comes out a lot of different ways.”

For Dr. Robyn Jordan, her passion came into play
once she had landed a teaching role during graduate
school. A former Biology major on the Pre-medical
track, Jordan didn’t land a teaching opportunity until
she worked as a graduate assistant. Jordan’s “first
dose” of teaching came during her graduate studies
when she worked with her professor as a graduate
assistant. Initially, she had intentions of becoming
a college professor, a career primarily focused on
research. However, Jordan found her passion for
teaching and connecting with students rather than
just research. She then entered a licensure program
allowing her to pursue teaching.

“I found myself more inclined when it came to

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January 22, 2021 19

Indiana baseball commit makes return to basketball court

Multisport Johnson dishing out major contributions on Mason Basketball team

Cody Allgor | Staff Writer injured never crosses his mind. understands what us as coaches want while you can,” Peters said. “Max is good
“When I’m out there, I’m competing and the game is not too big for him, he enough and had an opportunity to still
If senior Max Johnson had to be is excelling at that. play basketball for his high school. We
described in one word, it would be and trying to win for our team,” Johnson support kids from a basketball stand-
competitor. said. “No matter what it is, baseball or Johnson has played in every game so point of playing multiple sports and
basketball, I’m just trying to give 100 far and has the best assist to turnover we’re just excited that he decided to
After one year away from basketball, percent. When I’m out there I’m never ratio on the team. Peters said that he come back and play basketball. He has
the Indiana University baseball commit thinking about getting hurt.” is thrilled Johnson returned to playing certainly been a bright spot this season
decided to return to the hardwood this basketball. so far.”
winter for his senior season. Johnson Johnson was on the junior varsity
had previously played basketball since team as an underclassman, which meant “I am a firm believer in doing things
intermediate school before deciding to he didn’t have much varsity basketball
take a step back his junior year. experience. Varsity Assistant Coach Kyle Photo by Riley Johansen
Peters said he had his doubts about
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Johnson’s play, but those quickly faded Senior guard Max Johnson goes up for a layup against Lakota East. Despite being committed
2020 spring sports were stopped be- away early on. to Indiana University for baseball, Johnson still decided to return to basketball for his senior
fore they could even begin, including season after playing his freshman and sophomore year.
baseball. Johnson said that if not for the “Being a year away from basketball
pandemic, he is unsure if he would have we just didn’t know how he would react
returned to basketball. or handle the varsity basketball compe-
tition,” Peters said. “But after our second
“A big part in me playing basketball scrimmage, it went from not only can
is that I wanted to compete in a Mason Max handle it, but Max is going to be
uniform, even if it’s another sport,” competing for a starting job. He demon-
Johnson said. “Competing is always strated early on in our scrimmages that
what I want to do, I want to compete. If I it wasn’t too fast or too big for him and
would have had my baseball season last he could definitely compete at a high
year, I’m not sure I would have played level.”
basketball, but I’m glad it worked out
the way it did. I’m really enjoying this Johnson is not new to big stages, start-
season and I’m enjoying the team this ing on the varsity baseball team since
year.” his freshman year. With 55 total varsity
games under his belt, Johnson said
Before Johnson stepped foot on the that the varsity experience from base-
court, he reached out to his future ball helped him transition into varsity
coaches at Indiana University. Indiana basketball.
recruiting coordinator and assistant
coach Dan Held had nothing against “Playing in high-level baseball games
Johnson playing basketball, saying that has helped me out on the basketball
Indiana encourages their athletes to court because I feel like the moment
play multiple sports throughout high doesn’t get too big,” Johnson said. “I’m
school. always calm and collected out there.
I feel like I never stress about ‘oh, I
“We do not discourage any of our haven’t played in over a year.’ Once the
commits from continuing to play sports ball tips off I just compete.”
at their High School and with their
friends,” Held said. “We love multisport Being a division one athlete, John-
athletes as it develops different muscles son possesses many athletic skill sets.
and allows for players to continue to However, Johnson’s success on the court
compete.” goes deeper than just being an athlete.
Peters said that Johnson’s coachability
When Johnson decided to step back plays a large part in his success on the
onto the court, he was taking a risk basketball court.
with the chance of getting injured and
hindering his future baseball career. “Max is a strong kid and he’s very ath-
However, Johnson said that whenever letic,” Peters said. “In the mental aspect
he is playing, the thought of getting of things, he is always under control
and has a calming effect out there. He

20 Sports January 22, 2021

Legendary basketball coaches maintain unique

Matula and Richards remain forever connected off the

Divyana Bose | Staff Writer coach and worked alongside Richards learning experience, and we went back Graphic by Riley Johansen
who was a varsity boys assistant coach at and forth on ideas. We both dreamed of
One of the keys to a long lasting rela- the time. running a program eventually, and our ula and Richards remained close friends
tionship is stability. With a combined 42 dedication almost forced us to become a but now the two would be reunited
years as the head coaches of the Mason Before they became a coaching duo, head coach someday.” under the same roof where they would
boys and girls basketball programs Richards and Matula first met each continue to influence each other on and
Greg Richards and Rob Matula are the other on a summer softball team. At In 1995, Richards was given the keys off the court.
models of stability in the basketball first sight, Richards said that Matula to the Mason boys program. As a former
programs at Mason High School. appeared to be more intimidating then stand-out Mason athlete it was a dream “I was glad that I have had the op-
he actually was. come true. But in order for Matula to portunity to be around one of my best
Richards is in his 26th year as the boys pursue his dream of becoming a head friends ever,” Matula said. “Not only the
head coach and Matula is in his 16th “He came across as being this big coach he had to leave. love of basketball but the love of being
leading the girls program. Between the tough guy the first time I met him,” a Comet has brought us closer together,
two of them they have accumulated 660 Richards said. “However, I could just tell Matula left Mason and became the and even when I became the girls coach,
wins. Matula has won 281 while Richards he was a softy at heart.” boys head coach at Talawanda in Ox- we still shared a lot of the same prin-
has won 379 games. With half a season ford, Ohio. After two successful seasons ciples when it comes to coaching.”
still remaining and no signs of them As Richards and Matula’s friendship guiding the Braves, Matula was able to
slowing down more victories are out was in the early stages, they grew close get a little closer to home taking over As Matula’s son Drew went through
there for the taking for these two ac- off the court, golfing together, vacation- as the head coach at Sycamore where the Mason basketball program, he
complished coaches who are also close ing, and raising their children side-by- he helped turn around a struggling pro- found himself playing for Richards.
friends off the hardwood. side. Matula said that even their wives gram ultimately guiding the Aviators to Matula said his son playing for his close
are best friends. their only district title. friend was an amazing opportunity that
Before winning several league cham- he was very thankful for.
pionships, notching numerous coach of Through basketball, the two assis- In 2005, Matula felt the urge to return
the year awards, and hanging banners tant coaches bonded while constantly to Mason and this time around he made “It was like a dream come true,”
for post season championships Richards studying film and scouting for the boys’ the decision to take over the girls bas- Matula said. “To have my son play for
and Matula got their start when they varsity team. As young up-and-comers, ketball program and resume teaching someone who I consider a very dear
first became teachers at a much smaller Richards said his aspiration and drive to in the Science Department at MHS. friend of mine, but also who I know is
Mason high School in 1988. become a head coach was matched by one of the best coaches, in the state of
Matula. Even while coaching elsewhere Mat- Ohio and in the nation, was an honor.”
In 1989 the two teamed up when Mat-
ula took over as the junior varsity boys “We were bouncing things off of each On their way to a combined 660 wins
other a lot,” Richards said. “It was just a

Graphic by Riley Johansen

January 22, 2021 Sports 21

friendship throughout longstanding careers

hardwood as coaching longevity continues at Mason

Greg Richards (far left) and Rob Matula (far right) first began their coaching careers at Mason in 1989. Photo from Mason High School Yearbook

they’ve both accomplished several encouraging me and telling me to just school year but will continue coach- court is still something that is very im-
achievements and they made sure to keep going.” ing at Mason. Matula said that he came portant. Richards and Matula both take
celebrate those accomplishments to- to the realization of his days being a pride in how far they’ve come together
gether even though they were no longer Richards and Matula have both influ- teacher are coming to an end, but he is in their careers of being coaches. Matula
on the same coaching staff. Richards enced each other in many ways, includ- making the most out of each passing said he doesn’t know exactly what his
said it was an important occasion when ing new coaching styles and leadership day. legacy will be, but he wishes it will be
they could celebrate their accomplish- techniques throughout the years. They defined by the impact he has made on
ments together. each have their own style and beliefs “Every morning I come into school I his players.
when it comes to coaching their respec- don’t want to take anything for grant-
“It’s been nice to share his winnings tive team but there are certainly some ed,” Matula said. “I walk in knowing that “My hope has always been that my
when he got to the state and the re- similarities in the implementation of I need to enjoy myself because teaching legacy isn’t dictated by the number of
gionals, and he is with us when we win strategies on offense and defense. For wise my time in the classroom is com- games won but more about how people
league championships in sectionals and Matula though, the most important ing to an end.” describe our program,” Matula said.
districts,” Richards said. “It’s just shar- thing they share is their friendship and “Hopefully, people see our program
ing those titles together I think is nice strong loyalty they have for one an- As Matula’s teaching career winds as one that has players who work very
to see.” other. down, Richards remembers days that hard, are respectful, and always try to
sparked their competitive spirit during represent Mason in the best of ways.”
At the peak of their accomplish- “I’m just glad that I have had the op- their school days together, where he
ments, both coaches have no problem portunity to be around one of my best and Matula would try to outdo the other Richards has high hopes that his play-
finding the will to celebrate. However, friends ever,” Matula said. “He’s been a when it came to the little jokes or stunts. ers will continue to apply many of the
when they are at their lowest moments, great mentor for me and when I need life lessons they learned while under his
Matula said that Richards has always him, he has just always been there for “Matula used to come to school on guidance.
been there when he needed him most. me.” Sunday nights to prepare for Monday,
so I came up with a plan to move his car “I hope that every coach and player
“I can remember like it was yesterday, Although Richards decided to retire to the back of the building so he would has learned something along the way
Richards coming into my home as I sat from teaching at the end of the 2014-2015 think his car got stolen,” Richards said. throughout our program whether it’s
at my dining table. “I was devastated school year after 27 years of teaching “It was a little prank that was so unfor- through basketball or life lessons,”
after being 0-7 when I was head coach at Mason, he decided to keep coach- gettable to me.” Richards said. “You have to be willing
at Talawanda,” Matula said. “But there ing. Matula is in a similar situation; he to make those adjustments to learn and
was my best friend that I coached under, plans to retire at the end of the 2020-2021 Although teaching in the traditional understand from your mistakes.”
classroom is in the past, teaching on the

22 Opinion January 22, 2021

Promises made, promises Staff Editorial
bent: stimulus comes
up $600 short The government’s prying eyes: a
dangerous future of surveillance
Raghav Raj | Staff Writer
We are being watched -- and we don’t have whereabouts and identities, we cope by simply
On January 15, President- much of a problem with it. accepting what we can’t control.
Elect Joe Biden unveiled his $1.9
trillion plan to offer COVID-19 relief as Fourty-five days after 9/11, the U.S. Govern- But this surveilled world we have known our
a means of supporting households and busi- ment passed the Patriot Act. It was an alarm- whole lives does and will continue to lead us
nesses amidst the pandemic. Officially titled the ingly substantial alteration regarding national into a dangerous direction.
American Rescue Plan, the deal arrives with a few security that made its way past Congress as a
much-needed measures: it calls to extend evic- result of the fear and uncertainty that was puls- Over the summer, in response to the Black
tion/foreclosure moratoriums and $400-per-week ing through the nation at the time. The Patriot Lives Matter Movement, new forms of digital
federal unemployment payments until the end of Act allowed the government to track the phone tracking such as facial recognition were used
September, and to raise the minimum wage, if only calls, emails, internet activity, and bank records to identify those part of the protests. While it
to $15/hr. of American citizens. may seem intuitive for the government to use
Along with all this, Biden’s plan involves a new technology to figure out who broke the law
slate of stimulus checks. This stimulus, however, The American Civil Liberties Union stated and who didn’t, this seems to be a very grim
will not come in the form of the $2,000 direct pay- that “while most Americans think it was cre- one-way street -- we have to trust them with
ments supported by everyone from Bernie Sanders ated to catch terrorists, the Patriot Act actually these methods but they refuse to trust us.
to Donald Trump, the payments that Democrats turns regular citizens into suspects.”
aggressively campaigned on over the contentious Like with the Patriot Act in 2001, we should
Georgia primary race to determine — and eventu- Twenty years later and it’s hard to imagine be wary of the boundlessness of this power and
ally, win — the Senate. a time when the government and corporations whether or not it is being used for good.
Instead, Biden’s checks will amount to $1,400, in weren’t uncomfortably aware of the lives we
the sort of decision that I can only really describe live from digital records -- because there isn’t. Is the accuracy of this system in identifying
as perplexingly, frustratingly ill-advised. As teenagers we have grown up in the reverber- the correct face equal to the faith the govern-
First, the explanation for this decision out of the ations of 9/11 and its impact in surveillance and ment puts in it to convict and persecute its
Biden camp: according to Biden, the $1,400 checks security (take the many hours and checkpoints constituents? When does the software (and the
serve as a companion to the $600 checks sent out it now takes to make your airplane on time, for agencies behind it) start and stop tracking us?
in December, which brings the total value up to one.) And with the 90’s internet boom, our lives Where do they keep the data of our identities
$2,000, which is apparently what the Democrats revolve around routinely sharing and overshar- -- and who do they send it to ?
actually meant all along. ing to people we’ve never seen before on social
But if that was honestly the case, why didn’t media. These questions, frighteningly, are yet to be
they simply campaign on the checks amounting truly, honestly, and thoroughly answered.
to $1,400? Why, while campaigning in the Geor- So what should be shocking feels eerily
gia runoff elections, did senator-elects Jon Os- normal. But we think it’s safe to say that a surveil-
soff and Rev. Raphael Warnock both insist upon lance state is ominously dystopic and vehe-
$2,000 checks — with Ossoff tweeting in support For instance, when allegations surfaced that mently undesirable.
of “$2,000 checks now,” and Warnock calling out TikTok was harvesting our data and send-
opponent Kelly Loeffler for not having “swiftly ing it to China, there was a pretty unanimous What starts out as jokes about agents peering
increase[d] direct payments to $2,000” — if they response: who cares? We are all out there on through our screens turn into serious concerns
actually wanted checks worth $1,400? Why did the internet (of our supposed own volition) for about how those jokes really aren’t jokes at all.
Biden explicitly tweet the phrase “We need $2,000 strangers to stalk and study anyway.
stimulus checks” if he didn’t intend on sending out It is unlikely that we will all simultaneously
$2,000 stimulus checks? Instead of worrying, we make jokes about stop using the internet. But even if we can’t
Especially considering that a $2,000 check is FBI agents (though its actually the NSA) spy- really change how much technology is mold-
probably less than the bare minimum given how ing through our webcams and watching us cry ing our present and future world, maybe we
much financial damage the COVID-19 pandemic and laugh at internet content and text mes- can learn to enjoy our privacy a little more, and
has done — unemployment is on the rise again, sages. have peace of mind when we think we are out
with nearly 1 million applying in the past week — of sight from prying eyes.
it’s unendingly frustrating to see the Democratic In some ways, as a response to the increas-
party function so conservatively, even when it ing information the government has on our Then again, therein lies the issue: we never
comes to the absolute least they could be doing. really know when that is -- of if these precious
With full control over Congress and the White
House at a time of economic chaos where people moments have ceased to exist altogether.
desperately need help, the Democrats need to step
up to the occasion and deliver massive support if
they want to remain in power.
But if this stimulus cop-out is any indication of
how the party plans on governing, they’d better
ready themselves for a rude awakening when the
midterms arrive.

The Chronicle’s Policy Evelina Gaivoronskaia
Ally Guo
The Chronicle is the official student Call 398-5025 ext. 33103 for infor- The National Scholastic Press Asso- The Chronicle Staff Online Editor Avary Hutzelman Connect with
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School. Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the Honorary Society for High School Jour- Riley Johansen Business Manager Rilee Malloy
right to refuse advertising it deems in- nalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Managing Editors Anna Kinasewitz Shravani Page @mhschronicle
The Chronicle promises to report the appropriate for a high school publica- Association. Kaelyn Rodrigues Evan Ponstingle facebook.com/
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ters to the editor are welcome, but are 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Visual Design Editor Staff Writers Abby Waechter
The Chronicle is produced by students subject to be edited for length, libel, ob- Mason, Ohio 45040 Aadrija Biswas Cody Allgor Adviser
enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. scenity, clarity and poor taste. Letters to (513) 398-5025 Divyana Bose Dale Conner
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Editorials reflect the staff ’s opinion C103 and must be signed.
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Mason City School District. Columbia Scholastic Press Association,

The Chronicle is published monthly.

January 22, 2021 Opinion 23

On immunization Editorial Cartoon
discourse: get the
vaccine New Year’s Resolutions meant my body because it was a personal goal or
because I thought it may help create more
Della Johnson | Staff Writer to foster growth, not
balance in my life. But I wanted to change out
One of my more remark-
able moments would have to be when I had punish the self of pity for myself and insecurity. I didn’t think
a panic attack on the floor of a Walgreens. I was enough. I would look at my friends
I had come to get my flu shot, something I get
every year. I’ve had moments at doctor’s offices Shravani Page | Staff Writer and become ridden with thoughts wishing I
where I’ve gotten five different shots at a time.
Even still, every year I would see the syringe, the It’s a new year, which looked like them.
thin needle, and begin hyperventilating on the means New Year’s Resolu- My friends are some of the most important
spot. I’m not even sure when this fear developed. tions are always bound to be made.
One thing I know for sure is that I can’t remem- I have made countless resolutions over the people in the world to me- that’s a given.
ber a time where getting vaccinated wasn’t a past few years, from endeavoring to change But once I became trapped in that mindset
personal source of tears, and the days leading up my body to look more “healthy” to always be-
to the appointment weren’t filled with dread. ing there for my friends. of insecurity, I stopped being there. Suddenly
Now, with the recent announcement of the And although both those sound like pretty all that mattered was not disappointing an
COVID-19 vaccine and thousands of people get- reasonable goals, they were goals I either arbitrary group of strangers.
ting it nation-wide in the first few waves of distri- didn’t accomplish or took way too far.
bution, I don’t think there has ever been a time Throughout my life, I always chose other I lost a lot of connections last year. And I
more suitable for my fear to thrive. I can’t look people. I was kind, polite, and gentle with know we were in a pandemic, but I didn’t even
at anything, go anywhere without seeing images everyone I knew. They always came before feel like calling or even Snapchatting anyone
of nurses holding arms, without hearing about me. I felt like I lived my life for someone else; back.
the dynamics of the needle or the healthcare as if my worth came from how much I could/
workers who are getting it. Even a few members couldn’t disappoint them. And it took me a while to get back up on my
of my family are in line to receive a dosage. It was hard for me to feel thankful when feet. It took dependency, a loss of control, and
So why is it that, in the eye of an immuniza- someone would be proud of me. The thought clashes between two very different mindsets.
tion hurricane, with my ears and eyes filled with in the back of my head would always consider But once I did, I felt capable.
images of my most terrible fear, I’m entirely how I might disappoint them in the future.
calm? The fear of disappointment ruled me. I was finally capable.
The answer is simple: I have common sense. My resolutions had always failed for a For the first time, I got myself together. And
This coronavirus has grabbed the world by reason I never realized till now. My resolu- I didn’t do it to change my body, but because
its collar and pushed it into a frenzy. People are tions were made for others, not me. My goals of those close to me. I chose to get better, but
losing their loved ones, their jobs, their homes. were made so I wouldn’t be a disappointment this time, it was not for anybody else.
Releasing and distributing a vaccine--something to other people. My mindset was skewed and I chose to get better for myself.
we’ve all collectively yearned for since last extreme because I didn’t allow myself to have I chose to get better so I could live a long,
March--seems like the only clear way out. grace. happy life where I could be strong enough to
That’s why I was so shocked when I heard that And I didn’t give myself grace because I was give back to this world.
so many people are against getting it, calling it chasing behind others for validation. Creating a New Year’s resolution doesn’t
dangerous or crafting conspiracy theories about I wish I could say that I wanted to change have to be some big, grand, gesture. It’s up to
the way that the dosage will toxify your entire you. But the key to a good resolution is creat-
bloodstream. Saying that they aren’t sure what’s ing a resolution out of love for yourself and
in it, because, you know, they’re absolutely sure by depending on those who depend on you.
of the contents of all the shots they get. So this year, create your goal, write it down,
And I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be and be sure to give yourself room and grace
cautious when injecting substances. Obviously. as you watch yourself grow.
That’s a given. But it’s not like the COVID
vaccine that the friendly nurse shoots into you
before she covers the wound with a rainbow
bandage is going to be untested and unknown.
Take it from a trypanophobic--if you’re refusing
to get this vaccine due to some sort of reserva-
tion about how it’s “sketchy” or that it won’t
work, and that’s your main reasoning, you’re
being selfish. I can confidently say that my petri-
fied self will sit right in that chair and take it, no
objections voiced.
If we’re being offered a chance to eradicate
this disease domestically, to potentially go back
to life as we knew it, everyone should be leaping
out of their seats and into clinics to get immu-
nized.
So, for the sake of everyone within a six-foot
radius of you, get the vaccine.

24 January 22, 2021