At Gilbert High School, students have an option, if they want, to go down the AP route (starting in 9th grade) or the IB route (starting in 11th grade). With AP classes come some pros and MANY cons. Some pros would be: college credit and a deeper understanding of the subject. When it comes to IB however, some pros are: better life balance, open-mindedness, opportunities to take risks, teamwork, and support from peers. When it comes down to the cores for each path a student can go down, IB is OBVIOUSLY the better option. I’m not here to change any opinion or upset the student body but if you want to stop reading, or if you want to see what I have to say, you can go at any point. What am I going to do, stop you? With the introduction out of the way, I would like to state why I despise AP and then state why I don’t dislike IB in any fashion. AP… short for Advanced Placement… I loathe AP!!! I have taken two AP classes, AP Government/Economics and AP World History. Now, I think the reason why I hate AP so much is because they were part of my personal, least favorite subject: History. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make assumptions about any other AP classes. I dislike AP for many reasons, I could list so many reasons that the next paragraph wouldn’t even start until the next page. I won’t do that to myself though. Anyway, when I was in AP World History last year I often found myself struggling with the workload and time management. Even with SOME help, and I say “some” with a grain of salt, I STILL wasn’t quite grasping onto the vocabulary, the Document-Based Questions, the repetitiveness, and even the restrictions, and force I felt within the class. As you might have guessed, this made me SUPER stressed so I dropped out into on-level. As far as AP Government/Economics goes, I dropped within the first quarter. I felt so stupid in those classrooms, and I would NEVER wish that upon myself so that is why I’m not a HUGE fan of AP at ALL. Don’t even get me STARTED on those AP Exams! It must suck for someone who tries their hardest in that AP class, stay for the ENTIRE year, take the test, and find out that they obtained a failing grade to get the credit for college. On TOP of that, the AP Exams might happen AFTER school; this could mess up the student’s schedule. I’ll stop yapping about AP, it’s making me seethe just typing about it. My feelings towards IB are so positive, so starting now I won’t be bawling my eyes out! IB!!! International Baccalaureate!!! How formal, at least that’s what I think. IB isn’t just for the hopes of getting the college credit, I mean it COULD be if you want, rather it is for the sense of togetherness you feel with your peers. I’ve personally always viewed IB classes as a time to get together with classmates and become a giant family. There are two types of IB a student can go down, they can’t go down both though. The IB Diploma Programme, which I will call DP, and the IB Career Programme, this one I will call CP, are the two options. They are very similar in the ways in that they have the same overall goal, to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect,” however the CP is meant for student who have a good idea on what they want to do for their future career and the DP is more general learning to later on narrow down what you want to do for your future career. They are both beneficial in their own spectacular ways and shape a student into the best version of themselves. For the CP, students take at least two IB classes per year and take their CTE (Career and Technical Education) both years for their future career; they also take PPS (Personal & Professional Skills)! In the DP, students take all IB classes as well as TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Alright, I’ll admit something… AP is tough and so is IB. To succeed in these you have to be committed and WILLING to learn. There is no reliance on the 50% rule to pass these classes, the teachers care about you and will do anything to help you succeed; the student has to also take accountability though and ASK for help rather than waiting to receive it. IB and AP are great paths for students to go down and leave these students in a way better state in the years following, even if AP is not as fun to accomplish. To end off, what do you want to do, it is NOT my job to persuade you. If you put your mind to what you want to achieve, I’m sure your confidence will overcome anything you want to do in your education!

I sent out a Google form to Gilbert High School Teachers featuring questions that vary from their opinion of the education system to why they love teaching, and I received many responses. Some of my favorite responses were about the teachers themselves. Education has many thorns, but the teachers are the roses who make it beautiful. I have heard many stories of how teachers have not only supported their students, but supported each other, and I wanted to hear more! So, one of my first questions for the teachers was, “What are some of the things other teachers have done for you?” “SO MUCH! Other teachers are so generous with their knowledge, help, and support.” “Other teachers have metaphorically saved my life on many occasions!” “I can say with complete certainty that I wouldn't be the teacher I am today without the support, encouragement, and community formed with other teachers. I have made some of my best friends through teaching and I'm so lucky to have them. Everything from borrowed lessons, help with grading papers, sharing chocolate, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or just sitting in silence while we let the events of a day or week wash over us, I couldn't do this job without other teachers.” “Having teachers you can talk to that are going through the same stresses is a huge boost to your day/week/semester.” “I am constantly learning from other teachers, whether they teach my subject matter or not. I always learn from their classroom procedures, behavior management, and many other things.” “My fellow teachers are amazing. We have a wonderful department and we help each other plan and share resources. We are definitely each others' cheerleaders! I've learned so much from them even though we have different ways of teaching. We are constantly trying to improve. Just like our students, we learn new things every day!” “Other English teachers share their materials. Ms. Peters, the other ELL teacher, keeps us organized and in compliance with the state. Coaches will talk to students who are having trouble behaving. Math teachers have been willing to come in my class during their prep to help students with concepts. All the teachers who have ELL students are willing to work with them, which makes my job easier.” “Other teachers have helped me to broaden my thinking about new and different ways to teach and connect with students. This is one of the most valuable assets we have as teachers, the ability to collaborate.” “Pushed me beyond what I thought I could do.” Mrs. Milius, a true necessity to the Gilbert science department, specifically in the chemistry field, has a heartwarming story of how teachers support other teachers. “The science department rocks and totally took care of me during my maternity leave. Mr. Sullivan gave up so much of his time teaching my substitute and teaching my students, Mr. G helped my kids by making himself available for tutoring and also conducted a lab for my classes. The science department held a baby shower for me during lunch one day. Not to mention, Mrs. Wagner gives me tons of advice and helps me come up with better lesson plans.” Not only do teachers support one another, but many of the amazing teachers we have today were inspired by the wonderful teachers they had when they were in school! “It is part of the reason I became a teacher- I have had a lot of wonderful mentors that helped me in a lot of different ways throughout my years. It took a while for me to believe that I could be that for other students, but I know that I can now so I do everything I can to pay it all back." “My Auto teacher in high school helped me learn in alternate ways since I have learning disabilities. This opened up my world and changed my life. I spent over 40 years in the industry.” “I had a few great high school history teachers who made me love history. They made it exciting and interesting. I try to replicate that in my classes to this day.” “I have had teachers kick me out of their classroom, out of their course, and I have even been kicked out of elementary school. Those teachers held me accountable, but they refused to let me hold myself back. When I punched back (sometimes literally), they always maintained their focus on helping me through the rough times because they felt I was worth it.” “My favorite teacher in high school (and we are still friends to this day) drove me to the city from our small town every week to take a life drawing class. It was a [hour and a half] round trip and was a 3-hour class. She has been my inspiration, model, and mentor as a teacher.” I loved hearing the special stories of how past and current teachers supported one another and their students, but I had one more big question for the teachers about their careers. “What is your favorite part of your profession and working with students?” “Without a doubt my favorite part of working with students is forming relationships with them, getting to know them, and being a part of their lives as they grow and mature. To watch that process happen is absolutely beautiful and one of my greatest joys in life.” "My favorite part of working with students is that I can see both the unique individual that each of them are as well as seeing a little bit of me in there. The students remind me of the variety and vivacity of youth while helping me to appreciate the path I took to become who I am. When I hear a student discover a favorite band of mine for the first time, I think back to being their age and being thankful that I found that art in the world. I get that reminder on a constant basis. I also get to learn new ideas and language. I at least am aware of Ice Spice and I can use the word rizz properly in a sentence. So, I guess it is the shared life experiences that keep me coming back to school each day.” “Making connections and building a community of learners is the best part of being a teacher.” “I love seeing how much of an impact I have on the students and the relationships that carry beyond the material learned in class. Seeing students become functioning members of society will always be a great sense of pride for me.” “My favorite part of teaching is getting to spend all day with my students. They're such cool people! It's so exciting to think of all the amazing things my students are going to go on and do in the world!” “Giving them the knowledge I have…Nothing makes me happier than seeing a former student living their best life after high school.” “I really love to know my students and hear about their lives. I see SO MUCH GOOD in my students and truly hope that they achieve their goals. I think teenagers get a bad rap, and it is so refreshing for me to see kids just trying to do their best, and doing it well.” “I love seeing the growth of my students over a school year. By the end, they have gained so much knowledge and confidence. It is very rewarding.” “Watching students' reactions when something finally clicks for them and the realization they have is incredible and always a highlight of my day.” “Seeing the improvement over the course of a quarter. Watching them be freaked out and stressed about a piece of music I put in front of them, and then by the end of the quarter, they can play it masterfully.” “I really enjoy seeing the students' progress. It's really easy to see with our ELL population. A kid who didn't know any English at the beginning of the year is able to have a conversation with you at the end of the year.” “The relationships built and watching young people grow. I am lucky as many of our students are in our program for all 4 years. We conduct many activities outside of the class through the FFA which allows us to build those relationships with students.” “They keep me optimistic because they haven't been jaded by adulthood yet. I absolutely love the subject that I teach and seeing how excited students get to learn about personal finance.” “Seeing the students working with each other solving issues on vehicles that would cost thousands for them to have professionally fixed. The more you know about life the better you’re equipped to succeed. The Students Rock!!” Teachers love and appreciate their students, so now it’s time for the students to show their teachers they care too. Next week, May 6th through May 10th is Teacher Appreciation Week. Take the time to show your teachers you care, even if all you say is thank you, it’ll mean more than you can imagine.

The United States education system has slowly tarnished its reputation of being one of the best in the world. From standardized tests to restricted learning, American teachers face numerous obstacles. When asked for their opinion of the education system, one teacher replied, “I plead the fifth.” I think that sums it up perfectly. Now, I could go on for days about my issues with the education system, but my goal with this article is to (safely and anonymously) share teachers’ opinions and maybe a few tidbits of my own. Their answers varied, but they all reflected the need for improvement. “I believe that everyone is trying their best, but we have lost focus on what matters most.” “I think there are some big issues that we need to take seriously and work to solve intelligently.” “It definitely could be better, but we should always be getting better so I don't think anyone should ever be completely satisfied with where we are at as an educational system.” “It needs a lot of work, but it's not as bad as some people might think. It obviously varies from district to district, but I feel we're very fortunate here in GPS because they always at least make an effort to get us what we need.” “There are good elements, but there is always room for improvement.” “There are good things and bad things about it just like anything.” “I think there are a few parts of the system that could be more effective.” “It has a lot of issues, but if we can find ways to make it work for more students, I genuinely think education can make our world better.” “[I] accept it and make it work best for students… I will stand up for what is good and right for [the] kids.” The students. That’s what matters. One of the biggest issues with American education is that it has forgotten the purpose of education: to educate the students. If something proves to not be the best way to teach students, shouldn’t it be changed? How are students supposed to truly learn if there are restrictions and limits placed on how they learn? When asked if they had ever found workarounds for the system, one teacher said, “I always do what is best for the students no matter what.” They also said, “The education system needs a complete overhaul. We need to focus on more career-oriented classes and such to help students get on the path that interests them. I would love to find more ways to make education meaningful for all students. I feel that the current model is very outdated and is not serving this generation.” And they are right. The purpose of school is to prepare students for the future, so wouldn’t a more career-oriented education make sense? Is it fair for students to be forced to take classes they will never use in the future, rather than classes that will benefit them career-wise? “I believe our system is outdated and many students are not gaining the skills they need to be successful in life. We need to really rethink what a school looks like in the 21st Century.” “I've disregarded policies that are harmful to students.” “Students learn much differently than they used to, and it's important that schools meet their needs. Parents are a big part of student success and they also need to work with teachers.” “...sometimes I add relevant information and lessons to the prescribed curriculum. This helps students understand the content better.” “The education system should be building kids for the future and not teaching to a test. The test does not prepare them for the real world where there are a lot of situations that could be covered in school to better prepare them. It feels like the education system gets worried about a loud minority and not the majority of people's opinions and needs.” “I'm sorry that [the education system] got ruined. I was really lucky to either have a good school system (I grew up in Gilbert) or it was not obvious that my educational resources were lacking. Nowadays, the same cannot be said. The world has advanced rapidly over the past 5 years alone, but expand that to the last 10, 20, or 30 years... it is like we are on an entirely different planet than the one we inhabited not that long ago. But, if you were to take someone from the 1970s and plop them into Gilbert High School in 2024, not much would have changed from when they went to high school. The same schedules, the same novels, and the same expectations- all to prepare them for a differentiated world. The public school system has stayed stagnant while the rest of the world (and the private and charter schools) has advanced.” One of the most recent downturns in our education system was the “fifty percent grading rule” established here at Gilbert High School. The school took a major step backward when it came to progressing the education system when it created this rule. There are no zeros in the grade book; students are given an automatic fifty percent for doing nothing. How is that teaching them responsibility and preparing them for the future? Although no teacher directly mentioned the fifty percent rule, the issue is that it, along with extended late work deadlines, is making students less and less accountable. This is the very thing that one teacher pointed out. “We aren't holding people (students, teachers, administration, staff, parents) accountable, therefore, our level of excellence and skill is declining and so is the desire to learn. If you aren't pushed or held accountable you don't do the work or improve. If there is no improvement, there is no desire to proceed to the next level.” I could not have said it better. Even though many students take advantage of the fifty percent rule and feel as though it benefits them, in the long run, it will only hurt our generation’s work ethic. (You don’t earn half your paycheck for doing nothing, friends, in case you didn’t know.) “I believe the education system exists for a reason, and I believe the goal of the system is sound in wanting to make sure we have education in our society. I think over the years the way in which that goal is achieved has changed drastically, and not for the better. I think the focus has been lost. It no longer feels like we are focusing on educating young minds and preparing them for the future. It feels like the system is continually telling teachers to do more with less and expecting major results. That doesn't work. It's disappointing, mostly because the people that tend to make these decisions have never set foot in a classroom and have no idea the circumstances that surround being a teacher in this day and age.” “I dislike that decisions are made by people who are not in the classroom and don't really understand the consequences of those decisions.” Teachers do so much with so little. The system works against them but still expects them to provide excellent education to students. That’s totally reasonable… (not). “Teaching is the best, AND the hardest.” “It is a lot harder than we get credit for :)” “I love education. There are always challenges. I look at it as: am I doing the best for my students and how can I improve? Are there things I do not like? Of course, but that is why I am a teacher and not an administrator or politician. I love working with students and chose many years ago not to pursue anything that would take me out of the classroom.” “This job is hard, and it's only gotten harder, but when we stick together and support one another the load is lighter and much more enjoyable. I will always fight for my students and do what I can to make sure they get what they need, and I will never stop fighting for my fellow teachers to make sure they feel supported and encouraged.” “I think we have too much teacher turnover due to lack of support.Teachers are severely underpaid and underappreciated. There are better education systems that exist in other countries, and we could adopt methods from those other systems to improve ours. The problem, at least in my opinion, has a lot to do with people's mindsets when it comes to education/teachers.” “Teaching is a tough and oftentimes thankless job. We need to do more to support teachers because without them students will be the ones that ultimately suffer.” “I'm not going to comment much… but I will say that teachers do NOT get the respect, support, or compensation that they should. I think a lot of teachers are doing their best with what little we have to work with.” One teacher said, “I think the sign of a good teacher is one that can take others' ideas and alter them to fit their own teaching. Whenever this opportunity has been possible, unfair and unreasonable become fair and reasonable.” I agree to an extent. Good teachers can find workarounds within the system to ensure they provide their students with the best education they can, but imagine the type of education that teachers could provide if they didn’t have to work against the system. I understand following a curriculum, but teachers are the ones who go to school and learn how to help others learn, so why aren’t they given more freedom to teach others the way they know will work best? To sum it all up, I want to share one more teacher’s response to the question, “What is your opinion of the education system?” “I am hopeful. We've been experiencing a dark time in education due to bad policymaking, lack of funding, and distrust of educators. Eventually, the public will stop seeing us as scapegoats, fully fund our children's education, and create a policy that supports our students' learning.”

Caffeine. We all know it, most of us love it, and some of us are obsessed with it. Whether it is in the form of a caffeinated soda, like Mountain Dew (my personal favorite), coffee, or tea, caffeine is consumed by eighty-five percent of Americans daily, including myself.¹ My preferred caffeinated beverage is a delicious Mountain Dew, or the occasional coffee (Starbucks or homemade). However, I don’t drink caffeine for the typical reason - an energy boost or a morning pick-me-up - because caffeine makes me sleepy. Caffeine is supposed to “... stimulate (increase the activity of) your brain and nervous system,” yet, when I drink caffeine, it has the opposite effect.² The number of times I’ve drank a Big Q Mountain Dew from QT around four in the afternoon, and then proceeded to lose all my energy shortly afterward is too many to count. But, I’m not just some random anomaly, I’ve heard from others that caffeine makes them sleepy too (glad to know I’m not alone, phew), but no one knows why. A theory I’ve conjured up as to why this happens is because it takes so much energy to process and break down caffeine, that instead of receiving an energy boost, our bodies wear themselves out. But, I’m no scientist, so the reason behind it remains a mystery. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a laugh at this weird reverse caffeine effect. So, I interviewed my fellow Tiger Tribune editors and asked them a very simple question: “Has caffeine ever made you sleepy?” Five of us, including myself, agreed that yes, caffeine has made us sleepy, two of us do not drink caffeine (thus never experiencing this weird opposite reaction), and one of us disagreed, detailing a time when caffeine gave them a major pick-me-up. Now, a poll of eight people is a small group, but it’s interesting to hear the stories. Let’s start with those of us who have experienced this weird effect. Starting with the best, our Editor-in-chief, Zoe Bauerle⁽¹⁰⁾ explained that she drank two Monsters (a well-known energy drink) and a Rebel (Dutch Bros’ signature energy drink), and rather than receiving an ultimate energy boost, she fell asleep and took a two-hour nap. She’s not the only one who passes out from drinking caffeine. Tessa Abbiatti⁽¹⁰⁾, our Copy Editor, said this past Wednesday, that she had a cup of coffee around seven at night and ended up falling asleep thirty minutes later. Keira Sanchez⁽¹²⁾, this year’s Managing Editor, attempted to fuel an all-nighter with two canned Starbucks coffees, and instead, “I ended up going to bed around twelve or one at night?” We will never stop being confused by the opposite effect caffeine has on us. Lastly, Hailey Whippo⁽¹⁰⁾, our Advertising Editor who manages the lovely Tiger Tribune Instagram (@tigertribunenewspaper), agreed that whenever she drinks coffee it ends up making her sleepy. It’s quite ironic that even though caffeine makes us sleepy, we all continue drinking it. We have a toxic relationship with caffeine; we keep going back expecting something different. However, not all of us editors are caffeine addicts. Our Photography Editor Isabella Kaut⁽¹²⁾ never drinks caffeine, and neither does our Opinions Editor Lexie Cardine⁽¹⁰⁾. However, Lexie⁽¹⁰⁾ did share a story about some of her friends who experienced the reverse caffeine effect. “The other day [three of my friends] were all discussing how it [caffeine] knocks them out rather than energizing them.” Thank you, Lexie⁽¹⁰⁾, for helping your fellow editors feel a little less alone in this weird caffeine anomaly. Yet, one editor remains, who not only drinks caffeine but is actually energized by it! Glory Ruiz Jones⁽¹¹⁾ our Sports Editor, “had 400mg of caffeine in a day and didn't fall asleep until like 1 or 2 in the morning.” I am glad to know at least one of us editors can have a normal relationship with caffeine. In the end, it’s quite confusing why caffeine has the opposite effect on some people, and it is even more confusing why we continue to drink caffeine if it does not give us an energy boost, and instead knocks us out. I can’t speak for my other editors, but I can explain my situation. The truth is I am a raging soda-holic who will never turn down a Mountain Dew, and waking myself up with a nice hot cup of coffee is an effective way to start my day (for about ten minutes, and then I am ready for a nap). Despite the craziness behind it, not everyone is energized by caffeine, and more of us are tired out by it than we would expect. But, even though I am happy to know I am not alone in this weird reverse caffeine effect, I would still like to know why on Earth caffeine makes me sleepy!

It is not hidden knowledge that teaching in the United States is a disrespected, underpaid, and unappreciated profession. The education system is something I have been concerned about for a while, not only as a student who wants a good education but as a student who is considering being a teacher as my career. I sent out a form to Gilbert High School teachers and received twenty-eight responses. These teachers ranged from those who teach core classes (math, science, history, and english), those who teach special education students, and those who teach electives. One of the biggest questions for these teachers was what their biggest sacrifice was, and nineteen out of the twenty-eight teachers said time. Teachers from all across campus explained that they spend multiple outside-of-school hours dedicated to their students. One teacher said, “Teaching takes a lot of time out of your personal schedule, whether that be the time it takes to plan lessons, to grade papers, to organize your classroom, to collect and analyze data, or even just decompress after a particularly hard day dealing with difficult situations...it takes a lot.” A large portion of these teachers explained that they have missed out on time with their families due to the dedication they’ve put into their job. Society, including the district and the students, forget that teachers are people who live outside of the classroom, which is unfair. However, some teachers have a differing opinion, “I don't see it as a sacrifice, but my job. I spend additional time before and after school to make sure students have what they need to succeed, but I don't see it as a sacrifice, simply helping to prepare these students for post-high school success in the working field as well as personally,” which I believe is an amazing perspective on the additional time teachers give to their students. Yet, whether or not a teacher gives extra time to their students should be their choice, not something they feel required to do. And, if teachers are putting in extra work, they should receive extra pay for doing so. Teachers give extra, unpaid time to their profession because they care for their students’ educations, additionally, they supply materials for their classrooms when need be (which is often because not only are teachers underpaid; schools are underfunded). Twenty-six out of the twenty-eight teachers polled confirmed that they have provided things for their classes because the school “would not” or “could not.” Besides basic classroom supplies, teachers also put their money towards materials specific to their subjects. Teachers give so much time, energy, and money into their profession and they make major sacrifices, however, to them it is simply part of their job and they do it for their students because they care. One teacher put it perfectly, “When the lesson needs it, you just make sure it's there.” Next time you see your teachers, tell them thank you because they do so much that you may not even know about. Lastly, I would love to give a special shoutout to Mrs. Baldwin, the sponsor for Tiger Tribune. Thank you so much Mrs. Baldwin for everything you do. We all love you.

Percy Jackson Books The first Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief, was published on June 28, 2005 by Rick Riordan.¹ The first book in a five book series features Percy Jackson, a twelve year old boy who lives in southeast New York. Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on school work, making friends, or controlling his temper. And being at boarding schools has only made things worse. When he comes home to tell his mom, Sally Jackson, that his Pre-Algebra teacher attacked him, she knew it was time to tell him the truth about his heritage. She explains to Percy that his dad is a god from Greek Mythology, Poseidon, the god of the sea. She sends Percy to Camp-Half Blood, a summer camp in Long Island for demigods, where he learns to control the powers he inherited from his dad. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with two friends, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, they set off to stop a war between the gods that will tear the world apart if not stopped. Having a heroin the same age as me when I read these books really inspired me. I love these books because of how inclusive and open-minded they were. Percy Jackson Movies Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, directed by Chris Colombus, dropped on February, 12, 2010 in the United States.² Rick Riordan, had no say in the movie that was only loosely based on his book. I watched the first Percy Jackson movie and overall, I was disappointed. The characters did not even closely resemble the book in age, likeness, or personality wise. The plot also did not match the first book whatsoever, but instead took ideas and scenes from the entire series. The movie opens to Percy Jackson, played by Logan Lerman, a troubled kid bouncing from boarding school to boarding school. His life becomes more complicated when he finds out that he is the son of an ancient Greek God, Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Percy goes to a camp to help train his powers he has inherited from his dad called Camp-Half Blood. Once there he is recruited for the adventure of a lifetime: He must prevent a feud between the gods from turning into an all out war, as well as save his mom from the clutches of Hades, god of the underworld. This movie really let me down, it had so much potential and hope but I felt let down by how different it was from the books, even if they were only roughly based on them, it still felt like a let down. There is also a second movie called the Sea of Monsters, roughly based on Rick Riordan’s second book. It was released on August 7th, 2013, seven years after the book was released.³ When the magical tree that protects Camp-Half Blood’s borders gets sick, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and others go on a quest to find a magical golden fleece that will heal the tree. If they don’t find the fleece in time, everyone at camp will be in grave danger from the monsters in the outside world. I liked this movie more than the first, it still wasn’t my favorite purely because of how different it was from the books, just like the first movie. Percy Jackson Show Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, was released December 19, 2023. Percy is played by Walker Scobell, Grover Underwood is played by Aryan Simhadari, and Annabeth is played by Leah Jeffries.⁴ Only one season, eight episodes, has been released so far but with promises of more, fans eagerly await the second season. I personally love this show! Thor Freudenthal, the director, did an amazing job of getting the characters personalities on screen with help of Rick Riordan. The show almost completely mirrors the book, from the demeanors of the characters to the settings and iconic one liners that make the book amazing. The show opens to the same scene as the book with the iconic line, “Am I a troubled kid?” Walker asks, “Yeah, you could say that.” This line perfectly incorporates Percy’s personality from paper to screen. Just like the book, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase & Grover Underwood set off on a quest to stop a catastrophic war between the gods. While on this journey they learn more about each other, their parents, and how much more challenging this quest is going to be than first intended. Overall Rating Altogether the Percy Jackson book series has a 4.8 star rating according to Good Reads, while the movies have a 2.6 star rating, and the show so far has a 4.3 star rating.⁵ I liked the book series the best out of the three, but the show seems promising. The movies I was very disappointed about when I first watched them, but on their own, are really good movies.

As a student, it's important to find effective study techniques that work for you. Here are some tried-and-true study tips to help you succeed: 1. Create a study schedule: Write down all the assignments, tests, and projects you have coming up and allocate specific blocks of time to study for each one. Stick to your schedule as closely as possible to ensure you stay on track. 2. Find a quiet, distraction-free study space: Whether it's a library, a coffee shop, or your own bedroom, find a space where you can focus and minimize distractions. 3. Take breaks: It's important to give your brain a break every once in a while. Take short breaks every hour or so to stretch, grab a snack, or take a quick walk. 4. Use active learning techniques: Don't just passively read your notes or textbooks. Engage with the material by taking notes, asking questions, and creating study aids like flashcards or diagrams. 5. Practice self-care: Make sure you're taking care of yourself physically and mentally. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, and take time to relax and recharge. 6. Review regularly: Don't wait until the night before a test to review all your notes. Regularly review your notes and materials so you're constantly reinforcing the information. 7. Seek help when needed: Don't be afraid to ask your teachers or peers for help if you're struggling with a concept or assignment. There are also many online resources available, such as Khan Academy, that can provide additional support. By implementing these study tips, you'll be able to maximize your learning and achieve academic success. Good luck!

Welcome to Lazy Studying. Last year, I got into the aesthetic of pretty notes and gel pens, but it took way too much time, so I stopped. Unfortunately, I’m in AP Gov/Econ and need to study, so I had to pick it back up. I decided to procrastinate and eventually found the answer to my problems while searching for the answer to my problems. Isn’t that ironic? 1) Work Smarter, Not Harder - The triangle of learning has the answer to all of your problems, much like the triangle of food does. There’s active and passive learning; active learning is what gets you to retain the information more. 2) Quizlet is Your Bestie-estie - It’s carrying me; that’s all I can say. 3) Review Guides - These papers carry me bridal style into the sunset. I love review papers, and if you aren’t given any, use old quizzes and tests given in the class to make your own. 4) Work Smarter, Not Harder The Sequel - Using my beloved triangle of learning we can find a couple of methods that help us out. a: “I’m Delusional for Academia” - Start talking to yourself, or talk to a rubber ducky, or your pet fish, or a stuffed animal, or a taxidermy stuffed animal – you get the idea. Teaching your inanimate objects whatever you’re learning about will save you. b: “‘What’s your name, man?’ ‘Alexander Hamilton… My name is Alexander Hamilton…’” - Bring out your inner theatre kid and rewrite and repeat what you need to know before devastation reigns. c: “Blurt” - Put all you know on the topic on a piece of paper and then look to find what you missed, then write that down and highlight it. Repeat for all topics you need to know before finals.

In 1936, Stewart Scheftel began writing articles from his garage, having no anticipation of how far his project now named Sports Illustrated would go.¹ The last 87 years have been full of immense growth for the company, earning it a popularly recognizable name. However, has this growth met its end? The company has recently been accused of publishing works generated by Artificial Intelligence. This accusation, whether found true or not, has set one of writer’s biggest fears into stone: losing their jobs to a robot. Sports Illustrated gets supplied articles by numerous organizations. AdVon Commerce, a company who writes and sends articles out, is one of these vendors. SI and AdVon have been working together for some time, forming a base level of trust between the two, or so it seemed. Futurism, a company who publishes texts about science and technology, is the plaintiff in this case. They were the ones who formulated the accusations that Sports Illustrated is now being held to.² Sports Illustrated has a history that deals with other accusations of the same sort. Therefore, Futurism's claim that SI used artificial intelligence to create fake writers, photos, and articles does not come as a surprise.³ Arena Group, the parent corporation of Sports Illustrated, asserted that these were incorrect. Ross Levinsohn, a top executive of Arena Group, explained, “The articles in question were product reviews and were licensed content from an external third-party company. AdVon assured us that all of the articles in question were written and edited by humans.”⁴ Fortunately, Arena Group has broken its ties with AdVon. Additionally, Sports Illustrated has removed all the articles that have been accused of Artificial intelligence. Mitch Goldrich, an editor at Sports Illustrated, saying the magazine has begun,"Real damage to the credibility of the hardworking humans I have been honored to work with for the past 9 years".⁵ Staffers and editors of many newspapers are enraged with this growing use of Artificial Intelligence. Websites have now evolved to be able to write essays for high school students. As seen, using Artificial Intelligence can be detrimental to your credibility. We believe using AI to ghost write your texts can be a serious problem. Although AI in specific situations can be helpful, using and passing it off as your own is considered plagiarism. It should not be used as an entire official work. As writers this truly increases our fearful views of the future technology that is ready to emerge. The ability that these mechanisms hold is able to affect our world in ways that many individuals have yet to grasp. Personally, the two of us see Artificial Intelligence as a way of corrupting the creativity and thought process of people like us. This isn’t to diminish the amount of profound doors opened up by this technology. There are plenty of benefits that AI brings, although those do not outweigh the negatives. AI’s ability to erase jobs and creative endeavors from millions upon millions of people has prompted fear within us. Trepidation and anxiety form when seeing our associates take advantage of Artificial Intelligence for it shocks us with a sudden new reality. In the end, AI is not a toy to be played with.

“Ancient Greece was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC.”¹ Now their myths have become popular and many stories have been written with their concept. They are full of epic stories filled with gods, goddesses, and heroes. Greek mythology is quite popular and has had quite an effect on Western culture. “Greek mythology has had an extensive influence on the arts and literature of Western civilization, which inherited much of Greek culture.”² Modern-day people are inspired by Greek mythology, and many modern-day stories and movies have an aspect of it in it. D’Aularies book of Greek myths, I believe is one of the best books of Greek mythology. Why? It is filled with stories like Hercules and how Zeus became king. And almost all of the stories of Greek mythology. At the ages of 10 and 11, it was an enjoyable book. So it's great for younger generations. Another famous book based on Greek mythology is Percy Jackson. In the book, there is Percy who is half-blooded, half-human, half god. In many Greek myths, gods would have offspring with humans. Percy Jackson is also a great Greek mythology book for kids and has five books in the series. The Odyssey is one of Homer's epic poems. It follows Odysseus' journey home. After his battle in Troy, he must follow a dangerous journey and many obstacles. It teaches a Greek custom called xenia. It also came out during the early 7th or late 8th century BC. Which is when writing became more widespread. Hercules is a children's movie also based on Greek mythology. It's not completely accurate for example Hercules's mother was not Hera (Zeus' wife and goddess of women's marriage and childbirth). It was a human woman, Hera found out making her jealous and hating Hercules. Either than being related to Greek mythology, what do those stories have in common? They all follow something called the hero's journey. “The hero’s journey is a circular sequence of events underlying almost any story or adventure. It describes the path a protagonist must take after they set out to accomplish some goal.”³

“Go outside! Go outside and look! It’s a blue moon!” Rushing outside, expecting the equivalent to Tinker Bell’s blue harvest moon, those who knew no better hurried to see the sight, only to be absolutely, utterly, disappointed. Releasing a sigh, feeling the adrenaline rush fizzle away, we realized, “It’s not blue…” The night of August 30th was a blue moon, big whoop. Due to the name, it was easy to expect something spectacular and magical, as if out of a movie, but nope: just a regular, plain old full moon. So what if it was the second full moon in the month? Why on Earth would you call it blue? There was no amazing blue moon standing out amongst the clouds. All that could be seen was a bright, white, full moon. Makes you wonder if the people who named it purposely wanted to deceive the ignorant. Did they have to be so cruel? Sure, it’s interesting that there were two full moons in a single month – August should feel special – but why would something not-blue, be called blue? Call it something like the second moon. Or, round-two moon. There were so many fun possibilities that made much more sense than a blue moon. Maybe it was an attempt at irony? If so, not funny. Not everyone was duped by the blue moon; they enjoyed the sight and got a good laugh out of the fact some people really thought it would be blue. These well-informed, practical jokers found joy in the sight of the second full moon of the month. Others enjoyed the astrological meaning behind the moon: a chance to “release negative energy and manifest abundance.”¹ Yet, that still doesn’t explain why the blue moon is called blue in the first place. The explanation of the name has to do with the rarity of the blue moon. A lot of times, when something rarely occurs, the phrase “once in a blue moon” gets thrown around. However, way back when, in the 16th century people would use the idiom “the moon is blue” to express something impossible, not rare. When the first blue moon was sighted, people coined the name, basing it on the expression, because the event seemed impossible.² Nonetheless, as one of the ones who knew no better, the blue moon experience was an absolute zero out of ten, no stars: it’s not blue.

Have you ever heard or witnessed someone else's traumatic experience? If you have you may be at risk for second-hand trauma. Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that when an individual hears or witnesses the first-hand trauma of another. Specific ages are more likely to have second-hand trauma than others. Teens are the age group that is most likely to suffer from second-hand trauma. “Still, 29% of the 4,549-person sample population, including young people ages 0-17, reported experiencing some form of vicarious trauma exposure during their lifetimes,” Charlie Heath said.¹ This specific type of trauma is also associated with certain jobs, such as physicians, psychotherapists, human service workers, and first responders. “Supporting people through their traumatic situations can be a trauma of its own, called secondary trauma. It’s especially common among helping professionals,” Psych Central said.² Overall, everyone is at risk for second-hand trauma, but specifically, people who are at a fragile age and those who are in a stressful work environment. There are specific markers and signs a person who has second-hand trauma will show. “Common symptoms include: nightmares about a patient’s story, intrusive thoughts, sleep problems, avoiding clients or discouraging them to share trauma, hypervigilance, anger, anxiety, apathy or depression, physical exhaustion, increased drinking, substance use, or eating to cope with stress and an increase in judgment or resentment toward clients or job,” Psych Central said.² Resentment towards a person may be because they are the cause of the trauma. Most people who cause the trauma do not know or recognize that they did. Recognizing symptoms and dealing with them appropriately can help a person heal from the emotional wounds. If you know or have suspicions of a friend or family member who might have second-hand trauma, there are important steps to take to help them heal. “Get enough sleep, use mindful intention, and meditate. Find places to appreciate the outdoors and maintain perspective. Talk about your feelings with people you trust, such as loved ones, friends, and support groups, or see a mental health professional,” Social Work License Map said.³ Helping a person heal from second-hand trauma can build trust, but more importantly lets the person know that you are there for them and are willing to help in times of need. Second-hand trauma can cause a loved one tons of stress and anxiety. Second-hand trauma is best when caught early and dealt with accordingly.