The social media apocalypse
HARPER WILCOX, Staff Writer
September 12, 2018
Filed under FOCUS, Uncategorized
Like millions of teens across the country, Junior Nora Wright starts every morning off by waking up and reaching for her phone. “I use my phone every day,” Wright said. “I use it to check social media, check Canvas and watch YouTube… but I don’t really know current events.” ...
With more money comes great responsibility: High school jobs can help teach financial accountability
Matthew Mapa, Focus Editor
September 12, 2018
Filed under FOCUS
While other teenagers spend their Saturdays and Sundays binge-watching shows on Netflix and playing Fortnite until ungodly hours, junior Cecelia Arney spends her weekends working 10 hours at the McDonald’s on Orlando Avenue. Besides the additional income, Arney says she also gains greater fin...
Consumption creates connections: How advisory breakfast affects the advisory dynamic
Alexis Huang, Staff Writer
September 11, 2018
Filed under FOCUS
Most days of the week, students must drag themselves into first period on an empty stomach, rendering themselves unable to dig into morning lessons. On Thursdays, however, students can partake in advisory breakfast to satiate their empty stomachs, giving them the energy to help them focus and ...
Learning to let go of toxic friendship: Some friendships are not worth saving.
Carly Swain, Editor-in-Chief
May 3, 2018
Filed under FOCUS
Teenagers are often told to weather the storm. They are encouraged to take the bad with the good and to accept what cannot be changed. In many cases, this resilient and easygoing attitude is completely appropriate, if not necessary, in life. It is important to love friends for who they are, especiall...
Decluttering the diminutive: How organizing the small things can make a big impact
Matthew Mapa, FOCUS EDITOR
May 3, 2018
Filed under FOCUS, LIFESTYLES
When thinking of procrastination, the first thing that comes to mind is schoolwork. Teachers can always be counted on to urge their students to start studying early and refrain from cramming or starting assignments mere days before the due date. Organization, while seen as important, lacks the same em...
Dating in the digital age
Carly Swain, FOCUS EDITOR
February 12, 2018
Filed under FOCUS
In today’s world of senseless Snapchat streaks, staged Instagram posts and over analyzed read receipts, the line between virtual reality and reality is becoming increasingly blurred. If someone breaks a 200-day streak out of the blue, it must mean they want to break off the friendship. If someone do...
Kwality Love Advice
Andrew Kwa, LAYOUT EDITOR
February 6, 2018
Filed under FOCUS
"How do I get over a breakup or old crush?" The sting of rejection that comes with a breakup is painful indeed. It leaves an empty void in our hearts that’s difficult to fill. On the one hand, you could try to fill that void with food (not recommended, see “My 600-lb Life”). On the other han...
Even relaxing stresses me out
CARLY SWAIN, FOCUS EDITOR
December 7, 2017
Filed under FOCUS
High school students don’t have it easy. Between school, homework, sports, play practice and family responsibilities, we live in a world in which there is always something to do. There is always work to get done, progress to be made and goals to work toward. Our parents and teachers constantly ...
Times have changed: Stigmas and shifts surrounding millennials
Matthew Mapa, Caroline Swain, Staff Writer, FOCUS Editor
October 31, 2017
Millennials receive a bad reputation. Articles such as “Millionaire to millennials: Lay off the avocado toast if you want a house” by CNN and “Millennial disconnect: Kids want money but not hard work” by the Miami Herald are just two of many that accuse millennials of being lazy, irrespons...
When cancer gets personal: student reflects on her mother’s battle against breast cancer
Carly Swain, FOCUS EDITOR
October 6, 2017
Filed under FOCUS
Seven years ago, junior Ivie Maher’s life turned upside down. She and her parents were picking up her brother Michael from school when her 40-year-old mother, Wendy, broke the news: she had just been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. “She found out on the first of October, which is kind of ...