by Emma Helmick

Swifties prepared to battle their competition trying to purchase concert tickets to see the “Mastermind” behind it all.

Ticketmaster organized a presale for people to sign up for because Taylor Swift has such a huge following. But when the time came to actually buy the tickets, fans were faced with some serious complications.

“Over the years I feel like Taylor has really blown up, which makes sense of all the chaos coming from these concerts and because her most recent tour was in 2018, fans are more eager to see her,” sophomore Lily Slavnik said.

Since her “Reputation” tour, Swift has had four albums come out, but because of Covid-19 she has not toured for any of these until now. She is doing an all-Eras tour to make up for what she and her fans lost.

“It took 4.5 hours,” Classroom Instructional Assistant Mrs. Leisa Ecklund said. “It was worth it.”

The people who ended up getting tickets still had to wait for hours and some people had to pay unreasonable amounts.

“I am upset because I signed up for the presale and got confirmed, but when my pap went to buy tickets for me, he had to sit at his computer for 6 hours and ended up not even being able to get them,” Slavnik said.

Over 14 million people tried to get tickets for these concerts, but about 15% of these people had complications with the website.

“I think that buying Taylor Swift tickets is chaotic because she has such a big fanbase,” junior Alexa George said. “If you want to buy a ticket, you are fighting with millions of people and that can be a challenge.”

Even though Swift plays shows in stadiums, buying tickets can still be really tough.

“My mom had to wait in the queue for 6 hours before the line started to move,” George said. “When she first joined the queue, she was 2000+ in line.”

Since all this madness, Swift spoke out by putting a message on her Instagram story saying she is “Extremely protective” of her fans and that “There are a multitude of reasons” why some of her fans could not receive tickets.

2.4 million people ended up with tickets so far, but there were people buying them just to resell for a lot more than they were originally sold for.

“The cost and time are worth it,” George said. “I think that this will be one of Taylor’s best tours.”

by Mia Saraceni

          When one takes a look back on the 1980s, the most common visions include lots of neon, teased hair and glam metal. It’s seen as one of the greatest periods of all time, but nobody tends to remember the darkness hidden within.

          Amidst all the neon and chick-flicks, a deadly disease was being spread along with an even deadlier stigma. From 1981 until the early 1990s, the HIV/AIDS epidemic was sweeping the nation and spreading detrimental misconceptions.

          The most common of all the delusions was that the virus could only be spread by homosexual men, and that catapulted mass amounts of homophobia and fear.

          The world for that community was absolutely turned upside down, and one of the few things they were able to hold onto was expression through art.

          “Some artists felt like it was something they could use to reflect upon their own feelings,” art teacher Mr. Darryl Audia said. “I think we can say that’s true for anything.”

          One of the most prolific figures of the time was Keith Haring, an artist who used simple pop art to convey serious messages. His work has become so notable, in fact, that almost anybody can recognize it at just a glance.

          While Haring created pieces about many controversial world topics at the time such as the crack cocaine epidemic, he was personally connected to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, having been diagnosed with the disease in 1988.

           Haring created the above piece titled Ignorance = Fear a year after he was diagnosed, pushing the envelope on what people should be discussing versus what was actually being portrayed.

          He was facing imminent death, but kept creating and kept attempting to shove reality down the throats of those blinded by ignorance and disbelief.

          In his journals published by the Keith Haring Foundation, Haring wrote of many trips, experiences and ideas on art itself and the things he created.

“‘The paintings are not final statements,’” he wrote. “‘They can be changed, reshaped, combined and destroyed.’”

Haring believed that every piece was a work in progress, never finished and always evolving, which is very telling of the epidemic and how the disease and stigma still affect the world today.

          While Haring was the most famous artist to create commentary pieces on HIV/AIDS, he wasn’t the only one who demanded change.

          Less bold and more poignant, artist Hugh Steers created a multitude of pieces not only regarding the disease, but also his sexuality.   

          Steers was a figurative artist who focused on the small yet surreal details of life, ones that are so often overlooked by the average person.

          Similarly to Haring, he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1987 but kept creating up until his final days.

          His piece Bath Curtain, as seen above, could be seen as an attempt to visualize the reality of the disease for the people who have otherwise not experienced it, but the true nature of his art is the expression of his own emotions.

          “Self-help and self-care can sometimes start with creating,” Audia said. “A lot of artists during that time, just like our time, probably used that as a coping mechanism or a crutch.”

           Bath Curtain uses body language and lighting to convey the pain and suffering of an ostracized community.

          HIV/AIDS became a prevalent and driving force for Steers towards the latter years of his life, as he was slowly succumbing to the disease. His pain and suffering provided the world with poignant pieces that represent the shared conscience amongst his community.

          The above piece, titled Morning Terrace, is an example of Steers expressing his own sexuality while leaving the viewer wondering what exactly is happening.

          The depiction of a male figure wearing high heels was a shock to an otherwise ignorant community, one that wanted to ignore any and every indication that one might be different.

          Steers used his work as a prod to American culture and its defects. In an interview with QW Magazine a few years prior to his death, he gave his opinion on his own work and its relation to others.

          “‘I think I’m in the tradition of a certain kind of American artist—artists whose work embodies a certain gorgeous blackness,’” Steers said. “‘Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline—they all have this austere beauty to them. I think that’s what characterizes America. The atmosphere, its culture, its cities and landscape. They all have that soft glow of brutality.’”

          While paintings are the most popular method of creating works of art, artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres used sculpture as his medium of expression.

          This 1991 piece affectionately named Untitled: Portrait of Ross in L.A, is a 175-pound installation of wrapped candy currently calling the Art Institute of Chicago home.

          The 175-pounds represents Gonzalez-Torres’ late boyfriend, Ross Layrock. It begins as a healthy load of candy but as viewers come and are beckoned to take a piece, it slowly diminishes until there’s nothing left.

          It’s a physical representation of what HIV/AIDS does to a person, slowly eating away at everything that made them human.

          Layrock was diagnosed in 1987, the same year as Steers, and shortly thereafter, Gonzalez-Torres himself was also diagnosed.

          His work is vastly different from any social piece from the time, as he offers his piece up to the world and asks them to slowly destroy it. In an interview with Tim Rollins just a year before his death, he shared a sentiment regarding his work.

          “‘Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed,’” he said. “‘I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that’s why I made works of art.’”

          His connection to the disease was the inspiration for all of his mature works, granting the public a view into the reality of what they ignorantly named the “gay cancer.”

          The point of art is expression. The pieces created by Haring, Steers and Gonzalez-Torres are just a few examples of the thousands of sculptures, paintings and drawings created by people affected by HIV/AIDS.

There are thousands of people and artists alike who deserve recognition for their activism, especially during a time so crushing and spurned.

          It was a mission to gain clarity and understanding from the public, one that they eventually received many years after their deaths.  

          All three artists mentioned died within a few years of their diagnoses, never getting to fully see the shift in public perception. They never had the opportunity to see the impact their pieces made on the movement to fight stigma.

          “As in all things, time will clarify the events which are presently unclear,” Haring wrote.

by Ksena Spencer

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, Universal Human Rights Month, Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month and Dressember.

Dressember’s movement is to spread awareness for human trafficking and to fight against it by wearing a dress or tie during December.

“I didn’t know about Dressember until now,” junior Alaina Blend said. “I do like the cause and spreading awareness for human trafficking and I would definitely help fundraise.”

The fundraising program started in 2009, when Dressember CEO and Founder Blythe Hill challenged and pledged herself to wear a dress every day of December. More and more people joined to challenge themselves until this pledge turned into a way for anyone to fight against human trafficking and spread awareness.

“Most of the tips I’ve heard about how to be cautious and avoid being trafficked have been learned from social media or my family,” Blend said. “Schools should do more to spread awareness.”

Every December people across the world make a pledge to wear a dress or tie for all 31 days of the month. They are able to make their own website through Dressember’s main site to start their campaign. The journey starts with making a money goal, promoting it in communities and through social media.

The website sells pins that say, “ask me about my dress,” or tie to catch people’s attention so they want to ask and learn more about the cause.

According to https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-data-collection-activities-2022, a total of 2,198 persons were referred to U.S. Attorneys for human trafficking offenses in 2020, a 62% increase from the 1,360 persons referred in 2011. In 2020, for the 47 states that reported data, 1,564 persons were in prison serving a sentence for a human trafficking offense.

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings through recruitment or abduction by means of force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of forced labor, debt bondage or sexual exploitation.

Human trafficking victims can be any age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, nationality, immigration status, cultural background, religion and education attainment level.

Making out a number of how many victims there are is difficult due to the fact that the crime of it is often hidden and offenders try to keep their actions secretive.

Trafficking victims are usually forced to live in small spaces with many other people, no heat and no electricity.  

Donating to these campaigns that people make through Dressember is a good way to support victims and survivors of human trafficking.

“I think we should do a fundraiser, I think it would bring awareness to the students and help the community,” senior Taylor Werts said.

Dressember is a way to fight against human trafficking and spread awareness during the month of December. Women and men all around the world can easily participate in the pledge to wear a dress or tie every day. These clothing articles are usually something people already own so not too much money is spent on it.

          “I didn’t know what Dressember was at first, but after looking into it, I’m very glad there’s something to bring awareness up about sex trafficking,” Werts said.

by Ari Case

With Thanksgiving break approaching, students may have a bit more time on their hands. Instead of watching hours of TikTok or racking up more playtime on Overwatch 2, consider cozying up with a book. The break from screens can do any person good, and within a good book so many things can be found—hope, love and warmth chief among them.

“There’s something special about cozying up with a good book,” librarian Mrs. Carrie Vottero said.

In this second edition of The Lions’ Den’s book column, Mrs. Vottero and the paper’s staff hope to spark interest in a book or two for the holiday season.

With the level of chaos and negativity in the world right now, sometimes books are the perfect way to remind people that it will be okay, and there is good in the world. R. J. Palacio’s Wonder is the perfect story to do this. It follows Auggie Pullman, a boy just starting public school in 5^th grade, as he learns what it means to be a friend.

The core message of the book is one the world needs to hear: “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

For those who may not always feel so kind to the world, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman could be just the right story. Soon to be a movie starring Tom Hanks—filmed in Pittsburgh—Ove is nothing short of an old curmudgeon. He hates cats and people who jog and wants nothing to do with most of the world around him. So, when loud new neighbors move in next door, Ove must suffer further—until he finds joy in life again. Backman weaves a tale of comedy, unexpected friendship, grief and love—for life, each other and the world around us.

“It’s definitely worth reading,” Vottero said.

Few books capture the feeling of found family like The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in the 1960s, it follows 14-year-old Lily as she runs from home with her caretaker Rosaleen. They are taken in by the eccentric beekeeping Calendar sisters who spend their time with the Daughters of Mary. With their help, Lily learns what it means to be a woman—a daughter, a sister and a friend to people who truly care for one another.

Another book with a female narrator is Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, though it takes a vastly different direction. Great for lovers of Agatha Christie or E. Lockhart, the mystery has readers on the edge of their seats at every turn. Stevie Bell is a true-crime lover starting her first year at the boarding school of her dreams, the site of one of the greatest unsolved cases in history. Decades ago, the wife and daughter of the founder were kidnapped in the twisting gardens and riddled pathways of the school—never to be seen again. As the mysterious “Truly, Devious” murderer resurfaces, Stevie must follow every thread she can find to solve the cases without becoming the next victim herself.

“It’s the perfect book to pull you out of the chilly weather and into the thrill of the story,” senior Emily Frazier said. “I gave it a shot and am glad I did.”

Readers who enjoyed Coraline or American Gods will appreciate Neil Gaiman’s retelling in Norse Mythology. Gaiman takes classic myths and twists them in his own special way to be even better. It is a great read for anyone who is interested in mythology, but also for those who simply enjoy fantastical tales and peculiar adventures.

“It’s written by Neil Gaiman,” Vottero said. “How much better could it get?”

Finally, a recommendation from both Vottero and several staff members, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a beautiful book for young adult readers. A favorite of many who read it, copies of Perks are often found with paper flags and notes scrawled in the margins, cracked spines and worn pages—put simply, one does not just read it. Set in a Pittsburgh suburb, the book follows Charlie through his freshman year as he learns about love, loss and the hardships of not just high school, but life itself.

“It’s a book that talks about stigma that no other book can cover in the way that it does,” senior Mia Saraceni said. “It’s very relatable, especially for people who usually can’t find something that they relate to.”

As temperatures drop and the holidays approach, books can be a lovely source of warmth for anyone. In their pages can be escape or simply comfort, but whatever is found will be a joy.

“One of my favorite things about reading is curling up in a nice chair with a warm drink, [with] windows around you that are all frosted up and it’s toasty inside,” Vottero said.

One of Vottero’s favorite warm holiday tales is A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. It is short and sweet—as memorable as the title suggests. The story follows an unlikely but strong friendship between a young boy and an old woman as they bond over holiday rituals and Christmas spirit.

“It’s not very long, but [it’s] beautiful,” Vottero said. “It was the sweetest story.”

For someone with less time or lack of interest in a long novel, short stories are a fantastic way to read. My True Love Gave to Me compiles holiday spirit and unique writing from popular YA authors like Jenny Han, David Levithan and Rainbow Rowell. Heartwarming stories that anyone can enjoy, the collection is nothing short of merry and bright.

Hopefully, any reader can find warmth in one of these stories, because there is something special about the solace a good book brings.

“There’s no experience like reading a book you feel at home in,” Saraceni said.

By Ari Case

With roughly 2,500 students, GS is not a large district. Within the numbers, though, many students are notably high-achieving—not just in academics. One student, sophomore Natalia Backos, is among them.

This year, Backos was invited to the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The Westminster Dog Show is one of the most coveted shows in the world, and the most well-known in America. Only about 80 junior competitors are invited each year, with a lengthy list of requirements.

Backos has met them all, and more.

Her first show was when she was around 2 years old.

“[I’m] third generation,” she said. “I was practically born at a dog show.”

She grew up tagging along to her mother’s shows and began to participate herself.

“When I was six, I started showing a standard schnauzer,” Backos said. “Her name was Promise and we showed together for [about] a year and a half. And we did a lot of winning. And she’s what [really] provoked my love for the sport.”

Over the years, she has shown many other dogs that grew with her. Her current show dog is a six-and-a-half-year-old Parson Russell terrier named Boozer.

“He is basically my child,” she said. “He sleeps in bed with me every night and he stays in the hotel with us. He comes to every single dog show with us—he’s always there.”

Backos has shown Boozer for several events, and he has won both his breed and group. Together, they are the #1 junior in the breed and #4 terrier junior nation-wide.

This doesn’t mean that Boozer is simply a good-looking dog, or that Backos knows how to have him spin the right way.

“It’s less than being judged against each other, like what dogs are prettiest,” she said. “It’s not like a beauty pageant. It’s based off of a written standard.”

She went on to explain that the standards are set, but each judge has a subjective opinion of each dog. Some days, certain judges will rank a dog far lower than a different judge—based on the same exact written standard.

“No matter how good you think you are, there’s always going to be somebody who doesn’t think of you that way, no matter [what] you do,” she said.

This reliance on subjective opinion can be difficult to deal with for competitors, including Backos.

“I really [take] people’s opinions, [to] heart,” she said. “When somebody says they don’t like me or they don’t like a certain thing that I do, it can make things very difficult for me because I’d like to please people [no] matter what. And you know, when somebody says that I just wasn’t good enough that day that can really be difficult.”

Backos said that she experiences fluctuation in confidence levels for shows, even before she gets to the airport.

“I’ll always have some form of anxiety about it,” she said. “Even though I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s still something that I’m always [on] the tips of my toes about. [You] never know how good you really are.”

She explained that this can be difficult for her to handle, because competitors need to be confident to show well.

Despite these difficulties, Backos and Boozer are still one of the best junior teams in the country.

This success comes with its fair share of problems, though, especially regarding teenage development.

“It can get really stressful because sometimes [I] just want to be a regular kid and not have to do something every single day, every single weekend,” Backos said.

She expressed that it is difficult to make plans and keep up with her friends when she is frequently hundreds of miles away on the weekends.

Contrarily, she shared that showing has taught her how to “talk to adults that can impact [her] life.”

Perhaps more important than difficulty making plans with friends, Backos has also had trouble with extracurriculars and schoolwork.

“It makes doing other activities very difficult,” she said. “It’s very much [like] a full-time job. So, musical season gets very difficult [and] sports get very difficult. [It] makes me really have [to] pick and choose what I’m doing.”

She explained that while showing is a lot of work, she benefits from it. She is able to make connections that will help her in the future in addition to scholarships as prizes that add up quickly. The prize for the Westminster show, a large one, is a $10,000 scholarship for the winning junior, who will then tour with others who placed first in their respective categories.

These scholarships are immensely beneficial, especially for students like her, who have big plans for education.

Backos is a straight A student enrolled in several Honors and Advanced Placement courses. She genuinely enjoys learning and puts extra effort into work when she is absent for shows.

“On the way to the dog shows, I’ll do my homework at the hotels,” she said. “[Anytime] I’m just sitting around, I’ll be doing some work. So, it’s always a balance.”

In the past, her teachers have worked with her before and after shows to ensure she understands and completes the necessary material.

One of these teachers is Ms. Kristen Solomon, English and Mock Trial teacher.

Ms. Solomon said that Backos was given extensions when she was absent, and that she “always turned in her work” and that it “didn’t seem to affect her grade” in the class—Pre-AP English I.

Trigonometry teacher Ms. Christina Burkhart expressed much of the same sentiment regarding Backos’ work ethic.

“She’ll get all the work done before she goes, and if she has questions, she’ll come and ask,” Ms. Burkhart said. “[Sometimes] she’ll just make it up when she gets back. She’s very responsible.”

Burkhart explained that she works with Backos in advisory and after school when she needs help with a topic she missed in class.

Due to understanding teachers and a determination to learn, Backos has succeeded in balancing school, showing and her extracurriculars fairly well.

She urged other students to participate in extracurricular activities if they can and to “get involved with your school and community.”

A concern for many is that it will be difficult to balance activities with schoolwork and other obligations, but high school is the time to get involved and find things that make students happy.

“I would encourage [students] to participate in extracurriculars and not be too nervous about balancing schoolwork,” Solomon said. “I’d say utilize a calendar and plan to know what you’re missing.”

This is one of the strategies Backos uses that helps her keep everything in check.

It is because of her will and dedication that Backos has gained her way into the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club dog show, and many around her are proud of her efforts. She exhibits the aspects of a true golden lion.

As Backos prepares for Westminster and heads to several other shows in the meantime, Solomon wished her luck.

“I think it’s really exciting that she’s involved in something so unique and I’m proud of her,” Solomon said.

Other teachers shared the same sentiment of pride.

“It does not surprise me that she got into this because she’s very determined and willing to work hard for what she wants,” Burkhart said. “So, this is, you know, a fabulous experience for her. And I wish her all the luck and all the best.”

By Brianna Campagna

Although GS is a small suburban school, many passion-filled students have graduated and gone on to do successful things.

One way that former students can see what their fellow graduates have achieved is on LinkedIn. The employment network has a GS Alumni page, which former students can join.

Physics teacher Mrs. Cheryl Harper has managed the LinkedIn page for approximately three years now.

“I saw former students putting their resume there and connecting with people who gave them leads on internships and jobs,” Mrs. Harper said. “There is the ability to see how well a lot of our graduates are doing and how happy they are.”

As of the end of October 2022, there are just under 300 alumni involved on the page. Any alumni is able to join the LinkedIn page.

“All somebody has to do is be a high school alumnus and send a request to join the group,” Harper said. “I check to make sure they are really an alumnus of the high school. Then I just accept their request.”

One alumnus who is involved on the LinkedIn page is Tristan Elma, who graduated in 2017. He attended USC to study computer science and computer engineering.

“Once I got there, my focus became setting myself up for my career, so I started working hard to land an internship and get some industry experience,” Elma said. “I struggled to get an internship until the summer of my junior year, when I worked for Intel. In that position, I helped develop test code for their nonvolatile memory chips.”

Soon after he enrolled in USC’s progressive degree program, where he was able to obtain a master’s degree while he continued to finish his undergraduate classes. During all of this, he was uncertain if this was the career path for him.

“Until the very last minute, I was unsure of whether I wanted to pursue computer software or hardware engineering,” he said. “After asking one of my favorite professors for advice, I ended up following in his footsteps to get my Masters in computer (hardware) engineering.”

Although Elma enjoyed Intel, he felt as though his interests were best met elsewhere.

“While I was ready to go back to Intel for another internship, I ended up going to Samsung to pursue a position that I felt was more in line with my interests and skills,” he said. “I interned there last summer and fall while I finished up my grad school remotely, then I was offered a full-time position after I graduated in December to work on their GPU team, specifically on standard cell library maintenance, CAD/EDA infrastructure and physical design. I’ve been at Samsung ever since, living near their research center in Austin, Texas.”

Elma has always had many influential people in his life; his family has always inspired him.

“My family has had the biggest impact,” he said. “My parents, especially, have always stressed the importance of academics and pushed me to work hard in school. They also both studied science in college, which is likely why I envisioned myself going into STEM even as a kid. In school and college, I also had many incredible teachers and professors who cultivated my curiosities and equipped me with the skills for success.”

Alongside the people who inspired him, his experiences helped him find his interest in engineering.

“Although my mentors have been the biggest influences on my life, I’ve also had life-changing experiences in summer camps, extracurriculars and internships that have shaped my trajectory for becoming an engineer,” he said.

Elma’s motivation has been his passion for his field.

“My main motivation is that I’m extremely interested in my field and get genuinely excited by the projects I get to work on,” he said. “There have been a lot of challenges on the road to my current position, but I’ve never lost sight of my goal, which is to do something that I love and is in demand at the same time.”

One recommendation that Elma has for students is to do research on what will take them to the career path they want.

“Once you have an idea of what you want to do, do your research on what it will take to get there,” he said. “For example, if you’re going after a specific kind of job, you can search job postings to get a sense of what qualifications and skills you’ll need, and you can even check websites like Glassdoor to see what the interview process is like. From there, you can work on building your resume and skillset, tailoring them to help you achieve your goals.”

Some qualities that Elma has, such as determination, helped him get to where he is today.

 “I don’t shy away from challenges and I don’t give up when things go poorly,” he said. “For example, my freshman year of college was the hardest year of my life in many ways, but I dug deep and kept going. At first, I was behind in my classes relative to my classmates and my GPA suffered. I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it through, and I was scared because all I heard from upperclassmen was how much harder classes got from there. But I worked through my struggles and managed to do better every semester until I started getting 4.0s.”

GS has helped form Elma into the person he is today from experiences outside of school hours.

“I think the most important things I learned at GS are lessons that go beyond the classroom; experiences that have shaped my character and changed the way I think,” he said. “One example of this is the maturity I developed as I balanced classwork and extracurriculars. I really had to think about how I should spend my time and why I did what I did. This taught me not only to manage time, but also to figure out what matters to me and to be intentional in life. Unlike random facts you might study, lessons like these tend to stick with you.”

Megan Taylor, who graduated from GS in 2013, is also involved with the GS Alumni page on LinkedIn. She studied Early Childhood Education at the University of Pittsburgh. While she was there, she studied abroad twice in Italy and Ireland, which opened her love for travelling. Before the end of her college career, she got a job at Uber.

“During the summer before my senior year of college, I started working part-time at Uber in a Driver Support Hub,” Taylor said. “I was able to network myself in this role with connections I made at my other job as a Pitt Tour Guide. I’m proud to say I’m still here over six years later. I built my career in Sales and Account Management across Uber Eats SMB restaurants. In my current role, I manage US & Canada Uber Eats Enterprise Marketing Sales as a Senior Operations Manager.”

Taylor currently lives in New York City with her partner, Tomás, where she has resided for nearly five years. Looking back on her time at GS, she admires the unique, dedicated teaching staff that taught her.

“Greensburg Salem is unique because of the empathy and dedication driven by the teachers and staff,” she said. “In and out of the classroom, I’ve leaned on teachers like Mr. Gazze, Mr. Lenzi, Mrs. Audia and Mr. Snider when I felt lost. Take advantage of those that want to help you – it will make a world of difference.”

The extracurriculars that Taylor was involved in taught her successful skills to use in her current job.

“During my time at GS, I was a majorette in the marching band, ran cross country and track, was in all the musicals and participated in the district chorus,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve partially attributed my success to being really involved in extracurriculars in high school. It taught me how to work toward a shared goal, be accountable, public speaking, juggle priorities, etc.”

Advice that Taylor has for students is to “be curious” and explore many different career options.

“I candidly put myself into a box early in my high school career by solely exploring careers in education,” she said. “As a result, I entered my senior year of college uninterested in what was ahead of me. It all worked out regardless. However, if I could have done anything differently during my time at GS, it would have been to shadow professionals in various roles and have extensive conversations with adults about what they enjoy about their fields.”

Taylor has helped herself stay motivated and advises students to do the same.

“Being motivated and generally driven has helped me take advantage of every opportunity that’s been presented to me,” she said. “Reflecting, I can see a domino effect of how each opportunity has led me to the next one. My advice is to be bold, ask questions and put yourself outside your comfort zone. I promise you won’t regret it.”

By Mia Saraceni  

Teen years are the time when one begins to figure out their identity, interests and plans for the rest of their life. It’s a formative time, but it can be difficult to learn and grow while in the midst of a great national tragedy.  

The Covid-19 pandemic was the tragedy that took the world by storm, and it caused intense confusion, especially for young people. Most people are still in the process of wading through the aftermath, but a new threat is slowly butting its head in.  

Mental health issues across the nation became greater than ever before, but with a lack of societal care came a heightened stigma, leading to a lot of teenagers left struggling.  

Senior Lauren Mahkovic was one such student who struggled during the pandemic, providing many sentiments regarding her personal experiences.  

“When the school year finished up and Covid got worse and worse, I got really depressed,” Mahkovic said. 

Other students, such as fellow senior Grace Kaminsky struggled as well, both with her mental well-being and school life.  

“Life during Covid was tough,” Kaminsky said. “It was hard to adjust to everything around me, especially turning my living space into an educational setting without getting the two mixed up.” 

Most students were left wrestling between their diminishing mental health and school life practically going down the drain, but that struggle reached more people than just teenagers.  

English teacher Mrs. Mary Logan experienced many difficulties she was forced to wade through during the pandemic, some that permanently changed her to this day.  

“Covid and world events have shaken me so hard that I withdrew from all news, current events and almost all social media because it was stressing me out to a breaking point,” Mrs. Logan said.  

Horrible statistics and news of constant death were practically shoved down the throats of every person in America, leaving almost everyone with a bad taste in their mouth.  

The pandemic was just the start of hardships though, as life from there on out changed and in some people’s opinions, for the worst.  

The newest issue plaguing the world is not in regards to illness, but rather a horrible threat of war.  

The Russo-Ukrainian War officially started in early 2014, but the conflict has escalated to such a point where citizens of the United States fear their livelihoods might be caught in the crosshairs of a nuclear bomb.  

Some people believe the threat to be nothing but hearsay spread around by the likes of the media and those who submit to its teachings, but others find genuine concern with the event.  

One can argue, though, that the teenage generation has been pushed too close to the ledge, so much so that they simply don’t care.  

“Our generation is so desensitized to war, violence and the threat of immediate death that it’s just kind of another day, to be honest,” Mahkovic said. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked such havoc on some of Generation-Z that nuclear strikes and the potential of total annihilation is just another thing to shrug at, which is a poignant piece of reality.  

An apathetic point of view doesn’t always have to come from a place of deep fear, it could just come from utter disbelief.  

“They’re bluffing,” senior Alex Toth said. “They’re not going to drop bombs. There was a recent meeting between the Russian military leaders about possible tactical nuclear weapons being used in just small scenarios, nothing to wipe out a city.”  

Toth is a member of the United States Army Reserve, a branch of the Army, who participates in monthly battle drills and classes in preparation for possible federal activation.  

Passivity is emotion that’s few and far between when it comes to outlooks on the event, and most lie in-between the barriers of fear and positivity. 

“Ever since 2020, I feel like there has just been a long succession of disruptions, so it’s a moot point to talk about ‘further possible disruptions,’” Logan said.  

The idea of a “new normal,” especially after everything that has happened and is on the brink of happening, is practically unrealistic because of the ever-changing events.  

Americans have constantly concerned themselves with whether or not to care about massive and potentially life changing events, whether that be sickness, natural disaster or war, and those clashing opinions make for a hostile environment.  

Not only have teenagers had to worry about plague and war, but they’ve also been incredibly affected by the ever-evolving, volatile political feud going on in the United States.   

Extremists on both sides of the political spectrum create such a combative environment that it’s impossible to disagree on respectful grounds. 

“Everyone is becoming so polarized,” Mahkovic said. “Everyone has become so extreme. There’s no room for compromise, like you should be more willing to put others before yourself or listen to others before stating your own opinion.” 

Kaminsky shares the same idea that “everything has become so extreme.”  

Politics and political feuds aren’t a random and disjointed piece to the horrible puzzle, they’re necessary for understanding why mindsets in the U.S, especially those relating to sickness and war, are the way they are.  

When one is in the middle of a tug-of-war game, it’s only a matter of time before they reach a certain side.  

“Keeping our heads above the water and maintaining hope for the future is the only plan,” Logan said. “No matter what happens now.” 

 By Ksena Spencer

As Halloween comes to an end and people start to get ready for Christmas, Thanksgiving sets the holiday spirit to snowball into Christmas.  

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated by giving thanks to loved ones, opportunities, the year’s achievements and taking time to appreciate the good things in life.

“I am thankful that I am in generally good health, and that I have a fantastic wife and son,” math teacher Mr. Al Toret said. “I am also thankful that I am able to have a good outlook on life and that I still smile more than I do frown on most days.”

The Turkey Trot is a 5k run and walk held every Thanksgiving Day for the last 30 years in downtown Greensburg. This is a good way for the community to get together and do something that anyone can participate in.

History teacher Ms. Lucy Iapalucci said that her family starts their Thanksgiving Day by participating in the Turkey Trot followed by breakfast and football.

Many people have traditions that they have passed down from generation to generation in their families. Traditions include stories, rituals, routines, gifts and various other things that families celebrate together during Thanksgiving. Traditions could be as simple as going around the table and taking turns saying things that they are grateful for.

Thanksgiving foods include turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and many other foods.

“My wife’s stuffing recipe is quite good and I think that the world should know that,” Mr. Toret said.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that a lot of people travel to visit family and value the time of being grateful for each other.     

This year, 58.63% of people from a travel survey are planning to stay close to home, according to https://financebuzz.com/thanksgiving-data.

Cooking turkey sometimes is a big task, so there is a butterball turkey hotline that people can call in and ask someone questions about their Thanksgiving turkey. Questions they might have about cooking turkey include how to season it, how to pluck the feathers and whether to deep-fry it or roast it. Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456 to talk to their turkey experts.

According to https://worldstrides.com/blog/2016/11/9-fun-facts-about-thanksgiving/:

• Turkey wasn’t in the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel and fish were likely served alongside pumpkins and cranberries (not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce).

According to https://blog.aghires.com/15-thanksgiving-food-facts:

• Americans buy 365 million pounds of turkey the week of Thanksgiving, usually whole turkeys.
• Over 480,000 lbs of fresh pumpkins are purchased each year for Thanksgiving, mostly likely to make a pumpkin pie or some may use for décor.
• Even with the extra calories, it’s a myth that the average person gains five pounds over the holiday. Most people only gain about eight tenths of a pound.

According to https://www.babyquip.com/blog/thanksgiving-facts:

• In the Guiness Book of World Records, the current largest pumpkin pie was baked in 2010 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio. It weighed 3,699 pounds and measured 20 feet in diameter. The ingredients included a whopping 1,212 pounds of pumpkin, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 2,796 eggs, 525 pounds of sugar, 7 pounds of salt and 14.5 pounds of cinnamon.
• Big Bird’s costume on Sesame Street is made from turkey feathers that have been dyed yellow. The American Plume & Fancy Feather company is responsible for making Big Bird’s suit which includes 4,000 turkey feathers.
• Cranberries aren’t just for eating. Native Americans used cranberries to treat wounds and dye arrows.
• Male turkeys are called toms.
• Wild turkeys can run up to 20 miles per hour.

There are many fun facts to find about Thanksgiving. It is a holiday that is unique since it’s known for specific types of foods and how far traditions have carried on since the first Thanksgiving was celebrated.

“I think it’s important that people celebrate Thanksgiving because I feel like it brings families together,” freshman Lauren Galvin said.

By Emily Frazier

A film capturing the life of the City of Greensburg has captivated the GS community. Repost after repost occurred the day the film was released, for people felt personally connected with the video and all it featured.

Skene-19 Films is a video production company that has been in business for over 10 years. Owned by Greater Latrobe alum, Marcus Morelli, and assisted by GS alum, Derek Hughes, Skene-19 Films creates many types of videos, ranging from promotional commercials to entertaining short films.

One of their latest films was for the City of Greensburg called This is Greensburg. This Is Greensburg featured many GS students, businesses, activities, events and more.

“The main purpose, initially, was for advertising,” Morelli said. “The city hired us to do a 2-minute promotional video and a 30-second commercial, and that’s what we set out to do, but the more we shot, the more we learned that this footage was special; we love this city.”

In January 2020, the city greenlit Morelli’s proposal, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, the project was put on the back burner to be continued later. As soon as things started to become normal again, Morelli and Hughes set out and filmed every aspect of life, collecting hours upon hours of footage.

“I would wake up early in the morning and get cool sunrises and get cool sunsets,” Morelli said. “I’d take my camera around town and get little moments in time.”

The City of Greensburg gave Morelli and Hughes ideas on what needed to be filmed, but they found themselves capturing more than that.

“We were hired by the city for this, sure, but it turned into more of a passion project,” Hughes said.

They went outside of the box and chose to shoot in locations they hadn’t planned on before taking their camera and drone with them.

“We took the initiative of shooting football games and Greensburg Salem students,” Morelli said.

Seniors Madison Krofcheck and Kayla McMichael were two of the many GS students featured in the film. Krofcheck was seen dribbling a soccer ball at her game and cheering under Friday Night Lights, enjoying her hobbies. Caught in two aspects of her daily life, McMichael was shown conducting the marching band and serving customers at Prantl’s Bakery.

Other students who were spotted in the film include freshman Izabella Caruso, senior Lillian Gatons and her brother, Quintin Gatons(a ‘20 graduate), junior Ava Hardaway, freshman Natalia Hardaway, senior Colten Houser, senior Isaiah Payne and other members of the GS football team, seniors Gabrielle Sheffler and Kaidence Thomas in the Salem Psychos student section, the GS marching band, senior Aleah Collins and members of the cheer team.

From a commercial standpoint, Morelli and Hughes also filmed snippets of life in local businesses and events, though they struggled to choose who and what to film.

“Well, if we could have, we would have featured every single business,” Hughes said. “We went to a bunch of businesses and realized we couldn’t fit everyone in, but hopefully the essence of it makes it feel like everyone was involved.”

The amount of footage they accumulated over time shocked them. They knew something more was blossoming from this project.

“To see what we had after a day of filming, to see how special it was becoming, I think that was a really cool part, to see how it evolved,” he said.

Positive feedback from the community came in waves.

“We’re very flattered and humbled that it went kind of locally viral,” Morelli said. “We hope the film can live on for a long time.”

By Emma Helmick

Alert! Students only have two minutes left to take their BeReal and stop class.

BeReal is a new social media app that sends a notification at a random time in the day. It has a two-minute timer and no filters to remain authentic.

“The BeReal app is a way to communicate with friends through pictures,” freshman Izabella Caruso said, “It is a way to see what your friends are doing and to interact with them and even people all around the world.”

The notification is the same time for everyone, but it can be sent at any point of the day.

“I think it is just a fun app and doesn’t take the time to satisfy like Instagram or TikTok,” junior Drezden Gesalman said.

On different social medias people only post what is good in their lives. BeReal shows what people’s everyday life actually looks like at a random time.  

“I would say hundreds or maybe even thousands of teens are on this social media app around the world,” Caruso said. “While scrolling through suggested friends I see tons of different people, all with different locations.”

Everyone has a friends list with people they can accept or decline, however there is also a discovery page which has millions of people who can be reacted to or friended.

Because of BeReal’s random timing, it can become a distraction at work or school.

“I think its disruptive the same way cell phones are,” U.S Government and Politics teacher Mr. Nicholas Diehl said.  “Kids are addicted to their phones, and it becomes disruptive because you’re supposed to take it right then and there.”

If someone’s picture is not taken within the two-minutes, it is considered late, which gives people the determination to stop and take their picture no matter where they are.

“I definitely think this app is a distraction in class,” Caruso said. “I remember when the app first came out and all I would hear is, ‘Look the BeReal went off’ or ‘We have to take our BeReal.’ I can even say I have gotten distracted when it went off during class and wanted to take mine.”

The notification can become a temptation for kids and sometimes can just give them another reason to be on their phones in school.

“I think it is a very positive app,” Gesalman said. “You can react to other people’s posts, but honestly it is more about seeing just what your friends are up to at the time.”