Age difference expands comfort zone
December 6, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Eavesdropping at a graduation party, I overheard a woman looking for a young male actor to audition for a show. We ended up talking later that day, and I could tell she was hesitant to ask if I was interested in auditioning. That turned out to be the beginning of my first professional show. After an audition la...
Voting judging allows involvement
December 2, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Following the news cycle over the past few months, I have become increasingly frustrated with the direction of our country. I was excited to learn about the opportunity to become a voting judge during the midterm elections, which permitted me to be involved in the democratic process, despite not being able to vote. Prior to election day, I at...
Math program encourages girls in STEM
November 1, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Since eighth grade, I've been in the nationally recognized University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP). UMTYMP encourages girls to continue in STEM fields, and I have been inspired by my instructors to pursue math. The math part of UMTYMP is challenging and has taught me skills like f...
Youth trip inspires change in perspective
October 8, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Over the summer I had the amazing opportunity to travel abroad with a youth group called United Synagogue Youth Eastern Europe Israel Pilgrimage. I was nervous at first because I’d never traveled abroad without my parents, and I would be meeting new people from all across America. The first part...
Elimination Diet heeds successful results
May 24, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
People diet for a number of reasons — weight loss, looking a certain way, lowering blood pressure, or even having higher energy. A month ago I decided to go on an elimination diet to help with my skin condition. Elimination diets are short-term eating plans that eliminate certain foods to dete...
Growing up with naturally curly hair
May 7, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Having really curly hair can be tough, especially when you’ve tried hundreds of hair products specialized in keeping your hair under control. Even though it’s just natural hair, there's always a sacred story in every braid, lock and curl. As a kid before school, I would ask my dad to comb through...
What Islam means to us
Aisha Abdi, Muna Ali, and Sumaya Mohamed
April 3, 2018
Filed under Features Columns, Opinion
Being Muslim females, we’ve been targeted because of our religion. Society has made us feel abnormal for following our religion our entire lives.
Listen up, make an impact
March 21, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
The Minnesota Capitol's rotunda was packed with a sea of orange-clad people of all ages united by a common goal: to end gun violence, on Thursday, Feb. 22. Gun violence prevention organization Protect Minnesota organized the rally in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Rally attende...
Accepting my body as a dancer
February 20, 2018
Filed under Features Columns
Picture a ballerina. The image that went running through your head was most likely an elegant thin girl whose legs go on for days. This, to say the least, is not what I look like. I have been dancing since I was three years old, mainly focusing on traditional ballet. The images of ballerinas that m...
Household reshaped by foster care
January 11, 2018
Filed under Features Columns, Student Life
My family is more “modern” than the one you will find on the tv show. We are a foster home. This means that we have taken in kids ranging from a week old baby with no siblings, to a toddler and his baby brother. Right now we are housing a set of six year old twins, their five year old brother a...
Song promotes difficult conversation
December 13, 2017
Filed under Features Columns
Hearing a white man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat use the N-word in the opening of a music video sets off several warning signs for me. The initial shock and intensity in the man's words is intriguing and concerning at the same time. The song and video “I’m Not Racist”, released Nov. 28, by Joyner Lucas shin...
My experience with gender and identities
October 2, 2017
Filed under Features Columns
Most people think of gender as a line, a definitive objects with two ends. On this line, there are males on one side and females on the other. And that’s it, nothing in between them and no way for them to get to the other side. I see gender as more of a hazy, cloudy space. People happen to start...
During the surface water plan meeting, senior engineering project manager Phillip Elkin said the plan is a required 10-year checkup and revitalization of the city’s rainwater management program. “We...
The Nordic team had their first 5k Metro West skate race on Dec. 13 at Hyland Park. Sophomore Olivia Etz said the longer distance gave the skiers an opportunity to work on pacing themselves as opposed...
Orchestra director Kou Lee said chamber orchestra is preparing for their upcoming concert by rehearsing their pieces alongside their regular classmates. “We’re sight reading some of the pieces in...
Tamar Gewirtz and Hayley Westwood
According to sophomore Courtney Hanson, the girls’ gymnastics team defeated Richfield in their first dual meet of the season Dec. 11, scoring 124.8 points. Head coach Dawn Thielen said the first...
