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senior quarter back

ROSE

After leading the Sailors to a 9-0 record before the COVID shutdown, senior Brady Rose took home the the Michigan High School Football Player of the Year Award award for the 2020 season.

– see story, page 12

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2 December 17, 2020

editorial

Normalizing Failure

Overcoming hardships makes one well-rounded

W

ith exams behind us and a new trimester in full swing, it is important to remember that grades aren’t everything.

While I am guilty of staying up past midnight studying for a crucial test or exam, I have also learned where to draw the line and go to sleep.

Column Grades

by Mia have always Dickson, been staff writer important. I was taught the importance of having “perfect grades” for as long as I can remember.

My parents constantly taught me that good grades in school would lead to success later on in life whether it’s college or beyond.

Therefore, I went into high school thinking that any grade below an A- would shatter my future.

After failing an exam last year, an exam I spent a considerable amount of time studying for, I made myself believe that I was worthless.

My grade plummeted and so did my happiness.

I thought I would never have go to college or get that dream job.

Looking back, I couldn’t be further from the truth. For so much time, I wrapped my self-worth around one silly letter of the alphabet, and it was all unraveling.

After that exam, I told myself I would never take Editor-in-Chief Bailey Graham Managing Editor Emily Kuznar Staff Holli Brus Delaney Buckner Maya Cooper Mia Dickson

another Honors/AP class again after being on that path in almost all subjects.

I wanted to flee and take an easier route for the rest of high school.

For the weeks and months that followed, I felt a dark cloud looming because of one exam. I was embarrassed in front of my own friends who all received A’s. I placed an unreasonable pressure on myself because I felt obligated to overcompensate academically and prove that the one exam was a fluke, all to preserve my own view of myself as a “good” student.

I wanted to constantly remind myself of my failures by constantly checking PowerSchool and thinking about it nonstop, and I promised myself it would never happen again (plot twist: I did fail another test but survived).

I became so consumed in this one single failure that even a few months later, I had a dream where I relived the moment – except worse.

In the dream, I applied to

colleges and was rejected from all of them all because of that one grade my sophomore year.

This was a wake-up call, figuratively and literally. As soon as I woke up, I checked PowerSchool once again, but this also caused a shift in mindset. While I did fail an exam, I also grew.

Though it took me a long time to realize, I am honestly grateful for this experience.

Failure is something that is inevitable in life no matter what one may do to avoid it.

I learned that I am still worthy no matter what my transcript says.

I learned that one bad grade will not hurt me but only make me a more wellrounded student.

I learned that there is more to my identity than that of a student.

I learned that one mistake in high school will not define my entire future.

In today’s world, especially in AP classes, academics have become a toxic environment that should be reevaluated. Why

Mike Meekhof Olivia Nunnery Grace Opsommer Maddox Schaner-Follett Ali Sewick Samantha Sewick Brady Whalen Adviser Warren Kent III

do we allow these silly little letters consume us? Why are we allowing ourselves to base our identity and worth on the arrangement of a few numbers?

But there is a gray area.

As much as I wish that grades and additional test scores, such as the SAT or AP exams, didn’t play a role in mine or anyone else’s future, and schools took a holistic approach in evaluating student’s skills and learning instead, grades, unfortunately, do matter.

I feel stuck in the educational system because while I know one bad grade won’t derail my future, my grades and test scores will play a role in my future, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

While students are in a world where it is easy to feel suffocated by the numbers that surround us, it is important to know that we are not defined by them. We are more than what a class rank, GPA, or grade will ever tell us.

As we enter a new trimester and approach a new year, it is important to know that everything will work out, and our futures will still be bright, no matter how our grades were last trimester.

Decades down the line, I will never remember what I got on one Honors English exam or the main ideas of The Crucible, but I will remember who I was and my high school experiences.

The Sailors’ Log

our voice Take time to unplug, de-stress over break It can be easy to get caught up in the stress that the latest COVID shutdown has brought.

However, with a two-week break starting Saturday, it is time to unplug and de-stress.

Everyone is dealing with stress, so everyone needs to take care of themselves and find ways to manage stress so it doesn’t make life more difficult.

There are several things students can do to stay mentally strong and limit stress levels. Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night; it’s tempting to stay up late since students don’t have to wake up as early anymore, but sleep is so critical, and one should value it.

Along with getting enough sleep, students should focus on managing time – make todo lists and do schoolwork during the time allotted or right after school. Procrastination is a silent killer; don’t fall into its trap.

Since school is fully virtual, it is important to get off the screen every day for an hour or two, including one’s phone, to give the eyes a rest. Go for a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood, spend some time coloring, or even just play with pets. These are all things a person can do away from screens, and they can add more enjoyment to life.

These aren’t easy times, and we want to remind everyone that you aren’t alone and that there are ways to keep yourself healthy in more ways than wearing a mask and staying socially distanced. Just remember to take deep breaths, appreciate the little things, and have hope that all this trouble will be over with soon so we can go back to our normal lives.

The Sailors’ Log is a public forum for student expression distributed freely to students and faculty of Mona Shores High School.

Our Voice is the opinion message selected by the editorial staff of The Sailors’ Log. Your Voice is the letters to the editor section. All letters to the editor must be signed.

How to communicate with the staff: • Email: kentw@monashores.net • Website: www.thesailorslog.com • Facebook: Mona Shores Publications This edition of The Sailors’ Log was printed by the Argus-Press 201 E. Exchange St. Owosso, MI 48867

editorial

The Sailors’ Log

December 17, 2020

3

Future Frustrations

Thinking about life after high school can be daunting

T

hey say that junior year is crucial for setting us up for success in our lives. This is when I will take the standardized tests and apply to colleges.

Now that I’m a third of the way done with my junior year, which is over half way done with high school itself, I’ve found myself thinking about my future quite often.

As graduation approaches, I feel pressured into choosing a college, choosing a career, but what if that route just isn’t for everyone?

By Grace The alternative? Well, I Opsommer, don’t know that either.

Staff Writer Since middle school, career quizzes have been shoved down my throat in the attempt to help me find a job, something that I am passionate about.

I appreciate the effort, and while it might work for some, for me, it just amplifies the fact that I have no idea what I want to do with my life.

School gives me this structure, with a clear end goal of graduating, but what I struggle with is what comes next. There isn’t a blueprint for every student to follow telling them the next steps after graduation.

I have no next goal.

I’ve gone through phases where I thought I knew what my next goal would be, but no one thing has ever truly stuck or felt right

in the end.

There are many things that interest me, don’t get me wrong, but once I see the dreaded PhD or Masters degree alongside the profession, it becomes less appealing.

I struggle through a love/hate relationship with school. I enjoy learning, I do, but school has exhausted me so

“My favorite holiday tradition is opening up matching Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve with my brothers and sisters. It’s my favorite mainly because we do this every year and I always get excited to see what they are going to look like.” – Clara Sischo, senior “Every year, my mom makes hot chocolate, and I make cookies; then, we decorate the tree and the house with all of the Christmas decorations. It’s my favorite because it’s one day where we get everyone sat down, and together since that doesn’t happen very much.” – Kiara Salazar, junior “My favorite holiday tradition is Tabaski (an Islamic holiday) because my mother cooks a lot of food just like Thanksgiving, and we all sit as a family and eat together.” – Amy Ndiaye, sophomore “My favorite holiday tradition is making Christmas cookies with my mom and my aunt because I enjoy baking, and the two of them are like my best friends, so they make it super fun.” – Jayda Trigg, freshman

much thus far that the thought of being in school for five-plus more years just sounds dreadful.

I try to explore the thought of not going to college at all, but at this point, after already trying so hard in high school, if I didn’t go to college, would I just have been wasting my time?

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Q the big

In each edition of The Sailors’ Log, eight students will be asked their opinion about a current topic.

Now if I do end up going to college and getting a degree, I fear that I will soon become uninterested and be stuck with a useless degree and a lot of debt.

I’ve grown up surrounded by adults sitting in dead-end jobs because it was expected that they would go to college, so they got a degree, but now they never use it.

This has had a lasting impact on me. I don’t want to end up working a job I feel merely neutral about because I’m too afraid to go for something else.

This is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

My brain wants me to have this beautifully laid out plan of everything that I will do with my life, and while this is nowhere near realistic, I get frustrated when I can’t come up with anything.

The problem now is that there is no right or wrong solution to this problem for anyone.

There are a million different ways I could choose to live out my life and each one would be equally fine.

The truth is, the future is inevitable, the world will keep turning whether I have a plan or not.

The future may be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be decided right now.

Instead, it can be changed and adjusted to my liking as I grow and adapt.

“My favorite holiday tradition is definitely decorating the tree, just because of all the fun, family made ornaments.”

– Christian Banks, senior “My favorite holiday tradition is having a Christmas party every year and spending all that time with family and friends because I get to reconnect and have fun with all of them.” – Simon Mui, junior

“My favorite holiday tradition is probably giving my dog a new bone on Christmas, but one of the expensive bones.” – Jake Klemp, sophomore

“My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas presents and Christmas dinners because they make me happy, and it brings a lot of families together.” – Dax Alm, freshman

4

review

December 17, 2020

“My favorite holiday recipe is my greatgrandmother’s recipe for Christmas cookies, which my family and I try to make every year around the holidays.” – Hunter Peterson, senior

The Sailors’ Log

Traditions for the Table

Three Sailors share dishes they like and the traditions behind them in their homes each holiday season “My favorite dessert to eat during the holidays is sweet potato pie. We always make it at our house.” – Victor Powell, freshman

BAKING with

Holiday desserts from across the pond bring

challenges

Brady

With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to try some traditional European holiday desserts that I had seen on TV or in magazines, yet I had neither made nor eaten in the past.

Additionally, I tried elevating the skill level needed for this round of desserts. As delicious as brownies are, after 10 times, they can get a tad boring.

I also enjoy exposing myself to new flavor combinations to broaden my culinary scope, so I viewed this edition as a springboard for that Food review mission.

by Brady There were hits, misses, and some in Whalen, between, but baking is all about the process. staff writer Nothing beats spending quality time in the kitchen with people you enjoy.

I wish the only responsibility I ever had was ensuring that a batch of cookies does not burn, but at least baking can provide that experience for a few hours.

Rugelach Yule Log Cake Ina Garten has been my cooking inspiration since I was in elementary A Yule Log Cake, or Bûche de Noël (pictured above), is a dessert that is served at Christmas in many French-speaking countries. The chocolate cake resembles a log.

To make the cake spongy and durable for rolling, the batter relies heavily on egg whites that have been whipped to a foam. These have to be folded in gently, or else they will lose their air.

Following this step, the batter is spread onto a baking sheet. I have an affinity for raw cake batter, but much to my dismay, this cake must be completely baked, or else it will fall apart when rolled.

Once the cake is finished, it must be rolled immediately. Luckily, I have burned my fingers so frequently that they are insensitive to heat, but a baker recreating this recipe could wait until the cake is cooler if they desire.

The cake must cool completely before being unrolled to fill. I used butter cream, but what goes inside is completely up to the baker.

To achieve the bark look and texture on the outside, I crafted a ganache of the finest Meijer chocolate chips and heavy cream, then whipped it until it was a frosting consistency.

I then drug a fork across the ganache to create ridges that resembled bark. The ganache eventually hardened up, so the outside of the cake even simulated the feeling of a tree.

This cake was tasty but nothing special. It was a bit dry, and the ganache was too rich with nothing to cut it. Ultimately, it looked and tasted like a souped-up Swiss Cake Roll. As great as that is, there is no need for me to bake for three hours when Little Debbie can make it for me.

“For the holidays, I always enjoy a good dip, as well as a sweet dessert. Every year, my dad makes the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever had.” – Zella Johnson, sophomore

school. Her calming voice, high-quality ingredients, and lush Hamptons lifestyle all compelled me to watch her show, The Barefoot Contessa.

Recently, I stumbled across a holiday episode in which Ina abandoned her typical French cuisine for dishes from her Jewish upbringing.

One of the desserts she made was rugelach (pronounced roo-guhlaak). Ina explained that these rolled cookies originated in Poland, the country from which my great-grandparents emigrated, so I felt connected to the dish and wanted to test them out.

The rugelach dough was like shortbread, but it included cream cheese, one of my favorite ingredients. It brought life to an otherwise forgettable mixture of butter, flour, sugar, and salt.

Assembling it was like making pizza.

I rolled the dough out, then lathered apricot preserves onto the dough before topping it with a mixture of raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon. I then sliced the dough into triangles and rolled them up before baking them.

Everything was going well to this point, which is uncharacteristic of my time in the kitchen, so when I peeked in the oven as the timer went off, I was not surprised to see apricot preserves leaking out and boiling on the pan.

However, a little extra baking time can solve any problem, so I closed the door and forgot about the atrocity I had just witnessed.

When I pulled them from the oven a short time later, all my worries vanished, and I was presented with perfect rugelach. Prying the rugelach from the pan while the apricot preserves were still bubbling was a bit dicey, but eventually, they made their way to the cooling rack.

Rugelach is my new favorite dessert, regardless of the season. The dough had a wonderfully crispy exterior and soft, delicate interior. The candied raisins, walnuts, and caramelized apricot that were snuggled inside the cookie cocoon created a beautiful sweetness.

Rugelach has not only won a spot at my table but also a spot in my heart.

Croquembouche The croquembouche (pronounced krow-kuhm-

boosh) is a customary French dessert. It is a staple for celebrations and an impressive dessert in any chef’s arsenal.

In theory, a croquembouche is a stunning dessert. A tower of cream puffs, stuck together with caramel and adorned with ornamental decorations and spun sugar should appease even the most stringent health nuts.

However, unless the execution is spot on, a croquembouche can get ugly fast.

In all honesty, my croquembouche is not a true croquembouche. There is no decoration, and after failing the caramel recipe, I opted to melt marshmallows to keep the shape of the tower instead.

Despite this, some elements of the dessert were still successful.

For the cream puffs, my sister and I whipped up a pâte à choux (pat-uh-shoo) dough that we spent time perfecting about five years ago. Pâte à choux is unique in that it has a high moisture content, creating steam while it bakes which allows it to come out hollow and ripe for filling with pastry cream.

The beauty of cream puffs is that they can be flavored like anything with filling, but they still taste great without any filling. The dough has an eggy flavor and is more akin to a biscuit than a cake. It is the perfect canvas but still stands as a work of art on its own.

Before the season comes to a close, I would like to attempt a croquembouche once more. Perhaps my failure was due to my lack of motivation following four hours of baking.

However, as it stands now, the croquembouche has made its way onto my baking blacklist.

The Sailors’ Log

news

December 17, 2020

Shores endures another shutdown

By Bailey Graham Editor-in-Chief

First, high schools were supposed to shutdown from Nov. 18 to Dec. 8, per the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Now, the new executive order (as of Dec. 16) has been extended through this Sunday.

COVID IMPACT

“The state-mandated shutdown of high schools is not something I agree with,” superintendent Bill O’Brien said Dec. 10. “Our high school has proven that we can safely be open for in-person learning. I struggle with the fact that our high school students and staff have worked so hard to make sure that MSHS is following all of the recommendations for mitigating COVID-19 and yet they are shut down with a blanket closure of all high schools.”

Shores, which has its holiday break Saturday through Jan. 3, will not return to in-person schooling until at least Jan. 11, per an email sent to the district from O’Brien on Dec. 14.

“We believe that in-person instruction is best for our students,” O’Brien’s Dec. 14 email said. “We also know that the structured environment of school with an emphasis on mitigation helps increase student and staff safety.”

O’Brien stressed that student and teacher health and safety is No. 1.

“The plan for Mona Shores is to continue to do everything we can to make sure it is as safe as possible for our students and staff to be learning in-person,” O’Brien said.

“For now, that means a temporary shift to remote learning following major holidays.

Any plan that we have or have had comes as a result of working with our local health experts in order to ensure it is as safe as possible.”

With the shutdown, students finished first trimester remotely and began the second trimester (Dec. 7)

with remote learning.

“Schools that have local data to prove that they are open for in-person instruction in a safe way should be able to stay open for in-person learning,” O’Brien said. “It is my hope that this is the last of the blanket closures of schools, and from here on out that decision will be left to local districts to make in collaboration with local medical experts.”

While not ideal, virtual learning is no longer foreign to the students or staff of Shores and will be more than able to continue on with learning.

“We are much more prepared and have learned so much about what works for students and staff than last spring,” principal Jennifer Bustard said. “I hope that we are able to be back in person as soon as it is safe to do so. (I’m) so very proud of our students for their ability to adapt, cope and give their very best in this new learning experience.”

The end of school shutdowns may not be in sight, but O’Brien said he wants to assure students that the administration is doing what is best for students.

“No matter if you are learning remotely or in-person, I want all students to know that the people in Mona Shores School are here for you,” O’Brien said. “We look forward to the day when we can all be doing the things we love again, but for now, we will keep doing our part. This will be over one day, and each day we are one day closer to the day that it is over. Keep looking for the positive things that are still happening all around us. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone at Mona Shores. We are here for you.”

On Nov. 15, Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed Michigan residents about the spike in COVID cases across the state. In her address, she announced a threeweek epidemic order to prevent any more spread of the virus. This order issued that all high schools and colleges shut down in-person learning and switch to virtual. Other indoor gatherings, such as movie theaters, dining in at restaurants, bowling centers, and more, were shut down as well. The order, which was supposed to initially end Dec. 9, was extended for another 12 days on Monday, Dec. 7. The order was due to the large number of people traveling for Thanksgiving and the spike in cases that is not steadily descending.

The earliest Shores students will return to school will be Monday, Jan. 11.

Athletics across state experience schedule changes

By Bailey Graham Editor-in-Chief When the MHSAA “paused” fall sports on Nov. 15 because of the new COVID-19 order, it affected three sports that were still in season: volleyball, girls’ swimming, and football.

Of those sports, Shores had athletes competing in swimming and football still.

The swim team was preparing for regionals while the football team was gearing up for its regional match-up with East Lansing when Governor Gretchen Whitmer made the

announcement.

“This is definitely not something we hoped for, but my team and I just need to keep a positive mindset,” said senior Gary Humphrey, who plays for the 9-0 football team. “Regardless of what happens, I’m proud of what we did as a team. I just hope we get a chance to play again.”

Winter sports practices were halted also.

“When it was first announced that we weren’t going to play for a while, I was upset because we are going to have a strong team this year,” said junior Mia Brown, who is on the girls’ basketball team, “but this is just giving us more

time to get ready and put in more effort before we start playing. I’m just really looking forward to the season starting and being a part of such a wonderful team.”

Winter sports were set to begin last week, and football, swim and volleyball were supposed to resume this week; however, with the latest mandate, none of this happened.

Now, unless the executive order is extended, winter sports can begin practices next Monday and begin competition Jan. 4. As for completing the swim and football seasons, no one knows if that will happen.

“I know that the shutdown happened because people are still getting sick, but at the same tume, I’m getting sick of staying at home and not being able to see friends, go to school, and play sports.” – Hannah Geoghan, sophomore

“I was struggling with the half and half of virtual and in-person schooling, and I was hoping for us to go all inperson soon, but unfortunately, I got the opposite. While the virtual learning has been not as stressful, I’m ready to go back to school.” – Maddie Mettler, senior

“This shutdown is worse than the last one because I know this won’t be the last one we go through. Also, at least a part of my hockey season is gone, which is sad since I was super excited to play.”

– Luke Beilhartz, sophomore

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6 December 17, 2020

Hedgehog makes one’s life better

By Emily Kuznar Managing Editor While many people may own traditional pets, such as dogs and cats, some people are now leaning toward getting a more unique pet to liven up their homes.

Sophomore Emilia Matuz is just one of many students at Shores who owns a non-traditional animal. She is the proud owner of a hedgehog named Neville, which she chose because of her love for the Harry Potter series.

“We purchased Neville in December of 2016,” Matuz said.

“Honestly, I love seeing how surprised people are when they see him. He’s definitely not a normal pet, but he is very cute. I love to watch him run around in the backyard in the summer.”

While he may be cute, Matuz said that taking care of a hedgehog is no easy task.

“Taking care of a hedgehog is a lot more work than I ever expected,” Matuz said. “I have to clean his cage once a week-cleaning his running wheel, replacing the liner, scrubbing down the floor, taking care of his litter box. His nails should be clipped once every week or two, but it’s a two person job and he hates it and tries to bite us so to be honest it gets neglected sometimes. We’ve recently discovered it’s a lot easier to do his nails if my mom wears rubber gardening gloves so his quills don’t poke her as much while she’s holding him. His cage also needs to be between 70 and 80 degrees.”

Matuz said she was inspired by her neighbor to purchase her particular pet.

“My neighbor got a chameleon, which made me also want a cool pet,” Matuz said. “I chose a hedgehog because I thought they were cute and seemingly simple to take care of. It turns out that they are actually very difficult to care for.”

Matuz advises anyone who’s considering getting a hedgehog to reconsider their decision.

“As much as I love Neville, he is a lot of work and very high maintenance,” Matuz said, “Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so you barely see them during the day. They’re kind of annoying animals overall, but he’s still grown on me. My parents aren’t the biggest fans of him, but I spend my own time and money

the secret lives of

UNIQUE

Unfortunately, Neville (the hedgehog) is no longer with sophomore Emilia Matuz because he passed away on Dec. 8. Even though hedgehogs only have a two- to five-year lifespan, Matuz said that Neville lived a happy, healthy life.

(Courtesy Photo) on him, so they don’t really mind.”

Overall, Matuz says that while he may be hard work, she loves having Neville in her life.

Editor’s note: Matuz informed us that Neville passed away Dec. 8 after this story was already complete.

Cool Cats “My cat’s name is Roxy; we got her in 2015 from a barn when she was a kitten.

She is incredibly fluffy, has big green eyes, really long whiskers, and no tail, which makes her different from any other cat I’ve seen. She gets along with my family really well and has tons of energy. She can be a little moody, but that’s just her personality.”

– Ava Morin, freshman

“My cat’s name is Timmy Tuesday. We got him about 6-7 years ago, and we got him on a Tuesday (hence the name Timmy Tuesday). He is the best cuddling machine in the world. He’s an outdoor cat, so everyone in the neighborhood always talks about him. Having a cat gives me happiness and comfort.” – Thomas Stewart, sophomore

“My cat’s name is Mac, and we got him 12 years ago from PetSmart. He is super playful and loves to cuddle. We decided to get him because we needed another friend in the house. I love when he jumps super high when we throw him a ball.” – Aaron Piasecki, junior

“My cat’s name is Trucker. And I got him when I was nine years old. I love everything about my cat; this sounds so cheesy, but he is my best friend. My most favorite thing would probably be that when I cry, I’m sad, I’m mad, he knows it and comes up to me and just lays with me, and it immediately calms me down.” – Mia Bowers, senior

Pe

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The Sailors’ Log

The Sailors’ Log

s

We surveyed Shores’ students to see

who was the owner of a unique pet (not cats or dogs). We received numerous answers varying from birds, to reptiles,

to barn animals. Eventually, we decided to include cats and dogs since many have them; however, the main focus was on non-traditional animals.

Information Compiled By Emily Kuznar, managing editor, and Olivia Nunnery, staff writer

Sophomore Mackenzie Williams has had two pets that prove to be unique and different compared to the generic cat and dog.

She had a pet bunny named Bingo for just about 9 months before he recently passed away.

“I got Bingo because a few weeks prior to getting him, my other bunny Pepper died from old age,” Williams said. “I was really sad about it, so I got another bunny to feel better about his passing.”

One could say that Williams and Bingo were quite the close pair.

“We bonded so quickly, having Bingo after Pepper passed away made the mourning a lot easier because I had something to make me happy, ” Williams said.

Crabs

On top of owning a dog and a cat, junior Ansel Hartmann has also made room in his home for two hermit crabs.

“The hermit crabs don’t have names, but we’ve had them for a little over two years,” Hartmann said. “We got them mainly because my brother wanted them.”

While they were not necessarily his top choice of pet, Hartmann says he has grown to love them over time.

“The crabs tend to hide in their habitat most of the day due to the fact that they are nocturnal,” Hartmann said. “However, they are still really neat to watch crawl around when they’re not resting.”

Bunny

“My dog’s name is Bo; he is an Australian Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever and Poodle Mix). We got him four years ago from Bainbridge Labradoodles in Rockford. I like that he’s always waiting for me at the door when I get home. He’s a super-relaxed dog, so he’s always sleeping.” – Owen Delong, junior

Other Pets Bearded Dragons Hannah Durham, freshman

Junior Carly Gomez received her bearded dragon name Lizard around a year ago.

“I don’t really know why we named him Lizard,” Gomez said. “He didn’t have a name when I got him, and the name just seemed fitting.”

Gomez explained she was given her pet by someone who could not take care of him anymore, and she is happy she can give him a better life.

“Prior to now, he was a class pet with not a great life,” Gomez said. “He was in a biology class. There were other class pets being kept there, probably 3-6 of them. They were kept in a dark closet, and they were not receiving proper nutrition or care. When my mom went to get him, my lizard was the only one still alive. Overall, his treatment just wasn’t great, and the environment was very toxic for him. But now, he receives plenty of love and attention.

He is definitely very spoiled.”

Gomez said Lizard is a lovable pet who gets along with just about everyone.

Lizard

Chloe Maxwell, senior Karli Stordahl, freshman

Budgies Sierrah Vredeveld, sophomore Jessica Lawton, senior

Chickens Brooklin Yokubonus, senior Arianna Shivlie, freshman “He is a very sweet, fun pet,” Gomez said. “He is very calm, but sometimes he gets into things he’s not supposed to. Regardless, he enjoys being held by people and is very nice. He may be unique, but once people meet him, they instantly love him.”

Lucky Dogs “My dog’s name is Griff; he’s a Chihuahua.

We got him three years ago from an animal rescue. He is very bossy, and lets other dogs know who’s in charge.

He is the glue of our family and keeps the happiness alive.” – Noah Boyden, freshman

December 17, 2020

“My dog’s name is Charlie; he’s a Schnoodle (Schnauzer and Poodle mix).

He’s a super fluffy dog with a lot of curls.

He does everything with us and loves going for walks and taking jet ski rides. He responds to all kinds of nicknames such as ChuChu, Chuckle Buckle, and Baby Boochka. He’s a key part in our family and keeps us all happy.” – Ava Dunn, sophomore “My dog’s name is Fred; he is a Malti-poo.

We got him four months ago. I love how small he is, and he’s such a sweetheart.

He always entertains everyone who meets him. He is very energetic but is also very cuddly.” – Riley Rosenthal, senior

Skylen Junglas, sophomore Vaughn Lakatos, senior

Tarantulas Kylee Olsen, junior

Sugar Gliders Colby Sparks, senior

Snakes Liam Hoekstra, freshman Brooke Sullivan, freshman

Fish Zach Keessen, freshman Rae Sattory, junior Oscar Justian, junior

7

8 December 17, 2020

Difference Makers profiles

The Sailors’ Log

Junior speaks up about tough topics

By Samantha Sewick Staff Writer Junior Simran Tumber (middle) volunteers with InterAct to run a booth at the Muskegon Farmers Market. They sold trees, plants, and vegetables for profit. (Courtesy Photo)

Club president encourages membership

By Samantha Sewick Staff Writer When entering high school, the most common things to join usually fall under two categories: athletics or fine arts.

For junior Simran Tumber, all she wanted to do was help others, so she joined InterAct, a Rotary volunteer group.

Rotary is a worldwide organization that focuses on acts of humanitarianism.

“There were a ton of clubs that I could have possibly chosen, but InterAct drew my attention,” said Tumber, who thought her first meeting was laidback and welcoming. “It was the only one that involved solely volunteering and service, and I was all for it.”

Giving back to the community was not new Tumber to Tumber or her family.

“Growing up, serving above self was instilled in me by my parents,” said Tumber, who started her volunteering young at a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple.

“I did not realize it then, but all of these ideals in my culture and my home made me who I am today.”

Tumber’s volunteering was not a one-time feat. During her three-year membership in the club, she has worked her way up from a member to Secretary to President this year.

“I am blessed enough to have a roof over my head and food on the table every day, but I understand that some are not as fortunate,” Tumber said. “Helping others in any way possible will create a better society. And change will only start if you take action.”

Nobody wants to acknowledge the horrors and monstrosities that exist in the world.

In junior Ana Ivanov’s world, she turns her attention to those horrors and monstrosities and jumps in head first to help.

“I learned about my favorite volunteer organization, the Lakeshore Human Trafficking Task Force, last year through one of my great friends who was volunteering,” said Ivanov, who is now on the LHTTF Youth Subcommitte. “I provide a voice from the younger perspective who needs to be heard, especially with social media nowadays.”

Ivanov, well aware of these issues, took action immediately.

“I had known of the issue of human trafficking before the event,” said Ivanov, who listens to first-hand accounts through The Hope Project how heartbreaking and gruesome trafficking can really be.

“I learned more about how common it was and how many

Scary Stats

• 24.9 million people are victims of this modernday slavery • More than 70% of cases go unreported to the authorities • Only 1% of victims are ever rescued from human trafficking Junior Ana • In 2018, 51.6% of Ivanov volunteers trafficking cases were at Lakeshore children Human Information from Trafficking Task dosomething.org Force awful things the enslaved men, women, and children have to go through while listening to survivors of human trafficking and community members.”

Ivanov’s kind heart extends much further than just one volunteer opportunity.

“I volunteer because it is a way to make small changes in the world by making a positive impact on someone’s life,” said Ivanov, who has also been volunteering in school groups

like InterAct, Student Senate, and church-sponsored events her whole life. “I love seeing what I can give to people whether it is a physical thing or a positive feeling.”

Ivanov’s generosity has paved the way for her to speak out for those who are in situations where it’s impossible for them to do so for themselves.

“Volunteering has also opened up a lot of opportunities for me to meet new people through the

groups I’m volunteering with, or the people I am helping,” Ivanov said. “I think my love of volunteering comes from the fact I grew up with parents that emphasized the importance of giving back with the gifts and service you have.”

The grasp of trafficking hits closer to home than most realize.

“I was so eager to join the task force because I had known of the issue and also wanted to find a way to actually make a difference against it,” Ivanov said. “I’m so passionate about it because it is such a scary and startling issue that is so common in the modern world, and a lot of people don’t realize how common it is, even in the city of Muskegon.”

Ivanov uses this fact as an even bigger drive to why she does what she does.

“People in our community live and survive this every day,” Ivanov said. “So many people go through such a life-changing experience like this, and it’s terrifying. If I can give a voice to those who are being silenced, I will speak up.”

GET INVOLVED Jami Mikesell, senior “Volunteering is a great way to make an impact on your community even if it feels like you’re only helping a few people.

Volunteering boils down a lot to the golden rule. I try to help as many people as possible because I know I would want others to help me if I needed it. It really opens my eyes up to the community I am in. There is so much happening in Muskegon right now that I would be completely unaware of if it weren’t for the volunteering I do. There is also just something so special about knowing I am having an actual impact on the things that are happening around me.”

Lindsey Deblock, senior “Currently, I am trying to find ways to volunteer from home. I volunteer because there are a countless number of people in our community who do not have access to healthy food, nice clothing, or even a roof over their heads.

To have these things is a privilege, and it is one I feel everyone should have.

By volunteering my time, I can possibly share that privilege.”

Mason Moran, senior “Before the pandemic arose, and on each day I was available, I would walk into the LMC eager to help students with my passion, which is mathematics. Currently, although I do not physically walk into the LMC due to the restrictions enforced, I still maintain the same eagerness to sit with a student and help him/her regardless of the temporary nature of our world. When I tutor a student, I do not solely focus on the academics – that is, when I sit down with a student for the first time, I already have established the goal of doing my best to leave an impact so that it may potentially get relayed to others for the greater good of the community.”

features

The Sailors’ Log

December 17, 2020

Creative Computing Knowing which computer suits you is important

By Maddox Schaner-Follett Staff Writer

Gaming is becoming a more widespread hobby, and so an increase in demand requires an increase in supply in the tech industry.

But, how does someone take up this hobby when there are so many expenses to be taken into account?

Well, here’s the deal when it comes to selecting a gaming PC. Computer hobbyist Kyan Bohn , a sophomore, suggests that building a custom computer is the best way to go.

“The best one is one you can make custom,” Bohn said. “Building a custom computer during the pandemic is the best way to go right now.”

However, not everyone has the deep pockets or knowhow to assemble their own computer.

So, for many, opting for a manufactured model is the best option.

The most important thing to do when purchasing a manufactured model is to make sure that it is “future-proofed.”

Future-proofing is a term used by tech enthusiasts to describe how well or how long a computer will last when replacing the parts inside.

For example, if a processor becomes too slow to deal with new programs a few years after its purchase, then it might be necessary to replace it.

Future-proofing describes how compatible the rest of the components will be with new parts.

Future-proofing is easiest with desktop computers, making them the ideal option for

buyers who do not want to replace their PC every few years.

A laptop might sound ideal for people who do not have a fixed location for their gaming sessions, but they do not last as long as desktops, and they are much more difficult to future-proof because of how they are manufactured.

“You can’t really modify what’s in them,” Bohn said. “They are made specifically for that computer and that computer only.”

This means that once the parts in your laptop wear out, it is time to get a new one.

This is a serious problem for not only gamers, but educators and workers as well.

Many schools across the United States use computers, especially Chromebooks.

This enhances the way teachers are able to teach students, and enables the use of information that otherwise could not have been accessed.

But, this can be expensive.

While most students use the same computer for the entirety of their high school education, what happens when they get broken or worn out?

What happens when they are no longer adequate to do the job they are needed to do for the next round of students?

The most important thing about this is cost.

Chromebooks come relatively cheap because they are not manufactured to last more than a few years.

This makes Chromebooks an especially useful option for large groups.

But what about the average worker?

Well, Chromebooks greatly rely on the services Google provides.

Those who work with documents and spreadsheets regularly will find Chromebooks to be a useful tool in their arsenal, as well as being sufficient for the job.

While Chromebooks are useful for running low-end tasks like documents and spreadsheets, what about the more heavy-duty programs people use to carry out jobs in the ever-growing tech sector of the U.S. economy?

Well, brands like Google, Dell, and Lenovo build computers called Workstations or Thinkstations for not only the average worker, but for those who run special programs for jobs like 3D animation, engineering, and graphic design.

These are the kind of things you can see college students spending their student loans on.

Thinkstations are particularly useful machines for running mid-level programs, and can be used for basic work like surfing the web or writing in a document, but that is not their sole purpose.

These are computers for the masses, company workers and engineers alike can enjoy these devices, coming at lower prices than a gaming computer.

It is important to remember that while a gaming computer can double as a machine for any of these jobs, it is not the most practical option for purchase for a large group of people; and just using one to do basic office work is not getting the most bang for your buck.

In today’s growing economy, computers are becoming a bigger and bigger part of our lives.

In the working world today, picking the right computer can make all the difference in a career.

Computer Parts Providers

Most Important Components

• Amazon is the best for general computer parts. Most parts found on Amazon are what is most popular at any one time.

Better for those who only need one or two parts at a time.

• CPU (Central Processing Unit). The important of this is pretty self explanatory. This affects all performance in general.

• The Graphics Card mainly affects the performance of gaming or running design programs.

• RAM (Random Access Memory) Old RAM can affect general performance in a computer as well. One would typically want 6GB or higher of RAM.

•Newegg is fantastic for those planning to build their own computer or are looking to replace some computer parts. They have good deals, but sometimes prices cannot be helped.

9

10 December 17, 2020

features

BIZARREBITES

Brooke Olejarcyzk, sophomore “I like eating potato chips with mustard because it makes eating potato chips more interesting. It is also a easy snack that is always in the house.”

Karli Stordahl, freshman “I like eating grilled cheese and peanut butter because it has a sweet and salty taste to it. The cheese gives it a buttery and sweet taste while the peanut butter is salty.”

Michael Hall, sophomore “My favorite part of eating peanut butter and jelly on my burger is that the peanut butter melts into the bun making it not so sticky, and the jelly gives it a sweet taste.”

Ava Morin, freshman “I like salsa and mac and cheese because the salsa makes it spicy.

There is nothing else I really like, besides that I really like the two things together.”

The Sailors’ Log

Tylor Harvey, freshman “I enjoy eating spaghetti tacos because I like the crunch of the shell with the noodles. I only tried it because I thought it would be a fun thing to try.”

Diego Luna, junior “I tried cinnamon in my ramen because I like to cook. I watched a video that explained all the different ways you can use cinnimaon, and I was enlightned.”

PB&P? Peanut butter & pickles combo tasty to some

By Maya Cooper Staff Writer The sound of eating a crunchy pickle with smooth peanut butter might sound disgusting to most people, but to at least three Sailors, this is a delicious treat.

Freshman Arianna Shivlie, senior MaKenzie Zimmer, and senior Jess Lawton enjoy this bizarre combination often.

For each of them, this treat was introduced to them by their friends and family.

Shivlie said her cousin told her to try the two items together. She said she was hesitant but wanted to try it since it was fun and weird.

“I continue to eat it because it’s different, and I’m a different person,” Shivlie said. “I have tried to talk people into trying it, but they think it is too weird.”

Zimmer said the mix of the saltiness of the dill pickle combining with the taste of the peanut butter is delicious. She said she still continues to eat the unfamiliar treat, and it

brings up memories from a movie she saw.

“The way the flavors combine reminds me of the scene in the movie Ratatouille when Remy was trying the two different pieces of cheese together,” Zimmer said. “What makes it the best is that you can eat it however you would like.”

Not many people can say they enjoy this combination. Lawton said when she tells people she likes it, they all think it’s disgusting.

The only other person she knows that enjoys it is her friend who introduced her to it.

“I tried it originally on a sandwich, and it was so good,” Lawton said. “I was so nervous to try it, but it was actually good, and I continue to eat it ever so often.”

Shivlie says she would recommend this combination to everyone. It might sound weird, she said, but it’s something different that is extremely tasty.

“People who want to try something that is different need to try this,” Zimmer said. “I love it, and it has become one of my comfort foods.”

At least three students are familiar with the combination of dill pickles and peanut butter. Freshman Arianna Shivlie, senior MaKenzie Zimmer, and senior Jess Lawton all said they enjoy this concoction. (Photo by Maya Cooper)

Pop-Tarts & cheese

Cheez-Itz & Nutella

Celery, ranch & Cheetos

Freshman Ryker Kile said he wasn’t going to try the weird combo of Pop-Tart and cheese until he was dared by his friend, leading him to find out how much he enjoyed it.

“I enjoy this because of the sweetness of the Pop-Tart and the tanginess of the cheese,” Kile said. “The cheese makes the flavors of the Pop-Tart burst like a food bomb.”

Kile said he only puts the cheese on the fruit flavored Pop-Tarts because all other combinations don’t go well together.

“I continue to eat this combo because I love how well the flavors mix together,” Kile said. “There are so many different flavors in one bite.”

Junior Makayla Cherwinski was introduced to Nutella and Cheez-Its in the ninth grade.

She had packed herself Nutella in her lunch but forgot to pack pretzels to dip in it. Her friend told her to use her Cheez-Its instead.

“We both ended up trying it, and it was pretty good,” Cherwinski said. “We soon had our whole friend group trying it with a variety of different Cheez-It flavors, like baked and plain. With all Cheez-It flavors, it did not taste like a cheese cracker and hazelnut. It tastes like a nicely baked wafer with smooth chocolate flavor.”

Sophomore Kadynce Alm came up with the combination of celery, ranch, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

“I left my Hot Cheetos on the counter and saw my mom had bought celery and ranch,” Alm said. “I dipped my celery into the ranch, and then I decided to dip it into my crunched up Hot Cheetos.”

This creation by Alm was made out of pure experimentation and turned out to be delicious. She said she still continues to eat this occasionally.

“It was fantastic,” Alm said. “It is by far the best creation I have ever made, and I recommend this creation to others if they like all these ingredients.”

sports

The Sailors’ Log “I love skiing because I find it a good stress reliever, it lets me spend time with my family, and it is just fun to do.”

– Emma Anderson, freshman “My favorite thing about skiing is definitely the hot chocolate breaks after a few hours on the hills.” – Isaac Powell, senior “I love that it is a way to be outside in the winter and embrace the cold.” – Serenity Frasier, junior

Information compiled by and page designed by Ali Sewick, staff writer

DOWNHILL SKIERS BOARDERS TO THE TO THE  LEFT RIGHT 

Senior credits mom for his passion of skiing There are many families that do not always have the opportunity to share something they all love to do.

That is definitely not a problem for senior Ethan Haynes.

“Over on the east side, where I’m originally from, my mom was a ski instructor,” Haynes said. “It just felt like something that was inevitable.”

For Haynes, skiing is something he learned to do young from his mom.

“I’ve been doing it close to 15 years,” Haynes said. “My entire Haynes family does it, so we sort of adapted that as a family activity that brought us closer together.”

Haynes said that growing up with skiing was something that made him stand out among others.

“It was always cool because not many families have this same hobby,” Haynes said. “It was something unique to my family that made me grow to love it more than I originally did.”

For many people from Shores, the name Pine Knob, a ski resort in Clarkston, isn’t familiar. For Haynes, however, it reminds him of his roots.

“Of course I’m biased because of where I’m from, but Pine Knob will always hold a special place in my heart,” Haynes said. “Growing up around there was an experience that I’m really grateful for.”

December 17, 2020

Senior Ethan Haynes, at age 5

Resorts Crystal Mountain

12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Thompsonville, Michigan www.crystalmountain.com

Cannonsburg

6800 Cannonsburg Road Belmont, Michigan www.cannonsburg.com

Caberfae Peaks

1 Caberfae Lane Cadillac, Michigan www.caberfaepeaks.com

“My favorite thing about snowboarding would be trying a new hill and just riding down and finally getting it.

It’s such a good feeling.” – Mia Bowers, senior “The best part about snowboarding is that my entire family gets to spend time together.” – Hannah Durham, freshman “I love the adrenaline you get from going down the slopes.” – Lane Fisher, sophomore

Grandparents inspire love for snowboarding

Sophomore Ryland VanDam, at age 13

Slopes

Mulligan’ s Hollow

Mulligan Drive Grand Haven, Michigan www.mulliganshollow.com

Timber Ridge

07500 23 1/2 Street Gobles, Michigan www.timberridgeski.com

Boyne Mountain

1 Boyne Mountain Road Boyne Falls, Michigan www.boynemountain.com

11

For many, snowboarding is a way to soak in the winter season, but for sophomore Ryland VanDam, it is a way to connect with his family on the slopes.

“I started snowboarding three years ago when my grandparents got me with a snowboard,” VanDam said, “Everything was a chain reaction after that.”

VanDam said his snowboarding passion was in his blood.

“It was inevitable that I learned to do it at some point because they all love to do it,” said VanDam about his dad’s VanDam family.

For VanDam, he has used his passion to bond with his grandpa, someone whom he was never close to until a few years ago.

“I love to be able to connect with him because back home, we never talk much,” VanDam said. “It’s weird because it’s like we’re two different people when we’re out snowboarding. We’ve gotten so much closer and bonded because of it.”

Though the COVID world doesn’t allow for the same traditions this year, VanDam is still grateful for the effects that snowboarding has had on his life.

“I know a lot of families don’t quite get to experience the same relationship with their grandparents,” VanDam said. “That makes me grateful for experiencing something so special.”

sports

12 December 17, 2020

Former girls’ b-ball coach preparing to lead boys’ team

By Mike Meekhof Staff Writer Instability is a word one can use to describe Shores boys’ basketball program.

Only 15 winning seasons in its 58 years.

An overall record of 498-688.

And five coaches in the past decade with a 77-134 record.

Social studies teacher Brad Kurth, who previously coached the girls’ team for 11 years (2007/08 to 2017/18) is hoping to bring some stability.

“I feel like the guys’ program has Kurth been neglected for a long time,” said Kurth, who replaces Justin Johnson who stepped down in June after one season and a 3-18 record. “There is a fact of life that you don’t know what tomorrow brings, but the whole plan is that I’m sticking around. There will be a day when I retire, but that’s not in my near future plans at all.”

As the girls’ basketball coach, Kurth led the program to a 17275 record, winning six conference and four district titles while also coaching 2017 Miss Basketball winner Jordan Walker.

In 2018, Kurth resigned his head position at Shores to become

an assistant with Ferris State University’s women’s basketball team.

“I went to the college scene and did that for a couple years, really enjoyed it, but the head coach moved on, so I didn’t want to keep going with the new staff,” said Kurth, who left after the 2019-20 season.

While this will be Kurth’s first season coaching boys’ basketball, he said he has thought about it in the past, but the timing just seemed off. When athletic director Todd Conrad reached out to him to lead the Sailors boys’ team this past summer, Kurth said the timing was finally right.

“I just feel like it was the right place at the right time; some things just opened up in the right way,” Kurth said. “I’ve really enjoyed watching a lot of the young men that have gone through the program even though I wasn’t coaching them, so I thought it would be a good fit for me going forward.”

Kurth said he doesn’t put a certain number of wins or losses as a goal but is looking for his team to compete and improve each week.

“If we get to the point where we can say everyone’s on one mission, one path moving forward and we’re all working our tails off, then regardless of the results we’ve been successful,” Kurth said.

Athletic trainer finds new home with Sailor sports

By Mike Meekhof Staff Writer Dan Schroeder now has a few months under his belt as Shores athletic trainer.

“It’s been awesome; the athletes are great, the coaches are great, everybody’s really been great to work with,” Schroeder said.

During the three-week pause Schroeder issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Schroeder hasn’t spent time with athletes as

schools were shut down, but he said he has been staying busy.

“I’ve been working at one of the COVID-19 testing sites doing drive through COVID-19 tests,” Schroeder said. “It’s been pretty busy, especially since it’s kind of gotten crazy in the last few weeks, but it’s work in the meantime.”

Schroeder said he loves working and interacting with athletes.

“Just working with athletes, seeing the emotion that they have toward their sports and really getting to know all of them is the best part for sure,” said Schroeder, who works through Mercy Health.

“You can’t beat working with sports.”

The Sailors’ Log

BRADY Simply The Be st

After leading Shores to a 9-0 record, senior Brady Rose was named the state’s High School Football Player of the Year. Rose, who plays quarterback, defensive back and punter, won the award Dec. 1.

Senior named state’s best player

By Ali Sewick Staff Writer Senior Brady Rose doesn’t have to look far for his football inspiration.

“My dad sparked my passion for football,” Rose said. “I’m so grateful that I grew up around the game and being around my dad when he was coaching. I think it was just always meant to be.”

And what was meant to be was Rose, who plays quarterback, defensive back and punter, being named Michigan’s High School Football Player of the Year on Dec. 1.

“I was speechless (when I found out),” said Rose, who led Shores to the state championship last year and a 9-0 record this year before COVID halted the season. “I was talking to a reporter (via Zoom), and he asked me what was next, and my family walked in with the trophy. I just didn’t know what to

say. I still can’t believe it.”

Rose finished with 25 points in a vote of an MLive panel of media members and high school football coaches. Runner-up Donovan Edwards, a senior running back from Bloomfield, was second with 11 points.

Rose’s statistics show a doeverything player: 112 rushes for 919 yards and 17 TDs; 48-of-73 passing for 908 yards with 10 TDs; co-team-high 54 tackles with four interceptions; and 11 punts for an average of 34.8 yards.

However, all of this would not have happened without his father Ken, a social studies teacher at the high school who also coached Brady from Mini Mite and Pee Wee levels all the way up to middle school.

“He has never stopped being my coach,” Rose said about his dad who was a part of the varsity football coaching staff from 20002010. “He taught me how to play,

the basics and even tries to help me improve. Having him there when I get home from practice and being there for me after games is something that I’m really grateful for.”

Brady was not the only one surprised about his Player of the Year honor.

“It was overwhelming,” his father said. “I just wanted to cry and laugh and hug him all at the same time. It is a great honor and his entire family, family-friends and peers are beaming with pride.”

Brady’s dad has watched his football career through many different angles and said he has been thrilled to see all the work he has put in pay off.

“I’m just so proud of him,” Ken Rose said. “Brady works extremely hard to accomplish what he wants, to be successful, to win, to help his team anyway possible. That work ethic has paid off tremendously.”