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EDITORIALS
Turkey Trot
BY LILY HERSCH
EDITOR IN CHIEF For every holiday, it’s almost guaranteed there’s a “fun run” being hosted near you; maybe you have experience if you have trauma from when you were 5 years old and your parents making you run a 5k. I certainly do. Yet, running is now one of my biggest passions and something that greatly fulfills me. So, that’s why I decided to run the Turkey Trot Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. To give some context, a full marathon is 26.2 miles, so a half marathon is 13.1. Personally, I much more enjoy running longer distances than short ones; you’re able to get “in the zone” and you’re running hard but not as hard in shorter races. For example, I typically feel better at mile 10 than mile 1. Though this was technically a race, I didn’t view it as such; I’m still just trying to get the hang of these longer runs, with things like my pacing, nutrition, etc. Well, in the beginning of the run I didn’t… Anyways, the trot. I woke up at 5:30 AM to ensure enough prep time for the 7:45 race. I was in high spirits - and then I got to the race. It was cold. Very cold. I stood there in my race shorts and beanie outside the porta-potties wondering if I should pick up the sport of powerlifting, simply to be able to train in a facility with a constant temperature year-round. But alas, I got to the start line and was off at 7:46 AM. Through mile 1-6, I was cruising at a steady pace, was warmed up, and enjoyed the sights. A car with a Hooters bumper sticker, a runner in a turkey onesie puking on the side of the road, another runner FaceTiming while running, etc. The best were the signs alongside the course stating what runners said they were grateful for during sign up. I deeply resonated with the one that said “A healthy body able to run,” as well as one stating “My dad’s credit card.” Agreed, Bailey. At mile 7, I started to become competitive. Not with other runners, but my Apple Watch. Why not? I was having a great time, and just a mere 6 miles to go. With each mile, I got progressively faster. At mile 10, I was going a full minute faster than my starting jog pace. By mile 12, a minute and 40 seconds. And a few hundred meters from the finish line, I was sprinting; in retrospect my parent’s video displays a pained-looking sprint, but nonetheless a sprint. I finished, looked toward the smiling faces and banana peels and gels in the trash, and felt a deep gratitude for running and everyone who supported me. Because this is an editorial, I should probably give a few opinions on the running (pun) of the race itself. Overall, I was very impressed. There were several aid stations, volunteers, decorations, and assistance that merits the setup as excellent. They offered a 5k and 10k along with the half, so every participant felt happy to be there and accommodated, too. Runner or not, everyone should do a turkey trot; you can reshape potential childhood turkey trot trauma, be surrounded by people in high spirits to start the day, and, if anything, get a goodie bag. POSTED 11/28/23 |
Upcoming Races Near Draper To Keep Note Of1. Utah Santa Run 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, 12/2/23 - Provo and Gardner Village
2. Midnight Madness 5k, 12/31/23 - Salt Lake City 3. Bigfoot Snowshoe Festival 5k, 10k, 15k, 25k, Marathon, 50k, Ultra, 1/27/24 - Midway 4. Cupid's Chase 5k 2/10/24 - Salt Lake City 5. Lucky 13 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, 3/16/24 - West Jordan 6. Salt Lake City 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, 4/20/24 - Salt Lake City |
Daylight Savings
BY LILY HERSCH
EDITOR IN CHIEF With fall having arrived, it means cooler weather, holidays, Starbuck drink releases, and darker days. Because of these daylight changes, clocks fall back an hour in the fall and spring back an hour in the spring, known as daylight saving. On November 5th, 2023, every US state except Arizona and Hawaii had their clocks fall back an hour in order to have less darkness in the morning. Daylight saving began in WWI in 1918 to conserve energy, only lasting a period of seven months; though, it became standardized in the US only in 1966. It’s a longstanding American commonality, yet not everyone finds it to be necessary in modern day. In 2020, the Utah Legislature passed a bill declaring daylight saving would be permanent year-round, meaning no time changes during the year. Several other states passed this bill, such as Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and more. Yet, unless it passes through the House of Representatives, the bill lays dormant. A 2022 poll by Monmouth University found that 61% of Americans want to end the bi-annual tradition. This want is understood with several factors, including that the change to our circadian rhythm increases health risks like heart attacks and strokes, mood disturbances, changes in sleep, an increase in car crashes during fall’s daylight savings, and more, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “I don’t like it [daylight saving] because now 5 pm lacrosse practices are pitch black,” says Cat Faucette, a CCHS junior. Yet, daylight saving has also been found to promote more outdoor activities due to the change in lightness, less energy consumption because of natural lighting, and crime rate drops, per American Home Shield. That said, these are benefits of spring’s daylight saving, when clocks go an hour forward. In terms of fall’s daylight saving’s benefits, the biggest benefit is lighter mornings, which not everyone has a concern for. “I love daylight savings; it being pitch black at 9:00 in the morning is so sad. I can handle it being dark at 5:00 at night, but I don’t like the switching. I wish we would stay one way or the other.” comments Lillian McAllister, a CCHS junior. The debate on the necessity of daylight saving is likely to remain a relevant topic, as there are both pros and cons of the change. Overall, though, it seems the American public is largely turning away from practice and would prefer a stagnant annual schedule. POSTED 11/13/23 |
Facts About Daylight Saving
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Is A College Degree Really Necessary?
BY UMHA VERA PAZ
STAFF WRITER Is a college degree necessary? Yes, having an education higher than high school is being asked from more careers or jobs as time goes on. Most jobs require a bachelor's degree or higher; not only is it a requirement, it allows you to have more opportunities. According to Northeastern University, “College graduates see 57 percent more job opportunities than non-graduates.” Not only do colleges help increase your opportunities, college also prepares you for the future. In high school there are deadlines, yet they vary from teacher to teacher. In college, these deadlines tend to be stricter, teaching you discipline and time management skills. The finance college counselors won’t only help you pay for your tuition, they will also help you manage your finances after college. For example, from Southern New Hampshire University, “Your school's finance counselors can walk you through more than just how to pay for college. With their tips and advice, you may discover helpful budgeting techniques and learn more about financing options and processes that may be relevant to future investments—such as purchasing a car or a home.” Above all, these are universities speaking and not real students, so I decided to interview student Koyo Ito, junior, from Wayne High School, located in Bicknell, Utah: “Degrees are super necessary nowadays, to the point where it’s like very normal to have a degree while it used to be like “degrees are super special!” Now you’re just EXPECTED to have a degree or college experience for most jobs. For people who think they can live without college, their opportunities are significantly less than someone who went to college.” The expectation that you have a degree for a job you are applying for is increasing. Most high-paying jobs require some type of college degree, college experience or skill. Yes, there are some high paying jobs that don’t require any college degree, yet they tend to be limited. Furthermore, it definitely depends on what your personal future career plans are. For example, if you would like to take a career in a choreographer there is no college degree needed for that. Meanwhile if you would want to be a doctor then you would most definitely need a college degree. In conclusion, this is why a college degree should be a priority. POSTED 9/18/23 Different College DegreesWhat are the different college degrees?
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BY LILY HERSCH
EDITORIAL EDITOR It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” For decades, centuries even, this was directly correlated with attending college after graduating high school, at least in Western countries. Yet, in the 21st century, more and more people are questioning the necessity of collegiate degrees because of new job opportunities and/or being deterred by the student debt crisis. This begs the question: is college necessary to be successful? Perhaps not. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average federal student loan debt in Utah amounts to $33,110; tripled compared to 2007. The growing fear among college and high school students of acquiring a loan, having it grow in interest, and becoming an insurmountable amount to pay without having to live on Spaghetti-O's is genuine in its reasoning. Becoming a slave to debt, if not needing a degree for a desired career, is in of itself a palpable reason to avoid attending college. Whether a competent applicant for a certain job or not, a sufficient wage from a job post-graduation to pay off potential debt isn’t guaranteed, either. The average starting salary for recent college graduates in the United States is about $58,862, per the National Association of Colleges and Employers. This may be a sufficient wage for many, but when intertwined with debt, it can create a slippery slope between living versus surviving paycheck to paycheck to pay off a loan. College may have been seen as the standard American way of forging a path for yourself, but in a world of inflation and debt, careers requiring no degree may be the new building blocks of our economy and way of living. Unheard of even 10 years ago, jobs such as being a content creator, Airbnb host, social media manager, and more are becoming standard - all because of increasing online media. People are considering what may lay beyond the field of a degree, and are looking to technology and radicalization among the youth to pave a different path. Despite Franklin’s words, when an investment in the knowledge of college is NOT paying the best interest, alternative means to a career are. POSTED 9/18/23 Notable Degree-Free JobsMany worthwhile careers don't require a degree, such as the following:
Credit: US Career Institute Usain Bolt, esteemed retired professional sprinter, does not have a college degree
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