Sports and Mental Health: A Double Edged Sword 

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The relationship between sports and mental health can not be simplified down to any single factor. The toxic, destructive atmosphere of a sports team is often masked by the ‘friendly competition’ persona. 

Often the problem lies in the coaches immaturity and deep desire to win above all else. Grown adults are willing to trash a child’s mental health in the name of the game. While sports can create a strong sense of community among athletes, this mutual support is often dismantled by the relentless expectations set by coaches.

“There’s nothing to lose in practice” is a phrase no athlete is a stranger to, but do not fall into its trap. One bad practice can easily prompt excessive punishments or a loss in playing time. Coaches have no trouble dismissing all an athlete’s hard work and accumulation of excellent performances to validate their dramatic penalization for one off day. Players are expected to exhibit peak athleticism and skill on a daily basis. Coaches fail to recognize the psychological and emotional challenges faced by teenagers in today’s high-pressure society. The media pushes unrealistic standards, convincing young individuals that success is contingent upon being physically attractive, thin yet not excessively so, socially popular, and academically accomplished. Maintaining this lifestyle, while being committed to a sports team is virtually impossible, for those planning to maintain a healthy mental state. 

This is not to imply that sports are some nefarious force designed to cause harm to teenagers. Any form of physical activity can prompt the release of endorphins, diminishing feelings of anxiety and immense sadness. High schoolers facing intense stress can take advantage of sports, as a temporary relief from the stressors that plague their mind. The blissful focus required to engage in sports provides a mental break and increased mindfulness. Amidst the intensity of athletic endeavors, athletes rarely have their minds clouded by thoughts of an impending math test. 

Though an excessive focus on competition may give rise to anxiety and diminish self-esteem, it can also equip athletes with the resilience needed to navigate the challenges of life. There is no escaping setbacks, failures, and high-pressure situations, so being exposed to them early in a controlled environment can serve individuals in the long run. This is not a justification of cruel coaches, but rather a recognition of the possibility to learn coping mechanisms when faced with healthy competition. Positive stress exists and sports can serve as a form of positive stress. Positive stress exists and can arise through sports, acting as a spark for personal growth and the cultivation of inner strength. 

Sports, just like anything, contain both positive and negative aspects. Children should not shy away from sports entirely, in fear of harming their mental health. Instead, they should remain mindful of the amount of competition and pressure they are consuming. Those looking into joining sports as a form of self care, approaching it as a leisurely pursuit may offer the most beneficial balance. Even those seeking a professional career in athletics should not dismiss their mental health, as neglecting it can diminish their natural passion and drive. 

Earth Day Event

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On Saturday, April 26th, I had the pleasure of helping the Mission Viejo Library with the Earth Day event. The Mission Library had two booths: one was run by the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), while the other was run by the teen interns. I worked at the TAB booth and helped people decorate succulent pots as well as assemble the mesh bottom cover, the soil, the rocks, and of course, the plant itself. All of our succulents were donated from the community, which goes to show how caring the residents of Mission Viejo are. Many people (including a member from city council) came to spread the joy of Earth Day.

The best part? It was all free! From the live band (that played all day, except to take a short break for the rain) to the assortment of tasty food, residents could stop by and partake in the festivities without having to buy tickets or RSVP. There were multiple stands giving away free merchandise and educating visitors about the environment, such as the El Toro Water District which handed out dog waste baggies. Not interested in getting free items? Our Teen Intern booth had a nature-based scavenger hunt where savvy explorers were challenged to locate birds, insects, and plants in an effort to appreciate our community’s natural beauty. Or, if fairs, aren’t your interest, many volunteers planted trees along the trail behind our booths. Getting to meet so many people who are also environmentally conscious was a delight, and I can gladly say that I made new friends! No matter what you were looking for, the Earth Day event was sure to have it.

While the festivities were wonderful, it is important to consider the message behind Earth Day. Cleaning up after ourselves is extremely important especially when considering the impact of anthropogenic waste has on ecosystems both locally and globally. Thousands of species suffer from genetic bottlenecks, have their mating passages disrupted, or even go extinct every year due to human actions. Taking AP Environmental Science at my high school has taught me about how humans need to take more accountability for our environmental impact, and this event reinforced what I have learned.

Relaxing Hobbies to Help You Unwind During Finals

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Finals suck. The massive projects worth ⅓ of your grade, the crazy long essays that have to be a test, everyone wearing pajamas and giving up. Yup, finals: everyone’s favorite time. 

But, finals don’t have to suck this year. Here are some relaxing hobbies to help you calm down and enjoy life during this hard time.

  • Coloring! Get out your sketchbook and draw, or print some cute coloring pages online and color them in. This is a perfect hobby because NOTHING has to be perfect, you can make it as messy or as perfect as you want. Coloring is shown to help improve your focus and boost your creativity, so definitely consider coloring this May.

  • Baking! Who doesn’t love a delicious warm chocolate chip cookie, or an amazing decorated slice of cake? Take some time to bake sweet treats for yourself, your friends, and your families. Not only is this a great hobby because you can tune out to some music and just follow a recipe (which takes almost no brain power), but you also get to eat your incredible creations afterwards.

  • Gardening! Personally, I can’t really garden, but this is a proven hobby to help people destress. By going outside and connecting with nature, you’re letting your brain drift away. This helps your cognitive function, which then helps you with testing.

  • Literally anything you want. Any hobby of yours can help you keep your mind off of testing. Whether you’re playing video games or biking, just doing something you enjoy will help you feel better.

    Take care of yourself this testing season. Try your best to get around 8 hours of sleep. I know it’s hard with sports and clubs, but by doing this you will feel less exhausted and your brain WILL WORK BETTER. Don’t stay up all night studying, because you will eventually fall asleep and not retain anything. So, ENJOY YOURSELF and STOP STRESSING.

Tangerine Book Review

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A lie about to be exposed. The classic evil sibling. Justice finally served to a psychopath and his sidekick. Hooked? If yes, you should consider reading the realistic fiction novel Tangerine, written by Edward Bloor.

Moving from Houston, Texas, Paul soon finds his new home, Lake Windsor Downs, Florida, odd. Lightning strikes everyday at the same time, killing a high school football player. Navigating sinkholes, muck fires, and his older brother, Paul finds himself at Tangerine Middle School. He befriends his soccer teammates and overcomes the stereotypes they originally thought of him as he shows his loyalty and willingness to help, such as when he helps the Cruz family fight the freeze. This is when the citrus growers protect their trees from the biting cold, lest all their crops die, and their main source of income deplete.

Paul Fischer, the protagonist of the story, has worn extremely thick glasses ever since he stared at an eclipse for too long and went legally blind. That’s what his older brother Erik and his parents told him, though he can’t remember staring at the sun. Throughout the book, Paul gets flashbacks of past times that bring him closer and closer to the secret his family is keeping from him.

While most of us with siblings probably bicker or fight, or maybe you have rocky relationships with them, hopefully none of us are so scared of our siblings that we avoid them at all costs. Up until the end of the book, Paul is afraid of Erik. He sees Erik’s true nature, despite the star football kicker Tangerine County knows, or the Erik his parents believe in. Finally, after someone Paul knows is murdered, he screws up the courage to confront him. As Erik scoffs and skedaddles, Paul is hit with a last memory: one that reveals exactly how he lost his vision. Now, it’s time to have a chat with Mom and Dad. And the robbed homeowners. And the police. And have a third “first day of school.”

I really enjoyed reading Tangerine. Throughout the novel, there is a sense of there has to be more to it. Paul is an ordinary kid living in his big brother’s shadow, seeing more than anyone in both Lake Windsor and Tangerine. You see his character develop as he learns more about himself and his brother, and it’s great to see the underdog deal a critical blow to certain bullies. By the end, I felt really satisfied because you know how people have been hurt, but the rocky seas are starting to calm, and things are going back to normal. I also liked all the sweet symbolisms that add to the story, along with important lessons, too. Turning the final page, there’s closure felt all around, from Joey to Tino to Paul—who finally comes out into the spotlight, after fearing Erik for seven years.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle

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Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle, is the story of a young girl named Hillary Lenox, who becomes fascinated by her neighbor, Sara-Kate Connolly. Sara-Kate was held back in fifth-grade and seems to live in her own distant world, ostracized from society. Sara-Kate invites Hillary to see a secret village of elves in the woods of her backyard. Sara-Kate explains that the elves live in tiny homes made of sticks, leaves and stones. The two girls soon become friends, even though Hillary’s other friends and even her own parents disapprove of their friendship. Hillary is captivated by Sara-Kate’s theories about the magical elf world. This leads Hillary to see life in a new way.  Hillary also learns that Sara-Kate’s life is much sadder and more difficult than she could have imagined.

I appreciate the way this book portrays the complex connection between childhood imagination and the painful realities of life. This book deals with challenging themes involving friendship and loneliness. It teaches that many people suffer from hardships that are hidden from the rest of society. We can learn to have compassion for people who have lives that are much different than our own and more difficult than we realize. This book shows that we should be kind and friendly to everyone.

This book seems to blur the line between fantasy and reality. The elves add a sense of mystery and suspense to the story. In some ways this book can seem unsettling, because of the severe hardship and trauma that it describes. However, I appreciate this deep exploration into the minds and relationships of children dealing with the harsh and complex realities of life. This book is very intriguing and I would recommend it to both young and old readers alike.

What is HOSA– Future Health Professionals?

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If you are a high schooler interested in the medical field, HOSA would be an amazing organization to get involved in! Health Occupations Students of America, or HOSA, is an international student organization that works to improve the access of high-quality healthcare to everyone and to promote potential careers in the medical field. HOSA offers a special program of leadership development, inspiration, and recognition.

The State Leadership Conference (SLC)

If your high school has a chapter, or you would like to start one, the main goal of the club is to compete at the SLC. You would need to compete in two different events, one fully online event (known as red events) and another online and in-person event (known as blue events). For example, some red events include Behavioral Health, Dental Terminology, Human Growth & Development, and Nutrition. Moreover, some blue events include Clinical Nursing, Dental Science, Medical Assisting, Sports Medicine, and Physical Therapy. However, in order to be eligible to compete at SLC, you would need to take tests on your knowledge of your events. If you pass your blue event, then you can compete at SLC and if you pass your red event, then you potentially can get recognized for being top 5 in the state (depending on your score).

The International Leadership Conference (ILC)

For both red and blue events, top 3 in the every state for an event are eligible to compete at the ILC in Nashville, TN. Along with competing, there are also workshops where you get to explore and learn about different paths of the medical field and tournaments like Anatomage (a team-based anatomy competition).

Overall, I hope I spiked your interest in HOSA! I have been apart of HOSA for two years and cherish the opportunities and knowledge it has brought me! I always have the most amazing time at the SLC with my friends and my passion for the medical field grows stronger every conference. I hope to see you at the next SLC!

-Sophia B.

The Fox Maidens

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Amazon.com: The Fox Maidens: A Graphic Novel: 9780062685124: Ha, Robin, Ha, Robin: Books

The graphic novel, The Fox Maidens, by Robin Ha, is a graphic novel based on the legend of the nine-tailed fox Gumiho told in Korean folktales. This book tells of a young girl named Kai who dreams of becoming a warrior even as a female, she soon later finds out she turns into a fox every full moon and must eat the liver of a human in order to become human again. As we explore deeper into the plot of the story, Kai goes through a journey of self-discovery, independence, and experiences the truth of coming of age as a young teenager. We see more themes explored throughout the plot of feminism, and love.

This was a really intriguing book to read, I especially love reading books with the themes of fantasy and folklore. This is a great book to read when feeling up to reading adventure, fantasy, and sometimes feelings of sadness, and also even feeling more informed. Robin Ha´s way of describing the legend in this story, with both her skills of writing, drawing, and graphic really adds a whole level while reading this book, overall really gaining a whole deeper understanding of this story. Throughout the story, Kai gains a perspective on finding her own place in the world through love, compassion, and trust.

Robin Ha became popular especially after writing her book, Almost American Girl, which won the 2021 Walter awards, and is definitely next on my list to read for graphic novels. I would overall really recommend this book to lovers of the fantasy world and of magical creatures. This is such a great read! The Fox Maidens, is currently available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library!

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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Jacqueline Harpman’s novel, I Who Have Never Known Men, surrounds the theme of what it means to be human in a world where you have been stripped of everything that makes you feel human.

The novel follows a young woman, the narrator, with no memory of her past or the outside world, living in an underground cage with 39 other women, guarded by men who never speak. During her time in this cage, the narrator, who remains unnamed throughout the entire novel, lives with a constant urge to gain knowledge of the outside world and what humanity is really like. Relying on the broken memory of the other women, the narrator struggles to put together the notion of the outside world, like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that don’t fit together. She finds herself holding on to anything that makes her human, while being faced with dehumanizing circumstances everyday, such as defecating without privacy, walking with nowhere to go, and attaining intellectuality without proper books or educational material. This marks an important aspect of what makes humans, humans: The strive for knowledge and persisting curiosity.

One day, an alarm in the bunker where the women are imprisoned goes off, initiating the fleeing of the guards who accidentally leave the cage open when feeding the women. After a moment of wondering whether the guards would return and in disbelief that they were actually free, the women run from the cage, starting up the stairs of the bunker and facing the sky for the first time in years, feeling raindrops fall to their faces like water hadn’t existed, and feeling their heartbeats rise in adrenaline like their heart hadn’t beat before.

However, once free, the women face an unforgiving post-apocalyptic world, unlike the one they had remembered like a distant dream, and slowly begin to die, one by one, not just of illness, but of the burden of grief of missing their past lives. The narrator, having no recollection of this life and having had grown up in an imprisoned world, persists in her efforts to find her humanity while being the last of the women to survive a world unlike the one the women had described.

What I love about this book is that its a story of a human with so much of her humanity stolen from her, yet she still finds herself asking the most fundamentally human questions: Why am I here? What does this all mean? It’s a story about how even when born into a society so different from any that exists now, humans will always find hope, love, and wonder.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman can be downloaded from Libby. 

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

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The Big Wave is a short novel by Pearl S. Buck. Kino is a young Japanese boy who lives on a small farm on the side of a mountain. If he is not at school or working with his father, he is usually with his friend Jiya, who lives in a fishing village just below the mountain. Because he lives so close to the ocean, Jiya often worries that the sea will suddenly become angry and create a phenomenon known as the “big wave,” a huge and destructive wall of water. Kino is aware that the big wave is a real possibility, but he does not consider it likely to actually occur. Unfortunately, the big wave suddenly appears one day and annihilates the entire fishing village, including Jiya’s family. Jiya was with Kino and his family when it happened, so he saw the entire destruction of his village. Kino does not know whether Jiya will be able to endure the emotional shock of this tragedy.

This book is short, but extremely impactful. I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture, and this book provides a great deal of insight into their traditions and way of life. This book is very realistic and meaningful. For example, Kino’s character traits, and specifically his flaws and weaknesses, are described in a very genuine way. Possibly my favorite thing about this book is its overarching message of dealing with grief and hardship. It also teaches about the power of bravery and the human spirit. After the big wave hit the village, I actually felt worried about Jiya and I wondered how he would be able to cope after this traumatizing experience. The way Jiya responds to this event would probably feel very relatable to anyone who has experienced a personal tragedy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a short but poignant read.

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded from Libby. 

Captain America: Brave New World

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Captain America: Brave New World is currently the newest Marvel movie. The movie follows the journey of Sam Wilson, who is the newly appointed Captain America. Wilson tries to live up to the title he has but struggles as a world-altering event are going on. The movie has a great plot that has you questioning what is happening and beautiful action scenes that will put you on the edge of your seat. Rated PG-13 this movie is a good choice to watch with your family.

At the beginning of the movie, we get introduced to many of the characters and the main problem in the movie. This problem is that a genius named Samual Sterns is trying to make the world go against each other. Using his high intelligence, Sterns manipulates others into doing his dirty work, leading countries to the brink of war. This leaves Captain America to bring peace to the world. By the end of the film, Wilson is able to prove himself and save the world from a global disaster.

Captain America: Brave New World is a great choice to watch. The movie had a mysterious plot that left questions as you watched the movie, but got answered as the movie progressed. Another great attribute is the cinematic fight scenes consisting of battles in the sky and on the ground. This provides a sense of thrill and engagement. On the other hand, whenever there wasn’t an action scene I was busy daydreaming. The film really struggles when it comes to entertaining the audience when there isn’t a scene that involves fighting. Overall, this movie is worth the watch even though there may be moments that are boring and long.

In conclusion, the new Captain America movie is not a must-watch, but certainly is worth your time. While this movie may have some boring aspects, I believe the positives of this film outweigh the negatives. In my opinion, the fantastic plot and the well-illustrated action scenes are some of the best I’ve seen all year. Even though there may be some dull parts of the movie such as boring scenes, I still recommend for everyone to watch it, especially if you want to spend some valuable time with your family.

-Matthew R.