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Carnival Nō Ka ‘OiStefani Sakamoto ’19 & Edlin Davis ’19

Everyone is getting hyped up for the Carnival of 2015, and it seems like this Carnival is going to be the best one yet. In fact, it’s even in this year’s carnival theme -- Island Style Carnival: Carnival Nō Ka ‘Oi (the best carnival ever). 

Each year, the junior class comes up with different themes for Carnival, and according to Maya Hiraki ’16, “Themes cannot be anything that is copyrighted, or something that has to do with water, because it is said that it always rains during carnival.” 

Although coming up with a theme may seem like it doesn’t take much work, think again. Coming up with an original Carnival theme is an arduous process. Students in the 11th grade can give suggestions.

When all of the suggestions are in, a small committee of students narrow down the large list to 8-10 different themes. After there are only 8-10 themes, the junior class votes on the themes in an assembly, and the most popular is the final theme for carnival.

At this year’s “Island Style

Carnival”, expect to see the Zipper,

the Fireball, Pharaoh’s Fury, the

mouthwatering malasadas, the E.K.

Fernandez games, and our Punahou

Kiddie Land. However, there is a

rumor going around saying that

there is going to be a new ride. But you have to wait until Carnival to

find out.

Get ready for the Variety Show!

The theme this year is “Over the Hill

and Picking Up Speed.” According

to one of the juniors, it’s about

elderly people in an “old people”

house. 

Be prepared for a thrill at Island Style Carnival: Nō Ka ‘Oi! on February 6 and 7.

The Deans of the Class of 2016 suggests that everyone should plan on going to Carnival on both days and staying there for eleven hours per day.

In this Issue:POPS 2015 2Super Bowl 6Relationships 14Dating in Middle School 20

February 1 –2, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.Free Admission

ISLANDSTYLEISLANDSTYLECARNIVAL NO KA 'OICARNIVAL NO KA 'OI

Rides

Art Gallery

Food

White Elephant

Games

P U N A H O U C A R N I V A L 2 0 1 5

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Art from Maya Hiraki ’16 & Photo by Stefani Sakamoto ’19

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Carnival Through the YearsBy Jeremy Lee ’20

For the many years in succession, a vibrant, colorful Punahou tradition has come each year in the first weekend of February. Carnival is one of the most anticipated and cherished event that marks the calendar of almost everyone in this school, the city and the world. Alumni come from different parts of the country and the world to volunteer and attend the Carnival. For students, it’s a time of fun and relaxation. For teachers, it’s gives them a break from grading papers to enjoy malasadas and gyros.

If you go back all the way to 1914, you will see that there was something called “Carnival Week”, which was essentially a giant sleepover. Parents could rent rooms on campus so their children could hang out with their friends. Punahou was called Oahu College and it was a way for parents to spend time with their children who boarded on campus. There were no rides, or food. The Carnival that was the most similar to the one we have now happened in 1932. What was that first “Carnival” like in 1932?  

The Carnival in 1932 was not called “Carnival.” It was called “Campus Day.” The event started was held on a Friday afternoon after a morning of community service.

The first Carnival raised $240 in nickels (which was the most amount of money charged for anything), the current value now would be about $4,090, according to MeasureingWorth.com.

The Oahuan, the senior yearbook lacked funding because of the Great Depression. The was not enough money to produce the yearbook.“Campus Day” was held to supplement the cost. During the Depression, when the economy was at its worst in American History, the money raised was an incredible accomplishment. The money from Campus Day, as well as a private donation was enough to cover the price of the Oahuan, thus enabling them to produce the 1932 yearbook. Thus, a yearly Punahou tradition was also born.

There were no malasadas at the first Carnival, but there were drinks such as milk, water and food like sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream. Now, we have

things from “world famous” gyros, saimin, taco salad to Hawaiian plates. There were no rides at “Campus Day”; they only came in 1936. There were 8 booths at the first Carnival. The games consisted of things like bowling, sharpshooting and pie eating (apparently, some world champions were there). A Punahou student from 1932 recalled “investing” 15 cents to throw 3 baseballs at her biology teacher. There was also a photography booth, where students could save their memories for a nickel. Even with the exponential expansion of Carnival, it is important to know that there is still one thing that’s similar. The money raised still goes to a great cause-scholarships for Punahou students.

Pops Assembly 2015By Siya Kumar ’20 and Brynn Matter-Ramos ’20

Fifty-two middle schoolers performed a variety of musical acts in the 29th annual POPS Assembly on January 27-30th in Twigg-Smith Auditorium. This event was organized by Ms. Patton and Ms. Scanlan, CMS music teachers. There were also four student techies that have devoted a great bit of time to make sure the performances ran smoothly. In addition to the school shows, on the evening of Thursday, the 29th, there was a 7:00 p.m. public performance.

The students performed in the POPS assembly have worked really hard to put on an entertaining show for all of the middle school kids, family and friends. All have put in a lot of time practicing at lunch, after school and on the weekends. Our 7th grade very talented twins, Madison and Jenny Yim, 7th graders, performed “Arms” originally by Christina Perri.

“I'm most proud of the student's growth and maturity through the audition and rehearsal process. They took ownership of their number and rehearsals, and grew as performers and team players through their collaborative efforts,” commented Ms. Marlene Patton.

“The performers are very supportive of each other. It's a really special group this year. They prepared greatly for the initial audition and then met two times a week (or more in some cases) to get ready for their performance.” added Ms. Alicia Scanlan.

Photo courtesy of Cooke Library Archives

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POPS 2K15

Zach Urabe ’19 & Lauren Peiler ’19 singing Please Don’t Say You Love Me to each other

Kenny Aune ’20 preparing to tap in “CUPS” at the Pops 2015.

Keely Thompson ’19 & Emma Ng Pack ’20 dancing their hearts out to Your Lips Are Movin’.

Duke Kenney ’20 & Dylan Cole ’20 performing The Girl.

Kai Durkin ’19 & Mei Lee ’19 singing a duet to Lucky.

Laura-Lyn Tan ’19 & Jaime Tamashiro ’19 end there Dance Mix together

Layout by Stefani Sakamoto ’10 Photos by TJ Johnson ’19 and Ethan Lung ’19

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Ingredients1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter at room temperatureshape in the center of each cookie.¼ cup confectioner’s sugar⅔ cup all purpose flour⅓ cup potato starch / potato flour⅓ cup almond flour¼ tsp vanilla extractYour favorite jam

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees F.2. Cream the butter, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.3. Sift the flour, potato starch and almond flour together. Add the butter mixture. Combine them with a rubber spatula.4. Sprinkle counter, board, or other flat surface with flour, then roll out dough to ½ inch thickness. 5. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut dough into heart shapes. Use your finger make a hollow shape in the center of each cookie.6. Fill each hole with about ½ teaspoon of jam. Fill the hollow to the top with jam but don’t heap it. 7. Bake for 18 minutes

Valentine’s Day HallongrottersBy Hana Murphy ’21

When it comes to Valentine’s day, I love cookies and sweets. My favorite kind of cookie is a jam cookie. I like both sweet and sour jam in the buttery cookie dough. The jam cookie I make is heart-shaped for Valentines Day. It is a very simple cookie that doesn’t take much time to make. It takes about 45 minutes from beginning to end.

Hallongrotter is a Swedish cookie. In America, they are known as thumbprint cookies. Hallongrotters made in Sweden usually have a raspberry jam inside. Hallon means raspberry and grotter means cave. The name is fitting because it is a cookie with an indent in the top, where the jam goes.

I modified the recipe a little bit to get the taste I like. I used different kinds of jams for the inside of the cookie. My favorite kinds of jams are: apple, lingonberry, apricot, blueberry, strawberry, guava-strawberry, and lilikoi. I like the lingonberry jam because the taste is close to raspberry jam. Avoid using runny jam, because it might run over the top of the cookie in the oven.

The recipe for Hallongrotter makes about three dozen 1.5 inch cookies.

Photos by Hana Murphy ’21

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10 Questions with Mr. AldrichBy Dylen Fujimoto ’20

Mr. Andrew Aldrich is the Supervisor for the Class of 2020. He helps teachers and students in many ways. The Courier sat down with this very busy person to get to know him better.

1. Where were you born and raised?I was born in Northfield, Minnesota and grew up there until I was 18 years old. I went to college in Minnesota. Then I lived all over since then.

2. What made you want to be a teacher/supervisor?At first I wasn’t a very good student up until 10th grade, but I had a few teachers that really made that subject click and I really liked those teachers. When it came time to go to college I had to pick a major. I really respected what teachers do in order to let a student succeed. Then I said to myself I could see myself as a teacher. That changed a little bit later. When teachers teach, it's not because they love social studies or English, it's because they love their students. My instinct naturally changed from “oh school is fun” to “the calling in my life is to help student at what they do and who they are.

3. What took your teaching career around the world? My first teaching job was at a smaller public school in Minnesota. The school went through a change and began to shrink and that meant the school had to layoff a teacher. Since I was the newest and youngest I was the teacher the school would layoff. Instead of looking for a job back in Minnesota, my wife and I decided that we wanted to check out other parts of the world and potentially travel in Asia. First I took a job in Thailand for a few months, then South Korea, back to the US, then back overseas to the Philippines for four years. Then this job opened up at Punahou and I respected the school and the people, so I applied and somehow got the job.

4. What is your favorite thing about coming to school each day?The people and the energy and personality they bring to each day. Everyday and person is different in their own ways and I enjoy that variety. You don’t know what is going to happen each day.

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?India, because it seems like a whole new world and I love their cuisine.

6. Do you speak any other languages?Actually I can read Korean but sometimes I don’t know the meaning. I speak some Thai.

7. What do you do in your free time?I like going to the beach with my family, or for a hike, and I’m a runner so I go for a jog to Ala Moana or around Manoa Valley. Since I’m trying for my Doctor’s degree, I spend a lot of time reading and studying. I also really love to cook and I pretty much cook 90% of the meals my family eats.

8. What is a fun fact about you?Before getting the job here, I have never been to Hawaii.

9. What is your favorite food/cuisine?Asian or Mexican food.

10. Do you have any pets?No because we live in a smaller space and I think they would need a bigger area. But if we had a bigger area I would get a dog because I used to have one until I was 15. But my wife doesn’t care for them because their fur would get all over the furniture.

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St. Louis Rams Players Protest Michael Brown KillingBy Jason Olaru ’21

Professional sports player, are not usually associated with politics. However throughout history, professional sports players have publicly shown their political views in public venues as a sign of protest.

Many professional athletes believe their popularity gives them a unique advantage to express their feelings on social issues. One such issue is the Michael Brown case.

Michael Brown was an 18 year old African American who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in the town of Ferguson, Missouri. There are many different conflicting accounts of the case. Some witnesses say he was running away when shot, and some say he was charging the police officer when shot. A video also shows a man that looks like Michael Brown robbing a store. It is hard to say with certainty what really happened.

On November 24, the Grand Jury decided in favor of police officer Darren Wilson.

On November 30, five players from the St. Louis Rams football team walked out on the field with their hands up in a surrender pose. This pose becamethe symbol to protest the shooting of Michael Brown.

Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Stedman Bailey held their hands up in this controversial pose.     This is not the first time sports players have protested.

In 2012, Michael Jordan and the Miami Heat wore donned hoodies to protest the death of Trayvon Martin.

In the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, two African American men, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, won the 200 meter dash. Afterwards, they threw their fists in the air, showing a humans rights salute. They were protesting discrimination against African Americans. Soon after, Smith

and Carlos were expelled from the Olympics.

Professional players players are great at dunking hoops and scoring touchdowns, but they also play a big part in political protest.

Super Bowl Sunday!By Nicholas La‘a ‘19

February 1st, 2015 marks the 49th Super Bowl. The first Super Bowl began in 1967, although it wasn’t actually called Super Bowl. It was called The NFL-AFL World Championship Game. Kansas City Chiefs owner, Lamar Hunt, thought of a new championship game after the regular season. The name “Super Bowl” came from his daughter’s bouncy ball called “Super Ball.” In 1970, the NFL changed the game into the Super Bowl. 

In 1920, there were two different leagues: the AFL and the NFL. The two American football leagues combined in and turned into the National Football League (NFL), which is what we have today. The official merge began in 1970 and started becoming one league, but two conferences. So today, we have the National Football League (NFL) containing two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). 

The winner of the Super Bowl wins a trophy called the Vince Lombardi Trophy named after the famous coach of the Green Bay Packers who led the victory of the Super Bowl twice in a row for the Green Bay Packers. After he passed away in September 3rd 1970, they named the trophy the Vince Lombardi Trophy and each player on the winning team gets a Super Bowl ring which costs $5000. There are 53 players on a team, so the NFL would have to pay $265,000 for each team.

Will Your Favorite Team Win Superbowl XLIV?Alex Grossman ’20 and Sky Shimabukuro ’20

On February 1st, The 49th Super Bowl will begin at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. An estimated 100 million people will watch the Superbowl which is one third of the American population. That number is not counting the people in Canada and Australia.

There have been 48 Super Bowls, and 13 out of the 32 teams have never won a championship. The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the record for six Super Bowl titles.

The Halftime Show attracts millions of viewers. Many people look forward to the halftime show and commercials more than the actual game. Katy Perry will be performing two of her hit songs, Roar and Firework.

Sports Illustrated Experts Don Banks, and Austin Murphy predict that the New England Patriots will win the title. Terry Blount of ESPN predicts Seattle Seahawkswill win 24, Patriots 20. He states that “Teams that have returned to the Super Bowl the year after winning it have an 8-3 chance of winning.

CMS Courier predicts that the New England Patriots will win the National Champions. The star quarterback Tom Brady has good receivers and tight ends at the end of his passes.  

Tom Brady quarterback of the New England Patriots has won 3 Superbowl Titles.

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Black History Month In AmericaBy  Brad Zukeran ‘20

Black History Month celebrates African Americans’ achievements in February and is also known as National African American History Month. Since 1976, every U.S. president recognized February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world like Canada and the United Kingdom also recognize it as Black History Month.

In 1915 a Harvard historian named Carter G. Woodson and a minister named Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History also known as ASNLH. ASNLH was an organization that researched and promoted achievements by African Americans.

Currently the organization is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH. In 1926 the association promoted a national Negro History Week. The Negro History Week was placed during the second week of February so it would occur during the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Communities celebrate with speeches and performances to commemorate the week.

As a result of the Civil Right’s Movement, Negro History Week grew to Black History Month on college campuses around the nation in the 1960’s. Then in 1976 president Gerald R. Ford recognized Black History Month and said to the nation “I urge my fellow citizens to join me in tribute to Black History Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all of us.”

Mrs Saito, social studies teacher of team 7Y says, “Every year I do something different.  Last year we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr..  This year I'm thinking about a

Research Quilt.  We will go through the research process and construct a quilt square highlighting achievements of a famous Black American. The team will work together in constructing the quilt which we will display in our team space.”

Ever since 1976 all U.S. presidents recognize February as Black History Month and gave each one a unique theme. Some of the themes included “America for All Americans” in 1976, “Black Women” in 1996, and “At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington” in 2013. This year’s theme is “A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture.”

All around the nation during February people celebrate all of the achievements made by African Americans from the past to the present.

Sources: www. history.com, www.aslh.org

The 57th Annual GrammysBy Alisa Masamitsu ’19 & Emme Weisenfeld ’19

On February 8, 2015, music fans across the country will turn on their TV’s to CBS. Or, if they’re really lucky, they can go to the Staples Center in Los Angeles to see the performers live. You do need a big wallet to afford tickets though; ticket prices range from $600 to over $50,000.

The Grammy’s are one of the biggest music awards around, and in 2013 more than 28 million people tuned in to see some of their favorite musicians perform and win awards .

One of the biggest awards is the Record of the Year Award. The nominees are Fancy by Iggy Azalea, Chandelier by Sia, Stay With Me by Sam Smith, Shake It Off by Taylor

Swift, and All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor.

Album of the Year award nominees are Morning Phase by Beck, Beyonce by Beyonce, X by Ed Sheeran, In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith, and GIRL by Pharrell Williams.

According to www.popsugar.com, Pharrell Williams has a three out of five chance of winning the album of the year award because he produced Beyonce, X, and his own album, GIRL.

According to a video by ET Online, Beyonce is now the most nominated female in Grammy history. Before the December 5th nominations were announced, Queen Bey and Dolly Parton were tied with 46 nominations each. Since the 57th Grammy nominees were announced, Beyonce now has 51 nominations.

Everyone loves listening to music, no matter what kind it is. Music has a big impact on all of our lives, and it gets us through some of the hardest times in our lives. If you’re interested in knowing about all of the popular music from the past year tune into CBS on February 8 and watch some of the best musical artists perform.

Beyonce is nominated for Album of the Year Award for her album Beyonce.

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Instant RamenBy Davan Sagara ’19

Everyone loves instant ramen. It’s cheap, convenient to make, and tastes good. But have you ever closely at the ingredients?

Let’s say that you eat instant ramen in every meal for an entire year. By doing so, you will be taking 180% of the sodium intake per day.

Eating more than two packs a week will increase your risk of having cardiometabolic syndrome dramatically regardless of what else they did to stay healthy, especially for women. Studies show that women who eat 2 packs per week have a 68% greater chance of getting that syndrome. 91.6 billion packs of ramen noodles are made and consumed each year.

One main problem with ramen noodles is the sodium inside of the soup packet. There are over 900 milligrams of sodium in your packet of flavoring. That’s over 40% of what is considered healthy per day. The beef and chicken flavoring of Nissin Ramen is made out of animal fat and different powder to help flavor the noodles. There is almost no nutrition in the ramen noodles. It’s mainly starch. There are only a few little pieces of vegetables that are soaked in fat and the protein is drained out. There are less than 4 grams of protein for your meal.

According to webmd.com, teenagers should be having 46-52 grams of protein per day and four grams is just a very small part of that value.

There are also chemicals such as bisphenol-A in ramen which affects your hormones and prevents vital messages  from going through your body. Many people think it is healthy because it is just a clump of starch that you put in water. It doesn’t taste salty so it should be okay to consume right? It isn’t ok.

I bet you don’t want to give up your noodles but after reading this, you want to remain a bit more

healthy. A suggestion would be to limit yourself. “I try not to eat instant ramen when i feel tempted, but do every so often. I eat it sometimes, but very rarely,” replied Gabe El Hajji ’19.

Source: www.thestreet.com/story www.post-gazette.comwww.huffingtonpost.com

Five Worst Foods For Your Body That Most Teenagers EatBy Emma Zheng ’20

1. Energy Bars - When you see the word ‘energy’ you might assume that these bars are good for your health. But, energy bars are often highly processed products.  Many energy bars are filled with high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavor, added sugar, and artery-clogging saturated fat. Additionally, some bars contain more than 350 calories each and you’ll just be getting fat if you consume them without any exercise.2. Hot Dogs -  The consumption of hot dogs can increase children’s risk for leukemia. They contain unhealthy additives which may cause headaches or allergic reactions. If this isn’t shocking enough, people have reported finding

glass, maggots, Band-Aids, bones and even an eyeball in hot dogs!3. Microwave Popcorn - Microwave popcorn is simply packed with chemicals that can seriously harm you. The popcorn itself is usually coated in preservatives and salt.  Additionally, they contain trans fats which can lead to various health conditions. The liquid “butter” is actually artificially  flavored oil.

4. Chips - Most chips are deep fried with trans fats that can increase cholesterol levels and increase the risk of coronary heart

disease. Using trans fats in the manufacturing of foods helps foods stay fresh longer, have a longer shelf life and have a less greasy feel.5. Popsicles - Popsicles are just water, sugar or high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and dyes, but besides water each of these ingredients is unhealthy, especially in large amounts. Although you may think that popsicles are made with real fruit, they are not the least bit healthy! The fruit is processed and all the nutrients and

vitamins disappeared during the process.  The flavors and colors have to be added so the popsicles would be pleasant to taste.

Sources: www.mensfitness.comwww.eonline.comwww.science.howstuffworks.com

Photo by TJ Johnson ’19

The most popular instant ramen is 380 calories, 14 grams of fat and 1,820 mg of sodium.

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Interesting AppsBy Stefan Yim ’19 and Brandon Hong ’19

There are quite a few interesting apps on the app store, so The Courier staff decided to review some of the most helpful apps for a middle schooler. Included in this article are reviews of: Cam Dictionary, Fleksy, and Shazam.Fleksy:

Are you ever tried of using your thumbs to type on the inefficient Apple Keyboard? With Fleksy, you can swipe to type (just like Android users).  It requires iOS 8 costs $1.Cam Dictionary translates words that are foreign languages to English. The languages that can be translated to English in this app are: Chinese, Korean, French, German, Japanese as well as 31 other languages. All you need to do is point your phone at the text you want to translates the text to English. The paid version of this app is  $2.

Shazam is a service that allows you to download a song that you hear somewhere. You can use it to identify songs that you hear on the

radio or on your mobile phone. When the app is activated, the app automatically identifies the song and the artist. Then the app asks if you want to download the song to iTunes, but this is optional.

Roses Are Red, Chocolates Are

Yummy, What Will You Get From Your Honey?By Ivan Ruan ’20

Valentine's Day is a day where many  give chocolates, and roses to each other. Chocolates and Flowers are sent to a person express that you admire them. What are some gifts you have received on Valentine’s

Day? What do you like to give your loved ones on this special day?

According to Your tangle and how stuff works, chocolate contains endorphin. This endorphin is called  phenylethylamine and has been linked to falling in love. When someone is in love, their brain releases phenylethylamine.

According to statehornet.com, the Aztecs used chocolate in Wedding Ceremonies.  Chocolate is

made from cacao beans that the Aztecs and the Mayans believed were mythical. Cacao was used in birth, marriage and death rituals.

Red roses are a symbol of love. It is believed that, Venus, the Roman goddess of love, favored red roses thus making it a symbol of romantic love.

So what do Case Middle School students and teachers prefer on Valentine’s Day?

“According to the Cable News Network, chocolate farming will

soon be inadequate to people's demands. This will result in higher prices and chocolate that doesn't taste like chocolate.” Brandon Yee ’20 stated.

“Flowers are more meaningful when they are given simply because someone wants to make your day a little bit better, not because it's a day on the calendar that says you should go out and buy someone flowers and chocolates,”  Ms.Allison Rodden-Lee Science teacher from Team 7X stated.

“I don't have a preference, they both show appreciation, but if I had to make a choice, I would choose a rose, because I can keep it and look back and say "I remember that,” Ethan Nagamine ‘20 commented.

“Any thoughtful gift is appreciated on Valentine's day, but I prefer chocolate! You can’t eat roses,” Ms. Bross, English Teacher from team 7X exclaimed.

Photos by Ivan Ruan ’20

Chocolates are a good gift for Valentine's day if you have a sweet tooth.

Roses makes the most unforgettable Valentines.

Copyright free photo from the internet

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CMS Happenings & Events

Zachary Urabe '19 picking up the pin at Punahou Gym

Duke Clemens ’19 and his Kindergarten buddy during 8X Christmas activity.

Aaron Kakazu ’19 reads a beautiful Christmas story to his kindergarten buddy

Team 7Y Class of 2020 pose for their holiday picture.

TJ Johnson ’19 and his buddy read “Eliot’s Christmas Surprise.”

Zoe Uyeda ’19 reading to her kindergarten buddies

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The Punahou Intermediate Gold Girls Soccer team at the IHS center doing community service. Mary Soxpollard '19, Izzy Horio '19, Jamie Shimamoto '19, KK Trifonovitch '19, Paris Sellers '20, Jillyan Harada '20, Taryn Kaneko '20, Melia Waring '19, Jacie Shimamoto '20, Emma Lalau '20, Anna Fujisaki '20, and Kaila Ronquilio '20.

Maninoa Tufono ’19, Ryan Pardini ’19, and Connor Skorge ’19 Punahou Intermediate Gold set up on defense.

The Girls Intermediate Basketball team is getting ready for their game

Edlin Davis '19 and Kela Pavao '19 pumped up for ILH swimming championships!

Layout by Stefani Sakamoto ’19

LeNora Suguturaga ’19 taking a picture with her acid wash pants that she made

in wearable art

Uly Borek ’20, Ty Okazaki ’20, and Leon Yoshida ’20 are working on their sustainable Project Green assignment.

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Sweet Tooth SorrowsBy Alexa Wong ’19 Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate it then with some red roses, chocolate truffles, and hearts. But what happens when there isn’t enough chocolate to go around? According to Mars, Inc. and Swiss company Barry Callebaut, demand for chocolate is expected to rise faster than production rates by one million metric tons by 2020. In other ways, we’re eating chocolate faster than they can grow it. CNN reports say, in 2013, out of the $18.6 billion spent on Valentine’s day, $1.6 billion came from candy revenue. It is a tradition to give or receive chocolates on Valentine’s day. Perhaps it’s the iconic red, heart-shaped boxes that they come in. Or the sensation you get when you bite into a piece of smooth chocolate.

Whatever the reason, chocolate is popular in February 14th. Making chocolate is labor intensive. Each pod is hand-picked carefully so not to disturb the beans inside. The pods are split so that the farmers can scrape the pulp out from the pods to obtain cocoa beans. They have to be very cautious so to not destroy the beans. 70% of the world’s cocoa is produced in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, Africa. West Africa’s growing conditions haven’t been ideal, drought being one of the main problems. A fungus disease called frosty pod has destroyed 30-40% of the cocoa bean crops so farmers are losing hope. They are looking into more probable crops, like corn which are likely to help them earn a living.

As demand for chocolate rises, so will the prices. Prices are predicted to rise as much as 14% by next year, TIME magazine states.

Consumption rates have gone up. NBC news says, in Asia, China’s demands for chocolate have gone up, consuming double since the last decade.

We’ve got to stop eating this sugary confection before we run out. So, don’t be overwhelmed by the higher prices of chocolate, this Valentine’s Day. In order to avert a world shortage, maybe consider giving roses instead for Valentine’s Day.

These iconic red boxes could be the key to why everybody is a fan of chocolate during Valentine's Day.

Photo by Alexa Wong ’19

West Africa produces 70% of word’s cocoa beans.

Photo from

healthnewsng.com

Interesting Chocolate FactsBy Leila Loose ’20

Source: www.corsi.net

•The Mayans Used Cacao

Beans as Currency

•Americans Consume Almost

Half the World’s Chocolate

•M&Ms were invented during

World War Two as a way for

soldiers to enjoy chocolate

without it melting

•The word chocolate comes

from “Xcolatl,” an Aztec word

that means “bitter water”

•German Chocolate Cake did

not originate in Germany – it’s

named after American Sam

German

•Americans eat 1.4 billion

pounds of chocolate every year

•Every single American and

Russian space voyage has had

chocolate bars on board

•The man who invented

chocolate chip cookies sold the

idea to Nestle Toll House in

exchange for a lifetime supply

of chocolate

•Hershey produces more than

80 million chocolate “kisses”

every day

•White chocolate technically

isn’t chocolate

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Love Under Construction By Edlin Davis ‘19 and Chanel Ng ‘19

It’s that time of the year again; the time of love, and c’mon, it’s middle school -- you have to admit, everyone eventually ends up having a crush sometime.

Have you ever obsessed and talked to your friends non-stop about that special person? Have you ever had  “butterflies” in your stomach when you see that person? Here are some tips that we have for you to “impress” them.

Of course, your gut would automatically “tell” you that you should try to be cool, and that you should be someone that you are not, to impress them, but that’s exactly the opposite of what you should do. You need to talk to your crush like how you would talk to your friends. Developing a strong friendship is important in relationships.

Be confident when you are hanging out with this person. Don’t act like it’s awkward being with them.

Try to find things that you have in common. In addition to that, look at them from time to time when you are granted the opportunity; try to see if they glance back at you. If they do, that might be a sign they may have a crush on you, too.

Above all, you should be nice to this person. Being mean teasing them is getting too old and that doesn’t necessary mean that they like you.

We all have different ways to “ impress” our crushes. Everyone has a unique way of approaching that special someone. Max Nichols ‘19 said, “Try to be funny when they are around to make a good impression on them.”

Jamie Tamashiro ‘19 and Stefani Sakamoto ‘19 both said, “We think it’s best if you become friends with them and get to know them better.” Lastly,

Stefan Yim ‘19 said, “Just be yourself; that should be enough.”

The Other Side of LoveBy Hana Ogihara ‘19, Colin Yeo ‘19 and Aaron Kakazu ‘19

February 14th is a day where we get showered with love and candies from our loved ones. Valentines day brings out the most sweet and adoring side of everyone. However, everyone knows that with love, may come rejection. Being rejected by someone that you care about can hurt a lot, but here are some ways to help you deal with it.

Rejection can come from anyone, close friends, school classmates or even your own family. This can make you feel really upset or worthless, leading to stress, disappointment, and anger. But remember, you have the control over how you react to rejection.

Doing something you enjoy can minimize your sorrow, like playing a sport. “I went to swim practice and swam it out,” says Chanel Ng ‘19, after getting hurt by someone.

If you play an instrument that you love, you can take that and play a piece that you enjoy. Perhaps going out to somewhere special with your family

might help you to get your mind off of your problems.

One of the best things you can do is go to your best friend and talk it out. Most of the time, it’s better if you let your anger out instead of keeping it all to yourself.

You can try venting to a best friend and give them a chance to help you out. Friends can be source of comfort for sad situations.

Being rejected can be painful, but you can reduce it’s effect on you if you know how to cope with it. Whether it’s doing something that you like or you finding someone to talk to that you trust, you can find ways to help deal with rejection.

Photo by Chanel Ng ’19

How to say I love you in different languages:

Mandarin - Wo ai ni

French - Je t’aime, Je t’adore

Latin - Te amo

Japanese - Aishiteru or Anata ga

daisuki desu

Spanish - Te quiero / Te amo

Hawaiian - Aloha Au Ia`oe

Portuguese - Eu te amo

Russian - Ya tebya liubliu

Italian - Ti amo

Filipino - Mahal kita

Photo by TJ Johnson ’19

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RelationshipsBy Clarise Huang ’19

Valentine’s Day is known as the “Holiday of Love,” and most people relate it to a girlfriend, boyfriend, or significant other. I like to think of it in a different way. A partner isn’t the only person we love. Friends, and especially family, are also relationships that mean a lot to

us. Relationships are part of so much of our lives that the purpose of Valentine’s Day should be more for the people in our lives that we love.

We should nurture our relationships with our family. Parents shape us into the people we are. They spend most of their time dedicated to us. We may not appreciate some things they do for us now, we will later realize how much they did for us and sacrificed to get us where we are.

Our siblings, for those who are lucky to have one, will always support us. We may bicker with them a lot, and they may annoy us at times, but in reality, our siblings accept us for who we are. They try to understand our problems and

listen to us. Siblings are like our best friends that we get to see everyday.

Friends also play a big role in our lives, no matter how few or how many. Without them, our lives would be pretty boring. For those who don’t have siblings, friends are like the siblings that they don’t have. We can choose who our friends are, and they can become people that we trust a lot and are very close to us.

Relationships mean pretty much everything to us. All of these relationships have something in common. How we treat, act, and talk around them will make a difference in the kind of relationships we have with people. The way we interact, builds our relationships, and whether it’s a good or bad one, is up to us. So the next time you are tempted to say mean things to your siblings, friends or family take a deep breath. Your relationship with them is important and you should always treat it with care.

“I am convinced that material things can contribute a lot to making one’s life pleasant, but, basically, if you do not have very good friends and relatives who matter to you, life will be really empty and sad and material things cease to be important.”

-David Rockefeller

There are many kinds of relationships. Love for your teammates is important.

Friends can be like our second siblings.

Photos by Clarise Huang ’19

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Valentines CraftsBy Ashley Broderick ‘20 & Leila Mukaigawa ‘20

Valentine’s Day is here. Love is in the air and everyone loves to give gifts to friends and loved ones. What kind of things do you give? Most of us love to make homemade crafts and give them as gifts. It is the perfect way to show how much we love them on Valentines Day, and it shows that we put a lot of thought in the gift. It is a gift from the heart. A homemade present is the best way to show your appreciation of someone. It is a sweet way to show your love to anyone and you don’t have to spend money on buying anything. The person will be able to see how much effort you put into your gift and appreciate it more than a store-bought gift.

Whatever you do for Valentines day, make sure you are grateful for your loved ones and give them lots of love on Valentine's day!

Everyone appreciates receiving food. A heart shaped peanut butter jelly sandwich is one way express the sentiment.

Heart Shaped Peanut Butter Sandwich:

Ingredients:• 2 pieces of bread• a heart shaped-cookie cutter• peanut butter• any flavor of jelly• a knife• napkins

Steps:1. Lay your bread down on the

napkins to not make a mess after you get your

2. Use your knife to spread your jelly on one piece of bread

3. Wipe your knife with a napkin and spread the

peanut butter on it also4. Place the bread on top of

each other to make a typical peanut butter jelly sandwich

5. Press all the edges of your heart-shaped cookie cutter

into the sandwich6. Make sure the cookie cutter

has gone all the way through the sandwich

7. Take the cookie cutter out and now it’s ready to eat!

Our last craft is a cute little art piece that we found on funhandprintartblog.com/. It is a handprint craft that absolutely anyone can easily make.

Fish in Love Art:Materials:

• paper• sharpie• crayons

Steps:1. Place the hand that will not

be tracing on the left side of the paper with your fingers facing outwards toward the edge of the paper (Try to spread your fingers a little)

2. Trace your hand in sharpie3. Do the same thing to the

other side of the paper (Now you should have two handprints with fingers facing the edge of the

paper)4. Draw eyes towards the end

of your hand, away from the fingers

5. Put a smile below the eye to

make it look happy6. Do this to both hands, and

now you have two fish7. Decorate it however you

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Weird Valentine’s TraditionsBy Edlin Davis ’19 & Stefani Sakamoto ’19

Valentine’s Day is considered one of the most romantic days of the year. It’s a time where couples, friends, and family members all around the world spend millions of dollars, euros, and other types of currency every year, just for a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. People who live in the United States are used to giving gifts to our love ones to express our affectionBut in other parts of the world, it is celebrated differently.

In Korea, the women give candy to their valentine on February 14th, while the men “confess” their love to them a month later, on March 14th. March 14th is known as “White Day”. If you are single in Korea, you have the opportunity to celebrate something called “Black Day” on April 14th, which is an unofficial holiday specifically for single people. On this day, people who didn’t receive gifts on February 14th or March 14th, gather together and eat jajangmyeon, a noodle dish.

France is known as one of the most romantic countries in the world, surprisingly has strange traditions for Valentine’s Day. Their most popular tradition is called “une loterie d’amour”, which translates to “drawing for love.”

On Valentine’s day, single men and women of all ages call out to each other until they find a match. If a man didn’t like their match, they would send the woman to call for a different man.

In the end, if women didn’t get matched up, they gathered together in a big ceremonial bonfire. This is the place where the women would toss pictures and objects of the men who rejected them. This event however, soon this event got too uncontrollable, and the government then banned it. traditions.

Emojis vs. EmoticonsBy Jaime Tamashiro ’19 & Stefani Sakamoto ’19

Emoji’s are used when texting to express a feeling, or abbreviate their messages.

The main difference between emoji’s and emoticons, is that emoji’s are pictures, and emoticons are symbols. A cake, or lots of faces with different emotions are emojis, and emoticons are faces/items made out of numbers, letters, and symbols included in keyboards.  The idea of emoji’s were inspired by emoticons. The dictionary definition of an emoji is, “A digital image or icon to express an idea, feeling or emotion through electronic communication.” Emoji’s were created in 1999 when the use of sending pictures through texting increased. This inspired Shigetaka Kurita to create the first emoji’s. Today, everyone with iPhones, Androids, and a variety of different tech devices all use emojis. The most frequently used emoji is the red heart. Emoji’s are useful in many different ways and many people have thought of many creative ways to use them when texting. 

The Courier asked CMS students about emojis and emoticons. Alexa Wong ‘19: “I like emoticons better, because pictures are better than symbols.”Kami Wong ‘19: “My most frequently used emoji is the pizza.”Maya Ricardo ‘19: “I like emojis, but I like emoticons. My most used emoji would be the winking face with tongue sticking out.”

Lauren Seu ‘19: “My most used emoji would be the angry face, or the derp face.”Alexis Sanehisa ‘19: “Hmmm… I don’t know. But my most used emoji is the chocolate bar.”

Gathering from our informal poll, many people preferred emojis over emoticons. Emoji’s have a lot of very different uses, and have become very popular over the years as a means of communication.

Two Punahou Eighth Graders are Finalists Inspired in Hawaii ContestBy Hana Ogihara ‘19 & Colin Yeo ‘19

    The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation had their fifth annual “Inspired in Hawaii” contest. This contest encourages children to dream big and make Hawaii a better place. Students from grades K-12 may enter into any of the three divisions; they can choose to write an essay, make a poster, or create a video. This year, two students from the 8th grade became finalists, Logan Laveti ’19 and Ethan Lung ’19 Logan and Ethan’s inspirational public service announcement is titled, Grow It Here. It is about sustainability and growing our own food, since 90% of Hawaii’s food is imported from the mainland and other countries. Without the ships that bring produce to Hawaii, we would only be able to sustain ourselves for two weeks. This video inspires us to support local farmers and to grow local produce, even in your own backyard. Congratulations to Logan and Ethan who are finalists in this year’s “Inspired Hawaii Contest.” Although they are currently in 8th grade, they competed against 9-12 graders in Hawaii. Winners will be announced on February 18 in Kahala Mall Center Court from 5-6 pm.

Photo by Edlin Davis ’19

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There are ways you can prevent or manage your diabetes. Eat foods that are low in saturated fats.  People can obtain diabetes by eating foods with too much salt and glucose, or sugar. Eat fruits, veggies, lean meats and fish that give you a lot of protein in your system.Limit portion sizes. A plate trick is to fill half of your plate with fruits and veggies, quarter of lean meats and the other quarter of whole grain foods.Exercise daily. Start off by taking small steps like walking for a half an hour each day. Then you can start building up by running or even weight lifting to keep your body in shape.Don’t smoke. Smoking affects your health negatively in many ways. According to Times magazine, smoking raises your blood sugar levels and makes it harder for diabetics to control their disease.

A Spoonful Of Insulin Makes The Sugar Go DownBy Kiarra Young ’19

There are several complications that you may have as a result of diabetes. Heart disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes, it will cause you to have a higher risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. When your blood sugar is constantly high, you can have eye problems too. People with diabetes are at risk of going blind or having vision drawbacks.

Over time diabetes will affect your nerves and causes damage throughout your whole body. Another consequence of diabetes is skin damage.     If people accumulate diabetes in their midlife this will likely lead to their memory problems later.  People with diabetes in their 50’s are likely to have dementia in their 70‘s. Scientists examined 13,351 African American and Caucasian adults between the ages of 48 to 67 years old. They were all tested for diabetes and pre diabetes. 13% of them started out with diabetes. The scientists studied their memory, reasoning, problem solving and planning.    In the end, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that people with diabetes had a 30% larger decline in mental sharpness than people who weren’t diabetic.

Diabetes damages blood circulation, so those people have memory problems because of the harm to  small vessels in the brain. A senior author at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said, “Factors like diabetes are modifiable. If we can better control diabetes, we can prevent future dementia.”

In some very rare and unusual

cases, people are born with diabetes and can’t help it because it is just a genetic possibility.

However, I lost my Aunty a few years ago because of diabetes. She developed diabetes, at a pretty young age. I want to warn people of how it can complicate their body now and in the future

It is never too early to prevent diabetes. So the next time you have a choice between eating a chocolate bar and eating an apple, I hope you choose wisely.   

These are common side effects of diabetes which people should look out for. When you start feeling this way, you should contact your doctor and test yourself for diabetes.

Photos from Internet

Exercise and good nutrition is key in preventing diabetes.

5 Ways to Cut Down on SugarBy Ally Kwong ’20Source: time.com

1. Don’t try to block out all of the sugar at once. Try to satisfy your sweet cravings with unrefined sugar.

2. Read the nutrition labels on food products. You would be surprised of many savory foods have sugar in it.

3. Make sure to read the labels carefully. Look at the ingredients that refer to sugar. (High-fructose corn syrup, corn sweeteners, etc.

4. Make guidelines of which sugars you are willing to eat. (Artificial, refined, etc.)

5. Make a time span. A suggested time is 72 hours. It is said to be long enough for your taste buds to adjust to sugar.

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History of Groundhog Day By Elton Orbito ’21

According to legend, if a groundhog sees his shadow then winter will last for six more weeks. If the day is cloudy, and the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow then it means winter is over.

Groundhog Day is always celebrated on the second day of February, but why do we celebrate this day? How did this day become a tradition?

This tradition started a long time ago in a country far, far away, as something different. It was originally a day called Candlemas Day, a Christian tradition in Europe. On this day, people of the church would bless and give people a candle to put by their window. The candles represented how long and cold winter would be. If that day was sunny, winter would last another six weeks. If the day was cloudy, it meant that there was an early spring.

The Germans expanded on this. Instead of using candles, they used an animal. They chose the hedgehog to determine how long winter would last. When German settlers came to America, they brought this tradition with them.

Hence we have this tradition today, after many generations, and we still celebrate it today. The only difference is that we use a groundhog, because hedgehogs don’t inhabit America while groundhogs do. Therefore we use a groundhog to predict the weather.

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicts how long winter will last when he comes of his hole on each year on February 2nd right before sunrise, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Sources: www.history.comwww.huffingtonpost.com

Bangladesh’s Floating SchoolsBy Eve Thompson ’21

Twenty one third graders sit in front of a dusty blackboard. Ready to learn, these attentive students wait for a new day at Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha. The fast rush of water echoes from beyond school walls. This classroom may look average, but it is actually very different.

During the rainy season in Bangladesh, rivers can rise up to 12 feet which makes some land schools inaccessible.

The limited amount of schools and educated

teachers created a large population of dropouts. Shocked by the amount of undereducated children and adults, Bangladeshi Architect Mohammed Rezwan decided to create Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha- non-profit

floating schools. These schools were not very well funded until the world started to catch on. In 2003 Rezwan received $5,000 USD (United States dollars) from the Global fund for Children, $10,000 USD from Levi Foundation, and in 2005 $1 million USD from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. These huge donations allowed the organization to expand

far beyond it’s original state. Not only did Rezwan create a weatherproof school, but the boats are also solar powered.

The growth of the school has not only been with funding, but in population too. There are currently 70,000 students for a fleet of 111 boats are filled with children and adults. Only twenty two of the boats are schools, while the other boats are used for adult education centers, health clinics, and libraries.Source: dogonews.com

Copyright free photo from Internet

Punxatawney Phil comes out of his hole on February 2 in Pennsylvania.

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Get Ready for The Oscars!By Tyler Murakami ‘21

The Academy Awards are a yearly tradition that honors the greatest in films, from best overall film, to best animated film, to original songs. Neil Patrick Harris will host the Oscarson ABC on February 22, at 6:30 Hawaii Time.

The Academy Awards were first introduced in 1929, with the Best Picture award called Outstanding Picture, and the winner in 1929 was Wings, a silent movie about World War I. The most recent Best Picture winner is 12 Years A Slave.

The award, nicknamed “Oscar,” after the designer’s Uncle Oscar, is made of solid gold and weighs 8 ½ pounds.

The top contenders for winning Best Picture for 2015 are Boyhood, Birdman, and The Imitation Game. One of the newest categories is Best Animated Feature. The hot contenders for winning that are The Lego Movie, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Best Visual Effects is always a cool category to explore. Interstellar is favored to win with its amazing visual effects of space, black holes, and the 5th dimension sequence.

Art House/Festival films are always popular. In fact, almost of the top contenders for Best Picture are all Art House/Festival films.

What is Art House/Festival? You know how Kahala Mall Theatre always plays films you’ve never heard of?  That’s art house. It generally refers to independent (indie) films that are intended for

more of a critical and artistic audience, instead of a general audience. Festival films premiere at film festivals (Hawaii has one, Hawaii International Film Festival, HIFF for short), but they can also be intended for a general audience.

“For Your Consideration.” These are three words that are very popular with awards season

approaching. They are advertisements for films (or TV shows around the time of The Emmys) that

also feature those three words, along with a category they want to be nominated for. Some will even say “All Categories including Best Picture”, meaning they want to be nominated for all categories they are eligible for. Some films this year containing the “All Categories” banner are Into the Woods and Interstellar. This does not mean they will be nominated, but they want the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science to consider them to be nominated for that award. Some websites that predict nominees are paid by companies to include them in their predictions so they will have a larger shot at being nominated.

If you are a festive type, many people hold “Oscar Parties”, where you dress up, and view the Oscars. Some have elaborate costumes, and some will dress casually. Some even have dishes cooked, or cocktails made that represent Best Picture nominees, or other award nominees. Oscar menus and “Oscar Bingo” cards can be found on www.epicurious.com.

Sources: www.indiewire.com, www.epicurious.com, www.oscars.gowww.imdb.com

The Oscar Award was named after the designer’s“Uncle Oscar” and was first introduced in 1929.

Into The Woods has been in production for nearly 25 years.

Boyhood was filmed over the course of 12 years.

Interstellar is Nolan’s best since Inception.

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Should I Be Dating in Middle School?Anonymous

Many of my classmates at Punahou have had special feelings for another person. Some may want to date their crush. Some may get asked out.

What should you do when the person you have feelings for asks you out? How can you ask your parents for permission? What if your parents disapprove? It is always better to be open and honest with your parents. Express your feelings about that special someone with your parents. Letting your parents know from early on how you feel about someone will help them trust you. Establishing trust is really important.

Discuss with your parents the pros/cons of dating.  Listen carefully to their perspective. After all, they have been in your shoes before, even though you may not think so. They might tell you things you do not enjoy listening to, but it is important. If you are to develop a trusting and open relationship with your parents, they need to know you value what they are telling you.

If you want to be a part of a relationship, tell your parents exactly what you would get out of having a boyfriend/girlfriend, because every parent wants their child to be happy and get something out of anything they do, including being in a relationship with someone. My parents and I had a discussion about having a boyfriend recently.  My mom had a very lengthy response, “Boyfriends are a distraction. Friendships need to be developed and understood before devoting one’s attention to a singular person. Studies have shown the kids who date too early have more relationship problems in the future. It distracts the child from exploring all that’s out there to learn and experience. A relationship of a couple is for the two people and not just to say I like you and you like me. It can lead to rushing to more mature relationship issues such as body image issues. It promotes peer pressure to pick someone even if one’s heart isn’t fully into having a relationship. Heartbreaks and misunderstandings as a child in relationships misleads to reactions and

problem solving in the future. It may lead to thinking that if you don’t have someone, you mean less or have less self worth than others that have someone. There are no pros to having a boyfriend, except for popular clicks to establish hierarchy in maturity. Even kids want to feel older so they feel more mature and think they are in more control. Kids that don’t have close friends or close siblings feel they have at least someone who puts them as priority. One feels that they will always have someone by their side no matter what or when. Kids feel they will always have someone to talk about.” After hearing my mom’s reply, I felt a little disappointed, because her argument was so convincing. It was hard to counter. I know she wants the best for me, but it is hard to stop feeling something for someone you care about. Someone that can help you with strengthening your opinions is Roni Cohen-Sandler, PhD (Psychologist, Author & Speaker), who wrote an article about teen romance. She said, “According to research, parent-teen conversations about romance actually help young people to develop healthier relationships later on. How can you decide if your teen/tween is ready to date? Here’s what I recommend assessing: if they are trustworthy, responsible, reliable, capable of sizing up social situations, respectful of themselves and others, able to be assertive, ask for what they need, and set limits, if they are unlikely to use substances, capable of resisting pressure, and if they are able to communicate their need for help. According to a study of middle school students, students who over time keep choosing healthier boyfriends and girlfriends become mentally healthier and better socially adjusted.”

After reading this article and listening to my parent’s opinions, I still want a boyfriend, but I see where they are coming from. I know what a healthy relationship should look like, and I know that if I live up to my parent’s expectations, I most likely will get what I want.

Another thing to discuss is what a healthy relationship looks like and

what it looks like to date your crush, because your parents are probably worried about what images you have in your head.

At this age, in an unhealthy relationship, you would be staying up late to spend time talking or hanging out with them, disrespecting each other, not accepting responsibility, invading each other’s privacy, and disrespecting each other’s families and friends.

Comparatively, in a healthy relationship, you could hang out with your boyfriend/girlfriend on weekends and they would respect your limits. (You would both talk about what you want and come to an agreement; if not, your crush should respect your choices.) You would have fun together, have patience and listen to each other, and apologize when you are wrong.

Both of you would respect each other’s friends and you would text, but not be staying up too late. If you explain this to your parents, they would probably be proud of your maturity and understanding.

Since you know your limits and their expectations, they would most likely allow you to have a boyfriend/girlfriend, since you know what it would look like. They could keep a close eye on you, to make sure your grades are not going down and you are not acting differently, to make sure you are happy and healthy.

It may be difficult to discuss such matters with your parents, but if it is important to you, I’m sure your parents will listen if you take into consideration of what they say while giving your own opinion in a fashionable manner.

Remember, if you are open, you gain their trust. If you gain their trust, you get what you ask for. And with that, my dearest classmates, you decide what happens next.

Photo by TJ Johnson ’19