Even Warren Tech states on their website that their goals for their current and future students are, “Warren Tech inspires students to ignite their passions and pursue career pathways that lead to professional success and lifelong learning.”

Allowing students to grow and expand, and to truly flourish while inside this program gives them the chance to explore their future career path, learning the challenges that go along with that career.

The issue with this program is how limited it is. Students have to get lucky enough to be inside the program, due to the admission process being more like a lottery, as stated on their website, “Students are placed in priority groups and put into a lottery for each of the program(s) and/or session(s) they applied to.” 

Although it allows for every student to have an opportunity, there are still many left who aren’t lucky enough to get the opportunity.

This is why, here at A-West, there should be more opportunities for students to have the ability to gain college credits, while we mainly have CTE classes offering a variety of pathways, since only a few classes offer college credit. Natalie Schafer, a social studies teacher at A-West, is moving her program from an elective to a college-level class. Sharing how important this opportunity can be for many, she explains, “I think it also allows them to explore topics that they may not have considered in college but might consider in high school.”

In college, the risk vs. reward is much higher, and for many students, having to pick a single career can be difficult, especially if they don’t have experience. The amount of debt that can occur for a single mistake is not worth potentially going into a career that one can end up hating. 

 A-West already has programs, as Schafer has stated, but it’s not enough. If A-West were able to implement more career exploration-type programs similar to careers students would like to explore, it would make going to college less of a large stress that’s looming.

This also doesn’t just mean AP classes, because yes, they do give the opportunity to achieve those college credits. But implementing classes around law, barber, nursing, and so many more would give everyone that opportunity for success that they may not have in a regular class.

The article, “Evidence of Success,” shares on their website nm a variety of studies, one explaining how even with the disadvantage of an income, having the opportunity to go to a college level class in high school shows a promising result, “Low-income and underrepresented students in higher education experience the biggest positive impacts on their ability to access and complete college by getting a jumpstart on taking college classes in high school, particularly in early college high schools.”

Not every student is lucky enough to be able to pay for college or earn scholarships, which deters students from applying and represents a major barrier. If A-West gave the ability to earn college credits while in high school, the stress that students can have would decrease.

For everyone to have the same opportunity to go to college shows promise. Giving the opportunity to go to college allows more members of our society to enter the workforce early, while having more educated and more experienced members. Not having to worry about the large amount of debt, and/or working jobs while in school. This allows everyone a fair chance to get into the career that they’d like, despite any shortcomings.

Lauren Simpson never intended to launch a career in politics, much less in Colorado. Growing up in a small, rural, dairy cattle town in Texas, she jokes there were “Fourteen thousand people, one hundred thousand cows.” However, her childhood instilled in her self-reliance and an ability to adapt. 

“Growing up in a really small town, there’s not a ton of services. So if something’s going to get done, you kind of have to do it yourself. And I think that that’s a really good attitude to have.” 

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and her masters degree in international relations from Catholic University in D.C, Simpson started working in international relations. Then disaster struck. 

“I was in my first job at a non-profit doing women’s international rights issues in third world countries when the Great Recession hit. And as is true of many in my generation, I lost that job because there’s no money for women’s rights issues in third world countries when the economy is collapsing on itself” she recounts. 

Simpson scrambled, trying to find a job as the economy crashed and unemployment rose drastically. 

“I wound up getting a job as the communications assistant at the Pew Charitable Trusts. And that was not international. It was not my training. I was qualified for it because of a project I had done as an intern. And so as a result, I was kind of off path and directionless,” she explains.

However, other women at the company took her under their wing, training her for a career in communications and public relations. After fully transitioning into public relations, Simpson shares how “I thought my dream of international relations was dead.” Then she and her husband, a Colorado native, moved out to Denver, where a job opened up at the Canadian consulate in Denver. 

After some time at the consulate, friends started encouraging Simpson to try her hand at politics. Initially, she was hesitant. But when in 2019 she realized she lived in an open city council district, district two (East Arvada), she decided it was worth a shot, adding, “The previous district rep was term limited. So, I was like, well, it’s an open seat. There’s no incumbent…So, I decided to run.”

She won. Four years later, the previous Arvada mayor was term-limited, and Simpson had to make the difficult decision of running for re-election or going for mayorship. After discussions with her friends and family, she decided to go for the open role. She hasn’t looked back since.

Bridging the gap and managing political polarization

As mayor, Simpson has to manage the stark political polarization that defines this time period. But as a person who has always prided herself on being able to bridge the gap, she has relished the opportunity of bringing people together.

“I have very good relationships with a lot of people where they and I disagree when we get into the ballot box, but that’s not what matters when we’re working together because our shared goals are far more important and we can focus on those when we are in political situations,” Simpson explains. 

Simpson also believes heavily in “going hard on the issues, not on each other.” She elaborates that “just because someone disagrees with you does not mean that they have a character flaw. It means that they have a different set of experiences that have led them to think in a different way.”

However, Simpson has noticed political polarization taking hold all throughout politics, which is part of the reason she ran for public office in the first place.

“I hate the political polarization that is happening across our country. I think it’s deeply unhealthy. And maybe, just maybe, I can help keep some of that out of our community. And that has been a core focus of mine, is that we build bridges with each other. We call it the Arvada way,” she explains. 

And while at the federal level political divides have never been more pronounced, she also believes that Arvada is in a good place. “I think Arvada has a very healthy political culture. That doesn’t mean I don’t see it, that sort of toxicity nipping at our heels all the time. I do, but so far it hasn’t become omnipresent here. And as long as I’m the mayor, I refuse to let it.”

However, even with her appreciation for the Arvada community, Simpson has had to manage the fear that comes with increasing political violence throughout the country.

“I’ve had some scary exchanges with people before. I’ve received some emails that were deeply unsettling before. And it’s not right to say, ‘Oh, it’s just part of it.’ You know, I reject that this should be part of it. Nobody should get threats in their job,” Simpson shares.

She continues, “When people start to engage in violence, it’s either because, A, they have a severe mental health disorder and they need help, or B they are isolated, they are lost, and they are lashing out in pure rage and fury because of their own internal pain. Both of those solutions have the same answer, and that is connection with others.”

Personal life, family, and friends

Expanding on connections with others, Simpson shares that “family and friends are critical.” She adds, “You need people who will listen to you.” 

For her, this person often is her husband; she explains, “He gets it. That’s part of his role is to just sometimes let me decompress and to talk it out. It’s really important to have those people in your life.”

Simpson also sees the importance of having people around who will be honest and frank with her, especially as a politician. “I think you need people, especially in politics, who will tell you the truth.” 

She adds, “Particularly as you move up in politics with an elected office, you move up in power, and there become fewer and fewer people willing to tell you what’s what. So, I can totally understand why some of our elected leaders at the uppermost level, why there is this perception that they’ve lost touch with reality.”

In terms of her personal life, Lauren Simpson serves as the Executive Director for The Feline Fix, an animal welfare non-profit that focuses on providing affordable neutering, vaccination, and microchipping services for cats.

She also enjoys hanging out with her cats and dog, viewing plays at The Arvada Center, and spending time with her husband and her daughter.

Additionally, Simpson is very intentional about being involved in the community she serves. 

“I love just being around being in the community. I volunteer a lot. It keeps me connected to our people. I always try to tell other officials, one of the most important things you can do in these roles is put yourself out in the community, as opposed to waiting for the community to come to you.”

Challenges facing Arvada

As mayor, Simpson has to deal with a host of problems facing Arvada, from potholes to budget shortfalls. But the biggest challenge? Infrastructure.

Simpson states, “I would say some of our biggest challenges are related to infrastructure. There is this sort of generalized public narrative that there is so much money and there is either wasteful spending or we’re putting it in the wrong places or whatnot. And that is fundamentally very challenging.”

Despite the city of Arvada having what appears to be a large budget at more than 382 million dollars, Simpson explains, “We operate the least amount of money per resident per lane mile that we are required to take care of compared to every other city in the entire metro area except Castle Rock. And so that means we have to do more with a lot less.”

Additionally, she shares how there are always competing priorities, making it difficult to make decisions where someone doesn’t lose out, especially with an aforementioned limited budget. Constituents don’t always make it easy either.

Simpson shares how, “I got an email once, and the gist began with, ‘you’re wasting all of our money on parks and other frivolous things. You need to take care of the roads, stop funding all this other stuff, stop wasting money on grass. Take care of the roads.’ And I swear to you, the last sentence of the email read ‘by the way, mow the parks more.’ 

She adds, “And that is the fundamental juxtaposition we see in a lot of things. It’s not quite usually that blatant, but it’s sort of representative across all things. ‘I want you to fund this thing. I want you to get this thing done, but not at the expense of anything else.’ ”

Cancer diagnosis

Simpson announced the shocking news that she had been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in March. Reflecting on her initial reaction after the issue was spotted during a routine screening, she explains how  “like anyone, I was understandably upset and shocked. I’m a young, healthy, active person, and I had no symptoms whatsoever.”

She adds, “Because I’d had to go in for a biopsy, I was somewhat mentally prepared for if the news was bad, but the vast majority of biopsies are found benign and I was hopeful that that would be the case.” 

After her surgery, Simpson took only three weeks before returning to city hall. She shares, “I’ll start by saying how grateful I am to the incredible doctors and nurses who took care of me. It was an 11-hour surgery to remove the cancer and conduct the reconstruction, and it was their skill and dedication that brought me through with flying colors.”

Elaborating on her recovery process, she explains, “I think taking that time to rest got me back on my feet faster. I started doing some light remote work from my recliner at home after a week and got back into City Hall after three weeks.”

Reflecting on her diagnosis and subsequent recovery, Simpson believes she now has a greater appreciation for what truly matters; namely, her family. 

She also has seen the Arvada community rally around her, sharing, “I’ve had so many cards, calls, and messages. Folks arranged meals. Seriously, my family didn’t need to cook for a month! It was such an incredible blessing throughout recovery. And it lifted my spirits in ways that I cannot fully express.”

Simpson continues to use her platform, both as a mayor and now a cancer survivor, to urge women to get tested, adding that apart from her own story, she lost two friends last year to stage four cancer, both of whom had waited to see their doctors.

She reaffirms, “I cannot impress enough the importance of not waiting. A routine test, just to check, really can save your life.”

As she focuses on staying grounded in the present, Simpson is ready and excited to continue representing Arvada, whatever the future may hold.

The adrenaline hits, and suddenly he’s on stage performing,acting in his last show. Everything is going as planned, the epiphany of a perfect night. Senior Erick Cochenour, performing his last high school show, Big Fish.

Cochenour has many talents; he largely contributed to both the choir and the theatre company throughout his time at Arvada West.

Cochenour first started choir in his freshman year, growing his friendships and learning the ins and outs. In one of their more recent pieces, Cochenour discusses how interesting and intricate it was to sing Mozart’s Requiem. “It was a lot of singing, but it was…making really awesome music, and discussing, and exploring the meaning, and then as the doctor[the one teaching the song to the choir] would put it, synthesizing that into the song. And it was fascinating!”

Cochenour also joined the theatre Company his first year. Recalling his first-ever audition, he may not have gotten the memo to wear black or not to monologue from ‘Knives Out,’ but he still shone brightly. “I walked on stage, not in the clothes I was supposed to be wearing, and did a monologue from something that is completely frowned upon. I threw on my southern accent because I knew the play was set in the south, and I will attribute this to my aunt because she spoke to me in a wide range of accents.”

Despite breaking the established rules, Cochenour was still able to stand out, his accent making him the perfect fit for the role of Junior in ‘Dearly Departed’ (Fall Play 2022). Linsey Welsh, A-West theatre Director, adds how she first felt when seeing Cochenour perform his monologue, sharing “ So like from day one, well at least his quality of voice and the way that he can deliver a line was, like, far beyond his years. That was…the first thing that stuck out to me…”.

From then on, Cochenour performed in a variety of roles acting as Max in ‘Bright Star’ (Spring Musical 2023), The Tin Man in ‘Oz’ (Senior-Directed Show 2023), Sean O’Rourke (Deacon) in ‘The Lost Boy’ (Fall Play 2023), Shylock in ‘Something Rotten’ (Spring Musical 2024), The Professor in ‘Tracks’ (Senior-Directed Show 2024), Detective Hercule Poirot in ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (Fall Play 2024), Judge Turpin in ‘Sweeney Todd’ (Spring Musical, 2025), Alphonse Frankenstein in ‘Frankenstein’ (Senior-Directed Show, 2025), Vice Principal Douglas Panch in ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ (Fall Musical 2025), Edward Bloom in ‘Big Fish’ (Spring Musical 2026), and lastly ending as director of ‘Our Place’ (Senior-Directed Show).

Cochenour was able to build a strong community within the theatre company, being able to recognize other students in the hall. He also made friends quickly, despite being known more as the shy type his freshman year.

Reflecting on his favorite performance, it is hard for Cochenour to choose just one. He shares that a year ago, his favorite would’ve been ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ due to the depth that he was able to go into with his character.  This quickly  changed towards the end of 2025, when the A-West theatre company performed ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.’ He played the principal, a refreshing and thoroughly entertaining role due to his ability to talk smack to the audience while also performing as a whimsical antagonist.

Now though, Cochenour can confidently say Big Fish is his favorite role. The large amount of depth and character growth, the twists and turns, the failures and achievements that Cochenour was able to show through his character made all the difference. He explains, “In a way that is so real and incredibly impactful for many people. And even if you don’t have those same sorts of problems. I know a lot of people, and some of the adults, especially, who came to the show, who are family, friends of mine, and people that I’ve never met before, who talked to me about great relationships with their parents.”

This character allowed him to be expressive and to show another side, which is why it claimed the top spot in his list of roles.

Along with being in theatre, he performed at A-West’s ‘Best of A-West,’ after the event was recommended to him by a few of his friends. For the event, Cochenour and other competitors were given little to no heads-up, adding to the element of surprise. The most practice they were given was a rehearsal, where they went through the motions. After competing in ‘Best of A-West, Cochenour explains the moment the announcer messed up the announcement of the winners after all the games have been played. 

“They were calling out the order of people in the top three. And they read it off wrong. And so they started with number three. And I remember I’m standing in the stage right wing and I’m looking out at…[Matthew] Studenny standing there with his list, and Isaiah [Breez], a junior at Awest], is on the stage, left wing. So I can see him, and I can see Studenny. And, Mrs. [Eryn] Balding’s over here somewhere, as well, off to Mr. Studenny’s right. And he’s reading off the names, and he goes, ‘In third place…,’ And then he says my name, and Isaiah leaps out of the stage, left wing, with his hands in the air, and he does a little throat-chopping thing. He’s like, ‘no, no, no, One!’ And then he turns around, and he walks back, and the studio goes, ‘Oh, sorry,’ and then starts over and then goes three and then two and then one.”

Sharing a moment of victory through hilarious ups and downs, Cochenour won first place, receiving bragging rights along with a Best of A-West parking spot.

Another large achievement for Cochenour was winning the Thescon Scholarship. Cochenour explained how, at first, it was a normal trip. Beforehand, he had sent in two contrasting monologues as part of the requirement. Arriving at Thescon, it started out normal, until the end of day one, when Welsh informed Cochenour that he was offered the spot of runner-up for the mainstage. 

Cochenour describes how he felt that morning, having around 24 hours to prepare, to the moment leading up to the stage. “Walking out from behind the curtain to the thunderous applause of my peers and the wall of sound from the other four thousand and some odd people was thrilling and terrifying all at the same time. I remember taking a deep breath in, saying my name, and then dropping into my monologues. I couldn’t feel my face the entire time, and my hands were tingling like TV static.”

As Cochenour wraps up his senior year with a host of achievements and awards to his name, he looks forward to his future aspirations. Cochenour shares, “…if I can spend the rest of my life making things a little less bad. I think that’s all I want to do.”

For decades, car culture has been built mainly around gas-powered vehicles. These cars created a strong emotional connection between drivers and their vehicles. Today, passionate car enthusiasts are divided between EVs and gas cars. While about 42-69% still favor traditional engines, enthusiasm is splitting those who love traditional experiences and those who are drawn to the new technology.

For Ryan McKellips, an automotive student at Warren Tech Central, gas cars offer something EVs can’t replace.

“One thing about driving a gas powered car is fun. Just feeling and hearing the engine Rev up and shift through the gears,” he explains, adding “Electric cars… they’re just soulless.”

His claim highlights one of the biggest conflicts between gas and electric vehicles, the experience vs. efficiency. Gas cars appeal to the senses: hearing the engine, feeling the shifts, and even smelling the fuel. EVs, on the other hand, are nearly silent and smooth, focusing on convenience rather than sensation.

EVs have a clear advantage. They deliver instant torque, meaning they accelerate faster than gas cars. While a gas engine powers up gradually, an electric motor does this immediately, often pushing from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less time. For many drivers, that quick effortless speed is exciting in a different way.

Maintenance is another major difference. Gas cars usually need oil changes often and have many moving parts that wear down over time. EVs are simpler, with fewer parts and lower lifetime costs. The average lifetime maintenance cost of an electric vehicle is $4,600 vs. $9,200 for a gasoline vehicle, making EVs more appealing to people who value long-term savings.

Customization is a key factor in car culture, especially at car meets where people gather to show off their builds. Bright paint jobs, modified engines, and loud exhausts all serve as forms of self-expression. Gas cars dominate these spaces more often because they offer more opportunities for hands-on modifications, while EVs are more likely seen as harder to personalize mechanically.

“With a gas car, you can really do anything you want with it… it’s endless,” McKellips states. “You drift it, you can make burnouts… you can make it however you want really.”

Samantha Jerger, another automotive student at Warren Tech Central, connects to car culture in her own way. While she doesn’t identify as an enthusiast, she still feels a deep connection to automobiles in general, mainly preferring EVs over gas.

“The sound of a gas car is such a known sound… especially if it’s tuned or loud, is something every car person looks for and wants to hear” she mentions. “EVs have their own sound, which isn’t much.”

Jerger’s perspective highlights gas cars are often connected to memory and familiarity, while EVs represent something newer and less personal for some drivers. For her, she doesn’t  feel like she has the dedication to the community to be able to call herself an enthusiast but claims she definitely have a deep love for cars in general.

However, EVs are creating their own kind of culture. EV enthusiasts often care about battery range, charging speed, and software features instead of engine builds or modeling. Their passion leans towards more performance in the technological sense rather than mechanical. 

This difference creates a clear contrast; Gas cars emphasize emotion, sound and customization. EVs emphasize speed, efficiency and technology. 

“In my opinion, electric cars have changed what people get passionate about,” McKellips mentions. “Theres not a lot you can really do to make them whatever you want.”

Even so, the gap between the two isn’t absolute. Some drivers, like McKellips, point to hybrid cars as a middle ground, combining the feel of a gas engine with the efficiency of electric power.

As EVs become more common, car culture itself is changing. While traditional meets are still filled with roaring engines, silent cars are beginning to appear among them. Some people welcome the change, while others resist it, believing EVs lack the personality that defines car enthusiasm.

The divide between electric and gas cars reflects a deeper question; what makes people passionate about cars in the first place? For many, it might be the sound of the exhaust, tires turning as they create a burnout, the raw hands-on experience of driving and the freedom of customization. For others, it’s innovation or performance of new technology. Both sides are passionate, but for very different reasons.

As the night winds down, the engines fade and the crowd begins to disappear. One car roars out of the lot, the sound of the exhaust fading into the distance, while a different car slips away almost silently, its presence barely noticeable except for the glow of the taillights . Different sounds, different experiences, but both carrying drivers who care deeply about their cars and what they do.

In 2024, the US Census tract revealed that 85% of women aged 20-24 were childless, up 10% from the previous survey in 2014. As time goes on, more women are choosing childlessness, which, contrary to traditional values, is a beautiful thing. 

In a world corrupted by the still remains of the patriarchy, women are seeing it through, relinquishing themselves from the realities they’ve never wanted. The lives their mothers, grandmothers, and aunts never wanted. It is a simple request that women may exist outside of their wombs.

The prevalence of modern feminism and the gender equality movement has provided women with a multitude of opportunities in their lives, relative to what they once had. The normalization of financial autonomy has enabled women to build a life for themselves without relying on a man to provide. 

Women are actually ahead in terms of higher education. The Postsecondary National Policy Institute recounts that as of 2022, “female students made up 57.9% of all postsecondary enrollment.”

As societal norms become more progressive, more young girls are developing life-related dreams that differ from marriage and family. There are 52 women in the Fortune 500. Roughly 41% of US lawyers are female. In more developed countries, it makes little sense for a woman to choose a life of exclusively caretaking when so many doors have been opened. 

However, as many societal changes do, these have negatively impacted women as well. For women in the workforce who choose to have children, there is a double burden, as it is now almost impossible for a family to afford basic living necessities on a single income. This concept is just one of the double standards that makes the idea of having children leave a bad taste in a woman’s mouth.

It remains taboo for a woman to pursue a career and her own personal ideals of happiness over a family. The prevalence of religion in our society, and the undertones of post WWII purity culture, suggest that a woman’s value is found within marriage and reproduction. 

Kerrie Dallman teaches AP Human Geography and Economics at Arvada West, where both subjects analyze the choice to not have children through the lens of female empowerment demographics and cost benefit analysis. Dallman remarks, ¨there’s a strong linkage between people’s religious beliefs and their feelings about whether or not they should have children¨. 

It is a wonderful luxury for first-world women to elect not to have children. For women in less developed countries, it is not uncommon for their only option in life to be marriage and children, often before turning 18. 

In South Asia, the husbands and families of women douse them in gasoline and burn them alive, because the woman is infertile, or, “for her family´s refusal to pay additional dowry.”

In the developed world, we have made enough progress to dismantle the sickening misogynistic fundamentals that have prompted such violent atrocities against women. However, women are still afflicted by the male judgments and predispositions of what it means to be a woman. 

In a modern society that still retains various patriarchal structures, we must encourage women to use the agency they do have, to seek out the life they desire, including or not including children. Regardless of the judgments of others and snarky remarks such as ‘you’re going to regret that,’ as a young woman, never forget that it is your body, your choice. 

The National Library of Medicine states, “Boredom is a state of mind characterized by a lack of interest, stimulation, or challenge. It is a subjective experience that can manifest in a variety of ways, including restlessness, apathy, and disinterest.”

Boredom is a normal emotion, but it does not get a lot of attention and is often ignored. Many don’t know that it can actually be bad for you. Boredom can cause depression, anxiety, and overall affects your mental health. Although boredom can boost creativity in small amounts, lasting boredom is almost always bad.

So what can you do?

There are many fun things to do in Denver during the summer. While most cost money, there are also free activities to do. For example, The Jeffco Public Library has free events that are for teens during the summer, where teenagers can hang out and complete crafts or watch movies. There are also parks to go to as well.

If you like racing activities, the Colorado National Speedway is open every Saturday night during the summer, and it’s not like any normal racing. They have activities such as their famous “trains,” where they have cars connected like trains that race around and jump over dirt hills.

There’s also Lakeside Amusement Park, with thrilling rides, bumper cars, and nights full of fun. The Forney Musuem is a train museum, with a real Big Boy train, a room full of old bicycles and motorcycles, and different exhibits of classic cars.

If you like calmer activities, the Denver Aquarium, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and the Molly Brown House are just for you. See fish and sharks at the aquarium, walk around and see the exotic plants at the gardens, and learn about the famous Titanic survivor, Margaret Brown, in her own house.

When you are bored at home this summer with nothing to do and you feel like the walls are closing in, remember there are so many things to do in the Denver metro area. So gather up your friends and make this summer the best summer of your life (or maybe just the least boring).

Financial responsibilities, like credit cards, student loans and rent, are a major part of adult life, and many people struggle to manage them. While teenagers are not yet responsible for these challenges, they will face them as they enter adulthood. This raises the question of whether students are truly prepared for life after graduation.

The younger generation is already showing signs of learning about money. 60% of 15 year olds already have bank accounts or debit cards, which can be a positive way for them to begin understanding how money works and gain experience. However, more than 85% have bought things online, which can be risky if students are spending without understanding budgeting or long-term consequences. Further, almost one in five students don’t know the basics of money management, showing that many are using money without fully understanding it. This gap between access and understanding is the main issue.

Schools should start teaching financial literacy classes in order to help students understand real-world financial issues. Paul Luna, an economics teacher at Arvada West High School, states, “I think it should be required and the primary reason is that I think it is very useful for young adults to have an idea on how to set a budget, how to acquire insurance, do basic starter-type activities as an adult.” Since students will eventually need these skills in real life, learning them in high school can give them a strong and early foundation.

In addition, an article from Forbes Finance Council found that students who learn about money are more likely to save their money, avoid debt, and plan accordingly for their futures.

Natalie Coffing, a business manager at Arvada West High School, adds, “Parents aren’t always prepared to teach their children about investing or credit scores and classes could help ensure that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have the same teachings.”

Financial literacy classes can help close this gap by giving all students access to the same essential knowledge, regardless of their background. While some students may learn these skills at home or through electives, others may not have those opportunities.

However, not everyone thinks these financial classes should be required. Coffing mentions, “Student schedules are already so full, a mandatory finance class would mean they would have to cut something else.” Adding another class could be an issue, especially if it takes away from other important courses or increases student stress.

With these challenges in mind, financial literacy still offers clear benefits in preparing students for the future. Coffing states, “Any financial education would be helpful in setting students up for success… Students should learn the basics, like minimum payment traps and the importance of a good credit score.”

Luna has seen some good things coming from economic classes, which teach a basic level of financial literacy. He reports that many students found lessons on finance helpful and saw something that connected to them. “They actually are like ‘you know, maybe I can work in that industry’ [the insurance industry or the banking industry].” For some students, learning about money doesn’t just prepare them for adulthood, it opens doors to new careers.

After students graduate and the final bell rings, it won’t be the math formulas or essay formats that determine their future, but the financial decisions they make; how to spend, save, borrow, and plan for the future. These choices will ultimately shape the lives they build. A financial literacy class equips students with the practical knowledge and skills they need to make those decisions wisely and responsibly.

Right now, only 12 states in the U.S. allow students to take mental health days as an excused absence, according to CNBC. That leaves students in the other 38 states wondering why their mental health isn’t treated the same. Two of those 38 states have pending bills, including New York, according to Education Week, and Michigan, according to Verywell Mind. Aside from that, other states don’t have a bill publicly for this. 

Colorado is one of the states that does count mental health days as an excused absence, but that law only went into effect in 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic. In Colorado, it’s called SB 20-014; in each state, it varies by name. In simple terms, this bill means that if students are struggling with their mental health, they can take time off, just like they would for a physical illness. 

What is happening to the other 36 states without this law? Some states are Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho. These three states also have the highest suicide death rates in the U.S according to America’s Health Rankings, ranging from 23% to almost 30%.

Looking at other states that have a bill allowing mental health days, they also have lower suicide death rates. Connecticut, Virginia, and Illinois are evidence of this; their youth suicide death rates range from 9% to around 12% according to America’s Health Rankings, which is significantly lower than the rates of other states. 

Licensed clinical social worker and school-based clinician at Arvada West, Clara Wille, shares her take on mental health days: “Mental disorders are just as serious; there are plenty of mental health disorders that are life-threatening. So in some situations, taking mental health days or taking a step back from responsibilities can be life-saving.”

Students seem to feel the same way. Statistics  show that from a recent Youth Trust Survey of 500,000 students, nearly half (48%) reported that depression, anxiety, and stress are making it difficult for them to do well in school, a substantial increase from 39% in 2020.

Leaving a last thought, Wille says, “High school is important, and grades are important, but they’re not worth losing our lives over.” 

Riley Weber, a social worker at Arvada West, adds, “I wish that our society was set up better so that students and I wouldn’t be in the same place for 40 hours a week. I think that’s just not great for humans.”

Wille’s and Weber’s point suggests that mental health days may help prevent some students from reaching a breaking point. However, in states where mental health days are not excused, students still may face high levels of stress over time. This raises the question of how school schedules and expectations might influence students’ mental health daily.

Weber explains the idea further and adds, “I think it would be nice if kids and everyone got more mental health days because at a certain point you also have to grow, and know when to push yourself and when you are pushing yourself too much.” 

Other people might say that mental health days don’t help students at all and are an excuse to get out of school, or for students to avoid schoolwork. Or that persevering or “gutting through it” will help them be able to deal with stress better in the future. A popular saying that is heard around this topic is that mental health days are a band-aid solution, and not a cure. 

However, after hearing from Wille and Weber and analyzing patterns from across different states, it becomes clear that mental health days aren’t just a free day; they are a support system for students. When kids are allowed to stay home and take care of their mental health, they can reset before things get too overwhelming. All states should allow excused mental health days so that every student, no matter where they live, can care for their mind and body instead of worrying about getting in trouble for needing a break. 

In the end, mental health days aren’t about escaping or avoiding school; they’re about resetting and making the school experience healthier. High school students, and students in other grades as well, shouldn’t feel like they have to hide when they’re struggling. As more people open up about mental health, our laws and school policies need to keep up to keep students safer. Homework can be made up and tests retaken, but giving students the chance to rest might be what helps turn school from something students endure into something they can enjoy.

Energy drinks are caffeinated drinks that are supposed to help people stay awake and focus better. But what companies don’t tell you is how harmful energy drinks are.The school store should stop selling these drinks to minors due to safety and health concerns.

A study from UCLA Health states: “The current recommendation for adolescents ages 12-18 is less than 100 mg of caffeine per day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Energy drinks can contain 100-200 mg of caffeine per serving.” 

When teenagers drink too many energy drinks, they can have anxiety attacks, dehydration, jitters, and even some students feel nausea. In some cases, students won’t be able to sleep. 

Lauren Hollis, a nurse at Arvada West High School, explains what she has seen in her office. “They [students] feel like they’re having some kind of anxiety attack or say that they can’t breathe and that they feel really weird.” Hollis adds, “They come down here and just sometimes they have to go home because they’re nauseous and sweating and have headaches.”

Besides students at school being affected by energy drinks, 911 also gets calls when someone is having severe symptoms. Mark Kriegbaum, a paramedic and engineer at Station One, shares why teenagers should not be drinking energy drinks at a young age.

“With adults, the brain and the nervous system and everything has that time to mature and develop completely to where when you’re looking at the teenagers and younger crowd, that hasn’t been able to develop completely.” Kriegbaum adds, “I think there is some correlation there with the caffeine and the energy drinks and everything that’s in those things causing developmental delays or malfunctions.”

The article The Dark Side Of Energy Drinks from the National Library of Medicine supports Kriegbaum’s statement, sharing, “Consequences of this consumption pattern [consistently drinking energy drinks] have led to a rising incidence of young individuals seeking medical attention in emergency departments due to an array of adverse health outcomes, as documented in the results section.”  

Further, “Reports underscore that energy drinks have deleterious effects on a broad spectrum of bodily organs, culminating in mild adversities such as anxiety, gastrointestinal disturbances, dehydration, nervousness, and tachycardia, along with more severe outcomes like rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury (AKI), ventricular fibrillation, seizures, acute mania, and stroke.”

Energy drink companies need to consider teenager’s health. Instead of making smaller cans that can be healthier for teenagers, they have been making larger cans just so they can make more money. But what can teenagers do to feel more awake while not drinking harmful energy drinks? Some alternatives for caffeinated drinks are drinks like green tea and matcha, which have 35 to 70 milligrams of caffeine and are rich in antioxidants. Black coffee is also a more natural source of caffeine. However, the best way teenagers can have more energy is taking good care of themselves.

Hollis explains “ If people get enough sleep and they’re eating a good diet and they’re drinking enough water, then they just don’t need it [energy drinks].”

Some countries even have a law that consumers must be 18 or older to purchase an energy drink, highlighting the dangers of these seemingly innocent beverages. Overall, it is time high schoolers take control of their health and stop drinking harmful energy drinks.

The Gay Science refers to the freeing truth that our lives hold no divinity or oath to a higher power, which Nietzsche devoted his career to affirming. The active nihilism pioneered by Nietzsche asserts that it is in our hands to destroy old immorality and choose what is righteous; he contends that the spiritual wisdom our society continuously echoes has failed us.

As Nietzsche famously said, ¨God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.¨

Despite Nietzsche’s profound atheism and profound rejection of Christ, the expression God is dead does not refer to a particular deity. Instead, this statement refers to the metaphorical death of morality, purpose, and truth in modern society.

Regardless of one’s economic status, political party, religious affiliation, or race, everyone can agree that humanity is facing more and more moral challenges as time goes on. Whether it be war, corruption, or social discrimination, people are suffering in horrific ways while others feed on their tragedy. 

Our current Western concept of righteousness is mistakenly interpreted as a product of the teachings found in Abrahamic religious texts, a concept that has failed us. 

This is not an attack on religion, but an affirmation of Nietzsche’s sincere warning that deeply rooted, systemic issues cannot be faced with arbitrary fundamentals established over a millennium ago. 

An article published by The Living Philosophy attests that ¨ When Nietzsche says that God is dead, he doesn’t just mean that the Christian God is dead; God here does not refer to the narrow religious definition but to the broader idea of the universal and transcendent truth.¨

Humans have always created conceptions of morality. We have not lost these concepts, but an understanding of their truth. The media and politics notoriously dissect our society into combatant groups, which view each other as the problem, when in actuality, the severance among our neighbors is a product of the greed and self indulgence of those in power, who thrive vicariously through our manufactured hatred for each other.  

These are the times that Nietzsche spoke upon; where authorities and elites exploit our humanity with empty promises of peace and claims of faithfulness to an all loving and all powerful God. 

It is time for us to embrace the challenging task of creating our own righteousness, instead of turning on each other in pursuit of a universal truth that will never be reached and only serves to segregate us in the process.

We must demand accountability from those who have prospered in our anger. Although religion can unite and instill meaningful virtues, it is urgent that we become creators of our own values rather than obedient sheep.