Students share Valentine’s Day plans
Davis High students have made many plans for how to spend the perfect holiday with their friends, and we dive into the world of astrology with a look at trending star signs and horoscopes. Plus we have a second episode in our series chronicling people who have experienced prejudice in Davis. Packages by Maria Anderson, Bridget Nagle, and Leyla Bolkan.
Producers- Max Davis Housefield & Stella Maze, Theme Music- Daniel Ruiz-Jimenez
Transcript
Max: It’s a day of love – and candy. From the BlueDevilHUB, this is the News Cycle. I’m Max Davis-Housefield.
Coming up … “In 8th grade I had to do a week unit on Native American history.” Another look at the prejudice faced by minorities in Davis and a celebration of Valentines Day with students from Davis High. Plus, a look at the popular pseudoscience of Astrology. Today is Monday, February 14th.
Today is Valentines Day, so to celebrate we’ll be bringing a bit of the party to you. For once, this is not a critical look at corporate America, but a bit of a window into the lives of High Schoolers. Maria Anderson spoke to several students about their plans for the holiday.
Maria: Students at Davis High celebrate this holiday in various ways, starting with Reagan Cusi, a senior who enjoys giving various candy to her friends.
“ I like all the Valentine’s Day themed candy and cookies that are in stores and I just like passing around random candy to people in the hallways. I feel like it either makes their day or they’re just excited to receive candy because I know that I’m always excited to receive candy too.”
Planning on a fun day with friends, otherwise known as Galentine’s Day is what senior Helena Wei’s idea is.
“On Valentines Day, I either spend it with my family or spend it with my friends. Usually we just go out, get food and I think that this year, my friends and I are planning a Galentine’s Day gathering. We’re probably just going to have a small picnic and buy some food and just enjoy each other’s presence.”
Katie Lin, a sophomore, also has plans similar to those of Wei as well as dressing up in the known Valentines colors: pink, red, and white.
“I like Valentine’s Day because I think it’s always fun to dress up in pink and red. Honestly, pink is an awesome color and it’s honestly a day where you can just hangout with friends and family. Usually I don’t do anything for Valentine’s Day but I thought that it would be fun this year for me and my friends to get together, hangout, decorate cookies, and watch movies.”
Another sophomore, Lily Schroeder, finds Valentine’s Day as a day to show love to those closest to you.
“ I think that it’s a fun day to hangout with people you care about, it’s a reminder to be with the people you care about. This Valentines Day and I’ve done this past years too, I think that I’ll just be hanging out with my friends, and we have school off, so we’ll be having a movie marathon.”
This is Maria Anderson reporting for BlueDevilHUB.com.
Max: Three weeks ago, we began a series of interviews with students in Davis who have experienced discrimination or prejudice. Next up we have another personal, first hand account of life as a member of a minority in our town. This week’s interview was produced and edited by Bridget Nagle.
Astrea: Hi, my name is Astrea Bluecoat. I am from South Dakota on a native American reservation and it is called the Cheyenne river Sioux reservation. I identify as local them, which is a native American nation. And so I’m, I am half native American and I am half Mexican. I grew up. Having to teach classes on native American history because my teachers felt I, as a native American would have done it better than them.
I remember in eighth grade I had to do like a week unit on native American history. And when I came here my first year, I remember I had to talk to my teacher about like her using the term American Indian, because some students. Of those who identify as native American only like to be identified as native.
And usually the term Indian until recently has been used to be a very. From the only other natives can use one another. Right. So I wanted to just tell her about it because there was also one other student in my class that was native American, and I knew that he would have also had the issue, but he didn’t feel like he had a voice to share about.
So I told her instead. And another thing was that the Washington football team at that time was still called it’s derogatory term. And she was saying, how that’s her favorite team? And she would use the term like a lot and had a whole like poster about the football team. And it was, it had. And I didn’t feel that, that even though it’s a football team, I didn’t feel that that should be in a classroom.
You know, since then I always had to educate teachers on certain things about that. I remember eighth grade, I had to do like a week unit on native American history. And, you know, I didn’t even know what sometimes I was saying, like I had to educate myself first on other people’s. To talk about them in front of a class.
You know, like I, I felt that I did like the teachers work for them to actually do the work, you know, to like educate the students. And, you know, I felt like I was being heard at the moment and I didn’t see it as a problem, you know, back then, but now like, actually thinking about it, like, I felt like I didn’t want.
About other cultures in a way that students should, you know, like I had to do my own research. I had to do my like take my own time to educate like 30 to 60 students, you know, and take my time out of classes to like go to a different periods class, to teach too. Like that was a, that was a lot of work to do.
Even though I’m proud of myself for, you know, finishing up that goal. I’m still surprised that a 14 year old could do that. I really appreciated the teachers and the staff members that allowed me to have that voice to kind of share my experience and to like, be more aware, you know, next time they make a mistake because it’s, it’s fine to make mistakes.
It’s just what you do to improve yourself later.
Max: Now we switch to something a little more light-hearted with a look at astrology. People have been looking to the stars to predict the future for centuries, but with all the different signs and symbols it can get a little bit confusing. I for one have a notoriously hard time remembering my zodiac sign. Despite all this, astrology continues to be popular with teenagers. Leyla Bolkan has the story.
Leyla: In the past few years Astrology has become a trend on social media. While many people use it for their religion or culture, others use Western Astrology for fun.
Junior Cameron St Andre and Junior Olivia Grote got into astrology in middle school. They both always knew their sun sign which is determined by the day you were born. However they got more invested a couple of years ago.
St Andre learned about her astrological chart around 9th grade. This consists of your Big 3 such as sun moon and Ascendant, and other planets such as Mercury, Venus, and Mars, all determined by your birth place date, time and place.
She thinks it’s cool how there are similarities to her chart, such as her Gemini sun. However she does see traits that don’t suit her
“I’m a cancer rising which is not similar to me because its supposed to be quiet and Im told the opposite,”.
St Andre doesn’t have an exact ritual will check her horoscope from time to time
“If something crazy happened one day Ill check my horoscope was for the day and it will be really accurate. One of my friends got in a car accident and it said that she would get in a ‘kerfuffle’ that day.”
St Andre likes how it is easy to get in touch with your emotions and learn about yourself.
Grote discovered about astrology through social media. She likes how it is a conversation starter and something to do with your friends.
“It’s more fun to read about, fun to talk with your friends and sometimes you’ll learn more about it by reading it, it’s more interesting and fun not something to be taken super seriously”.
St Andrew and Grote receive backlash whenever they bring up astrology to certain people.
“I feel like men specifically make fun of women or being stupid and your a due and care about cars its the same thing. It shouldn’t affect because it’s your opinion, if you want to believe in it then believe in it if you don’t then don’t.”
For BlueDevilHub.com this is Leyla Bolkan reporting
Max: Well, that’s our show for today. The News Cycle is a production of the BlueDevilHUB in association with the Davis Enterprise, Daniel Ruiz-Jimenez writes our theme music. The program is produced by Stella Maze and Max Davis-Housefield, our executive producer is Jihan Moon.
We’re trying to grow our listeners! Make sure to share the News Cycle with your friends, subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts, visit us on the web at bluedevilhub.com and don’t miss our radio broadcasts Monday at 8 and Tuesday at noon on 95.7 KDRT. You can also follow the HUB on social media we’re on Instagram at bluedevilhub and on twitter @dhshub.
Stay safe, have a good week, and we’ll see you next time!
