It’s very rare to find a lone building without capturing some nearby greenery. Parks, plants and trees now invade the area that some would consider chaos. This chaos refers to no place other than our very own, Downtown Tulsa. 

Almost 75% of the global population is dairy free. 10.8% experience some sort of food allergies. 30% of the population have allergies revolving around gluten. Although I may not be a part of that 30%, I am determined to experience how those individuals live their day-to-day lives eating gluten free. It’s difficult to find accommodations, snacks and meals that actually taste good in the GF community. My goal is to pinpoint quick and tasty meals while going gluten free for an entire week. While this may seem easy to some, it is most definitely a large task that some people have to uphold for the rest of their lives. Throughout this story, I will log the food and feelings I have while completing each day. I hope that by the end, you have more respect for the GF community and more motivation to complete the goals that you have set in mind even if it seems to be difficult. 

It was the summer before 6th grade and my older cousin was in town staying with us. She was going to school in California at the time so she was very in touch with her hip trendy side. In a conversation with her I mentioned how recently I was thinking about eating less meat because the idea of eating animals started bothering me more and more. I remember she looked at me and said she could picture me becoming a vegetarian, so I took that and ran. 

I knew from the second that I wrote down Human Anatomy & Physiology on my Junior year schedule that it would be a massive mistake.

Growing up, my family always had a garden. Whether it was the flower garden in the front of the house, or the vegetable garden in the backyard, we always had something growing. Now, the word “we” is being used as a term to just describe my mom and dad. I never wanted anything to do with a garden. Sitting outside all day to plant things was not my ideal Saturday morning. But now I've decided to change my thoughts on gardening and try it for myself. 

I have never once played lacrosse but it has always been something that intrigued me ever since I was an elementary kid. My practice has overlapped with the highschool boys lacrosse team since I was in 4th grade running track. Watching them practice  I always thought that it looked like something I, as a very competitive kid who loved playing sports, would have so much fun doing, but I never knew how to join or had the time in my overly busy schedule.

As my highschool career comes to an end I look back on the past four years of my life and all I can see is growth. From being a bratty freshman who thought the only important thing was how many shoes I had to a seasoned senior who now only cares about summer internships. A lot has changed- friend groups, boyfriends, and even pets. To honor this growth and change I have decided for this month's story to grow my very own watermelon. 

Fashion trends are something that cycle through over and over no matter the time period. Even in the 1800’s there were certain gowns and waistcoats that were trending and if you weren't wearing them you weren't “it”. Because of these cycles, people end up with things in their closets that they haven’t touched in years. Nowadays, trends are cycling through even quicker so it makes it 10x harder to get rid of things you don’t wear anymore. What if those chunky white shoes come back in style in a couple years? 

When I think of animal shelters I typically think of a safe haven for animals that have been abandoned, lost, neglected, abused, or simply just waiting on a new home. Promoting animal adoption, shelters help regulate overpopulation in stray animals. They also help in nursing hurt or traumatized animals back to health, and provide an environment where they can have a second chance at finding a family. One example of this is Tulsa SPCA, which helps house dogs and cats who are either in remission or ready for adoption.

One of the most underappreciated yet essential groups in our school is the cafeteria staff. Without them, the school simply could not function. These workers do far more than just preparing and serving food. They also clean up after the students and reset the entire dining hall four times a day:  after breakfast and each of the three lunch periods. Their hard work often goes unnoticed, so this month, I dedicated my story to highlighting them and all their hard work they put in to keep the dining hall clean and ready for students.

Most kids get the opportunity to go on trips with their schools and most would say that it is an enlightening experience that helped them gain insight on respective places and even more insight on their peers. This statement can be true whether you've driven a couple of hours or traveled thousands of miles around the world. As beautiful as these trips are and typically captured, I was driven to give a more accurate look into this years’ International Scholars Programs trip to Peru. 

Coffee shops are many students go to study space. Whether it’s the cozy atmosphere, the aroma of brewing coffee, or the caffeine perks, coffee shops create a unique environment that can foster both focus and creativity. Coffee shops are a fun change from your usual study environment and a place for you to make the most of your time. Studying in these bustling, yet often quiet, spaces can inspire you to plan and be productive.

My mom, like all parents, wanted me to be great. Growing up she taught me a variety of skills that I have either found hobbies in or have improved my quality of life, such as having a general understanding of sewing and teaching me to read at a really young age. I now read for fun, collect books, and I sew holes or buttons on my family’s clothes when they need it. However, not all of these endeavors worked out. My family has a long history of talent in the arts, I come from a line of very talented dancers on my moms side (I have danced for about fifteen years), and musical abilities on my dads. My childhood was filled with my dad sitting with his guitar and singing to me and my cousins - which was a favorite piece of my life at the time, and a cherished memory now. My uncle is a musical prodigy, he can play an array of instruments, very well might have perfect pitch, and can play anything by hearing it just once. He was also in the Navy band. Sadly, I didn’t inherit the singing from my dad, or the instrumental talent from my uncle… not even a fraction of it. I learned this in a rather painstaking way when my mom - very kindly - got me a piano instructor, who happened to be a friend of theirs, and purchased me a keyboard. Looking back, I must have expressed some kind of interest in music - I love music - but I certainly wasn’t meant for it. Another detail for context is that since I was a kid, I have always been unnecessarily hard on myself, which can make learning new things difficult - but, as I’ve gotten older it’s gotten much better. Once a week, or so, I would sit down at my shiny new keyboard, and my instructor would come and teach me how to play, with my mothers smiling face watching and helping. I was four when I started these lessons, that was also the age that I got diagnosed with off-the-charts ADHD and was in the process of getting treatment. If you know anything about ADHD, there are different ways it can manifest and affect different people - one way for me, was it was entirely too difficult to sit still for periods of time. The combination of severe ADHD, pressure, age, and unenjoyment quickly turned into four year old me bawling my eyes out the moment my instructor walked in the door. That poor man, he truly didn't deserve that, he was a kind person… I just wasn't having it.

When you’re on the outside of highschool, relationships can seem… stereotypical. From the perfect popular couple to the nice nerds that only see eachother at school. However, highschool life is not Freaks and Geeks. It’s much more than that. Everybody finds someone whether they fall into their clique or not and everybody has relationship issues. It’s understanding the root of these issues that contributes to much healthier relationships in the future, but the real question is do high schoolers know anything about the important things that go into relationships despite where they fall on the totem pole?

In today's society, it's become very easy to ignore unhealthy relationships with food and instead focus on achieving the beauty standards unfairly set, specifically for impressionable adolescents. Disordered eating is not a new phenomenon, and is seen very clearly in the media throughout decades. However, with more recent developments like social media and trending diets within the media, eating disorders have become much more widespread.

In the morning you probably wonder what you’ll have for lunch or dinner that day. Sometimes the possibilities can be endless. Or maybe you are into meal prepping and by Sunday night you know everything you’ll be eating throughout the week. Everyone's individual diets is something that has always fascinated me. People have their own and different priorities with the food they consume causing everyone to pick out food in their own unique way. 

School bus drivers are a staple in a student's everyday life, as they drive them to and from school. So, you would think that being a bus driver would be a very sought out job, right? Despite how important a bus driver is to the everyday family, there has been a decrease in bus driver employment throughout the nation. Insignificant pay for the long and grueling hours make it difficult for schools to hire and keep bus drivers. As my mom is a school bus driver for Jenks and the topic could get someone in trouble for speaking about the topic, all the bus drivers will be anonymous for obvious reasons. After my mom interviewed several of her fellow Jenks’ bus drivers I got some answers on why the nation has a bus driver shortage in the first place.

On January 20th, Donald J. Trump took office as the 47th president of the United States. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly stated that he would impose tariffs on our allies. Then, on February 1st, Trump implemented 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and raised tariffs on China by a further 10%. These tariffs will impact everything from oil, lumber, plastics, and clothing to computer chips, and auto parts. 

Whether it’s about dating, self help, competition, makeover’s, games, or even family shows- there is a reality TV show about pretty much anything. The vastness of Reality T.V makes it impossible to find a show that you don’t like just a little, there is something for all to enjoy. 

I have a piqued interest in colorful, extravagant, and chic nails. I look endlessly through pinterest boards of my favorite nail styles, imagining myself with the set. I get my nails done on the first of every month, and let me tell you; top 10 most exhilarating feelings. I have my nail ideas planned out for the rest of 2025. How exciting? But, when I come to really think about nails, and other people’s special sets, I wonder “Those are so cute- where could they be from?” Or, “Those are really cutting- edge, I wonder how much they  paid for them.” So, rather than sitting around wondering about peoples amazing acrylics- I can go and find out!