The Paw Print

Confidence and Self-Appreciation Yennifer Munoz Writer Confidence has been something I have always struggled with. Ever since I was in the fourth grade, I’ve picked on small things about myself, whether it be how dark my knees were, or my height. Going into high school, those insecurities only became stronger and harder to fight. The comparisons began. What does she have that I don’t? I’d ask myself. Should my hair be longer like hers, or straighter like hers? ... Like hers. How can I make mine like hers? I also cared too much about the expectations from guys. Did he prefer them with long legs and a perfect posture? I fed my insecurities by looking at celebrities, at Tik-Tok stars, and Instagram models. What did she have that I don’t? I became blinded by the lies of the perfect girl with the perfect life on social media. It became hard to take pictures with my friends because I was scared people would see me next to them and odd me out. I stopped going to social gatherings, and, because of it, I lost a lot of my friends. It took me over three years before I realized how much damage I was doing to myself. There would be days when I didn’t eat, and days when I ate too much. It was not until I completely erased social media from my phone that I managed to pick myself up. I looked for support from my friends and family. Slowly, I learned to appreciate what I have for what it is and stop comparing myself. See more

Increase in Vaccinations Brings Hope for A Brighter Future John Horan Writer One year ago, many were told they could not do much or go anywhere. This was due to the spreading of COVID-19 and the lack of information about it. It felt like the world had come to a complete stop. My future seemed uncertain due to the sudden changes in my lifestyle. Ever since vaccine production began, I’ve been hoping that more people will have access to receive the immunization. I have also hop...ed that we will finally be free to not only go outside locally, but also to visit friends and family on a more regular basis. Fortunately, as we get closer to the warmer summer temperatures, those hopes are starting to become reality. Recently, I received my first dose of one of the vaccines and have never felt so relieved. I am thankful to have finally received my vaccination and that many other adults will continue to receive theirs this spring. With this in mind, we should expect to see a decline in COVID-19 cases in the coming months. Soon, I hope to be able to go back to campus for school, travel for family gatherings, and hang out with friends knowing that I will be safe from the spread of COVID-19. Now, I am optimistic for what is to come for the rest of 2021. While it’s important to remain cautious and continue wearing masks, this year so far has made me hopeful for a brighter future. See more

Reality Setting In Katelyn Baez Writer Imagine a young girl who spends her time in the art of painting. She loves expressing herself through the craft and it is all she thinks about in school. She dreams of selling her art to those who will cherish it as much as she does, she wants to attend an art school to develop her talents and live in an environment that will have her thrive in her department. She desires to become famous and well known for her work; she wants to share h...er perspectives with the world. But what are the chances of her succeeding and making a salary from this dream of hers? This is what holds her back. This is what holds most students back. The idea that although they get to pursue their dream, how will they support themselves on their own? Money is a big discussion when speaking about potential careers. Many will say do whatever brings you joy, but will it be enough to support you financially? Will it be enough to pay the bills? The young girl has a talent for math and science, so she pursues engineering where she will make a great amount of money for her job. But is it truly what she wants? She wants to paint her heart out. But she can’t. Money is a simple way to hold many people back from their true potential. It keeps them in the chain to be ordinary. See more

Famous Coach Roy Williams Retires After 33 Years Mason Denithorne Writer On Thursday April 2, Roy Williams announced his retirement from men’s college basketball. Williams coached for 33 years, spending 15 years with the Kansas Jayhawks and then 19 years with the North Carolina Tarheels. In Williams’ coaching career he managed an astounding 903 wins. He went to nine final fours and three national championships. After a very difficult year and first round bounce in the brack...et Williams announced it was time to call it quits. North Carolina has been a powerhouse in college basketball for years and lots of credit goes to Williams. Not only is he a good coach, but he is also a great leader and helped build the character of his young players. North Carolina is also one of the blue blood schools which consist of Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina. These programs feed off talented freshmen. Williams also played a large role in recruiting these young high school seniors due to his respect for the sport. Williams is one of the most established coaches in college basketball and will go down as one of the greatest coaches in all of sports history. See more

COVID Effects on Healthy Individuals Katryna Williams Writer For the longest time, I felt that COVID-19 would not be an issue for me and my family. Like many others, we keep to ourselves and do not interact with anyone outside our family. However, even with the precautions and safety rules, I still managed to contract the virus. Being infected with COVID is a scary thought. It makes people anxious and wonder things like, How am I going to get through this? Did I infect any...one else I care about? and Is it as bad as it is made out to be? After testing positive, I realized that for me, COVID-19 felt like the flu. I had a fever of 103 degrees for the longest time, along with feeling tired and nauseous. Luckily, after only a few days, I got better and realized that COVID was not as bad as I had expected. I know there are many others who faced a tougher road to recovery. I am young and healthy, and I had family to help me. But taking care of yourself during these harsh times and having people there to support you all the way is the best feeling anyone could ask for. Feeling a sense of safety and security from loved ones makes it much easier to cope with something that has kept this nation at a standstill for more than a year. See more

Live in the Present and Thrive for the Future Evan Williams Writer Everyone has heard the saying, Live in the present, not in the past. But I think for many people, this is easier said than done. We wouldn’t be who we are without the past, but you can’t change what already happened. The key importance is to learn from your mistakes and grow with them. Throughout my life, I have found myself focusing on the past more than the present. Redirecting my focus on the present and... future was hard. We all look back on our past to remind ourselves of certain memories. You can’t change the past, but it can still hurt. I used to dwell on how other children could do things that I couldn’t, because of my health. I had to find myself, as a person, in order to grow in the present and embrace the future. In my experience, getting out of my comfort zone was the best way for me to express myself. That’s when I became a firefighter. Becoming a firefighter made me live in the present and the future, because in traumatic situations you have to live in the moment and think about what could happen next. My advice right now, where you are: Try not to dwell in the past, however hurtful it was.You are your own person and no one can stop you. See more

Five Secrets to Happy & Healthy Houseplants Ethan Antalosky Writer As daunting as it may seem, house plant care is really quite simple. I’ve been growing my indoor jungle for a few years now, and here are a few tips I have picked up. - It’s often better to under-water than over-water - Most plants will more likely recover from being a little too dry than being too wet. But listen to your plant. If it’s drooping, feel the soil. If the soil is dry, maybe give it a bit of water.... If the soil is still moist, pull back on the watering a bit. - Fertilize often with a weak solution - Disregard what the label says. I like to use a teaspoon of organic fertilizer (fish emulsion) per gallon of water nearly every time I water my plants. This keeps them healthy and growing all year. - Group plants with similar care requirements together - This makes it easier to keep it all straight. Furthermore, if one plant enjoys a certain spot in your home, chances are that another plant with similar care will too. - Take cuttings to make your plants more full - Propagating is fun because you can make a whole new plant out of one you already have. But if you put your cuttings back into the soil of the ‘mother-plant’, you can make an even bigger, bushier plant. Just keep in mind that the cuttings will need a little more water until their root systems are established. - Get some grow lights - Investing in grow lights has allowed for my plants to get the light they need in order to thrive, no matter the day or the time of year. You can find some very affordable ones online or at a garden center near you. Plant care isn’t nearly as scary or challenging as it seems. Make sure to research the plant you have, and try not to worry too much about it. Happy gardening! See more

My Sun Lamp Experience Cassidy Klingman Editor I’ve recently learned about the many benefits of sun lamps (also known as happy lamps, light therapy lamps, or SAD lamps, in reference to Seasonal Affective Disorder), and when I saw one for half-price online, I couldn’t resist. These lamps combat seasonal depression and have an overall mood-boosting effect by mimicking natural sunlight. I decided to try a sun lamp to help me feel more motivated, especially in the mornings. I k...now that I am most productive in the early morning, before my classes start, but recently it has been a challenge to get myself awake. The first day with my lamp, I turned it on before hitting snooze on my alarm, hoping that the light would help me wake up gradually. It did, but I discovered something surprising. Within seconds of turning on the light, my cat sat down in front of it. Once I was awake, I left the light on for her to enjoy. She was glued to it, which led me to do some quick research. I discovered that sun-lamps can be effective for cats, too. Additional sunlight can improve cats’ mood, energy levels, and even prevent seasonal hair loss. My cat loses her hair often, due to separation anxiety, so I am overjoyed to have found something that might help. I had no idea that light therapy could help animals as well as humans, so I look forward to seeing the impact on my cat and myself. See more

Stages Matthew Beck Writer The curtains close. The lights go out. Reality hits. Look around you. Look at what was taken. Thanks to Covid, dreams and aspirations are now dying on stages where I saw a lot of them start. The will for these venues to keep moving forward is getting harder and harder every day.... This isn’t just about saving the stages. It’s about saving ourselves. We come from different backgrounds, but we know that music moves us. I’ve seen its power at the highest level. Nothing compares to the audience in symphony, feeling like you aren’t alone when that chorus plays out. It’s funny, I can relate to something I can’t physically touch more than my own family. Prior to the pandemic, I captured these performances through photography. I started bringing my camera into shows, and that opened up a whole world that let me see just how great I am. Now, I don’t mean this in a condescending way. I mean it because I’m someone who’s become successful for doing what I truly love. My dream used to be to look down from a stage and just see the crowds. I’m proud I made this dream happen. I’m still willing to do anything for that dream, and that love doesn’t change when those lights go out. This year has been hard for us dreamers, but don’t give up. Whatever your dream, don’t let it die. Live for tomorrow and work hard today. See more