The freshmen 15

The Vine

December 2007 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA

The freshmen 15

By Heather Gioia
Staff Writer

Everyone had heard it before there freshmen year of college, “Beware of the freshmen 15!” The extra 15 pounds, rumor has it, that the average person will put on their freshmen year of college. The reported sudden gain in weight has to do with the students change in environment and the food they are presented with to eat on a daily basis.

The main reason for the “freshmen 15” are an increase in alcohol consumption and the fatting and carbohydrate filled food served in the cafeteria-style, all-you-can-eat buffets dining halls. An increased intake of fast food, which is offered in the other dormitory settings, as well as overeating due to a lack of sleep also contribute. But do Virginia Commonwealth University students fall pery to this theory? With the numerous dining facilities offered on both the Monroe and MVC Park campuses, students are not only offered their choice of different healthy options, but also a physical journey to get there.

The “Freshmen 15,” is the theory believed by many.

“I agree with the freshman theory, there are so many restaurants from Subway in the Commons, Schaefer court to walking along Broad street getting a bite from Five Guys,” VCU freshmen, Maya Jordan said. “Most likely, freshman will start to notice a dramatic shift in their weight due to the necessary and unnecessary food eateries.”

The majority of VCU freshmen reside and spend the largest amount of their time on the Monroe Park campus. Here students are offered dining choices consisting of: Shafer Dinning Center, Alpine Bagel Café, Bookmark Bistro, Commons Café, Camille’s Sidewalk Café, Starbucks, Market 810, Market 810-2-GO, and Park Place Food Court, to spend their dinning dollars, meal swipes, ram bucks, or their own money.

When freshmen come through VCU for orientation, they are told about the extensive meal plans offered. They are usually also told by the upper classmen to get the smallest meal plan, that most likely they would not use the whole plan by the end of the semester. VCU meal plans are good for only one semester, come December 18, any swipes or dining dollars that have not been used on a student’s meal plan just disappear. Nothing gets carried onto next semester or the following year. Knowing this, towards the end of the semester students pile into VCU’s dining facilities to chow down on what is left of the dining plan they have.

According to VCU freshmen Rachael Byrd, the “Freshmen 15” happens to most kids because they are only eating in Schaeffer hall or restaurants.
But VCU offers a different atmosphere then many universities. It is located in the city, so lots of things are in walking distance. The majority of the freshmen class at VCU lives on campus and uses their feet or a bike as the main form of transportation.

“Exercise is needed and should be part of an individual daily life. Whether walking to and from class or just getting on the tread mill 30 minutes a day,” explained Jordan, who has made a commitment to working out at the gym at least three times a week.

Three times a week seems to be the common number of times to find the typical VCU freshmen at the gym.

“I try to go to the gym at least 3 times a week. I think it affects my health in a good way,” said VCU Freshmen William VanHorne.

VCU also offers different facilities allowing students to stay in-shape and keep their bodies fit. The Siegel Center Gym, the Cary Street Gym, the Franklin Street Pool, and the MVC Campus Recreation and Aquatic center are all available to students. They offer a wide variety of activities including Latin, Caribbean and African Dance, Yoga, Boot Camp, A.B.S., Martial Arts, and Deep Water Exercises’ on top of the regularly offered activities.

Byrd agrees with Jordan about the importance of working out.

“Working out is great for your health, especially cardio workouts they help your heart and lifting helps your bones,” Bryd said. “I love working out. Maybe not when I am doing it at the time, but after words my body is flooded with endorphins and I feel great!”

So while the dining services offered the VCU are not held at the highest of standards by students, the athletic facilities are. Students generally feel that the campus set up that causes all of the daily walking is what aids in keeping the weight of VCU freshmen down. While the dining choices may not always be of the healthiest options, wraps and salads are offered Monday through Friday in the student commons, Quiznos is offered in the VCU Bookstore, Subway is offered in the student commons, and Shaffer has a salad bar that is always open, as well as other offers that can please just about everyone’s taste buds.

The gym may not be the only means of exercise freshmen at VCU are offered.

VCU’s three main freshmen dorms, Johnson, Brant, and Rhoads, are high-rise buildings, giving students the opportunity to get a work out on a daily bases as they make their way to or from there room. From time to time in Rhoads Hall you can catch a few of the “Men of the Eleventh Floor” racing one another up the stairs, or attempting to beat someone in the elevator from floor one to the eleventh.

While the “Freshmen 15” is generally applied to the gaining of 15 extra pounds freshmen year, it has also been interpreted as a 15 pound loss due to under eating, depression, and other similar reasons.

“The freshmen 15 could go both ways. You could gain or lose. I have lost that plus since I have been here,” said VCU freshmen Carmalita Andrews.

The “Freshmen 15” theory may not have been fully proven, but it is important for students to take advantage of healthy eating and exercise options while they are at college.

Graduation brings new experiences

The Watchdog

June 2007 Vol. 16 No. 5 SENIOR ISSUE C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Graduation bring new experiences

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

As June 11 approaches and the senior count down to graduation dwindles seniors are finally able to partake in all of the senior activities they have waited the past four years for.

Graduation marks the senior privileges, the senior class picnic, the senior class trip, the baccalaureate services, the special senior “holidays”, and senior exam week. Along with graduating and participating in all of these activities seniors have the joy of being able to attend Grad Night and for many take there first big trip without their parents — Beach Week.

June 11 will be an extremely busy day for seniors, with the graduation ceremony beginning at 7 P.M. and the Grad Night services taking place later that evening.

Grad Night will take place at the Chinn Center in Lake Ridge, revolving around the senior class chosen theme “Going Places.” This is the one last chance Hylton seniors have to be together as Hylton students, after June 11 everyone will be going to different places in their lives. Grad Night will be from 11 P.M. Monday evening until 4 A.M. Tuesday and will consist of many events in which seniors will be eligible to win prizes.

Senior Erin French explains that she plans on going to Grad Night, “Because my friend who went to it last year said that she had a really good time. I hope to win something really nice.”

Nevertheless, what more seniors are looking forward to— beach week, the excitement of finally taking that one trip after graduation on their own with their friends. Since second semester began beach week has been all the rage amongst seniors, from the picking a beach house and making the house groups, to collecting the money and finalizing the plans. This summer Myrtle Beach, S.C. seems to be the hot spot, as seniors make their claims on different parts of the beachfront.

Beach week is a senior tradition, it is as important to some seniors as senior prom. It is one of the things that they have had to look forward to since becoming and underclassmen in 2003, the special senior holidays, graduation, and the big beach week trip.

“I’ve been looking forward to Beach Week since freshmen year. I plan to have the best week of my life,” exclaimed senior Anthony Russell.

Of course, as senior year comes to an end the class of ‘07 will be left with numerous memories of this year. From the tailgating and football games in the fall, and homecoming in October, to their first bomb threat at Hylton, and first real fire, to the junior-senior prom, to the senior class trip, the senior picnic, and final graduation practices, seniors this year wont be able to for get a moment of it. Between all the events scheduled for seniors, they will be some of the busiest students in the school, and have been this whole year. Grad Night is after graduation, June 11, and then after that the beach week trips begin, the excitement building amongst the seniors is enormous.

In the matter of a few days Mrs. Carolyn Custard’s first class to spend four years at Hylton with her will walk across the stage and open new chapters in there lives. The class of 07 will not leave everything from this year and there pervious years behind, the memories will stay with them, and the lessons learned will influence their decisions in the future.

The best of luck to the class of 2007 as you go on into the world and find your own footing and place. Enjoy the freedoms that will now come your way, have fun at beach week, but most of all be safe. Remember all that you have learned in your years in high school, and never forget all the times you always said you will never forget when you spent time with your friends.

Congratulations Hylton’s Senior Class of ‘07!

To raise or not to raise... that is the question

The Watchdog

May 2007 Vol. 16 No. 4 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

To raise or not to raise... that is the question
CON

Heather Gioia
Features Editor

While increasing minimum wage may help those living in the Northern Virginia area, before the Virginia Assembly considers increasing it to $6.15 an hour, they should into consideration that jobs that will be sacrificed in rural Virginia.

The minimum wage in Virginia has not been increased since [YEAR!]; however, other states across the nation have, over the past few years, increased it by one to two dollars. While Virginia is due for an increase, such a dramatic jump cannot be made at once. A jump of that manner will only hurt more people then it will help.

Increasing minimum wage will not help those living out in the Brentsville area of Prince William County, nor any area outside of Northern Virginia. Employers in those areas cannot afford a dollar or more increase in minimum wage.

“By having to pay a higher wage by law employers may have to reevaluate their entire company budget. This could result in situations where more experienced employees may receive less money in order to compensate for the money lost,” explained senior Tangi Ahmed.

As the minimum wage increases so does inflation. As people have more money in their pockets to spend, the cost of living will increase. As prices on other items rise because people are earning more hourly, people will end up with less money in their pockets after paying all of their expenses. When people have more money to spend there is a higher demand for items; as the demand increases and the supply decreases, the price continues to increase so that suppliers can get the most for their money.

If the bill that is being pushed now passes, by 2008 Virginia’s minimum wage will be higher then the federal standard. The bill being proposed would increase minimum wage to $7.25 and hour as of July 1 of this year and to $8.00 and hour as of July 1, 2008. Virginia is at least a decade over due for an increase in the minimum wage, but such a hike would be unbearable.

Living in Northern Virginia it seems weird to take a stand on the side against the minimum wage increase, because we are the ones who need it most. Teens today working at work places such as the Potomac Nationals baseball stadium, are being paid minimum wage ($5.15 an hour) and for many of them the pay checks just barely cover their day to day daily activities. If the minimum wage were to be increased, even some employers in the local area will have to cut back on jobs. In order for the Potomac Nationals to keep all of there teen summer employees they would have to install yet another increase in the prices of there concessions and tickets. If they chose to keep prices the same, they would not make enough income to continue to employee everyone they provide summer jobs to now.

We are way over due for an increase in minimum wage here in Virginia, but such a drastic jump is going to do nothing but hurt everyone outside of the Northern Virginia area. Jobs will be lost, the unemployment rate will sky-rocket, prices will rise, and inflation will occur.

States such as Michigan have the right plan for increasing there minimum wage. There minimum wage for 2006 was $6.95, by the same time this year they were able to handle an increase to $7.15, and by this time next year they plan to increase minimum wage yet again to $7.40. A steady and moderate increase type plan is one that Virginia needs to consider, it is more realistic and passable then the bill that is currently proposed.

False alarm takes its toll on day of morning

The Watchdog

May 2007 Vol. 16 No. 4 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

False alarm takes its toll on day of morning

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

It was a cloudless Friday morning that was typical of a spring day, a change from the bleak skies and low temperatures the nor’easter brought earlier that week. Hokie Hope and Bulldawg Pride Day, April 20, 2007, was to be a day of commemoration for Hylton’s lost alumni, Kyle Wilson and Daniel Perez, and those victimized by the Virginia Tech shootings. Unlike the weather, however, students and faculty alike found conditions at the school that morning less than sunny and joyful. A bomb threat had been reported to the school.

The traffic to enter the school was ridiculous. A line of cars spanned from the school in both directions. As they pulled into the parking lot some students thought the traffic was related to the ceremony that was to take place that day; others quickly found out the truth.

“I should have turned around this morning,” said senior Waiss Qamari, reflecting on his decision to park and find out what was going on.

Just days after the incident at Virginia Tech, which was preceded by reported bomb threats, Hylton and other high schools in the county received bomb threats as well. The bomb threat to Hylton came in at 6:43 A.M. Friday and the few teachers and students in the building were immediately evacuated. Arriving students never made it near the school building that morning. The buses pulled up along side of the stadium; students piled off of them and into the stands. Students driving into the lots were directed to unusual parking spots, and were told by teachers and police officers to head straight to the stadium. Students spent the next three and a half hours in the stadium.

“I didn’t plan on this. I planned on being in school learning,” said sophomore James Hylton.

The crowds inside and outside of the stadium were upset and confused as to what was happening. Outside, parents argued with teachers and administration about the release of their children. Inside, students were jumping the fences around the stadium and making mad dashes for freedom.

Despite all of the chaos, many students stayed calm. When Custard gave the “okay” for students to move from the home side of the stands to the away side in hopes of warming up, some students found a soccer ball at a far end of the football field and started passing the ball around. At the other end of the field, lacrosse players picked up there sticks and tossed the ball around. Other students keep there cool and out of the way of administration, staff, and security by walking around the track.

All morning, Principal Carolyn Custard and Assistant Principal Brenda Byrd called names of students who were to be released to their parents over the press box intercom. Although everyone stepped up to the plate, doing there best to keep everything in order, and many teachers assisted administration by running the names of soon to be released students to the press box, there were still the pleas from staff for students to stay calm and bear with them, as students became struck with cabin fever.

“We are all waiting. Please wait patiently with us,” Byrd announced from the press box.

Around 10:30 A.M. police gave the “all-clear” for everyone to enter the building once again. Classes that day continued as scheduled, starting with fifth period, Custard gave a free lunch to every person in building. That afternoon, all after school activities went on as scheduled.

The day resulted in nothing that had been planned. Hokie Hope and Bulldawg Pride Day was disrupted and placed on hold until Fri., Apr. 27, 2007. Students were to be rewarded with free ice cream for Hylton’s fourth year as a school of excellence; this event was rescheduled on Tues, Apr. 24.

Hylton was one of three high schools in the county to have bomb threats called in. Around the same time Hylton’s was called in there was a bomb threat called in to Osbourn High School in Manassas. Later, when Hylton students were finally able to enter the building around 10:30 A.M., Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge received a bomb threat. At each school there was a different group calling in bomb threats. Here at Hylton, Prince William County Police told the Potomac News that they have obtained detention orders for two juveniles whose names have not yet been released.

Four days after the incident at Virginia Tech and eight years after the incident at Columbine, high schools in Prince William County, including Hylton, were forced to consider what to do when faced with the chaos of a bomb threat.

Book review: Shut The Door

The Watchdog

March 2007 Vol. 16 No. 3 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Shut The Door
By Amanda Marquit

Heather Gioia
Features Editor

Shut the Door quickly grabs the attention of the reader, making it nearly impossible to put down until it has been read from cover to cover. It invades and dissects the life of an average, middle class family.

Lilliana and Vivian are two teenage girls whose lives spiral out of control. They finding themselves becoming more self destructive each day and abandoning old friends. At the same time both of their parents, too busy with their own insane lives, do not even notice the destruction occurring in their own household.

Harry is the typical “six in the morning to six at night” business man whose wife, Beatrice, spends hour upon hour striving to please him. With their marriage on the rocks, falling apart like an old ratty blanket, the novel tells the story of a family screaming out for help where nobody is listening.

While the climax is built up throughout the novel, with stories any teen can understand, readers may find the ending to be a let down, ending with no closer. It is left up to the reader to complete the story.

Book review: Diary

The Watchdog
March 2007 Vol. 16 No. 3 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Diary
By Chuck Palahniuk

Heather Gioia
Features Editor

The story of Misty Wilmont, mother and wife, is like none other, told through her diary entries, written through the eyes of an outside observer.

Misty, who was considered trailer trash as a child, ends up living in the dream-world that she had once drawn with colored pencils. Peter Wilmot is the man she meets while in art school and drops out to marry; she both disappoints, and is disappointed by, him.

After Peter’s psychotic rage and tragic accident that leaves him lying in a hospital bed like a vegetable in a coma, Misty is left to clean up the mess he left behind.

When it seems as if nothing could be worse than erasing her husband’s ranting, raising her daughter by herself, and dealing with her over controlling mother-in-law, her sanctuary is invaded by outsiders. Diary brings to light a family’s conspiracy, a plan that threatens to cost the lives of hundreds of people, unless Misty can save them this time.

The novel looks at aspects of a life some readers could never imagine and others deal with, such as family secrets and pre-planned futures.

Diary is a novel that keeps readers puzzled until the last page, and stays with them after it ends. The plot is dark, sardonic, full of satire, and at the same time extremely gripping. The reader, although at times confused, will not be able to leave the novel in the past until they solve the mystery and untangle the web of lies and secrets in the novel, even after is has been completed. To not read this novel would be a crime.

Time for business and fun

The Watchdog

March 2007 Vol. 16 No. 3 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Time for business and fun

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

Student Council Association (SCA) Convention— fun, bonding, leadership, new friends, excitement. However it is described, the SCA Convention is one thing that Hylton’s SCA students look forward to attending each year.

What is the SCA Convention? It is a weekend in Richmond, VA, where SCA’s from different Virginia schools unite exchange and share ideas. This year’s SCA convention will be held at the Holiday Inn in Richmond, VA, from Mar. 23 – Mar. 25.

Although students attend special presentations and listen to numerous speakers, everyone knows how to keep it fun. The convention includes workshops on leadership, a dance, a formal banquet, and a chance to bond with people from schools from all over the state.

“Students go for the fun, for the bonding, for the excitement of meeting [new] people,” explained senior Alberto Camacho, Virginia’s SCA president.

This year Hylton is playing an immense role in the SCA Convention. Since the Hylton SCA is the president school, they will run the event. As the top dogs, Hylton SCA students will lead different sessions over the span of the weekend.

Not only will Hylton be stepping up to the plate and taking charge of the event, but two students will be running for offices at the state level. Junior Mareeha Niaz will be running for the vice president and sophomore Jeson Souvannarath will be running for the Region Four representative.

Because SCA is a club open to anyone, anybody can go. While it may be too late for students to sign up for this years convention, they should keep their ears open for it next year. SCA covers a portion of the cost for students based on involvement. Interested students should see SCA Sponsor, Mrs. Susan Hunter, in room F-209 for more information.

“[SCA Convention] a lot of fun, and everyone who has gone has had fun. It is exciting to be there,” Camacho said.

Publications visit the Big Apple

The Watchdog

March 2007 Vol. 16 No. 3 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Publications vist the Big Apple

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

As the charter bus pulls up in front of Hylton, students dressed and half asleep will slowly load the bus and begin their journey at 2:00 AM on Thurs., Mar. 15 to New York City. Students from different publications will make yet another journey to participate in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) Annual Scholastic Convention at Columbia University. The Convention spans three days and is full of fun classes and other activities.

CSPA’s 38th Annual Scholastic Convention is held from Wed., Mar. 14, through Fri., Mar. 16. While attending, students will be able to chose from more than 300 sessions including classes in newspaper, yearbook, magazine, online media, video/broadcasting, and law and ethics. On the final day of the Convention, CSPA will announce the winners of the Crown Awards for top publications, and the Gold Circle Awards for top individual student awards.

Hylton’s The Watchdog, The Legend, and The Promethean staff members will attend different classes that specialize in their specific publications. While the students will run all across the campus of Columbia University, the weekend will not be all study, study, study.

Students will attend dinners in the city, grab lunch on their own during the day, and find themselves being treated like adults in the real world. Students will plan to attend (insert name of show) on Broadway, and will have the opportunity to visit Ground Zero and the Empire State Building.

“It's a once in a life time opportunity! A lot of students have never been out of Virginia and this gives them an opportunity to not only take classes on the campus of a major university, but also see Times Square,” explained Ms. Kellie Solhiem-Chabot, Literary Magazine Sponsor.

People just tend to judge

The Watchdog

January 2007 Vol. 16 No. 2 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

People just tend to judge

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

Not everyone is the same, we all know this. Unique things make us different from each other and one of those things just so happens to be race.
Hylton has many biracial students walking the halls. You probably brush arms with them in the hall and maybe even work together on a project, but what is it really like being biracial?

Just about all biracial students love it; they say they get the best of both worlds.

“[It makes you] more tolerant. You have a better mix of beliefs, values, and traditions,” said junior Marisa Gidwani, who is Indian and Caucasian (of Italian and Spanish descent).

Having two cultural backgrounds opens these students up to different customs, foods, and holidays not common to everyone.

“For Thanksgiving, if we have twelve dishes, six will be African and six Italian,” explained Rachelle Cook, a freshman, who is Native American, African American, and Caucasian.

The majority of the biracial students at Hylton feel that same way. Being biracial merely gives them the opportunity to have more friends from different groups. It also gives students a different view of people when picking their friends.

“I fit in everywhere,” said junior Dillon Mayhew, who is African-American and Caucasian.

With all of the fun and the freedom being biracial provides it still has challenges. Gidwani explained how because her father married outside of his Indian race, his parents, whom are both Indian, do not accept her family.

“My dad’s family is not accepting of the biracial relationship at all. My mom’s family is more embracing. I see my mom’s parents and am closer with them because my dad’s [parents] see our family as dishonorable,” explained Gidwani.

For some students, everyday life is different because they are biracial. Typical holidays have an awkward twist, and evening dinner may consist of food not many people recognize. As students and part of the Bulldawg Family, everyone must do their best to embrace everyone and their backgrounds.

“In school, even here at Hylton, sometimes I feel a little bit of tension from kids of that one race [Indian], because I don’t really embrace just that one race,” Gidwani explained.

But not everyone follows the traditions or allows race to be a great factor on their lives; for some, race is just a category other people use to classify them and it doesn’t change what they do. It merely is just part of who they are.

“We don’t do anything that’s really white or black,” explained freshmen Ceila Thomas, “I don’t think of myself as a race. I’m just me.”

Goal: keep resolutions all year

The Watchdog

January 2007 Vol. 16 No. 2 C.D. Hylton High School Woodbridge, VA

Goal: keep resolutions all year

By Heather Gioia
Features Editor

Remember this? Last year you chose to make your New Year’s resolution getting straight A’s for the rest of the school year, but you came back to school after break and completely forgot about the history test, which killed your grade. Making the same resolution this year, you hope that you can do better as you quickly think back on New Year’s Eve and wonder, “Do I have a test when we get back to school?”

Each year it seems everyone makes a New Year’s resolution, and each year it seems no one keeps it. So now it’s mid-January and resolutions have been made. Will people keep them, or have they already been broken?

Resolutions can be made in any aspect of life: school, sports, friends, family, health. This year and in previous years, education, family, and health seem to be the main areas of improvement.

Senior Shannon Abrell resolved to “work my butt off to get into college.” This is a resolution continued from last year when she hoped to get good grades.

In 2007 many students are hoping to improve their grades by doing their homework. Students must do four things to improve their grades: show up for school on time, show up for class, do the assigned work in class and participate, and do their homework.

But the real question is how to go about doing this?

Step one: Be sure to go sleep at a reasonable hour to be able to wake up between 5 A.M. and 6:45 A.M. Allow enough time to get ready for school by gathering school supplies in a backpack and picking out the next days clothes. Breakfast eaters — keep a box of breakfast bars or granola bars handy for the dash out the door in case there is no time for a bowl of oatmeal.

Step two: Develop a route to take each day to get to class, be sure to have it pass your locker a few times, and follow it each day. What makes many students late is the extra chatting in the halls — do not do it! Finally, be seated when the bell rings, not standing by it or strolling to it, but sitting in it. This year, teachers are cracking down on the tardy policy, and part of the policy now being enforced is being in your seat when the bell rings.

“All students must be in their seats when the bell rings, or they are tardy,” explains Judith Williamson, foreign language teacher.

Step three: When handed a worksheet — do it, and do the bookwork. Hate working alone? Ask the teacher if the class can work in partners or groups; sometimes hearing thoughts of others helps to improve on an individual’s ideas. Be sure to participate, especially in foreign languages. Do not be shy about attempting to answer some questions; make an effort in the class.

Step four: Set one hour aside each day for homework, before you watch TV or jump onto MySpace and AIM. Try to do your blue day homework on blue days and gold on gold, and be sure to give time each day to do any projects that you may have due in a few weeks.

If you fall short and show up late to class once or twice, do not stress about it; it happens to everyone. Just do not make a habit of it. Seniors, while you may be suffering from “senioritis,” college acceptance should be the drive that pushes you to succeed in your last year here.

Senior Tommy Moore has followed through with his New Year’s resolution for 2006. Moore wanted to improve in school and since New Year’s last year, he has.
“I pushed myself,” said Moore, “I want to go to college.”

While some students focused on academics, others have focused on different aspects of their lives this year.

“My New Years resolution is to have a Janet Jackson body, a toned body,” said sophomore Michelle Gnoleba.

Junior Bill MacDonald’s resolution was “to get a life—live in the moment.” While MacDonald may not have achieved his resolution last year, he will be striding towards that goal in 2007.

“[New Year’s resolutions] are the best way to see what you have accomplished in the past year. To see where you are at and what’s changed,” explained sophomore Aisha Kamara.