Fears

The definition of a fear is ¨an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.¨ To me a fear is not necessarily something I am afraid of it is more of being afraid of what that thing can do for example I am scared of snakes not because it is a snake but because I have seen videos and heard stories of how dangerous snakes are and how certain species of them are deadly. I think anxiety and being anxious can tie in and relate or trigger some of your fears and phobias. I get anxiety when driving high speeds across bridges because a year ago I was in a serious car accident while going 70 mph across a bridge. I get anxious when talking in front of large groups of people because in elementary school during a play in front of my entire school I tripped and almost fell off the stage in front of everyone. I think my fears come from things that have happened in the past or from things that have happened to my family and people I am close to. My grandma caught the flu from using a public restroom and not washing her hands well enough after and was sick in bed for months I saw how miserable that caused her to be so every time I use a public restroom I never forget to wash my hands thoroughly. My fears come from experience, and I think that is the same for most people. Fears can come from anything. What is important is how you learn to overcome those fears and if you can it will make you stronger.
-Kenna Watts




Fears can take many different forms in us. Like if it’s a fear concerning your body’s health or your mental state and maybe even socially. As someone who has battled with anxiety for a very long time, I am constantly hiding from my fears. The past two years I have been facing my fears, less on the ones that won’t compromise my body’s health and more so the mental and social fears that won’t damage me to a point of staying in a room forever. It is very hard to recognize your own fears and even harder to open up to others because your in fear of them using that against you. This brings me to my first fear, I’ll say, trust issues. Many people today have a fear with trusting each other just as common as the fear of spiders; which I might add is another fear of mine. A newly recognized fear that I have noticed in myself is the fear of missing out or not being included. I also don’t do heights because I’m scared of falling to my death. One of my most massive fears is of failing and not becoming who I aspire to be, and I struggle with this daily and will most likely continue this struggle throughout my life till death. I have many more fears, but if I get into thinking and writing it might stir and anxiety attack and a week to month worth of depression. To finalize, we all face and have ownership of fears because this world has shown us some cruel things and a lot of these fears have connection to each other and connections to some story or trauma in our lives, but we all have the power to overcome and I am still working on all of them. Which is good to be a work in progress instead of a bundle of issues on a couch barricaded.
-Samantha Mason

One Day for Change

 Over the past several years, Crossroads has been participating in what we call "One Day for Change." This day is an intense bonding experience where students and staff open up, set judgement aside, and learn that we are in this fight together. So, can one day make a difference? That is the question that was up for debate at the beginning of the school year. Typically this day for change is done the first week of school, but staff thought that it should be pushed off until mid-year. This was quickly seen as a mistake as students began demanding that we need it.

The need became evident when over 30 students showed up to participate in Voices of Youth, a club started by Principal Bridgette McVay, when normally there are only around ten students in this club. These students felt that the school was becoming divided, bullying was increasing, and the family-feel was lagging. They knew the importance of this day and they begged for the school to participate in it before it was too late. As students met in the gym for the event, Bridgette voiced her gratuity for students speaking up, "Sometimes staff think we know what is best, but I was reminded today that I need to listen to our students."

The day started out with students lining the gym with chairs and playing games. There was laughter as they ran across the gym floor and squeezed into chairs. Some students even tumbling to the floor with a competitive but playful energy. A beach ball was bounced around and students squeezed into a circle next to others they didn't know were going to be their friends by the end of the day.

After a little bonding and playing, students then joined into "family" groups. These groups were led by either a student or teacher. Each group had around 6-7 people. As we got to know each other a little more, we took a break to eat lunch. The tough part was coming next.

When lunch was over, we returned to a corner of the gym where guest speaker Ms. Julie Stark and former student Chelsea shared their personal stories. Everyone listened respectfully as they shared powerful life stories of overcoming pain, heartache, and challenges unimaginable. These powerful women spoke to our group of students and showed us what pure strength looks like. Showed us that it is OK to be vulnerable. That all of us are flawed. We have our doubts. But we must press forward and strive to love those around us with the talents and skills we were given. Stark is now a teacher at Crossroads who leaves an impact on students and pushes them to do their best. Chelsea owns a yoga studio where she offers free classes to current Crossroads students and shares her story of how mindfulness and healthy choices changed her life around.

After hearing their stories, we were ready as students and staff to get back in our families and talk. Students opened up to those they had only seen walk past them in the hall. Students shared stories of depression, being bullied, homelessness, and lack of parental love. As each student finished their part of the story, they were met with kind hugs and words.

Now was for the part that truly brings us together as students. This is called "Crossing the Line." In this activity, a statement is read, and if it applies to you, you cross the line.

Statements like:

                         I feel lonely

          I have been bullied

                        I have been discriminated against for my religion

                                        I have lost a loved one to suicide

               I have spent the night not knowing where to sleep
                                            
                                                      I am been in an abusive relationship

                        I have experienced domestic violence

          I got to be a child

As many students crossed the line, they saw others cross with them; people who have experienced similar pain. Tears streamed down faces and arms were wrapped around each other. There was a stillness. Quietness in the air. One that brought us all together. It was more than peace and comfort though.  There was something about hearing your own foot steps walk across the gym floor to the sound of others walking with you. The sound that echoes, "You are not alone."

As we completed the day, students did shout outs to each other. Students thanked and apologized. Students voiced how grateful they were to be here. New student Cesar stood at the front of everyone and said what we were all thinking, "I was told to come to Crossroads because it is like a family, but it wasn't until today that I really knew what that felt like."

-Journalism Team

Julie Stark

My Crossroads spotlight goes to Ms. Stark. She’s inspired me since the day I started Crossroads and has motivated and pushed me to be my best ever since. I met Ms. stark the beginning of my Sophomore year, she was my brother’s favorite teacher. Before I started he told me to make sure I get Ms. Stark. The day I met her I understood why he loved being her student; she’s the perfect influence and will never fail to make you laugh. She never fails to keep me on track and does everything in her power to make sure I have what I need to succeed. Ms. Stark always has a smile on her face and a positive outlook on everything. She’s honest and will help you be the best you in any situation.

Not only is Ms. Stark a good person, but a great teacher as well. I have loved every class I’ve had with her; she’s so passionate with her teaching that you can feel it. Her words get you excited about the topic. I’ve taken things away from every class I’ve had of hers. I am working on my future goals, and I already am using the things that she taught me in her class. In entrepreneurship she taught us how to be a leader, how to be responsible, and how to give back to those in our community. She takes things beyond the classroom and applies them to the world. She shows us that we can make a difference beyond ourselves.

I have also taken Financial fitness from her, and this class is my favorite because we learn real life lessons that we will need to know after we graduate understand. She teaches us how to save money and how to choose the more responsible choices. These are math skills that we will use in our lives forever. Everyone learns math her class because she makes sure we all understand. I think Ms. stark chose to be a teacher so she could shine some light on us students and show us how to improve and be the best we can, but more importantly so we can know that we’re not alone. I think she chose to teach CTE classes to give students knowledge on the real life things we will need to know after high school; to me that’s really important. I feel every high school should not only teach the standard curriculum but also all the real life things everybody needs to know how to do such as saving money, writing checks, and doing taxes. I am grateful to have Ms. Stark as a teacher and to have learned so much valuable things from her.

-Kenna Watts

Teens Dealing with Stress

  One main issue I’ve experienced massively as a teen is stress. I am a junior,

I have a job, school, Sno-isle, and packet class on top of it all. I struggle with finding
time to go out and have fun with friends and keep balance of things I need todo and things I want to do. It’s hard when you set goals for yourself and yourmotivated to do accomplish that goal because at this age there is always somethingin the way, that sets you back, whether it’s financial reasons, family, or evenjust not knowing what the next step you need to take is. I know that I’d liketo go to college, but my family doesn’t have the extra funds, and there’s noway that I could afford college and all other necessities on a minimum wagesalary. Knowing that, the step I had to take was to get a job, and I startedsaving. It’s not easy, but I know college is something I really want.
move forward when there’s nobody there to help and support you along the way. I
think that may be one reason teens often get depressed; they lose the support
and motivation from family so they no longer want it for themselves. Then they
begin failing knowing that’s only gonna make it worse. Soon enough they result
to drugs and alcohol to ignore the depression and stress.

            Another major issue I have noticed in our community is that a lot of teens
have lack of support and structure at home. That makes it hard for them to want
to do well in school because they have no one telling them that they need to. It’s hard to
-kenna Watts

Dylan Morin

My name is Dylan Morin. I am 17 waiting to get out of here at the age of 18. I love the Ninja Turtles! Some people like to say I’m stuck in the 70’s because of my hair, personality and music taste. I say that's wrong... no not really, that basically sums me up. I have a big family. It's just kinda scattered. I have an uncle, sister, brother, grandma, grandpa and brother-in-law all living in Mount Vernon. I have brothers and sisters in a couple different states because of my dad thanks to him. One day I want to travel to the states they are in and visit them. I enjoy hacky sack, listening to music and hiking, but just like any other teenager I enjoy a lot of things. However, with Type 1 Diabetes it makes these things a little more challenging than they should be, but I get through it. It's easier being diagnosed for a while and doing these things because I have more of a handle of when I need to stop and check my blood etc.

 I decided to go into Open Doors because at the high school I felt like a part of me was drifting away during freshman year. I didn't really care like a lot of freshman, then sophomore year I got back on track a little bit. Then junior year came, and I lost one of my buddies around Christmas time. Right after that, my aunt who also has diabetes and was a big help for me, passed from a diabetic seizure on New Year's Day. As you can predict, I just stopped caring. Then I realized if I was to make it somewhat successful, I would need some type of school diploma so I turned here for my last shot.