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Natalie Zullo BMHS PrideTime Reporter  Elizabeth Murphy, senior at BMHS, took the opportunity this past weekend to rid herself of negative vibes with a ritual called an ‘Energy Healing’.
What exactly is an Energy Healing? Over the past couple of years, energy healings have become a trend most popular on the West Coast. It is said that we as people have an energy field surrounding our bodies that absorb and deflect the energy of people and things going on in our daily lives, constantly changing and altering based on our surroundings. Over time, these energy fields can become overwhelmed with these changes and become clogged/stuck causing one to focus only on problems or negativity. It has been proven scientifically that energy healing through various forms (reiki, distance healing, and crystal energy healing), is incredibly effective in balancing and empowering your energy and is even used in some major hospitals to treat the ill. More than 50 hospitals in the U.S use energy healing on their patients. Murphy has a family member who works at Norwalk Hospital as a nurse and on the side practices energy healings. She told PrideTime, “I had a friend go through with the healing about two weeks before me, and after seeing the results I decided to get one myself. I would highly recommend it for everyone... especially high school students even if you are unaware of clogged energy or energy in general”. When asked about her experience Liz said, “It was about an hour long process of Reiki in a room full of relaxing incense, salt lamps and candles plus meditational music that really helped to calm my nerves. He made a lot of physical motions of throwing and cutting the energy and explained everything clearly before going through with it.” Reiki is a form of energy healing in which the client lays on a table and the practitioner manipulating the energy field with their hands. Most subjects of Reiki claim to experience warm tingling sensation during their session. Liz told PrideTime, “Afterwards I left light, almost new. It was like weight off my shoulders, the anxiety I was experiencing before was gone and my mind and emotions were at a more peaceful state”. Energy healings are not uncommon, in fact they are incredibly accessible. There are two companies in Norwalk with such practices, Healing ENERGY and Angelic Healing, and many more around the country. By- Jack Keller Pridetime Reporter  “Alright guys, where are we dropping?”
For some of you reading this article, you immediately know what that means. For others, you’re already picturing the iconic Fortnite map, and strategically planning out where you and your squad will drop. Fortnite is a sandbox-styled survival video game developed by Epic Games. The objective of the one hundred players in each game is to skydive into the cartoony island map, find loot and resources, avoid the constantly-shrinking storm which surrounds the map (intended to bring remaining players closer together as others are eliminated), and eliminate other players until you or your team are the last ones standing on the map. It’s game modes are solo, duo, or squad (teams of four), making it easy for players to connect and to play with friends. It is free to download, available on gaming consoles, PC, and in the app store. Fortnite is currently the most popular game in the world; for any gaming platform. According to Epic Games, Fortnite has over 45 million plays--most of which joined within the past few months. The game’s easily-accessible, free-to-play, cartoon-ish model is inviting to gamers of all ages; and that inviting environment which the Fortnite Community offers can easily be witnessed here, at McMahon. “Every game is different,” said Noe Valdovinos (‘18) “You can’t expect what’s going to happen, you have to act quickly and think strategically in order to be successful.” Noe is one of the better players in the school, possessing eight solo wins and a personal record of 12 kills in a game. He also noted that his favorite weapon is the bolt-action sniper rifle, making him a more reserved and patient player. Other players, such as John Gatt (‘19), cite the social aspect of the game as their favorite . “I mostly play squads with my friends,” said John, “we all get on houseparty (a multi-person video chat app) and play for a couple hours at a time. It’s a lot of fun.” John’s favorite place to drop on the map is in the center of loot lake, a central location that is frequently in the storm eye. Perhaps the most communal aspect of Fortnite is the wide variety of people that play, it’s not just teenage boys. People of all walks of life are enjoying the game, including many girls, who don’t fit the “gamer” stereotype. “I love Fortnite,” said Emma Hargrove (‘18) “I play about four times a week with my boyfriend. I have a couple wins, too.” Girls like Emma are proof of Fortnite wild popularity and integration into our pop culture. Fortnite stats are now things to brag about with friends, and the victory royale screen seems to be a regular on Snapchat Stories. Lunch tables are now consumed by debates over which gun is best, and talk of rumors about what the next in-game update will be. It is near impossible to go a day without hearing about Fortnite. Last week, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, a Fortnite-streaming superstar, played with rappers Drake and Travis Scott and streamed his games on his Twitch and YouTube pages, where he has a combined nearly 9.5 million subscribers. Ninja’s live stream with the two rappers was trending on Twitter as it was happening, and the video of the stream on YouTube has nearly 4 million views in less than one week of being posted. When asked about the streaming aspect of the game, Miles Chesler (‘18) responded “I could watch Fortnite videos for hours, especially Ninja. I watched for a couple hours the other night and literally could not stop watching.” People are not only watching YouTube clips of gamers playing Fortnite to pass time, in many cases, they’re watching to get better. They can gain new tips and tricks from one YouTube video, which is very beneficial for both the game and the YouTube streamers. Don’t expect the Fortnite craze to die down anytime soon. In fact, expect just the opposite. The game is at peak popularity right now with this weeks release of the mobile version of the game, making the game wildly more accessible. Beyond the release of the mobile app, Epic Games is constantly working on updating the map, weapon selection, and gameplay. The games creative developers are finding new ways to make an already unique game even better. Fortnite fever is in full swing here at McMahon, and just about everywhere else. Michelle Perea & Yanira Matute BMHS PrideTime Reporter and Editor Before students walk in at 7a.m., seven male teachers get together in the morning for four days each week to workout before they go and teach. They call themselves “The Morning Beast Squad.” The members are: Quieroga, LaPrad, Dustin, Cross, Carroll, Ingalls, and sometimes Konopka. For almost two years now, all of them meet up at 6 a.m and workout until 7.
The beginning of the squad started almost 4 years ago when Carroll started teaching at McMahon. Quieroga and Carroll started carpooling to school together since they live close to each other and he naturally joined Dustin and Quieroga for their morning workout. Shortly after, LaPrad and Ingalls joined them. This year, Cross and Konopka joined the crew. Queiroga, as LaPrad said, is the “founding father” and is the one that helps decide which workouts to do for that morning. To get them ready for the workouts for the next day, Quieroga goes over the plans with them the night before. “We now have a group chat where I text the workouts to them the night before and we do them the next morning. I record all of our stats.” Because Quieroga doesn’t have much time after school to work out, he feels like the only time he could get his workouts in are in the morning. Not only do these men use this time to workout on themselves, but they use it as a bonding moment. For them, this is a time to get together and exercise before school begins instead of heading to an actual gym as LaPrad and Ingalls used to do. The purpose of setting this up was to be able to get exercise before starting the day. The weight room is an easy access and allows them to work on different machines. They also head outside on the track. They don’t have to worry about being late to work because they’re already there. Alongside exercise, they have gotten closer together and have created stronger friendships over the mornings spent together. “Using this, we’ve definitely bonded quite a bit and we hang out more together outside of work also,” added LaPrad. Taylor Morton BMHS Pridetime Reporter Don't wait to stress yourself out about Prom this year, find your dress now! Many store have released their spring collections making it a perfect time to start shopping and find your perfect dress before someone else does! Below are five stores where you could potentially find the prom dress of your dreams. Lulus Lulus is the go-to for great online dress shopping. They offer a wide selection of dresses. Most of Lulu's dresses come in multiple colors so you have a lot of options. Not only are their dresses beautiful but they are also affordable.Most of them are under $100. Their flowy, glamorous dresses will look great in prom pics!
Rent the Runway Rent the Runway allows you to wear designer dresses for a fraction of the price. All you have to do is download the app, find a dress you like, then order it to arrive before the day of your event. Rentals cost ranges from $30-$150. Its super easy and affordable! When Prom is over just send your dress back! “It's really easy and convenient. The dress comes in two different sizes when you order and you can place and order for a specific date in the future.”says Senior Katie DiJoseph who used Rent the Runway for her Poinsettia dress this past winter.
Free People Free People’s bohemian style dresses are one of kind. Their dresses are really unique, with most having embroidery, lace details and fun colors. You can shop online or in person at the store in Westport. While shopping you can browse their cool jewelry to match your perfect dress. Free People dresses cost between $80 and $250. Lord and Taylor Lord and Taylor has their spring prom collection in stores (and online) right now! Head to their location in Stamford for a large selection of ball gown style dresses as well as more fitted options for those who want to show off their curves. If you like a dress but can’t find your size in the store you can order it online. Their dresses come in a range of prices from $80 to $250. Their vast selection of shoes and jewelry make it a great destination for one stop shopping! “My dress was definitely worth the price. It was really good quality material and was beautiful.” say Liz Murphy who got her Junior Prom dress at Lord and Taylor.
A Step Ahead Also conveniently located in Stamford is A Step Ahead. This store carries brands like Sherri Hill, Jovani, Terani and many, many more. They carry very glamorous styles that sparkle and shine. A Step Ahead’s dresses will make sure you stand out at prom! A Step Ahead dresses cost between $100-$400.
https://www.astepaheadfashion.com/prom-2017-1
Taylor Livingstone BMHS PrideTime Reporter March 17th, the day of shamrocks, corn beef, and tons of green! St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the death of the saint of Ireland. In the seventeenth century this day was considered a religious feast day, however, it has dramatically evolved. Today, we celebrate with parades, foods, music, and dancing, whether you are Irish or not. Here are a couple yummy treats that keep this holiday feeling green and luck, with an Irish original, Irish soda bread! Enjoy!
Natalie Zullo BMHS PrideTime Reporter  With the second semester of the school year being in full swing, many seniors at McMahon are facing the full effects of Senioritis. What is Senioritis? Senioritis is a common symptom of second semester seniors shown by a lack of motivation and a dismissive attitude towards school. The urge to skip class or put off assignments is rising with the approach of graduation, but don’t fret seniors, you’re not alone.
Liz Murphy (‘18) told PrideTime, “Oh yeah, Senioritis is definitely a thing. It’s just part of the process. Honestly, I don’t know how I haven’t ‘H’d’ yet”. The important thing to remember is that you are not the only one struggling to push through the last semester of school, even the best students are affected by Senioritis. Recognizing these symptoms in yourself is the first step to overcoming your Senioritis. Here are some tips to help you push through these final months: Stay Positive The end is in sight, and although these last quarters will seem like a drag, remember that they are your last moments of High School. Focus on the fun and good things about school, like the friends in your classes or afterschool activities. Once you receive your diploma on graduation day, you would want to reflect on the last months you had in High School were lived to the fullest- not having a miserable and lazy last two quarters. Staying motivated with your class work and trying harder to keep with school events will give you long-lasting memories. Johnny Grasso (‘18) said, “I’m driven to be successful, so even though at some points I just want to throw my hands up, I won’t.” Sure second semester can be stressful, but remember all the fun stuff that comes in these final quarters too! With these final months come warm weather, senior skip-day, spring break, spring sports, prom, graduation and PGP! Make these last months are memorable, and take advantage of these things and have fun with your friends, since you will never be in high school with them again. Find a Balance Having senioritis won’t pause the workload- you will still have tests, projects, and assignments to turn in. Especially in the midst of hearing back from colleges and internships, all of the schoolwork can be overwhelming. One key solution to this is to budget your time carefully and stay on top of all of your assignments. Fighting the desire to procrastinate and spending hours on your phone or with friends in advance will eventually give you tons of more free time to enjoy yourself without the stress of more work to do. Remember the Consequences As much as you want to give up in these last months, remember what you worked for in the past four years and what you could be giving up. These last few months do count, and with colleges still paying attention to your grades, you wouldn’t want them to revoke their acceptance when you are so close to being free. Keep up the hard work, be patient, and you will be relieved of your senioritis and rewarded for fighting it off when you walk across that stage in your cap and gown. Taylor Morton BMHS Pridetime Reporter  Procrastination is a term high school students are all too familiar with. Putting school work and assignments off till the last minute has become common practice. Most high school students will admit to procrastinating, and most of them have good reasoning for doing so- or so they think.
Bash Cunningham (‘18) says “I procrastinate because I have enough trust in myself that I’ll get my work done before an assignment is due but I always pt it off til the last second. “I like to be busy” says Valentina Zuleta a senior who likes to keep a full schedule. “I end up scheduling so many things in one day that I put off my work and end up with no time to complete it.” Ali Walsh (‘18) says she procrastinates on the classes she likes the most because their most often the easiest. “The simpler the assignment the more I procrastinate” says Walsh. With so many students pleading guilty to it, procrastination is a normalized problem. Although student schedules are filled with sports, clubs, college applications on top of the ridiculous amount of work teachers assign, its important to not wait to complete assignments last minute. According to physiologicalscience.org “Evidence suggests that putting off important tasks causes stress, and this additional stress contributes to negative psychophysiological impacts on the body” Mrs. Sullivan a health teacher at Brien McMahon High School says you should avoid procrastination at all costs. Procrastination may not seem like a big deal but it can seriously affect your health, attitude and body. “The biggest health risk with procrastination is sleep deprivation. Teenagers need at least 9 hours of sleep” says Sullivan. “If your doing a project at two a.m. your not going to get enough sleep.” Being sleep deprived from staying up late studying or finishing homework can lead to a poor attitude the next day in school. Your lack of sleep can affect your relationships with friends and faculty, increase stress and cause lack of motivation, and its all due to procrastination. “Procrastination is a vicious cycle” says Sullivan. And she's right. Once you start it's hard to stop. Despite this there are a few ways to help curb your procrastination and start being on top of your studies. Mrs. Sullivan says the first step is to eliminate distractions around you. The obvious answer to completing your work is getting rid of the distractions around you. Your phone is the biggest procrastination factor. By keeping your phone in a different room while studying you isolate yourself from distractions are more likely to get your work done and be more productive. Second, set a goal for yourself even if the goal is small. Sullivan says “Writing out your goal will make you more likely to achieve it. Written goals are also harder to forget. Finally, “Don’t be too hard on yourself!”. “One way for chronic procrastinators to reduce stress is by targeting the harsh self-critical thoughts that disrupt adaptive coping” says Physcologicalscience.org. If you start late on assignment don't internalize your frustration. Use your emotion and put the effort into your school work and assignments. Taylor Livingstone BMHS PrideTime Reporter The classic grilled cheese, it’s easy to make, only requires two ingredients. But most importantly, it’s delicious! People have combined cheese and bread for hundreds of years. To be exact, 1920 was around the time when the sandwich started to become popular. But in case you don’t know, the term “grilled cheese” didn’t make an appearance in cook books until the 1960’s. Anyway, humans have mastered the typical grilled cheese sandwich, so why not change the game? Here are three recipes that I came up with that change the average grilled cheese into a gourmet meal. Feel free to switch up the recipes and add in what you like! Enjoy!
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