The winter season is upon us, and as North Dakotans, we know the worst weather is yet to come. With a holiday break fast approaching and snow days looming in our near future, the Mustang Post has decided to deliver the news in a brand-new format…PODCASTS!
Despite our consistent mention of this upcoming feature, progress has been difficult to come by. Our staff has been busy interviewing, writing, designing, and more!
It is our utmost priority to deliver quality content, so that being said, this e-magazine has seen a late release for the holiday season. We appreciate your patience as we work through the details of creating content and learning how to use software that is new to each one of us.
Since we are so eager to share our passions and the school’s latest news even throughout the busy December month, blog posts will be scheduled for release sporadically, so stay on the lookout for a great read!
Make sure to stay warm for the holidays. We will see you next year!
There are many aspects to consider when creating a firm grasp on social dynamics. Things like circumstance, environment and relationships can determine how unique and diverse it can be.
Society has always been intertwined with the element of change, even if it’s forced. Considering all the characteristics of dynamics, this can be easily applied when it comes to the basic idea of school lunches, more specifically in Sheyenne.
If you were to think about it deeply, there is always a reason for certain students to sit in a particular spot and it varies based on their personal or practical interests.
But how do these types of things come to be? How does one decide to pick a preference in a place as common as a school cafeteria? There are many factors to evaluate to gain understanding.
Sheyenne Highschool cafeteria
We can first consider the new arrangement of the lunch tables that happened recently.
Due to this unexpected change, students have taken new spots to eat their meals since the ones they usually go to have been positioned differently from what they remember and yet they migrated to the same, general location yet created new lunchroom dynamics.
Everybody has a preferred spot to sit in the commons. Their reasons differ from each other based on how specific it can be.
Understandably, many students wished to remain anonymous. So, we won’t be using the students’ real names. Let start with, say Sam.
According to Sam, “I sit near the counseling office, because on the first day, me and my friend just chose that spot, so we have been sitting there.”
Based by this quote, it has been shown that circumstances may just have been rooted from an in the moment decision.
There is no deep reasoning other than the fact that they both chose a random spot and stuck with it since it was their first choice.
The same student shared that there were no benefits at all that relates to their position, and if there was a day that their seats were occupied, they would either sit on the front or the back of the commons but only for the reason of finding available seats and nothing more.
However, this versatility isn’t always the case. Many students refuse to sit anywhere else. They’ve chosen a table and that is their table.
Even within their groups, they have a seating chart: one friend sits on one stool and the others have their own stools.
Take, for example, Alex and Alex’s friend group. They have their seating positions set. This is because they sit together with another group of students well acquainted with one of their companions, who isn’t fond of eating lunch with just one group.
Alex and the others aren’t particularly familiar with them, so they tend to sit on the right while the other group sits on the left with the mutual friend between them.
This writes down that relationship status is considered when it comes to who sits beside who. According to a student who will be referred to as Tony, seating arrangements in his group are figured out by who is closer with who because, “Some people are like best friends.”
This checks out Alex’s situation as well. Several groups in the lunchroom consist of more than two students, a lot tend to sit closer to those they are more friendly with, creating a social dynamic that shows how familiar they are to other people.
In other circumstances, most lunch groups with two people prefer the other person to be across them rather than beside them. A student who will be named Amy agrees with this wholeheartedly.
“Me and my friend sit facing each other to talk easier.” she shared. “About whom sits where doesn’t really matter. My friend tends to be there first, so I just sit across wherever she is.”
Another student who will be called Chris made a similar statement as well. “I mean, I don’t like to turn my head to the side when I talk to my friend. It gets awkward later and I like to talk while looking at his entire face. That’s why I sit across him.”
This preference is based on how comfortable they prefer to talk to someone. Despite multiple people agreeing with sitting across their friend, there are some students that don’t mind being beside them either.
Someone who will be called Kim said, “I’m used to sitting beside my friend. I don’t really want to change that.”
The number of students in an area can also decide someone’s seating arrangements.
A student who will be referred to as “Tony” prefers an emptier and more obscured spot because he prefers a less crowded room.
But if he were to sit beside other people, he would like to sit near the “smart and goofy” students.
In contrast, Jody is more influenced by the types of people she sits next to.
Instead of choosing a more vacant area like Tony, she prefers a controlled environment where other students are not “jumping on tables and smashing food.” Which also lies in her sitting with quieter people.
This shows that many students have a bias when it comes to the personalities and behaviors of the people around them if they want to interact with anyone at all.
Usually, many students prefer minimum interaction in the lunchroom for reasons that involve their desire to have time for only themselves, but it doesn’t stop there.
Cooler area of the lunchroom
Room temperature is also a factor when it comes to choosing different seats.
Jody likes to sit near the doors because she likes a cooler environment. A student named Jacob also has the same preference.
“Anywhere is fine as long as it’s not in the heat.” He speaks.
From what was gathered, a few students want to be in the cooler area of the lunchroom. This ties with the fact that a crowded room will be likely to form up heat from body temperature.
I have noticed that Jacob doesn’t sit near the doors that lead outside, but he is around the area near the vending machines where the double doors that lead to a freezer are usually open and a cold breeze would come out from time to time, also he is always at the edge of the table, the area with less people.
Seating arrangements are also chosen by the conveniences that students want to be closer to for less distance between them and what they need.
Take for example, Jody; she likes it when she is close to the garbage cans and restrooms. The reasons are clear enough.
She likes to clean her tray with less time to waste compared to if she were to be across the room where her walk would be lengthy and time consuming.
Additionally, she would also use the restroom without worrying about borrowed time or vacancy.
Area near the restroom and garbage cans
Tony’s seating position is more on his convenience after lunch break ends. His arrangement helps him with his desired convenience to be closer to his next class.
This is applied to many other students who would be near the stairs or the tables across the theater or gym.
Time is of the essence and in this scenario, a factor in how students find their place in the lunchroom.
Surprisingly, the intent to be closer to people is a familiar factor in seating arrangements.
A student called John likes to sit beside someone he is interested in to increase the chances of them talking to each other.
Other students have also admitted to this but for the respect for privacy, no names will be revealed.
Based on all of this information, lunchroom dynamics are formed by one or more components based on what a student wants or needs.
Relationships, environment, peers and personal taste in certain parts of the room. All these alone create diverse surroundings revolving around a student’s preference.
This month Sheyenne High School celebrates a lineup of exceptional students and staff.
Students Blossom Ehibibe, Brynn Field, Jackson Hawkinson, Ella Mahler, Pedro Silveira, Justin Overas, and Cassie Swanson share this honor alongside staff Steph Cwikla, Sommer Forkenbrock, Royn Hohertz, Erin Kruckenburg, James Landman, Lindsey Simenson, and Mariah Weiss.
During October, the community recognizes many important causes, but it is crucial that our furry friends are not forgotten in the mix. Every year, October marks National Animal Safety and Prevention Month. The tradition that is best known for its slogan “Adopt, Don’t Shop.”
The hard truth is that these adorable faces come from not-so-appealing places called “puppy mills.” A puppy mill is typically characterized by unsanitary living conditions, starvation, unethical breeding, abuse, and illness.
Mistreatment alone is heartbreaking, but the concern continues to grow even after the pets are taken home by their new owners. Dogs especially require a lot of socialization, or introductions to many different environments. Without practice in situations the dog may find itself in when outside of the puppy mill, it is likely that behavioral issues will develop such as aggressive, territorial, or timid behaviors.
To take action against the inhumane conditions of these breeding sites, animal shelters across the country call on those looking for a new companion to consider adoption. However, it is crucial to consider the pros and cons of adoption.
All shelter animals undergo an evaluation of their behaviors, personality, skills, and manners. With this prior knowledge, you can find a perfect fit for your household. In addition, the animals are already trained with basic commands such as outdoor bathroom, crate, and leash training. To top it off, you are saving an animal’s life for a much smaller cost than buying a new puppy.
On the downside, there is no guarantee that there will be a specific breed or age range you are looking for. Also, though there are a lot of unethical people involved in breeding animals, licensed professionals still exist and are creating healthy purebred dogs.
Overall, the best way to go about finding the right pet is to take the time to look into its online profile.
Animal adoption can be daunting, but local shelters like For Luv of Dog Rescue offer fostering services too. After contacting frequent dog fostering parents, they shared, “You get to meet many dogs that will love you just for giving them a place to sleep. Being champions for those without a voice is one of the best things you could ever do.”
Respondents provided a lot of insight into just how good it feels to know you are giving an otherwise helpless animal the “second chance at the happy life they deserve.”
In the end, the large commitment of being a pet owner may not work out for everyone, but it is important to continue spreading the word about rescue and shelter animals. During the month of October, the Mustang Post encourages others to recognize the local shelters and honor their life-saving work.
Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
John Wooden was the UCLA mens basketball coach from 1948-1975 and won 10 national championships between 1964 and 1975. Photo courtesy Sports Illustrated.
Success is a word or concept that can be different for every person. Everyone wants to be successful, but it is a long road to get there. So what does it take?
Success can be defined in many ways according to a person’s hobbies, interests, or goals. It is not necessarily about being super rich or being MVP all the time. Although there is nothing wrong with wanting to make a lot of money and win awards, success should be about personal fulfillment.
Most people feel the need to be successful because they want to feel like they had a significant impact on the world. One of the biggest fears a lot of people have is looking back on a life that lacked impact or was unfulfilling. This is where hard work and being driven comes into play because there is only so much time a person gets on Earth.
The knowledge that your time on Earth will be up one day should create the focus and the need for accomplishing goals. Time is one of the most valuable things.
It takes a lot of dedication to achieve success and many people fail to work for what they want and expect everything to be given to them. That is not how it works.
Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, said this in his acceptance speech when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, “Nothing is ever going to be given to you. Everything is going to be earned. If you don’t go out and put in the work, you don’t go out and put in the effort, one you’re not going to get the results. But two, more importantly, you don’t deserve it, you didn’t earn it.”
Fortunately, it has never been easier to learn how to be successful than it is today. Perhaps this explains why there is more millionaires in the world today than there has ever been.
The first step is to stop looking for the silver bullet. That means to stop looking for the easy way out. Work and be creative! Success does not happen overnight.
Next of all, goals should be specific, attainable, have a date, and a purpose. There is nothing wrong with reaching out to people for help. Want to be successful? Learn from other people that are successful. However, do not look for validation.
Nothing kills happiness more than when a person decides to not follow their dreams. Do not be afraid to dream big: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.”
Ownership and belief in oneself leads to results. If it is a person’s goal to start their own business, they need to take ownership in themselves.
One of the best things about entrepreneurship is having the freedom to create a business from personal vision. Plus, taking self-ownership leads to enjoying the wins and learning from the losses. Most importantly, belief leads to achievement. It is all up to the individual to become successful.
There are many ways to achieve success in life. Becoming successful requires someone to stop looking for someone else to do it for them, create goals, to be dedicated, work hard, not look for validation, live their dreams, take ownership, build experience, to have self-discipline, and believe in themselves.
There are two options everyone can do. They can either sit back and not work for it or they can start creating, take some risks, discipline themselves, and work hard so they can earn it. Ultimately, make everyday count.
Sheyenne finished up homecoming week on Friday, September 16 with a win against Fargo Shanley’s football team and a dance afterwards. Leading up to those events was the traditional dress up week to show school spirit.
The Student Council organized five themes, and the student body rocked them all. Overall, homecoming week was not one to be forgotten. What better way to remember the good times than with a picture recap!
Adam Sandler Day
Adam Sandler day was new to Sheyenne’s dress up series, and it is safe to say that it was a huge success.
Iconic Group and Duo Day
Groups and duos got extra creative on Tuesday to come up with the most iconic character ideas!
Western Wednesday
On Wednesday there was a lot of participation in dressing for the wild west!
Jersey Day
Students sported their favorite jerseys for the dress up day on Thursday leading up to the homecoming football game and dance.
Games that took place during homecoming week. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.
Homecoming court rocked the pep rally and cleaned up nice for coronation. Congratulations to Jacob and Leziga, Sheyenne’s 2022 homecoming royalty!
Last year saw many changes for the Mustang Post, from new staff members (check out our staff page for more information – including personal bios!) and a new teacher, to a new blog website.
Additionally, with our improvement to an e-magazine format we were able to publish efficient updates to the student body on a monthly schedule. We learned to design and edit on various Adobe platforms and planned every page’s layout down to the pixel.
With all that being said, this year will also see changes as we continue to advance our understanding of technology and teamwork.
Looking toward the future, we hope to expand into podcasts and vlogs to engage a more modern audience and their interests.
Be on the lookout for more sports, arts, entertainment, and general coverage as the school year continues.
We can’t wait to share our growth and provide updates on all of Sheyenne’s greatest moments.
Thank you for your continued support of our program. Here’s to another year of growth, connections, and incredible achievements!
With immense gratitude, Hailey Boehme, Editor in Chief
There are many things to celebrate about our senior 2022 class at Sheyenne High School.
They have worked hard to become the people who they are today and will go into their future with lasting memories from their time at Sheyenne.
Vivienne Heidt, Paige Harry, and Logan Staska are some of the outstanding seniors who have made a great impact at Sheyenne.
Paige Harry is a senior here at Sheyenne High School who has participated in Swimming, Diving, and Cheer. During her swimming and diving career, she has made the 1st All-State Team, 2nd All-State Team, and the 1st All Conference Team. Paige holds a school record in Diving for Sheyenne. She is also on the National Honor Society, who has volunteered throughout her junior and senior year. Paige has lettered in academics, diving, and cheer. Once Paige graduates, she is going to college at South Dakota State University. She also wants to work at UCLA as a sports performance dietician and help coach their gymnastics program. Her favorite quote to live by is “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
Vivienne Heidt is a senior who has participated in Sheyenne Volleyball, Track and Field, Student Council, and Philanthropy and Youth. Vivienne is also a member of the National Honor Society at Sheyenne High School. Once she graduates, Vivienne will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout to continue her volleyball career, while studying Applied Chemistry and Molecular Biology in order to purse a career in forensic pathology. Vivienne’s favorite quote to live by is “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”-Antoine de Saint Exupery.
Logan Staska is a senior here at Sheyenne High School who is an inspiration to many of his peers. Logan is one of the broadcasters for Sheyenne Mustang Media. He also enjoys playing lacrosse for the Red River Valley Polars. After high school, Logan is going to the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for Sound Arts. He’s looking forward to become an audio engineer. Logan’s favorite quote is “Life is 5% of what happens and 95% is how you react to it.”
The Mustang Post 