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Chance for Change: Culture Shock

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CHANCE FOR CHANGE
By Dairell Alvarico and Wei YiChang
Hosted by Dairell Alvarico

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Dairell Alvarico: Good to see you all, and welcome to another episode of Sheyenne Perspectives. For this episode, I will be sharing the fun talks I had with Wei YiChang, a fellow journalist for The Mustang Post. As immigrants, we find a lot of similarities of what we experienced and what we aren’t used to when we first moved here.

Wei YiChang: Immigration is a difficult choice because the future is unknown, and we need to face a different culture, use different languages to have a conversation, everything is hard for me. There are a lot of differences between China and United States . I would like to talk about the differences between them. 

Dairell Alvarico: Welcome to Sheyenne Perspectives from Mustang Post News, I’m Dairell Alvarico.

Dairell Alvarico: So how is like going to school in China? 

Wei YiChang: The high school students go to school at 7a.m and go back to their home at 11 p.m. So that’s a long time, high school students stay in school sixteen each day, sixteen hours each day. 

Dairell Alvarico: And what are the breaks for that? 

Wei YiChang: What break? 

Dairell Alvarico: So, wait, so you stay in school sixteen hours a day and you don’t have any breaks? 

Wei YiChang: Actually, we have like thirty minutes to have lunch and dinner and no more. 

Dairell Alvarico: Just for lunch and dinner?  

Wei YiChang: Yes. 

Dairell Alvarico: So, you saying you still stay in school for dinner? 

Wei YiChang: Yes. 

Dairell Alvarico: Your entire life is basically school, just school, just like that. 

Wei YiChang: Yes, yes, we are, that’s so crazy. 

YiChang’s high school in China

Dairell Alvarico: So, if like that’s your school life. Mine more like, so we wake up on 4 to 5 A. M. in the morning, because the class starts at 7:00 A.M. and in the Philippines we don’t have hot water, if you have hot water, you are rich.

Middle class, even lower middle class, you buy a house, you buy an apartment, there is no hot water, so everything is just warm or cold, based how cold the day is, or how hot the day is.

Every school in Philippines we have to wear a uniform, even it is a public school, there are public schools in the Philippines but they still have uniforms for that.

Wei YiChang: Oh yeah, same

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, same?

Wei YiChang: Same. Public school is kind of for everyone you can go, but you also need pay. 

Dairell Alvarico: But what is the difference between private schools and public schools? 

Wei YiChang: Private school is more expensive, just more expensive. 

Dairell Alvarico: Is that the difference? 

Wei YiChang: Yeah, I think that is the only difference, so in China we just pay for it. 

Dairell Alvarico: You just pay for everything in China? 

Wei YiChang: Yeah.

Dairell Alvarico: If you have to have like an estimate how much school in China? 

Wei YiChang: Maybe 6000, it’s like, like- a 1000.

Dairell Alvarico: 1,000 US dollars?

Wei YiChang: Yeah.

Dairell Alvarico: But again, it’s expensive if you had to use that in China? 

Wei YiChang: Mmm yeah. 

Dairell Alvarico: So for my school, it was like 60k pesos.

Wei YiChang: Sixty?

Dairell Alvarico: Sixty like sixty thousand or seventy thousand each student. Each student for a whole year. But they don’t even don’t have air-con, they don’t have any air conditioning it’s only for like preschoolers and the seniors, if we wanted air conditioning, we have to go to the library, but that’s only during break. 

Dairell’s high school in the Philippines

Wei YiChang: But that’s really good you guys have a library. 

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, we have a library. 

Wei YiChang: We don’t, we don’t have, we don’t have a library. 

Dairell Alvarico: What do you mean you don’t have a library? 

Wei YiChang: Cause we don’t have library in our school. 

Dairell Alvarico: But like, what if you need books? 

Wei YiChang: Um yeah, but our teacher will give us book, and if you want to read some novels or something like that, you can’t have it. 

Dairell Alvarico: But what if you lose a book? 

Wei YiChang: Why you will lose a book? You use it all the time, all day. 

Dairell Alvarico: Wait, to be fair you do stay there most of the day. Where would you-

Wei YiChang: We stay in class most all the day, why there have someone to take your book? Why you will lose it? 

Dairell Alvarico: I arrived here January of 2021, right in the middle of winter. 

Wei YiChang: 2021?

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, 2021

Wei YiChang: I arrive here at January 22, in-

Dairell Alvarico: January 2022?

Wei YiChang: I think so.

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, I come here in the middle of winter and I think that was the worst timing for that, because we only have one season in the Philippines, and that’s summer.

Here is the one thing that I hated myself for, because before we moved to America, my favorite season was winter, because I romanticized winter so bad.

Wei YiChang: You are same like me, cause the city I live, we don’t have like any snow. 

Dairell Alvarico: Like no snow? 

Wei YiChang: No snow. So, I really want play snow, I want build a snowman or something like that. 

Dairell Alvarico: Oh my god, I did that, I want to build a snowman and snowball fight, its because like people kept saying that when they go to a country with like snow, They’re like oh my god, dude you make a snowman.

Wei YiChang: Yeah!

Dairell Alvarico: Snow angels, snowballs.

Wei YiChang: Yeah, so interesting. 

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, it’s like so interesting, like it sounded so fun. 

Wei YiChang: I just feel excited, cause my dad says is very cold here, I was just excited they have snow, I can build a snowman. I was so excited. But now, do you like snow now? 

Dairell Alvarico: God, no, oh my god, no. 

Wei YiChang: Same. 

Dairell Alvarico: We’ve lived here for so long. 

Wei YiChang: Yeah, so I really don’t like the snow and winter. 

Dairell Alvarico: Oh wait, for you what’s like a culture shock when you first moved here from China? 

Wei YiChang: Culture shock?

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah.

Wei YiChang: I don’t really know it, because I didn’t talk to lot other peoples, so I don’t really understand the culture shock.

Dairell Alvarico: I guess, maybe even like the tiny things-

Wei YiChang: I’m really afraid I will make some mistakes, so I just don’t talk. 

Dairell Alvarico: You can say one thing I’ve noticed is that, um people here are more social. 

Wei YiChang: Oh yeah. 

Dairell Alvarico: They’re more comfortable talking to strangers, is that same for you? 

Wei YiChang: I think so. 

Dairell Alvarico: Like how so? 

Wei YiChang: Cause I don’t really talk, but over here their have lot of people want to talk to me. 

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah that makes sense, because going past a stranger here and you’re like, “Good morning” 

Wei YiChang: Oh, yeah.

Dairell Alvarico: “Hello”

Wei YiChang: “How are you?” 

Dairell Alvarico: Do that in Philippines they think you’re weird, because nobody talks to anyone. You’re walking, go on your own way, mind your own business, no one says “good mooring”. 

Wei YiChang: Yeah, no one will talk to you. 

Dairell Alvarico: No one will talk to you, but in America –

Wei YiChang: They will,

Dairell Alvarico: They will. I like it in a way because-

Wei YiChang: I will just feel weird, cause if someone will talk to you, maybe they want something from you, but what they want? I don’t know it. In China if someone talk to me, like “good morning.” I will like oh my goodness, what happened? what things will happen next?

Dairell Alvarico: Someone does that here it’s like casual, you know? “good morning”, “Hello”.

Wei YiChang: Yeah, it’s very normal here, 

Dairell Alvarico: Yes, they’re better at talking to strangers. 

Dairell Alvarico: And also, fun fact… gas stations here, in the Philippines we have gas stations, but you don’t go out to pump you own gas. 

Wei YiChang: What does that mean? 

Dairell Alvarico: There always has somebody who will do it for you, I forgot, it’s actually a job. 

Wei YiChang: Oh, I see, we are the same. 

Dairell Alvarico: Same right? You tell them how many gallons you want or something-

Wei YiChang: They will help you.

Dairell Alvarico: Then you pay them, and they’ll do it for you. 

Wei YiChang: Will you guys give some tips? We don’t, we are never. 

Dairell Alvarico: There’s no tips? 

Wei YiChang: No. 

Dairell Alvarico: Wait, to be fair we don’t have tips either. We never tip. Literally never tip. But in here you tip, in the Philippines you pay, you leave. 

Wei YiChang: Yeah, just pay and leave. That’s ok. 

Dairell Alvarico: Pay leave, but here you got to tip, but for like the gas station, we just pay the guy to fill it up for us, and we leave, so you imagine the difficulty of going in here and we have to gas up and we look at it and we’re like what the hell of post to do. Because  for the entirety of my life, I have never gotten out to gas up my own car. It was until I had to come here and we had to do it ourselves.

Wei YiChang: I’m really lucky, beacuse my dad stay here for six years.

Dairell Alvarico: Oh, at least your dad knew some stuff. For me it was our whole, our entire family came here and we didn’t know anything so…that was bad in itself.

Wei YiChang: I think I more like the Chinese food in China, but I guess I prefer to study in United States because, here there’s more freedom. I like here more and the language is still hard for me so..

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, there’s so many barriers. If there’s any type of advice I would give to someone, it would be have patience, it’s a whole new country, you’re not familiar with anything, you were raised with different morals, different information and anything that makes you different from the people who lived in the United States their whole lives.

So, at some point it is inevitable that you’re going to see or expereince something that you have no knowledge of and that’s okay. Youre going to adjust, you’re going to adjust as you continue to live in the U.S and that’s the process.

Wei YiChang: I think they don’t need afraid of too much things because, if theyre really come here they will know here’s really free for them, they can do many things they want, so don’t be afraid too much.

Dairell Alvarico:You have so many things to discover, so many things to know, it’s the United States so you can say I’m pretty glad I moved here. Would you say the same thing?

Wei YiChang: Same, me too, yeah.

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, because we get to expereince things we’ve never seen in our own countries, and that’s a good thing. We’re expanding our knowledge.

Wei YiChang: I think, if they come to study in United States, they will be really relaxed because you have more freedom, you don’t need to spend lot of time in school. More time to do my, do artwork because I had no time to make in China. and what a change…change!

Dairell Alvarico: I do have to say, change can be a good thing.

Wei YiChang: Yes, yes change is good thing.

Dairell Alvarico: It’s just, you know pretty bad at the start. Immigration can be just like that, all you gotta do is guide it to the right direction and you’re going to have more opportunities, you’re gonna learn new things and you’re going to-

Wei YiChang: More chance

Dairell Alvarico: Yeah, you’re gonna develop more as a person. And, that’s nice to think about.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Dairell Alvarico: This podcast was recorded and edited by Dairell Alvarico.

Wei YiChang: And Wei YiChang

Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson.

Dairell Alvarico: Thank you so much, Sunny. I enjoyed the time and effort you made into making this podcast with me.

Wei YiChang: Thank you, I really the casual talk with you.

So long, everyone. We hope to see you on the next episode of Sheyenne Perspectives.

Dairell Alvarico: This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

Persona’s Impact on Art

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EPISODE SIX: Persona Impacts Art
By Dairell Alvarico
Hosted by Dairell Alvarico

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Dairell Alvarico:

Great to see you all again everyone. Here’s to our second year with our new format: Podcasts.

I am excited to introduce the first episode for the year, one that dives into the art scene, more specifically the  impact of someone’s persona when it comes to creating art, the personalization of intricate details and how life experiences and preferences shape the focus of a canvas. 

Welcome to Sheyenne Perspectives from Mustang Post News, I’m Dairell Alvarico.

Dairell Alvarico: Creativity in the form of art can show how diverse society can be. A lifestyle, a talent, some personal affiliation that makes someone who they are. In all four corners of the world, creativity can be sought and shaped. From the first line of a child’s drawing to the beginning stitches of a single crochet. 

It would be no surprise that in the very walls of Sheyenne, creativity runs a great deal among the students. Take, for example, our Artist Spotlight on last year’s issues, previous talents such as Field, Karianna, and Brianna were, rightfully so, displaying their amazing art on The Mustang Post. 

When it comes to their implications and moral messages, it was definitely not scarce. Their works were brimming with their own personal touch, an element that makes an artwork distinct from its peers.

Throughout time, different artworks can reflect an artist’s persona and experience. In this episode, we delve deep into the personal aspects of art and its creation, and answer the question: how can a work of art mirror a student’s diversity? 

In order to gain more insight on this topic, I have gathered people who are familiar with art and creativity and can give a broader perspective about it.

 

Reagan: My name is Reagan Koppelman, I’m a junior.

Autumn: My name is Autumn Radebaugh, I’m a senior.

Ms. Murphy: I’m Miss Murphy, I’m an art teacher here.

Dairell Alvarico: Art has different meanings for different people: it is ambiguous, it’s fluid and diverse and is sprinkled with details that derive from a person’s interests and experiences. This concept is the basis of what persona can do to influence art, and it is very much so with their unique responses to my simple question: what is art?

Reagan: For me, Art is I guess primarily like a hobby.

Dairell Alvarico: That’s Reagan Koppleman.

Reagan: Like a way to express myself and just like cool off like aside from just like basic like primarily academic focused classes art is like a way to like channel basic my views and like the things that I think in like a constructive way which can also just be fun, win awards, stuff like that.

Dairell Alvarico: Reagan focuses more on portraying what he sees of society’s affairs and how he can express his perspective of  it visually. His view on art leans towards it being a medium, his works are tied to his beliefs… a frame of reference of the outlooks he has on topics that are prevalent for editorial cartoons.

Reagan: Last year, I didn’t do arts I got back into it this year with an independent study with Ms. Hopper and the first piece I did it’s what I’ve been thinking for a bit it’s called “Night of the Woke” right now, it’s over at MSU and it’s basically its a political cartoon in the style of like old like 50s pole- poor comic and it’s basically focuses on like my views and it’s kind of like a criticism of like fear mongering used by like the GOP and stuff. Like within schools to express their own agendas and to marginalize different communities and stuff.

Night of the Woke by Reagan Koppelman

Dairell Alvarico: Autumn has a similar attitude towards art, however her point of interest is on spreading the appreciation of beauty.

Autumn: I feel like a big thing for art for me is like, In Senior Comp. we did like uh a little thing . Where we like picked three of our biggest values and one of the ones I picked was beauty because I feel like , there a lot of like importance in appreciating the beauty of like, not only of the outside world but also like, focus on inside everyone’s minds and stuff so I feel like a big part of art for me is recognizing and spreading beauty.

Dairell Alvarico: Beauty is everywhere in art, it’s the fire that motivates society to turn their heads and admire the work artists put and yet beauty isn’t the only response art creates: revulsion, disgust, confusion, introspection, and much more. 

Those responses, from enrapt beauty to rejection are difficult to portray, but how does an artist get to the point where they can make an audience respond the way they intend? Perhaps it has something to do with an artist’s growth, their development of style and skill that translates into audience manipulation as they develop their persona throughout the years.

Ms. Murphy: I think art can really be a great way to reflect society, uh where we’re at as a species along with like you know the personal venture that people have with art work.

Dairell Alvarico: As an art teacher, Ms. Murphy has observed what students can do as they slowly understand their potential and what they can pursue…when it comes to filling a blank canvas. Reagan and Autumn definitely fit the bill seeing as she spoke with her arms raised to gesture to them both.

Ms. Murphy: At this point in their lives um you know teenagers are really figuring out how to express themselves through their own personal lens um so I think that comes out through their artwork and I think especially these two how they see the world and interact with it.

Dairell Alvarico: Expression is what a teenager holds close to their heart, it’s part of the stepping stones that lead them to discover who they are and what they want. In this phase of life, they discover the deeper intention of the world’s angle: Socially, psychologically and politically.

Ms. Murphy held true to her words FOR not long after, the two students shared their inspirations that were brimming with their own personal touch, and of what connection they have with their work that’s parallel to their own lives.

For instance, Autumn previously shared that she recognizes and spreads beauty, and that made me wonder. How does she convey that in her art in regards to that?

So of course, I had to ask her. 

And when I did, she leaned forward into the mic, her face deep in thought.

Autumn: I suppose, I have a work in progress right now where it’s um. It’s a sculpture of a girl and she’s like standing in water and screaming basically and I’m going to like paint the surface of the sculpture with oil paint and it’s going to depict um like a family on the ocean on one side and the other side like somebody alone on the other side and that one has a lot more meaning because it’s like, for me it’s about my relationship with like home. I’ve always felt drawn to the ocean and it always felt like home.

Sculpture made by Autumn Radebaugh

Dairell Alvarico: There is beauty in knowing that home is where the heart is, and yet within the heart bears the feeling of desolation where one can truly feel alone, so much that you can even almost scream.

However no matter the agony, as long as there’s a door that welcomes you, as long as there is the familiar warmth of an awaiting embrace. A family, you can’t truly be alone despite being oceans apart. You’re drawn in, the unbending connection of tranquility, comfort, and contentment. A sorrowful thoughtfulness that emancipates the hidden beauty of home.

As for Reagan, his inspiration originates directly from the environment he grew up in, and the dynamic within his family.

Reagan: I only started pol cartoons recently but I guess my dad, my grandpa, they’re both politicians. My mom was a paralegal so I had lots of connections to like government and law. Um and I guess and also being in things like debate, speech and like student congress now I recently started mock trial team uh I guess politics have always been central in my life it’s just only now I’ve really started expressing my own views on them.

Dairell Alvarico: The amount of key elements in Reagan’s life, such as the extracurricular activities he joined and the career of his parents and grandfather have helped bolster his ideal standing when it comes to expressing his art. 

The political agenda, its effect in society and all the branches under the umbrella term has created leeway for Reagan’s creative undertakings to be manifested into canvas.

What he has learned from his family, his clubs and personal journey has formed his own take of what he perceives of politics. It merged with his persona, his way of thinking and what he believes in. Dabbing in politics is a huge chunk of his persona,

and to take it further up a notch, he expands his agenda with illustrating ideas to make it visional, with its own straight to the point message.

Reagan and Autumn are like two sides of the same coin. They love art, that’s evident enough, they love to create, to make their ideas a reality. It is what makes them stand out, to be their own person and Ms. Murphy couldn’t agree more.

Ms. Murphy: But definitely especially with these two being a junior and a senior you see some deeper development and personal voice in their work. Um, and even just now sitting here listening to these two talk about it. I was like, oh yeah of course.

Dairell Alvarico: But how can these two be so different from each other? What makes them unique? What can they do to further express themselves in the long run?

I turned to Ms. Murphy again, knowing that she would have the answer to that.

Ms. Murphy: Autumn’s soft sensibility I think is also present in her work and um it’s really exciting to see that happen. I know Autumn’s interested in career in art um looking into that so definitely for her, like developing a portfolio, having a strong voice, those are things that will help you get into a solid art program, and um just learning to think like an artist I think is really important for everybody.

Ms. Murphy: Reagan’s sense of humor I think is very present in his work. I don’t really know what Reagans gonna do with the rest of his life, but um again developing critical thinking skills, uh taking feedback, being able to dissect the world around you are all important skills that adults need.

Dairell Alvarico: How marvelous it is, how intricate yet passionate that in the art scene anyone can do anything with what they want to express, what they want portrayed to the rest of the world. Sharing a part of themselves that is so personal and important, that harnessing the imagination of its agenda results in multiple paths of articulate meaning.

Every time you walk past an art gallery full of works from various artists, even the displays outside by the 1202 art room in Sheyenne, you are unraveling someone’s growth and diversity that led them up to that point. With your own eyes, you are witnessing someone’s identity.

May it be a sculpture of a woman screaming in water, or a depiction of school censorship on watercolor papers or Bristol boards. The diverse results that are presented to the public is more than just work, it’s an artist’s personality, their experience, their life. Look closer into it and you can see truly how persona can impact art.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Dairell Alvarico: This podcast was recorded and edited by Dairell Alvarico.

Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. Thank you, Reagan, Autumn and Ms. Murphy, for sharing their wonderful thoughts and experiences. 

So long, everyone. We hope to see you on the next episode of Sheyenne Perspectives.

This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

Chance for Change: Immigration

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EPISODE FIVE: CHANCE FOR CHANGE
By Dairell Alvarico
Hosted by Hailey Boehme

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme:

Good to see you again, everyone. From Mustang Post News, this is Sheyenne Perspectives. I’m Hailey Boehme.  

In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips delved into creativity’s drive on the theatrical stage. 

This week Dairell Alvarico focuses on a chance for change through the personal experiences of new student immigrants, their personal struggles, and their joys.  

Here’s Dairell. 

Dairell Alvarico: In my last podcast, I discussed the concept of change in the lunchroom and how students adapt into various environments that come their way. To add a little insight, the majority did not want to change at all, they would rather stay consistent.  

Now that we have gathered more understanding towards the topic, I figured I’d branch out more on the subject. Change does not limit in the lunchroom, it also affects people’s lives aside from school; giving them the opportunity to pave a path they made for themselves, and grasping the new obstacles that would either be used to improve their personal development or bring up walls of regret that would take time to break down.  

One circumstance that checks off this list is the process of adapting into a whole new country. This type of change exceeds most struggles relating to the lunchroom; trying to find a vacant spot near the restroom does not compare to the anxiety of not knowing what the next step is when you are in an unfamiliar area.  

A lot of students here in Sheyenne Highschool moved in America from all distinct parts of the world, learning their ways, and experiencing new heights of appreciation or depreciation towards change.  

The American Dream. People who moved here are bound to hear that term at some point, maybe a lot. Great jobs, great pay, more opportunities, and benefits: Land of the Free. But how does this romanticized expectation change their lives in the long run?  

This episode, I have gathered stories of fellow immigrants. All of them have something to share, something to reflect on, to reveal that the life of an immigrant is not easy at first, there is always going to be something that holds them back.  

Now we get to hear what they’ve been through, what they learned, and how they developed their skills and abilities to adapt to the U.S and finally call this place their home.  

There’s always a beginning to all this. Something that convinced them to make the decision to move here. Coincidentally, they are not that different from each other. 

Jacob: Apparently my, like my parents found out this like job that was here in the U.S, through Facebook which is probably the most oddest thing you’ll ever see, in Facebooks. And then like we had like go to like the Bureaucratic nightmare of the Philippines. And we like go up and down to these bureaucratic offices, and we uh had to really like ask them, if they’re willing to do it. They had to like beg them.”   
 

Manila (Capital of the Philippines)

Dairell Alvarico: Another student, whom we will call Sam, had a similar scenario, one that involved her dad and his drive to finish his education. Here is an excerpt from her story: 

Sam: My father decided to come to America to get his master’s degree when I was in second grade. I was so astonished when I found out we were heading to America because I didn’t want to leave my friends and move out of Saudi Arabia to a place we had never visited before. We had argued with my dad about not wanting to go to America because first we didn’t speak the language, English, and we have no idea about America and how things over there work out.  

Dairell Alvarico: Sam and Jacob’s experiences are not that far from each other. In their cases, it was their parents who set the motion to move to America.

This is a very common reason, especially on immigrant children. They may have never even thought of the U.S until their parents mentioned it, and when they do, they are also doing it to give their kids a better life. Like John, who was hesitant at first, but later saw this opportunity as a blessing in disguise, which he makes clear when he wrote his story.  

John: Reasons why I moved here? To have a better tomorrow. Every immigrant would have the same answer as me, but the future my parents wanted me to have was an American Education. I wish I had a choice; I wish I could stay in the place I am used to, but I am here and I can’t do anything anymore. So, I have to do this.   

Dairell Alvarico: John was supposed to move here when he already graduated high-school, but the plan changed and he arrived one year early. This took a toll on him; he wanted to graduate with his friends. He felt at home and didn’t want to spend his last high-school years in a whole new country, but his parents insisted.  

This is one of the most difficult things to do to when moving. Leaving your friends and dreading making new ones, since it can be a bit overwhelming, thinking that you’re different than everybody else. It affects them so much, depleting their confidence and anticipation to learn new things. 

John: Leaving my friends, the high-school graduation I always wanted, was so hard for me because I’m graduating here instead of home. 

Dairell Alvarico: But John wasn’t alone on this one. Sam struggled among her peers as well. 

Sam: I wasn’t fluent in English, only knew just a few basic phrases when I arrived in America. So, my first day of school wasn’t really great. When you travel from one country to another, everything is different: the language, friends, lifestyles, and so on. My teacher was giving me a school tour as I walked; to be honest, I didn’t even understand a single word and was just nodding my head the entire time, wanting to be over with it. My father came to get me out after 3rd period to see how I was doing. With tears in my eyes, I told my father that I wanted to go back.

Dairell Alvarico: English is a very widespread language, but not everybody knows it. And when it comes to moving to America, knowing English is what gets you through basic everyday life.

So, Sam was already a mess. She could not understand anything around her. Overcome with anxiety, her first few days were so bad, it was enough for her to want to go back home. 

Jacob on the other hand, did not have these types of struggles. If anything, he actually anticipated moving to America. He was eager to experience things he couldn’t do in the Philippines, and won’t hesitate to share his opinions on it. 

Jacob: A lot of stuff actually. I could just get like the stuff I want, that was like being imported before I get it. I had to get stuff like that, because they were imported and they’re expensive too, and I could just get it for a dollar and a half.  

Dairell Alvarico: If you care to share, what’s like one negative thing that you experienced.  

Jacob: I started working in fast food, ooh man they kinda, kinda entitled not gonna lie, like I don’t know like they’ve been requesting stuff that should not be, you know it’s not even part of their order.  

Dairell Alvarico: While Sam and John were mostly worried about the people around them and how to cope with their new life, Jacob was more concerned about the transit system. 

Jacob: I mean, I expected them to have like a good like, transportation system when I came here, you know you don’t need to ride a personal car. But then, we still had to buy a car. 

Dairell Alvarico: To add more context, the transportation in the Philippines has multiple options. From calling a taxi to randomly riding on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle for less than two dollars.

There’s so many vehicles to pick from that not having your own personal vehicle isn’t a huge deal. So, in Jacob’s case, he wasn’t used to it at all. 

There’s always a way to get comfortable with change. There’s time, and patience to adjust themselves to feel comfortable and safe in America. 

Sam knew that her not knowing English held her back, so she did her very best to learn it. 

Sam: Taking English classes has greatly helped and improved my English compared to when I first arrived. Being bilingual is uncommon in my country; yet, knowing how to communicate in another language, particularly English, opens doors to greater and more chances.   

Sam: Looking back, I believe I would not be where I am today if I hadn’t gone through these obstacles. I felt like I wasn’t going to make it at the time, and that nothing I was doing, especially reading a book, would help me improve my English. However, I have discovered that no matter what you do, you will achieve a result. 

Dairell Alvarico: John was still bummed out about leaving the people he’s close with, so he grew into his curiosity of experiencing what it’s like to be in America, slowly getting used to it.   

John: Studying in Sheyenne is different to what I’m used to. But change is nice overall, I love understanding different cultures beyond what I’m used to. It’s nice on behalf of the weirdness and cultural shock. It’s nice to see what’s on the other side of the wall (metaphorically) 

John: The silver lining is I became a better person here, I lost mostly everything I ever was, but I became the person I thought I would be.

Dairell Alvarico: Everybody has a certain reaction moving to America. Fear, excitement, anxiety or all of them at once. But what really matters if how they push through and adapt into the people they are now. Change can be scary, mainly because it’s what would push people to a different path than they predicted. 

The people in these stories did see it through, because there’s always a way when it comes to change. They accepted it, found their peace and paved a new path for themselves. 

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change” Jim Rohn, a motivational speaker said that and I am confident to say that these people’s stories are proof that this quote is true. 

Change can be a good thing, it’s just pretty bad at the start. Immigration can be just like that. All you got to do is guide it to the right direction. 

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: This podcast was recorded and edited by Dairell Alvarico and hosted by Hailey Boehme. 

Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. Thank you, Dave and Jewelyn, for narrating the excerpts. We’d also like to thank Sam, John, and Jacob for sharing their wonderful stories. 

This wraps up Sheyenne Perspectives for this school year. We appreciate you, our listeners, and hope you’ve enjoyed Sheyenne Perspectives.  

So long everyone. We’ll see you next year. 

This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives, Sports

Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected

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PART TWO: THE THRILL OF VICTORY
By Jaxson Miller
Hosted by Hailey Boehme

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Hello everyone. This is Sheyenne perspectives, and I’m your host, Hailey Boehme, with Mustang Post News.

In Jaxson’s last episode of Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected, Sheyenne football’s defeat and heartache was his focus.

If you missed this podcast or any other releases, they’re all free to stream on mustangpost.news.

This week, Jaxson wraps up his two-part podcast by taking a turn toward Sheyenne volleyball’s state championship victory and joy.

Here’s Jaxson.

Jaxson Miller: A couple of weeks later, Sheyenne’s volleyball team was back in the state tournament once again. Even before the Mustangs catapulted themselves into the history books, the season they were having was already historic.

The Mustangs won their first 22 games, their best start in program history, finished undefeated in the EDC conference, which helped them capture the EDC regular season title, and then they went on to win the EDC conference tournament.

Sheyenne entered the state tournament 32-2 and had to face a tough Bismarck St. Mary’s squad. The Mustangs swept the Saints.

Next up was the Jamestown Blue Jays. In another great performance, the Sheyenne Mustangs were able to get the sweep against another solid team. They were heading to the state championship for the first time in program history.

Kennedy Colter, one of the top servers on the team and one of the eight seniors on the team, described what she felt throughout the state tournament.

Kennedy Colter: “I think that whole weekend, I thought I was going to have a million heart attacks. That whole weekend was a lot because every game is so important. But, after winning that second game it still didn’t hit me because… just beating Jamestown, they are really good team, and we had to come out… and that we played really good against Jamestown so taking that whole game in was a lot after the game and I don’t think it hit me until later that night… like… holy cow, this isn’t real… like… we are actually going to the state championship.”

Kennedy Colter serving during Sheyenne’s matchup against Fargo Shanley on September 27, 2022. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.

Jaxson Miller: Sheyenne had to face Bismarck Century, a team that was in the state championship for the 12th straight year, a team that was looking for their 10th state title, and their 8th in the last 12 seasons. An absolute dynasty.

Did that bring a lot of pressure or nerves to the Mustangs? Of course. That is part of being an athlete. If there are not any nerves, there is something wrong.

The best athletes in the world get nervous. The players or teams that win are the ones that are equipped to handle it. So how did Kennedy and her teammates manage their nerves?

Kennedy Colter: Our team has two songs that we like to play before big games and to get us into the mindset of how important volleyball is to us and how much we care about each other. We play “I Lived” and “Halo.” And we were like, ‘Okay we have all this extra time’ before the game ‘Let’s play the song’ so we turned off the lights, we all got in a circle, and you could just feel that everyone wanted to win, and that everyone loved each other… we still do. It was a really good feeling and I think that helped calm my nerves down. I think all of us were crying, bawling our eyes out before the game, so that was great, but it was just that moment where we all got together, looked at each other, and it was like… this is the last game we will ever play together as a team, and for some of us, ever again, so it just meant a lot to know that everyone in that huddle had each other’s backs.”

Jaxson Miller: Sheyenne had faith that they could beat this dynasty of a team that Bismarck Century was.

Sheyenne beat Bismarck Century at the Bismarck Crossover, where the teams from the EDC, the Eastern Dakota Conference, travel West to play teams from the WDA, the Western Dakota Association.

Century got the upper hand against Sheyenne at the Fargo Invite towards the middle part of the regular season.

The Mustangs and the Patriots were the top two teams in the Class A state poll all season long. With each team splitting the amount of time spent at the number one spot, it was the perfect matchup for a state championship game.

[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

And the Mustangs did not shy away. They came out with a great amount of intensity and won the first set 25-21. Century responded with an early lead in the second set and won the second set 25-22.

Throughout the third set, Sheyenne and Century traded points with each other until Sheyenne was able to pull away. At this point, they were just one set away from their first ever state title, in their first ever state title game.

[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: As a winning program, Century was simply not going to back down. With their backs against the walls, Century responded with clutch defense and minimal errors in the fourth set.

However, despite taking the fourth set, the momentum did shift back towards Sheyenne late in the set.

The Patriots had a lead of 24-18, but the Mustangs went on a five-point run to get the lead down to one before Century setter, Geneva Ding, faked out the Mustangs and got the point to close out the fourth set, 25-23.

[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: The next set could have gone either way as it was a winner-takes-all scenario. What more could you have asked for as a fan? There was not a lot of room for errors. It came down to who wanted it more.

After the first half of the fifth set went back and forth, Sheyenne went on 5-1 run to go up 12-7. Century called timeout.

That momentum for Sheyenne did not stop. The Mustangs did not collapse and kept their foot on the gas pedal. Great setting by Kennedy led to Isabelle Albrecht and Lexus Terhark each getting a kill to make it a 14-8 game.

Sheyenne was now just one point away from knocking off Century and capturing their first ever state championship.

On the last serve of the game, Century was able to return the ball over the net. Khloe Brown passed to Brooke Johnson, who was serving to close out the game. Brooke Johnson gave outside hitter Reagan Bogenreif a great set.

Bogenreif rose and hit the ball with great power. Century’s front row almost blocked it but… the ball made contact with the ground. At that moment, just a little after midnight, Sheyenne reached the summit at long last. They dethroned the Patriots.

[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

KENNEDY COLTER: “I personally didn’t even see Reagan’s hit hit the ground. I didn’t even know, I was in an awkward spot, I couldn’t see, so I was like, ‘If everyone starts running, we won.’ And then everyone started running, and I just followed them. I was like, ‘This is not real’ and it was crazy. The best part of it was… I was sitting there… I think it was the fourth set and only in front of me, I could see our parents, our fans, and the Century fans. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’ so I was like, ‘You know what? I need to take this all in.’ I stand up, I look around, and behind us is all the teams from the East, the West, and just everyone watching the game, cheering for us, so excited that they were jumping up for every single point. To have that feeling of everyone in the gym besides the Century fans cheering for you is something I will never forget, and that was a really cool experience too.”

Jaxson Miller: Kennedy says that what went on in all the huddles that occurred during the timeouts throughout the course of the match were a big factor.

Kennedy Colter: “I think that she (Newton) was just telling us to keep playing our game and to not get scared or tighten up because that is not going to help you win at all. I think when we got that run at the end of the fourth set, that really helped our momentum coming into the fifth set. I think that is really important and a huge thing in volleyball, is having the momentum of the game and although we did lose the fourth set, we did bring a lot of momentum into the fifth set, which was very helpful and that did push us to win the fifth set.

Jaxson Miller: Aiden Knodel was one of the many fans in the Bismarck Event Center that evening. He was in the student section with some friends.

Aiden Knodel: “Just seeing the redemption that the volleyball team was able to make up for our shortcomings, it was a really cool experience to witness and probably out of all the sporting events I have been to, it honestly was just like… crazy to watch, just the amount of energy that was inside the gym and just watching the emotions of the players, it was really cool to watch. And it kind of makes your heart ache because it is something that you wanted for yourself, but to see someone else go do that for you, was also a really cool experience.”

Jaxson Miller: It took Sheyenne’s volleyball team nine years to finally bring home a state championship trophy. The next step is to build off of this. They will have a good number of seniors to lead the team next year and will look to repeat as state champions.

The football team is hoping to rebound from the disappointing end to the 2022 season and return with vengeance next season.

Here’s the thing with sports, whether you achieve your storybook ending or not, it is important to understand that sports offer us the life-changing lessons that we need to grow as people and to make this world a better place. And for us to bounce back from our failures and our shortcomings.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]  

Hailey Boehme: This podcast was recorded and edited by Jaxson Miller and hosted by Hailey Boehme. Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson (BURNT-son). Our thanks goes to Aiden Knodel and Kennedy Colter for their insight and time interviewing as well as Mustang Media and BEK Sports Network for providing the sports broadcast audio in this two-part podcast.

In our next episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips returns for part two of his feature on creativity.

So long everyone. We’ll see you soon.

This has been a production of Mustang Post News.

 

Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives, Sports

Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected

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PART ONE: THE PAIN OF THE UNEXPECTED
By Jaxson Miller
Hosted by Hailey Boehme

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Hey everyone! It’s your host, Hailey Boehme, and I’m here to welcome you back to another episode of Sheyenne Perspectives from Mustang Post News.

In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips delved into the human desire to create and share those creations.  

This week Jaxson Miller continues our series by taking a look at Sheyenne High School’s volleyball and football teams and how wins, losses, and the unexpected affected them.

Here’s Jaxson.

Jaxson Miller: The court.

[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: The field.

[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: Sports. They make the world a better place. They relate to the GAME we call LIFE.

There are highs. After a thrilling state title victory, the team is on top of the world.

Yet, there are lows. There is agony. There is loss. And that loss is made even worse when it’s unexpected.

In this podcast, we’ll look at those losses AND the wins. But really, we’re focusing on the unexpected and how that truly impacts teams and teammates.

Sheyenne wide receiver Aiden Knodel looking to block during an offensive play against Bismarck Century during their 11AA quarterfinal game on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Essentia Health Mustang Stadium.

Jaxson Miller: When our expectations are not met, how do we react and why do we react the way we do? Change or the unexpected is hard, challenging. And yet, in that change, or in the unexpected, there’s more to learn, more to achieve, more to reflect upon, more to look forward to.

The Sheyenne football and volleyball teams’ seasons ended just a few weeks apart. One team achieved state title glory for the first time in program history and the other suffered an agonizing defeat in the first round of the playoffs.

The football team was upset in the quarterfinal round of the 11AA playoffs by Bismarck Century, who won 27-8 on Sheyenne’s turf at Essentia Health Mustang Stadium. The Mustangs were the number one seed and were looking to win their second consecutive title after taking home their first crown last year.

Aiden Knodel, who is a senior at Sheyenne High School, was pumped throughout the week leading up to that Friday night playoff game against Bismarck Century.

The Mustangs finished the regular season strong by beating Mandan at home, 28-17, in the regular season finale. The Mustangs and the Braves were the top two ranked teams in the state at the time and the Mustangs captured the number one seed for the playoffs with the win and extended their winning streak to seven games in a row.

[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Aiden Knodel: Throughout the week we knew it was a playoff game, a playoff atmosphere. The week prior, we played Mandan, which was a team that we thought we would be able to see later in the playoffs, potentially a championship level team, and we were pretty high coming off that win, but our preparation was definitely serious for Century knowing that they have gotten the better of us before in years prior. During the regular season we were able to beat them 42-14. So in that element I feel like we maybe could have underestimated them, but because it was a playoff scenario I feel like everyone was locked in and ready to go.

Jaxson Miller: The Mustangs were looking to jump start another playoff run to reach their fourth consecutive Dakota Bowl and have a shot at winning back-to-back state titles.

However, the Patriots came out firing on all cylinders to start the game. The Mustangs fumbled on their second drive of the game and the Patriots capitalized. Throughout the first half, Sheyenne’s offense could not get anything rolling and they trailed 14-0 at halftime… something they were not used to all season.

[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: And the momentum for Bismarck Century continued into the beginning of the second half. On 3rd & 8, with a little over nine minutes to go in the third quarter, quarterback, Kyan Barth, connected with running back, Peyton Arndt, for a 38-yard touchdown to extend Century’s lead to 20.

[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: Trailing 20-0 in the third quarter, the Mustangs’ offense was finally able to find a spark on their next drive. They responded by marching down the field easily. The drive was capped off by a Kaden Rahr rushing touchdown. Sheyenne converted on the two-point conversion to make it a 20-8 ballgame.

[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]

Jaxson Miller: However, that spark would not last long. The offense stalled again. Despite the defense keeping the Patriots at 20 points for most of the second half, the Mustangs could not climb themselves out of the hole that they were in. Aiden could not believe what was happening.

Aiden Knodel: Never did it cross my mind that we would be in that situation where we would be down, and it was just like… we were getting beat pretty bad at that point. Never in my mind did I think that we would lose that game. So, as the clock was ticking down, it was a shock to me as I was just standing there. It felt out of my control. Nothing I could do. It just felt like a bad dream.

Jaxson Miller: Bismarck Century went on to win 27-8. Just like that, Sheyenne’s season… was over. There would be no back-to-back champion. There was not much to say.

Aiden Knodel: After the game, the locker room was honestly really quiet. Nobody had much to say. There was lots of hugs, some tears. It was definitely the most emotional I have ever had in sports where you have been growing up with these kids your entire life and it is like the last time you are going to be able to share a field, share a court, like any of that, with lots of those kids. It is really surreal, and you are realizing that your sports career is coming to an end. All the friends, all the relationships, every practice you go to, you start to miss that type of stuff and miss those connections that you used to have.

Jaxson Miller: It is hard to describe the amount of agony an athlete feels after an upset loss. It is like getting punched in the gut, like something that you wanted for so long just suddenly becomes out of reach.

But yet, in these agonizing moments, sports offer us life changing lessons that can prepare us for tough times in the future.

Aiden Knodel: Never take anything granted. I thought my football career would end with playing in a state championship where I would know that it is the last game I will every play. Luckily for you, when you got to that championship, you knew this was the last game I was going to be playing these girls, last game I was going to be playing with these guys. That is what I thought I was going to be feeling. I felt like that was stripped away from me so suddenly, so shockingly, I definitely thought that I kind of took things for granted. I didn’t really love every moment that I should have. Just don’t take anything for granted.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Sheyenne’s football team may have suffered from over confidence. And maybe that led to the unexpected… their early exit from the playoffs. But what if confidence is completely justified? What if the outcome defies the expected, defies defeat? That’s where Jaxson Miller will continue, next time in Part Two of Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected on Sheyenne Perspectives.

See you soon everyone.

This has been a production of Mustang Post News.

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

Driven by Creativity and Collaboration in Cinema

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EPISODE THREE: CREATIVES IN CINEMA
By Carter M. Phillips

Official Transcript:

SOUND: THEME SONG FADE IN TO FULL THEN FADE TO LOW

Welcome back, everyone. From Mustang Post News, West Fargo, this is Sheyenne Perspectives. I’m Hailey Boehme.

SOUND: THEME SONG FULL

You know, sometimes things just don’t turn out the way you expected. Snow days. Illnesses. Absences. And general bad luck. But! We’re back on track with our latest podcast.

In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Logan Jacobs reflected on success in the music industry.

SOUND: THEME SONG FADE

This week Carter Phillips continues our series through the lens of creativity and why people are driven to use it both the stage and behind the camera. Here’s Carter.

SOUND: THEME SONG INCREASE (5 to 10 seconds)

CARTER M. PHILLIPS

What will last after we are gone? Art and brick might be the only things in this world that outlive us. And can the inhuman read without a Rosetta stone, or admire music without understanding the words? They can see images, and people, alive, in movement.

Cinema is immortal, and perhaps that is why it fascinates me. It creates the illusion of time incomplete, and frozen.

No other form of art can better show what it is like to be human, to show you a soul in a human face and to show a heart in a hand.

Maybe that is why, regardless of failing, I keep making movies. Regardless of the stress, pain, and disappointment, I never plan on stopping.

To surrender to conventional and hardships would be to let my friends down, who help me make my movies.

                        These are the words of my friends, who made movies.

GAVIN VILLAREAL (Gav-in Vil-are-Eel)

I was there and Aiden was there and Tuker was there, we were all getting ready to film and all that stuff and we had to do this scene where we had to poor blood on Carters face, but like the blood was, what was it? Like cool aid mix-

AIDEN VILLAREAL

It was crystal light Gavin

GAVIN VILLAREAL

-or some stuff like that, but it stained my shirt permanently but whatever.

AIDEN VILLAREAL

Crystal light. Oh, it was Crystal light Gavin.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

Crystal Light, I can’t even remember.

CARTER PHILLIPS

Yeah, it was crystal light. It was the Fruit punch flavor.

GAVIN VILLARAEL

Yeah, so we had to do that. And we had to poor it on your face. And yeah, it ended up getting in your eye. It was- HA HA

GAVIN VILLAREAL

Hello, my name is Gavin Villareal and I’m a junior in high school and I go to Wahpeton High School in Wahpeton North Dakota.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

[They] Came from the Attic, that was an amazing film, I loved to work on. That was amazing, that was fun. I mean of course I didn’t get as much to work on with that, but you know, still fun to make, nevertheless. Um and then, ah Sometime after Midnight.

CARTER PHILLIPS

As started the conversation our topic, swayed into the trials and errors of filmmaking. He just, quite simply started talking about his experiences on a set and things he’s seen me go through and things he’s seen some of his other cast and crew members go through.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

I mean I’m not really a director myself, but I do new- I do know thing or two about it, so you know, I know the trouble it is to like, you know, shoot and film and ‘do it again, do it again’ you know. That’s a big trouble when it comes to creating.

CARTER PHILLIPS

Gavin started talking about what makes a person creative whether its through being influenced on something or perhaps a spark that ignites in your mind and I began questioning him on if it was better or worse to be influenced by something or if it was better or worse to come up with it on your own.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

I think what makes a person creative is when are um- they have a unique idea that isn’t too similar to others. Like I know how people get they’re creativity. Sometimes they get it from other people, but you know, I feel like being really, like really creative would be having your own main idea when it comes down to like, I guess you could say movies and shows and stuff like that you know.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

I feel like some people when they make like, I guess you could say, short stories or things like that, I feel like there’s people who make it just so they can get popular or people that actually put time and effort into it and therefore [are] making, you know, creative stories.

CARTER PHILLIPS

He started talking about the advantages that occur when you’re working with friends instead of colleagues apposed to friends, or rather when your colleagues are your friends; and the atmosphere that brings apposed to an entirely professional one.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

Even when you’re shooting and like, uh, just hanging out, your still like having a good time. Your still like hanging out but like, doing something and usually when you’re doing that something your more serious but like we also have a good time we also laugh, you know, all that fun stuff.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

For us, it makes it better cause we know each other, and you know, it’s easier to act for like different things and stuff like that. We know each other’s like, I guess, set of emotions and all that so, uh I guess, it’s easier for us to have a role that you know [that we would] best [be] played in.

GAVIN VILLAREAL

An average scene? Well, when we’re not messing around uh, probably get like an average scene done in like a half hour if we’re lucky enough.

CARTER PHIILLIPS

Those roles need a beginning, an inception. And that’s where the role of the creative begins. The beginning of creation. That initial idea that leads to shared art.

As my microphone waited for me to speak, I looked down at my hands and saw they’re cracked and weary skin with strayed strands of winkles unfit for a boy of 17, and at the mirror saw my eyes somber and meaningless, declaring emptiness with they’re soundless piercing look, staring at me. What do they long for? What does anybody long for?

I can’t go on living without goals and motivation, without feeling like I’m doing something worthwhile. WE can’t live like this. As humans we desire art. To experience it? To make it? Are they not one in the same?

A person closes their eyes and dreams and is that not art of its own. Maybe the best movie is the one happening outside your window, with gains and losses and good and bad.  Art is a mere reflection, refracting images into a vague contraption of mirrors inside our minds. Where do these ideas come from? Where do we come from? How does art confront this?

If it got an audience in the first place, who loved it and cherished it, is that not good enough? For a person to give something to the world instead of take something, to make a film belong to humanity itself, to be construed, loved, hated, believed in, subjectifies and objectified. They are like people, alive and received, but more so they are like my memories and remain linked with the eras in which I made them, a trophy for my work.

This podcast was recorded and edited by Logan Jacobs and hosted by Hailey Boehme. Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. Special thanks goes out to Anthony Peterson. 

HAILEY BOEME
In our next release of Sheyenne Perspectives, Jaxson Miller be taking a look at wins and losses and the highs and lows of those moments especially when those wins and losses are unexpected.

See you soon, everyone.

This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

BUILDING A LEGACY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

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EPISODE THREE: THE LONGEVITY OF SUCCESS
By Logan Jacobs

Official Transcript:

Hailey Boehme: Welcome back, everyone. From Mustang Post News, West Fargo, this is Sheyenne Perspectives. I’m Hailey Boehme. 

In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Dairell Alvarico delved into change and how we react to change, whether we like that change or not.  This week Logan Jacobs continues our series by reflecting on success. Specifically, what success and failure means in the music industry. Here’s Logan. 

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Logan Jacobs: How does success stand against the test of time? Will those that are successful now find success in 20, 30, even 40 years? How can we know?

Will we yearn for music like this in the future? What makes an artist successful and how long that success last. 

But what is success? 

Anthony Peterson: the easy answer is sales, in the short term.

Logan Jacobs: That’s Mr. Peterson, choir and History of Rock-n-roll teacher at Sheyenne High School.

Anthony Peterson: Are they selling records, digital downloads? Are they streaming on YouTube? All of this is now playing a factor into the top ten records or song in a country or in the world

Logan Jacobs: Although that may not be all there is to it, maybe success is something much more complicated. 

Anthony Peterson: Sustained success is really more about can you evolve with the time and be a trendsetter instead of just repeating yourself over and over.

Logan Jacobs: Take for example rapper Redveil. For three years now he’s been producing successful albums. Three, in fact. He’s certainly popular enough where people are taking inspiration from him at this point. But will his success last? Will he be able to evolve and maintain his trendsetting creativity?  

But who are some others that could be successful? 

Anthony Peterson: Well, historically if you look at the bands or the artists that were able to recreate themselves year after year and record to record and do new things, while doing it at a certain level and keeping their level of success and sales, you have to initially look at someone like the Beatles or the rolling stones in the 60s and the 70s as a group that not only was massively successful but they were pioneering new styles and genres every year, and doing it in a way no one else had before, so not only were they successful but they were trailblazers into new areas of music

Logan Jacobs: Chance, another rapper, was once trailblazer, yet in recent years he has seen a significant decline. He hasn’t adapted. He hasn’t maintained a level of creativity and work ethic that promotes continued success.

Will, however, he reach a turning point? An epiphany? A moment where he’ll regain his creativity that will lead to a level of success as he achieved before. Lead to record sales.  

Although, there are some who are still successful 

Anthony Peterson: More recently I think you have to look at someone like a Taylor Swift who started in a more traditional country world and every record she’s had in the last decade plus seems to change and evolve artistically and lyrically which allows her to not repeat herself and she’s finding new success with new audiences; and she’s in her mid 30s now, for 20 years of success is not easy. In the music world it’s very easy to be a one hit wonder and then disappear because you have nothing else in that bag.

Logan Jacobs: The key to finding sustainable success is not only to grow and change, but to be untouchable by others in your genre. An unrealistic level of ability is needed at all times for you to keep your success. Chance had built up this reputation that came crashing down through the release of one record. 

Anthony Peterson: The neat thing about older artists success is that it doesn’t seem to go away, there is still a market for something that is now dubbed classic rock, and if you look at, locally at arenas near here there’s going to be a plethora of artists that are selling massive amounts of tickets, that have had their biggest amount of success in the 80s, 70s, and maybe even the 60s. That are still touring and selling out all over the world.

So having that impact that they had in their time is still very relevant because there is still a market for it. I want to assume that modern artists are still going to be musically interesting and sophisticated 30 years from now and people are still going to be seeing their concerts. 

Logan Jacobs: Now fans are stuck romanticizing about what they can not have, an older version of Chance. One that has not stained his ethereal presence on the music world. Reminiscing about the past, until another “Chance” comes around.  

Anthony Peterson: The one unique thing I could spin in for some artists is some of them never had a reunion, like the Beatles were never able to reunite because John Lennon was killed and now another member of the band has since passed away, there is only two of the four left, they can’t be the Beatles anymore because after the band broke up they were never able to reunite so like with the Rolling Stones who started at around the same time, they’ve been a somewhat stable group for the past 50 years, some people think that tarnished their legacy and its like there not as good as they used to be, or they’re old or dad rockers but obviously people still want to see them,  

where you have a different group like the Beatles who only existed in that one decade and they never were able to do anything else, so there are different ways to look at it because I think some people like what they can’t have more than something that’s like still around, I think that’s benefited the Beatles success because they know they can’t see them in concerts so they yearn for that old music cause it only existed back then and there’s no way to ruin it.

Logan Jacobs: Can an entire music career die, only because of one poor release? Can an artist redeem themselves after failure? Or are they forever stuck, known as the person they formerly were?

This podcast was recorded and edited by Logan Jacobs and hosted by Hailey Boehme. Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. Special thanks goes out to Anthony Peterson. 

Hailey Boehme:

Next week on Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips will dig deep into what fuels people’s desire to create.  

So long, everyone. See you soon.  

This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

Food For Thought

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EPISODE TWO: PERSPECTIVE ON PREFERENCE
By Dairell Alvarico
Hosted by Hailey Boehme

Official Transcript:

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Welcome back, everyone. From Mustang Post News, this is Sheyenne Perspectives. I’m Hailey Boehme. 

In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, we took a look at the unconscious mind and its tendency toward routine and the unexpected.  

This week in our program Dairell Alvarico continues this theme through a student lens focusing on change in Food for Thought: Lunchroom Dynamics. Here’s Dairell. 

Dairell Alvarico: Imagine this.

[LUNCHROOM SOUNDS – FREESOUND]

Dairell Alvarico: You are at your high school and your class just ended… you are finally relieved that it’s your lunch period after hours of sitting, and listening to your lessons. 

Eager for your well-deserved break, you make your way to the cafeteria… where you see other students already forming their groups to find their seats. And just like them, you find yours. 

Now let’s pause for a moment… 

How did you choose your spot? Was it further away from all the noise? Did you and your friends have a mutual decision to sit there?  

Or maybe you sat there just for the simple reason of you wanting to. 

These are to be considered when it comes to lunchroom dynamics.

Sheyenne Highschool Lunchroom

Dairell Alvarico: Their relationships, the environment around them, and the people they tend to talk to or avoid, can create this simple but compelling dynamic that can be unique like no other. Yet, there are many questions to be answered. 

Do students agree by the  idea of change, or do they frown upon it? What are the factors of picking a spot, and why mostly stick with it throughout the school year?  

There’s always some form of basis, the root to all the decisions students make to create a dynamic, to have a routine. 

 If it were to be stripped down in a more simple way, we can grasp an idea of how social dynamics can be applied in the lunchroom. Or, ultimately, how change; even the most simple, impacts people. 

And what better way to find out more than asking the students themselves? 

Thomas: I think it’s like, kind of random.

Dairell Alvarico: This is Thomas, a Sheyenne student. Like everyone else, he has his own set of opinions on the matter. 

 A lot of things we do in high school are based on a whim. We don’t really think deep enough to gather logical factors as to why we do it. If it does the job, then there’s nothing else to consider. 

This can be applied in the lunchroom. Majority of the students just sat wherever; a common thought of, “Hey, I’ll just sit here.” without any specific reason. Thomas believes this is the most common cause of the lunchroom dynamics we have today. 

Thomas: You just choose it when it happens, you know? You kind of just go with the flow. Sometimes its like, situational of like um, they did it before in past years. or closer to a certain spot. All in all, I think it’s just random where they pick, and they just stick with it throughout the year. 

Dairell Alvarico: There are many instances where the situation was purely just leaving things to chance. But this does not pertain to everyone. A number of students  have their reasons other than randomly choosing their respected seats. If anything, there are a good deal of people who are more specific on what they like. 

For an example, Jan likes to sit with people who share the same ethnicity as him. He even likes to branch out more and meet new people. 

Jan: Currently my reason is because the people I sit with, is.. the people I know, for the purpose we’re both Filipino. (Laughs) 

Dairell Alvarico: Or Adrian, who thinks that food is a main factor as to why students choose their spots. 

Adrian: Probably because it affects ability and comfort to like the nearest, you know, the nearest food that they can get. 

Dairell Alvarico: Even Thomas prefers a certain side of the lunchroom. 

Thomas: Of my seating arrangement, it’s quiet, I can go wherever I please, and yeah it’s quiet, chill, go wherever I please… yeah I’m just free basically, that’s all I can say. 

Dairell Alvarico: Wanting to be closer to the people you’re similar with, to being in reach  to the ever changing food the cafeteria has to offer, or being in the more discreet part of the area. These are very precise judgements, how does this come to be? 

Well, it all lies with preference. According to Merriam-Webster, it means “The power or opportunity of choosing”.  

Everyday, students choose something that would benefit others or themselves. Preference laid the groundwork for lunchroom dynamics. When asked about anything regarding their seats, all of them have inclined to what they want, or what they don’t want.

But if it were to be changed under different circumstances, to move out of the comfortable bubble they have made for themselves, how are they willing to adapt into a different environment, or do they like to stay where they are?   

Carefree is one way to handle it.

Adrian: I’ll be consistent with it because I already like my spot, and I don’t really wanna change anything. Well, I’m fine with doing anything.  

Dairell Alvarico: Prone to change isn’t far off either. 

Jan: Uh, I guess I prefer to be consistent, but change is constant nonetheless. Uh I guess it’s, uh it will be nice to talk to other people but yeah I still prefer with the people I’m with. 

Dairell Alvarico: Or the unyielding drive to not change at all. 

Thomas: Personally, I don’t like change, when you have a certain like seating arrangement in the lunchroom, I don’t feel like it should be changed because it’s an order and if you break that order things just go crazy because then you could steal a spot from another group and then that one person can’t sit there. So I think lunchroom dynamics shouldn’t really change.

Dairell Alvarico: When asked about change, a lot of students preferred the opposite. They’d rather have change as the last option and would prefer to stay where they’ve already made a familiar routine on.

Consistency is key, and they prefer to stick with it and not break the chain that already binds them to conformity.  

They have a routine, breaking that would leave them muddled and they’d be forced to sit somewhere else. But then again, their new spot could be someone else’s and that person would find a new seat and it just goes on and on until there’s just an unorganized chaos.

Anything being unpredictable can set people off course. Students have enough of that as it is, so they find comfort in knowing where they are in the lunchroom. 

Lunchroom dynamics ties with the concept of change, despite it being inevitable, students would rather go by their own pace. This is their preference, it’s what they like.

Will they have to accept it at some point? Of course, but consistency is what made change unhurried and when it comes to the lunchroom, there is no better way than that. 

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Dairell Alvarico: This podcast was recorded and edited by Dairell Alvarico and hosted by Hailey Boehme.

Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. Our thanks goes out to Jan, Adrian, and all others who participated in this podcast but wished to remain anonymous. 

Hailey Boehme: Next week on the podcast of Sheyenne Perspectives, Logan Jacobs will take over with his take on success and failure in the music industry.  

So long, everyone. We hope to see you soon.  

This has been a production of Mustang Post News. 

Feature & General, Podcasts, Sheyenne Perspectives

The Will of the Unconscious Mind

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EPISODE ONE: ROUTINE AND THE UNEXPECTED
By Hailey Boehme

Official Transcript:

Hailey Boehme: I’m so happy to finally introduce you to our new exploration: podcasts! This episode dives right into our first series on human behavior. From the perspective of wins and losses, fitting in and standing out, or hiding behind the camera versus standing right in front of it…. Welcome to Sheyenne Perspectives from Mustang Post News, I’m Hailey Boehme.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Through our research we have discovered truths of the unconscious mind and learned things about ourselves that we never noticed before.

This journey into understanding the nature of our minds began with school psychologist Emily Dempster. But where should we start? In no better place than our very own Sheyenne High School.

There must be a method to the chaos…some hidden factor to navigate the constant chatter, full trays of food, and tightly packed tables…

[LUNCH ROOM SOUNDS]

Sheyenne High School’s lunchroom left empty moments before class begins.

Hailey Boehme: Certainly, to an outsider it would appear to be nothing short of a disaster, but to the regulars of the Sheyenne High School lunchroom, dodging bodies in an attempt to secure a seat by their best friend is second nature.

To get a better view of this dynamic, we have decided to take a step back and observe the behaviors that occurred; and sure enough, like ants running about, each person seemed to know exactly where they were going amidst the madness.

People sat in the same spots every day, careful not to sit too close to the unacquainted group next to them, yet comfortable in the routine of their daily arrangements. Almost down to each minute, it was easily identifiable who would be coming to sit down next, what table they would choose, and the other students who would sit there.

Even after days of paying attention to the arrangements everyone made for themselves, I was surprised that they rarely changed. Despite the tables shifting to different spots, students filed into designated seats without hesitation.

Though this may seem normal to those who participate in it every school day, I couldn’t help but wonder why we form groups for ourselves. After all, no one was making anyone sit there, so what caused this phenomenon to take place? Was it simply routine, or did it rely on something bigger?

What is the psychology behind this tendency?

Emily Dempster: My name is Ms. Dempster, and I am the school psychologist here at Sheyenne.

Hailey Boehme: Routine. And the unexpected.

Emily Dempster: I think we definitely all benefit from routines. We like to know what’s coming up in our day. Like, you probably enjoy knowing that you have English first, and then science. Could you imagine coming to school and not knowing what class you would have first? That would probably cause a lot of anxiety, so people do benefit- um.. from routine- just so they know what’s going on in their day and so that they get done what they need to get done.

Hailey Boehme: At first, I couldn’t help but to wonder why humans enjoyed doing the same thing every day, yet the thought of never knowing what might happen next seems stressful. For many, the lunchroom setting feels exactly that way.

Emily Dempster: Oh my gosh! SO many! I mean just depending on what kind of gives you those worries- maybe you are more worried about the social aspect. Like are your friends going to be there, are they going to want to talk to you… um…. maybe you’re worried about what they’re serving for lunch if you have some food aversions… maybe you have some sensory, you know… difficulties. Maybe it’s really loud in there and you don’t like the sound of the forks on the trays. So, it will be really dependent on the person, but there- in a big space like that, especially here at school, there’s a lot of stressors that kids and students and even teachers can encounter. Depending on the day and who you are, I think the biggest thing to remember is that even like, as worried as you might be about someone looking at you, or being embarrassed, everyone is as equally worried about themselves. They don’t have time to worry about anything else.

Hailey Boehme: There was one overarching point: personality. No matter what the situation is, it is safe to assume that the amount of stress one might feel depends on how it personally affects them.

Emily Dempster: You know, if you enjoy sitting around in big groups of people and that kind of, “fills your cup”… um- then you’re probably going to enjoy high school lunch a little bit more. But if you don’t like big group of people, lots of noise, if you like to have, you know, conversation with more just you and a friend, uh, the lunchroom could certainly be a tricky, tough place for you.

Hailey Boehme: So if we all enjoy different aspects of socializing….does that impact our chosen spot? Would we find the extroverts at the heart of the lunchroom? There was only one way to find out…

Kennedy Kambeitz: Yes, who else is sitting at the table

Hailey Boehme: With the establishment of personality traits came a new focus: location preference. In the end, they seemed to connect to the same word, “routine.” Students confidently stated again and again how they just went through the motions, not realizing everything that factored into those choices,

Hailey Boehme: How do you decide who you sit by in a big group?

Anonymous Student: I would say it’s like a routine.

Hailey Boehme: Yeah, is it by like who you like more?

Anonymous Student: Oh yeah, I would say it’s sort of by who you like more.

Alison Hollatz: It depends on the size of the group, like if it’s a lot of people, I’m going to sit who I’m closest to.

Hailey Boehme: So, if certain people put us more at ease, how do we find those people? Do we group ourselves by similar interests or unintentionally become confined to fit into a social norm. For example, do I choose not to sit by a group that knows each other from orchestra simply because I don’t think I possess the shared experiences they do? Or is it more complex? It is possible that I could have unconsciously labelled myself in such a way that I don’t feel like I fit in anymore? By straining to fit into a group I don’t believe that I belong in, I would make myself uncomfortable and prone to social anxiety. Now I’m thinking to myself, how do I even begin to navigate through the hour when everything is making me feel nervous.

Emily Dempster: Human kind all over, we’re always looking for like an ”in” group… or for people that like, kind of get us or we share a similar interest with. We’re looking to be accepted into a larger group of people that we feel comfortable with…. So, it might be natural that yeah, if you play basketball you likely are going to sit with your teammates. Or if you really enjoy art or music, you’re likely going to sit with people who also enjoy that, and that’s pretty natural.”

Hailey Boehme: The answers are pretty consistent: most people felt at ease when they focused on the value of comfort, relationships, and being themselves. No matter how much of those elements are needed to thrive, it is likely that a routine will form from the perfect mixture – whether it’s intentional or not. There is something so beautiful about the endless preferences for food, location, noise, style, and conversation topics. Yet we all exist simultaneously, functioning together as a community. At the end of the day, maybe we aren’t so different after all.

[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]

Hailey Boehme: Up next week in Sheyenne Perspectives is Dairell Alvarico with a unique take on change and social dynamics.

This podcast was recorded and edited by Hailey Boehme. Today’s theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson. And our thanks goes out to Emily Dempster, and students Jasmine Brisonet, Alison Hollatz, Kennedy Kambeitz and all others who participated in this podcast, we couldn’t have done it without you! This has been a production of Mustang Post News.