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Arts & Entertainment

BTS Discography Discovery

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By Ashleigh Varing

As you may remember, last time I left off on BTS winning Rookie of the Year in South Korea’s Melon Music Awards.

Since then, they’ve proven that was only the beginning of their ascent to global stardom. Record after record, they built their fame, fanbase, and art to something very close to perfection.

That near perfection brought them global attention, spanning their success well beyond the borders of Korea, into Japan, then jumping across the continent to Europe and eventually across the ocean to the United States, Canada, and the rest of the Americas. Truly, they’re a global sensation, unlike those artists fueled by the American-marketing machine.

Perhaps their success goes beyond that. Perhaps they came in at the right time when the world had developed a taste and fascination for Korean culture and art. But that may not be the case. After all, didn’t Wonder Girls attempt to bridge into the states, yet couldn’t, even after getting a Nickelodeon movie? Yes. Yes, they did. BTS? They’ve risen in popularity and improved their craft largely on their own: creating their own music, lyrics, and overall artistic style.

So, let’s take another look at BTS’ discography and the impressive records they’ve achieved with it.

On February 12, 2014, Skool Luv Affair was released. As the third and final album in their “school trilogy,” this album also contained a lot of themes having to do with teenagers. For example, the lead single “Boy in Luv” expresses the experience of love as a teen. The album peaked number 3 on the Billboard World Album Chart, selling a total of 14,852 copies by the end of the year. 

On August 20, 2014, their first studio album Dark & Wild was released. BTS were still discussing love, just from the perspective of a young adult. The album peaked at number 3 on the Gaon Monthly Chart for August, selling a total of 51,655 copies in that month. It was also the 14th best-selling album of the year, having sold 100,906 copies by the end of 2014. 

By 2015, BTS were slowly becoming relevant in the K-pop world, and that popularity was only boosted by the release of their third mini album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 1, on April 29. This album discusses youth and uncertainty of the future, the boys’ sound shifting from hip-hop to pop. Despite the change, their songs were still lyrically dense and held even darker themes than the prior albums. The title track, “I Need U,” even got them their first music show win. 

On November 30, 2015, the album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 2 was released, debuting at 171 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first K-Pop act outside of the big 3 labels (JYP, SM, and YG Entertainment) to do so. As explained by the title, the album is the second part in the HYYH (Hwa Yeon Yang Hwa a.k.a. “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life”) trilogy. As explained by BTS themselves, “Part one explained how youth is tiring and difficult, and it also touched on how we feel like we’re always on edge. Part two will have a more adventurous and daring feel to it. That’s why our title song is ‘Run.’” 

The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever was released on May 2, 2016, debuting at number 107 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album had sold 300,000 copies in pre-sales after less than a week, topping the Gaon Monthly Chart in May with a little over 310,000 albums having been sold. This album even got BTS their very first Daesang, the highest award an artist can win at a Korean music show, on November 19, 2016. They were the first group in multiple years to have gotten a Daesang while under a label that wasn’t one of the big three. The boys now have over 60 Daesangs, and to put that into perspective, the group with the second most Daesangs has 23 in total. 

Later in 2016, on October 10, Wings was released, debuting at number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the highest charting K-pop album at the time. The album is about temptation, and as Namjoon explains it, “The harder a temptation is to resist, the more you think about it and vacillate. That uncertainty is part of the process of growing. ‘Blood Sweat & Tears’ is a song that shows how one thinks, chooses, and grows.” The music video for the title track, “Blood Sweat & Tears,” has allusions to the novel Demian, a book about self-discovery inspired by Jungian psychology. 

You Never Walk Alone was released on February 13, 2017, and was a repackaged version of Wings, with four new songs added. The lead single, “Spring Day,” is the longest charting song in Melon history, having spent over 300 consecutive weeks (five and a half years) on the Top 100 Melon Weekly Chart. The song is about longing and was revealed to be inspired by Namjoon and Yoongi losing their friends. In an interview from November of 2020, Namjoon said, “…I had friendships that meant a lot to me back in the day. But once I moved to Seoul and started my traineeship, I kind of drifted apart and eventually lost them.” 

Love Yourself: Her was released on September 18, 2017, as the first album in the Love Yourself trilogy. The album expresses the anxieties and joys of falling in love, this idea further highlighted by the title track, “DNA.” Namjoon claims the song depicts a young, passionate love, and that it’s vastly different from their earlier releases. The album ranked number 1 in 73 countries, debuting at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest selling album of September that year, with 1,203,533 copies sold. 

The group’s third full-length album, Love Yourself: Tear, was released on May 18, 2018. This album has a much more somber tone in comparison to the earlier album in the trilogy, particularly within the title track “Fake Love,” which is about the loss of identity that follows holding onto a toxic relationship. This album sold 1.44 million copies in the first six days of its pre-order period, and it earned them the top spot on the Billboard Top 200 and the first Official Million Certification from Gaon. 

On August 24, 2018, the final album in the Love Yourself series, Love Yourself: Answer, was released as a compilation album, which included seven new tracks. The album focuses on themes of reflection, empowerment, and most importantly, self-love. Love Yourself: Answer sold more than 1.51 million copies, surpassing Love Yourself: Tear as the most pre-ordered album in South Korea. On November 7, 2019, it became the first Korean album to spend an entire year on the Billboard 200, this record only being surpassed by themselves with Map of the Soul: 7. 

On April 12, 2019, Map of the Soul: Persona was released, with various influences from philosophy (microcosms), Greek mythology (Dionysus), and psychology (the book Jung’s Map of the Soul, as shown by the title of the album). The day prior to the album’s release, 3.07 million copies of it had been preordered, and upon debut, it made BTS the first band since the Beatles to have three number-one albums in under a year.  

Their first pre-release single, “Black Swan,” was made available for download and streaming on January 17, 2020. The song discusses the band’s fear of losing their passion for music, with lyrics such as “the heart no longer races when the music starts to play” and “if this can no longer resonate, no longer make my heart flutter, then perhaps this is how I die my first death.” The latter is a reference to a quote by Martha Graham: “A dancer dies twice — once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.” 

Their fourth full-length album, titled Map of the Soul: 7 (in honor of the seven members of the group and their seventh anniversary together), was released on February 21, 2020. The album was meant as a final sendoff before Seokjin’s enlistment into the military, which was later postponed due to the pandemic. It topped IFPI’s Global Album Sales Chart and Oricon’s mid-year Album Chart ranking, making them the first foreign artists since Michael Jackson to do so. It also became the first album to be certified as Quadruple Million by Gaon. 

BTS’ first English single, “Dynamite,” was released on August 21, 2020, and is likely the song you’re most familiar with. The song was intended to uplift the public during the rough pandemic, and it quickly blew up. “Dynamite” got them their first Grammy nomination, helped them achieve a Daesang sweep (when all Daesangs are won by the same artist), spent 32 consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 chart, collected 7.78 million streams on the first day, and at one point was the most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours (though this record was later surpassed by their own song, “Butter”). 

BE, released November 20, 2020, was an album released to help those struggling with the sudden pandemic. “Dynamite,” initially an independent single, was included as the eighth track on the album. With this album, they became the only artists apart from Taylor Swift to debut at number one on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously. It also made them the fastest group to have five number-one albums since the Beatles. “Life Goes On,” the album’s title track, became the first non-English song to debut at the top spot on the chart. The album also claimed the second spot on IFPI’s Global Album Sales Chart for 2020, making them the only artist to have multiple albums listed. 

“Butter,” the group’s second English single, was released on May 20, 2021. Meant to be a fun summer song aiming to be easy to listen to, it quickly became a hit, with over 108 million views in its first 24 hours and ten consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Not to mention it still holds the record for the most-viewed music video in the first 24 hours. 

“Permission to Dance,” released on July 9 (a.k.a. ‘ARMY Day’), celebrates diversity as well as uplifts spirits. The song features an optimistic message of hope and encourages listeners to let go of their worries and dance. Like “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” was also released in English, signaling the group’s continued efforts to connect with their global fanbase. While its performance on the charts was not as impressive as “Dynamite” or “Butter,” it still managed to debut atop the Hot 100 chart. 

Their most recent whole-group album, Proof, was released three days prior to their 9th anniversary as a group on June 10, 2022. The album includes a re-recorded version of their unofficial 2013 song “Born Singer” (based on “Born Sinner” by J. Cole, which was included with his permission), five new tracks (two of which are only available on a physical copy of the album), the solo and sub-unit songs the members picked themselves, all their title tracks, and eleven demos (also exclusive to the physical album). The album sold two million copies on its release day alone and peaked at number 1 in eighteen countries. 

BTS’ discography is a testament to their artistic vision, creativity, and dedication. Over the years, they’ve continued to push boundaries and break records, setting new standards for what a K-pop group can achieve. And although the rest of them will be entering the military shortly, they are not done for good. There’s a high chance of a comeback in 2025, and there will be updates posted throughout the next few years. 

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. 

Sports

Sheyenne Girls’ Basketball – 2023 Senior Send-off

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By Hailey Boehme

Coming off of a great 2021-22 season last year, the Mustang Girls’ Basketball team has continued to make some noise. Six seniors returned to the court this year with head coach, Kenyon Wingenbach. Since joining the Mustangs, Wingenbach has led them to 20 victories in the 21-22 season and 12 so far this year, as of February 22, 2023.

Hoping to end this season on another positive note, the Mustangs gear up for the end of season EDC and State Competitions. Their last run came close with a 5th place finish. 

The recent senior night, celebrated on February 21st, honored players Kaitlyn Haas, Peyton Breidenbach, Maya Metcalf, Brooke Johnson, Karson Sanders, and Alayna Holder, as well as student managers Maddy Hustad, Karli Urlacher, Connor Anderson, Lexy Terhark, Kyra Narum, and Jordyn Beyl. 

With the graduating class being so large, many wonder what Wingenbach will bring to the table next year, however, the roster looks promising even beyond the talented class of 2023. 

Coaches across the state are familiar with one in particular, the record breaking Brenna Dick. Brenna has demonstrated her phenomenal ability to make shots from any place on the court and play with incredible speed. Within the current season, she has shattered school scoring records numerous times.

In a game against the Shanley Deacons, Brenna put up 34 points, passing the 2021 graduate, Jadyn Feist (33 points). Despite the accomplishment, Brenna knew she could push herself even harder, and break her own record. On January 23rd at Horace High School, fans and the team yelled out in celebration following her 35th point. To no one’s surprise, she didn’t stop there. She ended the night with 41 points and rivalry game victory.

Aside from her total points, Brenna also holds a record for most 3-point makes in a game with 7 versus Valley City High School. Being only a junior, Brenna is well on her to becoming a 1,000 career point scorer. Her teammates and coaches couldn’t be more proud of her, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her – on and off the court.

Click to access filedownload.ashx

Access link to view updated Sheyenne GBB Program stats!
Sheyenne GBB Program Statistics as of 9:30 AM, 2/22/23. Current 22-23 season is highlighted in yellow.

Featured image photos are courtesy of Mustang Media. Thank you to Ruth and Lillian Wirtz for capturing so many amazing moments this season!

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.

Arts & Entertainment

Rise of Bangtan: Powerhouse BTS Surges K-pop Popularity

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By Ashleigh Varing

Last month we looked at K-pop’s rise to fame not only in South Korea, but internationally as well, and why so many have taken to the community. BTS was a huge help in this popularity surge, but how did they become the powerhouses in the industry that they are today? 

BTS shortly after debut

It all started with Kim Namjoon. At thirteen, he became an underground rapper, his prominence within the community growing over time. He was invited to audition for an underground hip-hop agency, and one of the judges (Sleepy from the rap duo Untouchable) was so impressed with Namjoon’s skills that he referred him to Bang Si-hyuk, the CEO of Big Hit Entertainment. Namjoon ended up auditioning for the company, becoming the first member of BTS. 

The second member to join was Min Yoongi, who was active as a rapper and producer under the name ‘Gloss.’ He had made a name for himself as a member of a group titled “D-TOWN” (named for the city, Daegu, where the group originated). At seventeen years old, he tried out for Big Hit Entertainment after seeing a poster advertising the auditions. He ended up getting second place and joined the agency as a producer. He was later “tricked” into joining BTS, becoming the group’s second member. 

Jung Hoseok, despite being one of BTS’ rappers, wasn’t in the underground hip-hop scene like Namjoon or Yoongi. In fact, he was a street dancer in a dance team called Neuron. He auditioned for one of the largest companies in K-pop, JYP Entertainment, though he was rejected and later decided to give Big Hit a chance. He had plenty of potential, so Si-hyuk didn’t hesitate to accept him into the agency as a trainee. He almost wasn’t included in BTS’ lineup, though Namjoon convinced the company that the group needed him, and so he became the group’s third member. 

Kim Seokjin, the band’s fourth addition, wasn’t planning to have a career in music at all; he was an acting major with no experience in singing, rapping, or dancing. A Big Hit representative saw him exiting a bus and persuaded him to sign on with the label, and through eight months of hard work and dedication, Seokjin managed to perfect the pristine vocals he’s known for. 

Jeon Jungkook, the youngest member of the band, was only thirteen when he auditioned for a show called “Superstar K” in his hometown of Busan. He was eliminated from the competition, though seven agencies scouted him in hopes of signing him to their label, one being JYP Entertainment. Why, then, did Jungkook turn down most of those offers and choose to sign with Big Hit? Well, as said by Jungkook himself, “I thought Namjoon was so cool, so I wanted to sign with them. I told my parents that I wanted to join, and so I signed.” 

Kim Taehyung, the sixth member to join the group, came to the auditions in Daegu to support a friend of his. He didn’t plan on auditioning, though a staff member encouraged him to try out, so he got permission from his father and auditioned on the spot. He passed the audition and was welcomed into the company, though he was kept a secret until eleven days prior to their debut. 

Park Jimin was encouraged by his dance teacher to audition for Big Hit due to his raw talent, and he passed. He became a trainee, though he was nearly kicked out about eight times due to several people thinking he would do poorly in the group. Thankfully, he was included as the seventh and final member of BTS. 

BTS celebrating winning Rookie of the Year

They debuted on June 13, 2013, as “Bangtan Sonyeondan,” translating to “Bulletproof Boys,” with their album 2 Cool 4 Skool. Selling 24,441 copies in total, the album was placed at number 65 for Gaon’s 2013 year-end album chart, which was good for a rookie group not under the Big 3 (JYP, SM, or YG Entertainment). The title track, “No More Dream,” criticized the way society views dreams and aspirations, a theme reflected in quite a few of their later songs.  

Later that same year, on September 11, their album O!RUL8,2? (Oh! Are you late, too?) was released. The album debuted at number 4 on the Gaon Weekly Chart and ended the year as the 55th best-selling album in South Korea. The title track, “N.O,” goes into detail about how the school system forces children to ignore other aspects of life in favor of studying and becoming “the best.” On November 14, 2013, they won the “Rookie of the Year” award at Melon Music Awards, proving their hard work had paid off. 

But for BTS, this was only the beginning. 

Feature & General

Letter from the Editor

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Dear Readers,

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!

With much appreciation,

Hailey Boehme, Editor in Chief

Sports

Raan Rules Tennis Court: Makes SHS History

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By Jaxson Miller

West Fargo Sheyenne senior Ethan Raan is on top of the North Dakota high school tennis world after he claimed the singles championship on Saturday, October 8, at Hammond Park in Minot.

Raan defeated Grand Forks Red River’s Espen Schneider in the final round of the NDHSAA (North Dakota High School Activities Association) Boys Tennis Singles State Tournament.

Raan is the first player to win an individual state championship for the Sheyenne boys’ tennis program.

“It was very rewarding to bring the boys’ tennis program at Sheyenne its first state title and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates” Raan said. “Coach Anderson and Coach Healy have always set high standards for the team and encouraged hard work, and I feel that my success is a direct product of that.”

Ethan Raan holds the bracket of the singles state tournament after his state championship victory. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.

He redeemed himself against Schneider in a third set tiebreaker, 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3). Schneider defeated Raan 6-2 and 6-4 in the EDC (Eastern Dakota Conference) singles championship just a week prior.

Ethan Raan had nothing but a humble attitude towards his state championship opponent, “In regards to Espen, my opponent, it was our fifth time playing against each other this season and at this point we were 2-2. He’s a great tennis player and I enjoy playing competitors like him.” Raan was able to get the last laugh.

Ethan Raan went into the state tournament as the number two seed player from the East region.

He started off with a great win (6-0, 6-1) over Bismarck’s Gabe Hanson in the first round and got the chance to play his Sheyenne teammate, junior Mason Christensen, in the quarterfinal round.

Raan defeated Christensen 6-4, 6-4, to move onto the semifinal round.

He had a blast playing against his teammate in a match that had a lot on the line, “Playing Mason in the quarterfinals was great because it meant we had both been successful in the rounds prior” Raan said. “We had fun playing each other and continued to support each other in the matches that followed. He’s a great player and teammate and I can’t wait to see where next season takes him.”

Raan continued his state title run with a semifinal win over Grand Forks Red River’s Saylor Kuenzel, capturing a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
The journey to the mountain top was complete with the win over Schneider in the final round.

The EDC players came to play at the state tournament as Ethan Raan was in the mix of seven players from Sheyenne, Fargo South, Fargo North, and Fargo Davies, who were either in the championship or consolation semifinals.

Grand Forks Central’s Evan Panzer and Cole Wilber won the doubles state championship over Mandan’s Karter Hatzenbuhler and Brady Helbling.

Raan was hungry for a state title this year as he was close to achieving one last year but lost in the single semifinals to Shanley’s Kai Pierce (3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4).

He finished last year’s season on a high note with a win (3-6, 6-1, 6-3) over Grand Forks Central’s Ryder McDonald in the third-place match.

Fortunately things turned out differently this year.

The state champion himself was extra motivated all season long, “I didn’t feel that I had to redeem myself after taking third place last year as I went out on a win and played great players in the semis and the third place match. If anything, I gained confidence from it and it encouraged me to work harder for my senior season.”

Due to his success, Ethan Raan was voted the 2022 Senior Athlete of the Year.

Sheyenne’s boys tennis team went 19-3 overall and 8-1 in conference play. The program took third place as a team in the state tournament.

The 2022 West Fargo Sheyenne boys tennis team took third place as a team at the state tournament in Minot, North Dakota. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.

Raan felt that the team’s success helped him create a champion mindest going into the state championship, “My mindset going into the state championship was it was now or never. It was my last match of my high school tennis career and for that reason I wanted to win for myself and for my team” he said.

With that mindset, Raan also felt no pressure, “Although I was very motivated to win, I was also grateful to have made it that far and felt fortunate to have the opportunity. With the team qualifying for state, it had already been a great season that I and my teammates were proud of. So I went into the match feeling no pressure.”

The three seniors, Ethan Raan (left), Nate Angus (middle), and Kasen Baer (right), with the third place team trophy. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.

One of the best things an athlete can do is finish their high school career on a high note, and go out with a bang, and Ethan Raan did just that. The young man has a bright future ahead of him.

Raan spoke about his future plans, “I plan on playing tennis in college in some capacity, whether it’s for a college team or club team. It all depends on what school I attend. At the moment, I’m interested in studying astrophysics/astronomy and aerospace engineering and aspire to have a career in a space-related field.”

It is safe to say that the Mustang faithful is very proud of Ethan Raan. He will look to have more success this spring, which will be his final high school track season.

Raan is an explosive, fast-twitch athlete, who will qualify for state in the 100m and 200m dashes once again along with being on the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams.

One thing is for certain, Ethan Raan’s tennis state title run is something he will remember for the rest of his life.