Thanksgiving 2020

 

Sleep Deprivation is an Epidemic Among Teens

 By Eitan J. Goldberg

Sleep deprivation has been an ongoing issue in America in recent years, especially amongst teens. There are many consequences of sleep deprivation such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, poor grades, drowsy driving incidents, and anxiety to name just a few of the concerns associated with sleep deprivation. 

Today, we are going to speak about how sleep deprivation affects teens academically. According to Stanford University, “The most recent national poll shows that more than 87 percent of U.S. high school students get far less than the recommended eight to ten hours of sleep each night.” Now you might be wondering if sleep is so important then why would 87 percent of teens be sleep deprived? The answer to this is quite complex. There are so many factors that lead to students not getting enough sleep. First off, one of the biggest reasons is technology and the use of social media. This is a big distraction to many students with apps such as Tik Tok has taken lots of time away from students whether they are watching or making or liking various videos, this all cuts into their sleep. 

Another reason is school and extracurricular activities. A lot of time students spend is either in school, sports or extracurricular activities. Some students get home at seven with four hours of homework. This is a major issue. Another cause is time management and procrastination. Many students wait until the last minute to hand in assignments. This causes them to stay up late finishing the last assignment. Many students do not know what they are doing to themselves. There was a study done by Columbia University that found that if you fall asleep within five minutes of hitting the pillow that you are sleep deprived. How many of us do that? There have also been countless studies from universities such as Harvard, Yale and John Hopkins that have proved that sleep deprivation is directly correlated with poor academic performance. Neurologists have explained how the brain needs sleep so your cognitive memory is able to function. This is what helps us remember information, so without it, we would not be able to score well on our exams. 

There are many solutions to this issue. One of the best and easiest solutions is simply getting enough exercise. You should also turn off your phone a half hour prior to going to sleep. Make your sleep schedule constant for example do not go to bed at 11pm on Monday but then 2 am on Tuesday. Finally, if you are having severe issues with sleep deprivation you should contact a psychologist or your doctor as soon as possible.

Say Hello to Your 2020 NYSSMA All-State Champion

 By Keenbelynn Bellande

The students of West Hempstead High School are constantly excelling in not only the classrooms, but also in extracurricular activities. A recent and perfect  example is one of our current seniors, Jonathan Douglas. Douglas arrived in West Hempstead during 10th grade. He made a wonderful first impression on practically everyone. Little did we know this new student would later have a huge impact on both his peers and teachers. 

When referring to Jonathan, many of his peers described him as, “eccentric, outgoing, and funny.” Throughout his time in West Hempstead, Douglas has not been shy in letting his voice be heard, in classrooms and on stage. In turn, his charisma has inspired many other students toward becoming more comfortable in their own skin and becoming more outspoken. All of these key traits and characteristics have contributed to Jonathan’s success today. 

Recently, Jonathan, led by Ms. Nicole Blier of our Music department, was selected as a member of the 2020 NYSSMA All State Choral Ensemble. The last time this occurred was in the 1995-1996 school year, that's nearly 30 years ago! The big question in need of answering is: How did Douglas and Blier manage to end this 25 year long trend? 

They prepared for this big moment by first attending the All County Music Festival, along with current junior, Sofia Varone. Additionally, they worked countless hours, during and after school, to refine his solo for the NYSSMA festival.  In preparing for the NYSSMA festival, choosing the perfect song was integral to Jonathan’s success at this event. Blier and Douglas were torn between “Se Tu M’ami” written and composed by Alessandro Parisotti and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess. After careful consideration, Blier and Douglas agreed on “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess. This piece held historical significance in that it featured an entire cast of trained African American singers which was a rarity at the time. This musical helped many singers of color establish their careers on Broadway. Blier felt that Jonathan’s voice encompassed the emotions and vocal power portrayed in this piece like no other could have.

In order to gain more insight on the day of the audition itself, Douglas described a frightful feeling. He felt as if he was “presented a major opportunity” and did not want to let Blier down after all of their hard work. One major component of that audition was sight reading, the practice of reading and performing a given piece without any prior knowledge of said piece. Regardless of the fact that this component was the most difficult for Douglas to master, he scored a 9/10. Bliers confidence in Douglas never waivered through it all and she wasn’t even slightly surprised when she heard of his success. 

So what will be the next step for both Blier and Douglas? Jonathan is currently searching for the right colleges and gaining scholarships that will help further his career as a singer. Blier hopes all the best  for Jonathan's future endeavours. She hopes to see him pursue a career in music, including musical education, vocal performance, or musical theatre. According to Blier, he holds a lot of potential for whichever career path he chooses. In terms of the music program, Blier wants to continue to get more students involved and participating in the NYSSMA festival. There is a lot of untapped potential for the upcoming underclassmen in the musical program. 

With that being said, Blier left us with some words of wisdom for the aspiring musicians and singers of West Hempstead High School. She noted, “When it comes to music, if you're passionate about it, you can most certainly be successful.” The future of the music program is in your hands, West Hempstead. To quote Douglas, “Don’t hesitate to pursue what you're passionate about.” Take heed of these tips.