The article Nicotine Use & the Labeling Involved, was originally going to be a story on the negative impact of nicotine on physical health. After gathering interviews and opinions, I concluded that the level of categorizing and labeling that was evident towards students who use nicotine devices was undeniably obvious and negative.
Nicotine Use & the
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BY AHNA FOX
Until the health threats of smoking cigarettes were discovered, the practice was a norm for high school students and a great number of adults of the late 1900s. Over the past few years, e-cigarettes have been promoted into a new role, replacing cigarettes in the lifestyle of teens today, which influences individuals beyond the halls of high school. These recently developed nicotine devices—such as Juuls, vape pens, and Suorins—continue to gather attention and popularity; meanwhile, teens become the guinea pigs for the negative health impacts from e-cigarettes that have yet to be discovered. Already finding themselves labeled by society, teens have yet now another area in which they can be categorized in light of developing e-cigarettes.
An anonymous Bigfork High School student stated that, “the use of nicotine is put into two categories. First, if you are not a user of nicotine then you are considered a ‘good kid.’ And second, if you do use it then you are considered a ‘bad kid.’ I know many kids that use nicotine that are characterized as good and bad students by the school itself. The teachers, administration, and the students do not realize that what they are doing is labeling everyone for their choices.”
The use of nicotine is looked down upon by staff and school administration, telling students to stay away from substances that are addictive and can become a gateway drug. The production of modern nicotine devices only promotes violation of a school’s drug free zone by students who find themselves addicted to the buzz nicotine brings. “Nicotine is absorbed into your bloodstream and goes to your adrenal glands just above your kidneys. The glands release adrenaline, which increases your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Adrenaline also gives you a lot of good feelings all at once,” reported the National Institute of Health. “You might have heard people talking about e-cigs, vapes, or vape pens. These are names for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale nicotine, flavoring, or other chemicals. They can look like cigarettes, pipes, pens, or USB memory sticks.”
Bigfork High School principal, Mark Hansen, expressed his disappointment in tobacco companies whom he feels have targeted the younger generation with nicotine juices that ‘taste good.’ “I just feel like anytime that you get into something that you can be addicted to, it is probably not a good thing to have at school,” says Hansen. “If you just do your research you are not going to put that stuff in your body.”
Lou Jessop, a freshman English, English Outbound, Lit Mag, Creative Writing, and Battle School instructor at Bigfork High School stated how students should not necessarily be labeled for their personal nicotine use and how he believes the use of e-cigarettes does not directly impact a students performance at school. “When I was in school there was a smoking corner, and teachers that smoked would join the kids at lunch in the smoking corner of the parking lot. A lot of those kids did not deal with the stigma of being a bad kid because they were chewing tobacco or smoking a cigarette, and I think that maybe while those things are bad for you, we sometimes use those as labels to label the kid bad when it is not a bad kid, and we do not do the same for adult nicotine users,” says Jessop. “I think the development of nicotine products is generally bad for health, and wise for kids to stay away from them because it creates a dependency on a substance way to early on in life, but the substance can be bad and the kid can be fine.”
Although the negative impact of recently developed nicotine devices cannot be ignored by the youth of today, the categorizing of students should not be dependent on a student’s dependence on nicotine. “Kids who are labeled as bad will live up to those expectations,” says Jessop, and this is true in light of individuals who will often find their identity in their reputation. The impact of these developing e-cigarettes on the human body may be foolishly ignored, but the labeling of a person, much less a young adult, should not be dependent upon a choice that teens across the world make every day.
An anonymous Bigfork High School student stated that, “the use of nicotine is put into two categories. First, if you are not a user of nicotine then you are considered a ‘good kid.’ And second, if you do use it then you are considered a ‘bad kid.’ I know many kids that use nicotine that are characterized as good and bad students by the school itself. The teachers, administration, and the students do not realize that what they are doing is labeling everyone for their choices.”
The use of nicotine is looked down upon by staff and school administration, telling students to stay away from substances that are addictive and can become a gateway drug. The production of modern nicotine devices only promotes violation of a school’s drug free zone by students who find themselves addicted to the buzz nicotine brings. “Nicotine is absorbed into your bloodstream and goes to your adrenal glands just above your kidneys. The glands release adrenaline, which increases your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Adrenaline also gives you a lot of good feelings all at once,” reported the National Institute of Health. “You might have heard people talking about e-cigs, vapes, or vape pens. These are names for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale nicotine, flavoring, or other chemicals. They can look like cigarettes, pipes, pens, or USB memory sticks.”
Bigfork High School principal, Mark Hansen, expressed his disappointment in tobacco companies whom he feels have targeted the younger generation with nicotine juices that ‘taste good.’ “I just feel like anytime that you get into something that you can be addicted to, it is probably not a good thing to have at school,” says Hansen. “If you just do your research you are not going to put that stuff in your body.”
Lou Jessop, a freshman English, English Outbound, Lit Mag, Creative Writing, and Battle School instructor at Bigfork High School stated how students should not necessarily be labeled for their personal nicotine use and how he believes the use of e-cigarettes does not directly impact a students performance at school. “When I was in school there was a smoking corner, and teachers that smoked would join the kids at lunch in the smoking corner of the parking lot. A lot of those kids did not deal with the stigma of being a bad kid because they were chewing tobacco or smoking a cigarette, and I think that maybe while those things are bad for you, we sometimes use those as labels to label the kid bad when it is not a bad kid, and we do not do the same for adult nicotine users,” says Jessop. “I think the development of nicotine products is generally bad for health, and wise for kids to stay away from them because it creates a dependency on a substance way to early on in life, but the substance can be bad and the kid can be fine.”
Although the negative impact of recently developed nicotine devices cannot be ignored by the youth of today, the categorizing of students should not be dependent on a student’s dependence on nicotine. “Kids who are labeled as bad will live up to those expectations,” says Jessop, and this is true in light of individuals who will often find their identity in their reputation. The impact of these developing e-cigarettes on the human body may be foolishly ignored, but the labeling of a person, much less a young adult, should not be dependent upon a choice that teens across the world make every day.
In the January 2019 edition of The Bigfork Norse Code paper, I created the article and infographic below on the topic of the 2018/2019 partial Government Shutdown. I am very educated on todays politics and contain my own opinions on matters discussed within Government classrooms and news rooms, but I value the importance of unbiased news when it is essential to report the truth and facts of a story.
Trump Enacts Partial Government ShutdownDecember 2018 partial Government Shutdown carries into the new year
BY AHNA FOX
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The Midterm elections in November 2018 resulted in the Democratic Party taking control of the House of Representatives; in doing so, they presented Trump with the issue of where he would come up with the finances to execute his plans for the US-Mexico border wall. Because the House of Representatives has the power over the federal budget, Trump’s request for funding the wall was refused, thus causing Trump to enact the Shutdown.
The Shutdown began on December 22, 2018, and has continued on into the new year, causing the Shutdown to be the longest in history.
“Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney bargained for hours with congressional leaders, but left the Capitol still at an impasse,” says Fox News journalist Megan Henney.
During his campaign trail in 2016, Trump constantly stressed the need for stronger border security, and stated that his wall along the Mexican border would solve the issue of illegal immigration, securing the safety of the American people.
This partial Government Shutdown has affected a small portion of the American people, but greatly affects all individuals with loans or salaries provided by the federal government. Many locations such as the National Zoo and all Smithsonian Museums are currently closed along with all other areas funded by the federal government. Bigfork High School senior Jaclyn Saunders said, “I went on a trip to Kauai this Christmas with my family, and on our last day exploring the island, we were going to go to one of the more popular attractions, the Kilauea Point Lighthouse, and because of the Government Shutdown we were not allowed to visit it and had to view the lighthouse from a distance.”
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, has voiced her opinion to the President and the American people on how she refuses to support the southern border wall, stating that Trump will not receive funding from the House of Representatives. “Donald Trump has given Democrats a great opportunity to show how we will govern responsibility and quickly pass our plan to end the irresponsible Trump Shutdown — just the first sign of things to come in our new Democratic Majority committed to working for the people,” says Pelosi.
Democrats see this action, on Trump’s part, as an unreasonable tantrum in an effort to receive funding for the wall which they will not succumb to. “Democrats have always believed in strong border security, but we want smart border security. Building a wall is not smart border security,” says DNC Chairman Tom Perez. Another Democratic leader, Senator Chuck Schumer says, “the symbol of America should be the Statue of Liberty, not a 30-foot wall.”
On the other hand, Republicans see the Shutdown as Trump’s way to uphold his promises on which he was voted into office for and an efficient way to strengthen border security. “I couldn’t be more pro-immigration. I want people to come here legally and enjoy and contribute to this great American experiment. But I also want a wall,” says debater and Republican Charlie Kirk.
However, not all Republicans see it this way, as not all Republicans holding seats in the House voted for the funding of the wall. Trump has stated that the Government will remain partially Shut Down until he receives funding.
“Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our southern border. I am in the White House waiting for you,” says Trump. In the meantime, Trump continues to search for other options to receive funding, alongside many other Republican leaders in support of the wall.
The Shutdown began on December 22, 2018, and has continued on into the new year, causing the Shutdown to be the longest in history.
“Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney bargained for hours with congressional leaders, but left the Capitol still at an impasse,” says Fox News journalist Megan Henney.
During his campaign trail in 2016, Trump constantly stressed the need for stronger border security, and stated that his wall along the Mexican border would solve the issue of illegal immigration, securing the safety of the American people.
This partial Government Shutdown has affected a small portion of the American people, but greatly affects all individuals with loans or salaries provided by the federal government. Many locations such as the National Zoo and all Smithsonian Museums are currently closed along with all other areas funded by the federal government. Bigfork High School senior Jaclyn Saunders said, “I went on a trip to Kauai this Christmas with my family, and on our last day exploring the island, we were going to go to one of the more popular attractions, the Kilauea Point Lighthouse, and because of the Government Shutdown we were not allowed to visit it and had to view the lighthouse from a distance.”
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, has voiced her opinion to the President and the American people on how she refuses to support the southern border wall, stating that Trump will not receive funding from the House of Representatives. “Donald Trump has given Democrats a great opportunity to show how we will govern responsibility and quickly pass our plan to end the irresponsible Trump Shutdown — just the first sign of things to come in our new Democratic Majority committed to working for the people,” says Pelosi.
Democrats see this action, on Trump’s part, as an unreasonable tantrum in an effort to receive funding for the wall which they will not succumb to. “Democrats have always believed in strong border security, but we want smart border security. Building a wall is not smart border security,” says DNC Chairman Tom Perez. Another Democratic leader, Senator Chuck Schumer says, “the symbol of America should be the Statue of Liberty, not a 30-foot wall.”
On the other hand, Republicans see the Shutdown as Trump’s way to uphold his promises on which he was voted into office for and an efficient way to strengthen border security. “I couldn’t be more pro-immigration. I want people to come here legally and enjoy and contribute to this great American experiment. But I also want a wall,” says debater and Republican Charlie Kirk.
However, not all Republicans see it this way, as not all Republicans holding seats in the House voted for the funding of the wall. Trump has stated that the Government will remain partially Shut Down until he receives funding.
“Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our southern border. I am in the White House waiting for you,” says Trump. In the meantime, Trump continues to search for other options to receive funding, alongside many other Republican leaders in support of the wall.