Overlea High School Newspaper

MARCH 2023 ISSUE 3 THE DAILY ‘O’ WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE O… Screens and Scandals: The This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC Dangerous Illusion of Anonymity By Steven Gerguis As teenagers, it is easy to get caught up in the fast- paced and fleeting nature of social media. But it is important to remember that once something is posted online, it's there forever. The video or picture of you doing something you shouldn’t, can come back to haunt you years later when you're applying for jobs or college. The false sense of anonymity that social media can provide is a dangerous illusion. Instagram stories may disappear after 24 hours, but they can easily be screenshotted or recorded and shared. Snapchat may notify you if someone takes a screenshot of your picture, but that doesn't stop someone from recording it with a second phone. But the dangers of a social media footprint go beyond just potential job or college consequences. It is also important to consider how our online presence can affect our personal relationships and mental health. Posting negative or hurtful comments about someone can have serious real-life consequences and can cause lasting damage to relationships. And constantly comparing ourselves to the highlight reels of others' lives on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self- esteem. So, what can teenagers do to protect their digital footprint? The first step is to be mindful of what you post. Think twice before sharing that video or picture that could be potentially damaging. It is also important to regularly review and clean up your social media profiles, removing any posts or pictures that you wouldn't want a future employer or college admissions officer to see. Finally, make sure your privacy settings are set to the highest level and be mindful of who you accept as friends or followers. In today's digital age, it's more important than ever for teenagers to be aware of the potential consequences of their online actions. It's not just about protecting your future job or college prospects, it's also about protecting your personal relationships and mental well-being. So, before you hit that post button, think about the long-term impact of your online footprint. IN THIS ISSUE Continued… World Cup Field Trips TikTok 1

THE DAILY ‘O’ TEACHER POLL NO SNOW DAYS?!? STUDENT POLL Ms. Bell Continued… A year with no snowdays? How does that happen? I don’t remember a school One high-profile example of the dangers of a social media year with no snow days EVER and this is footprint is the case of Baltimore legend Olympic swimmer my 20th year in BCPS. So, what will Michael Phelps. In 2009, a photo of Phelps smoking from a bong happen to the school calendar is the next at a college party surfaced online. The incident caused Phelps to question on everyone’s mind. Right now, lose several sponsorships and led to a three-month suspension our last day of school is June 21st. If we from USA Swimming. Phelps later admitted that he made a eek by March with no closures, I would mistake and apologized for his actions. This incident serves as a guess that Monday or Tuesday June 12th cautionary tale for teenagers and highlights the importance of or 13th will be our last day of school. being mindful of our online actions. Phelps never knew he was Remember our last two days are early being recorded and had no control over the photo being shared dismissals, so you will get out at 11:30am. online. It serves as a reminder that we can never truly know who Looks like finals are coming a week is watching or recording us at any given moment, and that the earlier than expected. Be ready for internet has the power to spread information at lightning speed. finals to start Monday, June 5th. Two It’s important for teenagers to remember that even if they think finals will be administered each day with they are in a private setting, they can never truly know who is makeup days if you are absent. watching or recording them. This is why it's crucial to always be mindful of your actions and to think carefully about the potential IYKYK….I like snow; however, June is consequences before posting something online. Just like Michael looking very promising right now for an Phelps, one small mistake can have a big impact on your future. early start to our summer making it a week longer. In addition to being mindful of your online actions, it's also important for teenagers to take regular digital detoxes. A digital detox is a period of time where you intentionally disconnect from technology and social media in order to give your mind and body a break. Digital detoxes can help reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and FOMO (fear of missing out) that can often be caused by social media overuse. It also allows you to focus on the present moment and engage in activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, reading, or participating in sports. It's important to set boundaries and limits on your social media and technology use. This can include setting time limits on social media apps, turning off notifications, and establishing a no- phone rule during dinner or bedtime. A digital detox is not only about unplugging for a specific period of time, it's also about being aware of and mindful of our relationship with technology, and making conscious choices about how we use it. It's about finding a balance and making sure that technology is serving us, rather than the other way around. PAGE 2

THE DAILY ‘O’ 7 TIPS FOR STAYING ON Tips From Your Teachers TOP OF YOUR “Just do it” SCHOOLWORK FORD By: Akinfolarin Ibosiola “Doing homework at home As students, we often have a lot of assignments to complete. helps you remember what Reading, essays, and problem sets can pile up very quickly! It’s you were working on in easy to fall behind, but you don’t have to. In this article, we will discuss how to stay on top of your assignments and reading. school.” Pay attention to the syllabus MACK The best way to stay on top of your assignments is to be aware of “If it’s important to you, what’s going on in class. You can do this by checking your class you’ll find a way. If not, syllabus often. A syllabus will spell out what assignments or you’ll find an excuse.” readings are due and on which date. RENNER Set aside time to read and work on your assignments “Use your calendar Another way to ensure you stay on top of your assignments and on your phone.” reading is to set aside time to do them. You will be much more likely to do your work if you plan time for it. When you schedule Dr. Kelley time, you can also intentionally choose the time when you work best. “You only fail if you do not try. Success comes by Set goals learning from your errors.” A good goal to start with would be to dedicate a certain amount of time to an assignment and to finish it on a predetermined day. DYER Along the same lines, you could set a goal to read a certain number of pages or chapters in a sitting. “Beware of orange circles.” Pace yourself YURROW Don’t wait until the last minute before the assignment is due to get started on it. Instead, plan to complete the assignment over the course of a few days. Decide which tasks you will do on each day so you can complete the assignment slowly without burning yourself out. Eliminate distractions during your study sessions Distractions will keep you from focusing on your work. You don’t want your concentration to be disturbed by a notification on your phone or by the lyrics to a catchy song on your playlist. Reward yourself Finally, once you have finished your work, reward yourself! It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant, but you could give yourself more time to watch Netflix, have a special dessert, or sleep in. You’ve earned it! “Nothing beats a fail but a try.” MATTHEWS PAGE 3

THE DAILY ‘O’ “Must Reads” By: Stacie Rustin They both die in the end- If you’re looking for a relatively short, emotional read, this book could be for you. When two strangers get the inevitable announcement that their lives will come to an end that day, they search for their last friend and find each other. Hence only knowing each other for a day, they build an unbreakable bond. They take in new experiences, explore new things, and escape from their comfort zone. This book alternates between the perspective of the people faced with death, it allows you to see the perspective of many characters who are also on their last day. “A good girl's guide to murder”- This is a series containing 3 books. When a junior in highschool has to do a capstone project, she decides to reopen a murder case. She knew the person who was accused as the murderer from a young age and wanted to prove the town wrong, prove that he didn’t actually commit a murder. Throughout the series, we can watch the main character, pip, solve multiple cases and become somewhat of a mini detective. She makes a podcast, solved a murder, and even found a missing person she knew. In the last book she uses all that she gained from being a “detective” to cover up one of her own mistakes. It ends with us- There is a lot of controversy towards this book. When a girl named Lily grew up in an abusive household, it changed her perspective on her parents. She wonders why her father never stopped and why her mother never ran away or left him for these actions. When she grows up, she meets someone that she falls in love with. When this person turns out to be abusive, Lily doesn’t know what to believe. Lily got pregnant by the abusive man and only then could she understand why her mom couldn’t just go; why it was so hard to run from someone that you love, even if they hurt you. Towards the end of the book, she breaks free from the pattern of abuse . PAGE 4