Category: opinion
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New Year’s resolutions
Lots of people create New Year’s resolutions as a way of bettering themselves and reaching new goals they want to achieve. This can be a range of things, from working out more to traveling…
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How to be more whimsical
Whimsy is the art of meeting the world with a sense of play, curiosity, and a touch of the unexpected. In an era of hyper-efficiency and rigid schedules, being whimsical is a powerful stance…
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The Pitt Returns with Season Two
The Pitt has finally returned on TV screens as the new season dropped on January 8th. This new season takes place in a new year in July, as Dr. Robinavitch, or Dr. Robby as…
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Golfing’s youthful revolution among sports
Sports are a significant part of adolescent and high school life. Games such as football, soccer, and basketball are fast-paced, exciting, and beloved student passions. Golf, on the other hand, is “boring.” There’s no…
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Why Everyone Should Try Journaling in 2026
Journaling is the practice of writing down personal feelings, thoughts, and experiences as a tool for self reflection and personal growth. It is a helpful tool for coping with overwhelming emotions and maintaining your…
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Why Students at Leesville Think Third Quarter Sucks
First quarter, you get back to school after a long summer and see some friends you didn’t see over the break. “First quarter is the excitement of the new year, new classes, and new…
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Is school the issue for students?
After coming back to school from winter break, it dawned on me that school genuinely is the source of most of my issues. It’s impossible to not worry about school. School is definitely the…
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Could Sortition fix political apathy?
When the North Carolina provisional government asked Founding Father and future 2nd president John Adams for advice on how to develop a government that would truly represent the people, he said, “The principal difficulty…
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Is having a boyfriend embarrassing?
The viral “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” Vogue article by Chanté Joseph has sparked huge controversy across the internet. Joseph argues that by observing recent trends and content on social media, the consensus…
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Are New Year’s resolutions overrated?
The year 2026 is finally here, and like last year, many people are setting New Year’s Resolutions, or goals that they want to achieve in the coming year. From working out more to being…
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Every politician should need a 5 in AP Government
I took AP U.S. Government and Politics my sophomore year, in 2023. Taking the class, I was fascinated to learn about the foundations of our democracy. We studied U.S. history along with government structure,…
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We got stuck with the worst Robert Kennedy
While their careers were separated by half a century, father and son share a distinct political DNA: a willingness to challenge the establishment and a penchant for framing themselves as outsiders fighting for the…
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Is it better to be the only sibling at home?
Growing up with siblings has its ups and downs, especially if you are the youngest. Once your sibling goes off to college, you get this feeling that nothing feels completely right. The house feels…
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The logistics of Santa Claus
The infamous Santa Claus has existed for hundreds of years – continuously spreading Christmas spirit and making millions of children’s Christmas mornings special. Old Saint Nick relies on his magic, elves, and reindeer to…
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Project Hail Mary Book Review
Project Hail Mary is a science fiction novel by Andy Weir, who is also famous for his best-selling book The Martian. Weir published Project Hail Mary in 2021, but it recently gained popularity due…
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Christmas Decorations: After Halloween or Thanksgiving?
After Halloween, the Halloween decorations start to be put away, and people transition into the next season of the year. The debate has been going on for years and years about when exactly Christmas…
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Are AP classes worth it?
Advanced Placement classes are offered at Leesville for students who wish to challenge themselves more than they would in an honors class. There are several advantages to taking these AP classes, including an increased…
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Banned Books: The 48 Laws of Power
The question of whether The 48 Laws of Power should be banned at Leesville is worth exploring, especially as we consider the implications of banning any book. While Robert Greene’s work delves into manipulation…
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Beyond the Breaking Point: The Toxic Culture of High School Achievement
I’m currently in my senior year of high school, and it’s that time of year again: early action college admissions decisions are being released. Seniors planning to attend college have spent the past three…
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Are Apple’s Over-Ear Headphones Worth It?
Released in 2020 and updated in 2024, AirPod Max’s are Apple’s only over-ear headphones. These headphones offer pro-level active noise cancellation, allowing users to control what they hear or don’t hear with the click…
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All the ruckus about Ruckus
Ruckus Scratch Kitchen opened up this June and has been a huge hit. When I went, the food was good, but it was a little expensive. My favorite thing I’ve had there was the…
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Taco Bell is one of the best overall off-campus lunch locations near Leesville
By far the greatest aspect of Taco Bell is the cost. The low cost of food here is easily the greatest appeal for me, as it is for a lot of people. An (albeit…
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Fashion trends 2025 going into the new year
Adding new pieces to your closet can be tricky, but the fashion trends of 2025 are a good place to start. This year has had numerous fashion trends — some are throwbacks, some are…
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe review
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a “fast casual” restaurant. It serves smoothies and tasty breakfast/lunch foods with a tropical vibe. LRHS students frequent the location at Brennan Station; its relative proximity to school, combined with…
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Book Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Funny Story is a romance novel by NYT bestselling author Emily Henry. Published in 2024, it quickly attracted a large BookTok fanbase. *NOTE: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK* The story follows…
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What is the Best Christmas Movie Genre?
The Christmas season is in full swing. But what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to cuddle up with your favorite people and watch Christmas movies. Watching Christmas movies is an…
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Is Daylight Savings necessary?
On November 2, Daylight Saving Time ended. The clocks were moved back an hour to regular standard time at 2 am, giving us an extra hour of sleep. However, it may not feel like…
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What is the Excitement of a Christmas Wish List?
Since Christmas is right around the corner, those who celebrate should have their wish list ready. The cool breeze, daylight savings time, and fall decorations coming down are all signs of exciting times: Black…
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Movie Review: Black Phone 2
The Black Phone 2, the sequel to the original The Black Phone (2021), was released on October 17, 2025. The sequel takes place in 1982, four years after Finney (played by Mason Thames) defeated…
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LoveShackFancy Has Become More Than Just a Store
LoveShackFancy is more than just a store. Founded in 2013, it is a beauty, home, and fashion brand. LoveShackFancy is popular for its feminine aesthetic. The brand uses pink, prints, florals, ruffles, lace and…
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The effects of the new device policies
The current WCPSS policy on Chromebooks states that students are “required to use their WCPSS-assigned Chromebooks unless there have been prior arrangements” to make acceptances. However, acceptances aren’t being made. There are many people…
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Tate McRae “Miss Possesive” concert review
On October 25, Tate McRae brought her “Miss Possessive Tour” to Raleigh, her second appearance in the city, but her first time at the Lenovo Center. Expectations were high for McRae as this was…
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How old is too old Trick-Or-Treating
Halloween is one of the most favorite holidays for kids, mainly for two reasons: dressing up and candy. Everyone loves walking around with their friends and knocking on doors to get free candy, but…
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Why do most book to movie adaptions fail?
In the past couple of years, movies from books have become popularized on the big screen. More authors are being recognized for their work with movie adaptations. However, sometimes backlash from the movie ends…
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Should High Schoolers Have Field Trips?
A textbook, slide show, or packet can describe the workings of a farm, museum, or business, but it can’t possibly fully capture the feeling of being inside of it. High school students are in…
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Are VIP tickets really worth the hype?
Many people dream of having the VIP experience when seeing our favorite artist in concert. From being so close to the stage that you can see every little detail on the artist’s outfit, to…
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The Handmaid’s Tale Book Review
The Handmaid’s Tale is the NYT Bestselling author Margaret Atwood’s debut novel, and a modern classic. The dystopian story is set in a futuristic America, which has turned into the totalitarian Republic of Gilead,…
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When Does Halloween Stop Being a Holiday?
Halloween season is in full swing — people have officially finalized costumes and plans. But the meaning of Halloween truly depends on your stage in life. For a little kid, it’s a super exciting…
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Is Junior Year Hell Year?
As the first quarter of a new year ends, students feel pressure to wrap everything up. But there are some students that are struggling to “wrap up” because their workload feels like it never…
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The Best Halloween Movies
The best Halloween movies blend nostalgia, charm, and a touch of spookyness, perfect for setting the seasonal mood. Four standouts that have become staples for October marathons are Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before…
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What is the Appeal of Christmas in New York City?
Around 60 million people visit New York City year-round. Approximately 7.5 million people visit New York City during the holiday season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Christmas in New York City is different from…
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Dancing with the Stars season 34 comes out
This season of Dancing with the Stars has brought a new mix of influencers, athletes, and TV stars to the dance floor. One of the headline names that many of us know is Social…
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Can you Survive Panic Point?
Panic Point is a super fun and exhilarating experience. Many people from all ages go to get a good scare and a little adrenaline rush. Panic Point isn’t for everyone, but for the ones…
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When Should you Actually Decorate for Christmas?
The annual debate has begun: When exactly is it the right time to start Christmas decorating? There are some who strongly believe that Christmas decorations should skip Thanksgiving decorations and just automatically whip out…
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Is The Paper a good spinoff?
After running for nine seasons, The Office touched the hearts of millions of viewers, so much so that NBC created a spinoff show titled The Paper, 12 years after the series wrapped. The Paper…
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Reveiw: Leesville first semi-formal Homecoming dance
The 2025 Homecoming Dance was a huge success with about 500 tickets sold. The theme, Luau at Loonieville, allowed for tropical decor and a Hawaiian touch. In previous years, the Homecoming Dance was casual…
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A retrospective review of Riverdale
When Riverdale came out in 2017, it was the talk of all pop culture. The first season was widely considered a success—a mystery plot with twists, romance, and suspense. People like the idea of…
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Movie Review: The Long Walk
Pictured above, Stephen King, author of The Long Walk novel which was recently turned into a 2025 film. King is shown at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival which is held in Toronto, Canada.…
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High schoolers react to Charlie Kirk’s death
Most Americans have probably heard about the death of Charlie Kirk a couple of weeks ago. His divisive politics spread across the nation for years, and his stance on gun violence was arguably not…
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Why Jane Eyre is the GOAT
You probably did not expect to see both the words “Jane Eyre” and “GOAT” in the same sentence, considering the dichotomy between a title from classic literature and a phrase from modern slang. However,…