Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections How to Balance School and Mental Health Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 6 Issue 3 June 8, 2026 Image Provided by EdNC.org As a VSN senior, I have had six years of experience navigating middle school and high school. Academics, extracurriculars, social circles, relationships -- I have seen everything. With so much compounded together, so much to experience in just 6 hours and 53 minutes, it is hard to keep track of everything. It is easy to let your mental health slip through the cracks. What is not easy is maintaining a healthy school-home balance, especially when you are at school more than you are at home. As someone who has struggled to maintain her mental health and is just now understanding what is healthy and what is not, here are some tips to survive high school and maintain your mental health. Do not Procrastinate.                                         In giving this advice, I am hypocritical. Hence, why I am passing it on now. Procrastination is one of the main reasons why school can seem more difficult than it is, mentally and otherwise. The stress of knowing you have work to be done but feeling too exhausted to work creates a cycle of procrastinating on an assignment, finishing at the last minute (if at all), then procrastinating even more. Give yourself some extrinsic motivation to get your work done, like ‘If I do my project now, I can buy myself that new game after’ or ‘Once I finish, I can play with my friends for a bit.’ Rewarding yourself after you finish rather than before pushes you to start. This requires discipline, but as you continue to develop this skill, it becomes much easier. Prepare From picking out your clothes the night before a new week to making flashcards to study for a test, even a little preparation before school makes the day feel much smoother. Tackling your workload piece by piece lessens the amount of schoolwork left at the end of the day, with minimal interference with any extracurriculars. Join an Extracurricular Although adding to your schedule might seem counterproductive to reducing stress, joining an extracurricular activity gives you something to look forward to outside of your scholarly schedule. Whether it be a club that meets once a month or a sport requiring everyday practice, extracurricular activities serve as a great way of improving your life. Developing a social circle with others who share your interests can boost your comfort level in and out of school. Do Your Research Early (Junior Year Specific) The first semester of Senior Year is the most stressful part of your high school career. You have about 3 months from when your senior starts to apply to your colleges of choice, and many colleges have supplemental essays – additional essays written to showcase further interest in a certain college or to emphasize parts of your application outside your personal statement- that are about the same length as your college essay. These supplemental essays become much easier to write when you have in-depth reasons for attending a specific college. Researching colleges by location, major/aspirations, extracurricular options, and class size adds specificity to your college applications, making you stand out from other generic applicants and putting you ahead of your peers. 5. Take Breaks The most important aspect of caring for your mental health while excelling in school is knowing when to rest. Working continuously, without breaks, can lead to “burnout.” Burnout is characterized by extreme exhaustion and a distinct lack of motivation. To stop burnout before it starts, take breaks away from your work. Taking a 30-minute walk outside or setting aside a day to hang out with your friends are great ways to step away from your schoolwork. Your mental health should take precedence over schoolwork, especially if it is declining because of school. If you are ever struggling to balance your school life and mental health and feel overwhelmed, North has amazing guidance counselors who are eager to talk through your feelings with you and help. School can be stressful, but inserting some of these tips into your daily routine can help relieve stress and make school seem much less daunting. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections How to Deal with Narcissim By Ala Paruch Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by the American Psychological Association Hello Ala! How do you deal with a classmate that’s bluntly narcissistic and only seems to care about talking about themselves? Hello dear reader! Thank you for sending in the question! Well, before the advice itself, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. People who are not friendly to spend time with will show up often in life, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. In this situation, it seems the person you are talking about is not trying to be friends with you. On the contrary, they make you feel uncomfortable, so feel free to ignore them. It may seem rude, but they are using you to make themselves feel better, and you do not have any obligation to give away your time to them. If you are forced to interact with them, try to limit contact and only talk about what is necessary. Again, they are not trying to be friends, and you must deal with your life first, not their problems.  I hope this helps! Ala BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections With The Trust I Had By Sarah Velez Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Max Pixel Running through corn fields hand in hand. Not looking back to a wrecked past. Where childhood was nothing but pain. Really hope they live in vain. Worst thing is you meet someone new and they walk right out of your life. Or stab you in the back with your own knife. Wish I could have everyone who left, back here again. I don’t even know why they first came. Everyone who left me thought I was lame. Except for those few that had to go. They probably don’t even know how much they mean. If only right next to them I could be. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Unconventional Portrait By Marissa Nardone January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Thanksgiving: Not Just About the Turkey Nicholas Zarek Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Max Ching People all over the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. Families gather to enjoy delicious food and each other's company. It is a time when we can appreciate our loved ones and give thanks for everything in our lives. We cannot forget about the origin of Thanksgiving. As the story goes, the English sailed from England on the Mayflower, landed at Plymouth Rock, and had a good harvest in 1621. So, the governor (William Bradford) held a feast to celebrate and invited a group of friendly Native Americans, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit, and they feasted on venison, wildfowl, bass, cod, possibly passenger pigeons, squash, beans, onions, carrots, and other root vegetables, Plums, grapes, and berries, walnuts, chestnuts, and beechnuts. Over the years, families have developed their own Thanksgiving traditions. In our family, we always watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and all the football games. At our dinner table, we usually have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, spinach, corn, Hawaiian rolls with butter, and cranberry sauce. There is also one special meal we have on our table: Polish kielbasa. For dessert, we go to the other side of the family. They always have apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. The next day, I always go to the mall with my family to get in on Black Friday deals from various stores. Of course, these are just my family’s traditions, and there are many other common ones. Some families travel to other parts of the country to see other relatives and friends, break the turkey’s wishbone for good luck, go around the table and say what they are thankful for, or even wake up early in the morning for a “turkey trot” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Finish Line By Macayla McCaffery November 24, 2020 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Cody's Trivia Corner By Cody Sung Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Getty Images How did the days of the week get their names? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Many of the names come from Roman gods, transported into Nordic culture. Let’s review each one. Sunday – day of the Sun. “Sunna” or “Sól” is a goddess in Norse mythology, which came from the Roman god “Sol”. Monday – day of the moon. The Nordic “Mani” for moon caused Mánadagr to become Monday. Interestingly enough, the Latin name for the moon is “Luna”, which is reflected in the name for Monday in other languages such as French, “Lundí”. Tuesday – named after Tiw, also known as “Tyr” the Norse god of war. Comparable to Mars, the Roman god of war. Wednesday – named after Odin, similar to the Roman god Mercury. Both are responsible for a variety of things such as luck. Thursday – named after Thor, the lightning god and most powerful of all gods. Comparable to Roman god Jupiter. Friday – named after Freya, alternatively called “Frigg”, the goddess of love, Venus being the Roman equivalent. Saturday – named after Saturn, the god of wealth, in Latin (Saturni), still recognizable in English today since the Norse didn’t change it. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Damar Hamlin’s Astounding Recovery By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by CNN Damar Hamlin, a professional American football player, suffered an injury during a game in the 2022 season. The injury was a major setback for both Hamlin and his team because it prevented him from playing for multiple weeks. Hamlin is a talented safety who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a key player for the team making a significant impact on the field with his speed and agility. However, during a game in October 2022, Hamlin suffered a knee injury that forced him to leave the field. The extent of Hamlin's injury was initially unclear, and there was concern that it could be a season-ending injury. However, after undergoing tests and evaluations, it was determined that he had suffered a sprained knee and would be out for several weeks. The loss of Hamlin was a major blow to the Steelers. Despite the setback, Hamlin remained positive and focused on his recovery. He was determined to get back on the field as soon as possible and help his team in any way he could. With the support of his coaches, trainers, and teammates, Hamlin worked tirelessly to regain his strength and get back in playing shape. In his first game back, Hamlin made an immediate impact, recording several tackles and interceptions and helping the team secure a much-needed win. From that point on, he was a key contributor for the rest of the season, helping the Steelers reach the playoffs and make a deep run into the post-season. Damar Hamlin's injury was a challenging experience for both the player and his team. However, it also demonstrated the resilience, and strength of the player, as well as the support he received from those around him. Hamlin's return to the field was a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he remains an important player for the Steelers as they look to build on their success in the coming years. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections P.S. I Love You Week By Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by P.S. I Love You Day The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Wellness Center are working side-by-side to host Valley Stream North’s first P.S. I Love You Week, a time that brings awareness to mental health and bullying. Traditionally a single day, both organizations agreed to extend the celebration to an entire week from February 7th through the 11th. With a pandemic that has brought many extra hardships for students, the week seeks to bring love and joy to the entire North community. On April 23rd, 2010, the DiPalma family faced devastating news. The father of the family, Joseph DiPalma, committed suicide. This tragedy left a gaping hole within those who knew Joseph, particularly within Brooke DiPalma, his daughter. Rather than letting such a horrific event happen again, Brooke took action and worked with her family, school, and peers to annually designate February 11th as a day to ensure that no one ever feels alone. As the organization’s website states, “Tragedy should not be the force for togetherness; togetherness should be the force that ends tragedies.” P.S. I Love You Day is a day of togetherness, a day that will unite North and spread love to all. The SADD club and Wellness Center have planned several activities for the days leading up to February 11th in order to promote the event throughout the entire school: 1. The TikTok Challenge - This creative competition requires participation from all Spartans. Ending on February 9th, Spartans are encouraged to make creative videos on TikTok that bring awareness to mental health and bullying. The videos can include dances, pieces of art, or any creative media that promotes P.S. I Love You Week. The TikToks, which the administration will judge, can be made alone or in groups, with the winner receiving a $25 gift card. 2. Grade Level Purple Clothing Challenge - On February 11th, all the grades will compete against each other based on purple clothing. To participate, students should wear a purple article of clothing on the 11th to show support to P.S. I Love You Week. The grade level that collectively wears the most purple articles will receive recognition and a special award to their grade council. 3. Supportive Post-it Note Messages - Various clubs will come together on February 10th after school to make post-it notes with supportive messages. Every single locker will receive a personalized note, so all students are encouraged to visit their lockers on February 11th. The SADD club and Wellness Center hope that the North community comes together for this important cause with these events. This will, hopefully, be the start of an annual tradition at Valley Stream North. Mark your calendars for the first P.S. I Love You Week, from February 7th to the 11th! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Usman- Ava Strojan Ava Strojan February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3