Back to Articles News Back to Sections NATO’s Internal Strife By Everton Prospere Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Reuters On the 24th of February, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, interrupting the balance of power in Europe. In response, several countries that have maintained policies of neutrality for decades, particularly Sweden and Finland, shortly applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Formed at the end of the Cold War, NATO ensured an alliance between the United States, Canada, and Western Europe to prevent the spread of communism by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and its respective alliance in Eastern Europe, the Warsaw Pact. Although the USSR has dissolved completely, NATO, and its members which comprise of the world’s strongest militaries, still plays a critical role in preserving peace throughout Europe. While Sweden and Finland have attempted to establish a foothold in this alliance to counteract the invasion of Ukraine, the most powerful remnant of the USSR, Russia, continues to threaten this course of action. According to an official press document from the government of Russia, the country will take “retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to neutralize the threats to its national security that arise from this [Sweden and Finland’s membership to NATO].” Thus, despite the concerns of national security from Sweden and Finland, fearing possible invasions, the Russian government continues to bully these countries on the world stage to prevent an expansion of NATO close to the borders of Russia. Furthermore, Sweden and Finland also faced difficulty in the application process due to Turkey. Although part of NATO, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has prevented the two countries from joining. NATO, comprising 30 states, requires a unanimous vote to accept another state into the alliance. However, Erdoğan has threatened to block this vote due to claimed “terrorist groups,” such as Kurdistan’s Workers Party, that reside within the borders of Sweden. In addition, as per the Associated Press, Erdoğan has further refused to confirm the two countries due to anti-Islamic protests in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, which resulted in burnings of the Quran. Thus, in order for the two Scandinavian countries to join NATO jointly, Sweden must currently appease Erdoğan by taking decisive action against the designated terrorist groups and banning the burning of the Quran. As the Russo-Ukrainian war rages on, diplomatic fights simultaneously occur. Sweden, unlikely to bend the knee for Erdoğan due to concerns of constitutional freedoms of the public, will continue to struggle to join NATO. Finland, in response, will attempt to circumvent the situation by re-applying to NATO alone. As Turkey continues to develop seemingly closer ties to Russia, the world watches as devastating battles happen in Ukraine. Refrences: Заявление МИД России о членстве Финляндии в НАТО - Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации (mid.ru) Finland Nato: Russia threatens to retaliate over membership move - BBC News The world looks on as Erdogan jockeys for a third decade of power in Turkey | CNN Erdogan: Sweden can't join NATO if Quran-burning is allowed | AP News BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Isabella Somma - Blue Orange Study By Isabella Somma November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Broken Entry 11 April 14, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections In a Brown Study By Osaiyekemwen Ogbemudia Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by AADA A thought is ignored, what happens? Does it deteriorate before its brethren? Disappear, ousted by the rest. Or reside and feed, Craving dominance throughout its host. Does the razor-sharp pang flash past? Or linger, bubbling like a burn. The mind’s keloid rises scabbily smooth. Maybe it fades, suddenly rising as a phoenix And fortifying from the flames Or does it just wither as a purposeless enigma? BACK TO TOP

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