Category Archives: Departments

Student loan debts remain major problem in U.S.

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By Jennifer Iraheta-Delcid

Whether you want to become a teacher or a doctor, both require a degree and education. Students all over the U.S have been experiencing overwhelming stress with the fact that they owe so much money from their loans. Student loan debt has grown a huge amount over time. Those debts determine which dreams students can achieve and which ones will simply stay a dream.

Student loans have increased tremendously over the past few decades. For example, as of March 2023, around 44 million U.S borrowers owed more than $1.6 trillion in Federal student loans. The average total student debt continues to be about $30,000 dollars. In the 1980s and ’90s, many high school students did not attend colleges and universities and those who did less than half borrowed money. On the other hand, in 2022, almost two-thirds of high school graduates attended college and took out loans. Student debt surpasses auto and credit card debt which shows how tremendously it has grown.

Student debt affects more than your ability to independently cover your living expenses and enjoy a decent standard of living. It also affects your dreams and your mental health. While you worry about your academic performance and finding a well paying job, you also have to worry about paying back your student debt. Having to pay back your loans can take many years, which can force you to sacrifice your dream job for one that financially supports you better. Student loan debt can cause high levels of stress and worrying thoughts. This takes a big toll on your mental health and well being.

Student loan debt is a major problem in the U.S that I hope gets fixed. It affects many students’ ability to accomplish their dreams due to the large amount they have to pay back. It impacts their levels of stress and worry as many other expenses need to be paid. Paying the students’ debts through loan forgiveness or reducing the cost of higher education would boost the nation’s economy by a huge amount while also benefiting everyone.

Students still struggling with social anxiety stemming from COVID-19 pandemic

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By Zeinab AL Ali

Social anxiety is becoming common amongst students due to the COVID-19 outbreak which led students to be isolated from society for a long period of time.

COVID-19 started four years ago and entered the United States In January 2020. It led to quarantining where students had to stay home and take online classes. Students had to be isolated from their peers and they had to stay home for an extended period of time. In that time period, students spent their time alone and they were prevented from coming into contact with their friends and family members out of concern for their health and safety.

After quarantine ended, students had to go back to school and proceed with their education. Most students had a hard time communicating and interacting with their peers because they weren’t used to this sudden change in heir environment. Due to COVID-19, many students developed social anxiety and became anti-social. Many students at Patterson High School today are experiencing the same thing. It’s hard for students to communicate, express themselves, and interact with others after being isolated for a such long period of time.

To solve this problem, teachers should create fun activities that allow students to break out of their isolation bubble operates at a different pace. Teachers should encourage students to be more interactive but not push them, because pushing students to do something they are not used to can create fear, tension, stress and can also add to their anxiety. Sometimes students seem like they don’t want to communicate but the truth is they do; They just don’t know how to and sometimes they might be afraid to do so.

Students can be more interactive with others with the help of their teachers.

How social media affects your mental health

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By Jennifer Iraheta-Delcid

Social media has become part of our daily life, consuming most of our time. Since the 2000s, it has extended new possibilities for communication. It has its good effects and bad effects. But it brings many risks if you excessively use social media.

Many platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have become popular among youth. People normally spend around 2-3 hours of their time on social media. Therefore, These platforms have gained popularity because they allow you to communicate with other people as well as being a way to express yourself, whether in a short video or a story.

However, it’s a source of entertainment while also allowing you to make new friends online. Meeting friends online can be very dangerous at times because you are not sure who is behind the screen and whether they’re a predator or not. Although social media has its benefits, it can cause you to isolate yourself from actually interacting with real-world people and can later result in feelings such as anxiety.

Excessive use is mainly caused by lower psychological well-being. The immoderate consumption of social media is affecting many young people. Possible effects that come with it are low self-esteem, exclusion, bullying, and poor work and/or school production. In fact, social media produces many negative feelings. Recent studies show that people between the ages of 14-24 feel as if social media brings feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness. Many platforms such as YouTube and TikTok care more about engagement rather than your mental health and the negativity that comes with it. Trends can also influence many young people to do dangerous activities that can lead to death. 

Social Media affects your mental health but it doesn’t mean you can’t use it at all. You just have to be aware of how much of your time it’s consuming. There are many good effects as well as bad but it brings many risks if you excessively use it. Mindfully using it is important to social media consumption.

Coping with stress

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By Victoria Orellana

In this day and age, a lot of teens deal with and experience stress. Stress is all around us and we all deal with it in different ways. According to the website Cross River Therapy, at least 45% of students in high school admit to being stressed almost every day in school.

It’s important to pace yourself and understand that you as an individual need time for yourself. You can’t always avoid stress. It’s something most of us deal with, but there are ways to manage it.

The website Teens Health lists a bunch of ways to deal with stress. Here are a couple of them:

One strategy is to plan your day using a calendar or planning app to keep track of your daily schedule. Put in all the things you need and make sure to plan time for things you enjoy doing. Planning your day and sticking to the schedule lowers stress.

Another thing you can do to reduce stress is ask for help when you need it. School work grades and tests cause a lot of stress and it’s not always easy to deal with. Ask teachers, tutors, parents or any trusted adult for help with anything. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; When things go south, you’re going to wish you did.

These strategies might not eliminate all your problems, but give them a try–they might help you manage your stress so you can get through high school without feeling weighed down.

Back to School Night: The start of a new year 

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By Thayer Oosterman

Photo by Patterson Press

Paterson High School held its annual Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 20th from 5:00 until 7:00 PM. 

There were many organizations present including Thread, The Y, the U.S Army Recruit and Command, Home Away from Home, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, Coppin State University, and the Baltimore Medical System.  

Patterson has many opportunities for all students, whether they are doing well or struggling academically. One group that helps students who are having a hard time in school is Thread.

 “We are Thread, a relationship building organization, and we enroll students in their 9th grade year based on grades.”, explained a representative from Thread who was at Back to School Night. “We pull the bottom 25% academically and they work with us in their first year and they get matched with a volunteer and we just basically are here to build a stronger community across the city of Baltimore.”

There were also faith-based organizations providing services to the people of Baltimore City.

“We provide services for new immigrants that are taking asylum, refugees, and others.”, explained the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service representative.

Members of the U.S. Army were also present at the Back to School Night.

“We’re just here to promote the Army, talk to the kids about the benefits, if they have any questions”, said a representative of the U.S. Army Recruit and Command.

At Back to School Night, the Patterson High School Marching Band played music. Students and their families had delicious food served after the band performance. In the end, many parents and family members knew more about what was going on in the classrooms and they met their young scholars’ teachers. 

The event was a success and parents and students alike knew more about how to succeed in the coming school year.

(Photos by Patterson Press)

Student Government Association gives students a voice

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By Jayzanay Blessett

SGA members have a discussion at a citywide meeting (Photo: Mr. Frederick)

Student Government Association (SGA) helps students speak up on issues that go on in their schools. They also help plan events and make decisions regarding how the money is spent on the events. Currently, Patterson only has a few students who are interested in participating. I would highly encourage students to join or even check out some of the meetings because if you aren’t satisfied with some of the things that are going on, you can promote change and possibly even fix the issue.“SGA (Student Government Association) offers a forum for students to have a voice in their school and to also offer a as vehicle how they can voice their concerns to the school administration and look for ways to change the school to make it better for everybody–Students and staff–so that everybody can have an enjoyable time while they are in high school.”, explains Mr. Frederick, Patterson’s SGA faculty advisor.The elected positions in SGA are President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The president oversees the whole association and focuses on their primary responsibilities. The treasurer focuses on how money is spent on events and the budget we have. The secretary records documents of the SGA and helps with planning and meetings. Lastly, the vice president works with the president, helping with primary issues and solutions. We are currently collaborating with another student group called Catalyst for Change during advisory since we have a small group.

I would also like to mention that students are eligible to run for a city-wide position for the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City (ASCBC). ASCBC is a city-wide SGA that focuses on bigger issues that impact every student in Baltimore City Public Schools. On October 3rd, Patterson SGA members attended the ASCBC General Assembly, which focused on things that could make our experience as BCPSS students better. We talked about how we could improve high school choice, school lunches, how we could add more robust class courses in our schools, and more.

I am currently running for the Diversity Committee Chair, which targets issues that minority and LGBTQ+ identifying students face in BCPSS. My goal is to ensure equity in every city school and get rid of the stereotypes Patterson and many other city schools have, while also implementing policies to make sure our schools are as inclusive as possible. As a participant, I’d highly encourage students to take this opportunity because it will help you grow as an individual, build your communication skills, give you a sense of accomplishment, and will help you make a change for you and students. If you feel as though you have no voice to speak on issues at Patterson High, think again and join our SGA!

Can new technology make our school safer? (OPINION)

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By Elijah DeBerry

In this article I will be writing about the safety of our students and our school building as a whole. 

Some concerns about safety at our school are the possibility of weapons being brought into the school building and those weapons being used on students and teachers present in the building at the current time. The school leaders are taking precautionary measures to ensure that the school is safer, such as implementing a new weapons detection system, which is mainly focused on detecting weapons rather than all metal objects like the old metal detectors did. 

In my personal opinion, I believe the weapons screening machines were functioning as intended. But recently they replaced the screeners with the old system: metal detectors. While I believe the screeners were temporary, as a sort of test, they worked great while they were implemented into the school’s security plan. I believe that the school should just stick to one thing, instead of switching back and forth. The screeners made entering the school quicker and possibly safer for students, whereas the metal detectors are too narrow for students to pass through easily. I say just stick with the screeners as they’re quicker and more convenient.

In conclusion to this article, I believe the leaders of Patterson High School, over the summer, should consider further implementing the weapon screenings system into the school to ensure that students are feeling safer with the screeners, rather than the metal detectors we originally have.

Patterson Wins 31 Matches in 2023 Chess Nationals Tournament 

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By Hailey Shifflet

Chess Nationals is a big thing for students throughout the country, ranging from kindergarteners to 12th graders. Chess Nationals can take place anywhere in the country, the 2022 tournament took place in Memphis, Tennessee, but this year was close to home, Washington DC at the Washington Hilton Hotel. The Chess team, led by Mr. Baron and Mr. Tola, brought 11 students with them: DeShown Streater, D’Andre Murray, Jauan Bennett, Coenia Sanchez, Alexandra Artiga, Hailey Shifflett, Julian Shifflett, Abel Kahsay, Aseel Alradaei, Brandon Lopez-Piedrasanta, and Kevin Lagoom.  

The tournament had a total of 7 matches spanning over a period of 3 days, from the 31st of March to the 2nd of April. The competition had over 1700+ people join to compete. On the first day of the tournament you play the first two days, the 1st you play 3 games, then play the remaining two games on the 2nd. After all of the games are completed, we had some downtime until the award ceremony started. The Patterson Chess team had a total of 31 wins. The team was split into two separate sections, unrated and U800 (under 800). Because of the scores, The unrated players were ranked 35th out of 67 teams and they played against 407 players. The unrated players ranked 17th place out of 40 and played against 233 other players. 

The Chess team was able to gain new experiences and grow their ability to play chess. They learned from their mistakes in game playing and were even able to meet grandmasters (high-ranked chess players), develop new chess techniques, and experience new things such as food or places. While Patterson didn’t win any trophies, the entire experience was positive and we all grew from it. 

We also would like to give a special thanks to all the teachers that supported the chess team and helped us even get to Nationals in first place. We also like to thank the Principal Mrs. Myrick who even came to support us at Nationals. And most importantly, we like to thank Mr. Baron and Mr. Tola. Without them, we wouldn’t have a chess team and certainly wouldn’t have been able to go Nationals. 

New Student Group Working Towards Positive Change

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By Sierra Skaggs

As many readers may know, in the beginning of March we lost a fellow student due to gun violence. As a response to that tragedy, a group of students here at Patterson decided to form a group called Catalyst for Change.

The Patterson Press interviewed Christina Johnson, a senior who is a member of Catalyst for Change. At the time that we interviewed Johnson, there were 6 members in the group, but that number may have increased since then.

The students had a specific goal that they wanted to achieve when they created Catalyst for Change. 

“We created the group so students can have a voice, they can voice their problems, opinions, and be heard, and to show the cultural diversity of Patterson, and make a difference.”, explains Johnson.

According to Johnson, the group has consensus-based process for making decisions.

“We voice our concerns about the school and we come up with different ideas, brainstorming, and we each come up with a mutual agreement.” 

Catalyst for Change held a Culture Day event on April 27 to celebrate the cultural diversity of Patterson High School, which is the most diverse high school in Baltimore City. Principal Myrick called the event “phenomenal” and expressed her appreciation for the student organizers who “have been working consistently for six weeks to put their vision into reality”.

Many students and staff members are hopeful that Catalyst for Change will continue to be a force for positive transformation at Patterson next school year.

Swim Team wins 2nd place in City Championships

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By Coach Mahoney

We did it Again! Back to Back! The Patterson swim team came in second place in the Baltimore City Swimming Championships.

This was a tremendous year for the team. The new school building did not have a swimming pool built into it. Coach Mahoney did everything she could to keep the Varsity sport here at Patterson High School. She discussed a plan with LA Fitness on Eastern Avenue for the team to use their facilities during practice sessions. The pool does not have a deep end, so the team practices starts when we show up early at the Swim Meets. The pool does offer three practice lanes, which has been very beneficial. We also have a new second Coach, Ms. Blum, who came from a different school and brought her expertise to help the team.

The members of the team were very hardworking and willing to learn all the new strokes. The team showed tremendous improvement each meet. What a fantastic season!

The following students were the members of the Swim Team:

Kisaiah Brown                                                                                          

Jeter Luna                                                                             

Carlos Taveras                                                                 

Ryan Tudor                                                                           

Anthony Waters                                                                   

Ronald Duran Portillo

Felipe Colato

Franklin Diaz

Andy Alvarez Nolasco

William/Nasiah Hamrick

Lena Stavrou 

Ayanna Jenskins

Marina Olvera

Kira Kerins

Bianca Cruz

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