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Column: Teenagers are too young to have their whole futures figured out

by Liddia Waterbury

Teenagers shouldn’t be forced into choosing a career before they even know themselves.

Freshmen, especially here at school, are encouraged to select a career academy and are required to be in the college and career program.

Indiana added readiness seals to the diploma last year, “to better prepare Hoosier students for the future.” Out of the three, one seal is required to be on our diplomas when we graduate. One of these seals is the employment seal.

The employment seal requires students to complete a market-driven credential of value aligned to a specific occupation, three courses in a Career and Technology Education (CTE) pathway, an approved career preparation experience aligned to Indiana’s CSA program, or an approved, locally-created pathway.

With the employment seal or the plus version, students need 150+ hours of pre-apprenticeship or moderate youth apprenticeship of work-based learning. This can cause a lot of stress, as it requires choosing a pathway and completing all these hours to obtain this seal.

Teens often feel pressured to choose a career path early due to expectations from parents, society, and schools, which include programs such as college and career readiness initiatives and seals of approval. This pressure can lead to anxiety, burnout, or regret later, especially if our early decisions don’t align with our evolving interests.

Many teenagers don’t feel they have enough information to make such a big decision. According to an OECD report, a large number of students feel unprepared. 47% agree “I worry that I am not prepared for life after… school.” 34% say they don’t feel well-informed about possible career paths.

Adolescence is a period of “storm and stress,” marked by emotional changes, identity formation, and uncertainty about the future, particularly in school. This is because teens’ self-identity and interests are still developing. Forcing a career decision too early can limit our exploration and lead to a poor long-term fit.

Long-term stress in adolescence doesn’t just affect well-being now; it can also impact participation while doing work in early adulthood.

Teenagers might lock into a career choice too early, only to realize later we don’t enjoy it. This can lead to switching majors, careers, wasted time, or regret. As our interests and identities evolve, early commitments can limit our future options.

College and career programs, as well as readiness seals, play a crucial role in shaping our future in college and the workforce. However, schools should emphasize exploration over commitment.

As teens, we need time to understand ourselves before making significant decisions about our futures. When we are rushed into choosing a career, we are only pressured and confused. Giving us space to explore helps us choose a path that truly fits who we are.

17 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Column: All Eyes on Sudan

Americans must learn about modern humanitarian crisis

by Ameerah Gbadamosi

Sometimes there are problems that exist on the other side of the world that we don’t know about or pay much attention to. For example ,Sudan.

Sudan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history due to the ongoing conflict happening between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the parliamentary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) plunges the nation deeper into turmoil.

The war, which started in April 2023, has devastated communities, displaced millions and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Even before the war erupted in 2023, Sudan was already experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis that left 15.8 million people in need of aid. Now over two years of war have drastically worsened the living conditions, displacing over 12 million people and leaving 30.4 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population in need of humanitarian support.

More than two years of the civil war going on in Sudan, the civilians are subject to frequent attacks and human right violation, while the country’s health care system has collapsed as life-threatening famine sets in. The attacks on humanitarian aid workers have made it difficult to deliver life saving aid to some of the most fragile and vulnerable communities in the world.

The famine spreading around Sudan as violence hinders humanitarian’s ability to deliver food. Meanwhile soaring food prices and collapse of food supply left families starving.

Between December 2024 and May 2025, over 26.4 million are trapped in a health deteriorating food insecurity, over 630,000 people including in the country’s largest camp for displaced people are experiencing extreme famine conditions and a very high risk of death, the severe food shortage also leaves people vulnerable to illness and infection due to lack of essential nutrients.

Children are among the most vulnerable to famine. An estimated 15 million boys and girls require humanitarian assistance in Sudan, nearly double the 7.8 million at the start of 2023. More than 2.9 million children in Sudan are acutely malnourished, and an additional 729,000 children under five suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

Despite the threats of the famine ongoing in Sudan, both the SAF and RSF are actively restricting aid delivery across Sudan. International organizations like the World Food Programme say they cannot access 90% of the people facing emergency levels of hunger in Sudan.

As if the famine and their suffering isn’t enough, there is an increased risk of sexual violence and an alarming rise of gender based violence against women and girls during times of armed conflict.

In war torn Sudan, rape is likely being used as a weapon of war, and in less than two years, the number of people at risk of gender-based violence has more than tripled.

An estimate of 12.1 million people or 25 percent of the population are at risk of gender based violence with frontline responders and survivors reporting alarming rates of rape, abuse, coersion, and child marriage, trafficking, while survivors struggle to access support.

In Darfur alarming rates of sexual violence underscore the immense suffering endured in those dire situations, which reveals the exceptional vulnerability of women and girls that live there.

As of April 2025, nearly 13 million people living in Sudan have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. 8 million have been internally displaced by the conflict in Sudan, 1 million refugees lived in Sudan prior to the current conflict-the second highest refugee population in Africa.

The war and genocide in Sudan has not been talked about enough, with what they go through each day. People fear for their own lives because they never know when the war will end or what will happen to them. Women and little girls being raped, famine spreading everywhere, People fleeing their homes because of bombings.

What we can do to help the people living in Sudan is donate anything to a charity cause that helps Sudan, make videos or posts about what’s happening so others can know or donate.

10 facts about Sudan

Sudan is located in Northeast Africa sharing its border with seven countries.
Sudan is home to more pyramids than Egypt.
The capital of Sudan is Khartoum, with an estimated population of 9.3 million in the city.
Arabic is the main language of Sudan.
The majority of Sudan’s population is Muslim.
Sudan hosts over 500 ethnic groups.
Sudan was once home to the Kingdom of Kush, an African kingdom.
Sudan was the largest country in size until 2011.
There are over 100 indigenous languages spoken in Sudan.
The Arab population makes up approximately 70% of the country.

17 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

‘Leader by example’

Junior Abi Lemon gives her all in four different sports

by Aubrey Cummings

Four different sports each school year seems impossible. How exactly does one do it?

Junior Abi Lemon does just that and has every year since she started high school. She participates in football, soccer, wrestling, and tennis.

Junior Abi Lemon shows determination during a wrestling meet. In addition to her leadership on the wrestling mat. Lemon also plays football, soccer, and tennis. Submitted photo.

“They are all so different but also help each other in their own way,” she explained.

She doesn’t just participate in these sports, though. She leads in them. She is the person coaches look to for an example. She is also the person her teammates look to when they need help.

Wrestling coach Danny Struck described Lemon as a leader on and off the mat.

“She leads by example. She’s involved in so many things. It’s what leaders do — they get involved. But she doesn’t just participate, she gives them her all.”

Lemon is constantly doing whatever she can to get better in each sport she participates in.

“I am constantly training, whether it’s for one sport or multiple. During soccer I’m also training for football, and when those are over, wrestling begins. And when in tennis I also train with the track team on occasion,” she said.

Her family plays a big role in why she plays the sports she plays.

“My mom is a really big soccer fan, so getting into it was for her, but I also found a love for it myself,” Lemon explained. “And my family is always playing tennis together.”

Lemon isn’t just an athlete, though — she is also a student, an employee and a friend. She is constantly having to find a way to balance all of this, which isn’t always easy.

“I am basically always busy, which means doing school work on the way to meets or games or even the period before it’s due,” Lemon said with a laugh.

Throughout the time Lemon has participated in these sports she has made friendships that she never would have had she not been a part of the team.

“Until I joined to football team, I never would’ve never even considered being friends with the guys, but when I joined I met them and now they are some of my closest friends.”

Lemon is a role model for those who want to try something new and for those who are already in the sports they love. She shows people how to push through challenges and she teaches people what it means to be a leader.

Junior Abi Lemon wrestles her opponent; wrestling is one of four sports Lemon participates in at JHS. Submitted photo.

17 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Column: While teens experience peer pressure, some have developed strategies for managing the problem

by Breslyn Dozal

“Everyone is doing it, nothing bad will happen.”

Seven out of ten teens often feel peer pressured. Peer pressure can vary from drugs, trying different trends (ex: clothing styles) to being pressured into sexual actions. Peer pressure affects teens in different ways, causing them to act out or look different at certain situations.

Peer pressure is when teens feel pushed by friends to do things they might not want to do. It can impact our choices and how they behave. About 90% of teens experience peer pressure. Some teens experience it worse than others. Depending on the situation it can cause serious consequences.

The biggest cause of peer pressure is the desire for social acceptance and belonging. This might be doing pranks for social media or doing what your friends tell you to do to fit in. Most kids experience peer pressure around the age 12, and it continues on from then. Peer pressure affects kids more from the age 13-15. The older we get, the more we understand peer pressure and the more we know how to act in certain circumstances.

There are plenty of ways to avoid peer pressure; knowing which way is best is the challenge.

I asked teens how to avoid it, and here are some of their answers:

“I would avoid them by telling them that I wouldn’t do it, ‘nah,’ ‘nah,’ I’m good,” said sophomore Marcus Baker.

“I would just walk away,” said freshman Jaxon Maranto.

“I would tell a trusted adult, or decline kindly so the situation doesn’t escalate,” said college sophomore Santana Dozal.

Peer pressure can take a toll on mental health. Failing classes, not wanting to do social activities, and being distant can be some of the side effects to peer pressure. Most teens feel helpless and don’t know what to do. Some of us think we have no one to talk to, but there are many resources.

Peer pressure will always be an obstacle in our lives. But it can always be avoided.

“That’s okay, I think I’m gonna sit this one out.”

17 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Column: Why we should still read physical books

by Chloe Newton

In a non-stop motion world that just keeps speeding up, we can be tempted to let screens take over every aspect of our lives – even our reading. E-books are convenient, and our phones are always in reach; it might seem like the easier option. But there’s a reason physical books are still around and continue to hang on, even when the rest of our world and routine has gone digital. A real book does something a screen can not replace, and pretending they are the same experience is selling reading short.

Firstly, a physical book forces you to be present. When you’re holding a book, you are not constantly checking the time or flipping to another app every time our mind wanders to something new. There’s a kind of focus that only physical media can give you – it requires you to sit and stay for a moment without thinking about all of the other distractions in our lives. That kind of slow attention is getting rare, and it is worth protecting.

There is also something physical about the memory of these moments. People often remember where something happened on the page, whether it be in the middle of the chapter or the top left corner. That spatial awareness helps us absorb and recall information better than reading on a glowing screen. Reading books physically helps our brain build a map of the story, not just a trail of scrolling or hitting the turn page button.

“Reading is supposed to be more than content consumption. It’s supposed to be an immersive experience. While technology can have a place in our lives, there’s still nothing better than the feeling of opening and closing a book, turning physical pages, and letting the rest of the world take a backseat.”

Honestly, there is the simple pleasure of the book itself. A book has weight. It ages with the world. It can be loaned, shared, annotated, or thrown in a bag without worrying about a charger or if you will have internet access. A shelf of books tells a story about the kind of person you are in a way a Kindle or tablet never will. When you finish a book and can close it, there’s a sense of accomplishment-something real in our hands, not just a digital checkmark or finish line.

Finally, physical books give us a break from the constant digital noise. We spend so much time on screen at school, work, home, and even in communication that reading becomes one of the only chances to unplug. It’s healthy to step away from the fluorescent light and algorithms and just let our mind wander through our thoughts and through a story that isn’t competing for attention.

Reading is supposed to be more than content consumption. It’s supposed to be an immersive experience. While technology can have a place in our lives, there’s still nothing better than the feeling of opening and closing a book, turning physical pages, and letting the rest of the world take a backseat. That is something worth keeping in mind.

17 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Archery Club members sharpen their skills at practice

All photos by Malachi Conrad. Click on the photos in the gallery below.

Editor’s Note: To view more coverage of the Jeff High Archery Club, see the feature story by Liddia Waterbury in the Hyphen print issue, handed out on Wednesday and Thursday during lunchtime this week.

Coach Brian Cleveland demonstrates how to safely release the string during an after-school Archery Club meeting. Photo by Malachi Conrad.

16 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Red Devils defeat Columbus East 61-31 last Saturday, face Charlestown at home tonight

Photos by Gabrielle Watkins. Click on the photos in the gallery below.

Senior Maizy Smith inbounds the ball to senior Kelis Dansby during the Red Devil game against Columbus East last Saturday. JHS won 61-31. Photo by Gabrielle Watkins.

16 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Winter Fantasy brings holiday music to Jeffersonville

Musical arts groups will perform again tonight

All photos by Magdalene Conrad and Malachi Conrad. To view the gallery, click on the photographs below.

Junior Gabriel Collins sings in unison with the choir at Winter Fantasy on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Photo by Malachi Conrad.

11 Dec 202511 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

JHS wrestlers use their competition to improve skills and confidence

by Isabella Stewart and May Smith

This year’s boys’ wrestling team is one of the “youngest teams” that they have had. This young team of wrestlers has not only grown throughout the first half of their season, but they have also worked hard to improve and win.

This upcoming weekend is one of the hardest weekends of their season. Varsity wrestlers travel to Evansville, followed by some of the junior varsity and varsity B teams heading to Louisville.

Sophomore Chandler Cooke (WC 215) competes against a wrestler from Madison High School, demonstrating strong positioning and controlled technique throughout the match. Photo by Mackenzie Stubblefield.

Junior Will Honaker has been practicing every day, preparing for this upcoming weekend. He said practicing with Coach Jeremiah Cain has benefited him the most “because he has taught me to practice harder; practicing with my teammates has allowed me to gain strength, sportsmanship, and confidence.”

Many coaches come to wrestling practice every day. Head coach Danny Struck not only been attending practices and coaching, but he has also been attending middle school meets and helping any athlete who needs it.

Varsity freshman Logan Vidt said, “Coach Struck is just an amazing coach to me. In practice, he is so helpful, and he makes us drill hard and go hard every time because he knows in time it will add up and we will be our best we can be, and I really do respect that.”

Sophomore Julian Alvarez talks about how much practice defines real-world situations that he can always overcome because “Coach Struck always tells us how wrestling is the hardest thing we do, and I believe that is true because without wrestling, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I have a tough mindset, strong skills, and great sportsmanship, and I think that all can go into defining your own character.”

Honaker said, “As much as I would like to win this weekend, I’m not just looking for a win — I’m really hoping that going against tough wrestlers will make me tougher. I think it’s all about my mentality. I believe if we really try as a team whole, we could make it this weekend.”

The boys’ wrestling team is on their climb for the gold, but every wrestler knows it’s not just about the gold and the glory, but it’s about the privilege they earn to wrestle and the people they do it with.

Vidt said, “We have our ups and downs, but the most important part of it all is that we keep our heads up and keep walking and never look back. I am so grateful to be a part of a team that pushes me past all my goals to go above and beyond.”

Senior Quintin Smith (WC 157) competes against a Madison High School wrestler, maintaining focus and strong defensive skills during the contest last Saturday. Photo by Mackenzie Stubblefield.

11 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Pepa’s dedication to helping his athletes improve reveals the life of a swim coach

by Marcus Baker

Michael Pepa is the head coach of the boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving team, his second stint at JHS as a swim coach. For the second stint here, this is his tenth year as well.

He coached for two or three years in the early ‘90s. He has also been a swim coach for 34 years altogether, including college and high school teams on both sides of the Ohio River, as well as club, masters, and age- group teams.

Head coach Michael Pepa watches his team swim during a recent practice. Photo by Marcus Baker.

His favorite aspect of coaching is that the interaction with the student-athletes is fun, and the biggest joy for him is helping other athletes reach their greatest potential, whether that’s at any level or their first year swimming, or whether they’re trying to win a state championship.

Having that student-athlete reach their potential is very rewarding, Pepa said. “Swimming is inherently motivating because you get to see your personal time drop. You see that empirical objective improvement that comes from self-motivation.”

He also said that he thinks it’s one of the joys of swimming. Regardless of what level an athlete is at, everyone’s goals are the same — trying to get a faster time.

He hopes by the end of the season that his Red Devil team is going to certainly improve. He said that his girls’ team is in a bit of a rebuild this season, while his boys’ side has a little more depth than he had in the past.

He expects his group of swimmers to train really hard and expects each one of them to get much much better position in February than they are in December.

Head dive and assistant swim coach Holden Henderson has been coaching for 10 years and has known Pepa since 2015.

Assistant coach Holden Henderson demonstrates correct form for a dive for JHS swimmers as a practice. Photo by Marcus Baker.

Henderson said that coach Pepa always encourages the swimmers to practice like they want to compete. He tries to motivate his team so they can give it their all at practice, so it can be easier at the meets.

Henderson also helps his team out by helping them and supporting them, and wants to help out as much as he can.

Athletic director A.J. Moye met Pepa in the early summer of 2025, going to the Aquatic Center for swimming practice, and from then on, they have had a great relationship.

Moye attends swim practice three times a week to observe and help out. He said he would help the swimming team in any way he could throughout the season.

They have also been building a new place just for the swimming team, which will be an Olympic-level pool just for them.

Senior Litzy Rubio has been swimming since sixth grade and is now in her last year of swimming for JHS.

Rubio describes how she really likes his motivation, and she loves how he’s always supportive and makes her feel good. She said that his coaching style has a great blend of both strict and fun.

After she completes her final season she will miss her family on her team. Her teammates and her coach always supported her along and cheered whether she swam good or bad.

“Always cherish your team; they’re the ones who have seen you at your worst and your best, so don’t take your moments with them for granted,” said Rubio.

Freshman Christian Miller has been swimming since he was 11 years old. He made it to clubs, national states, and other more.

Miller said he likes how Pepa takes care of his swimmers and how much effort he puts into their training.

He said he helps him by breaking down his sets, which is what’s best for the swimmers. He also says his coaching style is unique and that he has a good way of coaching himself and his teammates.

Pepa encourages his student-athletes to become better swimmers and have fun during their season.

“Our goal is the same, to improve, get faster, and have fun.”

Junior Isaac Ramirez competes with Seymour swimmers to beat the competition. Photo by Malachi Conrad.

Junior Stella Siewert swims using the butterfly technique in the 200IM. Photo by Malachi Conrad.

10 Dec 202510 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Red Devil wrestlers win inaugural Hoosier Hills Conference Girls’ Tournament on Saturday

The Jeffersonville girls’ wrestling team etched its name into the history books Saturday, powering past the competition to win the first official Hoosier Hills Conference (HHC) Wrestling Tournament.

The Red Devils finished with 217 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up Floyd Central’s 192, a 25-point margin that underscored Jeffersonville’s depth and dominance across the brackets.

Champions Lead the Charge

JHS crowned two individual champions: Fatima Carrillo (120 lbs) and Scarlett McRae (145 lbs) Both wrestlers delivered commanding performances, setting the tone for the title run as they earned all-conference honors.

Depth Secures Victory

While the champions grabbed headlines, Jeffersonville’s strength came from across the lineup.

Five wrestlers earned runner-up finishes: Abi Lemon, Valeria Ramirez, Abril Andres, Envy Diaz, and Yarely Solis, each contributing critical points to the team tally. They earned all-conference honorable mention honors.

The Red Devils also picked up podium finishes from the following athletes:

3rd Place: Levi Evans, Justise Clubb-Leon

4th Place: A’lia Griffith, Daytona Tripp

5th Place: Chloe Fischer

Coaches React

Head girls’ coach Joe Somerville praised the team’s effort and resilience throughout the day.

“This was a total team win, from our champions to the wrestlers battling for third, fourth, and fifth, every single point mattered,” he said. “Due to illness, we were without our 100-lb #1 seed Kristin Brown, so the rest of the team was determined earn every point possible. That’s what makes this group special.”

Somerville was named Girls’ Coach of the Year.

8 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen

Review: Inspiring message makes ‘The Greatest Showman’ a musical must-see

by Sanae Ittu

“The Greatest Showman” is a musical about P.T. Barnum, a man who wants to build a life bigger than what he was born into. He creates a circus that gives people who feel left out, a place where they finally belong. The story focuses on following our dreams, even when others think we can’t. It also shows how success can be exciting, but it can create new problems, too.

The main character, Barnum, has a huge imagination and is always chasing something bigger. One character I really respect and admire is Barnum’s wife, Charity. She stands by her husband from the very beginning when he has nothing. She gives up her comfortable life to be right by him and support his dream. She believes in his dream from the very beginning, and that loyalty makes her stand out to me.

The cast of this movie really stands out, especially the people who bring performances to life. Out of all actors, Hugh Jackman as Barnum stood out the most to me. He brings so much emotion into his character that it’s easy to believe his character wants to make a difference. He also handles the singing and dancing so effortlessly.

Zendaya and Zac Efron also add to the movie, especially the chemistry in the scenes they share as Anne Wheeler and Phillip Carlyle, but Jackman definitely carries the whole story.

The music is a huge part of why this movie stands out. Every song has emotion behind it and helps tell the story. “Rewrite The Stars” is my personal favorite because the lyrics and harmony goes together, and every part of the song feels smooth. The soundtrack adds excitement and heart to every scene. The circus itself looks colorful and full of energy, making us wish we could see that in real life.

Even though some people say musicals can feel cheesy, I think the songs in this movie make the message even stronger. And while I didn’t like one specific choice a character makes, it reminds us that nobody is perfect, even the people that seem like they have everything. That honestly makes the movie more real.

What I like most is how everyone in the circus sticks together and lifts each other up when the world tries to bring them down. It shows how family can be people who accept us and support us no matter what. The message of confidence and belonging hits hard.

I would definitely recommend “The Greatest Showman” because it has powerful music, stunning visuals, and a story that makes us think about chasing our dreams. It leaves us feeling emotional and inspired. It reminds us to never forget where we come from and to keep going after our dreams. The message stays with us after the movie ends.

Movie Review Chart

Title: The Greatest Showman

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams

Director: Michael Gracey

Writer: Jenny Bicks, Bill Condon

Rated: PG

8 Dec 2025 by jhshyphen