Category: opinion
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Lets talk about the Oscars
On Sunday, March 15t the biggest names of 2025’s fantastic cinematic year gathered at the 98th Academy Awards. This past year was one of the most competitive years for actors, directors, writers, and designers.…
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Duolingo: the worst language app out there
I hate Duolingo. I am an avid language learner, and I devote at a minimum 10-15 minutes per day to practicing and studying a multitude of languages. Amongst the community of language enthusiasts, there…
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How to get a girlfriend in 2026 (5 better tips)
Getting a girlfriend in the year 2026 is one of the most daunting things a high school boy can conquer. As a girl myself, I worry about the drought of charm found in our…
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Is a lot of homework really beneficial?
Every night, students open their backpacks and pull out their folders, but most of us probably have the same question: How much homework is too much? Homework is great for helping students better understand…
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Scream 7: not the movie fans expected
A Disappointing Return For The Franchise As someone who usually enjoys the Scream franchise, I went into Scream 7 genuinely excited to watch it. The Scream movies are known for shocking Ghostface reveals, stomach-turning…
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What places are the best to buy prom dresses?
Prom season is one of the most exciting times of the school year, and can be one of the most stressful parts because it can be very difficult finding the perfect prom dress. Between…
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Should winterfest be a new tradition?
Spirit weeks, football games, and Homecoming often cluster in the fall, leaving the colder months feeling quiet and routine. That’s where the idea of Winterfest comes in. Winterfest could be a mid-year celebration designed…
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What is the best season for sports?
What would you do if you had to run a 100 meter race in below freezing temperatures? Leesville offers many different sports between the fall and spring seasons. But what time of year do…
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Conan Gray’s Wishbone World Tour
Indie and synth pop artist Conan Gray is currently touring to promote his fourth studio album, “Wishbone.” The Wishbone World Tour is his second arena-level world tour, and he is stopping in major cities…
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I Finally Watched Singin’ in the Rain and Here are My Thoughts
Singin’ in the Rain is a 1952 movie musical comedy that society widely considers to be a classic because of its performances from the lead actors as well as its fun and upbeat soundtrack.…
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Is a traditional or a year-round calendar better?
In North Carolina, one of the few states where both traditional and year-round calendars are widely used, students and families often find themselves choosing between two very different approaches to the school year. Traditional…
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What are the best jewelry brands for teens?
Jewelry is very popular among high school students. It’s not just something you wear to a formal event or special occasion. Necklaces, rings, and bracelets are now part of daily outfits, whether that’s a…
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Parke Sweater overrated
Parke is a clothing brand that was founded in 2022 by Chelsea Parke Kramer and started with upcycled denim. The brand has gained a lot of traction on numerous social media platforms for its…
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Dress to Impress Review
Dress to Impress is a game on an app called Roblox. I had heard about Dress to Impress from a couple different people throughout the years but I had never given into the propaganda…
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Leesville EF educational tour opportunities
Enrollment has opened for the upcoming EF Education Tours available to students at Leesville Road High School. These independent travel opportunities, taking place in the summer of 2027, allow students to earn high school…
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What is the controversy of the Ticketmaster Wars?
For many music fans, going to a concert used to be simple. You waited for tickets to go on sale, logged on at the right time, and purchased your ticket. Now, buying concert tickets…
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Who deserved to win the Grammys 2026?
On Sunday, February 1, the Grammys were held in Los Angeles. Music stars like Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga, and more were nominated for their respective songs. New artists like…
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What is the point of two-hour delays?
The start of the semester has been a complete mess, all thanks to the consecutive winter storms that have pummelled the state. Wake County called for 4 school days over the past two weeks…
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Reading Percy Jackson as a high school senior
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a bestselling fantasy series by author Rick Riordan. The series follows the adventures of the demigod Percy Jackson as he navigates a life where characters from Greek mythology…
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Stand By Me: a powerful coming-of-age story
“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” The infamous line of the 1986 movie Stand by Me perfectly encapsulates what it means…
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Review: Raising Cane’s — Just Not That Good
On January 27, 2025, Raising Cane’s opened up a new Raleigh location on Hillsborough Street. The new location, just a minute from NC State University’s bell tower, rivals Franklin Street’s UNC location. Raising Cane’s,…
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Do students prefer asynchronous days over makeup days?
For the school year 2025-2026, Wake County has utilized asynchronous days instead of using banked days for days school is off due to weather. In previous years, days that were intended for a teacher…
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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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“With Heaven On Top” Album Review
Shortly after announcing his upcoming tour “With Heaven on Tour,” Zach Bryan released his new album that the tour name supports. On January 9th, 2026, his album “With Heaven on Top” came out, with…
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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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Why Chick-fil-a is the best fast food restaurant
Fast food is a big part of everyday life. People eat it when they are busy, tired, or just craving something quick and tasty. There are many fast-food restaurants to choose from, like McDonald’s,…
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Why thrift shopping is better than buying new
Walking into a thrift store can feel a little like stepping into a treasure hunt. The shelves and racks are filled with items that all have their own stories, and you never know what…
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All things Stranger Things season 5
The fifth and final season of Netflix’s hit sci-fi horror show “Stranger Things” has been all the rage since its segmented releases throughout December. Expectations for the season were extremely high following the success…
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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 would I be on the Mycenaean
Whether you want to believe it or not, everyone has fallen to peer pressure. I myself fell into peer pressure my freshman year, but not in the way you would expect. It was getting…
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Why can’t I use the bathroom in advisory?
Advisory takes place every Wednesday from 8:52-9:22, for thirty minutes. I sit in advisory and do nothing, so why, when I ask to use the bathroom, does it become an issue? Students are not…
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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…