In a genre with reality in the name, recent reality television has been feeling artificial and formulaic. With every dating show seeing the same tropes and competition shows consisting of the same played-out narratives, reality TV is just not what it was created to be — a look into the real lives of real people.  Reality TV started with a show called “Candid Camera,” a program from 1960 where...

This week’s “Dancing with the Stars” brought the heat for the semi-finals as the competition narrowed to its highest stakes yet. Each of the remaining five couples delivered two routines to showcase their growth over the season and their determination to secure a coveted spot in the finale. With the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy within reach, the ballroom was alive with competition and powerful...

Every country has certain foods they can call uniquely theirs, and the United States is no exception. Most meals in the U.S. are centered around what piece of meat is being served but not without costing its consumers and the planet. Well-known American foods are things like barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, apple pie, chicken wings and more.  Meat has important nutritional value and is high in things...

Election season this year has been nothing short of eventful, with unexpected twists and turns all along the way. Whether it was Joe Biden dropping out, Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 felony counts or Kamala Harris quickly exceeding all expectations, there were a multitude of events this season no one could have predicted. However, regardless of the countless memes and jokes that have...

I graduated high school in spring of 2022 at the age of 18. I said goodbye to the people I’d seen every day for more than a decade, and drove my car to a hiking trail about 30 miles away. Halfway through that hike I flipped a coin, letting it decide my fate. I never saw what side it landed on.  Two and a half years later, I’m graduating college in fall of 2024 at the age of 21, and I feel the...

Peace and love. Instead of the usual story about how young and terrified I was stepping into the newsroom, I’ll just say this: I walked in that day wondering, “Do I belong here?” I’ve often felt misunderstood, but over time, I’ve realized that feeling out of place is part of the journey. What matters most is the people you surround yourself with. When I transferred to App State, Jade Ogle,...

As a proud alumnus of Wake County Public Schools, among the nation’s premier public school systems, I cannot understate how much a quality public education has shaped me. My public education taught me many important things that will stick with me for life. Great teachers can change students’ lives for the better. During our formative years, we interact with teachers every day so long as school...

As time continues to slip by, students of App State are losing sight of the history that is rooted so deeply into the place that they call home. Preserving the traditions and celebrating the culture of Boone, North Carolina, is vital in order to rekindle a strong sense of community within the population. With student body enrollment records being broken every single year, there is no better time than...