vol XC
510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055
The Hilight T H E VALENTINE’S E D I T I O N
The Newspaper of Cullman High School
issue 04 February 14th, 2025
Disruptive Women Love Yourself First
A poem dedicated to wilfull women
Anna Beth Burleson, Co-Editor
Women have long been perceived As men’s physically formed desires conceived This typical tale is centuries old How many generations have succumbed to this fate alone? How many flames put out? How many voices silenced, unable to shout? Countless of what could have been’s But perhaps an even greater sumscared little men The quote “Well-behaved women rarely make history” often rings true Conforming, appeasing women are far less interesting That’s not a lie, it’s the truth Change makers are rule breakers They don’t fit the mold They shape it Sojourner Truth challenged sexism and racism but still asked us if she was a woman Malala Yousafzai almost died at the hands of the Taliban and yet continued to fight for girls education- she did what others wouldn’t Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus- her quiet defiance sparked a movement Marie Curie made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of radioactivity- accelerating medical improvements Emma Goldman spoke out on free speech, birth control, and workers rights- she faced jail time and public judgement but in her mission she was unmoving Men silence what they cannot understand It is a strong woman that no one can command But men’s fears are displaced For there is no man without woman And that shall never be erased
Why knowing yourself is important
Mack Rudder, Co-Editor
Stop investing everything in others and put your time, energy, and money back into yourself this Valentine’s Day. You deserve it. There’s nothing wrong, or selfish, about taking time to be alone and to work on yourself. No one is ever going to look back at their life and their accomplishments and think “I wish I would’ve put that time and energy into someone else instead.” In recent years, American dating culture has faced a significant shift. People now marry later and start dating earlier. This has led to unseriousness coating the dating scene. Many people now move from one short-lived relationship to another which has created an inner battle within many between dependency and independency. When you enter into a relationship at a young age without any period of significant inner reflection, you are more susceptible to falling into a cycle of codependency and anxious attachment. Codependency is described as an unhealthy reliance on someone else to the point of neglect of one’s self. When a young teen enters into a relationship and becomes codependent on their partner this can be detrimental to their growth and development as it leaves little room for self-discovery. When this realization hits they may swing to the other extreme: hyper-independence. This is when someone forces themself to be overly independent which can lead them to refuse help from others and distance themselves from their loved ones. This unhealthy need to be completely self-reliant can cause stress, strain, and resentment in their other relationships. These
negative effects then cause the cycle to repeat itself. This person, alone and unhappy, will crawl back into another codependent relationship because if being independent has caused all these issues, it must actually be the problem. There is a healthy balance to be found between dependence and independence. Reflect upon your relationships. Ask yourself, do you know who you are untangled
Key Club Winter Formal
You’re a Mighty Man John Henry
More than a dance
Blyss Murphree, Staff Writer
The annual Winter Formal sponsored by Key Club is a much awaited event at Cullman High School. In previous years, Key Club has donated the proceeds of the Winter Formal to Cullman Caring for Kids and Curt’s Closet, however this year...
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Reciprocity is the key to finding the balance in your relationships. This isn’t to say that everything should be a give and take, though. Your relationships don’t need to be exactly split down the middle where everything you give is everything you get in return. Every person is unique and you may do things for your partner that they don’t do for you. This doesn’t mean that it’s “unfair.” You are both individuals with individual needs and personalities so while something your partner does for you is really special for you, it may not mean the same thing to them. Relationships have two sides, though, so you should be receiving something in return for what you are giving - it just doesn’t have to be something equal as long as it’s enough for you. Whether you are in a relationship or single this Valentine’s Day season, take the time to think about who you are as a person away from everyone else and learn how to be alone.
from your partner? If the answer is no, take time to reflect on who you want to be and how much of who you currently are is tied to your partner. Independence is not an evil relationship-ender. It’s extremely important to know who you are whether you’re single or in a relationship. You should be your own person independent of any relationship whether it’s familiar, romantic, or friendly.
The link between a childhood fable and artificial intelligience
Aubrey Shaddrix, Staff Writer The story of John Henry, which some may be familiar with, is not only about a steel-driving legend... Continued on page 16
Swinging Into Season
Cullman Baseball Gears Up for 2025 Season
Claire Dossey, Staff Writer Baseball Season is setting in! Cullman High School’s baseball team has their first game coming up February 15th against Madison Academy. The JV team will play... Continued on page 14