As the cold, snowy weather native to North America reaches it’s end, many people are beginning to feel the effects of the new weather. Girls are trading in their old sweaters for chic tank tops and boys are investing in a new pair of cargo shorts.

Something about the sunshine and cool air have long brought about happier, brighter outlooks on life but according to scientists, the “winter blues” are more than just a state of mind. Bad weather cannot only affect a person’s clothing, but can also alter their state of mind.

Seasonal affective disorder, also known by its appropriate acronym, SAD, is a psychological condition in which a person may experience seasonal depression during periods of bad weather.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock […] that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule.”

Website mentalhealthamerica.net said, “SAD is more common in people living far from the equator where there is less daylight hours in the winter. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the US seem to be January and February.”

This proves dually horrible for students living far from the equator, such as the students in northeast Ohio. With AP testing week upon some high school students and the bipolar weather constantly threatening the sanctity of springtime, students suffering from SAD can find themselves at the mercy of extreme stress.

Consult a doctor if signs of depression become apparent during periods of cloudy weather. Besides prescription medication, Vitamin D tablets can brighten symptoms of SAD as well as special UV lights.

We all have been yearning for the signs of spring. This month should bring relief for each desperate Ohioan. Yes, March will be the end of the snow, which definitely makes it a glorious and favorite time.

This month has also brought about many beloved favorites to me and many other students.

The first and most important part of loving March comes with one single day: March 21. This is the first full day of spring; however, it does not mean the weather will hit at least 40 degrees, but we can hope.

Along with spring comes St. Patrick’s day–one of those “what is this holiday even for” holidays. Many question its purpose, including me. Whether or not if someone knows its true meaning, the holiday brings along the darling specialty at McDonald’s: the Shamrock Shake. With the minty flavor and decorative green tint, you do not have to be Irish to know it is delicious.

Shamrock Shakes are not the only delectable part of March: Rita’s finally reopens for their spring and summer hours. Rita’s, which reopens on March 20, is known for their luscious soft serve and their variety of creamy slushies called Blendinis. Some Blendini flavors include raspberry lemonade, cotton candy, mint and lime; however, there are so many more from which to choose. Both the Blendini and regular soft serve ice cream are superb. Rita’s is surely a spot more people should check out for their next ice cream craving. The closest location is on 2328 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

March also can bring along many memories for students. This is the time of the year when the I-X Indoor Amusement Park opens. One of the major things I remember doing as a child was going to this indoor park, loving to eat the greasy food and getting extremely dizzy on the rides. The whole experience was such a blast.

Many other students may have the same flashbacks of the live performances, animal shows, huge ferris wheel and spinny rides as well. Some may even remember the old commercial with that little jingle, which was made up of the name of the park being sung by children whose bodies formed into an I and an X, along with the words. No matter the memories associated with this awesome place, it will open on March 26 and run through April 9, so it would be a great idea to go with a younger sibling or child soon. Both of you will have a great time. The I-X Indoor Amusement Park is located in Cleveland on 6200 Riverside Drive.

Another favorite this month will for sure be the movie,“Insurgent.” I am just one of many who read the whole “Divergent” series and fell in love. That fact that the movie for the second book is out in March makes this month so much more exciting. This action-packed movie, featuring a dystopian society, comes out on March 20. Anyone who likes thrilling fiction should certainly read the series and watch the movies.

Lastly, the end of March is always favorable since it is the start of Spring Break. Many will venture to beaches and warmer climates; however, the relief from school is quite enough for some. This Spring Break starts on March 23 and goes until March 27, but there are also weekends at the beginning and end of the break, which extends the time we are off.

There are many events, places and desserts to love in March. Each is only around for a limited time, so take advantage of everything this month because before you know it, someone will be fooling you with a devious practical joke on the first of April.

Standardized testing is a big part of the American education system, but there are many holes and missing parts to the system.

A standardized test is any exam that is administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. According to parcconline.org the tests are used to determine placement in schools, states and countries. Though the tests show placement, there are flaws in the standardized testing system.

Students do not see the tests as work that shows their great achievement but as a test they need to do well on to live up to the expectations of parents, teachers and higher level education schools. Not doing well on a certain test could prevent students from going to the college of students choice.

The tests do not show what each student is capable of achieving. According to institute4learning.com, the testing process is looking for a specific format for responses and does not value the students’ creative view because  the response is not viewed by an actual human. A machine is looking for something that could not be there in the desired form.

The testing processes are not for educational purposes at all. They exist for administrative, political and financial purposes.                                   The  Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career administration make billions of dollars, and  politicians get elected based on promises for higher standardized test results. Also,school administrators get funding and avoids penalties by boosting test scores.

Students are the only ones who do not directly benefit from the testing. To them, it is a stupid test they have to take each year. The tests often place them into the class level they will be in the next school year.

The tests put unnecessary pressure and stress onto a student to do well. The standardized tests do not test what a student has learned but what they have most likely memorized weeks in advance for the test, meaning that after testing, the student will forget the material to memorize for the next upcoming test.

The new common core standard that schools nationwide adopted set higher standards in education in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, according to parcconline.org.  The new PARCC assessment the freshmen class  recently took  is  part of the new standard. The PARCC assessments, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, are assessments made by concerned educators, parents and employers who want assessments that better measure students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills and their ability to communicate clearly.

These tests are designed to prepare young children who have no idea what they want to do for future colleges and employers. The new standardized tests are made to groom a whole new generation to fit into the ever growing and competing world of jobs and real life.

The freshman class has no desire to be part of the PARCC testing process. After testing, students said the tests were hard, the questions unclear and should have been considered as a form of torture. Students were unsure on how well they did on the tests, given that much of it was did not make sense.

“The tests are really difficult and  aren’t worth the time,” freshmen Maria Petrecca said.

To the students, no one saw why the tests were necessary. To graduate, students who are freshman and under are required to have 18 points in each subject; many freshman joked that graduation rates will drop due to the difficulty of the PARCCs.

Only thirteen of the fifty states are taking the PARCCs, the others decided that another standardized test is unnecessary. When it comes to testing that can determine a future, the testing should be seen nationwide and if proven too difficult that thirty-seven states pull out, there should be a reconsideration.

Freshman Cody Kowalczyk said, “The tests were either way too simple or so complicated that there was no way we would have known the answer.”