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The lost culture of Scandinavians Although Vikings left a substantial impact on humanity, they have been lost to time. The expeditious warriors from Scandinavia’s influence on different cultures has shaped the way modern-day objects are created. Vikings come from the lands of modern-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden during the late 8th to the early 11th centuries. Vikings are known as explorers due to their skills in seafaring to raid lands. Instead of being in one population in unison, they are other tribes and groups. While raiding other lands, they established routes for trading and traveled all around Europe with the help of their ship-building skills. Their trading and traveling led to exchanges between different cultures, causing the different influences the Vikings had on other cultures. Although they traded with others, they still raided coastal communities to establish their fierceness and reputation as fearsome warriors. When they colonized other lands like the Danelaw in England and Normandy in France, this led to their government and building structures being affected. Old Norse was the language used by the Vikings, leading to other languages being embedded in it too. Along with their language becoming rooted in other languages, the Viking’s technology, advanced for their time, added to different cultures. Their weapons, tools, and jewelry were the work of their craftsmanship with woodworking, metalworking, and shipbuilding. These attributes were a considerable contribution to the culture and the technology leading up to modern times. The creation of Norse mythology provided examples of the values within their society. These beliefs have become embedded within the stories of gods and heroes of their lands. One of the main reasons why Vikings became forgotten in history is the addition of religion. Due to Christianity being a substantial influence across Scandinavia, Vikings became more peaceful, their culture evolving into something more. Instead of raiding societies, they spread their Christianity with those other cultures. As of now, the way Vikings are part of society is in different forms of media such as movies, shows, books, and games such as God of War Ragnarök. Even though Vikings aren’t roaming around today, they live on through history and spirit. Their presence may have been forgotten, but their culture is everlasting. Written by Jeffery Paz  | Graphic Designed by Jeffery Paz Published January 15, 2024 | ePathfinder | Feature

Are scholars overworked? There has been a growing concern that high school students are assigned excessive workloads, leading to questions about the appropriateness of the quantity. Some students believe that they are being overworked and have too much pressure put upon them, while others argue that the work students are getting does not duress them enough. There are many different factors that contribute to these varying opinions that should be addressed. “For me personally, I feel like I have a lot to do in not much time. Even with study hall, it feels like too much pressure on teenagers like me,” said Deerfield Beach High School freshman Deion Fowler. Being a teenager comes with the flux of puberty, emotions and academic, social, or possibly physical issues. Even with only two of those factors combined, one can only imagine the stress that teens go under. When students do work that has them working from late at night to early morning, it has a poor effect on their mental and physical health. Plus, it often results in a messed-up sleep cycle, which is important for growth. This is even more difficult for students who are involved in extracurricular activities. All students have a significant workload to manage, and it does not help when there are teachers that restrict their rules on due dates. “The work helps us since it is to make students like me better at a certain topic,” said DBHS freshman Alina Long. Nonetheless, quantity and balance remain a personal problem at hand, and some students believe their workload is perfectly fair. On most accounts, it is because the workload is wanted. Some students expect a high amount of pressure to ensure success and completion of the standards they have set for themselves. If the rules are loosened, it can be argued that doing so will lower the quality of education to be proficient in further careers. When students are still in high school, they do not see the whole picture because they have a biased point of view, just seeing the work as pointless. Some students who feel burdened with their workload often try to justify their point of view, as it is human nature to do so. The debate about students being pressured or stressed by the work that they have given to them will not reach an end anytime soon. It is a matter of agreeing to disagree, as each person has a different perspective. Some individuals feel overwhelmed with work, while others believe they are getting prepared. Everyone could benefit from improving their work ethic. Written by Leila Rogers | Graphic Designed by Leila Rogers Published January 12, 2023 | ePathfinder | Perspectives 

Striving for excellence Deerfield Beach High School is full of diverse extracurriculars for all students, but one stands out to be the biggest of any organizations they provide. The National Honor Society is an intensive that focuses on scholarships, service, leadership, and character. This organization spans all over the United States, and there is a chapter here at DBHS. The NHS of DBHS is very involved in student life and helping the community. The National Honor Society hosts many events throughout the year to give back to those in need; the harvest drive for example, is an annual deed that helps families put food on the table, and the toy drive which gave kids staying in Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital toys for Christmas. One of the National Honor Society’s biggest events every year is the book drive. The book drive will give students, whether members of the NHS or not, the opportunity to help children in need while earning community service hours. Students can donate coloring books, chapter books, and more to Ms. Denise Cruz in room 152 until January 30th. Students can donate any book that is within appropriate regulations. The books collected during the book drive will be donated to Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital and children in the Deerfield Beach community. “The book drive gives children at the Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital and kids in the community access to reading,” says NHS member Bethsaida Nina. “It is an event that we do every year.” The National Honor Society is committed to its four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Members of the NHS show these four qualities inside and outside of school through multiple events, including the annual book drive that starts off the 2024 school year on the right foot. With the help of these efforts, kids will be able to have access to items and experiences they would otherwise be missing out on. Written by Mario Thomas | Graphic Designed by Mario Thomas Published January 11, 2023 | ePathfinder | News 

The new Priscilla movie Released on October 27th, 2023, the movie Priscilla, directed by Sophia Coppola, took the world by storm giving fans the inside scoop on the interesting relationship between the renowned singer Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla Presley that captivated many in the 1950s. This film showed the highs of the relationship, but also the lows. The movie stars Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis, whom many know from other ironic roles they have played. Priscilla is based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me; taking the perspective from her rather than Elvis Presley himself, which has been the popular notion for decades in the film industry. The movie portrays Priscilla’s narrative of her relationship with him. It demonstrates how his charming demeanor, endearing personality, and fame drew Priscilla in so strongly as a young girl. Many people have criticized the movie because they believe that it makes him out to be an overly horrible person and dramatizes things. Although others believe that the movie was a very accurate, good representation of abusive relationships and did an adequate job at showing the power dynamic between them; with Elvis being 24 years old and Priscilla just a 14-year-old girl at the time. Sophia Coppola has said that she tried to not make this evil man out to be and instead just wanted to include both the highs and lows of the relationship as it is in the mind of a woman. “I have seen a lot of people say that the Priscilla movie makes Elvis Presley look like a bad guy, but I do not agree with that at all because I think that the movie just shows how his fame caused him to act concerning others. I enjoyed the movie, and I think that Sophia Coppola did an overall good job with it because it was honestly so good and full of so much emotion,” said Deerfield Beach High School freshman Deanna Kriegel. While many movies with Elvis in them tend to have a soundtrack full of loud songs, Priscilla has a much calmer one with quite a softness to it. It is filled with a plethora of talented artists like Brenda Lee, Dolly Parton, Ramones, and The Righteous Brothers. Although many fans appreciated the soundtrack, several were surprised that Elvis Presley did not perform any of the tracks. Coppola was reported to have made proposals for the music rights, but they had not been granted. The film ends with Priscilla finally having enough and leaving Elvis Presley. The scene shows her liberation and her steps toward finally living a life of her own. She realizes that being with Elvis means dealing with his control and violence. While she drives through the gates with Dolly Parton playing in the background, it gives the audience a sense of relief that she was able to escape and move on with her life in the way that she wanted to move on with it. Priscilla is an emotion-filled movie with romance, an amazingly talented cast, a beautiful atmosphere, and an overall captivating story. It is the perfect movie to watch because it does not contain all the Hollywood cliches and shares something that causes people to sit down, relax, and feel. It is no wonder that it has become such a hit among people, whether they are Elvis fans or not. Written by Kamar Maaz | Graphic Designed by Kamar Maaz Published January 10, 2023 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 

Six feet deep into the goth subculture To some, ‘goth’ portrays flinty expressions over a haunting appearance. It depicts the macabre nature of a subject that rattles the spine in amusement. For others, it may be the simple glint of mystery and misery in one’s voice or eyes. Regardless of how many shapes the goth subculture has taken throughout history, it remains one of the most recognizable and significant. The ever-changing social culture of the 1970s gave genesis to the goth scene that most think of today. The ‘otherness’ and shared morbidity of the clique brought solidarity in outcasted individuals. Themes of this era included a (usually) colorless wardrobe, obscene and abstract fashion, dark and brooding romance, etc. Yet, the roots of this iconic subculture span generations before the 70s conceived ‘modern-day goth.’ Gothic literature of the late 18th and 19th centuries spearheaded its eventual fascination with dark romanticism, science, and the occult. Gothic fiction entertained new worlds of terror and wonder with Victorian ghost stories and the Hammer Horror films of the 1930s. However, goth would make a grander entrance with the addition of music. Gothic rock hadn’t emerged into the music scene until the 1960s, sweeping the late 1970s and early 1980s punk from dandy to decay. Pioneers of the era, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, and Joy Division mesmerized youths of the era. Many of the bands were part of a broader new wave/post-punk generation, and it was common for them to deny their connection to the goth term. Instead, the label would be developed through fans. It’s only now that modern groups begin branding themselves with the term before anyone else does. Founded in 1982-2002, Propaganda Magazine was the longest-running counter-culture publication amongst gothic subcultures. Its creator, Fred H. Berger, globalized the influence of goth to an international stage. Since its genesis, the scene has rebirthed through many eras, including American death rock and industrial-goth music. Echoed by youths, ‘goth’ was intended to strip the normalcy of middle-class materialism and elitism. Misfits created their own culture far from conformist America. The subculture now houses generations of varying styles, from the choppy neon hair of cyber-goths to studded straps and chunky boots of Emos. Although goth no longer holds a specific definition, its grim beginnings are hailed throughout decades of culture Written by Stacey Martinez  | Graphic Designed by Stacey Martinez Published January 8, 2024 | ePathfinder | Feature

Animal vs. human sentience Solving puzzles, showing empathy, picking locks, and learning words are a few skills accompanied by the complex intelligence of animals. However, animals are also just as responsive and incredibly conscious. Animals constantly display an intellect similar to humans. While research has demonstrated animal intelligence, routines, and their similarities to humans, some are noticeable, while others are hardly recognized. For example, it is well known that animals eat, sleep and communicate in their ways the same as humans. Animals can also possess human-like traits. For one, research has proven elephants show an unusual interest in the dead bodies of other elephants that go through the stages of decomposition. This uncanny fascination signals their interest in death, and perhaps hint at their consciousness about mortality. Similarly, a study by researchers ascertained that the common idea of fish having a three-second memory is inaccurate. Scientists were able to set up many experiments to teach fish basic math. They conducted these experiments by using colors. During the experiments, the researchers trained the animals to recognize the colors blue and yellow, blue meant to add one, and yellow meant to subtract one. They showed each fish card with shapes displaying either color in their tank and then presented them with two gates. One of which was the correct mathematical number. An explanatory example was if a fish saw three blue shapes, it would add one to three and swim through a gate displaying four shapes, gaining a food reward for answering correctly. Another simple yet sophisticated trait animals possess is their ability to alter and modify themselves. It is well-known that animals can adapt to their environments to reinforce living standards. However, animals have gone as far as adapting to humans. For instance, dolphins are a well-known group of species when referred to as animal intelligence. This is because of the unique language and their way of communication. A research study has discovered that dolphins in southern Brazil developed a distinct accent after more than 100 years of sustained interaction with the local fishermen. Furthermore, not only have dolphins grown these interactional changes but other species additionally. This includes general areas of birds; parrots, macaws, starlings, crows, etc. Animal intellect is measured by their level of consciousness and ability to learn and adapt. As time passes and more research is conducted, humans continue to understand the intricate psychology of these beings. Within each finding, they exemplify an incredible intelligence befitting a majestic creature. Written by Widelandine Emilcar | Graphic Designed by Widelandine Emilcar Published December 25, 2023 | ePathfinder | Feature