Natalie Lyn Gurgel
R: Reagan
N: Natalie
R: When and where were you born?
N: Nov. 4, 2006, Wauwatosa Wisconsin
R: What’s your favorite memory you’ve made here?
N: Tour Choir last year, because I got to see so many new people and spend time with my friends and sister; and it really helped my faith life.Also, side-eyeing Cheyenne in Band class when we played a wrong note.
R: What is the most important thing you’ve learned here?
N: To never take anything for granted, because you don’t know how good you have it when you have friends that are going to encourage you in the faith.
R: What has been your favorite part of going to school here?
N: I love that you can be in so many activities and meet so many people through them and make so many good friends.
R: What is your favorite meal here?
N: Probably Teriyaki Chicken
R: What’s your favorite after school activity?
N: Well, I love hanging out with my friends before basketball games and going to get food before baseball games.
R: What are your plans after school here?
N: I really want to go to a college in the Milwaukee area, probably Concordia University, but it's not decided yet, and major in rehabilitation science for my undergrad and do the accelerated program to become a doctor of physical therapy.
R: Any advice for the freshmen?
N: Try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone because you meet so many new people and good friends from activities you wouldn't have expected
Favorites
Food: Hamburgers no cheese and every other topping you can think of
Sport: Basketball
Color: Aquamarine
Animal: Cat
Movie: The original Little Mermaid
Prof/Teacher: My mom, ‘cause she's the best.
Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11
Hymn: “Abide with Me,” “On Eagles Wings,” “In Christ Alone”
Ways to Stay Warm in Cold Weather
We are currently in mid-autumn, meaning that the air is getting much more chilly and frost covers campus grounds every morning. Here are some tips to avoid getting frostbite and dying.
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Wear warm pajamas
Perfect for weekends or cold nights in your home when you need to feel cozy. If you are feeling bold, you can wear them to school. You are 40% less likely to get dress-coded for this if you are a male student.
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Blanket
You can curl up in a blanket when taking a nap, watching a movie, or even as a warm place to hide when trying to jump scare your roommate. Not advisable for at-school use, because nobody else does it and everyone will think you are weird.
Fire
This is a nice place to sit with your friends and roast marshmallows. Be sure to stay in the sweet spot where you aren’t too hot or too cold. I’d recommend only doing this outside by the fire pit with adult supervision. But if you think you are an adult, then you should be fine. You can also burn scented candles in your room and hope that your parents or dorm supervisors don’t find out. And remember: if you ever run out of fuel, you can always sacrifice the freshmen. ;)
Coats
Coats are great. They keep you warm. But they are kinda clunky, so not advisable for indoor use. They do, however, keep you nice and warm on snowy days. Definitely do not use it on a moderately chilly day. You will bake inside that thing like a microwave burrito!
Heaters
If you are lucky enough to have a heater or parents who aren’t too concerned about fire hazards, then get one. If you are a dorm student, then you’re dead. The dorm heating systems are trash and hardly ever kick in. But if you want to smuggle in your own functioning heater, then go ahead.
Hot showers
This is a great idea. Make sure to stay in long enough to use up all the hot water. In addition to being super relaxing, it is also a great way to be warm temporarily (until you get out and the water molecules evaporate off your body and heat energy leaves your skin with them cuz heat rises…)
Bed
This is by far the best way to stay warm. A bed will allow you to catch up on sleep in a comfortable and warm environment. The downside is that you hardly ever get to use it, because of the messed up schedule of schools in America nowadays, forcing you to leave your bed prematurely in the morning.
Clothes dryer
This is a small cozy place to relax, but use caution. Have a friend turn it on for you and always wear a helmet when tumbling.
Congratulations! Now you probably won’t get frostbite this winter… because insead, you’ll accidentally burn your house down.
-Aurora Willitz
Mental Health
Most people are going to skip over this article; I know I would. But please don’t. As winter approaches, and the days get shorter and gloomier, you might find yourself in the doldrums. You always seem to be sick, always seem to be tired, never really having any fun. But please don’t let this affect you. Here are some tips on how to keep your mental health up. Trust me, it’s very important that you keep it up. Your mental health affects a lot of things: your grades, your performance in sports, even your relationships with people.
Get regular exercise.
Don’t be a couch potato. Sure, sometimes it’s not fun, sometimes you just have no energy, but please, don’t let that stop you. And now you ask yourself, “Why does exercise help me?” Well, here’s why. “Physical activity may help bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.” And now you ask yourself, “What are endorphins?” “Endorphins are neurotransmitters released by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain. As natural hormones, they can alleviate pain, lower stress, improve mood, and enhance your sense of well-being.” Sounds like that is pretty important, right?
Eat healthy.
Now before you get all annoyed at this, just know, eating healthy isn’t just about eating all your vegetables. It’s also making sure you eat regularly and get plenty of food. DON’T SKIP MEALS! Food gives you the vitamins and energy you need to stay alert and to think more clearly. Also, make sure you get plenty of water. How does water help, you ask? Well… “The brain needs water to function, and when there isn't enough, your cognitive abilities are compromised. Studies have found that dehydration is linked to impaired cognitive function and memory. Essentially, it makes it harder to concentrate, remember things and fight off brain fog.” Now you see why it’s important? Don’t just drink pop all the time; that doesn’t help.
Drinking caffeine can have an effect on your mental health too. Drinking caffeine can agitate anxiety and cause you to have more panic attacks. For those who don’t know what panic attacks are, just know they can be pretty scary. “A panic attack is a brief episode of intense anxiety, which causes the physical sensations of fear. These can include a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling and muscle tension. Panic attacks occur frequently and unexpectedly and are often not related to any external threat.”
Don’t isolate yourself.
Don’t just sit on your phone and play video games by yourself. Do something with someone. Being active with people in person is something you need. (Though this can be considered for marriage also) but in Genesis God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” God said that, so I think that’s telling you something. We need people so that we feel loved and cared for. Being around people is vital. An article even says, “The benefits of social connections and good mental health are numerous. Proven links include lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships.” You might have those moments where you don’t think people like you, but please don’t listen to that. That’s only in your head; it’s only the devil trying to mess with you. It is important to be around people. They are there to encourage you, especially in your faith. So stay strong and be happy.
Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
-Anonymous
State Student Section Experience
After a season of hard work and determination, our team has proudly won the State championship! This is the first time Immanuel has won a team State title. What was it like to be part of the cheering section? Thursday's game was full of exciting, edge-of-your-seat sets, with a win, a loss, a win, and finally, a win. Everyone was incredibly supportive of the girls throughout the entire match, and I’ve never heard our student section cheer with so much passion or so loudly. The student section went absolutely wild after Gabby delivered an absolute hammer to finish the final set.Saturday’s game was even more exhilarating, following the same pattern of wins and losses.Though the scores were tighter, the girls played phenomenally. The student section put everything they had into that game with more cheers and more volume. As the ball touched the floor on the last point, every Lancer fan burst with happiness and pride.
Weird Things Heard Around Campus
“Ah yes, the two genders - guitars and the Berenstein bears”
“Your toes are fuzzy…”
“Ew, erasers are disgusting” (after tasting an eraser)
“You wanna pluck my belly button hairs?!?!?!”
“It’s a cook or be cooked world out there.”
“You’re like a black mom, but white.”
“We got a divorce and now you’re my grandkid…”
“I was craving cheese so bad during geometry that I almost passed out”
“I just want to be the leader of the big backs”
And a few from the Profs…
“Roses are red, violets are blue, there’s always an Asian kid better than you.”
“Life is short and you’re getting shorter”