Music is my favorite way to break writer’s block, and my high school creative writing class is a testament to that with “Strangers” by Mt. Joy being the inspiration behind the protagonist of my short story.
High school represents a time when teens are trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be, and the creatures on Mt. Joy’s 2020 album “Rearrange Us” portray that through unique and strange designs. Creature designs by Steve Girard; Graphic created by Isabel Rinkenberger
My sister was the biggest influence on my music taste. I was a pre-teen when she was a teenager and I wanted to be just like her, everything from her fashion style to the music she listened to. She listened to pop stars such as Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. Ke$ha’s debut album, “Animal,” was a huge hit among teenage girls because she wrote songs about experiences many girls go through growing up: having crushes, partying and being betrayed by a friend, to name a few.
Concerts at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, are an integral part of growing up for anyone in high school. This concert photo was taken Sept. 10, 2022. Photo by Emily Retzer
My family and I love spending time together for the holidays. Our favorite Christmas tradition is gathering at my house and watching a Christmas movie, while drinking hot chocolate before we open up gifts from each other. Decorating for Christmas is also one of my favorite activities around the holidays because it just makes my house more cheery and bright. I’ve put together some holiday pictures that represent what the holidays mean to me.
The Retzer family, from left to right: (back row) Clint (my father), Caleb (my brother), Danielle (brother’s fiancé), Emily (me), Chico (my dog), Jake (my boyfriend); (middle) Becca (my sister); (front) Richie (sister’s husband), Lola and Bear (sister’s dogs). Photo courtesy of Jen Maas (my dad’s fiancé), Christmas of 2021
Music, technology and people all change as time goes on. Taylor Swift has arguably been one of the most consistent and well-known female American singer-songwriters of her time, with her work spanning multiple genres of music. Currently, Swift’s newest album, “Midnights,” is listed No. 1 on Billboard for top sales.
Growing up my main form of enjoying music was through my infamous SpongeBob radio and CD player, which was formerly covered in princess stickers. Now the radio hangs onto old sticker residue and dents from all the love it has received. Photo by Autumn Heaton
The album “?”, by Xxxtentacion had a significant impact on teens across the United States, including me, because of the intriguing songs that worked together to make this a meaningful track-list. Thereis no better soundtrack to improve your mindset throughout a difficult summer.
“?” is an alternative rock, R&B album written by the late Xxxtentacion and released in March of 2018 that skyrocketed in streams and downloads just months before the writer’s untimely death. Photo by Triston Buckley
Here are some interesting facts about MBU Timeline, the student newsmagazine of Missouri Baptist University, in St. Louis:
*Our mission statement is: MBU Timeline is the student news network of Missouri Baptist University, a private Christian university that embraces the essential core value of “social change through service and leadership.”
*The Bible verse that drives our mission is 2 Timothy 2:15 (Worldwide English Version): “Tell the true message in the right way.”
*The WordPress website has been up since late-fall 2013. We average about 3,000 sessions and about 5,000 pageviews per month.
*Our stories and galleries get as few as 40 or 50 hits, or as many as 8,000 hits.
*We have readers in every state and more than 90 countries around the world. We have several readers in South America, the United Kingdom, India and Australia.
*Most of our readers are in Missouri, followed by Illinois, California and Texas.
*We do not accept advertising as we are a not-for-profit online newsmagazine.
*We welcome contributors from all walks of MBU life, regardless of your major. Reach out to us on Twitter at: @mbutimeline.
