![Bass Clef Choir members Zion Ondoma, Henry Hansen, and Zerik Nicholson harmonize vocals while singing "Prayer of the Children". “[It’s] a piece dealing with the Bosnian conflicts of the ‘90s,” said Associate Director of Choral Activities Matthew Jensen, “but is applicable to what's happening today all over the world.” The students will perform the song during Large Group Contests in Cedar Falls in May.](https://riverhawkpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260414_111618-1200x554.jpg)
My favorite memories from when I was younger are being with my family, walking through the woods, fishing, swimming, and camping. Sometimes we get to go to Yellow River Forest in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi. The campground is so far down the bluffs that there's no power, let alone reception for your phone.
Even at twelve, this dead zone didn't bother me because I was with my cousins and grandparents. I was constantly doing something like hiking or playing tag around the campsite.
It was fun because I felt more connected with my family.
But something changed when I turned 13, and I got more privileges, like getting more games or social media on my phone.
I realized that when I have a bunch of screen time, I personally don't like hanging out with people because I'm just exhausted and have a headache. Everything just annoys me. But when I don't have it, I'm in a good mood. It's just super nice.
Teens need to find a balance with their screen time.
About four in ten teens say they spend too much time on their phones, according to a Pew Research Poll. These teens say they are online almost all the time. About one-third say they are online almost constantly.
This year, I began wrestling. I have two hours of practice, sometimes four hours. I’ve noticed that I've been more active and want to do more, not just sit around. It gets me away from my phone or the TV. Because of that, I’ve started to notice positive changes not just in my energy, but also in my mindset.
This makes me think that more people should get involved in extracurricular activities. Studies from University of British Columbia found that teens who spend less than 2 hours a day on recreational screen time and join extracurricular activities like sports or art have better mental health. They had higher life satisfaction and less anxiety and depression.
All in all, after learning so much about screen time, it's a good thing that I did, because now I know it's harmful to the brain and body. When I want to go on my phone, I go talk to my brothers to see what our next adventure is.
