The student news site of Millbrook High School

Cat Talk
The student news site of Millbrook High School

Cat Talk
The student news site of Millbrook High School

Cat Talk
Abby Van Kula

Abby Van Kula , Section Editor

Hello, I’m Abby! I’m a junior here at Millbrook, and this is my second year on the newspaper staff. I love listening to music! Currently, my favorites artists/bands are Hippo Campus, Omar Apollo, Frank Ocean, Eden and many more, but I enjoy listening to all genres! I also enjoy watching movies and TV shows; some being Criminal Minds, Mulan, Heathers, and Scandal. I also like exploring new places, dancing, shopping, hanging out with friends and, of course, writing! I hope you have a great school year!

All content by Abby Van Kula
Standing on top of the mountain Medojevic, Muhamed Dlakic experiences the unique features, such as these beautiful mountains, that Bosnia has to offer. Leaving behind his home in Bosnia, Muhamed traveled all the way to the United States as a foregin exchange student to experience new natural features.

Culture Collaboration: Muhamed Dlakic

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
May 18, 2020
Kermit the Frog was one of Jim Henson's first characters and appeared in numerous Muppet movies. Although The Muppet Show did not premiere until 1976, Kermit the Frog was originally created in 1955 when Henson was just 19 years old.

Remembering Muppets creator Jim Henson

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
May 16, 2020
Wraps are a great fast and healthy snack that can be used at your picnic. There is no right way to make one, and you can put whatever ingredients you want in one as long as it tastes good to you!

Celebrating National Picnic Day

Abby Van Kula, Videographer
April 23, 2020
Soy milk, made from the plant soybean, can be a great source of protein without all the negatives of regular milk that typically comes from a cow. Since soy milk is naturally free of cholesterol, it is much better for you than dairy because it will not increase your risk of heart problems and is very low in saturated fat.

Learning about the relationship between dairy and your health

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
April 21, 2020
Yellow is known as a color that is used in order to increase one's mood, as well as to make one generally happier. This color can be used in marketing if a company wants to put out feelings associated with optimism, clarity, and warmth.

Exploring the reality of color psychology

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
March 20, 2020
Chilling in the dentist’s chair, a boy lays back to let his dentist check his teeth for any type of bacteria and to make sure they are all healthy. Your teeth’s health is very important; if bacteria stays on for long enough, then it can create cavities, which can make it hard to eat.

Celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
February 20, 2020
Another great way to organize clothing items such as t-shirts is by folding them to the point where you can clearly see the logo or type of shirt. By organizing your clothes, it will become much easier and faster to pick out an outfit for the day ahead!

Decluttering for the new year

Abby Van Kula, Section Editor
January 6, 2020
As students at Millbrook High School transition to their next class, many rush along the somewhat crowded sidewalks in order to get where they need to be on time. Many students worry about being late to class so they do not have time for a brain break.

Do students need more time to regroup in between classes?

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
December 18, 2019
Lara Prokop enjoys her vacation to Poland while taking a stroll on the boardwalk. Since Poland used to be a part of Germany during World War 2, many building characteristics are very similar, as you can see in the picture above.

Culture Collaboration: Lara Prokop

Abby Van Kula, VIdeographer
December 18, 2019
A well-known mumble rapper, 21 Savage, performs at a concert in Texas. He is most popular for his mumble rap style that includes famous hits such as “Bank Account” and “a lot”.

Exploring the validity of the trending mumble rap

Abby Van Kula, Section Editor
November 23, 2019
Celebrating National Candy Day, junior Kaitlyn Bartholomew holds her favorite sweet treats! Small hard candies, such as lollipops, are easier to eat during class if you are craving something sweet since they make little mess and will not cause much disruption, but only if your teacher allows it, of course.

Celebrating National Candy Day, one sweet treat at a time

Abby Van Kula, Videographer
November 4, 2019
Posing with the official Indonesian flag, junior Farhanah Arifah wants to share her unique culture with all of Millbrook High School. By sharing different cultures, one will be able to connect with and communicate with people from those societies.

Culture Collaboration: Farhanah Arifah

Abby Van Kula, Videographer
November 4, 2019
Performing at his first concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado in 2017, Chance the Rapper tours his second mixtape, Coloring Book. Coloring Book was best known for its gospel-rap style which moved many of his fans.

Touring his new album, Chance the Rapper comes to NC

Abby Van Kula, Section Editor
October 12, 2019
Sophomores Breanna O’Neill and Addison Dameron enjoy an end-of-summer football game before heading back to school. An exciting activity you can do with your friends or family is to attend a sports event such as a baseball or soccer games.

How to start of your summer right

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
May 22, 2019
Sophomores Megan Willard and Nia Shaw love spending time together and outwardly share their thoughts with each other. Hanging out with supportive friends is a great way to boost your mood when you might be feeling down.

Raising mental health awareness

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
May 22, 2019
Dancing in a parade, many women tend to be dressed in long traditional flowered dresses. While the majority of events happen in Puebla Mexico, there is also a huge parade that happens right in Mexico City.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
May 5, 2019
Today, there are known to be around 6,500 spoken languages used in the world. However, around 2,000 of those known languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers.

Why is learning a new language so difficult?

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
April 28, 2019
By 26 years old, Aretha Franklin had signed with Columbia Records and had already won two grammys. As a role model for many, Franklin was the first woman to be inducted in the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame in 1987.

Looking back at, the one and only, Aretha Franklin

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
March 25, 2019
Former US president Barack Obama meets former Cuban president Raul Castro to discuss relations between the two countries. After meeting with Cuba in 2016, the countries are still trying to define their new relationship.

What is the deal with the U.S. and Cuba?

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
March 20, 2019
Sitting in the library, sophomore Evan Smith works on his personal project paper during lunch. By using ones time wisely and efficiently, you can get more things done in a shorter amount of time.

How to have the most beneficial day

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
March 20, 2019
Sitting at Lafayette Village, sophomore Ashley Jean sips her iced coffee while working on a chemistry project. While it is completely normal to have coffee daily, you want to be careful to not grow dependent on this drink because it can lead to an addiction.

Impacting your health one sip at a time

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
March 4, 2019

Black History Month FYI: NAACP

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
February 16, 2019

Black History Month FYI: John Mercer Langston

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
February 9, 2019
February is widely acknowledged as the month when the Super Bowl occurs or when Valentine’s Day comes around, but why is it so short compared to the other months? The month February originated from the ideas presented in the Roman Calendar which started all the way back in the 700s B.C.E.

Why are there only twenty-eight days in February?

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
February 5, 2019
Gandhi leads many people who looked up to him as an influencer in a peaceful protest. One form of a passive resistance protest that he helped lead was the Salt March which resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

Remembering Gandhi on the anniversary of his death

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
January 30, 2019
Her facial expression can be easily recognized, as you can tell, the one at the bottom left hand corner shows her to be excited or surprised. People are drawn towards observing others’ faces to figure out a hidden emotion, solely based on expressions made.

Decoding body language

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
January 11, 2019
Donating can help many people. Sophomore Jessica Miller drops her money in a food drive collection jar to help out the millions affected by hunger. Donating is a great way to help in your community because you can help someone out even if you do not have extra time.

How to give back to your community

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2018
Studying for a chemistry quiz, Camila Villarroel Gomez listens to some of her favorite songs. Non-lyrical music can help you focus on your task without having your mind wander.

Listening to music has its benefits

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2018
Gathering to help denounce hate speech and hate crimes towards Muslims, people from all backgrounds stand together and protest. Hate crimes against religion take up twenty percent of all these crimes.

Increasing amount of hate atrocities

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
December 5, 2018
In most countries that celebrate a day of thanks, the day is closely tied with the idea of harvesting grains, fruits and vegetables. Each country celebrates this day differently, but it is all about coming together and sharing a feast.

Thanksgivings around the world

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
November 26, 2018
Because of all the choice of clothes found in thrift shops, it can be very overwhelming to find what you are looking for. Thrifting can be a good experience to anyone because it is affordable and cheap.

How to thrift like a pro

Abby Van Kula
October 29, 2018
Talking about the child’s mental health, two parents sit down with their son’s school psychologist to discuss ways to help him. A child needs to have the right resources in order to help them develop properly.

Why Having a School Psychologist is Important

Abby Van Kula, Staff Reporter
October 17, 2018
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