The Libertarian: Back to School Edition (September 2025)

Main Cover by: unveill

Banner by: Aqualuvsyou

Article by: unveill

Different School Lunches

Okay, who is hungry? I am absolutely starving right now, and I just got a sneak peek at what the USDF personnel brought for fun to take a break from the Front Row. Some of them look really incredible, and I bet some of us have not really tried it before. Let’s check them out and see what they brought for lunch!

darkbondok
For the food, there were never any specifics at all, but I mostly eat junk food like pizza. However, I usually eat something different on other days. Some of the meals that I do have in Egypt are usually like eggs, and beans, and falafel for breakfast. On late working nights, junk food like pizza is more common; we usually eat it, and occasionally, there are home-cooked meals ready to be eaten.

Meoli
My lunch is usually really basic and it usually consists of bread with either cheese or a tosti, but without the ham because it is not my favorite condiment to consume. Sometimes, I do switch it up and have something sweet, like jam or hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles).

Jezza545
Generally, I have one meal per day, which consists of yogurt or rice crackers with avocado on them.

shannon3302
I often have instant ramen, such as Maggi noodles! A trick I learned while in India is to add sliced American cheese to the curry-flavored Maggi ramen to reduce spice and increase umami! You can also add green onions, and I also add crispy fried onions for texture and sweetness. In the UK, we have a variety of cultural influences, so the choices are endless!

Wow, what a variety of meals! What do you have for school lunch? Do share in the discord #general-chat!

Graphic by: q-Thunder-q

Article by: AWilson // Banner by: AWilson

Lunches from Around the World

Lunch!
It’s that time of the day where you can get together with your pals and take a break from all the stressful school work that you’ve had to endure throughout the day. Depending on which country you reside in you might remember, or still be enjoying the meals that your school provides, sometimes it’s a fully cooked meal and other times its pre-packed sandwiches and snacks, however the differences between what you’re served depending on where you live is absolutely fascinating, let’s take a look at some of the most popular countries and what they’re feeding the generations of today!

United States:
In the United States, the majority of school meals are based around the “My Plate” food groups; a balance of Fruits, Grains, Vegetables and Protein, and while the meals also varies from state to state it can range from Chicken, Turkey or Fish along with a small salad of leaves and vegetables to Nuggets, a vegetable medley and mashed potatoes, often with a cookie and milk too!

Japan:
Japan takes their children’s health as one of the highest priorities in education, when they feed their school children they also believe in “food education” often called “shokuiku” and this means the level of care and detail into meals is second-to-none. Meals typically include rice or bread as the main source of carbs, a main protein dish like fish, meat or even tofu along with a side dish of vegetables and the ever iconic milk carton.

United Kingdom:
In the UK we have gone over many different iterations of meals in our education system, ever since Jamie Oliver took to the screen we have seen a surge in balanced and nutritious meals across the board, however when I was at school things were a lot more relaxed and “Nutrition” was not a high priority. For me the most Iconic meal was Turkey Twizzlers, mashed potatoes and vegetables, often followed up by chocolate pudding and custard, it was heavy and often made all of the students sluggish. Looking back on it now, eating meat in the shape of a spring should have been a red flag, but boy was it delicious!

Germany:
Now Germany is quite unique in its stance on school meals as these are mandatory and every child should be taking time to nourish themselves either with school meals or a packed lunch! Meals in German schools also follow guidelines on what should be being served and in what quantities and they even restrict some of the food groups! A typical German school meal could consist of traditional Sausages and/or Schnitzel with breads, but the primary focus is on the vegetables; these could be potatoes, broccoli, carrots and cabbage. This is often accompanied by the ever iconic milk carton and a fruit salad or yoghurt for dessert.

Summary:
These school lunches around the world reflect each country’s culture and priorities for their children’s health. In the US, meals follow the “My Plate” guidelines with proteins, veg and gains similar to Japan’s “shokuiku” guidelines. Overall these differences show how school lunches not only nourish students but also reflect local and cultural traditions and values.

Did you know?!
The US school meals program was created all the way back in 1946 with the primary reason being “National Security” to ensure their students grew up healthy and ready to support the US growth!

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Bullying Prevention

As we enter the depths of being back in school, after the newness of Fall wears down, often there is something that rears it ugly head: bullying. While it is not exclusive to schools, it is most commonly associated with schools, but bullying can happen anywhere and in many social contexts, including the workplace, in the community and online. To help prevent bullying and what to do if you are being bullied, here is some information that could be helpful:

1. Know what bullying is. Bullying broadly is repeated behavior that looks to harm or intimidate, and is often seen as a power imbalance between the bully and the targeted individual or group. Oftentimes bullying takes the form of other types of often illegal or immoral things, such as assault, hazing, stalking, or harassment just to name a few. They are not mutually exclusive, and oftentimes bullying can take many different forms depending on what kind of bullying it is. Oftentimes bullies target others as a way to gain power or feel in control, which means that often their actions are a reflection of some emotion or feelings that they are then taking out on others. This goes to that age old saying of “It’s not you, it’s them”. If someone is bothering or bullying you and you can’t figure out a reason why, that’s a good sign that it is likely them and not you that is the problem.

2. Tell someone you trust. If you are a victim of bullying or have witnessed bullying, tell someone you trust. This could be a teacher or professor, a counselor, parents or someone else you trust to help you in this situation. While talking with peers or co-workers can be helpful for perspective, sometimes they don’t have the resources or power to intervene. If the person you tell ends up not helping or makes things worse, you can always find or tell someone else. Use your best judgement.

3. Stand up for yourself. Being confident and self-assured, and standing up for yourself can be helpful in stopping some cases of bullying. Telling someone to stop what they are doing can be effective in some cases. Ignoring the person can also be effective as well. These are not all strategies, because some bullies may be insistent or keep attempting to bother you even after trying these techniques.

4. Lean on your strengths. What are the things you like to do? What are your strengths? Who are the people that you like to hang out with? Spending time with your friends or peers who you like to be with and doing the things you like to do can help with supporting yourself and building the type of supportive community you want.

5. Be an active Bystander. If you are witnessing bullying, think about how you may want to intervene. Do you want to tell someone about it? Do you want to step in and try and cool things off somehow? Do you want to take a stand and say something to set the standard? There are plenty of options if you think it is safe to do so, and sometimes speaking up can be the most powerful thing someone can do to stop bullying. The Bystander effect makes it more likely that people will not act in a given situation because they think someone else will take action, when in reality everyone is often thinking that. And if something is happening that is putting someone in danger or is a crime, be sure to contact your local authorities and emergency services.

6. Don’t be harder on yourself than you have to be. Simply put, we all make mistakes and we all have those moments where we wish we could do over. Does that mean that people deserve to be bullied or brought it on themselves? Absolutely not! Sometimes the best thing to do is to think about what you’d want to do differently next time, and move on and try to do better next time

Article by: shannon3302 // Banner by: ILove0LIVIA

School to Real Life Balance

Balance is important in life, moderation is key – this doesn’t only apply to fun activities, but also school work and careers. Below, we will briefly discuss why work/life balance is important, and tips to retain that equilibrium! Studies have shown that being overwhelmed whether it be through studies, or personal life can decrease performance overall – this is colloquially known as ‘Spillover’ or ‘Burnout’. As such, overworking yourself in studies could cause problems, lower performance in exams, difficulty navigating/participating in social situations and more. Pacing yourself is key for mental/physical health, but also performance.

Avoiding Burn-Out
You can avoid burn-out by creating timetables, and planning revision/coursework out over a longer period of time. This method helps you plan your time and keep track of progress, to reduce the need to ‘cram’ towards the end. Additionally allowing planned recuperation time between working, helping to fit study around your social life – rather than the other way around. Work to live, never live to work. It is important to have set times for working, and then set times for recreation – this reduces feelings of guilt and increases mental recovery. Work hard, play hard! During my degree, I would allocate hour blocks around my lectures to study and do coursework – with 30 minute breaks between them, and always plan to stop by 6/8pm. This ensured I would sleep better also!

SMART Goals and Tactical Rewards
Taking breaks and rewarding your hard work (reinforcing the reward pathway in your brain) is essential for high-performance. Another method is by creating SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based), this can help you stay on track and highlight the benefits of delayed gratification. With personal rewards for achieving goals, you can reinforce the reward pathway in your brain. Often during my GCSE’s and A-levels, I would set goals to memorize a certain topic within a time period – including creating revision graphics to put around the house as reinforcement. When I had completed a topic or revision block, I would play a game I enjoy, play sports, have some chocolate or go out to see friends (natural serotonin boosters). This worked effectively for me, as my brain struggles to stay on task.

Support Networks
However well we plan, sometimes work/studies becomes overwhelming. This is where having a strong support network is important, when stressed we want to shut out those close to us – but we should embrace them. Our support networks, friends and families are vital for grounding concerns and reducing anxiety. Often, they can view the situation from a fresh perspective and can provide emotional support.

Overall, work hard, play hard. Take breaks and separate your study/recreational environments. Keep your head up high USDF, you can do this!

Article by: SilverCyrex // Banner by: SilverCyrex

What Did/Do You Want to Be?

Everyone has a dream — some achieve it early, some are still chasing it. We asked four USDF members about their dreams and what wisdom they’d share with others. The 3 questions asked in the interviews:
a) What is your dream?
b) Have you achieved it yet?
c) Any wisdom about reaching your dreams?

PO1 Elevationn
a) My childhood dream was to open up a small burger joint. I still think to this day it’s cool to flip patties and assemble burgers.

b) No. Haven’t developed a solid business acumen yet.

c) Today’s failures are tomorrow’s strengths

GySgt kevin.p.
a) As a child, my dream was to do something that made me useful and could help others. I didn’t have a precise idea, but I wanted to feel that what I did had meaning.

b) As I grew up, the dreams changed a bit, but they didn’t disappear. Some I’ve already achieved, others I’m still chasing. I don’t think a dream ever completely ends—it changes with you and maybe takes on new forms.

c) I’d say don’t be afraid to go for it. Even if it doesn’t always work out, at least you tried and learned something. And above all, don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it often never comes: just go for it and live whatever comes your way.

CW2 Yulkan
a) My dream is to eventually retire my parents with the social media accounts I’m managing and with my own company I’m going for soon enough. Which should be launched approximately in a year or two.

b) What I’m currently doing to achieve my dream is learn from the best I possibly can. My social media network consists of 15M+ followers in total, so I’ve got a big network where I am still learning from. And besides that I have 2 mentors in real life where I learn everything I need to know in order to implement that when I become an entrepreneur. Your network can either make you, or break you so choose wisely.

c) A quote I always go by is “fortune favors the brave”. Only the bravest people out there are able to overcome and achieve things. The only thing you have to do is put your mind to it and think like a brave person, and everything will be aligned with your thoughts soon enough. That’s how the Law of Attraction works!

1st Lt MaggieNL
a) I had a lot of problems choosing what I wanted to be when I would be older. I had ideas of becoming a veterinarian, a judge, police woman, pediatrician, or be in the armed forces. I wanted this all because I love working to help others in need. While I have a good bond with animals, the humans did win in the end and being on the acute side of things started to become a strong force that pulled me in when I got older. Now my big dream is to become a military doctor in the Navy and I’m just one year away.

b) I think that the young Maggie would have been proud of where she would stand today. A bit disappointed it took her so long to find her path, but proud of her pushing through the hard times, managing to finish those studies she didn’t really like after all, but they taught her so much in life that she will still use every single day. For my current dream I need to study one more year. I already got a contract with the Navy that they are paying my tuition for med school and I just need to pass the tests again and graduate and then I’ll enlist in Feb 2027!

c) My wisdom for you all would be. Learn to persevere through the hard times. Because we all will get those times, and if you practice young with also doing stuff even if it’s hard, if you are demotivated, if you feel weak. You will be proud of yourself for pushing through afterwards. Even if things seem useless today, they might be useful tomorrow. Try to learn every day and become 1% better each day, because then you will really grow and be 365% better after just 1 year! Believe in yourself, because then things will always be easier for you! And lastly, don’t compare yourself to other. Everyone has their own road to success and their life. One person might take the lift up, but the road is all that matters. You will learn with the rocky road up the mountain of your goals! That process is far more worth than the goal itself!

Article by: unveill

Back to School Trivia

Back to school, that means that the small little fun quiz is back as well! It is to test your readiness to learn new things and it gets your mind ready for the unexpected as well! Are you ready for it? Well, if you are not ready, too bad we won’t wait for you!

Question 1:
In what year did the school buses become yellow?
A. 1934
B. 1960
C. 1939
D. 1956
Fun Fact: In the 1930s, an educator named Frank Cyr organized a conference to set standards for school buses. Putting it yellow will allow safer travel as it can be seen easily by other vehicles.

Question 2:
Which country has the longest average school day?
A. Thailand
B. Taiwan
C. Kenya
D. UAE
Fun Fact: Most of the schools do offer clubs and activities post classroom hours to ensure that the student learns something fun and new which is an addition to their current textbook knowledge. What are the fun activities you did after school?

Question 3:
Which country requires students to clean their own schools?
A. South Korea
B. Japan
C. Canada
D. Finland
Fun Fact: One of the main reasons why the students are required to clean their classroom is to instill responsibility and habit into them. If you progressively clean the classroom everyday, it becomes a habit and you will do it without realizing it!

Question 4:
Before the invention of the eraser, what did people commonly use to erase pencil marks?
A. A damp sponge
B. A piece of white bread
C. A wad of chewed gum
D. A small piece of rubber
Fun Fact: The humble pencil eraser wasn’t always attached! In 1858, a man named Hymen Lipman received the first patent for a pencil with an eraser stuck on the end, changing how we erase our mistakes in our daily life, but you can’t use the eraser to clear the spilled milk though!

Question 5:
What was the whiteboard originally invented as?
A. A projector screen
B. A shower wall
C. A menu board
D. A roofing material
Fun Fact: The first whiteboards were made of melamine, a material invented in the 1950s to use as a wall paneling! Photographer Martin Heit realized it could be written on with markers and erased, but it stained easily, which contributed to the invention of proper whiteboards we see in school!

Answers:
1 – C
2 – A
3 – B
4 – B
5 – D

I hope you have fun doing the quiz, because I know I did. Anyways, are you more prepared and ready for school now? I hope so!